The Sun
In November 1896, New York City newspaper The Sun published a ranking of the "twelve colleges supposed to have the strongest array of players". [1]
 |
| Rank | Team [1] | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton | 10–0–1 |
| 2 | Penn | 14–1 |
| 1896 college football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1896 |
| Bowl season | 1896–97 bowl games |
| End of season champions | Princeton |
The 1896 college football season rankings included a ranking by New York City newspaper The Sun . [1] [2]
In November 1896, New York City newspaper The Sun published a ranking of the "twelve colleges supposed to have the strongest array of players". [1]
|
| Rank | Team [1] | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton | 10–0–1 |
| 2 | Penn | 14–1 |
To compare the records of the twelve colleges supposed to have the strongest array of players, the Princeton eleven, without any doubt, can lay claim to the championship.
Polls and systems to determine the No. 1 team are not nearly so ancient as the mere naming of the "intercollegiate champion" by a Casper Whitney or a J. Parmly Paret.