First-place votes in parenthesis followed by last year's record, total poll points and final placing in 2009 poll.
1. Alabama (54) 14-0 1,491 1
2. Ohio St. (3) 11-2 1,400 5
3. Boise St. (1) 14-0 1,336 4
4. Florida 13-1 1,237 3
5. Texas (1) 13-1 1,223 2
6. TCU 12-1 1,160 6
7. Oklahoma (1) 8-5 1,104 —
8. Nebraska 10-4 1,033 14
9. Iowa 11-2 1,007 7
10. Virginia Tech 10-3 973 10
11. Oregon 10-3 870 11
12. Wisconsin 10-3 822 16
13. Miami 9-4 785 19
14. Southern Cal 9-4 590 22
15. Pittsburgh 10-3 516 15
16. Georgia Tech 11-3 511 13
17. Arkansas 8-5 496 —
18. North Carolina 8-5 397 —
19. Penn St. 11-2 382 9
20. Florida St. 7-6 379 —
21. LSU 9-4 300 17
22. Auburn 8-5 296 —
23. Georgia 8-5 206 —
24. Oregon St. 8-5 198 —
25. West Virginia 9-4 184 25
Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 108, Stanford 81, Utah 80, South Carolina 71, Houston 66, Connecticut 32, Notre Dame 31, Missouri 27, Brigham Young 19, Arizona 15, Clemson 15, Texas Tech 14, Navy 12, Washington 8, Texas A&M 7, Mississippi 6, Oklahoma State 3, Middle Tennessee 2, Central Michigan 2, Temple 2, UCF 1, Boston College 1, Southern Methodist 1
