1973 small college football rankings

none August 2023 1973 small college football rankings left Selectors: AP, UPI left No. 1: Tennessee State Small college football rankings (AP, UPI) left «1972right 1974» The 1973 small college football rankings are rankings of college football teams representing smaller college and university teams during the 1973 NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA football seasons. Separate rankings were published by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI). The AP rankings were selected by a board of sports writers, and the UPI rankings were selected by a board of small-college coaches. Instead of using the polls to crown a national champion, 1973 was the first year for the Division II and III playoffs. The final UPI poll was released before the playoffs, and the final AP poll was released after the playoffs. The 1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team (10–0) was rated No. 1 by both the AP and UPI. Louisiana Tech (12–1) was ranked No. 2 by the AP and No. 3 by the UPI and then defeated Western Kentucky in the NCAA Division II championship game. Wittenberg (12–0) was ranked No. 4 by the AP and No. 5 by the UPI and went on to defeat 1973 Juniata Indians Juniata in the NCAA Division III championship game/Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Legend   Increase in ranking   Decrease in ranking   Not ranked previous week (#–#)   Win–loss record (Italics)   Number of first place votes т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol AP poll 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   Sept 19AP College Division Football Poll The Decatur Daily Review Decatur, Illinois September 19, 1973 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098527/poll_1973_0919_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 26Small College poll The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California September 27, 1973 D-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648611/poll_1973_0927_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 3Grambling Second; Tech 9th The Times Shreveport, Louisiana October 3, 1973 3-C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098553/poll_1973_1003_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 10AP Grid Poll; Small College Division The Top 15 The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa October 11, 1973 3-S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648631/poll_1973_1011_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 17Small College poll The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California October 17, 1973 D-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648648/poll_1973_1017_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 24Western Is Rated Fifth In Small College Poll The Advocate-Messenger Danville, Kentucky October 24, 1973 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648660/poll_1973_1024_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 31Small college football poll Brownwood Bulletin Brownwood, Texas October 31, 1973 7-A https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648680/poll_1973_1031_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 7Small College poll The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California November 7, 1973 B-10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648686/poll_1973_1107_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 14Tigers Hold, Fall; Tech Even in Polls The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware November 14, 1973 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11262614/poll_1973_1114_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 26, 2017 Nov 21Tennessee St. rests its case Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana November 22, 1973 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648711/poll_1973_1122_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 28Small College Poll Hobbs Daily News-Sun Hobbs, New Mexico November 28, 1973 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648723/poll_1973_1128_small_ap/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Postseason'Bows No. 9 in Final AP Poll Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii December 20, 1973 