1960 NCAA University Division football rankings
Two human polls comprised the 1960 National Collegiate Athletic Association football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll.Legend
AP Poll
The final AP Poll was released on November 29, at the end of the 1960 regular season, over a month before the major bowls.The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on November 29.
Minnesota received 21 of the 35 first-place votes; Mississippi received nine and Iowa five.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
| 1 | Minnesota | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 7–17 |
| 2 | Iowa | Big Ten | none |
| 3 | Ole Miss | SEC | Won Sugar, 14–6 |
| 4 | Missouri | Big Eight | Won Orange, 21–14 |
| 5 | Washington | AAWU | Won Rose, 17–7 |
| 6 | Navy | Independent | Lost Orange, 14–21 |
| 7 | Arkansas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 6–7 |
| 8 | Ohio State | Big Ten | none |
| 9 | Kansas | Big Eight | none |
| 9 | Alabama | SEC | Tied Bluebonnet, 3–3 |
| 11 | Baylor | Southwest | Lost Gator, 12–13 |
| 12 | Duke | ACC | Won Cotton, 7–6 |
| 13 | Michigan State | Big Ten | none |
| 14 | Auburn | SEC | none |
| 15 | Purdue | Big Ten | none |
| 16 | Florida | SEC | Won Gator, 13–12 |
| 17 | Texas | Southwest | Tied Bluebonnet, 3–3 |
| 18 | Yale | Ivy | none |
| 18 | New Mexico State | Border | Won Sun, 20–13 |
| 18 | Tennessee | SEC | none |
Source:
