1927 college football season

Last updated

The 1927 college football season ended with the Illini of the University of Illinois (7–0–1) being recognized as champion under the Dickinson System. At season's end, the Rissler Cup was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule. In the final week, Georgia's "Dream and Wonder team" was upset by Georgia Tech. Georgia had upset Eastern power Yale 14–10. Though most selectors retrospectively named either Illinois or Georgia as their 1927 national champions, over a half-century later Jeff Sagarin, a computer-based selector, named the Texas Aggies as the No. 1 team. [1]

Contents

In the Rose Bowl, the Pittsburgh Panthers (8–0–1) were invited to play against the Pacific Coast Conference champion. Though USC and Stanford had identical records in conference play, Stanford was given a chance to "avenge" its 7–7 tie against Alabama in the previous year's Rose Bowl. Stanford won 7–6.

Rule changes

The major rules change in 1927 was the moving of the goal posts from the goal line to the end of the end zone, where they have been ever since. The move was for both safety reasons and to de-emphasize the kicking game [2]

Conference and program changes

Conference changes

Program changes

September

September 17 Washington defeated Willamette 32–6. September 24 USC beat Occidental 33–0; Army beat Boston University, 13–0; Pittsburgh beat Thiel College 42–0. Texas A&M shut out Trinity 45–0.

October

October 1 USC beat Santa Clara 52–12. Notre Dame beat Iowa's Coe College 28–7; Army beat Detroit Mercy 6–0. Yale beat Bowdoin 41–0;

The Western Conference (later the Big Ten) teams opened their seasons. Minnesota beat North Dakota, 57–10, Michigan beat Ohio Wesleyan, 33–0, and Illinois beat Bradley, 19–0. Pittsburgh beat Grove City College, 33–0; Nebraska beat Iowa State, 6–0; Georgia beat Virginia, 32–0; and Texas A&M beat Southwest Texas 31–0.

October 8 USC edged Oregon State 13–12; Detroit Mercy, fresh from its 6–0 loss at West Point, played at Notre Dame and lost 20–0; Army beat Marquette 21–12; In a battle of Bulldogs, Georgia beat Yale 14–10 in New Haven. Pittsburgh won another shutout, over West Virginia, 49–0;

Minnesota beat Oklahoma State, 40–0, Michigan beat Michigan State, 21–0, and Illinois beat Butler 58–0. At Columbia, Missouri, Missouri beat Nebraska, 7–6, and Texas A&M recorded its third shutout, an 18–0 win over Sewanee.

October 15 USC played at Stanford University in Palo Alto, to a 13–13 tie. Notre Dame and Navy played at Baltimore, with the Irish winning 19–6. Army beat Davis & Elkins College, 27–6 Yale beat Brown 19–0; In Western Conference play, Minnesota and Indiana played to a 14–14 tie Michigan won at Wisconsin, 14–0, Illinois and Iowa State played to a 12–12 tie, Pittsburgh beat Drake 32–0; Nebraska beat Grinnell College 58–0 Furman v. Georgia took place in Athens, Ga., as the University of Georgia hosted the Paladins of Furman University and won, 32–0. Texas A&M surrendered its first points in a 40–6 win over Arkansas.

October 22 USC beat Caltech 51–0 ; Notre Dame beat Indiana 19–6 (4–0) Army and (2–1) Yale met at New Haven, with Yale winning 10–6 Minnesota beat Iowa, 38–0 Michigan beat Ohio State, 21–0, Brown was upset by Lebanon Valley, 13–12 Illinois edged Northwestern, 7–6 Pittsburgh beat crosstown team Carnegie Tech, but not in a shutout (23–7). Nebraska was idle; Georgia beat Auburn, 33–3 Texas A&M played at Texas Christian, and was tied, 0–0.

October 29 Michigan (4–0–0) and Illinois (3–0–1) faced off at Champaign, Ill. The Illini won 14–0.

USC beat California, 13–0 Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech, 26–7 Army beat Bucknell 34–0; Yale beat Dartmouth, 19–0; Minnesota beat Wisconsin, 13–7; Pittsburgh beat Allegheny 62–0; Nebraska beat visiting Syracuse, 21–0; Georgia beat Tulane, 31–0 Texas A&M had beaten Texas Tech, 47–6, in a Friday game.

