The McComas Power Index for 1989 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 | Notre Dame | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0.9418 | 0.6248 (1) | Eastern Independent |
| 2 | Miami (Florida) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8761 | 0.5565 (21) | South/West Independent |
| 3 | Tennessee | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8639 | 0.5709 (14) | SEC |
| 4 | Colorado | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.8497 | 0.5528 (24) | Big 8 |
| 5 | Florida State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8068 | 0.6076 (4) | South/West Independent |
| 6 | Auburn | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.8043 | 0.5852 (7) | SEC |
| 7 | Alabama | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7997 | 0.5895 (6) | SEC |
| 8 | Arkansas | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7753 | 0.5409 (32) | SWC |
| 9 | Fresno State | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0.7750 | 0.3510 (103) | Big West |
| 10 | Virginia | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0.7723 | 0.5408 (33) | ACC |
| 11 | Illinois | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7719 | 0.5328 (40) | Big Ten |
| 12 | Southern California | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0.7706 | 0.5779 (11) | Pac 10 |
| 13 | Michigan | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7652 | 0.5421 (30) | Big Ten |
| 14 | Nebraska | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7604 | 0.5151 (51) | Big 8 |
| 15 | Northern Illinois | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7575 | 0.3784 (102) | Eastern Independent |
| 16 | Houston | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7484 | 0.4939 (64) | SWC |
| 17 | Clemson | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.7370 | 0.5157 (50) | ACC |
| 18 | Brigham Young | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0.7107 | 0.4820 (70) | WAC |
| 19 | Penn State | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.6960 | 0.5808 (9) | Eastern Independent |
| 20 | Pittsburgh | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.6936 | 0.5346 (39) | Eastern Independent |
| 21 | Arizona | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6872 | 0.5476 (27) | Pac 10 |
| 22 | Texas Tech | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.6866 | 0.5260 (45) | SWC |
| 23 | West Virginia | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0.6731 | 0.5276 (42) | Eastern Independent |
| 24 | Texas A&M | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6690 | 0.5517 (25) | SWC |
| 25 | Hawaii | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0.6501 | 0.4417 (86) | WAC |
| 26 | Oregon | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6403 | 0.5051 (56) | Pac 10 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6391 | 0.5004 (58) | SEC |
| 28 | Air Force | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0.6355 | 0.4954 (62) | WAC |
| 29 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.6326 | 0.3979 (98) | South/West Independent |
| 30 | Syracuse | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6314 | 0.5018 (57) | Eastern Independent |
| 31 | Washington | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6304 | 0.5730 (12) | Pac 10 |
| 32 | Duke | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6264 | 0.5267 (44) | ACC |
| 33 | Ball State | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0.6105 | 0.3924 (99) | MAC |
| 34 | North Carolina State | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.6086 | 0.4654 (79) | ACC |
| 35 | Ohio State | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.6007 | 0.4959 (61) | Big Ten |
| 36 | Oklahoma | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5986 | 0.4790 (72) | Big 8 |
| 37 | Michigan State | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.5977 | 0.5377 (36) | Big Ten |
| 38 | Virginia Tech | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5939 | 0.5561 (22) | South/West Independent |
| 39 | South Carolina | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5930 | 0.5376 (37) | South/West Independent |
| 40 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.5809 | 0.3189 (104) | MAC |
| 41 | Arizona State | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5768 | 0.4928 (65) | Pac 10 |
| 42 | Louisiana Tech | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.5704 | 0.4838 (68) | South/West Independent |
| 43 | Georgia Tech | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.5536 | 0.4540 (83) | ACC |
| 44 | Florida | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0.5533 | 0.5206 (48) | SEC |
| 45 | Akron | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5429 | 0.3016 (105) | Eastern Independent |
| 46 | Fullerton State | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.5385 | 0.4188 (92) | Big West |
| 47 | Louisville | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5260 | 0.4341 (89) | South/West Independent |
| 48 | San Diego State | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.5251 | 0.4792 (71) | WAC |
| 49 | Texas | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5232 | 0.6033 (5) | SWC |
| 50 | Iowa State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5212 | 0.4576 (81) | Big 8 |
| 51 | Kentucky | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5167 | 0.4928 (66) | SEC |
| 52 | Tulsa | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.5143 | 0.4482 (85) | South/West Independent |
| 53 | Colorado State | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.5121 | 0.5686 (15) | WAC |
