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