| 1937 NCAA football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1937 |
| Bowl season | 1937–38 bowl games |
| End of season champions | Pittsburgh |
The following polls and rankings composed the 1937 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different selectors.
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| National champion | ||
(#–#) | Win–loss record | |
(Italics) | Number of first place votes | |
т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
The final AP Poll was released on November 29, at the end of the 1937 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.
| Week 1 Oct 18 [1] | Week 2 Oct 25 [2] | Week 3 Nov 1 [3] | Week 4 Nov 8 [4] | Week 5 Nov 15 [5] | Week 6 Nov 22 [6] | Week 7 (Final) Nov 29 [7] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | California (5–0) (24) | California (6–0) (48) | California (7–0) (49) | Pittsburgh (6–0–1) (32) | Pittsburgh (7–0–1) (49) | Pittsburgh (8–0–1) (38) | Pittsburgh (9–0–1) (30) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (4–0) (7) | Pittsburgh (4–0–1) (3) | Alabama (6–0) (6) | California (7–0–1) (9) | California (8–0–1) (6) | California (9–0–1) (10) | California (9–0–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Pittsburgh (3–0–1) (8) | Alabama (5–0) | Pittsburgh (5–0–1) (4) | Alabama (7–0) (13) | Alabama (8–0) (2) | Fordham (6–0–1) | Fordham (7–0–1) (2) | 3. |
| 4. | Minnesota (3–1) (5) | Minnesota (3–1) (2) | Baylor (6–0) (2) | Fordham (5–0–1) (2) | Fordham (5–0–1) (2) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Yale (3–0) (6) | Yale (4–0) (2) | Fordham (4–0–1) | Dartmouth (6–0–1) | Yale (6–0–1) | Minnesota (6–2) | Minnesota (6–2) | 5. |
| 6. | LSU (4–0) (2) | Baylor (5–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–0–1) | Yale (5–0–1) | Santa Clara (7–0) | Dartmouth (7–0–2) | Villanova (8–0–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Northwestern (3–0) | Vanderbilt (5–0) (1) | Yale (4–0–1) | Santa Clara (6–0) | Minnesota (5–2) | Villanova (7–0–1) | Dartmouth (7–0–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Nebraska (2–0–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Duke (6–0–1) | LSU (7–1) | Santa Clara (7–0) | LSU (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Fordham (2–0–1) | Dartmouth (5–0) | Dartmouth (5–0–1) | Villanova (5–0–1) | Dartmouth (6–0–2) | Notre Dame (5–2–1) | Notre Dame (6–2–1) т | 9. |
| 10. | Duke (3–0–1) | Fordham (3–0–1) | Santa Clara (5–0) | Minnesota (4–2) | Villanova (6–0–1) | LSU (8–1) | Santa Clara (8–0) т | 10. |
| 11. | USC (3–1) | Nebraska (3–0–1) | Duke (5–0–1) | Nebraska (4–0–2) | Nebraska (4–1–2) | Nebraska (5–1–2) | Nebraska (6–1–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Ohio State (2–1) | Auburn (3–0–2) | Notre Dame (3–1–1) | LSU (6–1) | Notre Dame (4–2–1) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Yale (6–1–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M (2–0–1) | Duke (4–0–1) | Villanova (4–0–1) | Baylor (6–1) | Stanford (4–2–1) | Washington (5–2–2) | Ohio State (6–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Santa Clara (3–0) | Santa Clara (4–0) | Minnesota (3–2) | Auburn (4–1–2) | Holy Cross (7–0–1) | TCU (3–4–2) т | Arkansas (6–2–2) т | 14. |
| 15. | Baylor (4–0) | North Carolina (4–0–1) | Tennessee (4–1–1) | Rice (3–2–1) | Rice (3–2–2) | Yale (6–1–1) т | Holy Cross (8–0–2) т | 15. |
| 16. | Wisconsin (4–0) | Villanova (3–0–1) | Arkansas (4–1–1) т | Colorado (6–0) | Colorado (7–0) | Colorado (8–0) | TCU (4–4–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Syracuse (3–0) | LSU (4–1) | Duquesne (4–1) т | Indiana (4–2) | North Carolina (6–1–1) | Holy Cross (7–0–2) | Colorado (8–0) | 17. |
| 18. | Dartmouth (4–0) | Detroit (5–0) т | LSU (5–1) | Notre Dame (3–2–1) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Duke (7–1–1) т | Rice (4–3–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Cornell (3–1) | Holy Cross (5–0) т | Northwestern (4–1) т | Holy Cross (6–0–1) | Ohio State (5–2) | North Carolina (6–1–1) т | North Carolina (7–1–1) | 19. |
| 20. |
| Arkansas (3–1–1) | Tulane (4–1–1) т | Arkansas (4–2–1) | Indiana (5–2) | Tulsa (6–1–1) | Duke (7–2–1) | 20. |
| Week 1 Oct 18 [8] | Week 2 Oct 25 [9] | Week 3 Nov 1 [10] | Week 4 Nov 8 [11] | Week 5 Nov 15 [12] | Week 6 Nov 22 [13] | Week 7 (Final) Nov 29 [14] | ||
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The top 26 teams in the Litkenhous Ratings for 1937 were as follows:
1. Pittsburgh (9–0–1) - 98.8
2. Alabama (9–1) - 95.6
3. Fordham (7–0–1) - 93.5
4. LSU (9–2) - 92.5
5. Minnesota (6–2) - 86.7
6. Dartmouth (7–0–2) - 86.6
7. Auburn (6–2–3) - 85.7
8. Duke (7–2–1) - 84.8
9. Villanova (8–0–1) - 84.8
10. Ohio State (6–2) - 84.7
11. California (10–0–1) - 84.6
12. Arkansas (6–2–2) - 83.8
13. Tennessee (6–3–1) - 83.4
14. Santa Clara (9–0) - 82.3
15. Georgia Tech (6–3–1) - 82.2
16. Vanderbilt (7–2) - 81.8
17. North Carolina (7–1–1) - 81.8
18. Detroit (7–3) - 81.8
19. Tulane (5–4–1) - 81.5
20. Rice (6–3–2) - 81.4
21. Harvard (5–2–1) - 80.6
22. Notre Dame (6–2–1) - 80.4
23. Tulsa (6–2–2) - 80.4
24. TCU (4–4–2) - 80.1
25. Baylor (7–3) - 79.5
26. Yale (6–1–1) - 79.3
The 1937 college football season ended with the Panthers of the University of Pittsburgh being named the nation's No. 1 team by 30 of the 33 voters in the Associated Press writers' poll. The AP poll was in its second year, and seven votes were taken during the final weeks of the 1937 season, starting with October 18. Each writer listed his choice for the top ten teams, and points were tallied based on 10 for first place, 9 for second, etc., and the AP then ranked the twenty teams with the highest number of points. With 33 writers polled, Pitt received 30 first place votes and 3 second-place, for a total of 327 points.
The college football rankings for the 1936 college football season included the first AP Poll, the Toledo Cup rankings based on input from a judge's committee of 250 sports editors, and the Litkenhous Ratings. The 1936 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was ranked as the national champion in all three rankings.
One human poll comprised the 1938 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1939 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1940 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1941 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1942 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1943 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1944 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1945 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1946 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1947 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies.
One human poll comprised the 1948 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
One human poll comprised the 1949 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
Two human polls comprised the 1950 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Two human polls comprised the 1952 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Two human polls comprised the 1953 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Two human polls comprised the 1955 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Two human polls comprised the 1956 NCAA University Division football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Two human polls comprised the 1957 NCAA University Division football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.