| 54 | Washington State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5080 | 0.5275 (43) | Pac 10 |
| 55 | Minnesota | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5046 | 0.4488 (84) | Big Ten |
| 56 | Southern Mississippi | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.5038 | 0.5783 (10) | South/West Independent |
| 57 | San Jose State | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.5002 | 0.4626 (80) | Big West |
| 58 | Georgia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.4961 | 0.5538 (23) | SEC |
| 59 | Toledo | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4941 | 0.4149 (93) | MAC |
| 60 | East Carolina | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4930 | 0.4950 (63) | South/West Independent |
| 61 | Baylor | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4778 | 0.5441 (29) | SWC |
| 62 | Army | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.4591 | 0.2839 (106) | Eastern Independent |
| 63 | Indiana | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4491 | 0.4822 (69) | Big Ten |
| 64 | Mississippi State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4476 | 0.4741 (75) | SEC |
| 65 | Central Michigan | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.4420 | 0.3919 (100) | MAC |
| 66 | Wyoming | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4384 | 0.4971 (60) | WAC |
| 67 | Louisiana State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4330 | 0.6175 (3) | SEC |
| 68 | Iowa | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4277 | 0.5210 (47) | Big Ten |
| 69 | Oklahoma State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4139 | 0.5378 (35) | Big 8 |
| 70 | California | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.4107 | 0.5601 (17) | Pac 10 |
| 71 | Oregon State | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0.4042 | 0.5505 (26) | Pac 10 |
| 72 | Bowling Green State | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.4039 | 0.4294 (90) | MAC |
| 73 | Western Michigan | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.3951 | 0.3917 (101) | MAC |
| 74 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3940 | 0.4057 (96) | Big West |
| 75 | Texas Christian | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3911 | 0.5456 (28) | SWC |
| 76 | Stanford | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3737 | 0.5728 (13) | Pac 10 |
| 77 | Utah | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0.3648 | 0.5290 (41) | WAC |
| 78 | Maryland | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3599 | 0.5831 (8) | ACC |
| 79 | Kansas | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3533 | 0.4365 (88) | Big 8 |
| 80 | Tulane | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0.3394 | 0.5149 (52) | South/West Independent |
| 81 | UCLA | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.3365 | 0.6189 (2) | Pac 10 |
| 82 | Utah State | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.3308 | 0.5126 (54) | Big West |
| 83 | Navy | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.3144 | 0.4192 (91) | Eastern Independent |
| 84 | Long Beach State | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0.3073 | 0.4061 (95) | Big West |
| 85 | Purdue | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.2953 | 0.5609 (16) | Big Ten |
| 86 | Southern Methodist | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2937 | 0.5148 (53) | SWC |
| 87 | Memphis | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2921 | 0.4721 (76) | South/West Independent |
| 88 | Rice | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2900 | 0.5417 (31) | SWC |
| 89 | Rutgers | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0.2793 | 0.4690 (78) | Eastern Independent |
| 90 | Wisconsin | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2748 | 0.5584 (20) | Big Ten |
| 91 | Wake Forest | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2617 | 0.4769 (73) | ACC |
| 92 | Pacific | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.2559 | 0.5392 (34) | Big West |
| 93 | New Mexico | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.2423 | 0.5178 (49) | WAC |
| 94 | Missouri | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2384 | 0.5586 (19) | Big 8 |
| 95 | Miami (Ohio) | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0.2363 | 0.4051 (97) | MAC |
| 96 | Cincinnati | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0.2226 | 0.4866 (67) | Eastern Independent |
| 97 | Texas-El Paso | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.2202 | 0.4694 (77) | WAC |
| 98 | Boston College | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0.2142 | 0.5257 (46) | Eastern Independent |
| 99 | Temple | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1963 | 0.5598 (18) | Eastern Independent |
| 100 | Vanderbilt | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1949 | 0.5359 (38) | SEC |
| 101 | Kansas State | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1945 | 0.4754 (74) | Big 8 |
| 102 | Ohio | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0.1934 | 0.4121 (94) | MAC |
| 103 | North Carolina | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.1650 | 0.5003 (59) | ACC |
| 104 | New Mexico State | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0898 | 0.4397 (87) | Big West |
| 105 | Northwestern | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0856 | 0.5111 (55) | Big Ten |
| 106 | Kent | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.0611 | 0.4564 (82) | MAC |