🏈 The 1986 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 · 10 conferences · 18 bowls
Jump to any season1869–2026
1860s
1986 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Penn State12-0
- Sep 6vsTempleW45-15
- Sep 20atBoston CollegeW26-14
- Sep 27vsEast CarolinaW42-17
- Oct 4vsRutgersW31-6
- Oct 11vsCincinnatiW23-17
- Oct 18vsSyracuseW42-3
- Oct 25at#2AlabamaW23-3
- Nov 1atWest VirginiaW19-0
- Nov 8vsMarylandW17-15
- Nov 15atNotre DameW24-19
- Nov 22vsPittsburghW34-14
- Jan 2vs#1Miami (FL)W14-10Fiesta Bowl
The 1986 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Citrus BowlJan 1#10Auburn16USC7
- Cotton BowlJan 1#11Ohio State28#8Texas A&M12
- Orange BowlJan 1#3Oklahoma42#9Arkansas8
- Rose BowlJan 1#7Arizona State22#4Michigan15
- Sugar BowlJan 1#6Nebraska30#5LSU15
- Fiesta BowlJan 2#2Penn State14#1Miami (FL)10
The 1986 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 | Aug26 | Sep9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | Oct7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | Nov4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | Dec2 | Jan3final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Miami (FL) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Arizona State | 18 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | ||
| Nebraska | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Auburn | 14 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 6 |
| Ohio State | 9 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 7 | ||||||
| Michigan | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Alabama | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 9 |
| LSU | 15 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Arizona | 17 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 11 | ||
| Baylor | 12 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | |||
| Texas A&M | 7 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 13 |
| UCLA | 4 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | |
| Arkansas | 19 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 15 |
| Iowa | 15 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 16 | |||||
| Clemson | 20 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 17 | ||||||||
| Washington | 16 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 18 |
| Boston College | 19 | ||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 16 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | ||||||||
| North Carolina State | 20 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 18 | ||||||||
| Stanford | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 20 | ||||||||||
| USC | 12 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 17 | ||||||
| Mississippi | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 19 | 13 | 13 | 19 | |||||||||||
| Florida State | 11 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | ||||||||||
| SMU | 20 | 18 | |||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 18 | ||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | |||||||||||
| Fresno State | 19 | ||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| BYU | 18 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||
| Florida | 13 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 10 | 8 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Aug 26 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- Arizona StateNR → #4
- ArizonaNR → #11
- IowaNR → #16
- ClemsonNR → #17
- Auburn#14 → #6
Fallers
- Tennessee#10 → NR
- Florida State#11 → NR
- Florida#13 → NR
- UCLA#4 → #14
- Georgia#16 → NR
1986 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1986 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 3 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn StateAPC | 1 | 12-0 |
| 2 | 2 | 11-1 | |
| 3 | 3 | 11-1 | |
| 4 | 5 | 10-1-1 | |
| 5 | 4 | 10-2 | |
| 6 | 8 | 10-2 | |
| 7 | 6 | 10-3 | |
| 8 | 7 | 11-2 | |
| 9 | 9 | 10-3 | |
| 10 | 11 | 9-3 | |
| 11 | 10 | 9-3 | |
| 12 | 13 | 9-3 | |
| 13 | 12 | 9-3 | |
| 14 | 14 | 8-3-1 | |
| 15 | 16 | 9-3 | |
| 16 | 15 | 9-3 | |
| 17 | 19 | 8-2-2 | |
| 18 | 17 | 8-3-1 | |
| 19 | 18 | 9-3 | |
| 20 | 9-2-1 | ||
| Coaches only | |||
| 20 | |||
Elo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches champion
The 1986 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1986 honoursHeisman: Vinny Testaverde
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Joe Paterno
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · Penn State
Vinny Testaverde
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · Miami (FL)
Brian Bosworth
Dick Butkus Award · LB · Oklahoma
Thomas Everett
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · Baylor
Vinny Testaverde
Maxwell Award · QB · Miami (FL)
Show all 8 awards
Jason Buck
Outland Trophy · DT · BYU
Cornelius Bennett
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · LB · Alabama
Vinny Testaverde
Walter Camp Award · QB · Miami (FL)
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Vinny Testaverde★ unanimousMiami (FL)
RB
- Brent Fullwood★ unanimousAuburn
- Terrence FlaglerClemson
- D.J. DozierPenn State
- Brad MusterStanford
- Paul Palmer★ unanimousTemple
WR
- Cris CarterOhio State
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Keith Jackson★ unanimousOklahoma
OL
- Danny VillaArizona State
- John ClayMissouri
- Randy DixonPittsburgh
- Jeff BregelUSC
C
- Ben Tamburello★ unanimousAuburn
DL
- Jason BuckBYU
- Jerome Brown★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Danny Noonan★ unanimousNebraska
- Tony WoodsPittsburgh
- Reggie RogersWashington
LB
- Cornelius Bennett★ unanimousAlabama
- Chris SpielmanOhio State
- Brian Bosworth★ unanimousOklahoma
- Shane ConlanPenn State
DB
- Thomas Everett★ unanimousBaylor
- Bennie BladesMiami (FL)
- Garland RiversMichigan
- Rod WoodsonPurdue
- Tim McDonaldUSC
P
- Barry HeltonColorado
PK
- Jeff JaegerWashington
QB
- Vinny Testaverde★ unanimousMiami (FL)
RB
- Brent Fullwood★ unanimousAuburn
- Terrence FlaglerClemson
- D.J. DozierPenn State
