Two human polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), does not bestow a National Championship title for Division I-A football. That title is primarily bestowed by different polling agencies. There are several polls that currently exist. The main weekly polls are the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. About halfway through the season the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings are released.
| Increase in ranking | |||
| Decrease in ranking | |||
| Not ranked previous week | |||
| Selected for BCS National Championship Game | |||
| Win–loss record | |||
| Number of first place votes | |||
| Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the two teams that competed in the BCS National Championship Game, the 2004 Sugar Bowl.
| Week 8 Oct 20 | Week 9 Oct 27 | Week 10 Nov 3 | Week 11 Nov 10 | Week 12 Nov 17 | Week 13 Nov 24 | Week 14 Dec 1 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oklahoma (7–0) | Oklahoma (8–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Oklahoma (10–0) | Oklahoma (11–0) | Oklahoma (12–0) | Oklahoma (12–0) | Oklahoma (12–1) | 1. | |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (7–0) | Miami (FL) (7–0) | USC (8–1) | USC (8–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | USC (10–1) | USC (10–1) | LSU (12–1) | 2. | |
| 3. | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Florida State (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | USC (9–1) | LSU (10–1) | LSU (11–1) | USC (11–1) | 3. | |
| 4. | Georgia (6–1) | USC (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | LSU (8–1) | LSU (9–1) | Michigan (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 4. | |
| 5. | Florida State (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Texas (8–2) | Texas (9–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | 5. | |
| 6. | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Virginia Tech (7–1) | TCU (9–0) | Georgia (8–2) | Texas (9–2) | Texas (10–2) | Texas (10–2) | 6. | |
| 7. | USC (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | LSU (8–1) | Tennessee (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Georgia (10–2) | Florida State (10–2) | 7. | |
| 8. | Purdue (6–1) | Washington State (7–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Michigan (8–2) | TCU (10–0) | Tennessee (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | 8. | |
| 9. | Washington State (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | TCU (8–0) | Georgia (7–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Florida State (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 9. | |
| 10. | Northern Illinois (7–0) | Michigan State (7–1) | Georgia (7–2) | Washington State (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | Kansas State (11–3) | 10. | |
| 11. | Nebraska (6–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Iowa (7–2) | Purdue (8–2) | Florida State (9–2) | Florida (8–3) | Miami (OH) (11–1) | Miami (OH) (11–1) | 11. | |
| 12. | LSU (6–1) | TCU (8–0) | Texas (7–2) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Iowa (9–3) | Iowa (9–3) | Georgia (10–3) | 12. | |
| 13. | Michigan State (7–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Florida (8–3) | Miami (OH) (10–1) | Purdue (9–3) | Iowa (9–3) | 13. | |
| 14. | TCU (7–0) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Purdue (7–2) | Florida (6–3) | Miami (OH) (9–1) | Purdue (9–3) | Florida (8–4) | Purdue (9–3) | 14. | |
| 15. | Iowa (5–2) | Tennessee (5–2) | Washington State (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Ole Miss (8–2) | Washington State (9–3) | Kansas State (10–3) | Florida (8–4) | 15. | |
| 16. | — | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Bowling Green (7–1) | Miami (OH) (8–1) | Purdue (8–3) | Kansas State (10–3) | Washington State (9–3) | Washington State (9–3) | 16. | |
| 17. | — | Bowling Green (7–1) | Florida (6–3) | Nebraska (8–2) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | TCU (10–1) | TCU (11–1) | Boise State (12–1) | 17. | |
| 18. | — | Purdue (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | Ole Miss (8–2) | Iowa (8–3) | Ole Miss (8–3) | Bowling Green (10–2) | TCU (11–1) | 18. | |
| 19. | — | Miami (OH) (7–1) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Kansas State (9–3) | Boise State (10–1) | Boise State (11–1) | Ole Miss (9–3) | 19. | |
| 20. | — | Missouri (6–2) | Michigan State (7–2) | Iowa (7–3) | Bowling Green (8–2) | Bowling Green (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–3) | Nebraska (9–3) | 20. | |
| 21. | — | Florida (5–3) | Miami (OH) (7–1) | Northern Illinois (9–1) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Nebraska (9–3) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | 21. | |
| 22. | — | Texas (6–2) | Northern Illinois (8–1) | Minnesota (9–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Utah (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Utah (9–2) | 22. | |
| 23. | — | Northern Illinois (7–1) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Bowling Green (7–2) | Boise State (9–1) | Nebraska (8–3) | Utah (9–2) | Maryland (9–3) | 23. | |
| 24. | — | Minnesota (7–2) | Missouri (6–2) | Michigan State (7–3) | Utah (8–2) | Arkansas (8–3) | Maryland (9–3) | Bowling Green (10–3) | 24. | |
| 25. | — | UCLA (6–2) | Pittsburgh (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Pittsburgh (7–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Minnesota (9–3) | Minnesota (9–3) | 25. |