1931 college football season
Encyclopedia
The 1931 college football season saw the USC Trojans win the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the Dickinson system. Rockne, who had coached Notre Dame to a championship in 1930, had been killed in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. For the first time, the champion under the Dickinson system also played in a postseason game. The Rose Bowl, promoted as an unofficial championship matchup between the best teams of East and West, matched USC and Tulane
, #1 and #2 in the Dickinson ratings. USC won, 21-12. Also in 1931 Parke Davis through research, and recognized by the NCAA, declared that Purdue and Pittsburgh were National Champions.
Major conferences that existed in 1931 were the Western Conference (today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Big Six (forerunner of the Big 12), the Southwest Conference, and the Southern Conference (whose members later formed the SEC and the ACC). At season's end, the Rissman Trophy was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule, in that a win, loss or tie against a "strong" opponent was worth more than one against a lesser team, and the results were averaged.
, a relatively small school in San Francisco, defeated USC 13-7. Tulane
beat Ole Miss, 31-0 and Tennessee
beat Maryville 33-0, while Pittsburgh
beat Miami University
, 61-0.
won again, at California, 14-0, and USC won its first game of the season, beating Oregon State 30-0. Tennessee
beat Clemson 44-0 and Tulane
defeated Texas A&M 7-0. Northwestern
beat Nebraska 19-7. Purdue
opened its season for the home crowd with a doubleheader, beating Ohio's Western Reserve 28-0, followed by a 19-0 win over Iowa's Coe College
Pittsburgh
won at Iowa, 20-0 Georgia
beat Virginia Tech 40-0
Harvard
defeated Bates College, 28-0 and Yale
beat Maine, 19-0
Notre Dame won at Indiana 25-0
October 10 In Chicago, a crowd of 75,000 turned out at Soldier Field to watch Northwestern
and Notre Dame played to a 0-0 tie in a driving rain. Tennessee
defeated Ole Miss 38-0. USC beat Washington State 38-6. Harvard
beat New Hampshire, 39-0. In New Haven, the Georgia Bulldogs
handed the Yale Bulldogs
their first defeat, 26-7. Purdue
beat Illinois 7-0
Pittsburgh
beat West Virginia 34-0. Tulane
defeated Spring Hill College 40-0 and St. Mary's
beat the West Coast Army team, 21-7
October 17 Tulane
and Vanderbilt, both 3-0-0, met at Nashville, with Tulane winning 19-0
Tennessee
and Alabama, both 3-0-0, met at Knoxville, with UT winning 25-0. USC defeated visiting Oregon 53-0. Northwestern
beat visiting UCLA 19-0
Georgia
won at North Carolina, 32-7. Yale
beat Chicago 27-0 and Harvard
got past Army 14-13. Purdue
lost at Wisconsin 21-14. Pittsburgh
defeated Western Reserve, 32-0. Notre Dame defeated Drake 63-0. St. Mary's
beat the University of San Francisco, 14-6. Neither SMC or USF play college football anymore.
October 24 Notre Dame (3-0-0) and Pittsburgh
(4-0-0) met at South Bend, with Notre Dame winning 25-12. Tulane
beat Georgia Tech 33-0; Tulane had outscored its five opponents 130-0. Tennessee
won at North Carolina, 7-0; it had outscored its five foes 147-0. Georgia
beat Vanderbilt 9-0. Harvard
beat visiting Texas, 35-7 and Yale
and Army played to a 6-6 tie, while in Pittsburgh, Purdue
defeated Carnegie Tech 13-6. Northwestern
defeated Ohio State in Columbus, 10-0. St. Mary's
beat visiting Gonzaga University, 13-7. USC won at California 6-0
October 31 Tulane
beat Mississippi State, but not without surrendering its first points, in a 59-7 win; likewise, Tennessee
beat Duke, but was scored upon for the first time, in its 25-2 win
Georgia
won at Florida, 33-6. Northwestern
beat visiting Illinois 32-6 and Purdue
won at Chicago 14-6. Harvard
beat Virginia 19-0 and Yale
and Dartmouth played to a 33-33 tie. Pittsburgh
won at Penn State, 41-6
Notre Dame defeated Carnegie Tech 19-0. Surprising St. Mary's
extended its record to 6-0-0 with a 21-14 win over Santa Clara.
