🏈 The 1983 college football season
The champion and its path, the poll race week by week, the honours, the best games and every conference table.
Source: Citizen of Nowhere college football database · 11 conferences · 16 bowls
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1860s
1983 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Miami (FL)11-1
- Sep 3atFloridaL3-28
- Sep 10atHoustonW29-7
- Sep 17vsPurdueW35-0
- Sep 24vs#13Notre DameW20-0
- Oct 1atDukeW56-17
- Oct 8vsLouisvilleW42-14
- Oct 15atMississippi StateW31-7
- Oct 22atCincinnatiW17-7
- Oct 29vs#12West VirginiaW20-3
- Nov 5vsEast CarolinaW12-7
- Nov 12atFlorida StateW17-16
- Jan 2vs#1NebraskaW31-30Orange Bowl
The 1983 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Cotton BowlJan 2#7Georgia10#2Texas9
- Fiesta BowlJan 2#14Ohio State28#15Pittsburgh23
- Orange BowlJan 2#5Miami (FL)31#1Nebraska30
- Rose BowlJan 2UCLA45#4Illinois9
- Sugar BowlJan 2#3Auburn9#8Michigan7
The 1983 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
The final top five and the champion are drawn in team colours; everyone else is muted until you tap a line or pick a team. The grid under a poll chart has the same ranks, team by week, so a rank can be read as a number as well as a height. Where the College Football Playoff or BCS ranking also ran, switch between it and the AP poll. The Elo view plots each team's rating on the poll dates for the teams that finished in the Elo top 15 or were ranked at any point, and its Show filter works the same way.
- Regular season ends
- Bowl season
Tap or drag on the chart to read a team's rank in any week.
AP rank, team by week
| Team | Aug22 | Sep5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | Oct3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31 | Nov7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | Dec5 | Jan3final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (FL) | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Auburn | 5 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Georgia | 15 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Texas | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Florida | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 6 | |
| BYU | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | |||||
| Michigan | 10 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Ohio State | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 9 |
| Illinois | 19 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | |||||
| Clemson | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||
| SMU | 19 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Air Force | 18 | 17 | 16 | 13 | ||||||||||||
| Iowa | 16 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 |
| Alabama | 13 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 19 | 15 | |
| West Virginia | 20 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | ||
| UCLA | 20 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 19 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | ||||||||
| Boston College | 19 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 19 | |||||||
| East Carolina | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | ||||||||||||
| Maryland | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Oklahoma | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 19 | |||||
| Baylor | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| Washington | 18 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 18 | 15 | ||||
| Missouri | 19 | |||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 11 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 19 | |||||
| Notre Dame | 6 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 18 | ||||||||||
| Arizona State | 11 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 13 | |||||||||||
| Arizona | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 19 | |||||||||
| LSU | 12 | 13 | 16 | |||||||||||||
| Florida State | 7 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 17 | |||||||||||
