| Rk | Team | Record | Rating | Conference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | (10-0-1) | 0.9508 | Big Eight | |
| 2 | Alabama | (11-1-0) | 0.8500 | Southeastern | |
| 3 | Notre Dame | (11-0-0) | 0.8291 | Independent | |
| 4 | Penn State | (12-0-0) | 0.7943 | Independent | |
| 5 | Nebraska | (9-2-1) | 0.7878 | Big Eight | |
| 6 | Miami (Ohio) | (11-0-0) | 0.7510 | Mid-American | |
| 7 | Texas Tech | (11-1-0) | 0.7298 | Southwest | |
| 8 | Houston | (11-1-0) | 0.7078 | Independent | |
| 9 | Ohio State | (10-0-1) | 0.6906 | Big Ten | |
| 10 | Louisiana State | (9-3-0) | 0.6819 | Southeastern | |
| 11 | Michigan | (10-0-1) | 0.6594 | Big Ten | |
| 12 | North Carolina State | (9-3-0) | 0.5887 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 13 | Missouri | (8-4-0) | 0.5857 | Big Eight | |
| 14 | Georgia | (7-4-1) | 0.5759 | Southeastern | |
| 15 | Southern California | (9-2-1) | 0.5637 | Pac 8 | |
| 16 | Texas | (8-3-0) | 0.5482 | Southwest | |
| 17 | Arizona State | (11-1-0) | 0.5461 | Western Athletic | |
| 18 | Kansas | (7-4-1) | 0.5407 | Big Eight | |
| 19 | San Diego State | (9-1-1) | 0.5181 | PCAA | |
| 20 | UCLA | (9-2-0) | 0.5081 | Pac 8 | |
| 21 | Tennessee | (8-4-0) | 0.5012 | Southeastern | |
| 22 | Kent State | (9-2-0) | 0.4958 | Mid-American | |
| 23 | Tulane | (9-3-0) | 0.4905 | Independent | |
| 24 | Florida | (7-5-0) | 0.4775 | Southeastern | |
| 25 | Mississippi | (6-5-0) | 0.4556 | Southeastern | |
| 26 | East Carolina | (9-2-0) | 0.4395 | Southern | |
| 27 | Oklahoma State | (5-4-2) | 0.4339 | Big Eight | |
| 28 | Memphis | (8-3-0) | 0.4182 | Independent | |
| 29 | Maryland | (8-4-0) | 0.3988 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 30 | Arizona | (8-3-0) | 0.3808 | Western Athletic | |
| 31 | Colorado | (5-6-0) | 0.3767 | Big Eight | |
| 32 | Richmond | (8-2-0) | 0.3758 | Southern | |
| 33 | Kansas State | (5-6-0) | 0.3700 | Big Eight | |
| 34 | South Carolina | (7-4-0) | 0.3687 | Independent | |
| 35 | Auburn | (6-6-0) | 0.3608 | Southeastern | |
| 36 | Stanford | (7-4-0) | 0.3514 | Pac 8 | |
| 37 | Kentucky | (5-6-0) | 0.3468 | Southeastern | |
| 38 | Minnesota | (7-4-0) | 0.3397 | Big Ten | |
| 39 | Temple | (9-1-0) | 0.3393 | Independent | |
| 40 | Bowling Green State | (7-3-0) | 0.3355 | Mid-American | |
| 41 | Boston College | (7-4-0) | 0.3333 | Independent | |
| 42 | Harvard | (7-2-0) | 0.3137 | Ivy | |
| 43 | Pittsburgh | (6-5-1) | 0.3134 | Independent | |
| 44 | Iowa State | (4-7-0) | 0.3006 | Big Eight | |
| 45 | Arkansas | (5-5-1) | 0.3000 | Southwest | |
| 46 | Miami (Florida) | (5-6-0) | 0.2883 | Independent | |
| 47 | Southern Methodist | (6-4-1) | 0.2852 | Southwest | |
| 48 | Pennsylvania | (6-3-0) | 0.2801 | Ivy | |
| 49 | Southern Mississippi | (6-4-1) | 0.2794 | Independent | |
| 50 | Dartmouth | (6-3-0) | 0.2689 | Ivy | |
| 51 | Texas A&M | (5-6-0) | 0.2645 | Southwest | |
| 52 | Air Force | (6-4-0) | 0.2640 | Independent | |
| 53 | Utah | (7-5-0) | 0.2590 | Western Athletic | |
| 54 | Rice | (5-6-0) | 0.2572 | Southwest | |
| 55 | Vanderbilt | (5-6-0) | 0.2464 | Southeastern | |
| 56 | Mississippi State | (4-5-2) | 0.2353 | Southeastern | |
| 57 | Utah State | (7-4-0) | 0.2341 | Independent | |
| 58 | West Virginia | (6-5-0) | 0.2334 | Independent | |
| 59 | Tampa | (8-3-0) | 0.2315 | Independent | |
| 60 | Ohio | (5-5-0) | 0.2200 | Mid-American | |
| 61 | Georgia Tech | (5-6-0) | 0.2197 | Independent | |
| 62 | Michigan State | (5-6-0) | 0.2190 | Big Ten | |
| 63 | Purdue | (5-6-0) | 0.2085 | Big Ten | |
| 64 | Yale | (6-3-0) | 0.2063 | Ivy | |
| 65 | Pacific | (7-2-1) | 0.2023 | PCAA | |
| 66 | Illinois | (5-6-0) | 0.1973 | Big Ten | |
| 67 | Washington State | (5-6-0) | 0.1906 | Pac 8 | |
| 68 | San Jose State | (5-4-2) | 0.1904 | PCAA | |
