| 1959 major college football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1959 |
| Bowl season | 1959–60 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Syracuse |
Two human polls comprised the 1959 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.
| 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 December 7, at the end of the 1959 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. [1]
| Preseason Aug [2] | Week 1 Sep 21 [3] | Week 2 Sep 28 [4] | Week 3 Oct 5 [5] | Week 4 Oct 12 [6] | Week 5 Oct 19 [7] | Week 6 Oct 26 [8] | Week 7 Nov 2 [9] | Week 8 Nov 9 [10] | Week 9 Nov 16 [11] | Week 10 Nov 23 [12] | Week 11 Nov 30 [13] | Week 12 (Final) Dec 7 [14] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | LSU (60) | LSU (1–0) (64) | LSU (2–0) (48) | LSU (3–0) (69) | LSU (4–0) (83) | LSU (5–0) (68) | LSU (6–0) (71) | LSU (7–0) (132) | Syracuse (7–0) (111) | Syracuse (8–0) (126) | Syracuse (9–0) (121) | Syracuse (9–0) (95) | Syracuse (10–0) (134) | 1. |
| 2. | Oklahoma (48) | Oklahoma (0–0) (12) | Northwestern (1–0) (20) | Northwestern (2–0) (30) | Northwestern (3–0) (10) | Northwestern (4–0) (23) | Northwestern (5–0) (25) | Northwestern (6–0) (30) | Texas (8–0) (85) | Ole Miss (8–1) (68) | Ole Miss (8–1) (32) | Ole Miss (9–1) (49) | Ole Miss (9–1) (47) | 2. |
| 3. | Auburn (17) | Auburn (0–0) (6) | Ole Miss (2–0) (4) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Texas (4–0) (10) | Texas (5–0) (8) | Ole Miss (6–0) (46) | Texas (7–0) (6) | LSU (7–1) (13) | LSU (8–1) (16) | LSU (9–1) (1) | LSU (9–1) (6) | LSU (9–1) (6) | 3. |
| 4. | SMU (6) | Ole Miss (1–0) (6) | Army (1–0) | Texas (3–0) | Georgia Tech (4–0) (6) | Ole Miss (5–0) (18) | Texas (6–0) (6) | Syracuse (6–0) (14) | USC (7–0) (14) | USC (8–0) (16) | Texas (8–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (9–1) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Army (4) | Clemson (1–0) | Iowa (1–0) (4) | Ole Miss (3–0) (2) | Ole Miss (4–0) (6) | USC (4–0) (12) | Syracuse (5–0) (11) | Ole Miss (6–1) (1) | Ole Miss (7–1) (14) | Texas (8–1) (1) | Wisconsin (7–2) (1) | Georgia (9–1) (2) | Georgia (9–1) (3) | 5. |
| 6. | Wisconsin (10) | SMU (0–0) | Clemson (2–0) (7) | USC (3–0) (9) | Purdue (2–0–1) (5) | Syracuse (4–0) (4) | USC (5–0) (6) | USC (6–0) (4) | Northwestern (6–1) (2) | Georgia (8–1) (6) | Georgia (8–1) (2) | Wisconsin (7–2) (15) | Wisconsin (7–2) (5) | 6. |
| 7. | Ohio State (2) | Army (0–0) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Purdue (1–0–1) | USC (3–0) (7) | Auburn (3–1) (5) | Penn State (6–0) (6) | Penn State (7–0) (8) | Wisconsin (6–1) (19) | Penn State (8–1) (6) | USC (8–1) | TCU (8–2) | TCU (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Ole Miss (5) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Syracuse (3–0) (2) | Penn State (5–0) (3) | Auburn (4–1) (5) | Auburn (5–1) (3) | Auburn (6–1) (9) | Northwestern (6–2) (1) | TCU (7–2) | Washington (9–1) (2) | Washington (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Iowa (4) | TCU (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Iowa (2–1) (5) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Georgia Tech (5–1) (1) | Wisconsin (5–1) (2) | Tennessee (5–1–1) (4) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Washington (9–1) (4) | Arkansas (8–2) | Arkansas (8–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Northwestern (6) | Northwestern (0–0) | Texas (2–0) | Iowa (1–1) | Penn State (4–0) (4) | Arkansas (4–1) (1) | Wisconsin (4–1) (2) | Clemson (5–1) (2) | Penn State (7–1) | TCU (6–2) | Arkansas (8–2) (1) | Clemson (8–2) | Alabama (7–1–2) (5) | 10. |
| 11. | Purdue (2) | USC (1–0) (4) | USC (2–0) (1) | South Carolina (3–0) (3) | Auburn (2–1) (1) | Oregon (5–0) (1) | Purdue (3–1–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Clemson (6–1) (3) | Michigan State (5–3) (1) | Auburn (7–2) | Alabama (7–1–2) (6) | Clemson (8–2) | 11. |
| 12. | North Carolina (6) | Ohio State (0–0) | Wisconsin (1–0) | Syracuse (2–0) (1) | Arkansas (4–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Clemson (4–1) (2) | Washington (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) (2) | Auburn (6–2) | Miami (FL) (6–3) (5) | Illinois (5–3–1) (1) | Penn State (8–2) | 12. |
| 13. | TCU (2) | Iowa (0–0) т | Georgia (2–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) (2) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Yale (5–0) (1) | Tennessee (4–1–1) | Washington (7–1) | Arkansas (7–2) | Illinois (5–3–1) | USC (8–2) | Illinois (5–3–1) | 13. |
