🏈 The 1988 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 · 17 bowls
Jump to any season1869–2026
1860s
1988 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Notre Dame12-0
- Sep 10vs#9MichiganW19-17
- Sep 17atMichigan StateW20-3
- Sep 24vsPurdueW52-7
- Oct 1vsStanfordW42-14
- Oct 8atPittsburghW30-20
- Oct 15vs#1Miami (FL)W31-30
- Oct 22vsAir ForceW41-13
- Oct 29vsNavyW22-7
- Nov 5vsRiceW54-11
- Nov 19vsPenn StateW21-3
- Nov 26at#2USCW27-10
- Jan 2vs#3West VirginiaW34-21Fiesta Bowl
The 1988 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Citrus BowlJan 2#13Clemson13#10Oklahoma6
- Cotton BowlJan 2#9UCLA17#8Arkansas3
- Fiesta BowlJan 2#1Notre Dame34#3West Virginia21
- Orange BowlJan 2#2Miami (FL)23#6Nebraska3
- Rose BowlJan 2#11Michigan22#5USC14
- Sugar BowlJan 2#4Florida State13#7Auburn7
The 1988 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 | Aug23 | 30 | Sep6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | Oct4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | Nov1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29 | Dec6 | Jan3final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 13 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Miami (FL) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Florida State | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Michigan | 11 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 4 |
| West Virginia | 16 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| UCLA | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| USC | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Auburn | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Clemson | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Oklahoma State | 20 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |||
| Arkansas | 20 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 12 | ||||||
| Syracuse | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | ||||||||
| Oklahoma | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 |
| Georgia | 12 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 |
| Washington State | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | |||||||||||
| Alabama | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | ||
| Houston | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | ||||||||||||
| LSU | 18 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | |
| Indiana | 18 | 14 | 20 | 20 | |||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||||||
| Colorado | 19 | ||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 20 | ||||||||||
| South Carolina | 19 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 15 | ||||||
| BYU | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| Oregon | 20 | 18 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Florida | 17 | 14 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 16 | ||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 18 | 18 | |||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 9 | 9 | 17 | 19 | 19 | ||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||||||||||||||
| Texas | 19 | ||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 10 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 17 | 18 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Aug 23 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- Oklahoma StateNR → #11
- ArkansasNR → #12
- SyracuseNR → #13
- Notre Dame#13 → #1
- West Virginia#16 → #5
Fallers
- Iowa#9 → NR
- Texas A&M#10 → NR
- Oklahoma#3 → #14
- Michigan State#15 → NR
- Tennessee#17 → NR
1988 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1988 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 3 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre DameAPC | 1 | 12-0 |
| 2 | 2 | 11-1 | |
| 3 | 3 | 11-1 | |
| 4 | 4 | 9-2-1 | |
| 5 | 5 | 11-1 | |
| 6 | 6 | 10-2 | |
| 7 | 9 | 10-2 | |
| 8 | 7 | 10-2 | |
| 9 | 8 | 10-2 | |
| 10 | 10 | 11-2 | |
| 11 | 11 | 10-2 | |
| 12 | 13 | 10-2 | |
| 13 | 12 | 10-2 | |
| 14 | 14 | 9-3 | |
| 15 | 15 | 9-3 | |
| 16 | 16 | 9-3 | |
| 17 | 17 | 9-3 | |
| 18 | 9-3 | ||
| 19 | 8-4 | ||
| 20 | 19 | 8-3-1 | |
| Coaches only | |||
| 17 | |||
| 20 | |||
Elo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches champion
The 1988 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1988 honoursHeisman: Barry Sanders
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Don Nehlen
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · West Virginia
Troy Aikman
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · UCLA
Derrick Thomas
Dick Butkus Award · LB · Alabama
Deion Sanders
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · Florida State
Rodney Peete
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award · QB · USC
Show all 9 awards
Barry Sanders
Maxwell Award · RB · Oklahoma State
Tracy Rocker
Outland Trophy · DT · Auburn
Tracy Rocker
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · DT · Auburn
Barry Sanders
Walter Camp Award · RB · Oklahoma State
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Steve WalshMiami (FL)
- Troy AikmanUCLA
RB
- Tim WorleyGeorgia
- Anthony ThompsonIndiana
- Barry Sanders★ unanimousOklahoma State
WR
- Jason PhillipsHouston
- Hart Lee DykesOklahoma State
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Marv CookIowa
OL
- Tony MandarichMichigan State
- Anthony Phillips★ unanimousOklahoma
- Mark StepnoskiPittsburgh
- Mike UtleyWashington State
DL
- Wayne MartinArkansas
- Tracy Rocker★ unanimousAuburn
- Bill HawkinsMiami (FL)
- Mark Messner★ unanimousMichigan
- Frank StamsNotre Dame
LB
- Derrick Thomas★ unanimousAlabama
- Broderick Thomas★ unanimousNebraska
- Michael StonebreakerNotre Dame
DB
- Donnell WoolfordClemson
- Louis OliverFlorida
- Deion Sanders★ unanimousFlorida State
- Darryl HenleyUCLA
P
- Keith EnglishColorado
PK
- Kendall TrainorArkansas
QB
- Steve WalshMiami (FL)
- Troy AikmanUCLA
RB
- Tim WorleyGeorgia
