The McComas Power Index for 1979 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 | Alabama | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.9096 | 0.4721 (92) | SEC |
| 2 | Southern California | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0.8967 | 0.5377 (57) | Pac 10 |
| 3 | Brigham Young | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8679 | 0.5066 (73) | WAC |
| 4 | Ohio State | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8614 | 0.5221 (64) | Big Ten |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8519 | 0.5594 (31) | Eastern Independent |
| 6 | Houston | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8474 | 0.5318 (60) | SWC |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8435 | 0.5293 (61) | Big 8 |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0.8435 | 0.4648 (97) | MAC |
| 9 | Florida State | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8334 | 0.5034 (75) | South/West Independent |
| 10 | McNeese State | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8235 | 0.4721 (93) | Southland |
| 11 | Arkansas | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7751 | 0.5782 (22) | SWC |
| 12 | Purdue | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7662 | 0.5118 (69) | Big Ten |
| 13 | Yale | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0.7655 | 0.4427 (107) | Ivy |
| 14 | Temple | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7650 | 0.4675 (95) | Eastern Independent |
| 15 | Nebraska | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7495 | 0.5511 (43) | Big 8 |
| 16 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0.7311 | 0.3506 (130) | South/West Independent |
| 17 | Texas | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7306 | 0.5867 (20) | SWC |
| 18 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7201 | 0.3832 (128) | Southern |
| 19 | North Carolina | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.7126 | 0.5881 (17) | ACC |
| 20 | Texas-Arlington | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7065 | 0.4193 (119) | Southland |
| 21 | Washington | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7048 | 0.5451 (50) | Pac 10 |
| 22 | Rutgers | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6913 | 0.4770 (90) | Eastern Independent |
| 23 | San Diego State | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6896 | 0.5098 (70) | WAC |
| 24 | South Carolina | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6890 | 0.6006 (11) | South/West Independent |
| 25 | Clemson | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6861 | 0.5898 (15) | ACC |
| 26 | Auburn | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6794 | 0.4951 (81) | SEC |
| 27 | Michigan | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6786 | 0.5451 (49) | Big Ten |
| 28 | Utah State | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6748 | 0.5016 (78) | PCAA |
| 29 | Tulane | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.6735 | 0.4559 (103) | South/West Independent |
| 30 | Penn State | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6727 | 0.6367 (3) | Eastern Independent |
| 31 | Wake Forest | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6682 | 0.5880 (19) | ACC |
| 32 | East Carolina | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6650 | 0.4854 (84) | South/West Independent |
| 33 | Baylor | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6625 | 0.5955 (13) | SWC |
| 34 | Indiana | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6574 | 0.5150 (67) | Big Ten |
| 35 | Lamar | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0.6363 | 0.4904 (82) | Southland |
| 36 | Southern Illinois | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6338 | 0.3274 (136) | MVC |
| 37 | Indiana State | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6305 | 0.3359 (135) | MVC |
| 38 | Notre Dame | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6142 | 0.6043 (9) | Eastern Independent |
| 39 | Maryland | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6131 | 0.5516 (41) | ACC |
| 40 | Syracuse | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6119 | 0.5880 (18) | Eastern Independent |
| 41 | Brown | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.6091 | 0.4149 (121) | Ivy |
| 42 | North Carolina State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5954 | 0.6316 (4) | ACC |
| 43 | Toledo | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.5891 | 0.4614 (100) | MAC |
| 44 | Long Beach State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5879 | 0.4388 (110) | PCAA |
| 45 | Missouri | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5871 | 0.5481 (47) | Big 8 |
| 46 | Southern Mississippi | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5834 | 0.4985 (80) | South/West Independent |
| 47 | Texas A&M | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5817 | 0.6069 (8) | SWC |
| 48 | East Tennessee State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5735 | 0.2993 (140) | Southern |
| 49 | San Jose State | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5726 | 0.4638 (98) | PCAA |
| 50 | Tennessee | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5707 | 0.5510 (44) | SEC |
| 51 | Oklahoma State | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5703 | 0.5344 (59) | Big 8 |
| 52 | Arizona | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.5662 | 0.5545 (37) | Pac 10 |
| 53 | Louisiana State | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5632 | 0.5448 (51) | SEC |
| 54 | Navy | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5631 | 0.4872 (83) | Eastern Independent |
| 55 | Princeton | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.5563 | 0.5024 (77) | Ivy |
| 56 | Western Carolina | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5375 | 0.3361 (134) | Southern |
| 57 | Iowa | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5320 | 0.5694 (26) | Big Ten |
| 58 | Utah | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5311 | 0.5987 (12) | WAC |
| 59 | Western Michigan | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5267 | 0.4689 (94) | MAC |
| 60 | Cornell | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.5252 | 0.4291 (114) | Ivy |
| 61 | Citadel | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5247 | 0.3940 (125) | Southern |
| 62 | West Texas A&M | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.5225 | 0.5512 (42) | MVC |
| 63 | UCLA | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5225 | 0.6446 (2) | Pac 10 |
| 64 | Virginia | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5210 | 0.4790 (89) | ACC |
| 65 | Miami (Ohio) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5208 | 0.4546 (104) | MAC |
| 66 | Ball State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5199 | 0.4446 (106) | MAC |
| 67 | Virginia Military Institute | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5168 | 0.4369 (111) | Southern |
| 68 | Hawaii | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5132 | 0.4747 (91) | WAC |
| 69 | Stanford | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.5111 | 0.5378 (56) | Pac 10 |
| 70 | California | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5088 | 0.5804 (21) | Pac 10 |
| 71 | Arizona State | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5076 | 0.5546 (36) | Pac 10 |
