The McComas Power Index for 1987 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 | Miami (Florida) | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.9441 | 0.5653 (21) | South/West Independent |
| 2 | Syracuse | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0.8732 | 0.4808 (68) | Eastern Independent |
| 3 | Florida State | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8701 | 0.5878 (9) | South/West Independent |
| 4 | Louisiana State | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0.8474 | 0.5567 (23) | SEC |
| 5 | Auburn | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0.8395 | 0.5862 (11) | SEC |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8195 | 0.4793 (69) | Big 8 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8147 | 0.5328 (35) | SWC |
| 8 | Nebraska | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7866 | 0.5668 (19) | Big 8 |
| 9 | Clemson | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7764 | 0.4828 (67) | ACC |
| 10 | UCLA | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7579 | 0.5341 (33) | Pac 10 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7558 | 0.5871 (10) | Big Ten |
| 12 | Oklahoma State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7515 | 0.4955 (59) | Big 8 |
| 13 | Tennessee | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0.7515 | 0.4861 (66) | SEC |
| 14 | Iowa | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0.7361 | 0.5052 (53) | Big Ten |
| 15 | Georgia | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.7304 | 0.5769 (15) | SEC |
| 16 | Eastern Michigan | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7072 | 0.4108 (89) | MAC |
| 17 | Notre Dame | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.7053 | 0.6474 (2) | Eastern Independent |
| 18 | San Jose State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7044 | 0.3980 (96) | PCAA |
| 19 | Wyoming | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0.6886 | 0.4652 (74) | WAC |
| 20 | Penn State | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6880 | 0.5822 (13) | Eastern Independent |
| 21 | Southern California | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6811 | 0.5586 (22) | Pac 10 |
| 22 | South Carolina | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6744 | 0.5523 (24) | South/West Independent |
| 23 | Pittsburgh | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6645 | 0.5661 (20) | Eastern Independent |
| 24 | Michigan | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6615 | 0.5301 (39) | Big Ten |
| 25 | Virginia | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6525 | 0.4887 (63) | ACC |
| 26 | Indiana | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6399 | 0.5275 (43) | Big Ten |
| 27 | Brigham Young | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0.6349 | 0.4966 (57) | WAC |
| 28 | Air Force | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0.6207 | 0.4611 (76) | WAC |
| 29 | Texas | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6205 | 0.5900 (8) | SWC |
| 30 | Alabama | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6184 | 0.6443 (3) | SEC |
| 31 | Arkansas | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0.6063 | 0.5217 (46) | SWC |
| 32 | Washington | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.6005 | 0.5235 (45) | Pac 10 |
| 33 | Florida | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5879 | 0.6498 (1) | SEC |
| 34 | Colorado | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5855 | 0.4594 (77) | Big 8 |
| 35 | Arizona State | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0.5791 | 0.5215 (47) | Pac 10 |
| 36 | Texas Tech | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5730 | 0.4753 (72) | SWC |
| 37 | Wake Forest | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5726 | 0.4325 (87) | ACC |
| 38 | Ohio State | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5644 | 0.5834 (12) | Big Ten |
| 39 | Texas-El Paso | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5642 | 0.4005 (95) | WAC |
| 40 | Kent | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5447 | 0.4345 (83) | MAC |
| 41 | Southern Mississippi | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5437 | 0.4776 (71) | South/West Independent |
| 42 | West Virginia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5307 | 0.5350 (32) | Eastern Independent |
| 43 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5287 | 0.4045 (93) | South/West Independent |
| 44 | Rutgers | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5169 | 0.5309 (38) | Eastern Independent |
| 45 | Oregon | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5160 | 0.5277 (42) | Pac 10 |
| 46 | Baylor | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5140 | 0.4379 (82) | SWC |
| 47 | Minnesota | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5018 | 0.4474 (79) | Big Ten |
| 48 | Tulane | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5016 | 0.5136 (50) | South/West Independent |
| 49 | Boston College | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4940 | 0.6205 (5) | Eastern Independent |
| 50 | Memphis | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4938 | 0.4659 (73) | South/West Independent |
| 51 | Fresno State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4841 | 0.3907 (98) | PCAA |
| 52 | Utah State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4789 | 0.4959 (58) | PCAA |
