1951 college football rankings

Last updated

Two human polls comprised the 1951 college 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.

Contents

Legend

 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

AP Poll

The final AP Poll was released on December 3, at the end of the 1951 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.

Preseason
Week 3
Oct 1
Week 4
Oct 8
Week 5
Oct 15
Week 6
Oct 22
Week 7
Oct 29
Week 8
Nov 5
Week 9
Nov 12
Week 10
Nov 19
Week 11
Nov 26
Week 12 (Final)
Dec 3
1. Tennessee (60)Michigan State (2–0) (37)Michigan State (3–0) (42)California (4–0) (50)Tennessee (4–0) (70)Tennessee (5–0) (59)Tennessee (6–0) (60)Michigan State (7–0) (55)Tennessee (8–0) (60)Tennessee (9–0) (92)Tennessee (10–0) (139)1.
2. Michigan State (18)California (2–0) (22)California (3–0) (36)Tennessee (3–0) (26)Michigan State (5–0) (28)Michigan State (6–0) (25)Illinois (6–0) (29)Tennessee (7–0) (42)Michigan State (8–0) (38)Michigan State (9–0) (34)Michigan State (9–0) (104)2.
3. Ohio State (8)Tennessee (1–0) (27)Tennessee (2–0) (18)Michigan State (4–0) (16)Georgia Tech (5–0) (16)Illinois (5–0) (15)Maryland (6–0) (21)Illinois (7–0) (20)Stanford (9–0) (18)Maryland (9–0) (18)Maryland (9–0) (18)3.
4. Oklahoma (16)Oklahoma (1–0) (18)Texas A&M (2–0) (3)Texas (4–0) (6)Illinois (4–0) (12)Maryland (5–0) (22)Princeton (6–0) (6)Stanford (8–0) (12)Maryland (8–0) (26)Illinois (8–0–1) (4)Illinois (8–0–1) (10)4.
5. California (3)Notre Dame (1–0) (9)Notre Dame (2–0) (4)Georgia Tech (4–0) (12)Maryland (4–0) (13)Georgia Tech (6–0) (9)Michigan State (6–0) (12)Maryland (7–0) (16)Princeton (8–0) (8)Princeton (9–0) (4)Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (8)5.
6. Kentucky (1)Texas (2–0) (6)Texas (3–0) (4)Texas A&M (3–0) (8)USC (5–0) (13)Princeton (5–0) (14)USC (7–0) (6)Princeton (7–0) (6)Illinois (7–0–1) (3)Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (1)Princeton (9–0) (3)6.
7. Texas A&M Ohio State (1–0) (1)Illinois (2–0)Maryland (3–0) (14)Baylor (4–0) (2)USC (6–0) (7)Stanford (7–0) (8)Georgia Tech (7–0–1)Georgia Tech (8–0–1) (2)Wisconsin (7–1–1) (5)Stanford (9–1) (1)7.
8. Washington (3)Illinois (1–0)Georgia Tech (3–0) (3)Illinois (3–0) (3)Princeton (4–0) (2)Baylor (4–0–1)Georgia Tech (6–0–1) (1)Wisconsin (5–1–1) (2)Wisconsin (6–1–1) (3)Stanford (9–1) (1)Wisconsin (7–1–1) (10)8.
9. Alabama (2)Maryland (1–0) (4)Ohio State (1–1)Princeton (3–0) (1)California (4–1) (1)California (5–1)Wisconsin (4–1–1) (3)Kentucky (6–3) (4)Kentucky (7–3) (4)Baylor (7–1–1)Baylor (8–1–1)9.
10. Illinois (2)Texas A&M (1–0)Maryland (2–0) (1)Baylor (3–0)Texas (4–1)Wisconsin (3–1–1) (2)Texas (6–1)Baylor (5–1–1)Baylor (6–1–1)Oklahoma (7–2) (2)Oklahoma (8–2) (4)10.