| 69 | Brown | (4-3-1) | 0.1815 | Ivy | |
| 70 | Tulsa | (6-5-0) | 0.1723 | Missouri Valley | |
| 71 | Navy | (4-7-0) | 0.1634 | Independent | |
| 72 | Clemson | (5-6-0) | 0.1494 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 73 | Wisconsin | (4-7-0) | 0.1467 | Big Ten | |
| 74 | Furman | (7-4-0) | 0.1451 | Southern | |
| 75 | Northwestern | (4-7-0) | 0.1437 | Big Ten | |
| 76 | North Carolina | (4-7-0) | 0.1390 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 77 | Louisville | (5-6-0) | 0.1288 | Missouri Valley | |
| 78 | Cincinnati | (4-7-0) | 0.1113 | Missouri Valley | |
| 79 | William & Mary | (6-5-0) | 0.1067 | Southern | |
| 80 | Brigham Young | (5-6-0) | 0.1013 | Western Athletic | |
| 81 | Western Michigan | (6-5-0) | 0.0890 | Mid-American | |
| 82 | Wyoming | (4-7-0) | 0.0788 | Western Athletic | |
| 83 | New Mexico | (4-7-0) | 0.0519 | Western Athletic | |
| 84 | Northern Illinois | (6-5-0) | 0.0486 | Independent | |
| 85 | Texas Christian | (3-8-0) | 0.0382 | Southwest | |
| 86 | Virginia | (4-7-0) | 0.0108 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 87 | Colorado State | (5-6-0) | 0.0091 | Western Athletic | |
| 88 | California | (4-7-0) | 0.0076 | Pac 8 | |
| 89 | Dayton | (5-5-1) | 0.0016 | Independent | |
| 90 | Toledo | (3-8-0) | 0.0007 | Mid-American | |
| 91 | Cornell | (3-5-1) | -0.0133 | Ivy | |
| 92 | Baylor | (2-9-0) | -0.0156 | Southwest | |
| 93 | Indiana | (2-9-0) | -0.0287 | Big Ten | |
| 94 | North Texas | (5-5-1) | -0.0362 | Missouri Valley | |
| 95 | Oregon | (2-9-0) | -0.0412 | Pac 8 | |
| 96 | Duke | (2-8-1) | -0.0416 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 97 | Marshall | (4-7-0) | -0.0486 | Independent | |
| 98 | Virginia Tech | (2-9-0) | -0.0521 | Independent | |
| 99 | Villanova | (3-8-0) | -0.0598 | Independent | |
| 100 | Holy Cross | (5-6-0) | -0.0627 | Independent | |
| 101 | Rutgers | (6-5-0) | -0.0696 | Independent | |
| 102 | Oregon State | (2-9-0) | -0.0921 | Pac 8 | |
| 103 | Syracuse | (2-9-0) | -0.1003 | Independent | |
| 104 | Xavier | (5-5-1) | -0.1064 | Independent | |
| 105 | Colgate | (5-5-0) | -0.1111 | Independent | |
| 106 | Southern Illinois | (3-7-1) | -0.1161 | Independent | |
| 107 | New Mexico State | (5-6-0) | -0.1208 | Missouri Valley | |
| 108 | Virginia Military Institute | (3-8-0) | -0.1703 | Southern | |
| 109 | Wake Forest | (1-9-1) | -0.1996 | Atlantic Coast | |
| 110 | Florida State | (0-11-0) | -0.2453 | Independent | |
| 111 | Iowa | (0-11-0) | -0.2460 | Big Ten | |
| 112 | Wichita State | (4-7-0) | -0.2668 | Missouri Valley | |
| 113 | Citadel | (3-8-0) | -0.2810 | Southern | |
| 114 | Washington | (2-9-0) | -0.2818 | Pac 8 | |
| 115 | Appalachian State | (3-7-1) | -0.3337 | Southern | |
| 116 | Army | (0-10-0) | -0.3409 | Independent | |
| 117 | Idaho | (4-7-0) | -0.3691 | Independent | |
| 118 | Princeton | (1-8-0) | -0.3804 | Ivy | |
| 119 | Davidson | (2-8-0) | -0.3867 | Southern | |
| 120 | Fresno State | (2-9-0) | -0.4020 | PCAA | |
| 121 | Long Beach State | (1-9-1) | -0.4175 | PCAA | |
| 122 | Columbia | (1-7-1) | -0.4206 | Ivy | |
| 123 | West Texas A&M | (2-9-0) | -0.4362 | Missouri Valley | |
| 124 | Drake | (2-9-0) | -0.4427 | Missouri Valley | |
| 125 | Texas-El Paso | (0-11-0) | -0.6091 | Western Athletic |
Average Ratings by Conference (1973)
| Rk | Conference | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Eight | 0.5433 | |
| 2 | Southeastern | 0.4731 | |
| 3 | Mid-American | 0.3153 | |
| 4 | Southwest | 0.3009 | |
| 5 | Big Ten | 0.2330 | |
| 6 | Independent | 0.1573 | |
| 7 | Pac 8 | 0.1508 | |
| 8 | Atlantic Coast | 0.1494 | |
| 9 | Western Athletic | 0.1022 | |
| 10 | Ivy | 0.0545 | |
| 11 | PCAA | 0.0183 | |
| 12 | Southern | -0.0131 | |
| 13 | Missouri Valley | -0.1113 |