Pre-season AP Top 25 College Football Poll
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | 2017 RECORD | PREVIOUS RANKING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (42) | 1505 | 13-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Clemson (18) | 1476 | 12-2 | 4 |
| 3 | Georgia | 1350 | 13-2 | 2 |
| 4 | Wisconsin (1) | 1271 | 13-1 | 7 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 1256 | 12-2 | 5 |
| 6 | Washington | 1215 | 10-3 | 16 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 1173 | 12-2 | 3 |
| 8 | Miami | 1027 | 10-3 | 13 |
| 9 | Auburn | 1013 | 10-4 | 10 |
| 10 | Penn State | 1012 | 11-2 | 8 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 877 | 10-3 | 15 |
| 12 | Notre Dame | 804 | 10-3 | 11 |
| 13 | Stanford | 778 | 9-5 | 20 |
| 14 | Michigan | 773 | 8-5 | NR |
| 15 | USC | 543 | 11-3 | 12 |
| 16 | TCU | 533 | 11-3 | 9 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 511 | 7-6 | NR |
| 18 | Mississippi State | 450 | 9-4 | 19 |
| 19 | Florida State | 384 | 7-6 | NR |
| 20 | Virginia Tech | 351 | 9-4 | 24 |
| 21 | UCF | 312 | 13-0 | 6 |
| 22 | Boise State | 292 | 11-3 | 22 |
| 23 | Texas | 216 | 7-6 | NR |
| 24 | Oregon | 148 | 7-6 | NR |
| 25 | LSU | 106 | 9-4 | 18 |
Others receiving votes: South Carolina 96, Florida 68, Utah 60, Oklahoma St. 51, FAU 38, Arizona 28, NC State 22, Texas A&M 21, Boston College 18, Northwestern 13, Kansas St. 10, Iowa St. 8, Houston 6, Memphis 3, Troy 2, Iowa 2, Kentucky 1, Arkansas St. 1, Fresno St. 1.
