October 12, 1982 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Washington |
| 2 | Alabama |
| 3 | Pitt |
| 4 | Georgia |
| 5 | SMU |
| 6 | Nebraska |
| 7 | Arkansas |
| 8 | Penn State |
| 9 | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Arizona State |
| 11 | North Carolina |
| 12 | UCLA |
| 13 | West Virginia |
| 14 | USC |
| 15 | Illinois |
| 16 | LSU |
| 17 | Miami, FL |
| 18 | Texas |
| 19 | Florida State |
| 20 | Clemson |