1970 NCAA University Division football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1970 NCAA University Division 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.

Final Coaches Poll
The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December. Two coaches on the 35-member board did not submit votes. Texas received 25 of the 33 first place votes; Ohio State received six and Nebraska two.
 * Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac-8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.
 * The Ivy League has prohibited its members from participating in postseason football since the league was officially formed in 1954.