November

November 5 USC was idle, while (5–1–1) Stanford and (7–0–0) Washington met in Seattle for a conference game, with Stanford winning 13–7.

In a meeting of unbeatens, (5–0–0) Notre Dame hosted (4–0–1) Minnesota. The teams played to a 7–7 tie.

Army beat Franklin & Marshall, 45–0; Yale beat Maryland 30–6 Michigan won at Chicago, 14–0 and Illinois beat Iowa 14–0 Pittsburgh and Washington & Jefferson, both (6–0–0), played to a 0–0 tie Nebraska beat Kansas, 47–13; Georgia defeated Florida at Jacksonville, 28–0; Texas A&M beat SMU, 39–13

On Armistice Day, November 11, Texas A&M defeated Rice University in Houston, 14–0.

November 12 USC beat Colorado 46–7; (6–1–0) Army faced off against (5–0–1) Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. The Cadets handed Rockne's team its first defeat, 18–0

Yale beat Princeton 14–6; Minnesota beat Drake 27–6; Michigan beat Navy 27–12; Illinois beat Chicago 15–6; Georgia beat Clemson, 32–0 (6–0–1) Pittsburgh and (4–1–0) Nebraska faced off in Pittsburgh, with the Panthers winning 21–13

November 19 USC defeated Washington State, 27–0, while Stanford beat visiting California, 13–6 to close their season at 8–2–1. Though USC, at 8–1–1, had the better overall record, Stanford's two losses at been outside the conference, to St. Mary's and to Santa Clara, and they had tied USC. In PCC play, Stanford and USC both finished 4–0–1, and either could have been invited to play in the 1928 Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl committee went with Stanford, which had been tied by Alabama in the 1927 New Year's Day game.

Notre Dame beat Drake University in Des Moines, 32–0. Drake, which played against Navy, Pitt, Minnesota, Notre Dame and UCLA, would finish at 3–6–0 Army beat Ursinus College 13–0; Yale closed its season hosting Harvard, and won 14–0; Illinois defeated Ohio State, 13–0 At Ann Arbor, (5–0–2) Minnesota visited (6–1–0) Michigan. The Gophers beat the Wolverines 13–7 to close their seasons. Nebraska won at Kansas State, 33–0 Georgia beat Mercer, 26–7

November 24 On Thanksgiving Day, Pittsburgh beat Penn State, 30–0. Pitt, with a record of 8–0–1, had outscored its opponents 283 to 20, with seven shutouts, and was selected to meet Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

Nebraska beat visiting New York University, 27–18; Texas A&M closed its season with a 28–7 win over Texas.

November 26 Notre Dame (6–1–1) and USC (7–0–1) played before an estimated record crowd of 123,000 [3] (Reported as 117,000 in the Chicago Tribune) [4] at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Notre Dame winning 7–6 (on the strength of a blocked extra point attempt) to hand the Trojans their first loss. [5]

In the Army–Navy Game, played before a crowd of 70,000 at the Polo Grounds in New York, Army came back from 9–0 at halftime to win 14–9. [6] In Birmingham, Georgia beat Alabama, 20–6.

In the Army–Navy Game, played before a crowd of 70,000 at the Polo Grounds in New York, Army came back from 9–0 at halftime to win 14–9. [6] In Birmingham, Georgia beat Alabama, 20–6.

(9–0–0) Georgia faced off against (7–1–1) Georgia Tech in Atlanta to close the season. The Yellow Jackets undid the Bulldogs' hopes for a perfect season, winning 12–0

Rose Bowl

As the only post-season college football game, the Rose Bowl sought an East-West matchup between the best available eastern team and the PCC champion. In 1927, the Pitt Panthers had finished the season at 8–0–1, with seven shutouts against various levels of opposition, while Stanford had won the Pacific Coast Conference going 8–2–1. Since January 1, 1928, fell on a Sunday, the game was played on Monday, January 2. Stanford Punter Frankie Wilton had been the "goat" of the 1927 Rose Bowl, after an Alabama defender broke through the line, blocked his kick, and set up the Tide's tying touchdown. Wilton lost the ball after being hit on his own 20 yard line, and Pitt's Jimmy Hagan ran the fumble in for a touchdown. Walter Heinecke of Stanford blocked the point attempt, holding Pitt's lead to 6–0. Wilton's chance at redemption came later, when his teammate Spud Lewis fumbled a yard from goal. Wilton scooped up the ball and crashed through for the tying touchdown. The Stanford kick was good, and the Indians held on for a 7–6 win. [7]

