Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1978 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .565 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.723.
The average home field advantage for this year is 3.10 points.
Some game locations are unknown and have been estimated. Research continues.
KEY: PR=Final power rating, PS=Pre-season power rating, SOS=strength of schedule.
| Rank | Team | PR | PS | SOS | PF | PA | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Conference |
| 1 | Southern California | .940 | .812 | .950 | 24.46 | 11.77 | 12 | 1 | 0 | .923 | Pac 10 |
| 2 | Alabama | .915 | .878 | .828 | 28.75 | 14.00 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | SEC |
| 3 | Oklahoma | .898 | .853 | .699 | 39.25 | 14.58 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big 8 |
| 4 | Penn State | .896 | .828 | .695 | 27.75 | 9.25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Eastern Independent |
| 5 | Michigan | .849 | .841 | .581 | 31.00 | 8.75 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big Ten |
| 6 | Clemson | .837 | .620 | .515 | 30.67 | 10.92 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | ACC |
| 7 | Notre Dame | .835 | .862 | .892 | 24.42 | 16.42 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 8 | Texas | .830 | .816 | .802 | 23.92 | 11.33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SWC |
| 9 | Arkansas | .820 | .788 | .681 | 28.00 | 12.25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | SWC |
| 10 | Nebraska | .817 | .812 | .760 | 37.00 | 18.00 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Big 8 |
| 11 | Houston | .813 | .672 | .791 | 30.33 | 17.75 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SWC |
| 12 | Ball State | .783 | .618 | .310 | 22.82 | 7.45 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | MAC |
| 13 | Georgia | .775 | .680 | .648 | 24.17 | 15.58 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | SEC |
| 14 | Stanford | .769 | .680 | .794 | 27.17 | 18.42 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Pac 10 |
| 15 | Missouri | .768 | .655 | .739 | 30.67 | 19.67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 16 | Arizona State | .761 | .666 | .620 | 28.92 | 19.67 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Pac 10 |
| 17 | UCLA | .759 | .739 | .701 | 21.75 | 14.33 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | Pac 10 |
| 18 | North Texas | .752 | .648 | .520 | 25.18 | 13.64 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | South/West Independent |
| 19 | Michigan State | .752 | .658 | .524 | 37.36 | 15.45 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Big Ten |
| 20 | Maryland | .752 | .753 | .653 | 21.75 | 13.92 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | ACC |
| 21 | Washington | .745 | .664 | .727 | 24.55 | 14.09 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Pac 10 |
| 22 | Purdue | .745 | .540 | .483 | 21.75 | 10.83 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Big Ten |
| 23 | Florida State | .743 | .653 | .671 | 28.36 | 18.91 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | South/West Independent |
| 24 | East Carolina | .731 | .684 | .501 | 23.92 | 11.33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | South/West Independent |
| 25 | North Carolina State | .728 | .669 | .618 | 23.33 | 17.33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | ACC |
| 26 | Central Michigan | .710 | .609 | .284 | 30.09 | 10.82 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | MAC |
| 27 | Navy | .710 | .564 | .467 | 21.67 | 11.33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 28 | Tulsa | .707 | .471 | .441 | 26.27 | 18.45 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | MVC |
| 29 | Pittsburgh | .703 | .839 | .634 | 21.92 | 15.58 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Eastern Independent |
| 30 | Brigham Young | .702 | .686 | .592 | 24.62 | 15.31 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | WAC |
| 31 | Louisiana State | .698 | .678 | .623 | 23.25 | 16.08 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SEC |
| 32 | Texas Tech | .689 | .720 | .799 | 22.36 | 24.36 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | SWC |
| 33 | Texas A&M | .681 | .762 | .596 | 24.25 | 15.25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SWC |
