The McComas Power Index for 1972 NCAA Football. These ratings were lasted updated on June 16, 2011, 5:56 p.m.
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | MPI | Sched (Rk) | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern California | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.9444 | 0.5615 (43) | Pac 8 |
| 2 | Auburn | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.9001 | 0.6329 (5) | SEC |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8661 | 0.6006 (14) | Big 8 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8549 | 0.5513 (44) | ACC |
| 5 | Texas | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.8433 | 0.6222 (7) | SWC |
| 6 | San Diego State | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.8320 | 0.5070 (66) | PCAA |
| 7 | Alabama | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8260 | 0.6154 (10) | SEC |
| 8 | Tennessee | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8195 | 0.5644 (38) | SEC |
| 9 | Nebraska | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7954 | 0.5769 (26) | Big 8 |
| 10 | Michigan | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.7948 | 0.5053 (67) | Big Ten |
| 11 | Ohio State | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7693 | 0.5402 (48) | Big Ten |
| 12 | Dartmouth | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0.7682 | 0.4756 (83) | Ivy |
| 13 | Tampa | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7632 | 0.3982 (111) | South/West Independent |
| 14 | Louisiana State | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7615 | 0.6014 (13) | SEC |
| 15 | Louisville | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.7485 | 0.4401 (95) | MVC |
| 16 | Penn State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7479 | 0.5382 (50) | Eastern Independent |
| 17 | Pacific | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.7227 | 0.4189 (107) | PCAA |
| 18 | East Carolina | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7163 | 0.4479 (93) | Southern |
| 19 | Yale | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.7132 | 0.4839 (81) | Ivy |
| 20 | Arizona State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7112 | 0.4402 (94) | WAC |
| 21 | UCLA | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.7107 | 0.5697 (30) | Pac 8 |
| 22 | Washington | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6900 | 0.5640 (40) | Pac 8 |
| 23 | Notre Dame | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6858 | 0.5459 (47) | Eastern Independent |
| 24 | Utah State | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6648 | 0.4597 (91) | South/West Independent |
| 25 | North Carolina State | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.6646 | 0.5626 (41) | ACC |
| 26 | Colorado | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6530 | 0.5649 (36) | Big 8 |
| 27 | Georgia | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6442 | 0.6294 (6) | SEC |
| 28 | Texas Tech | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6373 | 0.5485 (46) | SWC |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.6323 | 0.4337 (100) | Ivy |
| 30 | Georgia Tech | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.6232 | 0.5649 (37) | South/West Independent |
| 31 | Washington State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6171 | 0.5362 (51) | Pac 8 |
| 32 | Miami (Ohio) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.6160 | 0.4371 (98) | MAC |
| 33 | Bowling Green State | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0.6146 | 0.5721 (28) | MAC |
| 34 | Western Michigan | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6123 | 0.4724 (85) | MAC |
| 35 | Cornell | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.6086 | 0.5622 (42) | Ivy |
| 36 | Southern Methodist | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6086 | 0.5277 (55) | SWC |
| 37 | Rutgers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5996 | 0.3084 (122) | Eastern Independent |
| 38 | West Virginia | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.5971 | 0.4848 (79) | Eastern Independent |
| 39 | Northern Illinois | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5857 | 0.4270 (103) | Eastern Independent |
| 40 | Richmond | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5757 | 0.4400 (96) | Southern |
| 41 | Houston | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5727 | 0.5041 (69) | South/West Independent |
| 42 | Florida State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5671 | 0.4939 (76) | South/West Independent |
| 43 | Kent | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.5661 | 0.5348 (52) | MAC |
| 44 | Florida | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.5620 | 0.6640 (1) | SEC |
| 45 | Army | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5582 | 0.5196 (61) | Eastern Independent |
| 46 | Virginia Tech | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5532 | 0.5046 (68) | South/West Independent |
| 47 | Air Force | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5479 | 0.4722 (86) | South/West Independent |
| 48 | Toledo | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5452 | 0.4983 (75) | MAC |
| 49 | Arkansas | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5433 | 0.5650 (35) | SWC |
| 50 | Brigham Young | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5411 | 0.4288 (101) | WAC |
| 51 | Fresno State | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5397 | 0.3820 (114) | PCAA |
| 52 | Colgate | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.5334 | 0.3575 (117) | Eastern Independent |
| 53 | Rice | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.5322 | 0.6023 (12) | SWC |
| 54 | Purdue | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5300 | 0.5268 (56) | Big Ten |
| 55 | Oklahoma State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5270 | 0.5912 (19) | Big 8 |
| 56 | Missouri | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5233 | 0.5953 (17) | Big 8 |
| 57 | Temple | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.5195 | 0.2960 (124) | Eastern Independent |
| 58 | Mississippi | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.5190 | 0.5963 (16) | SEC |
| 59 | Drake | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5188 | 0.2797 (125) | MVC |
| 60 | Miami (Florida) | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5179 | 0.5821 (23) | South/West Independent |
| 61 | Utah | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5157 | 0.4885 (77) | WAC |
| 62 | Tulane | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5148 | 0.5288 (53) | South/West Independent |
| 63 | Holy Cross | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.5134 | 0.4123 (108) | Eastern Independent |
