1932 college football season

Last updated

The 1932 college football season saw the Michigan Wolverines win the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the math-based Dickinson System. Because the "Big Nine" conference didn't permit its teams to play in the postseason, however, the Wolverines were not able to accept a bid to the Rose Bowl. [1] As such, the Pasadena game matched the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, USC and Pittsburgh, with the USC Trojans winning the east–west matchup 35–0. The other four contemporary math system selectors (the Boand, Dunkel, Houlgate, and Williamson Systems) all selected USC as national champion. [2] This was also the last season NFL would use college football rules.

Contents

Conference and program changes

Conference changes

Membership changes

School1931 Conference1932 Conference
Butler Bulldogs Independent Missouri Valley
Texas Tech Red Raiders Independent Border

September

On September 17, Texas Christian University (TCU) opened its season with a 14–2 win over visiting North Texas.

September 24 USC beat Utah 35–0, Tennessee won 13–0 at UT-Chattanooga, and Pittsburgh beat visiting Ohio Northern College 47–0. TCU and LSU played to a 3–3 tie in Baton Rouge.

October

October 1 Michigan beat Michigan State 26–0, Purdue beat Kansas State 29–13, Ohio State beat Ohio Wesleyan 34–7, Wisconsin beat Marquette 7–2. USC beat Washington State 20–0. Pittsburgh won at West Virginia, 40–0. Army beat Furman 13–0. Tennessee beat Ole Miss 33–0 and TCU defeated Daniel Baker College 55–0.

October 8 Michigan beat Northwestern 15–6, Wisconsin beat Iowa 34–0, Purdue won at Minnesota 7–0, and Ohio State and Indiana played to a 7–7 tie. USC beat Oregon State 10–0. Pittsburgh beat Duquesne 33–0. Army beat Carleton College 57–0. Notre Dame opened with a 73–0 win over Haskell College. Tennessee beat North Carolina 20–7 and TCU beat Arkansas 34–12.

October 15 In Birmingham, Tennessee and Alabama, both 3–0–0, met, with the visitors winning 7–3. Michigan won at Ohio State 14–0, while Purdue beat visiting Wisconsin 7–6, and Pittsburgh won at Army 18–13. TCU won at Texas A&M 17–0, USC defeated Loyola Marymount 6–0 and Notre Dame beat Drake 62–0.

October 22 USC (4–0–0) and Stanford (5–0–0) met at Palo Alto, with USC winning 13–0. At Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Pitt played to a 0–0 tie. Michigan beat Illinois 32–0, Purdue tied at Northwestern 7–7, and Wisconsin shut out Iowa's Coe College 39–0. Notre Dame beat Carnegie Tech 42–0. Army won at Yale 20–0. Tennessee beat Maryville College 60–0 and TCU beat Austin College 68–0

October 29 Pittsburgh (4–0–1) hosted Notre Dame (3–0–0) and won 12–0. Ohio State and Wisconsin played to a 7–7 tie giving OSU a record of 1–1–3. Michigan defeated Princeton 14–7 and Purdue beat NYU 34–9 at Yankee Stadium. Army beat William & Mary 33–0. Tennessee beat visiting Duke, 16–13, and TCU defeated Baylor 27–0.

November

November 5 Notre Dame won at Kansas University, 24–6. Michigan won at Indiana 7–0, Ohio State won at Northwestern 20–6, Wisconsin beat Illinois 20–12 and Purdue won at Chicago 37–0. Pittsburgh won at Penn, 19–12. USC beat California 27–7. Army won at Harvard 46–0 Tennessee beat Mississippi State 31–0 and TCU won at Hardin-Simmonds 27–0.

November 11 On Armistice Day, TCU (8–0–1) hosted Texas (6–1–0) and won 14–0.