| 34 | Rutgers | .671 | .647 | .384 | 23.67 | 13.75 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 35 | Utah | .662 | .383 | .428 | 26.45 | 16.55 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | WAC |
| 36 | Southern Mississippi | .659 | .559 | .652 | 19.36 | 16.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | South/West Independent |
| 37 | Mississippi State | .656 | .674 | .745 | 21.09 | 18.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | SEC |
| 38 | Ohio State | .655 | .826 | .589 | 28.25 | 18.00 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Big Ten |
| 39 | Miami (Ohio) | .652 | .666 | .349 | 20.73 | 14.64 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | MAC |
| 40 | Auburn | .645 | .591 | .606 | 21.64 | 17.36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | SEC |
| 41 | Iowa State | .644 | .671 | .593 | 18.25 | 15.67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 42 | Southern Methodist | .635 | .523 | .829 | 27.27 | 22.82 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | SWC |
| 43 | Georgia Tech | .623 | .594 | .618 | 22.50 | 21.08 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | South/West Independent |
| 44 | California | .623 | .662 | .742 | 21.45 | 26.27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 10 |
| 45 | Temple | .623 | .519 | .421 | 25.45 | 18.45 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Eastern Independent |
| 46 | Furman | .610 | .458 | .281 | 29.27 | 17.73 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Southern |
| 47 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | .609 | .550 | .333 | 27.82 | 17.45 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Southern |
| 48 | New Mexico | .607 | .499 | .500 | 23.67 | 17.08 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | WAC |
| 49 | Arkansas State | .598 | .535 | .469 | 14.82 | 13.09 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Southland |
| 50 | Louisville | .595 | .486 | .402 | 29.00 | 18.36 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | South/West Independent |
| 51 | Arizona | .595 | .572 | .642 | 22.27 | 18.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Pac 10 |
| 52 | Utah State | .590 | .464 | .381 | 24.45 | 19.45 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | PCAA |
| 53 | Florida | .589 | .707 | .757 | 22.64 | 20.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SEC |
| 54 | Miami (Florida) | .586 | .520 | .646 | 17.64 | 17.55 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | South/West Independent |
| 55 | South Carolina | .585 | .574 | .567 | 21.64 | 16.45 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 56 | Louisiana Tech | .584 | .635 | .557 | 20.73 | 16.91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southland |
| 57 | Tennessee | .577 | .613 | .606 | 22.82 | 19.00 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | SEC |
| 58 | Colorado | .570 | .733 | .536 | 20.91 | 18.73 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Big 8 |
| 59 | Cincinnati | .564 | .607 | .579 | 25.36 | 20.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 60 | McNeese State | .560 | .515 | .319 | 25.00 | 16.73 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Southland |
| 61 | Nevada-Las Vegas | .557 | .319 | .332 | 22.64 | 16.55 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | South/West Independent |
| 62 | Baylor | .553 | .627 | .830 | 20.45 | 22.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SWC |
| 63 | Western Michigan | .546 | .428 | .267 | 20.00 | 13.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MAC |
| 64 | Louisiana-Monroe | .541 | .268 | .351 | 17.27 | 13.09 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | South/West Independent |
| 65 | North Carolina | .540 | .694 | .629 | 18.09 | 19.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | ACC |
| 66 | Mississippi | .535 | .617 | .687 | 16.45 | 21.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 67 | Kentucky | .534 | .767 | .704 | 17.55 | 17.18 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | SEC |
| 68 | Hawaii | .529 | .400 | .524 | 22.82 | 25.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | South/West Independent |
| 69 | Appalachian State | .522 | .406 | .276 | 30.73 | 27.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Southern |
| 70 | Wyoming | .520 | .473 | .615 | 21.08 | 20.42 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | WAC |
