🏈 The 1987 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
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1860s
1987 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Miami (FL)12-0
- Sep 5vs#20FloridaW31-4
- Sep 26at#10ArkansasW51-7
- Oct 3at#4Florida StateW26-25
- Oct 10vsMarylandW46-16
- Oct 24atCincinnatiW48-10
- Oct 31atEast CarolinaW41-3
- Nov 7vsMiami (OH)W54-3
- Nov 14vsVirginia TechW27-13
- Nov 21vsToledoW24-14
- Nov 28vs#10Notre DameW24-0
- Dec 5vs#8South CarolinaW20-16
- Jan 1vs#1OklahomaW20-14Orange Bowl
The 1987 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Citrus BowlJan 1#14Clemson35#20Penn State10
- Cotton BowlJan 1#13Texas A&M35#12Notre Dame10
- Fiesta BowlJan 1#3Florida State31#5Nebraska28
- Orange BowlJan 1#2Miami (FL)20#1Oklahoma14
- Rose BowlJan 1#8Michigan State20#16USC17
- Sugar BowlJan 1#6Auburn16#4Syracuse16
The 1987 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 | Aug25 | Sep8 | 15 | 22 | 29 | Oct6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | Nov3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | Dec1 | 8 | Jan4final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (FL) | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Florida State | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Syracuse | 17 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||
| LSU | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Auburn | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Michigan State | 17 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| UCLA | 3 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Texas A&M | 15 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | ||||||
| Oklahoma State | 19 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | |||||
| Clemson | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
| Georgia | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
| Tennessee | 17 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
| South Carolina | 19 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 15 | ||||||||
| Iowa | 16 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | ||||||||
| Notre Dame | 18 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 17 |
| USC | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | |||||||||||
| Michigan | 7 | 9 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 19 | ||||||||
| Arizona State | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 20 | |||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 18 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | ||||||||||
| Penn State | 11 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 20 | |||
| Alabama | 19 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 18 | |||||
| Indiana | 20 | 15 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 20 | ||||||||||
| Arkansas | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 20 | |||||||||
| Florida | 20 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 17 | |||||||||
| Ohio State | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 15 | |||||||
| Oregon | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| Washington | 13 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 16 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Aug 25 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- SyracuseNR → #4
- Michigan StateNR → #8
- Oklahoma StateNR → #11
- South CarolinaNR → #15
- Miami (FL)#10 → #1
Fallers
- Ohio State#4 → NR
- Penn State#11 → NR
- Arkansas#12 → NR
- Washington#13 → NR
- Michigan#7 → #19
1987 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1987 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 4 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL)APC | 1 | 12-0 |
| 2 | 2 | 11-1 | |
| 3 | 3 | 11-1 | |
| 4 | 4 | 11-0-1 | |
| 5 | 5 | 10-1-1 | |
| 6 | 6 | 10-2 | |
| 7 | 7 | 9-1-2 | |
| 8 | 8 | 9-2-1 | |
| 9 | 11 | 10-2 | |
| 10 | 9 | 10-2 | |
| 11 | 12 | 10-2 | |
| 12 | 10 | 10-2 | |
| 13 | 14 | 9-3 | |
| 14 | 13 | 10-2-1 | |
| 15 | 15 | 8-4 | |
| 16 | 16 | 10-3 | |
| 17 | 8-4 | ||
| 18 | 17 | 8-4 | |
| 19 | 18 | 8-4 | |
| 20 | 7-4-1 | ||
| Coaches only | |||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | |||
Elo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches champion
The 1987 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1987 honoursHeisman: Tim Brown
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Dick MacPherson
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · Syracuse
Don McPherson
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · Syracuse
Paul McGowan
Dick Butkus Award · LB · Florida State
Bennie Blades
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · Miami (FL)
Rickey Dixon
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · Oklahoma
Show all 10 awards
Don McPherson
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award · QB · Syracuse
Don McPherson
Maxwell Award · QB · Syracuse
Chad Hennings
Outland Trophy · DT · Air Force
Chris Spielman
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · LB · Ohio State
Tim Brown
Walter Camp Award · WR · Notre Dame
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Don McPherson★ unanimousSyracuse
RB
- Lorenzo WhiteMichigan State
- Craig HeywardPittsburgh
WR
- Wendell DavisLSU
- Tim Brown★ unanimousNotre Dame
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Keith Jackson★ unanimousOklahoma
OL
- Randall McDanielArizona State
- John ElliottMichigan
- Mark Hutson★ unanimousOklahoma
- Dave CadiganUSC
C
- Nacho Albergamo★ unanimousLSU
DL
- Chad Hennings★ unanimousAir Force
- Tracy RockerAuburn
- Daniel Stubbs★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Ted GregorySyracuse
- John RoperTexas A&M
LB
- Aundray BruceAuburn
- Chris Spielman★ unanimousOhio State
- Dante JonesOklahoma
DB
- Chuck CecilArizona
- Deion Sanders★ unanimousFlorida State
- Bennie Blades★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Rickey DixonOklahoma
P
- Tom Tupa★ unanimousOhio State
PK
- David TreadwellClemson
QB
- Don McPherson★ unanimousSyracuse
RB
