1972 small college football rankings

none August 2023 1972 small college football rankings left Selectors: AP, UPI left No. 1: Delaware Small college football rankings (AP, UPI) left «1971right 1973» The 1972 small college football rankings are rankings of college football teams representing smaller college and university teams during the 1972 college football season, including the 1972 NCAA College Division football season and the 1972 NAIA football season. 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. The 1972 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team (10–0), led by head coach Tubby Raymond, was rated No. 1 by both the AP and UPI. Louisiana Tech (12–0) and Cal Poly (8–1–1) were ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, by the AP and UPI. 1972 was the last year the polls were used to crown a national "Small College" or "College Division" champion. In 1973, season-ending playoffs were begun to determine a champion for "Division II". The UPI and AP continued publishing "College Division" polls through the 1974 season. 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 Sept 21Blue Hens Lead College Division Football Poll Alamogordo Daily News Alamogordo, New Mexico September 21, 1972 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11097872/poll_1972_0921_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 28Delaware Retains Top AP Ranking The Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery, Alabama September 29, 1972 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11097882/poll_1972_0929_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 5Small College Football Poll Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Lubbock, Texas October 5, 1972 4-D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098040/poll_1972_1005_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 12Louisiana Tech Voted No. 1 in AP Grid Poll The Times Shreveport, Louisiana October 13, 1972 C-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098087/poll_1972_1013_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 19Louisiana Tech Remains Atop College Division Football Poll Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut October 19, 1972 77 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098128/poll_1972_1019_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 26AP College Division Football Poll The Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois October 27, 1972 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098178/poll_1972_1027_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 2Delaware First In Small College Poll Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi November 2, 1972 F-3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098197/poll_1972_1102_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 9Delaware Still No. 1 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii November 9, 1972 D-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098247/poll_1972_1109_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 16Tigers Hold, Fall; Tech Even in Polls The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee November 16, 1972 78 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098271/poll_1972_1116_small_ap/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 23Delaware Takes Second Straight Rankings Title The Jacksonville Daily Journal Jacksonville, Illinois November 23, 1972 38 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098297/poll_1972_1123_small_ap_final/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Delaware (1–0) (9) North Dakota (1–0) Louisiana Tech (2–0) (2) Tennessee State (1–0) (2) McNeese State (2–0) (1) т t Akron (1–0–1) т Boise State (1–0) Texas Southern (2–0) South Dakota (1–0) 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman (2–0)   Delaware (2–0) (11) Louisiana Tech (3–0) (4) u Tennessee State (2–0) (1) u North Dakota (3–0) (2) d Boise State (2–0) u Carson–Newman (3–0) u Texas Southern (2–0) u Drake (2–0) npr 1972 Western Carolina Catamounts Western Carolina (3–0) npr McNeese State (2–1) d   Delaware (3–0) (11) Louisiana Tech (4–0) (1) Tennessee State (3–0) (1) North Dakota (4–0) (1) Drake (3–0) (1) u Boise State (3–0) d