Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1988 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .568 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.974.
The average home field advantage for this year is 3.26 points.
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 | Notre Dame | .950 | .719 | .725 | 32.75 | 13.00 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Eastern Independent |
| 2 | Miami (Florida) | .931 | .892 | .702 | 34.83 | 9.67 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Southern Independent |
| 3 | Southern California | .892 | .709 | .899 | 30.83 | 15.33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Pac 10 |
| 4 | Florida State | .880 | .816 | .626 | 37.92 | 14.33 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Southern Independent |
| 5 | UCLA | .866 | .804 | .761 | 32.67 | 15.83 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Pac 10 |
| 6 | Michigan | .859 | .754 | .694 | 30.08 | 13.92 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Big Ten |
| 7 | West Virginia | .850 | .597 | .495 | 41.08 | 17.33 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Eastern Independent |
| 8 | Auburn | .820 | .820 | .504 | 28.17 | 7.67 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 9 | Nebraska | .818 | .830 | .551 | 36.69 | 15.77 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .846 | Big 8 |
| 10 | Clemson | .818 | .727 | .597 | 28.50 | 13.08 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | ACC |
| 11 | Wyoming | .782 | .594 | .529 | 39.31 | 21.54 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .846 | WAC |
| 12 | Arkansas | .777 | .703 | .477 | 29.08 | 15.83 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SWC |
| 13 | Syracuse | .776 | .711 | .522 | 28.42 | 15.75 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Eastern Independent |
| 14 | Washington State | .773 | .496 | .725 | 34.58 | 25.25 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Pac 10 |
| 15 | Oklahoma State | .757 | .669 | .425 | 48.67 | 28.42 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big 8 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | .757 | .873 | .590 | 27.67 | 13.33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Big 8 |
| 17 | Houston | .741 | .464 | .497 | 39.50 | 18.25 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SWC |
| 18 | Alabama | .738 | .745 | .554 | 26.42 | 15.67 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SEC |
| 19 | Southern Mississippi | .724 | .524 | .505 | 29.42 | 23.67 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Southern Independent |
| 20 | North Carolina State | .706 | .481 | .480 | 26.00 | 13.75 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | ACC |
| 21 | Louisiana State | .703 | .796 | .717 | 20.75 | 17.00 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SEC |
| 22 | Arizona | .690 | .648 | .752 | 25.36 | 19.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Pac 10 |
| 23 | Georgia | .690 | .755 | .425 | 29.83 | 17.67 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SEC |
| 24 | Brigham Young | .677 | .677 | .513 | 32.38 | 21.62 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | WAC |
| 25 | Indiana | .675 | .566 | .451 | 33.00 | 19.58 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | Big Ten |
| 26 | Colorado | .668 | .580 | .524 | 26.83 | 16.33 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 27 | Washington | .666 | .691 | .719 | 23.09 | 20.27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 10 |
| 28 | Texas-El Paso | .662 | .435 | .326 | 34.23 | 21.15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | WAC |
| 29 | Fresno State | .651 | .556 | .114 | 32.75 | 14.08 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big West |
| 30 | Hawaii | .646 | .485 | .364 | 31.92 | 23.58 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | WAC |
| 31 | Michigan State | .643 | .703 | .676 | 22.42 | 14.75 | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | Big Ten |
| 32 | Texas A&M | .631 | .752 | .629 | 24.42 | 21.08 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SWC |
| 33 | Pittsburgh | .631 | .656 | .584 | 27.27 | 16.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Eastern Independent |
| 34 | Oregon | .615 | .565 | .694 | 24.67 | 20.58 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Pac 10 |
| 35 | Iowa | .614 | .734 | .485 | 25.85 | 17.92 | 6 | 4 | 3 | .577 | Big Ten |
