🏈 The 1989 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
1989 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Miami (FL)11-1
- Sep 9atWisconsinW51-3
- Sep 16vsCaliforniaW31-3
- Sep 23atMissouriW38-7
- Sep 30atMichigan StateW26-20
- Oct 7vsCincinnatiW56-0
- Oct 14vsSan Jose StateW48-16
- Oct 28at#9Florida StateL10-24
- Nov 4vsEast CarolinaW40-10
- Nov 11at#14PittsburghW24-3
- Nov 18vsSan Diego StateW42-6
- Nov 25vs#1Notre DameW27-10
- Jan 1vs#7AlabamaW33-25Sugar Bowl
The 1989 major bowls
No title game this year. The big bowls of the season, by date.
- Citrus BowlJan 1#11Illinois31#15Virginia21
- Cotton BowlJan 1#8Tennessee31#10Arkansas27
- Fiesta BowlJan 1#5Florida State41#6Nebraska17
- Orange BowlJan 1#4Notre Dame21#1Colorado6
- Rose BowlJan 1#12USC17#3Michigan10
- Sugar BowlJan 1#2Miami (FL)33#7Alabama25
The 1989 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 | Aug28 | Sep4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | Oct2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 31 | Nov6 | 14 | 20 | 28 | Dec4 | 11 | Jan2final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (FL) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Notre Dame | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Florida State | 6 | 16 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Colorado | 14 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 17 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | ||
| Auburn | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Michigan | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| USC | 5 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
| Alabama | 16 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Illinois | 22 | 11 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 11 |
| Clemson | 12 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | |
| Arkansas | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 |
| Houston | 21 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
| Penn State | 11 | 12 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | ||||
| Michigan State | 24 | 21 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 16 | ||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 20 | 23 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 17 |
| Virginia | 24 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | |||||||||
| Texas Tech | 23 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 19 | ||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 15 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | ||
| West Virginia | 17 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 |
| BYU | 19 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | ||||
| Washington | 15 | 11 | 21 | 23 | |||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 25 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 24 | |||||||||
| Arizona | 18 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 25 | ||||||||
| Duke | 25 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | ||||||||||||
| Hawaii | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | ||||||||||||
| Fresno State | 25 | 24 | 23 | ||||||||||||||
| Florida | 25 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | ||||||||||||
| North Carolina State | 24 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 22 | ||||||
| Texas | 24 | 22 | |||||||||||||||
| Washington State | 23 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 23 | ||||||||||
| South Carolina | 24 | 24 | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| Air Force | 24 | 20 | 17 | 19 | |||||||||||||
| Oklahoma | 15 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 25 | |||||||||
| UCLA | 9 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 22 | |||||||||||
| Syracuse | 13 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 17 | |||||||||||
| Oregon | 22 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 7 | 21 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 23 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Southern Mississippi | 18 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
1989 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
1989 final pollsAP, Coaches, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 2 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL)APC | 1 | 11-1 |
| 2 | 3 | 12-1 | |
| 3 | 2 | 10-2 | |
| 4 | 4 | 11-1 | |
| 5 | 5 | 11-1 | |
| 6 | 6 | 10-2 | |
| 7 | 8 | 10-2 | |
| 8 | 9 | 9-2-1 | |
| 9 | 7 | 10-2 | |
| 10 | 10 | 10-2 | |
| 11 | 12 | 10-2 | |
| 12 | 11 | 10-2 | |
| 13 | 13 | 10-2 | |
| 14 | 9-2 | ||
| 15 | 14 | 8-3-1 | |
| 16 | 16 | 8-4 | |
| 17 | 19 | 8-3-1 | |
| 18 | 15 | 10-3 | |
| 19 | 16 | 9-3 | |
| 20 | 8-4 | ||
| 21 | 8-3-1 | ||
| 22 | 18 | 10-3 | |
| 23 | 20 | 8-4 | |
| 24 | 8-4 | ||
| 25 | 8-4 |
Elo top 25
rating, zAPAP championCCoaches champion
The 1989 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 1989 honoursHeisman: Andre Ware
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Bill McCartney
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · Colorado
Andre Ware
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · Houston
Percy Snow
Dick Butkus Award · LB · Michigan State
Mark Carrier
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · USC
Tony Rice
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award · QB · Notre Dame
Show all 9 awards
Anthony Thompson
Maxwell Award · RB · Indiana
Mohammed Elewonibi
Outland Trophy · G · BYU
Percy Snow
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · LB · Michigan State
Andre Ware
Walter Camp Award · QB · Houston
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Andre WareHouston
WR
- Clarkston Hines★ unanimousDuke
- Terance MathisNew Mexico
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Mike BuschIowa State
OL
- Jim MabryArkansas
- Mohammed ElewonibiBYU
- Joe GartenColorado
- Bob KulaMichigan State
- Eric Still★ unanimousTennessee
C
- Jake YoungNebraska
DL
- Moe Gardner★ unanimousIllinois
- Greg MarkMiami (FL)
- Chris ZorichNotre Dame
- Tim RyanUSC
LB
- Keith McCants★ unanimousAlabama
- Alfred WilliamsColorado
- Percy Snow★ unanimousMichigan State
DB
- LeRoy ButlerFlorida State
- Tripp Welborne★ unanimousMichigan
- Todd Lyght★ unanimousNotre Dame
- Mark Carrier★ unanimousUSC
P
- Tom RouenColorado
PK
- Jason Hanson★ unanimousWashington State
QB
- Andre WareHouston
WR
- Clarkston Hines★ unanimousDuke
- Terance MathisNew Mexico
TE
- Mike BuschIowa State
OL
- Jim MabryArkansas
- Mohammed ElewonibiBYU
- Joe GartenColorado
- Bob KulaMichigan State
- Eric Still★ unanimousTennessee
C
- Jake YoungNebraska
DL
- Moe Gardner★ unanimousIllinois
- Greg MarkMiami (FL)
- Chris ZorichNotre Dame
- Tim RyanUSC
LB
- Keith McCants★ unanimousAlabama
- Alfred WilliamsColorado
- Percy Snow★ unanimousMichigan State
DB
- LeRoy ButlerFlorida State
- Tripp Welborne★ unanimousMichigan
- Todd Lyght★ unanimousNotre Dame
- Mark Carrier★ unanimousUSC
P
- Tom RouenColorado
PK
- Jason Hanson★ unanimousWashington State
The best games of 1989
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 198910 games
Rank by
Upsets of 1989
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 198910 upsets
1989 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
1989 standings by conference10 groups
Atlantic Coast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-3 | #18 |
| 2 | Duke★ conference champion | 6-1 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Clemson | 5-2 | 10-2 | #12 |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | 4-3 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | North Carolina State | 4-3 | 7-5 | |
| 6 | Maryland | 2-5 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | Wake Forest | 1-6 | 2-8-1 | |
| 8 | North Carolina | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Big Eight
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-1 | #4 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 6-1 | 10-2 | #11 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Iowa State | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Oklahoma State | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Kansas | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Missouri | 1-6 | 2-9 | |
| 8 | Kansas State | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Big Ten
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan★ conference champion | 8-0 | 10-2 | #7 |
| 2 | Illinois | 7-1 | 10-2 | #10 |
| 3 | Michigan State | 6-2 | 8-4 | #16 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 6-2 | 8-4 | #24 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Indiana | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Iowa | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Purdue | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 1-7 | 2-9 | |
| 10 | Northwestern | 0-8 | 0-11 |
Big West
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno State★ conference champion | 7-0 | 11-1 | |
| 2 | CSU-Fullerton | 5-2 | 6-4-1 | |