National championship

The University of Illinois (7–0–1) was recognized as champion under the Dickinson System. At season's end, the Rissler Cup was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule, in that a win, loss or tie against a "strong" opponent was worth more than one against a lesser team, and the results were averaged. In the final week, Georgia's "Dream and Wonder team" was upset by Georgia Tech. Georgia had upset Eastern power Yale 14–10. Though most selectors retrospectively named either Illinois or Georgia as their 1927 national champions, over a half-century later Jeff Sagarin, a computer-based selector, named Dana X. Bible's Texas Aggies as the No. 1 team. [1] [8]

Conference standings

Major conference standings

1927 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Illinois +5–0–07–0–1
No. 3 Minnesota +3–0–16–0–2
No. 7 Michigan 3–2–06–2–0
Chicago 3–3–04–4–0
Purdue 2–2–06–2–0
Northwestern 2–3–04–4–0
Ohio State 2–3–04–4–0
Indiana 1–2–13–4–1
Iowa 1–4–04–4–0
Wisconsin 1–4–04–4–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Missouri $5–1–07–2–0
No. 9 Nebraska 4–1–06–2–0
Oklahoma A&M 2–1–04–4–0
Iowa State 3–2–04–3–1
Washington University 2–2–15–2–2
Kansas 3–3–13–4–1
Oklahoma 2–3–03–3–2
Kansas State 2–4–03–5–0
Drake 1–2–03–6–0
Grinnell 0–5–00–7–1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Stanford ^ +4–0–18–2–1
No. 10 USC +4–0–18–1–1
Idaho +2–0–24–1–3
Washington 4–2–09–2–0
Oregon State 2–3–03–3–1
California 2–3–07–3–0
Washington State 1–3–13–3–2
Oregon 0–4–12–4–1
Montana 0–4–03–4–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – Selected as Rose Bowl representative
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Agricultural $7–1–07–1–0
Denver 5–1–05–2–0
Montana State 3–1–04–4–0
Utah 3–1–13–3–1
Colorado College 5–2–06–2–0
Colorado 4–4–04–5–0
Utah Agricultural 3–3–13–4–1
BYU 2–4–02–4–1
Colorado Mines 2–5–02–5–0
Wyoming 1–4–04–5–0
Colorado Teachers 1–6–02–7–0
Western State (CO) 1–5–01–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Georgia Tech +7–0–18–1–1
Tennessee +5–0–18–0–1
NC State +4–0–09–1–0
Vanderbilt 5–0–28–1–2
No. 8 Georgia 6–1–09–1–0
Florida 5–2–07–3–0
Ole Miss 3–2–05–3–1
Virginia 4–4–05–4–0
Clemson 2–2–05–3–1
Alabama 3–4–15–4–1
LSU 2–3–14–4–1
Mississippi A&M 2–3–05–3–0
Washington and Lee 2–3–04–4–1
VPI 2–3–05–4–0
Maryland 3–5–04–7–0
South Carolina 2–4–04–5–0
VMI 2–4–06–4–0
Tulane 2–5–12–5–1
North Carolina 2–5–04–6–0
Sewanee 1–4–02–6–0
Kentucky 1–5–03–6–1
Auburn 0–6–10–7–2
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 11 Texas A&M $4–0–18–0–1
SMU 4–1–07–2–0
Arkansas 2–1–08–1–0
Texas 2–2–16–2–1
TCU 1–2–24–3–2
Rice 1–3–02–6–1
Baylor 0–5–02–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

