| 2004 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 2004 |
| Bowl season | 2004–05 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | USC |
| Conference with most teams in final AP poll | ACC, Big 10, SEC (4) |
Two human polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), does not bestow a National Championship title for Division I-A football. That title is primarily bestowed by different polling agencies. There are several polls that currently exist. The main weekly polls are the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. About halfway through the season the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings are released.