Final 1997 Sagarin Football Rankings
| RANK | CONFERENCE | DIVISION | RATING | TEAMS |
| 1 | SOUTHEASTERN | A | 84.70 | 12 |
| 2 | PACIFIC-10 | A | 83.79 | 10 |
| 3 | ATLANTIC COAST | A | 79.69 | 9 |
| 4 | BIG TEN | A | 76.49 | 11 |
| 5 | BIG 12 | A | 74.84 | 12 |
| 6 | WESTERN ATHLETIC | A | 67.18 | 16 |
| 7 | CONFERENCE USA | A | 66.99 | 7 |
| 8 | BIG EAST | A | 64.89 | 8 |
| 9 | MID-AMERICAN | A | 63.74 | 12 |
| 10 | I-A INDEPENDENTS | A | 61.77 | 9 |
| 11 | BIG WEST | A | 58.36 | 6 |
| 12 | ATLANTIC 10 | AA | 53.43 | 12 |
| 13 | SOUTHLAND | AA | 48.39 | 8 |
| 14 | BIG SKY | AA | 48.39 | 9 |
| 15 | GATEWAY | AA | 45.54 | 7 |
| 16 | IVY LEAGUE | AA | 43.22 | 8 |
| 17 | SOUTHERN | AA | 41.09 | 9 |
| 18 | PATRIOT LEAGUE | AA | 40.77 | 7 |
| 19 | MID-EASTERN | AA | 39.86 | 9 |
| 20 | OHIO VALLEY | AA | 34.53 | 8 |
| 21 | I-AA INDEPENDENTS | AA | 34.40 | 15 |
| 22 | SOUTHWESTERN | AA | 28.13 | 9 |
| 23 | PIONEER | AA | 23.59 | 6 |
| 24 | NORTHEAST | AA | 9.98 | 5 |
| 25 | METRO ATLANTIC | AA | 3.28 | 9 |