| 1956 NCAA University Division football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1956 |
| Bowl season | 1956–57 bowl games |
| Preseason #1 | |
| End of season champions | Oklahoma |
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.
| 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 3, at the end of the 1956 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.
| Preseason Aug [1] | Week 1 Sep 24 [2] | Week 2 Oct 1 [3] | Week 3 Oct 8 [4] | Week 4 Oct 15 [5] | Week 5 Oct 22 [6] | Week 6 Oct 29 [7] | Week 7 Nov 5 [8] | Week 8 Nov 12 [9] | Week 9 Nov 19 [10] | Week 10 Nov 26 [11] | Week 11 (Final) Dec 3 [12] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oklahoma (111) | Oklahoma (0–0) (91) | Oklahoma (1–0) (60) | Oklahoma (2–0) (76) | Oklahoma (3–0) (67) | Michigan State (4–0) (96) | Oklahoma (5–0) (143) | Oklahoma (6–0) (116) | Tennessee (7–0) (58) | Oklahoma (8–0) (111) | Oklahoma (9–0) (81) | Oklahoma (10–0) (104) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan State (20) | Georgia Tech (1–0) (12) | Michigan State (1–0) (17) | Michigan State (2–0) (32) | Michigan State (3–0) (45) | Oklahoma (4–0) (44) | Georgia Tech (5–0) (31) | Georgia Tech (6–0) (30) | Oklahoma (7–0) (92) | Tennessee (8–0) (69) | Tennessee (9–0) (49) | Tennessee (10–0) (48) | 2. |
| 3. | Notre Dame (5) | Michigan State (0–0) (9) | Georgia Tech (1–0) (5) | Georgia Tech (2–0) (4) | Georgia Tech (3–0) (5) | Georgia Tech (4–0) (9) | Tennessee (5–0) (8) | Tennessee (6–0) (1) | Michigan State (6–1) (3) | Iowa (7–1) (6) | Iowa (8–1) (12) | Iowa (8–1) (15) | 3. |
| 4. | Georgia Tech (3) | TCU (1–0) (4) | Ohio State (1–0) | TCU (2–0) (7) | TCU (3–0) (2) | Tennessee (4–0) (4) | Michigan State (4–1) | Michigan State (5–1) (7) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Texas A&M (8–0–1) | Georgia Tech (8–1) (2) | Georgia Tech (9–1) (4) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State | SMU (1–0) (10) | Michigan (1–0) (2) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Texas A&M (5–0–1) | Texas A&M (6–0–1) (1) | Texas A&M (7–0–1) (1) | Georgia Tech (7–1) (1) | Texas A&M (8–0–1) (1) | Texas A&M (9–0–1) (2) | 5. |
| 6. | Maryland | USC (1–0) (12) | Ole Miss (2–0) (5) | Tennessee (2–0) (5) | Ole Miss (4–0) (7) | USC (4–0) (2) | Ohio State (4–1) (1) | Minnesota (5–0–1) | Ohio State (6–1) (1) | Miami (FL) (6–0–1) (5) | Miami (FL) (7–0–1) (8) | Miami (FL) (8–0–1) (12) | 6. |
| 7. | TCU (2) | Syracuse (1–0) (4) | Pittsburgh (2–0) (1) | Ole Miss (3–0) (2) | Tennessee (3–0) (3) | Texas A&M (4–0–1) (1) | Iowa (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) (1) | Iowa (6–1) | Minnesota (6–1–1) | Michigan (7–2) (2) | Michigan (7–2) (1) | 7. |
| 8. | Michigan (2) | Ohio State (0–0) | TCU (1–0) (1) | USC (3–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Baylor (4–0) | Minnesota (4–0–1) | Miami (FL) (5–0–1) (1) | Miami (FL) (5–0–1) (1) | Syracuse (7–1) (2) | Syracuse (7–1) (1) | Syracuse (7–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Texas A&M | Ole Miss (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) (3) | Texas A&M (3–0) | USC (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Miami (FL) (4–0–1) (1) | Syracuse (5–1) (1) | Syracuse (6–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Michigan State (7–2) | Michigan State (7–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Pittsburgh (2) | Pittsburgh (1–0) (2) | USC (2–0) (1) | Baylor (3–0) | Baylor (4–0) | Ole Miss (4–1) т | Stanford (4–2) | Michigan (4–2) | Michigan (5–2) | Michigan State (6–2) | Minnesota (6–1–2) | Oregon State (7–2–1) (3) | 10. |
| 11. | Army | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (1) | TCU (3–1) т | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Clemson (5–0–1) | Oregon State (6–2) (1) | Oregon State (7–2) (1) | Oregon State (7–2–1) (1) | Baylor (8–2) (1) | 11. |