- Lorenzo WhiteMichigan State
- Craig HeywardPittsburgh
WR
- Wendell DavisLSU
- Tim Brown★ unanimousNotre Dame
TE
- Keith Jackson★ unanimousOklahoma
OL
- Randall McDanielArizona State
- John ElliottMichigan
- Mark Hutson★ unanimousOklahoma
- Dave CadiganUSC
C
- Nacho Albergamo★ unanimousLSU
DL
- Chad Hennings★ unanimousAir Force
- Tracy RockerAuburn
- Daniel Stubbs★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Ted GregorySyracuse
- John RoperTexas A&M
LB
- Aundray BruceAuburn
- Chris Spielman★ unanimousOhio State
- Dante JonesOklahoma
DB
- Chuck CecilArizona
- Deion Sanders★ unanimousFlorida State
- Bennie Blades★ unanimousMiami (FL)
- Rickey DixonOklahoma
P
- Tom Tupa★ unanimousOhio State
PK
- David TreadwellClemson
The best games of 1987
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 198710 games
Rank by
Upsets of 1987
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 198710 upsets
1987 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1987 standings by conference10 groups
Atlantic Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #12 |
| 2 | Virginia | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Wake Forest | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | North Carolina State | 4-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 3-3 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Duke | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | 0-6 | 2-9 |
Big Eight
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-1 | #3 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 6-1 | 10-2 | #6 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 5-2 | 10-2 | #11 |
| 4 | Colorado | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Missouri | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Iowa State | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Kansas | 0-6-1 | 1-9-1 | |
| 8 | Kansas State | 0-6-1 | 0-10-1 |
Big Ten
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State★ conference champion | 7-0-1 | 9-2-1 | #8 |
| 2 | Iowa | 6-2 | 10-3 | #16 |
| 3 | Indiana | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Michigan | 5-3 | 8-4 | #19 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 4-4 | 6-4-1 | |
| 6 | Minnesota | 3-5 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Purdue | 3-5 | 3-7-1 | |
| 8 | Illinois | 2-5-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 9 | Northwestern | 2-6 | 2-8-1 | |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 1-7 | 3-8 |
Mid-American
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Michigan★ conference champion | 7-1 | 10-2 | |
| 2 | Kent State | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Miami (OH) | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Western Michigan | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Central Michigan | 3-4-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 7 | Toledo | 3-4-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 8 | Ball State | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 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 | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | CSU-Fullerton | 4-3 | 6-6 | |
| 4 | UNLV | 4-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Utah State | 4-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Pacific | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Long Beach State | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 0-7 | 2-9 |
Pacific-10
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA★ conference champion | 7-1 | 10-2 | #9 |
| 2 | USC★ conference champion | 7-1 | 8-4 | #18 |
| 3 | Washington | 4-3-1 | 7-4-1 | |
| 4 | Arizona State | 3-3-1 | 7-4-1 | #20 |
| 5 | Oregon | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Stanford | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Arizona | 2-3-3 | 4-4-3 | |
| 8 | California | 2-3-2 | 3-6-2 | |
| 9 | Washington State | 1-5-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 10 | Oregon State | 0-7 | 2-9 |
Southeastern
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn★ conference champion | 5-0-1 | 9-1-2 | #7 |
| 2 | LSU | 5-1 | 10-1-1 | #5 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 4-1-1 | 10-2-1 | #14 |
| 4 | Georgia | 4-2 | 9-3 | #13 |
| 5 | Alabama | 4-2 | 7-5 | |
| 6 | Florida | 3-3 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Kentucky | 1-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 1-5 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Vanderbilt | 1-5 | 4-7 | |
| 10 | Mississippi | 1-5 | 3-8 |
Southwest
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #10 |
| 2 | Arkansas | 5-2 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Texas | 5-2 | 7-5 | |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 3-3-1 | 6-4-1 | |
| 5 | Baylor | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | TCU | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Houston | 2-4-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 8 | Rice | 0-7 | 2-9 |
Western Athletic
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming★ conference champion | 8-0 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | BYU | 7-1 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Air Force | 6-2 | 9-4 | |
| 4 | UTEP | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | San Diego State | 4-4 | 5-7 | |
| 6 | Hawaii | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 7 | Utah | 2-6 | 5-7 | |
| 8 | Colorado State | 1-7 | 1-11 | |
| 9 | New Mexico | 0-8 | 0-11 |
Independent
24 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) | - | 12-0 | #1 |
| 2 | Syracuse | - | 11-0-1 | #4 |
| 3 | Florida State | - | 11-1 | #2 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | - | 8-4 | #17 |
| 5 | Penn State | - | 8-4 | |
| 6 | Pittsburgh | - | 8-4 | |
| 7 | South Carolina | - | 8-4 | #15 |
| 8 | Rutgers | - | 6-5 | |
| 9 | SW Louisiana | - | 6-5 | |
| 10 | Southern Mississippi | - | 6-5 | |
| 11 | Memphis State | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 12 | Northern Illinois | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 13 | Tulane | - | 6-6 | |