- Anthony ThompsonIndiana
- Barry Sanders★ unanimousOklahoma State
WR
- Jason PhillipsHouston
- Hart Lee DykesOklahoma State
TE
- Marv CookIowa
OL
- Tony MandarichMichigan State
- Anthony Phillips★ unanimousOklahoma
- Mark StepnoskiPittsburgh
- Mike UtleyWashington State
DL
- Wayne MartinArkansas
- Tracy Rocker★ unanimousAuburn
- Bill HawkinsMiami (FL)
- Mark Messner★ unanimousMichigan
- Frank StamsNotre Dame
LB
- Derrick Thomas★ unanimousAlabama
- Broderick Thomas★ unanimousNebraska
- Michael StonebreakerNotre Dame
DB
- Donnell WoolfordClemson
- Louis OliverFlorida
- Deion Sanders★ unanimousFlorida State
- Darryl HenleyUCLA
P
- Keith EnglishColorado
PK
- Kendall TrainorArkansas
The best games of 1988
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 198810 games
Rank by
Upsets of 1988
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 198810 upsets
1988 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1988 standings by conference10 groups
Atlantic Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #9 |
| 2 | Virginia | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | North Carolina State | 4-2-1 | 8-3-1 | |
| 4 | Wake Forest | 4-3 | 6-4-1 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 4-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Duke | 3-3-1 | 7-3-1 | |
| 7 | North Carolina | 1-6 | 1-10 | |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | 0-7 | 3-8 |
Big Eight
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-2 | #10 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 6-1 | 9-3 | #14 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 5-2 | 10-2 | #11 |
| 4 | Colorado | 4-3 | 8-4 | |
| 5 | Iowa State | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Missouri | 2-5 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | Kansas | 1-6 | 1-10 | |
| 8 | Kansas State | 0-7 | 0-11 |
Big Ten
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan★ conference champion | 7-0-1 | 9-2-1 | #4 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 6-1-1 | 6-5-1 | |
| 3 | Iowa | 4-1-3 | 6-4-3 | |
| 4 | Illinois | 5-2-1 | 6-5-1 | |
| 5 | Indiana | 5-3 | 8-3-1 | #20 |
| 6 | Purdue | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Ohio State | 2-5-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 8 | Northwestern | 2-5-1 | 2-8-1 | |
| 9 | Minnesota | 0-6-2 | 2-7-2 | |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 1-7 | 1-10 |
Big West
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno State★ conference champion | 7-0 | 10-2 | |
| 2 | CSU-Fullerton | 5-2 | 5-6 | |
| 3 | Utah State | 4-3 | 4-7 | |
| 4 | San Jose State | 4-3 | 4-8 | |
| 5 | UNLV | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Long Beach State | 3-4 | 3-9 | |
| 7 | Pacific | 2-5 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Mid-American
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan★ conference champion | 7-1 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan | 5-2-1 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 | Ball State | 5-3 | 8-3 | |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Ohio | 4-3-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 6 | Toledo | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Kent State | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Bowling Green | 1-6-1 | 2-8-1 | |
| 9 | Miami (OH) | 0-7-1 | 0-10-1 |
Pacific-10
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USC★ conference champion | 8-0 | 10-2 | #7 |
| 2 | UCLA | 6-2 | 10-2 | #6 |
| 3 | Washington State | 5-3 | 9-3 | #16 |
| 4 | Arizona | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Arizona State | 3-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Washington | 3-5 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Oregon | 3-5 | 6-6 | |
| 8 | Oregon State | 2-5-1 | 4-6-1 | |
| 9 | Stanford | 1-5-2 | 3-6-2 | |
| 10 | California | 1-5-1 | 5-5-1 |
Southeastern
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #8 |
| 2 | LSU★ conference champion | 6-1 | 8-4 | #19 |
| 3 | Georgia | 5-2 | 9-3 | #15 |
| 4 | Alabama | 4-3 | 9-3 | #17 |
| 5 | Florida | 4-3 | 7-5 | |
| 6 | Mississippi | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Tennessee | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Kentucky | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Vanderbilt | 2-5 | 3-8 | |
| 10 | Mississippi State | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Southwest
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas★ conference champion | 7-0 | 10-2 | #12 |
| 2 | Texas A&M | 6-1 | 7-5 | |
| 3 | Houston | 5-2 | 9-3 | #18 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 4-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Baylor | 2-5 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | TCU | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Texas | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Rice | 0-7 | 0-11 |
Western Athletic
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming★ conference champion | 8-0 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | UTEP | 6-2 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | Hawaii | 5-3 | 9-3 | |
| 4 | BYU | 5-3 | 9-4 | |
| 5 | Utah | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Air Force | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 7 | San Diego State | 3-5 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | New Mexico | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
| 9 | Colorado State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
Independent
25 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | - | 12-0 | #1 |
| 2 | Florida State | - | 11-1 | #3 |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | - | 11-1 | #2 |
| 4 | West Virginia | - | 11-1 | #5 |
| 5 | Southern Mississippi | - | 10-2 | |
| 6 | Syracuse | - | 10-2 | #13 |
| 7 | Army | - | 9-3 | |
| 8 | Louisville | - | 8-3 | |
| 9 | South Carolina | - | 8-4 | |
