The SEC was well represented in the final USA Today Coaches Poll, with Alabama and LSU finishing first and second, as expected, and Arkansas and South Carolina each climbing to finish in the top eight.
College Football Rankings: Final Coaches Poll Features 4 SEC Teams In Top 8
Virtually the entire poll was shuffled, as only two teams -- Oklahoma State and Boise State -- kept the same ranking from before bowl season. Notable risers include Michigan and Michigan State, who each jumped three spots to finish ninth and 10th, respectively. Virginia Tech, who lost to Michigan in the Sugar Bowl, fell six spots from No. 11 to 17, while Clemson fell eight spots from No. 14 to 22.
A fifth SEC team, Georgia, rounded out the top 20, although the Bulldogs slipped two spots after losing the Outback Bowl in overtime to Michigan State. As has been the case all season, USC was ineligible to included in the Coaches Poll due to their NCAA ban on postseason play. The Trojans finished No. 6 in the AP poll.
The full USA Today Coaches Poll appears below:
| Rank | Team | Record | Votes | Previous |
| 1 | Alabama (59) | 12-1 | 1,475 | 2 |
| 2 | LSU | 13-1 | 1,404 | 1 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 12-1 | 1,367 | 3 |
| 4 | Oregon | 12-2 | 1,290 | 5 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 11-2 | 1,188 | 7 |
| 6 | Boise State | 12-1 | 1,162 | 6 |
| 7 | Stanford | 11-2 | 1,106 | 4 |
| 8 | South Carolina | 11-2 | 1,084 | 9 |
| 9 | Michigan | 11-2 | 925 | 12 |
| 10 | Michigan State | 11-3 | 912 | 13 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 11-3 | 911 | 8 |
| 12 | Baylor | 10-3 | 775 | 16 |
| 13 | TCU | 11-2 | 710 | 15 |
| 14 | Houston | 13-1 | 673 | 17 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 10-3 | 610 | 19 |
| 16 | Kansas State | 10-3 | 602 | 10 |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | 11-3 | 574 | 11 |
| 18 | West Virginia | 10-3 | 554 | 22 |
| 19 | Southern Miss | 12-2 | 429 | 21 |
| 20 | Georgia | 10-4 | 345 | 18 |
| 21 | Cincinnati | 10-3 | 248 | 24 |
| 22 | Clemson | 10-4 | 237 | 14 |
| 23 | Florida State | 9-4 | 205 | 25 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 9-4 | 144 | 20 |
| 25 | Brigham Young | 10-3 | 79 | NR |
Also receiving votes: Northern Illinois 36, Missouri 33, Texas 29, Auburn 28, Rutgers 11, Penn State 10, Texas A&M 5, Virginia 4, Temple 2, Washington 2, Arkansas State 1, Florida 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1, Mississippi State 1, Notre Dame 1, Ohio 1
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