- Brad MusterStanford
- Paul Palmer★ unanimousTemple
WR
- Cris CarterOhio State
TE
- Keith Jackson★ unanimousOklahoma
OL
- Danny VillaArizona State
- John ClayMissouri
- Randy DixonPittsburgh
- Jeff BregelUSC
C
- Ben Tamburello★ unanimousAuburn
DL
- Jason BuckBYU
- Jerome Brown★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Danny Noonan★ unanimousNebraska
- Tony WoodsPittsburgh
- Reggie RogersWashington
LB
- Cornelius Bennett★ unanimousAlabama
- Chris SpielmanOhio State
- Brian Bosworth★ unanimousOklahoma
- Shane ConlanPenn State
DB
- Thomas Everett★ unanimousBaylor
- Bennie BladesMiami (FL)
- Garland RiversMichigan
- Rod WoodsonPurdue
- Tim McDonaldUSC
P
- Barry HeltonColorado
PK
- Jeff JaegerWashington
The best games of 1986
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 198610 games
Rank by
10
Virginia Tech beat #18North Carolina State
25-24 · Peach Bowl · 1986-12-31 · Elo score 1691
0.58
game score
Upsets of 1986
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 198610 upsets
1986 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1986 standings by conference10 groups
Atlantic Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson★ conference champion | 5-1-1 | 8-2-2 | #17 |
| 2 | North Carolina State | 5-2 | 8-3-1 | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 5-2 | 7-4-1 | |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | 3-3 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 2-3-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 6 | Wake Forest | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Duke | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Virginia | 2-5 | 3-8 |
Big Eight
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-1 | #3 |
| 2 | Colorado | 6-1 | 6-6 | |
| 3 | Nebraska | 5-2 | 10-2 | #5 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Iowa State | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Missouri | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Kansas State | 1-6 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | Kansas | 0-7 | 3-8 |
Big Ten
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan★ conference champion | 7-1 | 11-2 | #8 |
| 2 | Ohio State★ conference champion | 7-1 | 10-3 | #7 |
| 3 | Iowa | 5-3 | 9-3 | #16 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5-3 | 6-6 | |
| 5 | Michigan State | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Indiana | 3-5 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Illinois | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Northwestern | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Purdue | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 2-6 | 3-9 |
Mid-American
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (OH)★ conference champion | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 2 | Toledo | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Kent State | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Ball State | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Central Michigan | 4-4 | 5-5 | |
| 8 | Western Michigan | 3-5 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Ohio | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Pacific Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose State★ conference champion | 7-0 | 10-2 | |
| 2 | Fresno State | 6-1 | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Long Beach State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | UNLV | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Utah State | 3-4 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Pacific | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | CSU-Fullerton | 2-5 | 3-9 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 1-6 | 1-10 |
Pacific-10
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State★ conference champion | 5-1-1 | 10-1-1 | #4 |
| 2 | UCLA | 5-2-1 | 8-3-1 | #14 |
| 3 | Washington | 5-2-1 | 8-3-1 | #18 |
| 4 | Arizona | 5-3 | 9-3 | #11 |
| 5 | Stanford | 5-3 | 8-4 | |
| 6 | USC | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 7 | Oregon | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Washington State | 2-6-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 9 | California | 2-7 | 2-9 | |
| 10 | Oregon State | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Southeastern
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LSU★ conference champion | 5-1 | 9-3 | #10 |
| 2 | Auburn | 4-2 | 10-2 | #6 |
| 3 | Alabama | 4-2 | 10-3 | #9 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 4-2 | 8-3-1 | |
| 5 | Georgia | 4-2 | 8-4 | |
| 6 | Tennessee | 3-3 | 7-5 | |
| 7 | Florida | 2-4 | 6-5 | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 2-4 | 6-5 | |
| 9 | Kentucky | 2-4 | 5-5-1 | |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 0-6 | 1-10 |
Southwest
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M★ conference champion | 7-1 | 9-3 | #13 |
| 2 | Arkansas | 6-2 | 9-3 | #15 |
| 3 | Baylor | 6-2 | 9-3 | #12 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 5 | SMU | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Texas | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Rice | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | TCU | 1-7 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Houston | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Western Athletic
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego State★ conference champion | 7-1 | 8-4 | |
| 2 | BYU | 6-2 | 8-5 | |
| 3 | Air Force | 5-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | 4-4 | 7-5 | |
| 5 | Colorado State | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Wyoming | 4-4 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2-5 | 4-8 | |
| 8 | UTEP | 2-6 | 4-8 | |
| 9 | Utah | 1-7 | 2-9 |
Independent
24 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn State | - | 12-0 | #1 |
| 2 | Miami (FL) | - | 11-1 | #2 |
| 3 | Virginia Tech | - | 9-2-1 | #20 |
| 4 | Boston College | - | 9-3 | #19 |
| 5 | Tulsa | - | 7-4 | |
