| 1965 NCAA University Division football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1965 |
| Bowl season | 1965–66 bowl games |
| Preseason #1 | |
| End of season champions | Alabama (AP) Michigan State (Coaches) |
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.
| 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 |
For the first time in its history, the final AP Poll was released in January, after the bowl games. [1] [2] This practice would not be repeated again for the next two seasons, but has been the standard since the 1968 season.
The AP Poll ranked only the top ten teams from 1962 through 1967. Entering New Year's Day, the top three teams (Michigan State, Arkansas, Nebraska) were all 10–0, [3] but all three lost. [2]
| Preseason Aug [4] | Week 1 Sep 20 [5] | Week 2 Sep 27 [6] | Week 3 Oct 4 [7] | Week 4 Oct 11 [8] | Week 5 Oct 18 [9] | Week 6 Oct 25 [10] | Week 7 Nov 1 [11] | Week 8 Nov 8 [12] | Week 9 Nov 15 [13] | Week 10 Nov 22 [14] | Week 11 Nov 29 [15] | Week 12 (Final) Jan [16] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nebraska (11) | Notre Dame (1–0) (24) | Texas (2–0) (15) | Texas (3–0) (25) | Texas (4–0) (22) | Arkansas (5–0) (28) | Michigan State (6–0) (19) | Michigan State (7–0) (36) | Michigan State (8–0) (32) | Michigan State (9–0) (31) | Michigan State (10–0) (34) | Michigan State (10–0) (35) | Alabama (9–1–1) (37) | 1. |
| 2. | Texas (7) | Nebraska (1–0) (16) | Purdue (2–0) (14) | Nebraska (3–0) (10) | Nebraska (4–0) (16) | Michigan State (5–0) (14) | Arkansas (6–0) (23) | Arkansas (7–0) (11) | Arkansas (8–0) (14) | Arkansas (9–0) (15) | Arkansas (10–0) (9) | Arkansas (10–0) (10) | Michigan State (10–1) (18) | 2. |
| 3. | Notre Dame (7) | Texas (1–0) (7) | Nebraska (2–0) (13) | Arkansas (3–0) (1) | Arkansas (4–0) (4) | Nebraska (5–0) (8) | Nebraska (6–0) (9) | Nebraska (7–0) (3) | Nebraska (8–0) (4) | Nebraska (9–0) (2) | Nebraska (9–0) | Nebraska (10–0) | Arkansas (10–1) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | Michigan (5) | Michigan (1–0) (2) | Arkansas (2–0) (3) | Georgia (3–0) (3) | Michigan State (4–0) (3) | USC (4–0–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) (1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | Alabama (8–1–1) (1) | UCLA (8–2–1) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Alabama (4) | Arkansas (1–0) (4) | LSU (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) (2) | Texas (4–0–1) | LSU (5–1) | Alabama (5–1–1) | Alabama (6–1–1) | Alabama (7–1–1) | Alabama (7–1–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Arkansas (6) | Purdue (1–0) | Kentucky (2–0) (1) | Purdue (2–0–1) (1) | USC (3–0–1) | Purdue (4–0–1) | Purdue (4–1–1) | USC (4–1–1) | USC (5–1–1) | USC (6–1–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Missouri (7–2–1) | Missouri (8–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | USC (4) | LSU (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Purdue (3–0–1) (1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Florida (4–1) | Georgia Tech (5–1–1) | UCLA (5–1–1) | UCLA (6–1–1) | Missouri (7–2–1) | Tennessee (6–1–2) | Tennessee (8–1–2) | 7. |
| 8. | LSU | Florida (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | USC (2–0–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Florida (4–1) | USC (4–1–1) | UCLA (4–1–1) | Tennessee (4–0–2) | Missouri (6–2–1) | USC (6–2–1) | USC (7–2–1) | LSU (8–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Purdue (1) | Syracuse (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Texas (4–2) | Missouri (4–2–1) | Missouri (5–2–1) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Tennessee (5–1–2) | Notre Dame (7–2–1) | Notre Dame (7–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Ohio State (1) | Kentucky (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Mississippi State (4–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Alabama (4–1–1) | Kentucky (5–2) | Kentucky (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Texas Tech (8–2) | Texas Tech (8–2) | USC (7–2–1) | 10. |
