[1] Four of the six teams (AP, UPI, NEA, and FWAA) were selected by polling of sports writers and/or broadcasters.
Other notable selectors, though not recognized by the NCAA as official, included Time magazine,[2] The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).
[3] The undefeated Notre Dame and Michigan State teams finished the season ranked #1 and #2, played to a 10–10 tie in the 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game, and dominated the 1966 All-America selections.
Notre Dame had six players who received first-team honors: guard Tom Regner (AFCA, AP, CP, NEA, UPI, Time, TSN, WCFF); back Nick Eddy (AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFF); defensive end Alan Page (CP, FWAA, NEA, Time, TSN, WCFF); linebacker Jim Lynch (AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, Time, TSN, WCFF); and defensive tackles Pete Duranko (AFCA, UPI) and Kevin Hardy (Time, TSN).
Michigan State had five: defensive end Bubba Smith (AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, Time, TSN, WCFF); offensive end Gene Washington (AFCA, UPI, Time, TSN); running back Clint Jones (AP, CP, NEA, Time, TSN, WCFF); defensive back/linebacker George Webster (AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, Time, TSN, WCFF); and tackle Jerry West (NEA).