The McComas Power Index for 1981 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 | Clemson | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.8936 | 0.4901 (79) | ACC |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8811 | 0.5999 (9) | Eastern Independent |
| 3 | Texas | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0.8302 | 0.5768 (24) | SWC |
| 4 | Southern Methodist | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.8299 | 0.4772 (88) | SWC |
| 5 | Penn State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8000 | 0.6484 (1) | Eastern Independent |
| 6 | Brigham Young | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0.7978 | 0.4809 (85) | WAC |
| 7 | Miami (Florida) | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7977 | 0.6023 (8) | South/West Independent |
| 8 | Drake | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.7913 | 0.3449 (132) | MVC |
| 9 | Alabama | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7823 | 0.5474 (44) | SEC |
| 10 | Georgia | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7792 | 0.5375 (52) | SEC |
| 11 | Yale | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.7771 | 0.3819 (126) | Ivy |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7629 | 0.5105 (69) | ACC |
| 13 | Utah | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0.7516 | 0.4330 (110) | WAC |
| 14 | Washington | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7514 | 0.4652 (94) | Pac 10 |
| 15 | Nebraska | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7399 | 0.5958 (13) | Big 8 |
| 16 | Michigan | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7220 | 0.5288 (60) | Big Ten |
| 17 | Hawaii | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7153 | 0.4358 (109) | WAC |
| 18 | Arizona State | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7131 | 0.5069 (72) | Pac 10 |
| 19 | Southern Mississippi | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7129 | 0.4925 (78) | South/West Independent |
| 20 | West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7076 | 0.5327 (57) | Eastern Independent |
| 21 | Ohio State | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7067 | 0.5084 (70) | Big Ten |
| 22 | Wyoming | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6914 | 0.4984 (76) | WAC |
| 23 | Southern California | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.6912 | 0.5320 (58) | Pac 10 |
| 24 | San Jose State | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.6814 | 0.4250 (116) | PCAA |
| 25 | Iowa | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6727 | 0.5543 (37) | Big Ten |
| 26 | Toledo | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.6589 | 0.4521 (100) | MAC |
| 27 | Miami (Ohio) | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0.6583 | 0.4741 (89) | MAC |
| 28 | Tennessee | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6569 | 0.4652 (96) | SEC |
| 29 | Washington State | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.6540 | 0.4823 (82) | Pac 10 |
| 30 | Citadel | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6537 | 0.3430 (133) | Southern |
| 31 | Arkansas | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6523 | 0.5505 (40) | SWC |
| 32 | Missouri | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6509 | 0.5432 (49) | Big 8 |
| 33 | McNeese State | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6419 | 0.3993 (123) | Southland |
| 34 | Illinois | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6388 | 0.5558 (36) | Big Ten |
| 35 | Mississippi State | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6386 | 0.5380 (51) | SEC |
| 36 | West Texas A&M | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6344 | 0.5450 (46) | MVC |
| 37 | Kansas | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6324 | 0.5151 (67) | Big 8 |
| 38 | Florida | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6319 | 0.5498 (41) | SEC |
| 39 | Furman | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6295 | 0.3711 (128) | Southern |
| 40 | Houston | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.6205 | 0.5830 (19) | SWC |
| 41 | UCLA | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.6189 | 0.5600 (29) | Pac 10 |
| 42 | Tulsa | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.6126 | 0.5474 (45) | MVC |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.6109 | 0.5697 (26) | Big 8 |
| 44 | Texas A&M | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6092 | 0.5353 (56) | SWC |
| 45 | Southern Illinois | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6011 | 0.4570 (99) | MVC |
| 46 | Colgate | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.6005 | 0.2739 (137) | Eastern Independent |
| 47 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.5941 | 0.3479 (131) | Southern |
| 48 | Central Michigan | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5772 | 0.4403 (106) | MAC |
| 49 | Wisconsin | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5765 | 0.5487 (42) | Big Ten |
| 50 | Navy | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.5668 | 0.4889 (80) | Eastern Independent |
| 51 | Florida State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5640 | 0.6044 (7) | South/West Independent |
| 52 | Virginia Military Institute | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0.5618 | 0.4467 (101) | Southern |
| 53 | Virginia Tech | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5617 | 0.4712 (90) | South/West Independent |
| 54 | Temple | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.5597 | 0.5999 (10) | Eastern Independent |
| 55 | Cincinnati | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5595 | 0.5122 (68) | Eastern Independent |
| 56 | Oklahoma State | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5535 | 0.5356 (55) | Big 8 |
| 57 | Duke | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5520 | 0.5279 (61) | ACC |
| 58 | Texas-Arlington | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5395 | 0.5035 (73) | Southland |
| 59 | Dartmouth | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5379 | 0.3978 (124) | Ivy |
| 60 | Minnesota | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5356 | 0.4928 (77) | Big Ten |
| 61 | Princeton | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.5287 | 0.3389 (134) | Ivy |
| 62 | Arkansas State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5253 | 0.5243 (64) | Southland |
| 63 | San Diego State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5195 | 0.5232 (65) | WAC |
| 64 | South Carolina | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5171 | 0.5969 (11) | South/West Independent |
| 65 | Pacific | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5153 | 0.5400 (50) | PCAA |
| 66 | Louisville | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5115 | 0.4652 (95) | South/West Independent |
| 67 | Arizona | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5110 | 0.4406 (105) | Pac 10 |
| 68 | Rutgers | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5052 | 0.5619 (28) | Eastern Independent |
| 69 | Baylor | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5038 | 0.5525 (39) | SWC |