In Montgomery, Alabama, Tulane
shut out Auburn 27-0. Tennessee
beat visiting Carson-Newman, 31-0. Northwestern
beat Minnesota, 32-14. Purdue
beat Centenary College 49-6. Before a crowd of 65,000 at Yankee Stadium, Georgia
stayed unbeaten as it defeated New York University 7-6, with the aid of a 97 yard kickoff return by Buster Mott in the third quarter. Harvard
beat Dartmouth 7-6 and Yale
beat St. John's College of Maryland, 52-0. Pittsburgh
beat Carnegie Tech 14-6. Notre Dame beat Pennsylvania 49-0. St. Mary's
suffered its first defeat, to the visiting Olympic Club, 10-0
November 11 In an Armistice Day game at Los Angeles, UCLA handed St. Mary's
its second straight loss, 12-0
November 14 Tulane
(7-0-0) and Georgia
(6-0-0) faced off in Athens before a crowd of 36,000 for the rights to best in the South. The Green Wave rolled over Georgia's Bulldogs 20-7. Tennessee
defeated Vanderbilt 21-7. USC beat visiting Montana 69-0. Harvard
defeated Holy Cross 7-0. Purdue
defeated Iowa 22-0 and Northwestern
edged Indiana 7-6. Pittsburgh
beat visiting Army 26-0. In Baltimore, Notre Dame beat Navy 20-0
November 21 Notre Dame (6-0-1) had not lost a football game in almost three years, its last defeat having been to the USC Trojans on 27-14 on December 1, 1928. A crowd of 52,000 turned out as (5-1-0) USC came to the Notre Dame campus in South Bend for the first time ever. The Trojans trailed 14-0 going into the fourth quarter, and was trailing 14-13 in the final minutes after Johnny Baker's extra point attempt had been blocked. In the final minute, Baker kicked a 34 yard field goal for a 16-14 win, Notre Dame's first loss in 27 starts. Tulane
beat Sewanee 40-0. Northwestern
won at Iowa 9-0, and Purdue
won at Indiana, 19-0. In Columbus, Ga., Georgia
beat Auburn 12-6. Yale
(3-1-2) hosted Harvard
(7-0-0) and won 3-0
November 26 On Thanksgiving Day, Pitt
and Nebraska, both 7-1-0, met in Pittsburgh, with the home team winning 40-0. Tennessee
and Kentucky played to a 6-6 tie in Lexington. St. Mary's
defeated Oregon 16-0.
November 28 In Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 80,000 turned out in spite of a snowstorm, and watched as Notre Dame was beaten by Army, 12-0, for its second consecutive defeat after 26 games without a loss. Meanwhile, 40,000 watched in Chicago as Northwestern
(7-0-1) and Purdue
(8-1-0) met in a "post-season charity game" on a frozen field in Chicago, with the Boilermakers handing the Wildcats their first defeat, 7-0.
Yale
beat Princeton 51-14. Tulane
defeated LSU 34-7 and Georgia
defeated Georgia Tech 35-6
beat Washington State 28-14 to close at 11-0-0, unbeaten and untied, while Tennessee
played NYU at Yankee Stadium, winning 13-0 to finish at 8-0-1. USC defeated Washington 44-7. St. Mary's
closed its season with a 7-2 win over Southern Methodist (SMU).
December 12
USC and Georgia
, both 8-1-0, met in Los Angeles, and the visiting Bulldogs were crushed 60-0
would not begin continuously until 1936. (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System
to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition.
The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.
The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
, #1 and #2 in the Dickinson ratings. USC won, 21-12. Also in 1931 Parke Davis through research, and recognized by the NCAA, declared that Purdue and Pittsburgh were National Champions.