| 71 | New Mexico State | .508 | .380 | .428 | 24.91 | 26.91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MVC |
| 72 | San Jose State | .505 | .551 | .349 | 21.58 | 20.67 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | PCAA |
| 73 | Holy Cross | .495 | .256 | .167 | 23.45 | 18.27 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 74 | Texas-Arlington | .493 | .450 | .441 | 21.82 | 19.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southland |
| 75 | William & Mary | .490 | .535 | .450 | 15.45 | 14.64 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 76 | Wisconsin | .482 | .509 | .423 | 20.27 | 25.18 | 5 | 4 | 2 | .545 | Big Ten |
| 77 | Southern Illinois | .482 | .325 | .179 | 19.91 | 18.45 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MVC |
| 78 | Western Carolina | .478 | .392 | .306 | 21.27 | 19.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern |
| 79 | Washington State | .475 | .552 | .625 | 25.09 | 26.91 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Pac 10 |
| 80 | Memphis | .471 | .606 | .641 | 18.18 | 27.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 81 | Yale | .470 | .517 | .160 | 21.33 | 12.67 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .667 | Ivy |
| 82 | Oklahoma State | .467 | .645 | .795 | 15.18 | 24.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 83 | Colorado State | .460 | .601 | .448 | 21.64 | 22.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | WAC |
| 84 | Tulane | .455 | .435 | .571 | 16.64 | 19.18 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 85 | Kansas State | .453 | .404 | .689 | 18.27 | 31.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big 8 |
| 86 | Indiana | .452 | .508 | .581 | 20.73 | 26.36 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 87 | Oregon State | .445 | .407 | .798 | 11.64 | 24.18 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Pac 10 |
| 88 | Dartmouth | .437 | .428 | .153 | 20.78 | 17.67 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 89 | San Diego State | .434 | .740 | .485 | 22.00 | 23.36 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | WAC |
| 90 | Oregon | .434 | .392 | .713 | 15.73 | 19.27 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Pac 10 |
| 91 | Duke | .431 | .577 | .718 | 9.82 | 22.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | ACC |
| 92 | Syracuse | .430 | .556 | .694 | 17.45 | 26.82 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 93 | Minnesota | .423 | .596 | .426 | 19.09 | 24.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 94 | Citadel | .422 | .456 | .393 | 18.27 | 22.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 95 | Virginia Tech | .421 | .518 | .554 | 14.73 | 20.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 96 | Long Beach State | .419 | .488 | .300 | 19.91 | 20.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | PCAA |
| 97 | Brown | .417 | .468 | .127 | 21.00 | 18.33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 98 | Northern Illinois | .412 | .279 | .367 | 21.09 | 25.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | MAC |
| 99 | Bowling Green State | .411 | .534 | .424 | 25.18 | 24.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MAC |
| 100 | Villanova | .406 | .438 | .338 | 18.73 | 22.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 101 | Drake | .397 | .252 | .470 | 19.18 | 24.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MVC |
| 102 | Fullerton State | .397 | .341 | .324 | 24.83 | 27.50 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | PCAA |
| 103 | Pacific | .389 | .463 | .501 | 18.50 | 25.50 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | PCAA |
| 104 | Richmond | .388 | .461 | .494 | 16.00 | 17.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | South/West Independent |
| 105 | Northwestern State | .385 | .440 | .371 | 14.36 | 25.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 106 | Cornell | .384 | .204 | .092 | 20.89 | 17.11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Ivy |
| 107 | Wichita State | .378 | .375 | .372 | 21.82 | 26.18 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MVC |
| 108 | Rice | .372 | .378 | .844 | 14.45 | 37.09 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | SWC |
| 109 | Army | .356 | .497 | .314 | 16.73 | 23.18 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Eastern Independent |