| 36 | South Carolina | .614 | .666 | .476 | 19.33 | 18.67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Southern Independent |
| 37 | Western Michigan | .610 | .366 | .215 | 29.50 | 19.75 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | MAC |
| 38 | Louisville | .607 | .326 | .404 | 23.73 | 22.27 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Southern Independent |
| 39 | Army | .602 | .453 | .192 | 28.00 | 18.83 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 40 | Florida | .600 | .722 | .512 | 22.33 | 15.42 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SEC |
| 41 | Stanford | .596 | .577 | .794 | 21.64 | 19.64 | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | Pac 10 |
| 42 | Virginia | .595 | .563 | .507 | 22.82 | 22.18 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | ACC |
| 43 | Duke | .585 | .454 | .444 | 29.45 | 29.45 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | ACC |
| 44 | Oregon State | .585 | .374 | .829 | 22.36 | 25.45 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Pac 10 |
| 45 | Ball State | .572 | .357 | .155 | 26.00 | 15.45 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | MAC |
| 46 | Penn State | .571 | .763 | .684 | 21.00 | 18.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 47 | Wake Forest | .567 | .525 | .459 | 25.64 | 21.64 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | ACC |
| 48 | Maryland | .558 | .605 | .736 | 23.64 | 27.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | ACC |
| 49 | California | .552 | .477 | .594 | 22.09 | 22.18 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Pac 10 |
| 50 | Arizona State | .548 | .704 | .689 | 17.45 | 25.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 10 |
| 51 | Illinois | .543 | .491 | .509 | 20.42 | 20.25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | Big Ten |
| 52 | Central Michigan | .536 | .446 | .216 | 26.09 | 16.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MAC |
| 53 | Kentucky | .534 | .572 | .579 | 19.73 | 18.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 54 | Rutgers | .523 | .533 | .527 | 24.82 | 23.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 55 | Air Force | .516 | .637 | .556 | 35.17 | 32.67 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | WAC |
| 56 | Memphis | .516 | .415 | .385 | 20.55 | 18.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern Independent |
| 57 | Tennessee | .513 | .717 | .688 | 19.27 | 26.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 58 | Mississippi | .510 | .490 | .519 | 20.09 | 20.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 59 | Utah | .506 | .438 | .371 | 36.27 | 32.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | WAC |
| 60 | Ohio State | .498 | .715 | .626 | 20.82 | 25.73 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Big Ten |
| 61 | Baylor | .484 | .608 | .315 | 21.09 | 17.82 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | SWC |
| 62 | Texas Tech | .480 | .557 | .462 | 29.82 | 30.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 63 | Louisiana-Lafayette | .478 | .434 | .289 | 26.91 | 20.36 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern Independent |
| 64 | Tulsa | .456 | .438 | .600 | 23.09 | 28.91 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southern Independent |
| 65 | Eastern Michigan | .455 | .492 | .242 | 17.30 | 20.00 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | MAC |
| 66 | East Carolina | .438 | .440 | .684 | 25.55 | 29.55 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southern Independent |
| 67 | Northern Illinois | .437 | .373 | .110 | 14.09 | 16.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 68 | Iowa State | .428 | .407 | .452 | 17.73 | 23.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big 8 |
| 69 | Tulane | .422 | .454 | .406 | 22.82 | 30.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern Independent |
| 70 | Toledo | .420 | .427 | .164 | 22.18 | 20.09 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 71 | Virginia Tech | .415 | .542 | .736 | 16.00 | 24.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southern Independent |
| 72 | Texas | .412 | .637 | .487 | 22.91 | 27.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SWC |
| 73 | Georgia Tech | .411 | .484 | .538 | 18.18 | 17.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | ACC |
| 74 | Missouri | .409 | .474 | .617 | 21.27 | 30.00 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Big 8 |