| 14. | South Carolina (4) | Navy (1–0) т | Ohio State (1–0) | Auburn (1–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Purdue (2–1–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Purdue (3–1–2) | Oregon (7–1) (2) | Washington (8–1) | Clemson (7–2) | Penn State (8–2) | USC (8–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Air Force (1) | Texas (1–0) | Navy (2–0) | SMU (1–1) | Clemson (3–1) т | Iowa (2–2) | TCU (4–2) | Oregon (6–1) | Georgia Tech (6–2) | Oregon (8–1) (1) | Penn State (8–2) | Oklahoma (7–3) | Oklahoma (7–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Notre Dame (3) | Georgia Tech (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) (2) | SMU (2–1) т | TCU (3–2) | Oregon (5–1) | Arkansas (5–2) | Iowa (4–3) (1) т | Iowa (5–3) (3) | Pittsburgh (6–4) | Wyoming (9–1) | Wyoming (9–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Texas | Georgia (1–0) | Auburn (0–1) | Florida (3–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Arkansas (4–2) т | TCU (5–2) | North Texas State (8–0) т | Alabama (5–1–2) (4) | Oklahoma (6–3) | UCLA (5–3–1) | Notre Dame (5–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Clemson (1) | Penn State (1–0) (2) | Air Force (1–0) | Air Force (2–0) | Washington (4–0) | Oklahoma (3–2) | Washington (5–1) т | Air Force (4–1–1) | TCU (5–2) | Miami (FL) (5–3) | Missouri (6–4) (2) | Florida (5–4–1) | Missouri (6–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Michigan State (1) | Florida (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Florida (3–0–1) | Yale (4–0) (1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Michigan State (4–3) | Clemson (6–2) | Alabama (6–1–2) (1) | Notre Dame (5–5) | Florida (5–4–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Syracuse | South Carolina (1–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | Illinois (1–1) | Pittsburgh (3–1) | Ohio State (2–0) | Tennessee (3–1–1) | North Texas State (7–0) | Arkansas (6–2) | Tennessee (5–2–1) | UCLA (4–3–1) | Missouri (6–4) | Pittsburgh (6–4) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug [15] | Week 1 Sep 21 [16] | Week 2 Sep 28 [17] | Week 3 Oct 5 [18] | Week 4 Oct 12 [19] | Week 5 Oct 19 [20] | Week 6 Oct 26 [21] | Week 7 Nov 2 [22] | Week 8 Nov 9 [23] | Week 9 Nov 16 [24] | Week 10 Nov 23 [25] | Week 11 Nov 30 [26] | Week 12 (Final) Dec 7 [27] | ||
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The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 8. [28]
Syracuse received 31 of the 35 first-place votes; Mississippi received three and Washington one. [29]
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse | Independent | Won Cotton, 23–14 |
| 2 | Ole Miss | SEC | Won Sugar, 21–0 |
| 3 | LSU | SEC | Lost Sugar, 0–21 |
| 4 | Texas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 14–23 |
| 5 | Georgia | SEC | Won Orange, 14–0 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 8–44 |
| 7 | Washington | AAWU | Won Rose, 44–8 |
| 8 | TCU | Southwest | Lost Bluebonnet, 7–23 |
| 9 | Arkansas | Southwest | Won Gator, 14–7 |
| 10 | Penn State | Independent | Won Liberty, 7–0 |
| 11 | Clemson | ACC | Won Bluebonnet, 23–7 |
| 12 | Illinois | Big Ten | none |
| 13 | Alabama | SEC | Lost Liberty, 0–7 |
| USC | AAWU | none | |
| 15 | Auburn | SEC | |
| 16 | Michigan State | Big Ten | |
| 17 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | |
| 18 | Notre Dame | Independent | |
| 19 | Florida | SEC | |
| Pittsburgh | Independent | ||
| Missouri | Big Eight | Lost Orange, 0–14 |
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 1958 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 1960 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 1961 major 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1962 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 1963 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 1964 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 1965 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 1966 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 1967 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 1968 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 1969 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 1970 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 1971 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 1972 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.
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Two human polls comprised the 1974 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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 1987 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A 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 1991 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A 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.