October 7, 1996 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Florida |
| 2 | Ohio State |
| 3 | Florida State |
| 4 | Arizona State |
| 5 | Nebraska |
| 6 | Miami, FL |
| 7 | Tennessee |
| 8 | Alabama |
| 9 | Colorado |
| 10 | Penn State |
| 11 | Notre Dame |
| 12 | LSU |
| 13 | North Carolina |
| 14 | Michigan |
| 15 | Northwestern |
| 16 | Washington |
| 17 | West Virginia |
| 18 | Auburn |
| 19 | BYU |
| 20 | Virginia |
| 21 | California |
| 22 | Kansas State |
| 23 | Georgia Tech |
| 24 | Wyoming |
| 25 | Texas |