1933 college football rankings

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The 1933 college football rankings included mathematical systems operated by William F. Boand and Frank G. Dickinson. Both systems selected the undefeated Michigan Wolverines as the national champion.

Contents

The AP sportswriters' poll would not begin being published continuously until 1936. [1] (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934 [2] )

Champions (by ranking)

Most major rankings (both contemporary and retroactive) have identified Michigan as the season's champion. The three exceptions were the contemporary ranking Dunkel System (which found Ohio State the champion), the contemporary Williamson System ranking (which found USC to be the champion), and ranking by Parke H. Davis for Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide (which found Princeton to have been co-champion alongside Michigan). [3]

Note: Boand System, Dickinson System, Dunkel System, Houlgate System, and were Williamson System given contemporarily. Parke Davis' rankings were also published soon after season. All other methods were given retroactively

Boand System

The Boand System was a mathematical ranking system developed by William F. Boand and sometimes billed as the "Azzi Ratem" (as I rate 'em) system.

1. Michigan
2. Princeton
3. USC
[4]

Dickinson System

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 the Rockne Memorial Trophy was awarded to the winning university. [5]

In an AP story, the system was explained:

For each victory of a first division team over another first division team, the winner gets 30 points and the loser 15 points. For each tie between two first division teams, each team gets 12.5 points. For each victory of a first division team over a second division team, the first division winner gets 20 points and the second division loser 10 points. For each tie between two second division teams, each gets 15 points. For each tie between a first division team and a second division team, the first division team gets 15 points and the second division team gets 20 points. Then, after each team has been given its quota of points its final "score" is tabulated by taking an average on the number of games played." [6]

Michigan (7–0–1), Minnesota (4–0–4) and Princeton (9–0) were all unbeaten, and Princeton was untied as well. Based on its schedule, Michigan was ranked highest by Professor Dickinson. As in 1932, Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, included four Big Ten Conference teams among the best in the US. In 1933, they were Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.

[7]

RankTeamRecordRating
1 Michigan 7–0–128.52
2 Nebraska 8–124.61
3 Minnesota 4–0–423.87
4 Pittsburgh 8–123.01
5 Ohio State 7–122.79
6 USC 10–1–122.61
7 Princeton 9–022.50
8 Oregon 9–122.36
9 Army 9–122.16
10 Purdue 6–1–121.88
11 Stanford 9–1–120.34


The Dickinson System was a mathematical rating system devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G. Dickinson.

1. Michigan - 28.52 points
2. Nebraska - 24.61
3. Minnesota - 23.87
4. Pittsburgh - 23.01
5. Ohio State - 22.79
6. USC - 22.61
7. Princeton - 22.50
8. (tie) Oregon - 22.16
8. (tie) Army - 22.16
10. Purdue - 21.88
11. Stanford - 20.34

Dunkel System

Houlgate System

1. Michigan
2. USC
3. Princeton
4. LSU
5. Oregon
6. Stanford
7. Minnesota
8. Duquesne
8. Nebraska
10. Centenary
11. Columbia
11. Pittsburgh
[8]

Williamson System

1. USC 98.05
2. Michigan 97.58
3. Princeton 97.26
[...]
279. Montana State

[9]

See also

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. 2017. p. 111. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Azzi Ratem System Awards National Football Title to Michigan". The Arizona Daily Star. December 11, 1933. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Herschel Nissenson Tales From College Football's Sidelines (Sports Publishing LLC, 2001), p93.
  6. ↑ "Grid Season Put In Hands 'Brain Trust'," The Evening Tribune (Albert Lea, Minn.) Nov. 27, 1934, p12
  7. ↑ "Dickinson System Awards Michigan National Grid Title," Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.), December 10, 1933, p19
  8. ↑ "Bowl Classic To Determine Grid Ratings". Pasadena Post. December 12, 1933. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Gould, Alan (January 17, 1933). "Sport Slants". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Retrieved January 2, 2023. we find Southern California clearly on top, within two points of perfection, at 98.12, with the result of the Rose Bowl game considered.
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