| 64 | Stanford | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5120 | 0.5265 (57) | Pac 8 |
| 65 | Baylor | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5010 | 0.5931 (18) | SWC |
| 66 | Harvard | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0.4988 | 0.4485 (92) | Ivy |
| 67 | Michigan State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4899 | 0.5816 (24) | Big Ten |
| 68 | Iowa State | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0.4899 | 0.5816 (25) | Big 8 |
| 69 | Maryland | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4866 | 0.5028 (71) | ACC |
| 70 | Long Beach State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4839 | 0.4266 (104) | PCAA |
| 71 | Duke | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4795 | 0.5823 (22) | ACC |
| 72 | Indiana | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4691 | 0.4884 (78) | Big Ten |
| 73 | Wichita State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4686 | 0.3155 (119) | MVC |
| 74 | Memphis | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4651 | 0.5004 (72) | MVC |
| 75 | Texas Christian | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4629 | 0.5725 (27) | SWC |
| 76 | West Texas A&M | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.4576 | 0.4040 (109) | MVC |
| 77 | Syracuse | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4485 | 0.5186 (62) | Eastern Independent |
| 78 | William & Mary | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4409 | 0.4398 (97) | Southern |
| 79 | Mississippi State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4396 | 0.5508 (45) | SEC |
| 80 | Texas-Arlington | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4358 | 0.2656 (126) | South/West Independent |
| 81 | Kansas | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4354 | 0.5899 (20) | Big 8 |
| 82 | Appalachian State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4209 | 0.2126 (127) | Southern |
| 83 | Princeton | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.4156 | 0.5836 (21) | Ivy |
| 84 | Columbia | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.4148 | 0.5244 (59) | Ivy |
| 85 | Dayton | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4111 | 0.4026 (110) | Eastern Independent |
| 86 | Citadel | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4079 | 0.3936 (113) | Southern |
| 87 | Oregon | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4012 | 0.5979 (15) | Pac 8 |
| 88 | Minnesota | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3998 | 0.5690 (32) | Big Ten |
| 89 | Boston College | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3989 | 0.4599 (89) | Eastern Independent |
| 90 | San Jose State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3937 | 0.4705 (88) | PCAA |
| 91 | Clemson | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3872 | 0.5703 (29) | ACC |
| 92 | Virginia | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3785 | 0.5038 (70) | ACC |
| 93 | Navy | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3725 | 0.5697 (31) | Eastern Independent |
| 94 | South Carolina | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3691 | 0.5277 (54) | South/West Independent |
| 95 | Idaho | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3691 | 0.3495 (118) | South/West Independent |
| 96 | Arizona | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3615 | 0.4986 (73) | WAC |
| 97 | Kansas State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3584 | 0.6374 (3) | Big 8 |
| 98 | Southern Mississippi | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3572 | 0.4985 (74) | South/West Independent |
| 99 | Tulsa | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3572 | 0.4809 (82) | MVC |
| 100 | Wisconsin | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3489 | 0.5232 (60) | Big Ten |
| 101 | Iowa | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3451 | 0.5252 (58) | Big Ten |
| 102 | Wyoming | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3427 | 0.4350 (99) | WAC |
| 103 | California | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3387 | 0.6213 (8) | Pac 8 |
| 104 | Texas A&M | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3354 | 0.6419 (2) | SWC |
| 105 | Illinois | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3285 | 0.6143 (11) | Big Ten |
| 106 | Vanderbilt | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3278 | 0.5644 (39) | SEC |
| 107 | Kentucky | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3166 | 0.6179 (9) | SEC |
| 108 | Davidson | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3058 | 0.3097 (121) | Southern |
| 109 | Ohio | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2934 | 0.4719 (87) | MAC |
| 110 | New Mexico | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2853 | 0.4843 (80) | WAC |
| 111 | Northwestern | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2793 | 0.5184 (63) | Big Ten |
| 112 | Oregon State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2707 | 0.6356 (4) | Pac 8 |
| 113 | Wake Forest | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2615 | 0.5687 (33) | ACC |
| 114 | Marshall | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.2346 | 0.4753 (84) | Eastern Independent |
| 115 | Villanova | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2293 | 0.3663 (116) | Eastern Independent |
| 116 | New Mexico State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2237 | 0.4213 (105) | MVC |
| 117 | Cincinnati | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2164 | 0.4276 (102) | Eastern Independent |
| 118 | Virginia Military Institute | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2123 | 0.4598 (90) | Southern |
| 119 | Southern Illinois | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0.2007 | 0.3943 (112) | Eastern Independent |
| 120 | Brown | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.1985 | 0.5389 (49) | Ivy |
| 121 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.1977 | 0.2973 (123) | South/West Independent |
| 122 | Pittsburgh | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1928 | 0.5654 (34) | Eastern Independent |
| 123 | Xavier | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.1915 | 0.3696 (115) | Eastern Independent |
| 124 | Furman | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.1912 | 0.3117 (120) | Southern |
| 125 | Texas-El Paso | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.1894 | 0.4205 (106) | WAC |
| 126 | Colorado State | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1842 | 0.5090 (65) | WAC |
| 127 | North Texas | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1170 | 0.5149 (64) | MVC |