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 | Preseason Consensus |
Final AP Standing |
| Boise State | +21 | - | 5 |
| Wisconsin | +19 | - | 7 |
| Rutgers | +14 | - | 12 |
| Arkansas | +11 | - | 15 |
| Brigham Young | +10 | - | 16 |
| Wake Forest | +8 | - | 18 |
| Boston College | +6 | - | 20 |
| Louisiana State | +6 | 9 | 3 |
| Michigan | +6 | 14 | 8 |
| Florida | +5½ | 6½ | 1 |
| Louisville | +5 | 11 | 6 |
| Oregon State | +5 | - | 21 |
| Texas Christian | +2 | 24 | 22 |
| Southern Cal | +1 | 5 | 4 |
| Ohio State | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| California | -1 | 13 | 14 |
| Oregon | -1 | 25 | - |
| Tennessee | -2 | 23 | 25 |
| Virginia Tech | -2 | 17 | 19 |
| Auburn | -2½ | 6½ | 9 |
| Oklahoma | -3 | 8 | 11 |
| Arizona State | -4 | 22 | - |
| Clemson | -5 | 21 | - |
| Penn State | -6 | 18 | 24 |
| Texas Tech | -6 | 20 | - |
| West Virginia | -6 | 4 | 10 |
| Georgia | -7 | 16 | 23 |
| Nebraska | -7 | 19 | - |
| Texas | -10 | 3 | 13 |
| Iowa | -11 | 15 | - |
| Miami-Florida | -14 | 12 | - |
| Florida State | -16 | 10 | - |
| Notre Dame | -16 | 1 | 17 |