1953 college football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1953 Notre Dame Maryland Two human polls comprised the 1953 college football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Legend   Increase in ranking   Decrease in ranking   Not ranked previous week   National champion (#–#)   Win–loss record (Italics)   Number of first place votes т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol AP Poll The final AP Poll was released on November 30, at the end of the 1953 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.1993-08-29 AP Football Poll Was Invented Just 'To Keep the Pot Boiling' https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-29-sp-29049-story.html 2025-12-07 Los Angeles Times en-US 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (Final) Aug Sep 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 26 Nov 2 Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23 Nov 301953 College Football Polls https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1953-polls.html 2025-12-07 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en Notre Dame (84) Michigan State (24) Georgia Tech (24) UCLA (12) Alabama (18) Oklahoma (3) Ohio State (3) USC Maryland (1) Duke (2) Texas Rice Navy California Florida West Virginia Pittsburgh т tw Tennessee т Princeton Baylor Notre Dame (1–0) (71) Michigan State (1–0) (6) Maryland (2–0) (5) u Michigan (1–0) (3) npr UCLA (2–0) (3) d Ohio State (1–0) (2) u USC (2–0) (1) u Oklahoma (0–1) d Georgia Tech (1–0–1) d Baylor (1–0) u Mississippi State (2–0) (1) npr Duke (2–0) (1) d West Virginia (1–0) (4) u Rice (1–0) d Ole Miss (2–0) npr Wisconsin (1–0) npr Texas (1–1) d Georgia (2–0) npr LSU (1–0–1) npr Holy Cross (1–0) npr Alabama California Florida Navy Pittsburgh Princeton Tennessee Notre Dame (2–0) (84) Michigan State (2–0) (15) Ohio State (2–0) (11) u Maryland (3–0) (8) d Michigan (2–0) (4) d UCLA (3–0) (2) d USC (3–0) (2) Duke (3–0) (4) u Baylor (2–0) u Georgia Tech (2–0–1) d Rice (2–0) u West Virginia (2–0) (5) u Mississippi State (3–0) (3) d LSU (2–0–1) u Texas (2–1) u Oklahoma (0–1–1) d Pittsburgh (0–1–1) npr Northwestern (2–0) npr Holy Cross (2–0) u Penn (2–0) т Mississippi Southern (3–0) т npr Georgia Ole Miss Wisconsin Notre Dame (2–0) (74) Michigan State (3–0) (14) Maryland (4–0) (21) u UCLA (4–0) (8) u Michigan (3–0) Georgia Tech (3–0–1) u Duke (4–0) (3) u Baylor (3–0) u Illinois (2–0–1) npr West Virginia (3–0) (9) u Rice (3–0) Oklahoma (1–1–1) (1) u USC (3–0–1) d Navy (2–0–1) npr Pittsburgh (1–1–1) u California (3–1) npr Ohio State (2–1) т td Mississippi Southern (4–0) (1) т u Auburn (2–0–1) npr Mississippi State (3–0–1) d Holy Cross LSU Northwestern Penn Texas Notre Dame (3–0) (51) Michigan State (4–0) (31) Maryland (5–0) (27) Georgia Tech (4–0–1) (3) u Michigan (4–0) Baylor (4–0) (1) u Illinois (3–0–1) (1) u West Virginia (4–0) (12) u Oklahoma (2–1–1) u Navy (3–0–1) u USC (4–0–1) u UCLA (4–1) d SMU (2–1) npr LSU (3–0–2) npr Texas A&M (4–0–1) (1) npr Duke (4–1) т td Kentucky (2–2–1) т npr Pittsburgh (1–2–1) d Mississippi Southern (5–0) d Stanford (3–2) npr Auburn California Mississippi State Ohio State Rice Notre Dame (4–0) (82) Maryland (6–0) (18) u Baylor (5–0) (2) u Illinois (4–0–1) u West Virginia (5–0) (15) u Michigan State (4–1) d USC (5–0–1) u Georgia Tech (4–1–1) d Oklahoma (3–1–1) (1) UCLA (5–1) (1) u SMU (3–1) u Rice (4–1) npr Duke (5–1) u Minnesota (2–3) npr Army (4–1) npr Michigan (4–1) (1) d Stanford (4–2) u Ole Miss (5–1) npr Kentucky (3–2–1) d Navy (3–1–1) d LSU Pittsburgh Mississippi Southern Texas A&M Notre Dame (5–0) (90) Maryland (7–0) (21) Baylor (6–0) (7) Illinois (5–0–1) Michigan State (5–1) u Georgia Tech (5–1–1) u West Virginia (6–0) (10) d Oklahoma (4–1–1) (1) u UCLA (6–1) (1) u Duke (6–1) u Stanford (5–2) (1) u Ole Miss (6–1) (1) u