Carson–Newman (4–0) d McNeese State (2–1) u Fresno State (4–0) npr 1972 Western Illinois Leathernecks Western Illinois (4–0) npr   Louisiana Tech (5–0) (7) u Delaware (4–0) (7) d North Dakota (5–0) (2) u Cal Poly (4–0) (1) In the actual printed polls, Cal Poly was listed as San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly SLO npr McNeese State (3–1) u Carson–Newman (5–0) u Western Illinois (5–0) u Boise State (3–1) d Tennessee State (3–1) d 1972 Livingston Tigers Livingston (6–0) npr   Louisiana Tech (6–0) (8) Delaware (5–0) (7) North Dakota (6–0) (2) McNeese State (4–1) u Western Illinois (6–0) (1) u Cal Poly (4–0) d Boise State (4–1) u Tennessee State (4–1) u Drake (4–1) npr Ashland (6–0) npr Delaware (6–0) (11) u Louisiana Tech (7–0) (7) d Cal Poly (5–0) u Tennessee State (5–1) u McNeese State (5–1) d North Dakota State (7–1) npr Ashland (7–0) u North Dakota (6–1) d Fresno State (5–1–1) npr Western Illinois (6–1) d   Delaware (7–0) (14) Louisiana Tech (8–0) (3) Cal Poly (6–0) Tennessee State (6–1) (1) Ashland (8–0) u North Dakota State (8–1) McNeese State (6–1) d North Dakota (7–1) 1972 Grambling State Tigers Grambling (6–2) npr UMass (6–0)In the actual printed polls, UMass was listed as Massachusetts npr   Delaware (8–0) (10) Louisiana Tech (9–0) (4) Cal Poly (6–0–1) Tennessee State (7–1) South Dakota (8–1) npr Ashland (9–0) d North Dakota (8–1) u Grambling (7–2) u Idaho State (6–2) npr McNeese State (6–2) d   Delaware (9–0) (13) Louisiana Tech (10–0) (4) Cal Poly (7–0–1) Ashland (10–0) u Tennessee State (8–1) d South Dakota (9–1) (1) d North Dakota (9–1) Grambling (8–2) McNeese State (7–2) u Drake (7–2) npr   Delaware (10–0) (9) Louisiana Tech (11–0) (4) Cal Poly (8–0–1) Ashland (11–0) (1) Tennessee State (8–1) South Dakota (9–1) (1) т t North Dakota (9–1) т Grambling (8–2) т t Western Carolina (7–2–1) т npr Carson–Newman (9–1) т tnpr McNeese State (8–2) т d 6 Akron 9 South Dakota 7 Texas Southern 9 Western Carolina 5 Drake 9 Fresno State 6 Carson–Newman 10 Livingston 7 Boise State 9 Drake 9 Fresno State 10 Western Illinois 6 North Dakota State 10 UMass 9 Idaho State 10 Drake UPI coaches poll   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 PreseasonDelaware Picked to Win Title Playground Daily News Fort Walton Beach, Florida September 7, 1972 4B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11097988/poll_1972_0907_small_upi_preseason/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 13Johnnies 20th in UPI poll Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Bill Madden September 13, 1972 2C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11097908/poll_1972_0913_small_upi_first/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 20Hens 1st; Bennett Sidelined The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware Ray Finocchiaro September 21, 1972 34 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11097936/poll_1972_0921_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Sept 27MoVal's Drake Ranked Third In 'Small' Poll Las Cruces Sun-News Las Cruces, New Mexico September 27, 1972 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098019/poll_1972_0927_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 4Delaware Retains No. 1 Ranking Clovis News-Journal Clovis, New Mexico October 4, 1972 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098069/poll_1972_1004_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 11Delaware No. 1 in UPI Poll The Santa Fe New Mexican Santa Fe, New Mexico October 11, 1972 B2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098110/poll_1972_1011_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 18Small College Poll The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana October 18, 1972 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098161/poll_1972_1018_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Oct 25Bows up to 9th in grid poll The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii October 25, 1972 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098189/poll_1972_1025_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 1ISU Moves Into UPI's Elige Group The Ogden Standard-Examiner Ogden, Utah November 1, 1972 