October 18, 1983 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska |
| 2 | Texas |
| 3 | North Carolina |
| 4 | West Virginia |
| 5 | Auburn |
| 6 | Florida |
| 7 | Georgia |
| 8 | Miami, FL |
| 9 | SMU |
| 10 | Michigan |
| 11 | Illinois |
| 12 | Iowa |
| 13 | Arizona State |
| 14 | Washington |
| 15 | Maryland |
| 16 | Oklahoma |
| 17 | Ohio State |
| 18 | BYU |
| 19 | Arizona |
| 20 | Alabama |