2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Three human polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a National Championship title. That title is bestowed by one or more of four different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason: the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Two additional polls are released midway through the season; the Harris Interactive Poll is released after the fourth week of the season and the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings is released after the seventh week. The Harris Poll and Coaches Poll are factors in the BCS Standings. At the end of the season, on Sunday, December 6, 2009, the BCS Standings determines who plays in the BCS bowl games as well as the BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2010 at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Function
As the 2009 football season progresses, rankings are updated weekly. The team voted number one in the final AP and Coaches Polls can claim the title of National Champion. The BCS Rankings and Harris Poll do not vote in a final poll as their sole purpose is to determine who plays in the BCS National Championship Game. Other polls exist and may vote for different schools which causes confusion, especially for split titles. But generally, only the AP and Coaches Polls are used in crowning the National Champion.

The initial BCS Rankings came out on October 18, 2009 with Florida as the top rated team. Over the years, the Nos. 1–2 teams in the initial BCS standings have played just once in the BCS National Championship – USC and Texas (2005). Five times in the first 10 years of the system, the No. 1 team from the initial selection week has advanced to the title contest, and Florida State (1999) and USC (2004) are the only two first-week No. 1 schools to capture the eventual crown. Every year (excluding 1998 when UCLA and Ohio State opened at 1–2) at least one of the top two first standings’ squads has advanced to the BCS National Championship. The Florida Gators, last year's national champion, made their debut in the first BCS standings at No. 10, and fought all the way into the title game.

Preseason polls
Various publications release their preseason top 25 months before the season commences.

Timeline

 * Spring practice and games were started as early as Friday, February 20, 2009 and must end no later than Tuesday, April 28, 2009
 * First Associated Press Top 25 Poll was released on Saturday, August 22, 2009
 * First games of the season were played on Thursday, September 3, 2009
 * First Harris Poll was released on Sunday, September 27, 2009
 * First BCS standings were posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009
 * BCS Selection Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2009