November 12 In Nashville, Tennessee (7–0–0) and Vanderbilt (6–0–1), played to a scoreless tie. Michigan beat Chicago 12–0, Purdue won at Iowa 18–0, and Wisconsin beat Minnesota 20–13. Ohio State beat Penn 19–0. USC beat Oregon 33–0. Army beat North Dakota State 52–0. At Lincoln, Neb., Pittsburgh and Nebraska played to a 0–0 tie. At Chicago, Notre Dame beat Northwestern 21–0

November 19 Michigan closed its season with a 3–0 win at Minnesota, Ohio State closed at Illinois with the same 3–0 score. Wisconsin won at Chicago 18–7, and Purdue beat Indiana 25–7. Notre Dame defeated Navy in a game at Cleveland, 12–0. Pittsburgh beat Carnegie Tech, 6–0. In Houston, TCU beat Rice 16–6. Army narrowly beat visiting West Virginia Wesleyan 7–0. At Providence, Colgate (8–0–0) and Brown University (7–0–0) faced each other for the season-ender for both teams. Colgate had held its first 8 opponents scoreless, and the nation waited to see if that streak would be ended by Colgate's toughest opponent of the year. Colgate's Red Raiders won 21–0 to close the season with a 264–0 edge on its opposition.

November 24 On Thanksgiving Day, USC won at Washington 9–6; that win, along with California's 3–0 loss to Washington State, gave USC the Pacific Coast crown and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

November 26 At Yankee Stadium, Notre Dame beat Army 21–0. Pittsburgh beat visiting Stanford 7–0 to close its season unbeaten (8–0–2). Tennessee beat Kentucky 26–0. TCU closed its season at Dallas, with an 8–0 win over SMU. In eleven games, TCU had registered seven shutouts, and finished unbeaten (10–0–1).

December

December 3 In the Army–Navy Game at Philadelphia, Army won 20–0. In Jacksonville, Tennessee beat Florida to close its season unbeaten (9–0–1).

December 6 Jack F. Rissman, sponsor of the original Dickinson System trophy, announced that the Dickinson title and Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy would go to USC with a season-ending win over Notre Dame. [3] Rissman would be attending the game in Los Angeles. [3]

December 10 In Los Angeles, USC (9–0–0) hosted Notre Dame (7–1–0) and won 13–0. That night, going against Rissman's proclamation, Professor Dickinson named 8–0 Michigan as national champions with 9–0 USC No. 2 and 8–0–2 Pittsburgh No. 3. [4]

December 15 Rissman, displeased by Dickinson's choice of Michigan, announced a new Rissman national championship trophy. [5] For 1932, the trophy would go to the winner of the Rose Bowl on January 2. [5]

1933 Rose Bowl

USC had beaten Pitt in the 1933 Rose Bowl, 47–14, and the rematch three years later resulted in a larger defeat. Before a crowd of 84,000 the previously unbeaten Pitt Panthers reached the "red zone" only twice. In the second quarter, a long run gave the Panthers first down on the USC 24 yard line, but Warren Heller's pass fell in the end zone, and under the rules of the day, the result was a turnover (and a touchback, with USC given first down on the 20). Pitt got another chance soon after on a blocked punt, but was stopped on downs. With the help of holes opened up by Trojan halfback, USC scored five touchdowns (including three in the final quarter) and won 35–0. With New Year's Day falling on a Sunday, the Rose Bowl took place on Monday, January 2, 1933 [6]

Conference standings

Major conference standings

1932 Big Six Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Nebraska $500711
Kansas 320530
Oklahoma 320441
Kansas State 230440
Missouri 131171
Iowa State 041341
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Michigan +600800
No. 4 Purdue +501701
No. 11 Wisconsin 411611
No. 6 Ohio State 212413
Northwestern 231341
Minnesota 230530
Illinois 240540
Indiana 141341
Chicago 140341
Iowa 050170
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System
1932 Border Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Texas Tech 2001020
Arizona 320450
Arizona State 220431
Arizona State–Flagstaff 220322
New Mexico A&M 121451
New Mexico 131151
  • Arizona State and Arizona State–Flagstaff played twice, but only the second meeting counted in the conference standings.
1932 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 USC $6001000
Washington State 511711
UCLA 420640
Washington 322622
Oregon 221631
California 221732
Stanford 131641
Oregon State 140460
Idaho 140350
Montana 050270
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1932 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Utah $600611
BYU 510810
Colorado College 520520
Denver 411431
Colorado Agricultural 431431
Colorado Teachers 221421
Utah State 330440
Colorado 240240
Wyoming 141261
Colorado Mines 150170
Montana State 030331
Western State (CO) 050150
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 9 Tennessee +701901
Auburn +601901
LSU +400631
VPI 610810
Vanderbilt 412612
NC State 311612
Alabama 520820
Tulane 521621
Duke 530730
Georgia Tech 441451
Kentucky 450450
Virginia 230540
Ole Miss 230560
Georgia 242252
Maryland 240560
North Carolina 251352
South Carolina 121542
VMI 140280
Washington and Lee 140190
Florida 160360
Clemson 040351
Mississippi State 040350
Sewanee 060271
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System
1932 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 10 TCU $6001001
Texas 510820
Rice 330730
Texas A&M 122442
Baylor 141351
SMU 141372
Arkansas 140162
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