Independents

1927 Eastern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Tufts  – 8–0–0
Springfield  – 7–0–2
Washington & Jefferson  – 7–0–2
No. 6 Army  – 9–1–0
No. 2 Pittsburgh  – 8–1–1
Temple  – 7–1–0
No. 5 Yale  – 7–1–0
NYU  – 7–1–2
Princeton  – 6–1–0
Villanova  – 6–1–0
Penn State  – 6–2–1
Columbia  – 5–2–2
Bucknell  – 6–3–1
Colgate  – 4–2–3
CCNY  – 4–2–2
Lafayette  – 5–3–1
Penn  – 6–4–0
Syracuse  – 5–3–2
Carnegie Tech  – 5–4–1
Boston College  – 4–4–0
Harvard  – 4–4–0
Rutgers  – 4–4–0
Cornell  – 3–3–2
Boston University  – 3–4–1
Drexel  – 3–5–1
Fordham  – 3–5–0
Brown  – 3–6–1
Vermont  – 2–6–0
Providence  – 1–4–2
Franklin & Marshall  – 1–7–1
Lehigh  – 1–7–1
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Notre Dame  – 7–2–1
Detroit  – 7–2–0
Ball Teachers  – 5–2–1
Marquette  – 6–3–0
Michigan Tech  – 2–1–0
Haskell  – 5–3–1
Butler  – 4–3–1
John Carroll  – 3–2–3
Saint Louis  – 5–5–0
Lombard  – 4–4–0
Loyola (IL)  – 4–4–0
Michigan State  – 4–5–0
Northern Illinois State  – 1–4–1
Kent State  – 1–5–1
Valparaiso  – 1–5–0
Rankings from Dickinson System
1927 Southern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Georgetown  – 8–1–0
Spring Hill  – 6–1–0
Wesley  – 6–1–0
Georgia Normal  – 6–1–1
George Washington  – 7–2–0
Texas A&I  – 4–1–0
Middle Tennessee State Teachers  – 6–2–0
Loyola (LA)  – 6–2–2
Navy  – 6–3–0
Catholic University  – 5–3–0
West Tennessee State Teachers  – 5–3–1
Texas Tech  – 5–4–0
Davidson  – 4–4–1
Delaware State  – 1–1–0
Howard  – 3–3–2
Southwestern (TN)  – 5–5–1
Texas Mines  – 2–2–2
Mississippi State Teachers  – 3–4–1
Duke  – 4–5–0
Miami (FL)  – 3–6–1
Delaware  – 2–5–1
East Tennessee State Teachers  – 2–5–0
Oglethorpe  – 2–6–0
Wake Forest  – 2–6–2
1927 Western college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
New Mexico  – 8–0–1
Hawaii  – 5–2–0
Arizona  – 4–2–1
Regis  – 5–3–0
Gonzaga  – 5–3–1
Santa Clara  – 5–4–2
Loyola (CA)  – 4–3–1
Tempe State  – 2–3–1
New Mexico A&M  – 3–5–1
Humboldt State  – 1–2–0

Minor conferences

ConferenceChampion(s)Record
Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association North Carolina A&T 6–0–1
Far Western Conference Saint Mary's (CA) 3–0
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Iowa State Teachers 6–0
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Baker (KS)
College of Emporia
Kansas State Normal
Kansas Wesleyan 		6–0–1
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Alma 5–0
Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference Cornell College 6–0
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Gustavus Adolphus 5–0
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northeast Missouri State Teachers 4–0
Nebraska College Athletic Conference Nebraska State Teachers–Peru 6–0
North Central Intercollegiate Conference Creighton
South Dakota 		2–0
4–0
Ohio Athletic Conference Miami (OH)
Muskingum 		7–1
Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Oklahoma Baptist
Oklahoma City 		5–1
5–1–1
Pacific Northwest Conference College of Idaho 5–0
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pomona 6–0–1
South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Columbus College5–0
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tuskegee 7–0–1
Southwestern Athletic Conference Wiley (TX) 4–0–1
Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference Southwestern 2–1–1
Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association McMurry (TX) 3–0–2
Tri-Normal League State Normal–Ellensburg 2–0
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference La Crosse State Teachers 4–0–1