11. Texas (1) Georgia Tech (2–0) (4)Oklahoma (1–1)USC (4–0)Stanford (5–0) (1)Stanford (6–0)Notre Dame (5–1) (1)USC (7–1)USC (7–2)TCU (5–4)TCU (6–4)11.
12. Nebraska Washington (2–0) (2)Baylor (2–0) Villanova (3–0)Cornell (4–0) (1)Texas (5–1)Kentucky (5–3) (3)Oklahoma (5–2) (1)Oklahoma (6–2)California (8–2) (3)California (8–2) (2)12.
13. Baylor Georgia (2–0) (1)Princeton (2–0)Stanford (4–0)Northwestern (4–0)Notre Dame (4–1) TCU (5–2)TCU (5–2)San Francisco (8–0)Virginia (8–1) (1)Virginia (8–1) (5)13.
14. Notre Dame (1)Princeton (1–0) USC (3–0)Cornell (3–0)Wisconsin (2–1–1)Kentucky (4–3) (1)Oklahoma (4–2) (1)San Francisco (7–0)Texas (7–2)San Francisco (9–0)San Francisco (9–0) (2)14.
15. Wisconsin Oregon State (1–1) (1) Holy Cross (2–0) SMU (3–1)Notre Dame (3–1)Michigan (3–2)San Francisco (7–0)Texas (6–2) Virginia (7–1) (1)UCLA (5–3–1)Kentucky (7–4)15.
16. Maryland Duke (2–0)Clemson (3–0)Pacific (4–0) (1)Texas A&M (3–1) (1)Washington State (4–2)Baylor (4–1–1)California (5–3)Holy Cross (7–1) (1)Texas (7–2) Boston University (6–4) (2)16.
17. Michigan Kentucky (1–2)Cornell (2–0)Ohio State (1–1–1)Kentucky (3–3) (1)Oklahoma (3–2) (1)California (5–2) тWashington State (5–3)Washington State (6–3)Kentucky (7–4)UCLA (5–3–1)17.
18. Princeton Clemson (2–0) (1)Oregon State (2–1) Northwestern (3–0) Washington State (3–2)Texas A&M (3–1–1)Washington State (5–2) т UCLA (4–3)Rice (5–3)Washington State (7–3)Washington State (7–3)18.
19. Pennsylvania Baylor (1–0) Stanford (3–0)Oklahoma (1–2) Arkansas (3–2) Miami (FL) (4–1)Pacific (6–1) (1) Rice (4–3)California (7–2)Holy Cross (8–1)Holy Cross (8–2) (1) т19.
20. Cornell Kansas (2–0) Pacific (3–0) (1)Washington (3–1) San Francisco (5–0)San Francisco (6–0)
  • Arkansas (4–3) т
  • Ohio State (3–2–1) т
Cincinnati (8–0) Bucknell (9–0)USC (7–3)Clemson (7–2) т20.
Preseason
Week 3
Oct 1
Week 4
Oct 8
Week 5
Oct 15
Week 6
Oct 22
Week 7
Oct 29
Week 8
Nov 5
Week 9
Nov 12
Week 10
Nov 19
Week 11
Nov 26
Week 12 (Final)
Dec 3
Dropped:
  • Alabama
  • Nebraska
  • Wisconsin
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • Cornell
Dropped:
  • Washington
  • Georgia
  • Duke
  • Kentucky
  • Kansas
Dropped:
  • Notre Dame
  • Holy Cross
  • Clemson
  • Oregon State
Dropped:
  • Villanova
  • SMU
  • Pacific
  • Ohio State
  • Oklahoma
  • Washington
Dropped:
  • Cornell
  • Northwestern
  • Arkansas
Dropped:
  • Michigan
  • Texas A&M
  • Miami (FL)
Dropped:
  • Notre Dame
  • Pacific
  • Arkansas
  • Ohio State
Dropped:
  • TCU
  • UCLA
  • Cincinnati
Dropped:
  • Rice
  • Bucknell
Dropped:
  • Texas
  • USC