| 72 | Ohio | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5017 | 0.4356 (112) | MAC |
| 73 | Oregon | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4969 | 0.4804 (88) | Pac 10 |
| 74 | Tulsa | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4951 | 0.4449 (105) | MVC |
| 75 | Dartmouth | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0.4941 | 0.4277 (115) | Ivy |
| 76 | Colgate | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.4902 | 0.3159 (139) | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | West Virginia | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4890 | 0.5781 (24) | Eastern Independent |
| 78 | Georgia | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4830 | 0.5026 (76) | SEC |
| 79 | Louisville | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4802 | 0.5469 (48) | South/West Independent |
| 80 | Virginia Tech | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4763 | 0.5600 (30) | South/West Independent |
| 81 | Southern Methodist | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4738 | 0.5522 (39) | SWC |
| 82 | New Mexico | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.4727 | 0.4812 (87) | WAC |
| 83 | Boston College | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4689 | 0.5083 (72) | Eastern Independent |
| 84 | Northern Illinois | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4655 | 0.5207 (65) | MAC |
| 85 | Furman | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4654 | 0.3916 (127) | Southern |
| 86 | Michigan State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4568 | 0.5508 (45) | Big Ten |
| 87 | North Texas | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4484 | 0.4842 (85) | South/West Independent |
| 88 | Holy Cross | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4469 | 0.3482 (131) | Eastern Independent |
| 89 | Georgia Tech | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4460 | 0.5239 (62) | South/West Independent |
| 90 | Memphis | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4457 | 0.4267 (116) | South/West Independent |
| 91 | Miami (Florida) | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4427 | 0.5405 (54) | South/West Independent |
| 92 | Colorado State | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0.4423 | 0.5776 (25) | WAC |
| 93 | Villanova | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4420 | 0.3382 (133) | Eastern Independent |
| 94 | Texas Tech | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0.4337 | 0.6158 (6) | SWC |
| 95 | Minnesota | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4240 | 0.5923 (14) | Big Ten |
| 96 | Wisconsin | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4226 | 0.5650 (29) | Big Ten |
| 97 | William & Mary | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3984 | 0.4096 (123) | South/West Independent |
| 98 | Kentucky | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.3946 | 0.4674 (96) | SEC |
| 99 | Northwestern State | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.3884 | 0.4201 (118) | South/West Independent |
| 100 | Wyoming | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0.3817 | 0.5087 (71) | WAC |
| 101 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3800 | 0.4820 (86) | Southland |
| 102 | Fresno State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3706 | 0.4408 (109) | PCAA |
| 103 | Harvard | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.3698 | 0.3919 (126) | Ivy |
| 104 | Bowling Green State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3636 | 0.4985 (79) | MAC |
| 105 | Connecticut | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0.3630 | 0.3214 (137) | Eastern Independent |
| 106 | Arkansas State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3590 | 0.4578 (101) | Southland |
| 107 | Mississippi | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3538 | 0.5202 (66) | SEC |
| 108 | Kansas | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3507 | 0.6019 (10) | Big 8 |
| 109 | Colorado | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3491 | 0.5501 (46) | Big 8 |
| 110 | Mississippi State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3431 | 0.5567 (35) | SEC |
| 111 | Iowa State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3396 | 0.5429 (53) | Big 8 |
| 112 | Kansas State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3199 | 0.5061 (74) | Big 8 |
| 113 | Appalachian State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3156 | 0.5435 (52) | Southern |
| 114 | Fullerton State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3121 | 0.3461 (132) | PCAA |
| 115 | Pacific | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3046 | 0.3736 (129) | PCAA |
| 116 | Drake | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3014 | 0.4204 (117) | MVC |
| 117 | Texas Christian | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2974 | 0.6227 (5) | SWC |
| 118 | Washington State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2961 | 0.5544 (38) | Pac 10 |
| 119 | Illinois | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2958 | 0.5594 (32) | Big Ten |
| 120 | Louisiana-Monroe | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2943 | 0.4093 (124) | South/West Independent |
| 121 | Illinois State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2865 | 0.3177 (138) | Eastern Independent |
| 122 | Duke | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2809 | 0.5653 (28) | ACC |
| 123 | Army | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2801 | 0.5664 (27) | Eastern Independent |
| 124 | Louisiana Tech | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2552 | 0.5403 (55) | Southland |
| 125 | Eastern Michigan | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2541 | 0.4097 (122) | MAC |
| 126 | Texas-El Paso | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2513 | 0.5349 (58) | WAC |
| 127 | Cincinnati | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2319 | 0.5889 (16) | Eastern Independent |
| 128 | New Mexico State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2300 | 0.5125 (68) | MVC |
| 129 | Columbia | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.2202 | 0.4630 (99) | Ivy |
| 130 | Rice | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1981 | 0.6503 (1) | SWC |
| 131 | Air Force | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.1806 | 0.4331 (113) | South/West Independent |
| 132 | Northwestern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1748 | 0.5781 (23) | Big Ten |
| 133 | Marshall | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1617 | 0.5225 (63) | Southern |
| 134 | Wichita State | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1546 | 0.5520 (40) | MVC |
| 135 | Oregon State | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1507 | 0.5568 (34) | Pac 10 |
| 136 | Kent | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1393 | 0.4415 (108) | MAC |
| 137 | Florida | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0.1384 | 0.6099 (7) | SEC |
| 138 | Pennsylvania | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.1346 | 0.4180 (120) | Ivy |
| 139 | Vanderbilt | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1174 | 0.5586 (33) | SEC |
| 140 | Richmond | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0701 | 0.4576 (102) | South/West Independent |