| USC | 8 | 9 | 14 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | 20 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Aug 22 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- Miami (FL)NR → #1
- FloridaNR → #6
- BYUNR → #7
- IllinoisNR → #10
- ClemsonNR → #11
Fallers
- Oklahoma#2 → NR
- Penn State#4 → NR
- Notre Dame#6 → NR
- Florida State#7 → NR
- USC#8 → NR
1983 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1983 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 3 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL)APC | 1 | 11-1 |
| 2 | 2 | 12-1 | |
| 3 | 3 | 11-1 | |
| 4 | 4 | 10-1-1 | |
| 5 | 5 | 11-1 | |
| 6 | 6 | 9-2-1 | |
| 7 | 7 | 11-1 | |
| 8 | 9 | 9-3 | |
| 9 | 8 | 9-3 | |
| 10 | 10 | 10-2 | |
| 11 | 9-1-1 | ||
| 12 | 11 | 10-2 | |
| 13 | 15 | 10-2 | |
| 14 | 14 | 9-3 | |
| 15 | 12 | 8-4 | |
| 16 | 16 | 9-3 | |
| 17 | 13 | 7-4-1 | |
| 18 | 19 | 8-3-1 | |
| 19 | 20 | 9-3 | |
| 20 | 8-3 | ||
| Coaches only | |||
| 17 | |||
| 18 | |||
Elo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches champion
The 1983 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1983 honoursHeisman: Mike Rozier
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Ken Hatfield
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · Air Force
Steve Young
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · BYU
Mike Rozier
Maxwell Award · RB · Nebraska
Dean Steinkuhler
Outland Trophy · G · Nebraska
Dean Steinkuhler
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · G · Nebraska
Show all 6 awards
Mike Rozier
Walter Camp Award · RB · Nebraska
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Steve Young★ unanimousBYU
RB
- Bo JacksonAuburn
- Greg AllenFlorida State
- Napoleon McCallumNavy
- Mike Rozier★ unanimousNebraska
WR
- Irving Fryar★ unanimousNebraska
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Gordon Hudson★ unanimousBYU
OL
- Terry LongEast Carolina
- Dean SteinkuhlerNebraska
- Bill Fralic★ unanimousPittsburgh
- Doug DawsonTexas
C
- Tony SlatonUSC
DL
- William PerryClemson
- William FullerNorth Carolina
- Rick Bryan★ unanimousOklahoma
- Reggie White★ unanimousTennessee
LB
- Ricky Hunley★ unanimousArizona
- Ron RiveraCalifornia
- Wilber MarshallFlorida
- Jeff LeidingTexas
P
- Jack WeilWyoming
PK
- Luis ZendejasArizona State
QB
- Steve Young★ unanimousBYU
RB
- Bo JacksonAuburn
- Greg AllenFlorida State
- Napoleon McCallumNavy
- Mike Rozier★ unanimousNebraska
WR
- Irving Fryar★ unanimousNebraska
TE
- Gordon Hudson★ unanimousBYU
OL
- Terry LongEast Carolina
- Dean SteinkuhlerNebraska
- Bill Fralic★ unanimousPittsburgh
- Doug DawsonTexas
C
- Tony SlatonUSC
DL
- William PerryClemson
- William FullerNorth Carolina
- Rick Bryan★ unanimousOklahoma
- Reggie White★ unanimousTennessee
LB
- Ricky Hunley★ unanimousArizona
- Ron RiveraCalifornia
- Wilber MarshallFlorida
- Jeff LeidingTexas
P
- Jack WeilWyoming
PK
- Luis ZendejasArizona State
The best games of 1983
The ten best games of the season by Game Score. Switch to the Elo score for a second opinion.
How this is measured
Game score is the college football workbook's own rating of how good a game was; it weighs a lot more than the margin. The Elo score is a second view built from the ratings alone: the two teams' average pre-game Elo, plus stakes (150 for the national championship game, 90 for a playoff game or a major bowl, 40 for another bowl or a conference title game, 15 for a rivalry), plus up to 60 for a close finish and 15 for overtime. The Elo view takes its own top ten from every game between major teams. Sort by any column.
The best games of 198310 games
Rank by
Upsets of 1983
The results the ratings gave the winner the least chance of, lowest first.
How this is measured
Win chance is the winner's pre-game probability from the site's college football Elo ratings, home field included, so 3% means the winner would be expected to win about one time in thirty. Games against lower-level opponents count and carry a tag for the level (FCS, Division II and so on). Where the AP poll had ranks, the rank line is shown as context. Elo gap is the loser's pre-game rating minus the winner's.