Minor conference standings

1927 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wittenberg $4–0–08–2–0
Miami (OH) 3–1–08–1–0
Ohio 1–1–24–2–2
Ohio Wesleyan 1–2–14–3–2
Denison 1–3–03–5–0
Cincinnati 0–3–12–5–2
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 California Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Sacramento $6–0–0?–?–?
Chico State 5–1–06–2–0
Modesto 4–2–05–3–0
Santa Barbara State 2–1–03–5–0
San Jose State 3–3–04–5–0
Cal Poly 1–4–02–4–1
Bakersfield  – 0–3–1
San Mateo  –  – 
Santa Rosa  –  – 
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Central Pennsylvania Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Gettysburg $3–0–06–3–0
Ursinus 2–1–05–4–0
Muhlenberg 2–2–05–4–0
Franklin & Marshall 1–2–01–7–1
Dickinson 1–3–03–5–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
North Carolina A&T $6–0–07–0–0
Hampton 5–1–15–1–1
Virginia Union 5–2–05–2–0
Virginia Seminary 3–2–13–4–1
Virginia Normal 2–4–05–4–0
Lincoln (PA) 1–4–01–6–0
Saint Paul's (VA) 1–5–04–5–0
Shaw 0–5–00–7–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Far Western Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint Mary's $3–0–07–2–1
Cal Aggies 2–1–04–3–1
Fresno State 2–1–13–3–2
St. Ignatius (CA) 2–2–13–5–1
Nevada 1–3–02–6–1
Pacific (CA) 1–4–02–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Bradley $6–1–06–3–0
Illinois Wesleyan 6–2–16–2–1
Eastern Illinois 3–1–05–2–0
Monmouth (IL) 3–1–04–4–0
Millikin 3–1–13–3–1
St. Viator 3–1–06–2–1
North Central 2–1–15–3–1
Southern Illinois 2–1–03–5–2
McKendree 3–2–16–2–2
Knox (IL) 3–2–04–4–0
Western Illinois 5–3–16–3–1
Lake Forest 0–0–13–2–3
Illinois State Normal 4–4–04–4–0
Illinois College 3–4–13–5–1
Mount Morris 2–3–05–3–0
Carthage 1–2–22–3–2
Shurtleff 1–2–24–3–1
Lincoln (IL) 2–6–03–6–0
Augustana (IL) 1–5–02–5–0
Wheaton (IL) 0–2–02–4–1
Eureka 0–9–00–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $4–0–14–3–1
Manchester 2–0–13–2–1
Wabash 3–1–07–2–0
Central Normal 6–2–06–2–0
DePauw 4–2–04–4–0
Ball State 3–2–15–2–1
Evansville 3–2–03–5–0
Indiana State 2–2–14–2–1
Earlham 2–2–13–2–2
Franklin 2–2–22–3–2
Indiana Central 2–3–22–3–2
Oakland City 1–4–11–4–1
Hanover 1–4–11–6–1
Rose Poly 1–5–11–6–1
Valparaiso 0–1–01–5–0
Vincennes 0–4–00–4–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Iowa Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Iowa State Teachers $6–0–07–0–1
Columbia (IA) 1–0–02–3–3
Simpson (IA) 4–1–05–3–0
Upper Iowa 3–1–14–1–1
Des Moines 3–1–14–6–1
Western Union 2–1–05–2–0
Parsons 3–2–14–3–1
Penn (IA) 3–3–03–4–1
Morningside 1–1–03–5–0
Iowa Wesleyan 2–3–04–4–0
St. Ambrose 1–3–01–6–0
Central (IA) 1–6–01–7–0
Buena Vista 0–4–13–5–1
Luther 0–4–00–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Baker +6–0–17–0–1
College of Emporia +6–0–17–0–1
Emporia Teachers +6–0–17–0–1
Kansas Wesleyan +6–0–17–0–1
Pittsburg Teachers 5–2–06–2–0
Southwestern (KS) 5–2–06–2–0
Bethany (KS) 3–2–14–2–1
St. Mary's (KS) 4–3–04–3–0
Sterling 4–4–04–4–0
Wichita 2–4–03–4–0
Hays Teachers 2–4–13–5–1
Ottawa 1–5–11–6–1
Friends 1–6–02–6–0
McPherson 1–6–01–7–0
Washburn 1–6–01–7–0
St. Benedict's 0–3–12–5–1
Bethel (KS) 0–6–02–6–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1927 Michigan Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Michigan State Normal $3–0–08–0–0
Central Michigan 2–1–07–1–0
Western State Teachers 1–2–03–4–0
Detroit City College 0–3–02–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Alma $5–0–07–1–1
Albion 4–1–05–3–0
Hillsdale 2–3–03–5–1
Kalamazoo 2–3–03–5–0
Hope 1–4–01–5–0
Olivet 1–4–01–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Midwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Cornell (IA) $6–0–07–1–0