Major conferences that existed in 1931 were the Western Conference (today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Big Six (forerunner of the Big 12), the Southwest Conference, and the Southern Conference (whose members later formed the SEC and the ACC). At season's end, the Rissman Trophy was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule, in that a win, loss or tie against a "strong" opponent was worth more than one against a lesser team, and the results were averaged.
September
September 26 The season started with an upset. St. Mary's CollegeSaint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
, a relatively small school in San Francisco, defeated USC 13-7. Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
beat Ole Miss, 31-0 and Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
beat Maryville 33-0, while Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, 61-0.
October
October 3 St. Mary'sSaint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
won again, at California, 14-0, and USC won its first game of the season, beating Oregon State 30-0. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
beat Clemson 44-0 and Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
defeated Texas A&M 7-0. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
beat Nebraska 19-7. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
opened its season for the home crowd with a doubleheader, beating Ohio's Western Reserve 28-0, followed by a 19-0 win over Iowa's Coe College
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
won at Iowa, 20-0 Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Virginia Tech 40-0
Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
defeated Bates College, 28-0 and Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Maine, 19-0
Notre Dame won at Indiana 25-0
October 10 In Chicago, a crowd of 75,000 turned out at Soldier Field to watch Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
and Notre Dame played to a 0-0 tie in a driving rain. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
defeated Ole Miss 38-0. USC beat Washington State 38-6. Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
beat New Hampshire, 39-0. In New Haven, the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
handed the Yale Bulldogs
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
their first defeat, 26-7. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
beat Illinois 7-0
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat West Virginia 34-0. Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
defeated Spring Hill College 40-0 and St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
beat the West Coast Army team, 21-7
October 17 Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
and Vanderbilt, both 3-0-0, met at Nashville, with Tulane winning 19-0
Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
and Alabama, both 3-0-0, met at Knoxville, with UT winning 25-0. USC defeated visiting Oregon 53-0. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
beat visiting UCLA 19-0
Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
won at North Carolina, 32-7. Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Chicago 27-0 and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
got past Army 14-13. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
lost at Wisconsin 21-14. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
defeated Western Reserve, 32-0. Notre Dame defeated Drake 63-0. St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
beat the University of San Francisco, 14-6. Neither SMC or USF play college football anymore.
October 24 Notre Dame (3-0-0) and Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
(4-0-0) met at South Bend, with Notre Dame winning 25-12. Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
beat Georgia Tech 33-0; Tulane had outscored its five opponents 130-0. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
won at North Carolina, 7-0; it had outscored its five foes 147-0. Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Vanderbilt 9-0. Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
beat visiting Texas, 35-7 and Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Army played to a 6-6 tie, while in Pittsburgh, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
defeated Carnegie Tech 13-6. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
defeated Ohio State in Columbus, 10-0. St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
beat visiting Gonzaga University, 13-7. USC won at California 6-0
October 31 Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
beat Mississippi State, but not without surrendering its first points, in a 59-7 win; likewise, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
beat Duke, but was scored upon for the first time, in its 25-2 win
Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
won at Florida, 33-6. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
beat visiting Illinois 32-6 and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Chicago 14-6. Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
beat Virginia 19-0 and Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Dartmouth played to a 33-33 tie. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
won at Penn State, 41-6
Notre Dame defeated Carnegie Tech 19-0. Surprising St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
extended its record to 6-0-0 with a 21-14 win over Santa Clara.
