Postseason 1981 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson |
| 2 | Texas |
| 3 | Penn State |
| 4 | Pitt |
| 5 | SMU |
| 6 | Georgia |
| 7 | Alabama |
| 8 | Miami, FL |
| 9 | North Carolina |
| 10 | Washington |
| 11 | Nebraska |
| 12 | Michigan |
| 13 | BYU |
| 14 | USC |
| 15 | Ohio State |
| 16 | Arizona State |
| 17 | West Virginia |
| 18 | Iowa |
| 19 | Missouri |
| 20 | Oklahoma |