Independents

1932 Eastern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Colgate   900
Brown   710
Columbia   711
Pittsburgh   812
No. 8 Army   820
Drexel   511
Massachusetts State   720
Villanova   720
Duquesne   721
Fordham   620
Penn   620
Temple   512
Tufts   512
Cornell   521
Franklin & Marshall   421
Boston College   422
La Salle   422
Harvard   530
NYU   530
Washington & Jefferson   531
Manhattan   632
Carnegie Tech   432
Bucknell   441
Syracuse   441
Princeton   223
Yale   223
Boston University   232
Vermont   241
CCNY   250
Penn State   250
Rankings from Dickinson System
1932 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Western State Teachers   601
Michigan State   710
Western Reserve   710
Detroit   820
Michigan Tech   410
No. 7 Notre Dame   720
DePaul   512
Michigan State Normal   520
Saint Louis   520
Marquette   431
Bowling Green   331
Central State (MI)   341
Haskell   251
Detroit City   160
1932 Southern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Jefferson (TX)   800
Catholic University   611
South Georgia Teachers   620
Western Maryland   512
George Washington   621
Texas Mines   730
William & Mary Norfolk   631
Troy State   532
Delaware   540
Wake Forest   332
West Virginia   550
Georgetown   261
Navy   261
Oglethorpe   160
East Carolina   050
1932 Western college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Columbia (OR)   601
Saint Mary's   621
Santa Clara   630
Gonzaga   530
Hawaii   211
Cal Poly   440
Loyola (CA)   440
San Francisco   260
Humboldt State   140
San Francisco State   170

Minor conferences

ConferenceChampion(s)Record
Big Four Conference Tulsa 3–0
Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Morgan College 3–0–2
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wichita 5–1
Far Western Conference Nevada
San Jose State Teachers
2–0–1
3–0–2
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Luther 4–1
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Ottawa 4–0
Lone Star Conference North Texas State Teachers 5–0
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hillsdale 4–0
Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference Adrian
St. Mary's
2–0–1
2–0–1
Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference Carleton
Monmouth (IL)
Ripon
2–0–1
2–0–1
1–0–1
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saint John's (MN) 4–0–1
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northeast Missouri State Teachers 4–0–0
Nebraska College Athletic Conference Hastings
Nebraska Wesleyan
4–0–1
Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association Unknown
North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Dakota Agricultural 4–0–0
North Dakota College Athletic Conference State Normal and Industrial (ND) 4–0–1
4–0
Northern Teachers Athletic Conference Duluth State Teachers
Mankato State Teachers
Moorhead State Teachers
St. Cloud State Teachers
2–1
Ohio Athletic Conference Case Tech 6–0–0
Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Central State Teachers
Southwestern State Teachers (OK)
4–1–0
4–1
Pacific Northwest Conference College of Puget Sound 5–0
South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Augustana (SD)
Black Hills Teachers
5–0
3–0–1
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Whittier 5–1
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tuskegee 4–0
Southwestern Athletic Conference Wiley (TX) 5–0
Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference Howard Payne 5–0
Tri-Normal League Unknown
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference Whitewater State Teachers 4–0