| 53 | Fullerton State | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.4646 | 0.4614 (75) | PCAA |
| 54 | North Carolina | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4644 | 0.5493 (26) | ACC |
| 55 | Bowling Green State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4632 | 0.4345 (84) | MAC |
| 56 | Texas Christian | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4627 | 0.5251 (44) | SWC |
| 57 | Arizona | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0.4546 | 0.5043 (55) | Pac 10 |
| 58 | Central Michigan | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4514 | 0.4059 (92) | MAC |
| 59 | Stanford | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4501 | 0.5351 (31) | Pac 10 |
| 60 | Duke | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4428 | 0.4518 (78) | ACC |
| 61 | Missouri | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4415 | 0.5497 (25) | Big 8 |
| 62 | Miami (Ohio) | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4407 | 0.5298 (40) | MAC |
| 63 | Maryland | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4399 | 0.6352 (4) | ACC |
| 64 | East Carolina | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4389 | 0.4949 (60) | South/West Independent |
| 65 | Kentucky | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4377 | 0.5390 (30) | SEC |
| 66 | Northern Illinois | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4331 | 0.3217 (102) | Eastern Independent |
| 67 | Hawaii | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0.4255 | 0.4263 (88) | WAC |
| 68 | Army | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4212 | 0.2801 (104) | Eastern Independent |
| 69 | Mississippi State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4203 | 0.5731 (18) | SEC |
| 70 | Western Michigan | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4090 | 0.4092 (90) | MAC |
| 71 | Houston | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.4079 | 0.5287 (41) | SWC |
| 72 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4060 | 0.5785 (14) | SEC |
| 73 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4007 | 0.4328 (86) | PCAA |
| 74 | North Carolina State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3989 | 0.5103 (51) | ACC |
| 75 | San Diego State | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0.3943 | 0.4875 (65) | WAC |
| 76 | Utah | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0.3888 | 0.3800 (100) | WAC |
| 77 | California | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0.3846 | 0.5761 (16) | Pac 10 |
| 78 | Illinois | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3791 | 0.5191 (49) | Big Ten |
| 79 | Akron | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3775 | 0.2897 (103) | Eastern Independent |
| 80 | Toledo | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3702 | 0.4910 (62) | MAC |
| 81 | Pacific | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3647 | 0.4441 (81) | PCAA |
| 82 | Mississippi | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3543 | 0.5419 (28) | SEC |
| 83 | Cincinnati | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3510 | 0.3952 (97) | Eastern Independent |
| 84 | Washington State | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3384 | 0.5748 (17) | Pac 10 |
| 85 | Purdue | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3335 | 0.5440 (27) | Big Ten |
| 86 | Louisville | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3302 | 0.4340 (85) | South/West Independent |
| 87 | Long Beach State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3295 | 0.4011 (94) | PCAA |
| 88 | Ball State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3178 | 0.4086 (91) | MAC |
| 89 | Tulsa | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3143 | 0.4779 (70) | South/West Independent |
| 90 | Temple | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2938 | 0.5017 (56) | Eastern Independent |
| 91 | Iowa State | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2895 | 0.5312 (36) | Big 8 |
| 92 | Wisconsin | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2790 | 0.5051 (54) | Big Ten |
| 93 | Northwestern | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2550 | 0.5310 (37) | Big Ten |
| 94 | Rice | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2531 | 0.5203 (48) | SWC |
| 95 | Georgia Tech | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2501 | 0.5333 (34) | ACC |
| 96 | Navy | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2342 | 0.3824 (99) | Eastern Independent |
| 97 | Oregon State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2315 | 0.6099 (6) | Pac 10 |
| 98 | New Mexico State | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2219 | 0.3741 (101) | PCAA |
| 99 | Virginia Tech | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2206 | 0.6047 (7) | South/West Independent |
| 100 | Kansas | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0.1828 | 0.4916 (61) | Big 8 |
| 101 | Ohio | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1587 | 0.4463 (80) | MAC |
| 102 | Colorado State | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0.1279 | 0.5418 (29) | WAC |
| 103 | Kansas State | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0.1122 | 0.5060 (52) | Big 8 |
| 104 | New Mexico | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0872 | 0.4877 (64) | WAC |