🏈 The 1950 college football season
The champion and its path, the poll race week by week, the honours, the best games and every conference table.
Jump to any season1869–2026
1950 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Oklahoma10-1
- Sep 30vsBoston CollegeW28-0
- Oct 7vsTexas A&MW34-28
- Oct 14vs#4TexasW14-13
- Oct 21vsKansas StateW58-0
- Oct 28atIowa StateW20-7
- Nov 4atColoradoW27-18
- Nov 11at#19KansasW33-13
- Nov 18vsMissouriW41-7
- Nov 25vs#15NebraskaW49-35
- Dec 2atOklahoma A&MW41-14
- Jan 1vs#7KentuckyL7-13Sugar Bowl
The 1950 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Cotton BowlJan 1#4Tennessee20#3Texas14
- Orange BowlJan 1#10Clemson15#15Miami (FL)14
- Rose BowlJan 1#9Michigan14#5California6
- Sugar BowlJan 1#7Kentucky13#1Oklahoma7
The 1950 poll race
Rank by poll week, 1 at the top, or Elo by week. A poll line breaks where a team was unranked.
How this is measured
Tap or drag on the chart to read a team's rank in any week.
AP rank, team by week
| Team | Sep11 | Oct2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | Nov6 | 13 | 20 | Nov27final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Army | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Texas | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 4 | |
| California | 14 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Princeton | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |||||
| Kentucky | 13 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Michigan State | 19 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | |
| Michigan | 3 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 9 | |||||
| Clemson | 18 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | |
| Washington | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 11 | ||
| Wyoming | 18 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | |||||
| Illinois | 8 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 13 | ||
| Ohio State | 11 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 14 | |
| Miami (FL) | 14 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 15 | ||||
| Alabama | 12 | 17 | 15 | |||||||
| Nebraska | 15 | 18 | 15 | 17 | ||||||
| Tulsa | 18 | |||||||||
| Washington & Lee | 19 | 18 | ||||||||
| Tulane | 20 | |||||||||
| Pennsylvania | 20 | 15 | 20 | 13 | ||||||
| SMU | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 15 | |
| Loyola Marymount | 20 | |||||||||
| Texas A&M | 13 | 12 | ||||||||
| Wake Forest | 19 | 17 | 15 | |||||||
| Wisconsin | 15 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 | |||||
| Maryland | 15 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 18 | |||||
| UCLA | 13 | 18 | 19 | 19 | ||||||
| Kansas | 19 | |||||||||
| Lehigh | 19 | |||||||||
| Florida | 20 | 17 | ||||||||
| Northwestern | 20 | 9 | ||||||||
| Cornell | 9 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 10 | |||||
| Indiana | 19 | |||||||||
| Stanford | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Notre Dame | 1 | 1 | 10 | 11 | ||||||
| Vanderbilt | 19 | 13 | ||||||||
| Rice | 15 | 15 | ||||||||
| Purdue | 9 | |||||||||
| North Carolina | 20 | 11 | ||||||||
| Duke | 16 | 14 | ||||||||
| Iowa | 17 | |||||||||
| USC | 12 | |||||||||
| Missouri | 17 | |||||||||
| Minnesota | 18 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Sep 11 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- PrincetonNR → #6
- ClemsonNR → #10
- WashingtonNR → #11
- WyomingNR → #12
- Michigan State#19 → #8
Fallers
- Notre Dame#1 → NR
- Stanford#7 → NR
- Cornell#9 → NR
- SMU#10 → NR
- USC#12 → NR
1950 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1950 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
AP Nov 27, Coaches Dec 5 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OklahomaAPC | 1 | 9-0 |
| 2 | 5 | 8-0 | |
| 3 | 2 | 7-1 | |
| 4 | 3 | 9-1 | |
| 5 | 4 | 9-0-1 | |
| 6 | 8 | 9-0 | |
| 7 | 7 | 10-1 | |
| 8 | 9 | 8-1 | |
| 9 | 6 | 5-3-1 | |
| 10 | 12 | 8-0-1 | |
| 11 | 15 | 8-2 | |
| 12 | 14 | 9-0 | |
| 13 | 11 | 7-2 | |
| 14 | 10 | 6-3 | |
| 15 | 17 | 8-2 | |
| 15 | 13 | 8-0-1 | |
| 17 | 20 | 6-2-1 | |
| 18 | 8-1-1 | ||
| 18 | 18 | 8-2 | |
| 20 | 6-2 | ||
| Coaches only | |||
| 15 | |||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | |||
| 20 | |||
Elo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches champion
The 1950 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1950 honoursHeisman: Vic Janowicz
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
- Jerry GroomNotre Dame
- Babe ParilliKentucky
- Vic Janowicz★ unanimousOhio State
- Leon HeathOklahoma
- Kyle RoteSMU
Show all 5 positions
- Les RichterCalifornia
- Bud McFadin★ unanimousTexas
- Jerry GroomNotre Dame
- Babe ParilliKentucky
- Vic Janowicz★ unanimousOhio State
- Leon HeathOklahoma
- Kyle RoteSMU
- Les RichterCalifornia
- Bud McFadin★ unanimousTexas
The best games of 1950
The ten best games of the season by Game Score. Switch to the Elo score for a second opinion.