| 75 | Fullerton State | .408 | .433 | .285 | 19.91 | 19.55 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big West |
| 76 | Boston College | .406 | .623 | .658 | 21.55 | 29.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | Temple | .405 | .463 | .556 | 18.82 | 28.82 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Eastern Independent |
| 78 | Kent | .398 | .415 | .243 | 23.27 | 22.73 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | MAC |
| 79 | Vanderbilt | .389 | .447 | .585 | 18.36 | 25.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 80 | Texas Christian | .382 | .469 | .494 | 18.73 | 26.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SWC |
| 81 | San Jose State | .372 | .620 | .348 | 26.33 | 27.83 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | Big West |
| 82 | San Diego State | .359 | .520 | .636 | 18.55 | 34.91 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | WAC |
| 83 | Akron | .353 | .305 | .136 | 21.18 | 19.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 84 | Navy | .352 | .331 | .452 | 20.09 | 24.91 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 85 | Louisiana Tech | .335 | .303 | .425 | 16.82 | 32.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southern Independent |
| 86 | Purdue | .329 | .446 | .484 | 11.27 | 27.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 87 | Ohio | .324 | .207 | .218 | 17.73 | 26.18 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | MAC |
| 88 | North Carolina | .322 | .566 | .760 | 19.73 | 35.55 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | ACC |
| 89 | Minnesota | .317 | .521 | .389 | 17.73 | 22.36 | 2 | 7 | 2 | .273 | Big Ten |
| 90 | Northwestern | .303 | .359 | .561 | 17.45 | 31.82 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | Big Ten |
| 91 | Utah State | .300 | .379 | .304 | 19.55 | 32.91 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big West |
| 92 | Cincinnati | .268 | .444 | .412 | 18.27 | 34.45 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 93 | Mississippi State | .268 | .496 | .663 | 15.64 | 30.18 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | SEC |
| 94 | Nevada-Las Vegas | .261 | .431 | .192 | 16.00 | 28.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big West |
| 95 | Colorado State | .256 | .397 | .575 | 17.45 | 31.64 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | WAC |
| 96 | Long Beach State | .250 | .415 | .314 | 16.75 | 32.08 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | Big West |
| 97 | Wild Card U | .240 | .303 | .525 | 14.31 | 32.74 | 11 | 60 | 1 | .160 | |
| 98 | Bowling Green State | .228 | .465 | .360 | 14.45 | 30.27 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | MAC |
| 99 | Rice | .217 | .357 | .614 | 15.00 | 32.55 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | SWC |
| 100 | Wisconsin | .201 | .423 | .564 | 9.64 | 28.55 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big Ten |
| 101 | New Mexico | .201 | .298 | .451 | 14.17 | 43.17 | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | WAC |
| 102 | Kansas | .200 | .317 | .544 | 17.18 | 45.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big 8 |
| 103 | Pacific | .173 | .370 | .202 | 15.82 | 29.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Big West |
| 104 | Kansas State | .155 | .232 | .522 | 15.55 | 40.73 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | Big 8 |
| 105 | Miami (Ohio) | .139 | .510 | .337 | 15.18 | 32.82 | 0 | 10 | 1 | .045 | MAC |
| 106 | New Mexico State | .089 | .190 | .112 | 15.55 | 34.27 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big West |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| Pac 10 | .678 | .605 | .746 | 66 | 44 | 4 | .596 | 10 |
| SEC | .577 | .656 | .575 | 62 | 53 | 0 | .539 | 10 |
| ACC | .570 | .551 | .565 | 47 | 40 | 3 | .539 | 8 |
| Southern Independent | .568 | .521 | .520 | 79 | 57 | 0 | .581 | 12 |
| Eastern Independent | .548 | .536 | .466 | 83 | 64 | 0 | .565 | 13 |
| Big 8 | .524 | .548 | .528 | 47 | 45 | 1 | .511 | 8 |
| SWC | .515 | .568 | .497 | 45 | 46 | 0 | .495 | 8 |
| WAC | .512 | .498 | .480 | 56 | 52 | 0 | .519 | 9 |
| Big Ten | .498 | .571 | .544 | 48 | 57 | 11 | .461 | 10 |
| MAC | .409 | .409 | .239 | 47 | 48 | 4 | .495 | 9 |
| Big West | .313 | .424 | .234 | 33 | 58 | 0 | .363 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since May 11, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net