Two human polls comprised the 1997 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings.
Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, did not bestow a national championship; instead that title was bestowed by one or more different polling agencies.
In the final Coaches Poll of the 1997 season, Nebraska leapfrogged Michigan to secure a share of the national championship, making it the 3rd split championship of the 1990s.
[19] Eight coaches split their first-place votes, with a final tally of 32 first-place votes for Nebraska and 30 for Michigan.
The final vote count was Nebraska 1,520, Michigan 1,516.