How this is measured
The best games of 195010 games
Upsets of 1950
The results the ratings gave the winner the least chance of, lowest first.
How this is measured
Upsets of 195010 upsets
1950 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1950 standings by conference10 groups
Big Nine
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan★ conference champion | 4-1-1 | 6-3-1 | #9 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 5-2 | 6-3 | #14 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 5-2 | 6-3 | |
| 4 | Illinois | 4-2 | 7-2 | #13 |
| 5 | Northwestern | 3-3 | 6-3 | |
| 6 | Iowa | 2-4 | 3-5-1 | |
| 7 | Minnesota | 1-4-1 | 1-7-1 | |
| 8 | Indiana | 1-4 | 3-5-1 | |
| 9 | Purdue | 1-4 | 2-7 |
Big Seven
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma★ conference champion | 6-0 | 10-1 | #1 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 4-2 | 6-2-1 | #17 |
| 3 | Missouri | 3-2-1 | 4-5-1 | |
| 4 | Kansas | 3-3 | 6-4 | |
| 5 | Iowa State | 2-3-1 | 3-6-1 | |
| 6 | Colorado | 2-4 | 5-4-1 | |
| 7 | Kansas State | 0-6 | 1-9-1 |
Border
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Texas State★ conference champion | 6-0 | 10-1 | |
| 2 | Arizona State | 4-1 | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Texas Western | 4-2 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 3-2 | 3-8 | |
| 5 | Hardin-Simmons | 3-3 | 5-5 | |
| 6 | Arizona | 2-4 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 1-4 | 2-7 | |
| 9 | Northern Arizona | 0-4 | 2-7 |
Missouri Valley
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa★ conference champion | 3-0-1 | 9-1-1 | #19 |
| 2 | Detroit | 2-1-1 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 | Wichita | 3-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 4 | Drake | 1-2-1 | 6-2-1 | |
| 5 | Oklahoma A&M | 1-2-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 6 | Bradley | 0-3 | 5-5 |
Pacific Coast
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California★ conference champion | 5-0-1 | 9-1-1 | #5 |
| 2 | Washington | 6-1 | 8-2 | #11 |
| 3 | UCLA | 5-2 | 6-3 | |
| 4 | Stanford | 2-2-2 | 5-3-2 | |
| 5 | Idaho | 1-1-1 | 3-5-1 | |
| 6 | Washington State | 2-3-2 | 4-3-2 | |
| 7 | USC | 1-3-2 | 2-5-2 | |
| 8 | Oregon State | 2-5 | 3-6 | |
| 9 | Oregon | 0-7 | 1-9 |
Skyline
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming★ conference champion | 5-0 | 10-0 | #12 |
| 2 | Colorado A&M | 4-1 | 6-3 | |
| 3 | Denver | 2-2-1 | 3-8-1 | |
| 4 | Utah | 1-2-2 | 3-4-3 | |
| 5 | BYU | 1-3-1 | 4-5-1 | |
| 6 | Utah State | 0-5 | 2-9 |
Southeastern
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky★ conference champion | 5-1 | 11-1 | #7 |
| 2 | Tennessee | 4-1 | 11-1 | #4 |
| 3 | Alabama | 6-2 | 9-2 | #16 |
| 4 | Tulane | 3-1-1 | 6-2-1 | #20 |
| 5 | Georgia Tech | 4-2 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Georgia | 3-2-1 | 6-3-3 | |
| 7 | Vanderbilt | 3-4 | 7-4 | |
| 8 | LSU | 2-3-2 | 4-5-2 | |
| 9 | Mississippi State | 3-4 | 4-5 | |
| 10 | Florida | 2-4 | 5-5 | |
| 11 | Mississippi | 1-5 | 5-5 | |
| 12 | Auburn | 0-7 | 0-10 |
Southern
17 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington & Lee★ conference champion | 6-0 | 8-3 | #18 |
| 2 | Clemson | 3-0-1 | 9-0-1 | #10 |
| 3 | VMI | 5-1 | 6-4 | |
| 4 | Wake Forest | 6-1-1 | 6-1-2 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 4-1-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 6 | Duke | 5-2 | 7-3 | |
