December 7, 1982 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia |
| 2 | Penn State |
| 3 | Nebraska |
| 4 | SMU |
| 5 | UCLA |
| 6 | Pitt |
| 7 | Clemson |
| 8 | Texas |
| 9 | Washington |
| 10 | West Virginia |
| 11 | Arizona State |
| 12 | Oklahoma |
| 13 | LSU |
| 14 | Arkansas |
| 15 | USC |
| 16 | Maryland |
| 17 | Ohio State |
| 18 | Auburn |
| 19 | Michigan |
| 20 | Tulsa |