E-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098652/poll_1973_1220_small_ap_final/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Delaware (2–0) (23) 1973 Grambling State Tigers Grambling (2–0) (3) Tennessee State (2–0) (1) 1973 South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota State (2–0) (2) North Dakota State (3–0) (4) Eastern Michigan (2–0) (2) Cal Poly (1–0)In the actual printed polls, Cal Poly was listed as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 1973 North Dakota Fighting Sioux North Dakota (2–0) 1973 Ashland Eagles Ashland (2–0) Boise State (1–0) Hawaii (1–0) (2) т t Louisiana Tech (1–1) (1) т McNeese State (1–0) 1973 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman (2–0) Jackson State (2–0) (1) Delaware (3–0) (30) Grambling (3–0) (5) South Dakota (3–0) (1) npr Tennessee State (3–0) d Eastern Michigan (3–0) (1) u Hawaii (2–0) (1) u 1973 Ashland Eagles Ashland (3–0) u Cal Poly (2–0) d Louisiana Tech (2–1) u Boise State (2–0) Carson–Newman (3–0) u McNeese State (2–0) (1) u Northwestern State (3–0)In the actual printed polls, Northwestern State was listed as Northwestern Louisiana npr North Dakota (1–2) т td North Dakota State (3–1) т d Delaware (4–0) (27) Grambling (4–0) (7) South Dakota (4–0) (7) Eastern Michigan (4–0) u Cal Poly (3–0) u Hawaii (3–0) (1) Tennessee State (3–0) (1) d Boise State (3–0) u Louisiana Tech (3–1) Carson–Newman (3–0) u Jacksonville State (3–0) npr North Dakota State (4–1) u Western Kentucky (3–0) npr Manual (1–0–2) npr North Dakota (2–2) d Delaware (5–0) (39) Tennessee State (4–0) (1) u Cal Poly (3–0) u Hawaii (4–0) u Boise State (4–0) u Grambling (4–1) d Louisiana Tech (4–1) u South Dakota (4–1) d Eastern Michigan (4–1) d North Dakota State (5–1) u Western Kentucky (4–0) u Carson–Newman (4–0) d Wittenberg (4–0) npr North Dakota (3–2) u Jacksonville State (3–1) d Delaware (6–0) (32) Tennessee State (5–0) (4) Cal Poly (4–0) Hawaii (4–0) Grambling (5–1) u Western Kentucky (5–0) u South Dakota (5–1) u Louisiana Tech (5–1) d Wittenberg (5–0) u North Dakota State (6–1) Boise State (4–1) d Eastern Michigan (4–1) d UNLV (5–1)In the actual printed polls, UNLV was listed as Nevada Las Vegas npr 1973 Elon Phoenix Elon (6–0) npr Carson–Newman (4–1) d () Tennessee State (6–0) (27) u Delaware (6–1) (5) d Hawaii (5–0) (2) u Cal Poly (5–0) (6) d Western Kentucky (6–0) (2) u South Dakota (6–1) u Wittenberg (6–0) (1) u Louisiana Tech (6–1) Grambling (6–1) d North Dakota State (7–1) Boise State (5–1) UNLV (6–1) u Elon (7–0) (1) u Western Illinois (4–2) (1) npr Carson–Newman (5–1) Tennessee State (7–0) (28) Hawaii (6–0) (6) u Western Kentucky (7–0) (2) u Cal Poly (6–0) (5) South Dakota (7–1) u Louisiana Tech (7–1) u Wittenberg (7–0) (2) North Dakota State (8–1) (1) u Boise State (6–1) u Delaware (6–2) d Elon (8–0) (1) u UNLV (6–2) Grambling (6–2) d Carson–Newman (6–1) u Eastern Michigan (5–2) npr Tennessee State (8–0) (28) Hawaii (7–0) (5) Western Kentucky (8–0) (3) Cal Poly (7–0) (3) Louisiana Tech (8–1) (1) u Wittenberg (8–0) (2) u Elon (9–0) (1) u Grambling (7–2) u UNLV (6–2) u North Dakota State (8–2) d Boise State (6–2) d Carson–Newman (7–1) u South Dakota (7–2) d Delaware (6–3) d Montana State (7–2) npr Tennessee State (9–0) (26) Hawaii (8–0) (4) Western Kentucky (9–0) (3) Cal Poly (8–0) (4) Louisiana Tech (9–1) Wittenberg (9–0) (2) Grambling (8–2) u Elon (10–0) (1) d UNLV (7–2) Boise State (7–2) u North Dakota State (8–3) d South Dakota (8–2) u Abilene Christian (8–1) npr Delaware (7–3) McNeese State (6–3) npr Tennessee State (10–0) (31) Western Kentucky (10–0) (3) u Louisiana Tech (10–1) (1) u Wittenberg (10–0) (2) u Grambling (9–2) u Hawaii (8–1) т td Elon (11–0) (2) т u Boise State (8–2) (1) u Cal Poly (8–1) d Abilene Christian (9–1) (1) u South Dakota (8–2) u Delaware (8–3) u North Dakota State (8–2) d 1973 Langston Lions Langston (10–0) npr Jacksonville State (7–2) npr Tennessee State (10–0) (25) Western Kentucky (10–0) (4) Louisiana Tech (10–1) Wittenberg (10–0) (2) Grambling (9–2) Elon (11–0) (1) u Boise State (9–2) u Abilene Christian (9–1) u Cal Poly (9–1) South Dakota (8–2) u Hawaii (8–2) d Delaware (8–3) North Dakota State (8–2) Langston (11–0) (1) Jacksonville State (7–2) Tennessee State (10–0) (17) Louisiana Tech (12–1) (21) u Western Kentucky (12–1) d