| 7 | North Carolina | 3-2-1 | 3-5-2 | |
| 8 | George Washington | 4-3 | 5-4 | |
| 9 | North Carolina State | 4-4-1 | 5-4-1 | |
| 10 | William & Mary | 3-3 | 4-7 | |
| 11 | Citadel | 2-3 | 4-6 | |
| 12 | South Carolina | 2-4-1 | 3-4-2 | |
| 13 | Furman | 2-4 | 2-8-1 | |
| 14 | West Virginia | 1-3 | 2-8 | |
| 15 | Davidson | 1-5 | 3-6 | |
| 16 | Richmond | 1-8 | 2-8 | |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | 0-8 | 0-10 |
Southwest
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas★ conference champion | 6-0 | 9-2 | #3 |
| 2 | Baylor | 4-2 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | Texas A&M | 3-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | TCU | 3-3 | 5-5 | |
| 5 | Rice | 2-4 | 6-4 | |
| 6 | SMU | 2-4 | 6-4 | |
| 7 | Arkansas | 1-5 | 2-8 |
Independent
38 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton | - | 9-0 | #6 |
| 2 | Army | - | 8-1 | #2 |
| 3 | Fordham | - | 8-1 | |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount | - | 8-1 | |
| 5 | Michigan State | - | 8-1 | #8 |
| 6 | Miami (FL) | - | 9-1-1 | #15 |
| 7 | Virginia | - | 8-2 | |
| 8 | Cornell | - | 7-2 | |
| 9 | Pacific | - | 7-3-1 | |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | - | 6-3 | |
| 11 | Yale | - | 6-3 | |
| 12 | San Jose State | - | 6-3-1 | |
| 13 | San Francisco | - | 7-4 | |
| 14 | Colgate | - | 5-3 | |
| 15 | Marquette | - | 5-3-1 | |
| 16 | Penn State | - | 5-3-1 | |
| 17 | Montana | - | 5-5 | |
| 18 | Notre Dame | - | 4-4-1 | |
| 19 | Rutgers | - | 4-4 | |
| 20 | Syracuse | - | 5-5 | |
| 21 | Temple | - | 4-4-1 | |
| 22 | Holy Cross | - | 4-5-1 | |
| 23 | Columbia | - | 4-5 | |
| 24 | Villanova | - | 4-5 | |
| 25 | Houston | - | 4-6 | |
| 26 | Dartmouth | - | 3-5-1 | |
| 27 | Boston University | - | 3-5 | |
| 28 | Navy | - | 3-6 | |
| 29 | Santa Clara | - | 3-7 | |
| 30 | Duquesne | - | 2-6-1 | |
| 31 | St. Mary's | - | 2-7-1 | |
| 32 | Georgetown | - | 2-7 | |
| 33 | NYU | - | 1-5-1 | |
| 34 | Harvard | - | 1-7 | |
| 35 | Brown | - | 1-8 | |
| 36 | Pittsburgh | - | 1-8 | |
| 37 | Nevada | - | 1-9 | |
| 38 | Boston College | - | 0-9-1 |
1950 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1950 bowls9 bowls
Where these numbers come from
Enough to disbelieve this page on purpose rather than by accident.
Champions, polls, standings, bowls, honours and games are read from the Citizen of Nowhere college football database, built from its own workbook one season at a time. Team colours and crests are the current programs’, so a school is drawn the way it looks today even where it played under another name.
The AP poll begins in 1936, so earlier seasons have no poll race and no final poll, but they do have an Elo race, and their champions are those the selectors named. Before 1992 there was no title game, so those seasons list the major bowls instead; from 1992 the title game is shown with the other major bowls, and from 2014 the playoff bracket. Where the database has no entry for a section, the section is left out rather than shown empty.
Elo ratings, the upsets and the best games come from the site’s college football Elo, which rates every game since 1869 and counts games against lower-level opponents. Each season’s ratings are shown on a scale where the average major team ends the season at 1500; z is the distance from that average in standard deviations.