| 10 | Northern Illinois | - | 7-4 | |
| 11 | Memphis State | - | 6-5 | |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | - | 6-5 | |
| 13 | SW Louisiana | - | 6-5 | |
| 14 | Akron | - | 5-6 | |
| 15 | Penn State | - | 5-6 | |
| 16 | Rutgers | - | 5-6 | |
| 17 | Tulane | - | 5-6 | |
| 18 | Louisiana Tech | - | 4-7 | |
| 19 | Temple | - | 4-7 | |
| 20 | Tulsa | - | 4-7 | |
| 21 | Boston College | - | 3-8 | |
| 22 | Cincinnati | - | 3-8 | |
| 23 | East Carolina | - | 3-8 | |
| 24 | Navy | - | 3-8 | |
| 25 | Virginia Tech | - | 3-8 |
1988 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1988 bowls17 bowls
Show all 17 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
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
1988 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
1988 standings by conference11 groups
Big Sky
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 7-1 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | Montana | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Boise State | 5-3 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Nevada | 4-4 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Northern Arizona | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Weber State | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Montana State | 4-4 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Eastern Washington | 2-6 | 2-8-1 | |
| 9 | Idaho State | 0-8 | 11-0 |
Gateway
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Illinois | 6-0 | 10-2 | |
| 2 | SW Missouri State | 4-2 | 5-5 | |
| 3 | Indiana State | 4-2 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Northern Iowa | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Eastern Illinois | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Southern Illinois | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Illinois State | 0-6 | 1-10 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 6-1 | 8-2 | |
| 2 | Cornell | 6-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 3 | Princeton | 4-3 | 6-4 | |
| 4 | Dartmouth | 4-3 | 5-5 | |
| 5 | Yale | 3-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 6 | Columbia | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 7 | Harvard | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Brown | 0-6 | 0-9-1 |
Mid-Eastern
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M | 4-2 | 6-4-1 | |
| 2 | Delaware State | 4-2 | 5-5 | |
| 3 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-2 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Howard | 3-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | North Carolina A&T | 2-4 | 2-9 | |
| 6 | South Carolina State | 2-4 | 2-9 | |
| 7 | Morgan State | 0-6 | 1-10 |
Ohio Valley
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky | 6-0 | 11-3 | |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State | 4-2 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Murray State | 4-2 | 4-6 | |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 2-4 | 3-7-1 | |
| 5 | Austin Peay | 2-4 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Morehead State | 2-4 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Tennessee Tech | 1-5 | 1-10 |
Patriot
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | 5-0 | 2-1 | |
| 2 | Holy Cross | 3-1 | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Lehigh | 2-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Bucknell | 2-3 | 3-7 | |
| 5 | Colgate | 2-3 | 2-9 | |
| 6 | Davidson | 0-4 | 0-10 |
Southern
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furman | 6-1 | 13-2 | |
| 2 | Marshall | 6-1 | 11-2 | |
| 3 | Citadel | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Appalachian State | 4-3 | 6-4-1 | |
| 5 | UT-Chattanooga | 3-3 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | VMI | 1-5 | 2-9 | |
| 7 | East Tennessee State | 1-6 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | Western Carolina | 1-6 | 2-9 |
Southland
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern State | 6-0 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | Stephen F. Austin | 5-1 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | North Texas | 4-2 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | McNeese State | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Northeast Louisiana | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | SW Texas State | 1-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Sam Houston State | 0-6 | 3-8 |
Southwestern Athletic
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State | 7-0 | 8-1-2 | |
| 2 | Grambling | 5-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Alabama State | 4-3 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Alcorn State | 4-3 | 6-4 | |
| 5 | Southern | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Prairie View | 3-4 | 5-5 | |
| 7 | Mississippi Valley State | 1-6 | 3-8 | |
| 8 | Texas Southern | 0-7 | 0-11 |
Yankee
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 2 | Delaware | 6-2 | 7-5 | |
| 3 | Connecticut | 4-4 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Maine | 4-4 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Villanova | 4-4 | 5-5-1 | |
| 7 | Boston University | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 3-5 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Richmond | 2-6 | 4-7 |
Independent
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Southern | - | 10-2 | |
| 2 | Western Kentucky | - | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Nicholls State | - | 7-4 | |
| 4 | William & Mary | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 5 | Towson | - | 5-5 | |
| 6 | Arkansas State | - | 5-6 | |
| 7 | James Madison | - | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Northeastern | - | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Youngstown State | - | 4-7 | |
| 10 | Lamar | - | 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.