November
November 7 USC (4-1-0) and Stanford (5-0-1) met at Los Angeles, and USC won 19-0.In Montgomery, Alabama, Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
shut out Auburn 27-0. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
beat visiting Carson-Newman, 31-0. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
beat Minnesota, 32-14. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
beat Centenary College 49-6. Before a crowd of 65,000 at Yankee Stadium, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
stayed unbeaten as it defeated New York University 7-6, with the aid of a 97 yard kickoff return by Buster Mott in the third quarter. Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
beat Dartmouth 7-6 and Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat St. John's College of Maryland, 52-0. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Carnegie Tech 14-6. Notre Dame beat Pennsylvania 49-0. St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
suffered its first defeat, to the visiting Olympic Club, 10-0
November 11 In an Armistice Day game at Los Angeles, UCLA handed St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
its second straight loss, 12-0
November 14 Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
(7-0-0) and Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
(6-0-0) faced off in Athens before a crowd of 36,000 for the rights to best in the South. The Green Wave rolled over Georgia's Bulldogs 20-7. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
defeated Vanderbilt 21-7. USC beat visiting Montana 69-0. Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
defeated Holy Cross 7-0. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
defeated Iowa 22-0 and Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
edged Indiana 7-6. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat visiting Army 26-0. In Baltimore, Notre Dame beat Navy 20-0
November 21 Notre Dame (6-0-1) had not lost a football game in almost three years, its last defeat having been to the USC Trojans on 27-14 on December 1, 1928. A crowd of 52,000 turned out as (5-1-0) USC came to the Notre Dame campus in South Bend for the first time ever. The Trojans trailed 14-0 going into the fourth quarter, and was trailing 14-13 in the final minutes after Johnny Baker's extra point attempt had been blocked. In the final minute, Baker kicked a 34 yard field goal for a 16-14 win, Notre Dame's first loss in 27 starts. Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
beat Sewanee 40-0. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
won at Iowa 9-0, and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Indiana, 19-0. In Columbus, Ga., Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Auburn 12-6. Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(3-1-2) hosted Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(7-0-0) and won 3-0
November 26 On Thanksgiving Day, Pitt
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and Nebraska, both 7-1-0, met in Pittsburgh, with the home team winning 40-0. Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
and Kentucky played to a 6-6 tie in Lexington. St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
defeated Oregon 16-0.
November 28 In Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 80,000 turned out in spite of a snowstorm, and watched as Notre Dame was beaten by Army, 12-0, for its second consecutive defeat after 26 games without a loss. Meanwhile, 40,000 watched in Chicago as Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
(7-0-1) and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
(8-1-0) met in a "post-season charity game" on a frozen field in Chicago, with the Boilermakers handing the Wildcats their first defeat, 7-0.
Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Princeton 51-14. Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
defeated LSU 34-7 and Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
defeated Georgia Tech 35-6
December
December 5 TulaneTulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
beat Washington State 28-14 to close at 11-0-0, unbeaten and untied, while Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
played NYU at Yankee Stadium, winning 13-0 to finish at 8-0-1. USC defeated Washington 44-7. St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
closed its season with a 7-2 win over Southern Methodist (SMU).
December 12
USC and Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
, both 8-1-0, met in Los Angeles, and the visiting Bulldogs were crushed 60-0
Conference standings
The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:Conference Leaders
| Conference | Champion | Conf. record | Overall record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast | USC | (7-0-0) | (9-1-0) |
| Independent | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
(8-1-0) | (8-1-0) |
| Western | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
(5-1-0) | (9-1-0) |
| Southern | Tulane Tulane Green Wave Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official... |
(8-0-0) | (11-0-0) |
| Big Six | Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
(5-0-0) | (8-2-0) |
| Southwestern | SMU SMU Mustangs football The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA... |
(5-0-1) | (8-1-1) |
Dickinson System
The AP sportswriters' pollAP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
would not begin continuously until 1936. (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System
Dickinson System
The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G...
to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition.
The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.
The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.
Final Dickinson rankings
Although Tulane University was unbeaten and untied (11-0-0), it was second to the University of Southern California, with a 9-1-0 record.| Rank | Team | Record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USC Trojans | 9-1-0 | 26.25 |
| 2 | Tulane Green Wave Tulane Green Wave Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official... |
11-0-0 | 24.85 |
| 3 | Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
8-0-1 | 23.10 |
| 4 | Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern Wildcats football The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876... |
7-0-1 | 22.45 |
| 5 | St. Mary's Gaels Saint Mary's College of California Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church... |
7-1-0 | 22.23 |
| 6 | Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
8-2-0 | 21.25 |
| 7 | Harvard Crimson Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... |
7-1-0 | 19.40 |
| 8 | Yale Bulldogs Yale University Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States... |
5-1-2 | 20.44 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh Panthers Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
8-1-0 | 17.50 |
| 10 | Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
7-1-0 | 16.58 |
| 11 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 8-2-1 | 16.17 |