Minor conference standings

1932 Big Four Conference (Oklahoma) football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Tulsa $300711
Oklahoma Baptist 210540
Oklahoma City 120551
Phillips 030370
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Big Four Conference (Wisconsin) football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Ripon $201322
Carroll (WI) 210420
Lawrence 120341
Beloit 021322
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Miami (OH) $500710
Ohio 310720
Cincinnati 220720
Ohio Wesleyan 220540
Wittenberg 140360
Denison 040260
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wichita $510720
Pittsburg State 411612
Washburn 411631
College of Emporia 231251
Fort Hays State 240450
Southwestern (KS) 132342
Emporia Teachers 051251
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Morgan $601701
Virginia State 611711
Virginia Union 611711
Hampton 521521
Bluefield State 320441
North Carolina College 350350
Saint Paul's (VA) 350350
Howard 240340
North Carolina A&T 150250
Lincoln (PA) 020041
Shaw 040042
Johnson C. Smith 040140
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Dixie Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Mercer 300620
Birmingham–Southern $510530
Centre 210630
Mississippi College 210341
Southwestern (TN) 220460
Millsaps 230450
Chattanooga 230360
Howard (AL) 240370
Spring Hill 050070
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Franklin & Marshall +211421
Gettysburg +211431
Ursinus +211431
Muhlenberg +211342
Dickinson 040160
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Far Western Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
San Jose State +302702
Nevada +201332
Chico State 210350
Pacific (CA) 220440
Cal Aggies 140181
Fresno State 031352
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Illinois Wesleyan +600620
McKendree +500910
Augustana (IL) 501602
Illinois State Normal 620720
Bradley 311332
Western Illinois 421421
St. Viator 210341
Shurtleff 530630
Millikin 320521
Illinois College 330340
Northern Illinois State 221421
Monmouth (IL) 221432
Lake Forest 220431
North Central 240450
Eureka 131141
Wheaton (IL) 130430
Southern Illinois 141253
Carthage 043144
Knox (IL) 040080
Elmhurst 050060
Eastern Illinois 060170
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Manchester +400610
Valparaiso +300700
Wabash 402422
DePauw 311341
Butler 210241
Franklin (IN) 421431
Hanover 321431
Rose Poly 330530
Ball State 440440
Evansville 221241
Indiana State 340350
Central Normal 160170
Earlham 050150
Oakland City 060160
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Iowa Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Luther $410620
Simpson (IA) 411541
Central (IA) 520620
Iowa State Teachers 311531
Upper Iowa 410420
Iowa Wesleyan 320521
St. Ambrose 511512
Morningside 110260
Columbia (IA) 131151
Dubuque 030150
Parsons 132142
Western Union 010240
Buena Vista 140170
Penn (IA) 080090
  • $ Conference champion
  • Conference standings were based on Stanley-Dean ranking.
1932 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Ottawa $400710
Kansas Wesleyan 310530
Baker 220441
Bethany (KS) 130160
McPherson 040360
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
North Texas State $500811
Southwest Texas State 310530
Trinity (TX) 211521
East Texas State 221341
Sam Houston State 140261
Stephen F. Austin 050270
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Hillsdale $400710
Albion 211421
Hope 112422
Kalamazoo 121431
Alma 040160
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
St. Mary's (MI) +201321
Adrian +201261
Assumption (ON) 021???
Detroit Tech 021???
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Middle Atlantic Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Cheyney $402412
Downingtown 401601
Storer 301401
Bordentown 330440
Delaware State 130150
Bowie 140160
Princess Anne 060060
  • $ Conference champion
  • Cheyney was declared by the conference champion based on the Dickinson System.
1932 Middle Three Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Rutgers $200631
Lafayette 110350
Lehigh 020261
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Midwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Carleton +201520
Monmouth (IL) +201801
Ripon +101322
Cornell (IA) 211342
Beloit 111322
Lawrence 120341
Coe 121252
Knox 040070
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Oklahoma A&M $300912
Creighton 310521
Butler 001241
Washington University 120440
Drake 131261
Grinnell 130341
  • $ Conference champion
1933 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint John's (MN) $401601
Gustavus Adolphus 311311
St. Thomas (MN) 310521
Concordia (MN) 113223
St. Olaf 220250
Hamline 230330
Macalester 131141
Augsburg 050050
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Mississippi Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Bethel (TN) $510710
Tennessee Poly 201403
Delta State 310450
Sunflower Junior 210210
Jonesboro College 220530
West Tennessee State Teachers 220450
Tennessee Junior 122143
Lambuth 160170
Freed–Hardeman 031131
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Missouri Valley $400611
Missouri Mines 100431
Central (MO) 320530
Tarkio 120350
Drury 130150
William Jewell 130160
Culver–Stockton 010430
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Kirksville $400800
Springfield (MO) 211322
Maryville (MO) 220441
Warrensburg 121431
Cape Girardeau 040261
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Hastings +401521
Nebraska Wesleyan +401431
Midland 230440
Cotner 230450
Doane 131341
York (NE) 041151
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Peru State $300620
Omaha 201521