Upsets of 198310 upsets
1983 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1983 standings by conference11 groups
Atlantic Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson | 7-0 | 9-1-1 | #11 |
| 2 | Maryland★ conference champion | 5-1 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 4-3 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | 3-3 | 3-8 | |
| 5 | Virginia | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Duke | 3-4 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Wake Forest | 1-6 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | North Carolina State | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Big Eight
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska★ conference champion | 7-0 | 12-1 | #2 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Missouri | 5-2 | 7-5 | |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 3-4 | 8-4 | |
| 5 | Iowa State | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Kansas | 2-5 | 4-6-1 | |
| 7 | Colorado | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Kansas State | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Big Ten
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois★ conference champion | 9-0 | 10-2 | #10 |
| 2 | Michigan | 8-1 | 9-3 | #8 |
| 3 | Iowa | 7-2 | 9-3 | #14 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 6-3 | 9-3 | #9 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 5-4 | 7-4 | |
| 6 | Purdue | 3-5-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | Michigan State | 2-6-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 8 | Indiana | 2-7 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Northwestern | 2-7 | 2-9 | |
| 10 | Minnesota | 0-9 | 1-10 |
Mid-American
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Illinois★ conference champion | 8-1 | 10-2 | |
| 2 | Toledo | 7-2 | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | 7-2 | 8-3 | |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 7-2 | 8-3 | |
| 5 | Ball State | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Western Michigan | 4-5 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Miami (OH) | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Ohio | 3-6 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Kent State | 1-8 | 1-10 | |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan | 0-9 | 1-10 |
Missouri Valley
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa★ conference champion | 5-0 | 8-3 | |
| 2 | Southern Illinois | 5-1 | 13-1 | |
| 3 | New Mexico State | 3-2 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Indiana State | 3-3 | 9-4 | |
| 5 | Illinois State | 2-2-1 | 6-4-1 | |
| 6 | Wichita State | 3-3 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Drake | 1-6 | 1-10 | |
| 8 | West Texas State | 0-5-1 | 0-10-1 |
Pacific Coast
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSU-Fullerton★ conference champion | 5-1 | 7-5 | |
| 2 | UNLV | 4-2 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Long Beach State | 3-3 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | San Jose State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Utah State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Fresno State | 2-4 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Pacific | 1-5 | 3-9 |
Pacific-10
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA★ conference champion | 6-1-1 | 7-4-1 | #17 |
| 2 | Washington | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Washington State | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | USC | 4-3 | 4-6-1 | |
| 5 | Arizona | 4-3-1 | 7-3-1 | |
| 6 | Arizona State | 3-3-1 | 6-4-1 | |
| 7 | Oregon | 3-3-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 8 | California | 3-4-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 9 | Oregon State | 1-6-1 | 2-8-1 | |
| 10 | Stanford | 1-7 | 1-10 |
Southeastern
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn★ conference champion | 6-0 | 11-1 | #3 |
| 2 | Georgia | 5-1 | 10-1-1 | #4 |
| 3 | Florida | 4-2 | 9-2-1 | #6 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 4-2 | 9-3 | |
| 5 | Alabama | 4-2 | 8-4 | #15 |
| 6 | Mississippi | 4-2 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Kentucky | 2-4 | 6-5-1 | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 1-5 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | LSU | 0-6 | 4-7 | |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 0-6 | 2-9 |
Southwest
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas★ conference champion | 8-0 | 11-1 | #5 |
| 2 | SMU | 7-1 | 10-2 | #12 |
| 3 | Baylor | 4-3-1 | 7-4-1 | |
| 4 | Texas A&M | 4-3-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Arkansas | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Texas Tech | 3-4-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | Houston | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | TCU | 1-6-1 | 1-8-2 | |
| 9 | Rice | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Western Athletic
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYU★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-1 | #7 |
| 2 | Air Force | 5-2 | 10-2 | #13 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 4 | New Mexico | 4-3 | 6-6 | |
| 5 | Hawaii | 3-3-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 6 | Utah | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Colorado State | 4-4 | 5-7 | |
| 8 | San Diego State | 1-6-1 | 2-9-1 | |
| 9 | UTEP | 0-8 | 2-10 |
Independent
23 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) | - | 11-1 | #1 |
| 2 | Virginia Tech | - | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Boston College | - | 9-3 | #19 |
| 4 | West Virginia | - | 9-3 | #16 |
| 5 | East Carolina | - | 8-3 | #20 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh | - | 8-3-1 | #18 |
| 7 | Penn State | - | 8-4-1 | |
| 8 | Southern Mississippi | - | 7-4 | |
| 9 | Memphis State | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 10 | Florida State | - | 7-5 | |
| 11 | Notre Dame | - | 7-5 | |
| 12 | Syracuse | - | 6-5 | |
| 13 | William & Mary | - | 6-5 | |
| 14 | South Carolina | - | 5-6 | |
| 15 | Cincinnati | - | 4-6-1 | |
| 16 | SW Louisiana | - | 4-6 | |
| 17 | Temple | - | 4-7 | |
| 18 | Tulane | - | 4-7 | |
| 19 | Louisville | - | 3-8 | |
| 20 | Navy | - | 3-8 | |
| 21 | Richmond | - | 3-8 | |
| 22 | Rutgers | - | 3-8 | |
| 23 | Army | - | 2-9 |
1983 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1983 bowls16 bowls
Show all 16 bowls
I-AA. Shown for context. These seasons do not count in this hub’s major-college records.