Carleton 3–1–06–1–0
Coe 3–2–04–3–1
Knox 2–2–04–4–0
Ripon 2–2–03–3–1
Hamline 1–1–02–4–1
Lawrence 1–2–02–5–0
Monmouth (IL) 1–3–04–4–0
Beloit 0–6–01–6–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Gustavus Adolphus $5–0–07–1–0
Augsburg 3–2–04–2–0
Macalester 3–2–03–4–0
Concordia (MN) 2–2–04–2–0
Hamline 1–2–12–4–1
St. Olaf 1–3–02–5–0
Saint John's (MN) 0–4–12–4–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Missouri Valley $6–0–07–0–0
Missouri Wesleyan 5–0–07–0–0
Central (MO) 4–1–06–2–0
Westminster (MO) 2–1–02–4–1
William Jewell 3–3–04–4–0
Culver–Stockton 2–4–03–5–0
Missouri Mines 1–2–02–5–1
Central Wesleyan 1–5–02–6–0
Tarkio 0–4–04–5–1
Drury 0–4–00–5–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Kirksville $4–0–08–1–0
Warrensburg 3–1–05–3–0
Springfield (MO) 2–2–04–3–0
Cape Girardeau 1–3–01–5–2
Maryville (MO) 0–4–01–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Peru Normal $6–0–08–0–0
Doane 5–0–16–1–1
York (NE) 3–0–33–2–3
Chadron Normal 4–1–07–2–0
Kearney Normal 3–1–24–2–2
Nebraska Central 4–2–0?–?–?
Midland 3–3–23–4–3
Cotner 2–4–0?–?–?
Hastings 2–4–04–5–0
Grand Island 1–3–21–5–2
Wayne Normal 1–3–11–6–1
Omaha 1–5–03–6–0
Nebraska Wesleyan 0–4–10–8–1
Dana 0–5–00–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 New England Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Maine $3–0–06–1–0
Rhode Island State 2–1–05–3–0
Connecticut 1–2–05–4–0
New Hampshire 0–3–00–7–1
Massachusetts 0–0–00–7–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 North Central Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
South Dakota +5–0–07–2–0
Creighton +2–0–06–1–1
South Dakota State 2–2–05–3–0
North Dakota 2–2–04–4–0
Morningside 1–3–03–5–0
North Dakota Agricultural 1–3–03–5–0
Nebraska Wesleyan 0–3–00–8–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1927 Northwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
College of Idaho $5–0–06–1–0
Whitman 4–1–05–4–0
Willamette 2–2–13–3–2
Puget Sound 1–2–13–4–1
Linfield 0–3–13–5–1
Pacific (OR) 0–4–11–5–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Northwest Ohio League football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Toledo $3–0–05–2–0
Bowling Green 2–1–05–1–1
Bluffton 2–2–04–2–0
Defiance 2–2–05–3–0
Findlay 0–4–00–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Miami (OH) +7–1–08–1–0
Muskingum +7–1–08–1–0
Oberlin 6–1–16–1–1
Mount Union 6–1–16–2–1
Wittenberg 4–1–08–2–0
Wooster 5–2–06–2–0
Dayton 2–1–06–3–0
Ohio 3–1–24–2–2
Heidelberg 4–2–04–3–0
Akron 4–3–05–3–0
Ohio Wesleyan 2–2–14–3–2
Denison 3–4–03–5–0
Marietta 2–3–12–3–1
Otterbein 2–4–02–4–1
Ohio Northern 2–5–03–6–0
Western Reserve 2–5–02–6–0
Capital 1–3–03–4–0
Baldwin–Wallace 2–6–02–6–0
Case 2–6–02–6–0
Cincinnati 0–4–22–5–2
Kenyon 1–5–01–6–1
Hiram 0–7–00–7–0
St. Xavier *1–0–08–1–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • * – did not compete for championship
4
1927 Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Oklahoma City +5–1–28–1–2
Oklahoma Baptist +5–1–16–1–2
Tulsa 3–1–08–1–0
Central State Teachers 3–1–33–1–4
Phillips 5–2–15–2–1
Northeastern State 2–3–13–4–1
Northwestern Oklahoma State 1–3–14–3–1
Southeastern Oklahoma State 1–4–12–5–3
Southwestern State 1–5–11–6–2
East Central 0–6–11–6–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1927 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Emory and Henry 3–0–09–0–0
Milligan 3–0–06–2–0
Maryville (TN) 3–0–06–2–1
King 1–3–11–6–1
Carson–Newman 1–4–02–8–0
Tusculum 0–4–10–5–2
  • No championship was awarded
1927 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