Chadron State 220440
Wayne State (NE) 022442
Kearney State 031251
  • $ Conference champion
1932 New England Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Maine $201511
New Hampshire 101341
Rhode Island State 011251
Connecticut 021062
  • $ Conference champion
1932 North Central Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
North Dakota Agricultural $400720
North Dakota 210710
South Dakota 111451
South Dakota State 121251
Morningside 040260
  • $ Conference champion
1932 North Dakota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Ellendale +300300
Minot State +401511
Wahpeton 211311
Dickinson State 212222
Jamestown 112112
Mayville State 130130
Valley City State 150150
Bottineau 030030
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 North State Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Catawba $400621
Lenoir–Rhyne *410541
Guilford 220370
High Point 230260
Appalachian State *030451
Elon 030260
  • $ Conference champion
  • * — Appalachian State forfeited a win over Lenoir–Rhyne due to an ineligible player.
1932 Northern Teachers College Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Mankato State +210411
St. Cloud State +210430
Duluth State +210330
Moorhead State +210250
Winona State 130331
Bemidji State 130241
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Northwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Puget Sound $401711
Willamette 411441
Pacific (OR) 320432
Whitman 320350
Linfield 130350
College of Idaho 020331
Albany (OR) 050070
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Northwest Ohio League football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Bluffton $201322
Defiance 210350
Findlay 111322
Wilmington (OH) 030260
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Case $600720
Heidelberg 610611
Baldwin–Wallace 511611
Ohio Northern 310421
Toledo 310340
Wooster 412512
Muskingum 311431
Otterbein 422422
Marietta 321322
John Carroll 321541
Dayton 110920
Kenyon 220231
Akron 143243
Capital 142142
Oberlin 130260
Ashland 151251
Hiram 160161
Kent State 052052
Mount Union 160180
Xavier 010341
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Central State Teachers +410631
SW Oklahoma State +410630
SE Oklahoma State 211541
East Central 221432
NW Oklahoma State 130270
Northeastern State 050170
  • + Conference co-champions
1932 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Carson–Newman $300521
King 410521
Tusculum 320520
Maryville (TN) 120450
East Tennessee State Teachers 020331
Milligan 040060
  • $ Conference champion
1932 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Augustana (SD) +500610
Spearfish +301701
Northern Normal 310530
Yankton 312422
Southern Normal 212412
Dakota Wesleyan 230350
Sioux Falls 130250
South Dakota Mines 130160
Eastern Normal 040140
Huron 041041
  • + Conference co-champions
  • Spearfish and South Dakota Mines played twice. The second game was not counted in the conference standings.
1932 Southern California Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Whittier $5101010
Redlands 520720
La Verne 520620
Occidental 421441
Pomona 240240
San Diego State 241351
Caltech 250270
Santa Barbara State 160160
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Western Kentucky State Teachers $600710
Furman 500810
Southwestern (TN) 300460
Rollins 200601
Loyola (LA) 200641
Centenary 100801
Louisiana Normal 410710
Centre 410630
Mississippi College 410440
Presbyterian 311521
Mercer 520620
Murray State 321423
Georgetown (KY) 320450
Eastern Kentucky 111212
Mississippi State Teachers 330540
Louisiana Tech 330440
The Citadel 220450
Middle Tennessee State Teachers 230460
Newberry 122233
Millsaps 130450
SW Louisiana 130340
Transylvania 131351
Wofford 131361
Louisiana College 141241
Chattanooga 140360
Miami (FL) 021431
Louisville 050090
Erskine 060190
Union (TN) 061081
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wiley $500900
Prairie View 221632
Texas College ???521
Bishop ??????
Langston ??????
Samuel Huston ??????
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Texas Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Howard Payne $400710
Southwestern (TX) 310333
Simmons (TX) 121451
St. Edward's 121352
Austin 040090
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Texas A&I $300620
West Texas State 301422
Sul Ross 301???
McMurry 230242
Abilene Christian 140261
Daniel Baker 050271
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Tri-State Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Waynesburg $400810
Geneva 310730
Westminster (PA) 220460
Grove City 230351
Thiel 130360
Bethany (WV) 030052
  • $ Conference champion
1932 Virginia Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Richmond $302422
William & Mary 410840
Randolph–Macon212512
Hampden–Sydney112432
Roanoke 230450
Emory and Henry030441
Bridgewater030040
  • $ Conference champion
1932 West Virginia Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Fairmont State $410521
Glenville State311421
West Liberty State310720
West Virginia Wesleyan 211441
Concord131441
Salem150250
Morris Harvey040090
Marshall *300621
Davis & Elkins *200650
Potomac State *201411
New River State *110331
Morehead State *010421
Shepherd *020430
Bethany (WV) *020052
  • $ Conference champion
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Ties did not count in conference standings.
1932 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Whitewater State $400610
La Crosse State301502
River Falls State310510
Superior State310620
Milwaukee State320530
Eau Claire State220430
Stevens Point State230250
Oshkosh State131241
Platteville State040240
Stout Institute050061
  • $ Conference champion