Champion
I-AA national champion.
I-AA champion
Playoff
Round by round.
I-AA playoff
First Round · 4 games
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
1983 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
1983 standings by conference10 groups
Big Sky
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 6-1 | 9-5 | |
| 2 | Idaho State | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Idaho | 4-3 | 8-3 | |
| 4 | Boise State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Weber State | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Montana | 3-4 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | Northern Arizona | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Montana State | 1-6 | 1-10 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard | 5-1 | 6-2-2 | |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 5-1 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 | Brown | 4-2 | 4-5-1 | |
| 4 | Dartmouth | 4-2 | 4-5-1 | |
| 5 | Cornell | 3-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 6 | Princeton | 2-5 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | Columbia | 1-5 | 1-7-2 | |
| 8 | Yale | 1-6 | 1-9 |
Mid-Continent
4 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Illinois | 3-0 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | SW Missouri State | 2-1 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | Northern Iowa | 1-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Western Illinois | 0-3 | 3-8 |
Mid-Eastern
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina State | 4-0 | 7-3 | |
| 2 | Delaware State | 3-1 | 7-3-1 | |
| 3 | Bethune-Cookman | 1-3 | 4-4-1 | |
| 4 | North Carolina A&T | 1-3 | 3-7-1 | |
| 5 | Howard | 1-3 | 1-9 | |
| 6 | Florida A&M | - | 7-4 |
Ohio Valley
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky | 6-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State | 5-2 | 8-2 | |
| 3 | Akron | 5-2 | 8-3 | |
| 4 | Murray State | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Austin Peay | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Youngstown State | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Tennessee Tech | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Morehead State | 1-6 | 2-9 |
Southern
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furman | 6-0 | 10-2-1 | |
| 2 | Western Carolina | 5-0 | 11-3-1 | |
| 3 | UT-Chattanooga | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Appalachian State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Marshall | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | VMI | 1-5 | 2-9 | |
| 7 | Citadel | 1-6 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | East Tennessee State | 1-6 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Davidson | 0-5 | 2-8 |
Southland
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Louisiana | 5-1 | 8-3 | |
| 2 | North Texas | 5-1 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | McNeese State | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Arkansas State | 3-3 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Louisiana Tech | 2-4 | 8-3 | |
| 6 | Texas-Arlington | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Lamar | 1-5 | 2-9 |
Southwestern Athletic
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling | 6-0 | 8-1-2 | |
| 2 | Jackson State | 5-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Southern | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Mississippi Valley State | 4-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 5 | Alcorn State | 4-3 | 7-3-1 | |
| 6 | Texas Southern | 2-5 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | Alabama State | 0-7 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | Prairie View | 0-7 | 1-11 |
Yankee
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston University | 4-1 | 9-4 | |
| 2 | Connecticut | 4-1 | 5-6 | |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 3-2 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 2-3 | 6-4 | |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 2-3 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Maine | 0-5 | 4-6 |
Independent
13 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Cross | - | 9-1-1 | |
| 2 | Tennessee State | - | 8-2-1 | |
| 3 | Colgate | - | 8-3 | |
| 4 | Lehigh | - | 8-3 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | - | 6-4 | |
| 6 | Northeastern | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 7 | SE Louisiana | - | 6-5 | |
| 8 | Nicholls State | - | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Bucknell | - | 4-5-1 | |
| 10 | Delaware | - | 4-7 | |
| 11 | Northwestern State | - | 4-7 | |
| 12 | James Madison | - | 3-8 | |
| 13 | Western Kentucky | - | 2-8-1 |
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.