[1]

Final Coaches Poll

The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 3. [2] [3]
Tennessee received 23 of the 35 first-place votes; Michigan State received seven, Maryland two, and one each to Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Princeton. [3]

RankingTeamConferenceBowl
1 Tennessee SEC Lost Sugar, 13–28
2 Michigan State Independent none
3 Illinois Big Ten Won Rose, 40–7
4 Maryland Southern Won Sugar, 28–13
5 Georgia Tech SECWon Orange, 17–14
6 Princeton Independentnone
7 Stanford Pacific Coast Lost Rose, 7–40
8 Wisconsin Big Tennone
9 Baylor Southwest Lost Orange, 14–17
10 TCU SouthwestLost Cotton, 7–20
11 Oklahoma Big Seven none
12 California Pacifie Coast
13 Notre Dame Independent
14 Purdue Big Ten
San Francisco Independent
Washington State Pacific Coast
17 Holy Cross Independent
Kentucky SECWon Cotton, 20–7
UCLA Pacific Coastnone
20 Kansas Big Seven

[3]

Litkenhous Ratings

The Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December 1951 provided numerical rankings to over 650 college football programs. The top 100 ranked teams were: [4] [5]

1. Tennessee (10–1)
2. Maryland (10–0)
3. Michigan State (9–0)
4. Oklahoma (8–2)
5. California (8–2)
6. Georgia Tech (11–0–1)
7. Baylor (8–2–1)
8. Illinois (9–0–1)
9. Wisconsin (7–1–1)
10. Kentucky (8–4)
11. Stanford (9–2)
12. UCLA (5–3–1)
13. Texas (7–3)
14. Notre Dame (7–2–1)
15. Ole Miss (6–3–1)
16. USC (7–3)
17. TCU (6–5)
18. SMU (3–6–1)
19. Princeton (9–0)
20. Texas A&M (5–3–2)
21. Holy Cross (8–2)
22. Washington State (7–3)
23. Washington (3–6–1)
24. Xavier (9–0–1)
25. Oregon State (4–6)
26. Arkansas (5–5)
27. San Francisco (9–0)
28. Rice (5–5)
29. Michigan (4–5)
30. Virginia (8–1)
31. Ohio State (4–3–2)
32. Tulsa (9–2)
33. LSU (7–3–1)
34. Cincinnati (10–1)
35. Florida (5–5)
36. Alabama (5–6)
37. Purdue (5–4)
38. Kansas (8–2)
39. Penn (5–4)
40. Texas Tech (7–4)
41. Miami (FL) (8–3)
42. Vanderbilt (6–5)
43. Northwestern (5–4)
44. Cornell (6–3)
45. Clemson (7–3)
46. Pacific (6–5)
47. Colorado (7–3)
48. Georgia (5–5)
49. Navy (2–6–1)
50. Mississippi State (4–5)
51. Duke (5–4–1)
52. Tulane (4–6)
53. Marquette (4–6–1)
54. Boston University (6–4)
55. Indiana (3–6_
56. Villanova (5–3)
57. Wake Forest
58. Pittsburgh (3–7)
59. Columbia (5–3)
60. Penn State (5–4)
61. Santa Clara (3–5–1)
62. Wyoming (7–2–1)
63. Houston (6–5)
64. Bucknell (9–0)
65. Syracuse (5–4)
66. Washington & Lee (6–4)
67. North Carolina (2–8)
68. South Carolina (5–4)
69. Iowa (2–5–2)
70. North Texas (8–4)
71. Dayton (7–3)
72. Fordham (5–4)
73. Auburn (5–5)
74. Iowa State (4–4–1)
75. Minnesota (2–6–1)
76. Arizona State (6–3–1)
77. Denver (6–4)
78. Hardin–Simmons (6–6)
79. Dartmouth (4–5)
80. Drake (7–2)
81. Chattanooga (6–5)
82. Memphis State (5–3)
83. Miami (OH) (7–3)
84. Oklahoma A&M (3–7)
85. Boston College (3–6)
86. Missouri (3–7)
87. Arkansas State (10–2)
88. Del Mar (9–1)
89. Army (2–7)
90. Rutgers (4–4)
91. William & Mary (5–4–1)
92. VMI (7–3)
93. Nebraska (2–8)
94. Colgate (4–5)
95. Yale (2–5–2)
96. Loyola (Los Angeles) (3–6)
97. Tyler (10–1)
98. Temple (6–4)
99. Oregon (2–8)
100. Toledo (6–4)
101. Louisville (5–4)
102. Colorado A&M (5–4–1)
103. George Washington (2–6–1)
104. West Virginia (5–5)
105. Mississippi Southern (6–5)
106. Kansas State (0–9)
107. Utah (7–4)
108. Compton (10–1)
109. Pasadena (12–0)
110. Detroit (4–7)
111. NC State (3–7)
112. Idaho (2–7)
113. East Texas (9–2)
114. Furman (3–6–1)
115. Long Beach (8–1–1)
116. South Dakota State (8–1–1)
117. Kent State (4–3–2)
118. Ohio (5–4–1)
119. Utah State (3–5–1)
120. St. Bonaventure (5–4)
121. San Jose State (2–7–1)
122. Harvard (3–5–1)
123. Valparaiso (9–0)
124. South Dakota (7–1)
125. Abilene Christian (6–4)
126. Brown (2–7)
132. Arizona (6–5)
133. Murray State (8–1)
137. Lehigh (7–2)
138. San Diego State (10–0–1)
139. Middle Tennessee (7–2–2)
140. Citadel (4–6)
146. Marshall (5–4–1)
204. Western Kentucky (4–5)

HBCU rankings

The Pittsburgh Courier , a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1951 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 8: [6]

The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 14: [7]

See also

References

  1. "1951 Final Football Polls - College Poll Archive - Historical College Football, Basketball, and Softball Polls and Rankings".
  2. "Vols rated tops by UP". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). United Press. December 4, 1951. p. 17.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tennessee rated nation's No. 1 team for season". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). United Press. December 4, 1951. p. 2.
  4. "Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings". The Nashville Banner. December 14, 1951. p. 49 via Newspapers.com.
  5. E.E. Litkenhous (December 13, 1951). "Litkenhous Rates Virginia As State's Top Grid Team; Cavaliers Get 30th Place". The News and Advance. p. 8B via Newspapers.com.
  6. Ric Roberts (December 8, 1951). "Purple Wave Edges FAMU in Torrid Football Campaign". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "The Pigskin Huddle". The Call. December 14, 1951. p. 10 via Newspapers.com.