| 6 | Florida State | - | 7-4-1 | |
| 7 | Army | - | 6-5 | |
| 8 | SW Louisiana | - | 6-5 | |
| 9 | Southern Mississippi | - | 6-5 | |
| 10 | Temple | - | 6-5 | |
| 11 | Pittsburgh | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 12 | Rutgers | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 13 | Cincinnati | - | 5-6 | |
| 14 | Notre Dame | - | 5-6 | |
| 15 | Syracuse | - | 5-6 | |
| 16 | South Carolina | - | 3-6-2 | |
| 17 | Tulane | - | 4-7 | |
| 18 | West Virginia | - | 4-7 | |
| 19 | Louisville | - | 3-8 | |
| 20 | Navy | - | 3-8 | |
| 21 | Wichita State | - | 3-8 | |
| 22 | East Carolina | - | 2-9 | |
| 23 | Northern Illinois | - | 2-9 | |
| 24 | Memphis State | - | 1-10 |
1986 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1986 bowls18 bowls
Show all 18 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 · 8 games
Eastern Illinois28✓
Murray State21
Eastern Illinois
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Eastern Kentucky24✓
Eastern Illinois22
Eastern Kentucky
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
1986 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
1986 standings by conference12 groups
Big Sky
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 7-0 | 13-1 | |
| 2 | Idaho | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Northern Arizona | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Montana | 4-4 | 6-4 | |
| 5 | Boise State | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Montana State | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Weber State | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | Idaho State | 1-7 | 2-9 |
Gateway
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Illinois | 5-1 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | Northern Iowa | 4-2 | 7-3-1 | |
| 3 | Southern Illinois | 4-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Illinois State | 3-3 | 5-5 | |
| 5 | Western Illinois | 2-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | SW Missouri State | 1-5 | 3-7 | |
| 7 | Indiana State | 1-5 | 3-8 |
Gulf Star
5 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Houston State | 3-1 | 8-3 | |
| 2 | Nicholls State | 2-2 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | Northwestern State | 2-2 | 5-5-1 | |
| 4 | SW Texas State | 2-2 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 1-3 | 5-6 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 7-0 | 10-0 | |
| 2 | Cornell | 6-1 | 8-2 | |
| 3 | Brown | 4-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 4 | Dartmouth | 3-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 5 | Harvard | 3-4 | 3-7 | |
| 6 | Yale | 2-5 | 3-7 | |
| 7 | Princeton | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Columbia | 0-7 | 0-10 |
Mid-Eastern
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T | 4-1 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Howard | 3-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Delaware State | 3-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | South Carolina State | 3-2 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Bethune-Cookman | 2-3 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Morgan State | 0-5 | 1-9 |
Ohio Valley
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky | 6-1 | 10-3-1 | |
| 2 | Murray State | 6-1 | 7-4-1 | |
| 3 | Akron | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Morehead State | 3-4 | 7-4 | |
| 6 | Austin Peay | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Youngstown State | 2-5 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | Tennessee Tech | 0-7 | 0-10 |
Patriot
5 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Cross | 4-0 | 10-1 | |
| 2 | Lafayette | 2-2 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | Lehigh | 2-2 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Colgate | 1-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Bucknell | 1-3 | 3-7 |
Southern
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State | 6-0 | 9-2-1 | |
| 2 | Western Carolina | 5-2 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | Furman | 4-2 | 7-3-2 | |
| 4 | East Tennessee State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Marshall | 3-3 | 6-4-1 | |
| 6 | UT-Chattanooga | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | VMI | 1-5 | 1-10 | |
| 8 | Citadel | 0-6 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Davidson | 0-6 | 0-9 |
Southland
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State | 5-0 | 12-2-1 | |
| 2 | North Texas | 3-2 | 6-4 | |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech | 3-2 | 6-4-1 | |
| 4 | Northeast Louisiana | 3-2 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | McNeese State | 1-4 | 2-9 | |
| 6 | Lamar | 0-5 | 2-9 |
Southwestern Athletic
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State | 7-0 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 5-2 | 5-5 | |
| 3 | Grambling | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Southern | 4-3 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Mississippi Valley State | 3-3 | 4-4-1 | |
| 6 | Alabama State | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Texas Southern | 1-5 | 2-8-1 | |
| 8 | Prairie View | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Yankee
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 5-2 | 8-3 | |
| 2 | Delaware | 5-2 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Maine | 3-4 | 7-4 | |
| 6 | Boston University | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Richmond | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Independent
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Southern | - | 13-2 | |
| 2 | Tennessee State | - | 10-2-1 | |
| 3 | William & Mary | - | 9-3 | |
| 4 | Eastern Washington | - | 5-5 | |
| 5 | James Madison | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 6 | Western Kentucky | - | 4-6-1 | |
| 7 | Florida A&M | - | 4-6 | |
| 8 | Northeastern | - | 4-6 |
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.