| 3 | San Jose State | 5-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Utah State | 4-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | UNLV | 3-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Long Beach State | 2-5 | 4-8 | |
| 7 | Pacific | 2-5 | 2-10 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 0-7 | 0-11 |
Mid-American
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball State★ conference champion | 6-1-1 | 7-3-2 | |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan | 6-2 | 7-3-1 | |
| 3 | Toledo | 6-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 5-2-1 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Western Michigan | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Miami (OH) | 2-5-1 | 2-8-1 | |
| 8 | Ohio | 1-6-1 | 1-9-1 | |
| 9 | Kent State | 0-8 | 0-11 |
Pacific-10
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USC★ conference champion | 6-0-1 | 9-2-1 | #8 |
| 2 | Arizona | 5-3 | 8-4 | #25 |
| 3 | Oregon | 5-3 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Washington | 5-3 | 8-4 | #23 |
| 5 | Arizona State | 3-3-1 | 6-4-1 | |
| 6 | Oregon State | 3-4-1 | 4-7-1 | |
| 7 | Washington State | 3-5 | 6-5 | |
| 8 | Stanford | 3-5 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | UCLA | 2-5-1 | 3-7-1 | |
| 10 | California | 2-6 | 4-7 |
Southeastern
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee★ conference champion | 6-1 | 11-1 | #5 |
| 2 | Alabama★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #9 |
| 3 | Auburn★ conference champion | 6-1 | 10-2 | #6 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 4-3 | 8-4 | |
| 5 | Florida | 4-3 | 7-5 | |
| 6 | Georgia | 4-3 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Kentucky | 2-5 | 6-5 | |
| 8 | LSU | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Mississippi State | 1-6 | 5-6 | |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 0-7 | 1-10 |
Southwest
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas★ conference champion | 7-1 | 10-2 | #13 |
| 2 | Houston | 6-2 | 9-2 | #14 |
| 3 | Texas A&M | 6-2 | 8-4 | #20 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 5-3 | 9-3 | #19 |
| 5 | Baylor | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Texas | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | TCU | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Rice | 2-6 | 2-8-1 | |
| 9 | SMU | 0-8 | 2-9 |
Western Athletic
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYU★ conference champion | 7-1 | 10-3 | #22 |
| 2 | Air Force | 5-1-1 | 8-4-1 | |
| 3 | Hawaii | 5-2-1 | 9-3-1 | |
| 4 | Wyoming | 5-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | San Diego State | 4-3 | 6-5-1 | |
| 6 | Colorado State | 4-3 | 5-5-1 | |
| 7 | Utah | 2-6 | 4-8 | |
| 8 | UTEP | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
| 9 | New Mexico | 0-7 | 2-10 |
Independent
25 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | - | 12-1 | #2 |
| 2 | Miami (FL) | - | 11-1 | #1 |
| 3 | Florida State | - | 10-2 | #3 |
| 4 | Northern Illinois | - | 9-2 | |
| 5 | Penn State | - | 8-3-1 | #15 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh | - | 8-3-1 | #17 |
| 7 | West Virginia | - | 8-3-1 | #21 |
| 8 | Syracuse | - | 8-4 | |
| 9 | SW Louisiana | - | 7-4 | |
| 10 | Akron | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 11 | South Carolina | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | - | 6-4-1 | |
| 13 | Louisiana Tech | - | 5-4-1 | |
| 14 | Army | - | 6-5 | |
| 15 | Louisville | - | 6-5 | |
| 16 | East Carolina | - | 5-5-1 | |
| 17 | Tulsa | - | 6-6 | |
| 18 | Southern Mississippi | - | 5-6 | |
| 19 | Tulane | - | 4-8 | |
| 20 | Navy | - | 3-8 | |
| 21 | Rutgers | - | 2-7-2 | |
| 22 | Boston College | - | 2-9 | |
| 23 | Memphis State | - | 2-9 | |
| 24 | Cincinnati | - | 1-9-1 | |
| 25 | Temple | - | 1-10 |
1989 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
1989 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
Youngstown State28✓
Eastern Kentucky24
Youngstown State
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
1989 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
1989 standings by conference11 groups
Big Sky
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 8-0 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Montana | 7-1 | 11-3 | |
| 3 | Nevada | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Boise State | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington | 4-4 | 4-6 | |
| 6 | Montana State | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Idaho State | 2-6 | 3-7 | |