National championship

Dickinson System

For 1932, Professor Dickinson announced that "differential points" would be factored in for an "intersectional game", with ratings of 0.00 for East schools, higher points for "Middlewest" (+4.77) and Southwest (+1.36), negatives for the South (-2.59), the Big Six (-2.60) and the Pacific Coast (-2.71). [4]

Michigan and USC were both unbeaten and untied, but as a "Middlewest" team, Michigan had a higher average rating. The higher weight put four Big Ten Conference teams in Dickinson's top 11: Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin.

In 1932, the national championship trophy was presented to the winning school by the Four Horsemen of the 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team: Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller, and Elmer Layden. [4]

RankTeamRecordRating
1 Michigan 8–028.47
2 USC 9–026.81
3 Pittsburgh 8–0–226.49
4 Purdue 7–0–126.33
5 Colgate 9–025.00
6 Ohio State 4–1–323.60
7 Notre Dame 7–220.44
8 Army 8–220.00
9 Tennessee 9–0–119.16
10 TCU 9–0–119.12
11 Wisconsin 6–1–118.80

Notes

  1. per Boand System, Dunkel System, Houlgate System, Williamson System, Berryman QPRS, Billingsley Report, College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation, Poling System, Sagarin Ratings Predictor method
  2. per Dickinson System (received Rockne Trophy) and Sagarin Ratings Elo chess method; co-champion (alongside Colgate) per Parke H. Davis (Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide)
  3. co-champion (alongside Michigan) per Parke H. Davis (Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide)

See also

References

  1. "Los Angeles Sees Maroon Due for Bid To Meet U.S.C.," Syracuse Herald, Nov. 27, 1932, p9
  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.
  3. 1 2 "Gridiron Trophy Donor Here To See Big Game". The Los Angeles Times . International News Service. December 6, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024. Jack Rissman, a Chicago merchant, said that thus far the Trojans are slightly in the lead in the race for the trophy, which is now known as the Knute Rockne Cup, and can clinch the honor only by defeating the Irish Saturday.
  4. 1 2 3 Written at Champaign, Illinois. "Michigan Gets Rockne Trophy as U.S. Champ — USC Rated Second, Pittsburgh Third". The Daily Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press. December 11, 1932. p. 9. Although Southern California's Trojans defeated Notre Dame today to finish their regular season undefeated and untied, the University of Michigan tonight was declared winner of the Knute. K. Rockne memorial trophy, symbolic of the national football championship, under the Dickinson rating system.
  5. 1 2 Written at Los Angeles. "Troy, Pitt Play for Cup — Winner Will Get National Title Trophy — Donor of Cup Awarded Michigan 'Peeved,' Offers New One". The Long Beach Sun . Long Beach. United Press. December 15, 1932. Retrieved July 3, 2024. A trophy symbolic of the mythical national football championship will be awarded to the winner of the Southern California–Pittsburgh game at Pasadena by Jack Rissman, wealthy Chicago sportsman who donated the Dickinson rating cup.
  6. "Pitt is Swamped in 35–0 Landslide," Charleston Daily Mail, Jan. 3, 1933, p9