The 2011 USA Today Coaches' Poll (First place votes in parentheses)
| No. |
Team |
Record |
Points |
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. |
BYU |
10-3 |
79 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Northern Illinois 36, Missouri 33, Texas 29, Auburn 28, Rutgers 11, Penn State 10, Texas A&M 5, Virginia 4, Washington 2, Temple 2, Florida 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1, Mississippi State 1, Arkansas State 1, Notre Dame 1, Ohio 1.