South Dakota Mines +6–0–07–1–0
Columbus (SD) +5–0–07–0–0
Dakota Wesleyan 5–1–05–1–0
Southern Normal 4–2–14–2–2
Yankton 2–2–13–3–1
Huron 2–3–03–5–0
Augustana (SD) 2–3–02–4–0
Sioux Falls 1–4–03–4–0
Spearfish 1–4–11–6–1
Northern Normal 0–4–20–7–2
Eastern Normal 0–5–10–6–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1927 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Mississippi College +8–0–08–0–0
Chattanooga +5–0–08–1–0
Centenary +4–0–010–0–0
Furman +3–0–010–1–0
Georgetown (KY) 1–0–01–0–1
Stetson 4–0–16–0–1
Loyola (LA) 1–0–16–2–2
Wofford 2–1–22–4–3
Presbyterian 2–2–13–3–3
Mercer 2–2–05–4–0
Louisville 2–2–04–4–0
Louisiana College 1–1–01–1–0
Union (TN) 2–3–06–4–0
The Citadel 2–3–13–6–1
Centre 2–3–03–6–0
Howard (AL) 1–2–17–2–2
Southern College 2–4–12–5–1
Birmingham–Southern 2–4–03–6–0
Western Kentucky State Normal 2–4–05–4–0
Erskine 1–2–12–4–1
Louisiana Tech 1–3–03–5–0
SW Louisiana 1–4–02–7–1
Millsaps 1–5–03–8–0
Rollins 0–2–01–5–0
Transylvania 0–5–00–9–0
Newberry 0–6–00–8–1
Kentucky Wesleyan 0–0–00–0–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1927 Southern California Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Pomona $6–0–16–0–1
UCLA 4–0–16–2–1
Whittier 4–2–16–2–1
Occidental 2–3–03–5–1
Caltech 2–3–12–5–1
San Diego State 2–3–04–3–0
Redlands 1–6–01–6–0
La Verne 0–4–03–4–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wiley $4–0–15–1–1
Prairie View State 3–1–14–2–1
Paul Quinn 3–2–0?–?–?
Samuel Huston 2–3–0?–?–?
Texas College 1–3–1?–?–?
Bishop 0–4–1?–?–?
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Texas Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Southwestern (TX) $2–1–14–2–1
Simmons (TX) 2–1–25–3–2
Howard Payne 3–2–06–3–0
St. Edward's 1–1–13–3–3
Trinity (TX) 1–2–13–5–1
Austin 0–2–11–5–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
McMurry $3–0–24–1–2
Abilene Christian 4–1–06–1–1
Southwest Texas State 3–1–14–4–1
Sam Houston State 3–1–14–4–1
West Texas State 2–2–06–3–1
Daniel Baker 2–2–14–5–1
Stephen F. Austin 1–3–21–6–3
North Texas State Teachers 0–3–21–6–2
East Texas State 0–5–10–6–2
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Tri-State Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Geneva $4–0–08–0–1
Duquesne 2–2–14–4–1
Westminster (PA) 1–1–12–3–2
Bethany (WV) 1–1–11–6–1
Waynesburg 1–2–21–5–3
Thiel 0–3–11–7–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 Virginia Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
William & Mary $2–0–14–5–1
Emory and Henry 1–0–09–0–0
Richmond 3–1–14–4–1
Roanoke 2–1–15–3–1
Randolph–Macon 1–2–12–3–1
Hampden–Sydney 1–3–04–5–0
Lynchburg 1–4–01–7–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1927 West Virginia Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
West Liberty State $4–0–06–1–1
Marshall 4–1–05–3–1
Davis & Elkins 3–1–05–5–0
West Virginia Wesleyan 3–1–03–6–1
Salem 4–2–05–2–0
Glenville State 4–2–24–2–2
Potomac State 2–2–02–3–1
Broaddus 2–3–12–5–1
Shepherd 0–3–04–3–0
Fairmont State 0–4–30–5–3
New River State 0–6–00–6–0
West Virginia *2–0–02–4–3
Concord *2–1–06–3–1
Morris Harvey *1–2–03–4–1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Ties did not count in conference standings.
1927 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
La Crosse State $4–0–15–0–2
Whitewater State 3–1–05–1–0
River Falls State 3–1–15–1–1
Milwaukee State 2–1–14–2–2
Eau Claire State 2–2–03–2–0
Superior State 2–2–05–3–0
Oshkosh State 1–2–12–3–1
Stout Institute 1–3–03–3–0
Stevens Point State 1–3–02–3–1
Platteville State 0–4–00–4–1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Superior State forfeited to Eau Claire State.

