411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1934 college football rankings
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
none
August 2023
December 2025
1934 Minnesotaper AP poll, Boand System, Billingsley Report, Dickinson System (received Rockne Trophy), College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin Ratings Elo chess method, and Sagarin Ratings Predictor methodAlabamaper Dunkel System, Houlgate System, Litkenhous Ratings, Williamson System, Berryman QPRS, and Poling System
The 1934 college football rankings included a poll of leading newspapers conducted by the Associated Press (AP), a poll of 250 sports writers conducted by the committee responsible for awarding the Toledo Cup to the nation's top college football team, and the Boand and Dickinson Systems, mathematical systems operated by William F. Boand and Frank G. Dickinson. The four ranking systems were unanimous in selecting the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers as the national champion.
Champions (by ranking)
All major rankings (both contemporary and retroactive) have identified either Alabama or Minnesota to have been the season's champion.Football Bowl Subdivision Records http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FBS.pdf NCAA 112 2017 July 29, 2025
AP poll: Minnesota
Berryman QPRS: Alabama
Billingsley Report: Minnesota
Boand System: Minnesota
College Football Researchers Association: Minnesota
Dickinson System: Minnesota
Dunkel System: Alabama
Helms Athletic Foundation: Minnesota
Houlgate System: Alabama
Litkenhous Ratings: Minnesota
National Championship Foundation: Minnesota
Poling System: Alabama
Toledo Cup: MinnesotaFebruary 6, 1935 Minnesota Wins Toledo Cup For U. S. Football Supremacy https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109195758/1934-toledo-cup-with-picture/ Big Spring Daily Herald Big Spring, Texas September 8, 2022
Sagarin Ratings Elo chess method: Minnesota
Sagarin Ratings Predictor method: Minnesota
Williamson System: Alabama
Note: AP poll, Boand System, Dickinson System, Dunkel System, Houlgate System, Litkenhous Ratings, Toledo Cup, and Williamson System were given contemporarily. All other methods were given retroactively.
Associated Press poll
In mid-November 1934, the Associated Press published the results of its poll of the country's leading newspapers.Votes Put Gophers At Head of Parade; Injuns Gain Second The Salt Lake Tribune November 15, 1934 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-votes-put-gophers/124799632/ Newspapers.com The results of the poll were as follows:
Rank Team Points 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 1 Minnesota (8–0) 6355015000000002Stanford (9–1–1)4688.59.516.512.56620123Alabama (10–0)438.55.511.51398744104Pittsburgh (8–1)4201201199221205Princeton (7–1)300.54798678855-1/26Illinois (7–1)183.505238766113-1/27Navy (8–1)18200038968768Colgate (7–1)181.500237106553-1/29Ohio State (7–1)170.5032.54.544724610Syracuse (6–2)130.500022410795-1/211Santa Clara (7–2–1)119004623112312Rice (9–1–1)1060101317651113LSU (7–2–2)52001110163314Army (7–3)44001011232415Temple (7–1–2)210000020132
Toledo Cup
The Toledo Cup was based on ballots submitted by a national committee of 250 sports writers. The process was overseen by a committee including Westbrook Pegler, Avery Brundage, Gustavus Kirby, Lynn St. John, Wilbur C. Smith, Stewart Edward White, and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. In preliminary polling in December 1934, the results were as follows:
1. Minnesota (8–0) - 840 points
2. Alabama (10–0) - 361-1/4 points
3. Pittsburgh (8–1) - 281 points
4. Stanford (9–1–1) - 134-1/2 points
5. Ohio State (7–1) - 62 points
6. Temple (7–1–2) - 7 points
7. Colgate (7–1) - 6 points
8. LSU (7–2–2) - 4 points
9. Wisconsin (4–4) - 3 points
10. (tie) Princeton (7–1), Washington (6–1–1) - 1 point each
Minnesota Has Lead in Votes: Dominates Balloting For Toledo Cup National Football Rating Daily Times and Daily Journal December 17, 1934 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-minnesota-has-lead-in-vo/124800623/ Newspapers.com
In final polling in January 1935, the results were as follows:
1. Minnesota - 224 votes
2. Alabama - 23 votes
Gopher Team Will Receive Toledo Prize: Governor Olson to Present National Football Title Trophy Saturday The Minneapolis Journal January 9, 1935 23 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-gopher-team-will/124800797/ Newspapers.com
Boand System
The Boand System was a mathematical ranking system developed by William F. Boand and sometimes billed as the "Azzi Ratem" (as I rate 'em) system. Boand typically updated his rankings after the bowl games, but his post-bowl rankings have not been found. His final pre-bowl rankings released in mid-December 1934 were as follows:
25em
1. Minnesota - 150 points
2. Pittsburgh - 147 points
3. Stanford - 137 points
3. Alabama - 137 points
5. Navy - 135 points
6. Ohio State - 132 points
6. Rice - 132 points
8. Temple - 127 points
9. Colgate - 125 points
10. Tennessee - 123 points
11. Columbia - 122 points
12. Tulane - 121 points
13. Illinois - 120 points
13. Texas - 120 points
15. Notre Dame - 118 points
15. LSU - 118 points
17. Washington - 117 points
Azzi Ratem Ranks Minnesota on Top The Chattanooga Times December 13, 1934 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-azzi-ratem-ranks/124807325/ Newspapers.com
Dickinson System
The Dickinson System was a mathematical rating system devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G. Dickinson. For the first time, Professor Dickinson declared a team as national champion even though it did not receive the highest point total in his mathematical calculations. Minnesota qualified under a section of Dickinson's code providing that an undefeated team is ranked above a team it has defeated, regardless of the point standing. Minnesota had defeated Pittsburgh at Pitt Stadium, 13–7. Dickinson's final ratings were as follows:
25em
1. Minnesota (8–0) - 23.51 points
2. Pittsburgh (8–1) - 24.19 points
3. Navy (8–1) - 23.00 points
4. Illinois (7–1) - 22.01 points
5. Rice (9–1–1) - 21.97 points
6. Alabama (10–0) - 21.70 points
7. Columbia (7–1) - 21.67 points
8. Ohio State (7–1) - 21.51 points
9. Colgate (7–1) - 21.06 points
10. Stanford (9–1–1) - 20.34 points
11. Tulane (10–1) - 20.03 points
Minnesota Wins Rockne Trophy, Cards Rated 10th The Fresno Bee December 9, 1934 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-minnesota-wins-rockne-tro/124801830/ Newspapers.com
Houlgate System
The Houlgate System rankings for 1934 were as follows:McDonald Neil Fanfare — Stanford Gets Trophy Los Angeles Evening Post December 29, 1934 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-post-record-fanfare/124828415/ Newspapers.com
1. Stanford (9–1–1) - 32.5Stanford to Get Cup Los Angeles Daily News December 31, 1934 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-stanford-to-get-cup/124828276/ Newspapers.com
2. Navy (8–1)
3. Alabama (10–0)
4. Pittsburgh (8–1)
5. Minnesota (8–0)
See also
1934 College Football All-America Team
Notes
References
*
Category:College football rankings