| 8 | Northern Arizona | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Weber State | 1-7 | 3-8 |
Gateway
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SW Missouri State | 5-1 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | Northern Iowa | 4-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois | 4-2 | 9-4 | |
| 4 | Illinois State | 4-2 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Indiana State | 2-4 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Western Illinois | 1-5 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois | 1-5 | 2-9 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale | 6-1 | 8-2 | |
| 2 | Princeton | 6-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 3 | Harvard | 5-2 | 5-5 | |
| 4 | Dartmouth | 4-3 | 5-5 | |
| 5 | Cornell | 2-5 | 4-6 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 2-5 | 4-6 | |
| 7 | Brown | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Columbia | 1-6 | 1-9 |
Mid-Eastern
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware State | 5-1 | 7-4 | |
| 2 | Howard | 4-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Florida A&M | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-3 | 5-5 | |
| 5 | South Carolina State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | North Carolina A&T | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Morgan State | 1-5 | 3-7-1 |
Ohio Valley
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Tennessee State | 6-0 | 9-4 | |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky | 5-1 | 9-3 | |
| 3 | Murray State | 3-3 | 6-4-1 | |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 3-3 | 5-5-1 | |
| 5 | Tennessee Tech | 3-3 | 5-5 | |
| 6 | Austin Peay | 1-5 | 1-10 | |
| 7 | Morehead State | 0-6 | 1-10 |
Patriot
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Cross | 4-0 | 10-1 | |
| 2 | Bucknell | 2-2 | 5-5 | |
| 3 | Lafayette | 2-2 | 5-5 | |
| 4 | Lehigh | 1-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Colgate | 1-3 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Fordham | - | 2-6 |
Southern
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furman | 7-0 | 12-2 | |
| 2 | Appalachian State | 5-2 | 9-3 | |
| 3 | Marshall | 4-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | East Tennessee State | 4-3 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | UT-Chattanooga | 2-4 | 3-7-1 | |
| 6 | Western Carolina | 1-4 | 3-7-1 | |
| 7 | VMI | 1-4 | 2-8-1 | |
| 8 | Citadel | 1-5 | 5-5-1 |
Southland
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen F. Austin | 5-0 | 12-2-1 | |
| 2 | Northwestern State | 3-1 | 4-5-2 | |
| 3 | SW Texas State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Northeast Louisiana | 2-3 | 4-6-1 | |
| 5 | McNeese State | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | North Texas | 2-4 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Sam Houston State | 2-4 | 3-8 |
Southwestern Athletic
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling | 7-0 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 5-2 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | Jackson State | 5-2 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | Southern | 4-3 | 6-4-1 | |
| 5 | Texas Southern | 3-3 | 3-7-1 | |
| 6 | Alabama State | 2-4 | 5-5-1 | |
| 7 | Prairie View | 1-6 | 1-9 | |
| 8 | Mississippi Valley State | 0-7 | 1-9 |
Yankee
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 6-2 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Connecticut | 6-2 | 8-3 | |
| 3 | Villanova | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 5-3 | 7-3 | |
| 5 | Delaware | 5-3 | 7-4 | |
| 6 | Boston University | 4-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 3-5 | 5-5-1 | |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1-7 | 3-8 | |
| 9 | Richmond | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Independent
13 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Southern | - | 12-0 | |
| 2 | Youngstown State | - | 9-3 | |
| 3 | William & Mary | - | 8-3-1 | |
| 4 | Liberty | - | 7-3 | |
| 5 | James Madison | - | 5-4-1 | |
| 6 | Western Kentucky | - | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Davidson | - | 5-5 | |
| 8 | Lamar | - | 5-5 | |
| 9 | Arkansas State | - | 5-6 | |
| 10 | Nicholls State | - | 5-6 | |
| 11 | Samford | - | 4-7 | |
| 12 | Northeastern | - | 3-7 | |
| 13 | Towson | - | 2-8 |
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.