| 1931 college football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1931 |
| Bowl season | 1931–32 bowl games |
| End of season champions | USC [a] Pittsburgh [b] Purdue [c] |
The 1931 college football rankings ranked the best teams participating in the 1931 college football season. They included a mathematical system operated by Frank G. Dickinson.
All major rankings (both contemporary and retroactive) have identified the University of Southern California as the season's champions, with exception of Parke H. Davis's retroactive ranking for Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide, which identified Pittsburgh and Purdue as co-champions. [1]
Note: Boand System, Dickinson System, Dunkel System, Houlgate System, Williamson System, and Erskine Trophy poll were given contemporarily. All other methods were given retroactively
The Dickinson System was a mathematical rating system devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G. Dickinson. It ranked 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. [3] It 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. [4]
In 1931, although 11–0 Tulane was unbeaten and untied they were second to 9–1 USC in the final Dickinson System mathematical ratings. [5]
The teams were set to face off in the 1932 Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The Trojans requested that presentation of the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy be delayed until after the game. [6] During the delay, it was decided that the Dickinson System trophy would go to the winner of the Rose Bowl game. [7] USC ultimately won the game.
| Rank | Team [8] | Record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USC | 9–1 | 26.25 |
| 2 | Tulane | 11–0 | 24.85 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 8–0–1 | 23.10 |
| 4 | Northwestern | 7–1–1 | 22.45 |
| 5 | Saint Mary's | 7–1 | 22.23 |
| 6 | Georgia | 8–2 | 21.25 |
| 7 | Harvard | 7–1 | 19.50 |
| 8 | Yale | 5–1–2 | 18.79 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | 8–1 | 17.50 |
| 10 | Purdue | 7–1 | 16.58 |
| 11 | Notre Dame | 8–2–1 | 16.17 |
Southern California's 21–12 victory over Tulane brought the Trojans the Albert Russell Erskine football trophy and the national grid championship for 1931. Presentation of the trophy was made in front of the Trojan rooting section following the game by William R. Moorehouse, member of the Erskine award board. The Erskine award brought a Studebaker President eight sedan to Coach Howard Jones, an engraved cup to the University of Southern California and a scroll signifying the national championship to the Trojan team.
The ratings made long in advance of the Tournament of Roses game New Year's day placed Southern California first and Tulane second but when these two teams met in a 'natural' Rose bowl game, it was decided that if Tulane could overrule Dickinson's rating, he would stand corrected and give the trophy to the New Orleans lads.