October 11, 1988 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL |
| 2 | UCLA |
| 3 | USC |
| 4 | Notre Dame |
| 5 | Florida State |
| 6 | West Virginia |
| 7 | Nebraska |
| 8 | South Carolina |
| 9 | Oklahoma |
| 10 | Oklahoma State |
| 11 | Clemson |
| 12 | Auburn |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Wyoming |
| 15 | Michigan |
| 16 | Washington |
| 17 | Arkansas |
| 18 | Indiana |
| 19 | LSU |
| 20 | Florida |