| 110 | West Texas A&M | .353 | .484 | .477 | 21.55 | 27.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 111 | Vanderbilt | .338 | .447 | .664 | 14.91 | 38.00 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | SEC |
| 112 | Texas Christian | .334 | .349 | .818 | 9.91 | 32.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | SWC |
| 113 | West Virginia | .333 | .603 | .665 | 15.18 | 33.09 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Eastern Independent |
| 114 | Kansas | .329 | .562 | .833 | 11.27 | 31.36 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big 8 |
| 115 | Kent | .325 | .526 | .350 | 14.36 | 22.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MAC |
| 116 | Louisiana-Lafayette | .322 | .566 | .492 | 11.55 | 20.82 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southland |
| 117 | Wild Card U | .318 | .319 | .383 | 16.96 | 24.17 | 31 | 61 | 2 | .340 | |
| 118 | Harvard | .312 | .381 | .050 | 21.78 | 21.00 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Ivy |
| 119 | Ohio | .303 | .405 | .467 | 10.91 | 22.36 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MAC |
| 120 | Air Force | .296 | .388 | .358 | 19.55 | 29.82 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | South/West Independent |
| 121 | Virginia | .295 | .307 | .501 | 12.64 | 21.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | ACC |
| 122 | Iowa | .294 | .483 | .646 | 11.36 | 26.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Big Ten |
| 123 | Fresno State | .291 | .552 | .309 | 22.45 | 29.91 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | PCAA |
| 124 | Virginia Military Institute | .287 | .496 | .419 | 10.36 | 20.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southern |
| 125 | Illinois | .282 | .497 | .676 | 9.36 | 28.82 | 1 | 8 | 2 | .182 | Big Ten |
| 126 | Colgate | .280 | .558 | .264 | 13.55 | 20.55 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 127 | Lamar | .276 | .276 | .369 | 17.09 | 26.73 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | Southland |
| 128 | Wake Forest | .276 | .352 | .707 | 9.45 | 24.91 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | ACC |
| 129 | Indiana State | .270 | .311 | .318 | 13.00 | 20.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 130 | Columbia | .258 | .210 | .214 | 12.33 | 25.33 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Ivy |
| 131 | Princeton | .240 | .286 | .189 | 14.00 | 20.33 | 2 | 5 | 2 | .333 | Ivy |
| 132 | Eastern Michigan | .240 | .442 | .265 | 12.20 | 23.80 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | MAC |
| 133 | Toledo | .234 | .331 | .388 | 13.09 | 23.27 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | MAC |
| 134 | Texas-El Paso | .226 | .267 | .652 | 12.58 | 35.33 | 1 | 11 | 0 | .083 | WAC |
| 135 | Pennsylvania | .215 | .323 | .164 | 15.44 | 20.78 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .278 | Ivy |
| 136 | Illinois State | .207 | .362 | .342 | 11.73 | 28.91 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Eastern Independent |
| 137 | Marshall | .207 | .271 | .498 | 10.27 | 26.55 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Southern |
| 138 | Northwestern | .179 | .317 | .633 | 8.36 | 40.00 | 0 | 10 | 1 | .045 | Big Ten |
| 139 | Boston College | .165 | .596 | .443 | 13.91 | 26.73 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | Eastern Independent |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| Pac 10 | .655 | .614 | .731 | 63 | 49 | 3 | .561 | 10 |
| SWC | .636 | .626 | .777 | 53 | 48 | 2 | .524 | 9 |
| SEC | .626 | .665 | .687 | 60 | 49 | 4 | .549 | 10 |
| Big 8 | .618 | .667 | .705 | 50 | 42 | 0 | .543 | 8 |
| ACC | .551 | .568 | .620 | 41 | 39 | 0 | .513 | 7 |
| South/West Independent | .545 | .505 | .512 | 105 | 92 | 3 | .533 | 18 |
| WAC | .516 | .521 | .531 | 39 | 43 | 0 | .476 | 7 |
| Eastern Independent | .512 | .582 | .487 | 84 | 84 | 2 | .500 | 15 |
| Big Ten | .511 | .578 | .556 | 51 | 55 | 7 | .482 | 10 |
| Southland | .472 | .496 | .441 | 30 | 35 | 1 | .462 | 6 |
| MAC | .462 | .484 | .347 | 55 | 53 | 1 | .509 | 10 |
| Southern | .448 | .433 | .358 | 37 | 39 | 1 | .487 | 7 |
| MVC | .442 | .371 | .383 | 36 | 41 | 0 | .468 | 7 |
| PCAA | .432 | .476 | .360 | 31 | 38 | 0 | .449 | 6 |
| Ivy | .342 | .352 | .144 | 33 | 31 | 8 | .514 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since May 17, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net