Minnesota (3–3) u Kentucky (4–2–1) u Auburn (4–1–1) npr Ohio State (5–1) npr Michigan (5–1) т td USC (5–1–1) т d Texas (4–3) npr Alabama (3–1–3) npr Army Navy Rice SMU Notre Dame (6–0) (79) Maryland (8–0) (24) Illinois (6–0–1) (4) u Michigan State (6–1) (1) u Georgia Tech (6–1–1) u Oklahoma (5–1–1) (1) u UCLA (6–1) u West Virginia (7–0) (11) d Baylor (6–1) d Texas (5–3) u Ole Miss (7–1) (2) u USC (6–1–1) u Kentucky (5–2–1) (1) u Duke (6–1–1) d Minnesota (4–3) d Rice (5–2) т tnpr Stanford (5–3) т d Tennessee (4–2–1) npr Texas Tech (7–1) npr Auburn (5–1–1) d Alabama Michigan Ohio State Notre Dame (7–0) (93) Maryland (9–0) (42) Michigan State (7–1) (3) u Oklahoma (6–1–1) (3) u UCLA (7–1) u Texas (6–3) u Illinois (6–1–1) d Wisconsin (6–2) (2) npr USC (6–1–1) u Rice (6–2) u Alabama (5–1–3) (1) npr Georgia Tech (6–2–1) d Kentucky (6–2–1) (3) Auburn (6–1–1) (1) u Duke (6–1–1) d Stanford (6–3) Texas Tech (8–1) u South Carolina (6–2) npr West Virginia (7–1) (1) d Iowa (5–3) (1) npr Baylor Minnesota Ole Miss Tennessee Maryland (10–0) (154) u Notre Dame (7–0–1) (47) d Michigan State (8–1) (8) Oklahoma (7–1–1) (9) UCLA (8–1) (4) Illinois (7–1–1) u Texas (6–3) d Rice (7–2) u Iowa (5–3–1) (6) u Georgia Tech (7–2–1) u West Virginia (8–1) (17) u Wisconsin (6–2–1) d Kentucky (7–2–1) (5) Texas Tech (9–1) u South Carolina (7–2) u Auburn (7–1–1) (1) d Baylor (7–2) npr Army (6–1–1) npr Stanford (6–3–1) d USC (6–2–1) d Alabama Duke Maryland (10–0) (187) nc Notre Dame (8–0–1) (141) Michigan State (8–1) (8) Oklahoma (8–1–1) (10) UCLA (8–1) (1) Rice (8–2) (2) u Illinois (7–1–1) d Georgia Tech (7–2–1) u Iowa (5–3–1) (10) West Virginia (8–1) (14) u Texas (7–3) d Texas Tech (10–1) u Alabama (6–2–3) (1) npr Army (7–1–1) u Wisconsin (6–2–1) d Kentucky (7–2–1) (3) d Auburn (7–2–1) d Duke (7–2–1) npr Stanford (6–3–1) Michigan (6–3) (1) npr Baylor South Carolina USC United Press Coaches Poll The final United Press (UP) Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on November 30.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yl4bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2783%2C128664 Pittsburgh Press United Press Maryland keeps top spot in nation's college ratings December 1, 1953 24 Maryland received 20 of the 35 first-place votes; Notre Dame received thirteen, and one each went to Michigan State and UCLA. Ranking Team Conference Bowl 1 Maryland ACC Lost Orange, 0–7 2 Notre Dame Independentnone 3 Michigan State Big Ten Won Rose, 28–20 4 UCLA Pacific Coast Lost Rose, 20–28 5 Oklahoma Big Seven Won Orange, 7–0 6 Rice Southwest Won Cotton, 28–6 7 Illinois Big Tennone 8 Texas Southwest 9 Georgia Tech SEC Won Sugar, 42–19 10 Iowa Big Ten none 11 Alabama SEC Lost Cotton, 6–26 12 Texas Tech Border Won Gator, 35–13 13 West Virginia Southern Lost Sugar, 19–42 14 Wisconsin Big Tennone 15 Kentucky SEC 16 Army Independent 17 Stanford Pacific Coast 18 Duke ACC 19 Michigan Big Ten 20 Ohio State Big Ten Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pacific Coast (later AAWU / Pac-8) conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl. Litkenhous Ratings The Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December 1953 provided numerical rankings to over 683 college football programs. The top 120 ranked teams were:Irish Ranks as 'Champs' on Final Litkenhous Grid List E. E. Litkenhous Journal and Courier December 15, 1953 22 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-litkenhous-ratings-1/201993767/ Newspapers.com 15em 1. Notre Dame (9–0–1) - 110.4 2. Maryland (10–1) - 108.5 3. Oklahoma (9-1-1) - 107.3 4. Rice (9–2) - 106.8 5. Michigan State (9–1) - 103.9 6. Wisconsin (6–2–1) - 103.7 7. Iowa (5–3–1) - 103.4 8. UCLA (8–2) - 102.8 9. Illinois (7–1–1) - 102.5 10. Texas Tech (11–1) - 101.7 11. Ole Miss (7–2–1) - 100.9 12. Michigan (6–3) - 100.3 