Wittenberg (12–0) (1) Boise State (10–3) т tu Abilene Christian (11–1) т u Grambling (10–3) d Cal Poly (9–1) u Hawaii (9–2) u Elon (12–1) d South Dakota (8–3) d Jacksonville State (7–2) u Delaware (8–3) d North Dakota State (8–2) d Langston (11–1) d 4 South Dakota State 15 Jackson State 7 Ashland 12 McNeese State 13 Northwestern State 14 Northeast Louisiana 14 North Dakota 15 Jacksonville State 12 Eastern Michigan 14 Western Illinois 15 Eastern Michigan 12 Carson–Newman 15 Montana State 9 UNLV 15 McNeese State UPI coaches poll   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sept 19Delaware Takes Command in Small College Ratings Playground Daily News Fort Walton Beach, Florida September 20, 1973 2B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648620/poll_1973_0920_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 26Top Twenty Clovis News-Journal Clovis, New Mexico September 26, 1973 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11215079/poll_1973_0926_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 24, 2017 Oct 3Delaware Widens Lead in Small College Poll Playground Daily News Fort Walton Beach, Florida October 4, 1973 2B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648627/poll_1973_1004_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 10College Football; Small College Poll The Republic Columbus, Indiana October 10, 1973 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098579/poll_1973_1010_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 17College Football; Small College Poll The Republic Columbus, Indiana October 17, 1973 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11237567/poll_1973_1017_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 24, 2017 Oct 24Delaware Reign Over In Small College Poll Las Cruces Sun-News Las Cruces, New Mexico October 24, 1973 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648674/poll_1973_1024_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Oct 31Small College Poll The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana November 1, 1973 54 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648685/poll_1973_1101_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 7Bows stay put in college grid poll The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii November 8, 1973 F-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648695/poll_1973_1108_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 14'Bows Remain Second in National Rankings Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii November 14, 1973 E-3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098612/poll_1973_1114_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 21College Football The Republic Columbus, Indiana November 21, 1973 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648708/poll_1973_1121_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Nov 28Small college poll The Daily Chronicle De Kalb, Illinois November 28, 1973 23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10648734/poll_1973_1128_small_upi/ Newspapers.com April 30, 2017 Delaware (2–0) (24) Grambling (2–0) South Dakota (2–0) (2) Hawaii (1–0) (1) Tennessee State (2–0) North Dakota State (3–0) Eastern Michigan (2–0) Cal Poly (1–0) (1) Ashland (2–0) Northwestern State (2–0) North Dakota (1–1) Carson–Newman (2–0) Western Kentucky (1–0) McNeese State (1–0) (1) 1973 Bridgeport Purple Knights Bridgeport (1–0) (1) Idaho State (1–1) Jacksonville State (2–0) Arkansas State (2–0) Louisiana Tech (0–1) UMass (1–1)In the actual printed polls, UMass was listed as Massachusetts Delaware (3–0) (26) Grambling (3–0) (2) South Dakota (3–0) (1) Hawaii (2–0) (2) Eastern Michigan (3–0) u Tennessee State (3–0) d Cal Poly (2–0) (1) u Ashland (3–0) u Northwestern State (3–0) (1) u Boise State (2–0) npr Louisiana Tech (1–1) u Carson–Newman (3–0) North Dakota State (3–1) d Western Kentucky (2–0) d Jacksonville State (3–0) u           Delaware (4–0) (19) Grambling (4–0) (4) South Dakota (4–0) (3) Eastern Michigan (4–0) (3) u Hawaii (3–0) (3) d Cal Poly (3–0) u Tennessee State (3–0) d Boise State (3–0) u Western Kentucky (3–0) (1) u Louisiana Tech (2–1) u North Dakota State (3–1) u Wittenberg (3–0) npr Carson–Newman (3–0) d 1973 Northern Colorado Bears Northern Colorado (3–0) npr Jacksonville