If the distribution of 1st place votes is any indication, this could be a wild year in college football. LSU checks in at no. 1, but Alabama has the most 1st place votes with 20. Three other teams received 1st place votes including USC, Oklahoma and Florida State.
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Record | Points | Final 2011 rank |
| 1. | LSU (18) | 13-1 | 1,403 | 2 |
| 2. | Alabama (20) | 12-1 | 1,399 | 1 |
| 3. | Southern California (19) | 10-2 | 1,388 | NR |
| 4. | Oklahoma (1) | 10-3 | 1,276 | 15 |
| 5. | Oregon | 12-2 | 1,258 | 4 |
| 6. | Georgia | 10-4 | 1,061 | 20 |
| 7. | Florida State (1) | 9-4 | 1,055 | 23 |
| 8. | Michigan | 11-2 | 1,023 | 9 |
| 9. | South Carolina | 11-2 | 981 | 8 |
| 10. | Arkansas | 11-2 | 948 | 5 |
| 11. | West Virginia | 10-3 | 833 | 18 |
| 12. | Wisconsin | 11-3 | 743 | 11 |
| 13. | Michigan State | 11-3 | 717 | 10 |
| 14. | Clemson | 10-4 | 598 | 22 |
| 15. | Texas | 8-5 | 549 | NR |
| 16. | Nebraska | 9-4 | 501 | 24 |
| 17. | TCU | 11-2 | 499 | 13 |
| 18. | Stanford | 11-2 | 497 | 7 |
| 19. | Oklahoma State | 12-1 | 476 | 3 |
| 20. | Virginia Tech | 11-3 | 461 | 17 |
| 21. | Kansas State | 10-3 | 398 | 16 |
| 22. | Boise State | 12-1 | 271 | 6 |
| 23. | Florida | 7-6 | 250 | NR |
| 24. | Notre Dame | 8-5 | 166 | NR |
| 25. | Auburn | 8-5 | 66 | NR |