| 70 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.4971 | 0.5589 (32) | South/West Independent |
| 71 | Utah State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4953 | 0.4573 (98) | PCAA |
| 72 | Holy Cross | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4914 | 0.3619 (129) | Eastern Independent |
| 73 | East Carolina | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4897 | 0.5565 (35) | South/West Independent |
| 74 | Iowa State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4896 | 0.5585 (33) | Big 8 |
| 75 | William & Mary | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4869 | 0.4794 (87) | South/West Independent |
| 76 | Harvard | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.4865 | 0.4410 (104) | Ivy |
| 77 | East Tennessee State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4787 | 0.3597 (130) | Southern |
| 78 | Indiana State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4753 | 0.4391 (107) | MVC |
| 79 | Auburn | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4739 | 0.5446 (47) | SEC |
| 80 | Tulane | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4723 | 0.4702 (91) | South/West Independent |
| 81 | Boston College | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4660 | 0.5822 (20) | Eastern Independent |
| 82 | Syracuse | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4627 | 0.6095 (4) | Eastern Independent |
| 83 | Western Michigan | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4550 | 0.4292 (114) | MAC |
| 84 | Purdue | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4522 | 0.5251 (62) | Big Ten |
| 85 | Notre Dame | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4517 | 0.5590 (30) | Eastern Independent |
| 86 | Louisiana-Monroe | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4495 | 0.3384 (135) | South/West Independent |
| 87 | Fresno State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4409 | 0.4124 (120) | PCAA |
| 88 | Rice | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4401 | 0.5785 (22) | SWC |
| 89 | Mississippi | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4380 | 0.5750 (25) | SEC |
| 90 | Lamar | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4358 | 0.3876 (125) | Southland |
| 91 | Michigan State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4336 | 0.5315 (59) | Big Ten |
| 92 | Maryland | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4333 | 0.5579 (34) | ACC |
| 93 | Louisiana Tech | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4278 | 0.4801 (86) | Southland |
| 94 | North Carolina State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4220 | 0.5903 (16) | ACC |
| 95 | Bowling Green State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4197 | 0.4452 (102) | MAC |
| 96 | Ohio | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4192 | 0.4596 (97) | MAC |
| 97 | Western Carolina | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3986 | 0.4305 (112) | Southern |
| 98 | Wake Forest | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3942 | 0.5250 (63) | ACC |
| 99 | Wichita State | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.3936 | 0.4815 (84) | MVC |
| 100 | Richmond | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3931 | 0.4660 (93) | South/West Independent |
| 101 | New Mexico | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0.3930 | 0.5002 (75) | WAC |
| 102 | Louisiana State | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3824 | 0.5079 (71) | SEC |
| 103 | Army | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3799 | 0.5477 (43) | Eastern Independent |
| 104 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3778 | 0.5776 (23) | SEC |
| 105 | Stanford | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3671 | 0.5438 (48) | Pac 10 |
| 106 | Kent | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3423 | 0.4115 (121) | MAC |
| 107 | Texas Christian | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0.3391 | 0.5880 (17) | SWC |
| 108 | Air Force | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3344 | 0.4864 (81) | WAC |
| 109 | Fullerton State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3316 | 0.4184 (118) | PCAA |
| 110 | Kentucky | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3277 | 0.6086 (5) | SEC |
| 111 | Cornell | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3218 | 0.4322 (111) | Ivy |
| 112 | Ball State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3157 | 0.4373 (108) | MAC |
| 113 | Long Beach State | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.3141 | 0.5541 (38) | PCAA |
| 114 | Brown | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3138 | 0.4095 (122) | Ivy |
| 115 | Colorado | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3118 | 0.5871 (18) | Big 8 |
| 116 | Indiana | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3083 | 0.5686 (27) | Big Ten |
| 117 | Appalachian State | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3062 | 0.4300 (113) | Southern |
| 118 | Illinois State | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.2871 | 0.3376 (136) | MVC |
| 119 | New Mexico State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2869 | 0.4172 (119) | MVC |
| 120 | California | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2659 | 0.6130 (2) | Pac 10 |
| 121 | Northern Illinois | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2622 | 0.4290 (115) | MAC |
| 122 | North Texas | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2415 | 0.5590 (31) | South/West Independent |
| 123 | Kansas State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2375 | 0.5802 (21) | Big 8 |
| 124 | Texas Tech | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0.2354 | 0.5926 (15) | SWC |
| 125 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0.2253 | 0.4821 (83) | Southland |
| 126 | Oregon | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2237 | 0.5368 (53) | Pac 10 |
| 127 | Virginia | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.2217 | 0.5954 (14) | ACC |
| 128 | Marshall | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2196 | 0.4669 (92) | Southern |
| 129 | Memphis | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1962 | 0.5361 (54) | South/West Independent |
| 130 | Columbia | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.1818 | 0.4448 (103) | Ivy |
| 131 | Pennsylvania | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.1743 | 0.3757 (127) | Ivy |
| 132 | Texas-El Paso | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1737 | 0.5019 (74) | WAC |
| 133 | Georgia Tech | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1664 | 0.5967 (12) | South/West Independent |
| 134 | Oregon State | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1283 | 0.5156 (66) | Pac 10 |
| 135 | Northwestern | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.1249 | 0.6080 (6) | Big Ten |
| 136 | Colorado State | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0.1197 | 0.6127 (3) | WAC |
| 137 | Eastern Michigan | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0333 | 0.4212 (117) | MAC |