| 14 | West Virginia | - | 6-6 | |
| 15 | Army | - | 5-6 | |
| 16 | Boston College | - | 5-6 | |
| 17 | East Carolina | - | 5-6 | |
| 18 | Akron | - | 4-7 | |
| 19 | Cincinnati | - | 4-7 | |
| 20 | Louisville | - | 3-7-1 | |
| 21 | Temple | - | 3-8 | |
| 22 | Tulsa | - | 3-8 | |
| 23 | Navy | - | 2-9 | |
| 24 | Virginia Tech | - | 2-9 |
1987 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1987 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
Northern Iowa31✓
Youngstown State28
Northern Iowa
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
1987 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
1987 standings by conference11 groups
Big Sky
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weber State | 7-1 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | Idaho | 7-1 | 9-3 | |
| 3 | Montana | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Northern Arizona | 4-4 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Boise State | 4-4 | 6-6 | |
| 6 | Nevada | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Idaho State | 3-5 | 3-7-1 | |
| 8 | Eastern Washington | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Montana State | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Gateway
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Iowa | 6-0 | 10-4 | |
| 2 | Western Illinois | 5-1 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | SW Missouri State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Indiana State | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Southern Illinois | 2-4 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Illinois State | 0-6 | 3-7 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard | 6-1 | 8-2 | |
| 2 | Brown | 5-2 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | Yale | 5-2 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Princeton | 4-3 | 6-4 | |
| 5 | Cornell | 4-3 | 5-5 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 3-4 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | Dartmouth | 1-6 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Columbia | 0-7 | 0-10 |
Mid-Eastern
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howard | 5-0 | 9-1 | |
| 2 | Delaware State | 4-1 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | South Carolina State | 3-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 2-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | North Carolina A&T | 1-4 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Morgan State | 0-5 | 1-9 | |
| 7 | Florida A&M | - | 5-5-1 |
Ohio Valley
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky | 5-1 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Youngstown State | 5-1 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State | 4-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Murray State | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Tennessee Tech | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Morehead State | 1-5 | 2-8 | |
| 7 | Austin Peay | 1-5 | 2-9 |
Patriot
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Cross | 4-0 | 11-0 | |
| 2 | Lehigh | 3-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 3 | Colgate | 2-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Lafayette | 2-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Bucknell | 1-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 6 | Davidson | 0-3 | 1-10 |
Southern
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State | 7-0 | 11-3 | |
| 2 | Marshall | 4-2 | 10-5 | |
| 3 | Furman | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | UT-Chattanooga | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | VMI | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Western Carolina | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | East Tennessee State | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Citadel | 1-5 | 4-7 |
Southland
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Louisiana | 6-0 | 13-2 | |
| 2 | Sam Houston State | 5-1 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | North Texas | 5-1 | 7-5 | |
| 4 | Northwestern State | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | SW Texas State | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Stephen F. Austin | 1-5 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | McNeese State | 1-5 | 2-9 |
Southwestern Athletic
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State | 7-0 | 8-3-1 | |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 5-2 | 6-3 | |
| 3 | Southern | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Alabama State | 4-3 | 8-3 | |
| 5 | Grambling | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Texas Southern | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Prairie View | 1-6 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | Mississippi Valley State | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Yankee
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 6-1 | 8-4 | |
| 2 | Richmond | 6-1 | 7-5 | |
| 3 | Connecticut | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 4-3 | 7-3 | |
| 5 | Delaware | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Boston University | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1-6 | 1-10 |
Independent
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison | - | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Georgia Southern | - | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Arkansas State | - | 8-4-1 | |
| 4 | Western Kentucky | - | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Villanova | - | 6-4 | |
| 6 | Northeastern | - | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Nicholls State | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 8 | William & Mary | - | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Towson | - | 4-6 | |
| 10 | Tennessee State | - | 3-7-1 | |
| 11 | Lamar | - | 3-8 | |
| 12 | Louisiana Tech | - | 3-8 |
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.