State (3–0)           Delaware (5–0) (24) Tennessee State (4–0) (1) u Hawaii (4–0) (1) u Boise State (4–0) (5) u Cal Poly (3–0) u Western Kentucky (3–0) (1) u Grambling (4–1) d Louisiana Tech (3–1) u North Dakota State (4–1) u Carson–Newman (4–0) u Wittenberg (4–0) т tu Troy State (4–0–1) т npr South Dakota (4–1) d Elon (5–0) (1) npr 1973 East Texas State Lions East Texas State (4–1) npr Montana State (3–2) npr UNLV (4–1) npr 1973 Emporia State Hornets Emporia State (4–0) npr Eastern Michigan (4–1) d 1973 St. Thomas Tommies St. Thomas (MN) (5–0) npr Delaware (6–0) (27) Tennessee State (5–0) (3) Hawaii (4–0) (1) Cal Poly (4–0) u Western Kentucky (4–0) (2) u Grambling (5–1) u Louisiana Tech (4–1) u Boise State (4–1) d South Dakota (5–1) u UNLV (4–1) u Elon (6–0) u Wittenberg (5–0) d North Dakota State (5–1) d Troy State (5–0–1) d Eastern Michigan (4–1) u           Tennessee State (6–0) (20) u Hawaii (5–0) (6) u Cal Poly (5–0) (2) u Western Kentucky (5–0) (2) u Delaware (6–1) (1) d Louisiana Tech (5–1) u Grambling (6–1) d Boise State (5–1) (1) South Dakota (6–1) North Dakota State (6–1) u UNLV (5–1) d Elon (7–0) (1) d Troy State (6–0–1) u Wittenberg (6–0) d Abilene Christian (5–1) npr           Tennessee State (7–0) (21) Hawaii (6–0) (5) Cal Poly (6–0) (3) Western Kentucky (6–0) (2) Louisiana Tech (6–1) u Boise State (6–1) (1) u South Dakota (7–1) u North Dakota State (6–1) u Wittenberg (7–0) u Elon (8–0) (1) u Abilene Christian (6–1) u Montana State (6–2) (1) npr Delaware (6–2) d Grambling (6–2) d Emporia State (7–0) npr           Tennessee State (8–0) (23) Hawaii (7–0) (6) Western Kentucky (7–0) (2) u Cal Poly (7–0) (1) d Louisiana Tech (7–1) Wittenberg (8–0) u Elon (9–0) (1) u Abilene Christian (7–1) u Montana State (7–2) (1) u Grambling (7–2) u Boise State (6–2) d 1973 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets Howard Payne (8–1) npr UNLV (6–2) npr Connecticut (6–2) npr Jacksonville State (5–2) npr           Tennessee State (9–0) (20) Hawaii (8–0) (6) Western Kentucky (9–0) (4) Cal Poly (8–0) (3) Louisiana Tech (7–1) (1) Wittenberg (9–0) Elon (10–0) (1) Abilene Christian (8–1) Grambling (8–2) u UNLV (8–2) u Boise State (7–2) Jacksonville State (6–2) u Howard Payne (9–1) d Connecticut (7–2) 1973 C.W. Post Pioneers C.W. Post (8–1) npr           Tennessee State (10–0) (25) Western Kentucky (10–0) (4) u Louisiana Tech (8–1) (1) u Wittenberg (9–0) u Abilene Christian (9–1) u Elon (11–0) u Hawaii (8–1) d Boise State (8–2) u Grambling (9–2) Cal Poly (8–1) d Jacksonville State (7–2) u C.W. Post (9–1) u Delaware  npr Langston (10–0) npr 1973 Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks Nebraska–Omaha (7–2–1) npr           Tennessee State (10–0) (27) Western Kentucky (10–0) (3) Louisiana Tech (9–1) (1) Abilene Christian (9–1) u Wittenberg (9–0) d Elon (11–0) Grambling (9–2) u Boise State (9–2) Cal Poly (9–1) u Delaware (8–3) u Jacksonville State (7–2) Langston (10–0) u Hawaii (8–2) d C.W. Post (10–1) d South Dakota (8–2) npr           11 North Dakota 14 McNeese State 15 Bridgeport 16 Idaho State 18 Arkansas State 20 UMass 8 Ashland 9 Northwestern State 14 Northern Colorado 15 Jacksonville State 10 Carson–Newman 15 East Texas State 16 Montana State 18 Emporia State 20 St. Thomas (MN) 15 Eastern Michigan 11 UNLV 13 Troy State 7 South Dakota 8 North Dakota State 13 Delaware 15 Emporia State 9 Montana State 10 UNLV 13 Howard Payne 14 Connecticut 15 Nebraska–Omaha HBCU rankings Jet magazine ranked the top 1973 teams from historically black colleges and universities based on a poll of coaches and conference commissioners. The poll was published on December 6.Frank Bannister December 6, 1973 Top 20 Black Colleges https://books.google.com/books?id=VrEDAAAAMBAJ Jet (p. 83) 1. Tennessee State (10–0) 2. Langston (11–1, NAIA) 3. Grambling (10–3) 4. Fisk (9–0) 5. Virginia Union (9–1) 6. Jackson State (9–2) 7. Alcorn A&M (7–2–1) 8. Bethune-Cookman (8–2) 9. Howard (8–2) 10. Livingstone (7–2–1) 11. South Carolina State (7–3–1) 12. Fort Valley State (7–2–1) 13. North Carolina College (7–4) 14. Albany State (6–2–1) 15. Johnson C. Smith (7–4) 16. Morgan State (6–3) 17. Central State (6–3) 18. Tuskegee (7–4) 19. Southern (6–4) 20. Alabama A&M (5–5) Notes note References Rankings Category:NCAA College Division football rankings