Rankings

Champions (per rankings)

Various different rankings (using differing methodologies) have identified either Georgia, Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, or Yale as the season's champion. [9]

Note: besides the Dickinson System and Houlgate System, all 1927 rankings were given retroactively

Dickinson System rankings

The AP sportswriters' poll would not begin continuously until 1936. [10] (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934 [11] ) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition. The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university. [12]

Although Dickinson retroactively applied the system to the 1924 and 1925 seasons, the year 1926 was the first in which the trophy was awarded at season's end. The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played. [13]

RankTeamRecordRating
1 Illinois 7–0–121.50
2 Pittsburgh 8–0–121.42
3 Minnesota 6–0–220.88
4 Notre Dame 7–1–120.83
5 Yale 7–120.00
6 Army 9–118.75
7 Michigan 6–218.33
8 Georgia 9–117.50
9 Nebraska 6–217.42
10 USC 8–1–116.35
11 Texas A&M 8–0–115.00

[14]

Awards and honors

All-Americans

The consensus All-America team included:

PositionNameHeightWeight (lbs.)ClassHometownTeam
QB Morley Drury 6'0"185Sr. Long Beach, California USC
HB Gibby Welch 5'11"170Sr. Parkersburg, West Virginia Pittsburgh
HB Chris Cagle 5'9"167So. De Ridder, Louisiana Army
FB Herb Joesting 6'1"192Sr. Owatonna, Minnesota Minnesota
E Bennie Oosterbaan 6'0"180Sr. Muskegon, Michigan Michigan
T Jesse Hibbs 6'0"195Jr. Normal, Illinois USC
G Bill Webster 6'0"200Sr. Lakeville, Connecticut Yale
C Larry Bettencourt 5'11"195Sr. Newark, California Saint Mary's
C John Charlesworth 5'11"198Sr. Clarksburg, Massachusetts Yale
G John "Clipper" Smith 5'9"164Sr. Hartford, Connecticut Notre Dame
T Ed Hake 6'0"190Sr. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Penn
E Tom Nash 6'3"200Sr. Washington, Georgia Georgia

Statistical leaders

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ Alison Danzig, The History of American Football, (Prentice-Hall Inc., 1956) p. 71
  3. ↑ "Stadium History | Soldierfield.net". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011. "Stadium History" Soldier Field.com]
  4. ↑ "Sports Highlights of 1927," "Chicago Tribune", Jan. 1, 1927, p.9
  5. ↑ "Notre Dame Scores 7–6 Victory Over Southern California," Syracuse Herald, Nov. 27, 1927, pXX-1
  6. 1 2 "Army Comes From Behind in Last Half to Defeat Navy, 14 to 9," Syracuse Herald, Nov. 27, 1927, pXX-1
  7. ↑ "Lucky Fumble Gives Cards Win," Oakland Tribune, January 3, 1928, p25
  8. ↑ "Texas A&M Football History". Texas AM University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. 2017. p. 111. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ Herschel Nissenson Tales From College Football's Sidelines (Sports Publishing LLC, 2001), p93.
  13. ↑ "The Dickinson system awards 30 points for a victory over a strong team, and 20 for victory over a weak team. Defeats count half as much as victories, and ties are consideredas games half won and half lost. Dividing this total by the number of games played gives the final rating, "ILLINOIS BEST FOOTBALL TEAM OF YEAR," The Syracuse Herald, Dec. 4, 1927, p23
  14. ↑ "Illinois Best Football Team Of Year," The Syracuse Herald, December 4, 1927, p23
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