13. Texas (7–3) - 99.4 14. Georgia Tech (9–2–1) - 98.9 15. Kentucky (7–2–1) - 98.2 16. Auburn (7–3–1) - 97.7 17. Mississippi State (5–2–3) - 97.1 18. Baylor (7–3) - 97.1 19. Ohio State (6–3) - 96.0 20. West Virginia (8–2) - 94.9 21. SMU (5-5) - 94.7 22. Minnesota (4–4–1) - 94.5 23. LSU (5–3–3) - 94.3 24. Marquette (6–3–1) - 94.0 25. Florida (3–5–2) - 93.9 26. Stanford (6–3–1) - 93.8 27. Penn State (6–3) - 93.6 28. Duke (7–2–1) - 93.5 29. California (4–4–2) - 92.2 30. Cincinnati (9–1) - 92.2 31. Alabama (6–3–3) - 92.1 32. Miami (FL) (4–5) - 92.1 33. Army (7–1–1) - 91.9 34. USC (6–3–1) - 91.9 35. Syracuse (5–3–1) - 91.8 36. Tennessee (6–4–1) - 91.3 37. Missouri (6–4) - 90.2 38. Navy (4–3–2) - 89.6 39. Purdue (2–7) - 89.5 40. TCU (3–7) - 89.5 41. Arkansas (3–7) - 89.2 42. Texas A&M (4–5–1) - 89.0 43. Oklahoma A&M (7–3) - 88.2 44. Houston (4–4–1) - 88.1 45. Northwestern (3–6) - 88.1 46. Kansas State (6–3–1) - 87.8 47. Miami (OH) (7–1–1) - 87.4 48. Pittsburgh (3–5–1) - 86.7 49. Detroit (6–4) - 85.6 50. Penn (3–5–1) - 85.2 51. Fordham (4–5) - 85.0 52. Colorado (6–4) - 84.2 53. Boston University (5–3–1) - 83.8 54. South Carolina (7–3) - 83.8 55. East Texas (10–0–1) - 83.6 56. Indiana (2–7) - 82.9 57. Mississippi Southern (9–2) - 82.6 58. Arizona (4–5–1) - 82.5 59. Utah (8–2) - 82.2 60. Nebraska (3–6–1) - 81.7 61. Oregon (4–5–1) - 81.2 62. Washington (3–6–1) - 81.2 63. Wyoming (5–4–1) - 81.2 64. Georgia (3–8) - 81.1 65. Tulane (1–8–1) - 80.6 66. Holy Cross (5-5) - 80.4 67. Kansas (2–8) - 79.9 68. North Carolina (4–6) - 79.6 69. Pacific (4–4–2) - 77.6 70. Texas Western (8–2) - 77.5 . Trinity (TX) (8–1) - 76.4 71. Boston College (5–3–1) - 76.1 . Wichita (4–4–1) - 75.9 72. Utah State (8–3) - 75.6 73. Clemson (3–5–1) - 75.3 . Cal. P.N. - 75.2 . Colorado A&M (4–5) - 75.2 74. Villanova (4–6) - 74.6 75. Washington State (4–6) - 74.6 . Tyler JC - 74.4 76. Harvard (6–2) - 73.8 77. Hardin–Simmons (6–5) - 73.6 . Pasadena CC - 73.5 . North Texas (3–6–1) - 73.1 78. Vanderbilt (3–7) - 72.8 79. Cornell (4–3–2) - 72.6 80. Tulsa (3–7) - 72.2 81. Delaware (7–1) - 72.0 82. Arizona State (4–5–1) - 71.7 83. Yale (5–2–2) - 70.9 84. New Mexico (5–3–1) - 70.7 85. Ohio (6–2–1) - 70.7 86. Colgate (3–4–2) - 70.6 87. Oregon State (3–6) - 69.9 88. Columbia (4–5) - 69.8 . Sam Houston (9–1) - 69.8 . Memphis State (6–4) - 69.6 89. Iowa State (2–7) - 69.5 90. Chattanooga (3–7) - 69.3 91. Dartmouth (2–7) - 69.3 92. Wake Forest 93. Arkansas State 94. College of Idaho 95. Princeton 96. Valparaiso 97. Rutgers 98. Maine 99. Butler 100. Virginia 101. Wabash 102. NC State 103. New Hampshire 104. Idaho 105. 106. North Dakota 107. Ball State 108. Indiana State 109. Carnegie Tech 110. Evansville HBCU rankings The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1953 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 19:Prairie View's 26.57 rating Secures Nat'l Title The Pittsburgh Courier December 19, 1953 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-1953-rankings/139175895/ Newspapers.com Prairie View A&M (12–0) Florida A&M (10–1) Tennessee A&I (8–0–1) Lincoln (MO) (8–0–1) Maryland State (7–1) Southern (9–2) North Carolina College (5–3) Virginia State (5–3–1) Morgan State (6–2) Texas Southern (7–3) West Virginia State (6–3) Grambling (8–2) The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 25:Final Conference Football Standings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-associated-negro-press-rankings/141572018/ The Kansas City Call (p. 11) December 25, 1953 Prairie View A&M (12–0) Tennessee A&I (8–0–1) Lincoln (MO) (8–0–1) Florida A&M (10–1) Southern (9–2) Maryland State (7–1) North Carolina College (5–3) Virginia State (5–3–1) Texas Southern (7–3) South Carolina State (6–3) See also 1953 College Football All-America Team References * Category:College football rankings