1972 NCAA College Division football season

American college football season August 2023 NCAA College Division NCAA Division II NCAA Division III 1972 Delaware (AP, UPI)Grambling (black) The 1972 NCAA College Division football season was the 17th and final season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA College Division level. Conference realignment Membership changes School 1971 conference 1972 conference Newark State New program New Jersey State William Paterson New program New Jersey State Conference standings Rankings 1972 small college football rankings College Division teams (also referred to as "small college") were ranked in polls by the AP (a panel of writers) and by UPI (coaches). The national champion(s) for each season were determined by the final poll rankings, published at or near the end of the regular season, before any bowl games were played. Small college polls Both the UPI and AP panels ranked Delaware (10–0) first, followed by Louisiana Tech (11–0), and Cal Poly (8–0–1)."UPI Names Delaware College Div. Grid King", Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 24, 1972, p19"AP Poll Picks Hens as Little Big Men", Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 25, 1972, p19 Louisiana Tech later defeated 1972 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech in the Grantland Rice Bowl, while Cal Poly lost to North Dakota in the Camellia Bowl. Delaware declined an invitation to face UMass (7–2) in the Boardwalk Bowl, and did not play in the postseason.https://www.newspapers.com/image/184512466/?terms=atlantic Hens Scratch Bowl... subscription Philadelphia Daily News newspapers.com November 22, 1972 February 22, 2017 United Press International (coaches) final poll Published on November 22https://www.newspapers.com/image/20918368/?terms=delaware Delaware Names As Small College National Champs UPI subscription The Brownsville Herald Brownsville, Texas newspapers.com November 22, 1972 February 25, 2017 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints 1 Delaware 10–0 21 334 2 Louisiana Tech 11–0 12 310 3 Cal Poly 8–0–1 1 239 4 South Dakota 9–1 1 193 5 Tennessee State 9–1 184 6 North Dakota 9–1 148 7 Ashland 11–0 104 8 1972 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech 10–1 98 9 Grambling 8–2 68 10 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman 9–1 46 Associated Press (writers) final poll Published on November 23https://www.newspapers.com/image/181000504/?terms=delaware Delaware Top Squad Associated Press subscription The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi newspapers.com November 23, 1972 February 25, 2017 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints 1 Delaware 10–0 9 272 2 Louisiana Tech 11–0 4 237 3 Cal Poly 8–0–1 197 4 Ashland 11–0 1 195 5 Tennessee State 8–1note1 note1 164 T6 South Dakota 9–1 1 144 T6 North Dakota 9–1 144 T8 Grambling 8–2 76 T8 1972 Western Carolina Catamounts Western Carolina 7–2–1 76 T10 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman 9–1 55 T10 McNeese State 8–2 55 note1 note1Tennessee State actually 9–1 when the poll was taken. Bowl games The postseason consisted of four bowl games as regional finals, all played on December 10. Bowl RegionLocation Winning team Losing team RefBoardwalkEastAtlantic City, New JerseyUMass35UC Davis14Grantland RiceMideastBaton Rouge, LouisianaLouisiana Tech351972 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech0PioneerMidwestWichita Falls, TexasTennessee State29Drake7CamelliaWestSacramento, CaliforniaNorth Dakota38Cal Poly21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KKlVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4865%2C2371159 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Cal Poly upset December 10, 1972 4B Black college national championship Grambling defeated North Carolina Central in the inaugural Pelican Bowl to capture the black college football national championship.https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D13FC3F59107A93C1A91789D95F468785F9 Grambling wins and claims title AP Staff Reporters Associated Press New York Times December 3, 1972 January 11, 2011 See also 1972 NCAA University Division football season 1972 NAIA Division I football season 1972 NAIA Division II football season References