The list below is sorted by "underratedness." The teams at the top of the list were the most underrated (final poll standing furthest above preseason poll standing); the teams at the bottom of the list were the most overrated (final poll standing furthest below preseason poll standing). Any team not mentioned was unranked in both preseason and final polls.
| Team | Delta | Street & Smith Preseason Top 25 |
Final
AP Standing |
| Tennessee | +21 | - | 5 |
| Illinois | +16 | - | 10 |
| Colorado | +12 | 16 | 4 |
| Michigan State | +10 | - | 16 |
| Alabama | +9 | 18 | 9 |
| Pittsburgh | +9 | - | 17 |
| Virginia | +8 | - | 18 |
| Texas Tech | +7 | - | 19 |
| Texas A&M | +6 | - | 20 |
| Auburn | +4 | 10 | 6 |
| Brigham Young | +4 | - | 22 |
| Washington | +3 | - | 23 |
| Miami-Florida | +2 | 3 | 1 |
| Florida State | +2 | 5 | 3 |
| Arkansas | +2 | 15 | 13 |
| Ohio State | +2 | - | 24 |
| Arizona | +1 | - | 25 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Clemson | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| West Virginia | -2 | 19 | 21 |
| Houston | -3 | 11 | 14 |
| Southern Cal | -4 | 4 | 8 |
| Nebraska | -4 | 7 | 11 |
| Michigan | -6 | 1 | 7 |
| Penn State | -6 | 9 | 15 |
| Texas | -6 | 20 | - |
| Iowa | -9 | 17 | - |
| Syracuse | -12 | 14 | - |
| Oklahoma | -13 | 13 | - |
| Louisiana State | -18 | 8 | - |
| UCLA | -21 | 5 | - |