| 12. | Tennessee (2) | Stanford (1–0) (4) | SMU (1–1) | Michigan (1–1) | Iowa (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Navy (5–1) (3) | Florida (6–1–1) (2) | Ohio State (6–2) | Pittsburgh (6–2–1) | Minnesota (6–1–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Ole Miss | Michigan (0–0) | Illinois (1–0) т | Vanderbilt (3–0) | Syracuse (2–1) | Pittsburgh (3–1) | Clemson (4–0–1) | Florida (5–1–1) | Clemson (5–0–2) | Florida (6–1–1) (2) | Navy (6–1–1) | Pittsburgh (6–2–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Stanford | Notre Dame (0–1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) т | Navy (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0–1) | Syracuse (3–1) | George Washington (5–0–1) | Oregon State (5–2) | USC (6–1) | Pittsburgh (6–2) | TCU (6–3) | TCU (7–3) | 14. |
| 15. | USC (2) | Vanderbilt (1–0) | Army (1–0) | Army (2–0) | Clemson (3–0–1) | Tulane (4–1) | Baylor (4–1) т | Iowa (5–1) | Navy (5–1–1) | Navy (6–1–1) (1) | Baylor (7–2) | Ohio State (6–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Duke | Army (0–0) | Baylor (2–0) | George Washington (3–0) (1) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) т | USC (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–2) | Baylor (6–2) | George Washington (7–1–1) | Navy (6–1–2) | 16. |
| 17. | UCLA | South Carolina (2–0) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Minnesota (2–0) | Purdue (2–1) | George Washington (4–0–1) | Michigan (3–2) т | TCU (4–2) | Minnesota (5–1–1) | George Washington (7–1–1) | USC (7–2) | George Washington (7–1–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Miami (FL) | Oregon (1–0) | Syracuse (1–0) т | Notre Dame (1–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Penn State (3–1) | Oregon State (4–2) т | Colorado (5–2) | George Washington (6–1–1) | TCU (5–3) | Florida (6–2–1) | USC (8–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Yale | Florida (1–0) (2) | Vanderbilt (2–0) т | SMU (2–1) | Tulane (3–1) | Miami (FL) (3–0–1) | Syracuse (4–1) т | UCLA (5–2) (1) | Ole Miss (6–2) | Wyoming (10–0) | Colorado (7–2–1) | Clemson (7–1–2) | 19. |
| 20. | Illinois | NC State (1–0) | Iowa (1–0) |
| South Carolina (4–1) | Clemson (3–0–1) | USC (4–1) |
| Princeton (7–0) | Colorado (6–2–1) | Ohio State (6–3) | Colorado (7–2–1) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug [13] | Week 1 Sep 24 [14] | Week 2 Oct 1 [15] | Week 3 Oct 8 [16] | Week 4 Oct 15 [17] | Week 5 Oct 22 [18] | Week 6 Oct 29 [19] | Week 7 Nov 5 [20] | Week 8 Nov 12 [21] | Week 9 Nov 19 [22] | Week 10 Nov 26 [23] | Week 11 (Final) Dec 3 [24] | ||
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The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 4. [25]
Oklahoma received 26 of the 35 first-place votes; Tennessee received five, Iowa three, and Miami one. [26]
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | Big Seven | none |
| 2 | Tennessee | SEC | Lost Sugar, 7–13 |
| 3 | Iowa | Big Ten | Won Rose, 35–19 |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | SEC | Won Gator, 21–14 |
| 5 | Texas A&M | Southwest | none |
| 6 | Miami (FL) | Independent | |
| 7 | Michigan | Big Ten | |
| 8 | Syracuse | Independent | Lost Cotton, 27–28 |
| 9 | Minnesota | Big Ten | none |
| 10 | Michigan State | Big Ten | |
| 11 | Baylor | Southwest | Won Sugar, 13–7 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | Independent | Lost Gator, 14–21 |
| 13 | Oregon State | Pacific Coast | Lost Rose, 19–35 |
| 14 | TCU | Southwest | Won Cotton, 28–27 |
| 15 | USC | Pacific Coast | none |
| 16 | Wyoming | Skyline | |
| 17 | Yale | Ivy | |
| 18 | Colorado | Big Seven | Won Orange, 27–21 |
| 19 | Navy | Independent | none |
| 20 | Duke | ACC |
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 1954 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 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 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 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 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.