| Preseason Aug [17] | Week 1 Sep 20 [18] | Week 2 Sep 27 [19] | Week 3 Oct 4 [20] | Week 4 Oct 11 [21] | Week 5 Oct 18 [22] | Week 6 Oct 25 [23] | Week 7 Nov 1 [24] | Week 8 Nov 8 [25] | Week 9 Nov 15 [26] | Week 10 Nov 22 [27] | Week 11 Nov 29 [28] | Week 12 (Final) Jan [29] | ||
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The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in late November. [30]
Michigan State received 28 of the 35 first-place votes; Arkansas received five and Nebraska two. [31]
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 12–14 |
| 2 | Arkansas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 7–14 |
| 3 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Lost Orange, 28–39 |
| 4 | Alabama | SEC | Won Orange, 39–28 |
| 5 | UCLA | AAWU (Pac-8) | Won Rose, 14–12 |
| 6 | Missouri | Big Eight | Won Sugar, 20–18 |
| 7 | Tennessee | SEC | Won Bluebonnet, 27–6 |
| 8 | Notre Dame | Independent | none |
| 9 | USC | AAWU (Pac-8) | |
| 10 | Texas Tech | Southwest | Lost Gator, 21–31 |
| 11 | Ohio State | Big Ten | none |
| 12 | Florida | SEC | Lost Sugar, 18–20 |
| 13 | Purdue | Big Ten | none |
| 14 | LSU | SEC | Won Cotton, 14–7 |
| 15 | Georgia | SEC | none |
| 16 | Tulsa | MVC | Lost Bluebonnet, 6–27 |
| 17 | Mississippi | SEC | Won Liberty, 13–7 |
| 18 | Kentucky | SEC | none |
| 19 | Syracuse | Independent | |
| 20 | Colorado | Big Eight | |
The NCAA was without a playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A, during the 20th century. The NCAA recognizes Division I-A national champions based on the final results of polls including the "wire service", FWAA and NFF. The 1964 AP poll continued to rank only ten teams, compiling the votes of 55 sportswriters, each of whom would give their opinion of the ten best. Under a point system of 10 points for first place, 9 for second, etc., the "overall" ranking was determined.
During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A. The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press (AP) was the most popular, followed by the "coaches' poll" by United Press International) (UPI). Prior to 1965, both services issued their final polls at the close of the regular season, but before teams competed in bowl games. For the 1965 season, the AP took its final poll after the postseason games, an arrangement made permanent in 1968. The Associated Press presented the "AP Trophy" to the winner.
The 1966 University Division football season was marked by some controversy as the year of "The Tie", a famous 10–10 game between the two top-ranked teams, Michigan State and Notre Dame on November 19. Both teams were crowned national champions by various organizations after the regular season concluded, and neither participated in a bowl game. Alabama finished the regular season undefeated and was third in the AP poll, while Georgia was fourth. Alabama went on to win the Sugar Bowl in dominant fashion. During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A.
The 1972 NCAA University Division football season saw the USC Trojans, coached by John McKay, go undefeated and win the national championship as the unanimous choice of the 50 AP panelists. Eighth-ranked in the preseason, the Trojans were narrowly voted No. 1 in the first AP poll, and stayed out front for the rest of the year.
The 1973 NCAA Division I football season was the first for the NCAA's current three-division structure. Effective with the 1973–74 academic year, schools formerly in the NCAA "University Division" were classified as Division I. Schools in the former "College Division" were classified into Division II, which allowed fewer athletic scholarships than Division I, and Division III, in which athletic scholarships were prohibited.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1973 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 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.