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098226/poll_1972_1101_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 8Delaware Leading Small College Poll The Daily Notes Canonsburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 1972 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098253/poll_1972_1108_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 15UPI Small Colleges The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee November 16, 1972 78 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098264/poll_1972_1116_small_upi/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Nov 22College elite The Delta Democrat-Times Greenville, Mississippi November 22, 1972 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11098286/poll_1972_1122_small_upi_final/ Newspapers.com May 18, 2017 Delaware (22) Eastern Michigan (3) Tennessee State (1) McNeese State (1) Grambling (1) Louisiana Tech (1) Boise State North Dakota North Dakota State Akron т t 1972 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Arkansas Tech т Western Kentucky 1972 Texas A&I Javelinas Texas A&I (1) Samford 1972 Northern Colorado Bears Northern Colorado Southwest Texas Drake 1972 C.W. Post Pioneers C.W. Post Arkansas State 1972 Livingston State Tigers Livingston State т t 1972 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech т Delaware (0–0) (22) Eastern Michigan (1–0) (2) McNeese State (1–0) (2) u Tennessee State (1–0) (1) d North Dakota (1–0) (2) u Grambling (1–0) (1) d Louisiana Tech (1–0) d Boise State (0–0) d North Dakota State (2–0) Arkansas Tech (1–0) (1) u Tennessee Tech (1–0) u Lehigh (1–0) npr Texas Southern (1–0) т tnpr Akron (0–0–1) т d Northern Colorado (0–0) (1) Drake (0–0) u South Dakota (1–0) npr Livingston State (1–0) т tu 1972 Angelo State Rams Angelo State (1–0) т npr Carson–Newman (1–0) npr 1972 Saint John's Johnnies Saint John's (MN) (0–0)In the September 13th poll, Saint John's was listed as #20 but there were 20 teams listed ahead of them and they did not tie for 20th. They have been included here, but they shouldn't have been listed in the poll in 1972 (same error as week 4). npr Delaware (1–0) (19) McNeese State (2–0) (4) u Louisiana Tech (2–0) (3) u Tennessee State (2–0) (4) North Dakota (2–0) (2) Boise State (1–0) u Drake (1–0) u Akron (1–0–1) u Texas Southern (2–0) u Eastern Michigan (1–1) d South Dakota (2–0) u Carson–Newman (2–0) u Angelo State (2–0) (1) u Livingston State (2–0) u Lamar (2–0) npr Northern Colorado (1–0) d Grambling (1–1) d Western Carolina (2–0) (1) npr Alcorn A&M (1–0) npr Lehigh (1–1) d   Delaware (2–0) (21) Louisiana Tech (3–0) (5) u Drake (2–0) (5) u North Dakota (3–0) (1) u Tennessee State (3–0) (2) d Boise State (2–0) Texas Southern (2–0) u McNeese State (2–1) d Lamar (3–0) u Western Carolina (3–0) (1) u Carson–Newman (3–0) u Livingston State (3–0) u Fresno State (3–0) npr Western Illinois (2–0) npr Weber State (1–0) npr Hawaii (2–0) т tnpr Jackson State (2–0) т npr Tennessee Tech (2–1) npr Cal Poly (2–0) npr UMass (1–0) npr   Delaware (3–0) (21) Louisiana Tech (4–0) (5) Drake (3–0) (8) North Dakota (4–0) Tennessee State (4–0) (1) Boise State (3–0) Fresno State (4–0) u McNeese State (2–1) Carson–Newman (4–0) u Livingston State (4–0) u Western Illinois (3–0) u Cal Poly (3–0) u Jackson State (3–0) u 1972 Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks Nebraska–Omaha (4–0) npr Texas Southern (2–1) d Hawaii (2–0) Western Carolina (3–1) d UMass (2–0) u East Texas State (3–1) т tnpr Florida A&M (1–1) т npr Middle Tennessee (3–0–1)In the October 4th poll, Middle Tennessee was listed as #20 but there were 20 teams listed ahead of them and they did not tie for 20th. They have been included here, but they shouldn't have been listed in the poll in 1972 (same error as week 1). npr Delaware (4–0) (21) Louisiana Tech (4–0) (11) North Dakota (5–0) u Cal Poly (4–0) u McNeese State (3–1) u Western Illinois (5–0) (1) u Livingston State (5–0) u Carson–Newman (5–0) u Drake (3–1) d Fresno State (4–1) d Jackson State (4–0) u Tennessee State (4–1) d Nebraska–Omaha (5–0) u Boise State (3–1) d Hawaii (3–0) u UMass (3–0) u North Carolina A&T (5–0) npr Western Carolina (4–1) d Ashland (5–0) npr East Texas State (4–1) d   Delaware (5–0) (19) Louisiana Tech (5–0) (15) North Dakota (6–0) McNeese State (4–1) u Western Illinois (5–0) u Cal Poly (4–0–1) d Tennessee State (5–1) u Drake (4–1) u Fresno State (4–1–1) u Boise State (4–1) u Livingston State (5–0–1) d Hawaii (4–0) u Jackson State (5–0) d UMass (4–0) u South Dakota (5–1) npr Western Carolina (4–1–1) u Grambling (4–2) npr Samford (5–1) npr Ashland (6–0) Carson–Newman (5–1) d   Delaware (6–0) (20) Louisiana Tech (7–0) (15) Cal Poly (5–0–1) u McNeese State (5–1) Tennessee State (6–1) u Fresno State (5–1–1) u UMass (5–0) u Livingston State (6–0–1) u Hawaii (5–0) u South Dakota (6–1) u North Dakota (6–1) d Ashland (7–0) u Carson–Newman (6–1) u North Dakota State (6–1) npr Grambling (5–2) u Tennessee Tech (6–1) npr Western Illinois (5–1) d Nebraska–Omaha (6–1) npr East Texas State (5–1) npr Montana State (5–2) npr   Delaware (7–0) (25) Louisiana Tech (8–0) (8) Cal Poly (6–0–1) (1) McNeese State (6–1) Tennessee State (7–1) UMass (6–0) u South Dakota (7–1) u North Dakota (7–1) u Ashland (8–0) u North Dakota State (7–1) u Tennessee Tech (7–1) (1) u Hawaii (5–1) d Carson–Newman (7–1) Fresno State (5–2–1) d Drake (5–2) npr East Texas State (6–1) u Livingston State (6–1–1) d Nebraska–Omaha (6–1) Idaho State (5–2) npr 1972 Central Washington Wildcats Central Washington (7–0) npr   Delaware (8–0) (23) Louisiana Tech (9–0) (9) Cal Poly (6–0–1) (1) Tennessee State (8–1) u South Dakota (8–1) u North Dakota (8–1) u Ashland (9–0) u Tennessee Tech (8–1) (1) u Grambling (7–2) npr Drake (6–2) (1) u Carson–Newman (8–1) u Idaho State (6–2) u Livingston State (6–2–1) u McNeese State (6–2) d UMass (6–1) d Jackson State (7–1) npr 1972 Central State Bronchos Central Oklahoma (8–0) npr Northwestern State (6–2)In the actual printed polls, Northwestern State was listed as Northwestern Louisiana npr Bridgeport (8–0) npr UC Davis (5–0–2) npr   Delaware (9–0) (23) Louisiana Tech (10–0) (9) Cal Poly (7–0–1) (1) Tennessee State (9–1) South Dakota (9–1) (1) North Dakota (9–1) Ashland (10–0) Tennessee Tech (9–1) Grambling (8–2) Drake (7–2) (1) Bridgeport (9–0) u Carson–Newman (8–1) d Livingston State (7–1–1) Northwestern State (7–2) u 1972 Missouri Southern State Lions Missouri Southern State (10–0) npr 1972 Fort Valley State Wildcats Fort Valley State (8–0) npr UC Davis (6–0–2) u North Carolina A&T (8–1) npr McNeese State (7–2) d Western Carolina (6–2–1) npr   Delaware (10–0) (21) Louisiana Tech (11–0) (12) Cal Poly (8–0–1) (1) South Dakota (9–1) (1) u Tennessee State (9–1) d North Dakota (9–1) Ashland (11–0) Tennessee Tech (10–1) Grambling (8–2) Carson–Newman (9–1) u Bridgeport (10–0) Livingston State (8–1–1) u Drake (7–3) d Idaho State (7–3) npr Northwestern State (8–2) d North Carolina Central (9–1) npr East Texas State (8–2) npr Missouri Southern State (10–0) d Western Carolina (7–2–1) т tu McNeese State (8–2) т d   12 Western Kentucky 13 Texas A&I 14 Samford 16 Southwest Texas 18 C.W. Post 19 Arkansas State 9 North Dakota State 10 Arkansas Tech 11 Tennessee Tech 21 Saint John's (MN) 8 Akron 10 Eastern Michigan 11 South Dakota 13 Angelo State 16 Northern Colorado 17 Grambling 19 Alcorn A&M 20 Lehigh 9 Lamar 15 Weber State 18 Tennessee Tech 15 Texas Southern 20 Florida A&M 21 Middle Tennessee 13 Nebraska–Omaha 17 North Carolina A&T 20 East Texas State 8 Drake 10 Boise State 13 Jackson State 16 Western Carolina 18 Samford 15 Grambling 17 Western Illinois 20 Montana State 10 North Dakota State 12 Hawaii 14 Fresno State 16 East Texas State 18 Nebraska–Omaha 20 Central Washington 12 Idaho State 15 UMass 16 Jackson State 17 Central Oklahoma 16 Fort Valley State 17 UC Davis 18 North Carolina A&T HBCU rankings The Mutual Black Network ranked the top 1972 teams from historically black colleges and universities.December 16, 1972 Grambling Wins Championship https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-louisiana-weekly-1972-mbn-poll/142078816/ The Louisiana Weekly (p. 21) Newspapers.com 1. Grambling (11–2) 2. Tennessee State (11–1) 3. Albany State (7–2–1) 4. Jackson State (8–3) 5. North Carolina College (9–2) 6. Fort Valley State (8–2) 7. North Carolina A&T (9–2) 8. Fisk (7–1–1) 9. Alabama A&M (7–1–1) 10. Virginia State (7–3) Notes note References Rankings Category:NCAA College Division football rankings