1951 college football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1951 Tennessee Tennessee Two human polls comprised the 1951 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 March 2026 The final AP poll was released on December 3, at the end of the 1951 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968. 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (Final) Oct 1 Oct 8 Oct 15 Oct 22 Oct 29 Nov 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 Dec 3 Tennessee (60) Michigan State (18) Ohio State (8) Oklahoma (16) California (3) Kentucky (1) Texas A&M Washington (3) Alabama (2) Illinois (2) Texas (1) Nebraska Baylor Notre Dame (1) Wisconsin Maryland Michigan Princeton Pennsylvania Cornell Michigan State (2–0) (37) u California (2–0) (22) u Tennessee (1–0) (27) d Oklahoma (1–0) (18) Notre Dame (1–0) (9) u Texas (2–0) (6) u Ohio State (1–0) (1) d Illinois (1–0) u Maryland (1–0) (4) u Texas A&M (1–0) d Georgia Tech (2–0) (4) y Washington (2–0) (2) d Georgia (2–0) (1) y Princeton (1–0) u Oregon State (1–1) (1) y Duke (2–0) y Kentucky (1–2) d Clemson (2–0) (1) y Baylor (1–0) d Kansas (2–0) y Alabama Nebraska Wisconsin Michigan Pennsylvania Cornell Michigan State (3–0) (42) California (3–0) (36) Tennessee (2–0) (18) Texas A&M (2–0) (3) u Notre Dame (2–0) (4) Texas (3–0) (4) Illinois (2–0) u Georgia Tech (3–0) (3) u Ohio State (1–1) d Maryland (2–0) (1) d Oklahoma (1–1) d Baylor (2–0) u Princeton (2–0) u USC (3–0) y Holy Cross (2–0) y Clemson (3–0) u Cornell (2–0) y Oregon State (2–1) d Stanford (3–0) y Pacific (3–0) (1) y Washington Georgia Duke Kentucky Kansas California (4–0) (50) u Tennessee (3–0) (26) u Michigan State (4–0) (16) d Texas (4–0) (6) u Georgia Tech (4–0) (12) u Texas A&M (3–0) (8) d Maryland (3–0) (14) u Illinois (3–0) (3) d Princeton (3–0) (1) u Baylor (3–0) u USC (4–0) u Villanova (3–0) y Stanford (4–0) u Cornell (3–0) u SMU (3–1) y Pacific (4–0) (1) u Ohio State (1–1–1) d Northwestern (3–0) y Oklahoma (1–2) d Washington (3–1) y Notre Dame Holy Cross Clemson Oregon State Tennessee (4–0) (70) u Michigan State (5–0) (28) u Georgia Tech (5–0) (16) u Illinois (4–0) (12) u Maryland (4–0) (13) u USC (5–0) (13) u Baylor (4–0) (2) u Princeton (4–0) (2) u California (4–1) (1) d Texas (4–1) d Stanford (5–0) (1) u Cornell (4–0) (1) u Northwestern (4–0) u Wisconsin (2–1–1) y Notre Dame (3–1) y Texas A&M (3–1) (1) d Kentucky (3–3) (1) y Washington State (3–2) y Arkansas (3–2) y San Francisco (5–0) y Villanova SMU Pacific Ohio State Oklahoma Washington Tennessee (5–0) (59) Michigan State (6–0) (25) Illinois (5–0) (15) u Maryland (5–0) (22) u Georgia Tech (6–0) (9) d Princeton (5–0) (14) u USC (6–0) (7) d Baylor (4–0–1) d California (5–1) Wisconsin (3–1–1) (2) u Stanford (6–0) Texas (5–1) d Notre Dame (4–1) u Kentucky (4–3) (1) u Michigan (3–2) y Washington State (4–2) u Oklahoma (3–2) (1) y Texas A&M (3–1–1) d Miami (FL) (4–1) y San Francisco (6–0) Cornell Northwestern Arkansas Tennessee (6–0) (60) Illinois (6–0) (29) u Maryland (6–0) (21) u Princeton (6–0) (6) u Michigan State (6–0) (12) d USC (7–0) (6) u Stanford (7–0) (8) u Georgia Tech (6–0–1) (1) d Wisconsin (4–1–1) (3) u Texas (6–1) u Notre Dame (5–1) (1) u Kentucky (5–3) (3) u TCU (5–2) y Oklahoma (4–2) (1) u San Francisco (7–0) u Baylor (4–1–1) d California (5–2) т td Washington State (5–2) т d Pacific (6–1) (1) y Arkansas (4–3) т Ohio State (3–2–1) т y Michigan Texas A&M Miami (FL) Michigan State (7–0) (55) u Tennessee (7–0) (42) d Illinois (7–0) (20) d Stanford (8–0) (12) u Maryland (7–0) (16) d Princeton (7–0) (6) d Georgia Tech (7–0–1) u Wisconsin (5–1–1) (2) u Kentucky (6–3) (4) u Baylor (5–1–1) u USC (7–1) d Oklahoma (5–2) (1) u TCU (5–2) San Francisco (7–0) u Texas (6–2) d California (5–3) u Washington State (5–3) UCLA (4–3) y Rice (4–3) y Cincinnati (8–0) y Notre Dame Pacific Arkansas Ohio State Tennessee (8–0) (60) u Michigan State (8–0) (38) d Stanford (9–0) (18) u Maryland (8–0) (26) u Princeton (8–0) (8) u Illinois (7–0–1) (3) d Georgia Tech (8–0–1) (2) Wisconsin (6–1–1) (3) Kentucky (7–3) (4) Baylor (6–1–1) USC (7–2) Oklahoma (6–2) San Francisco (8–0) u Texas (7–2) u Virginia (7–1) (1) y Holy Cross (7–1) (1) y Washington State (6–3) Rice (5–3) u California (7–2) d Bucknell (9–0) y TCU UCLA Cincinnati Tennessee (9–0) (92) Michigan State (9–0) (34) Maryland (9–0) (18) u Illinois (8–0–1) (4) u Princeton (9–0) (4) Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (1) u Wisconsin (7–1–1) (5) u Stanford (9–1) (1) d Baylor (7–1–1) u Oklahoma (7–2) (2) u TCU (5–4) y California (8–2) (3) u Virginia (8–1) (1) u San Francisco (9–0) d UCLA (5–3–1) y Texas (7–2) d Kentucky (7–4) d Washington State (7–3) d Holy Cross (8–1) d USC (7–3) d Rice Bucknell Tennessee (10–0) (139) nc Michigan State (9–0) (104) Maryland (9–0) (18) Illinois (8–0–1) (10) Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (8) u Princeton (9–0) (3) d Stanford (9–1) (1) u Wisconsin (7–1–1) (10) d Baylor (8–1–1) Oklahoma (8–2) (4) TCU (6–4) California (8–2) (2) Virginia (8–1) (5) San Francisco (9–0) (2) Kentucky (7–4) Boston University (6–4) (2) y UCLA (5–3–1) d Washington State (7–3) Holy Cross (8–2) (1) т tw Clemson (7–2) т tnpr Texas USC United Press poll The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 3.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G4xaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h08DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6108%2C1839521 St. Petersburg Times Florida United Press Vols rated tops by UP December 4, 1951 17https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RO8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8PcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6439%2C3994957 Bend Bulletin Oregon United Press Tennessee rated nation's No. 1 team for season December 4, 1951 2 Tennessee received 23 of the 35 first-place votes; Michigan State received seven, Maryland two, and one each to Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Princeton. Ranking Team Conference Bowl 1 Tennessee SEC Lost Sugar, 13–28 2 Michigan State Independentnone 3 Illinois Big Ten Won Rose, 40–7 4 Maryland Southern Won Sugar, 28–13 5 Georgia Tech SEC Won Orange, 17–14 6 Princeton Independent none 7 Stanford Pacific Coast Lost Rose, 7–40 8 Wisconsin Big Ten none 9 Baylor Southwest Lost Orange, 14–17 10 TCU Southwest Lost Cotton, 7–20 11 Oklahoma Big Sevennone 12 California Pacifie Coast 13 Notre Dame Independent14 Purdue Big Ten San Francisco Independent Washington State Pacific Coast17 Holy Cross Independent Kentucky SEC Won Cotton, 20–7 UCLA Pacific Coastnone 20 Kansas Big Seven 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. The Ivy League has prohibited its members from participating in postseason football since the league was officially formed in 1954. Litkenhous Ratings The Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December 1951 provided numerical rankings to over 650 college football programs. The top 100 ranked teams were:Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings The Nashville Banner December 14, 1951 49 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/ Newspapers.comLitkenhous Rates Virginia As State's Top Grid Team; Cavaliers Get 30th Place The News and Advance E.E. Litkenhous December 13, 1951 8B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-litkenhous-rates-vi/166260824/ Newspapers.com 15em 1. Tennessee (10–1) 2. Maryland (10–0) 3. Michigan State (9–0) 4. Oklahoma (8–2) 5. California (8–2) 6. Georgia Tech (11–0–1) 7. Baylor (8–2–1) 8. Illinois (9–0–1) 9. Wisconsin (7–1–1) 10. Kentucky (8–4) 11. Stanford (9–2) 12. UCLA (5–3–1) 13. Texas (7–3) 14. Notre Dame (7–2–1) 15. Ole Miss (6–3–1) 16. USC (7–3) 17. TCU (6–5) 18. SMU (3–6–1) 19. Princeton (9–0) 20. Texas A&M (5–3–2) 21. Holy Cross (8–2) 22. Washington State (7–3) 23. Washington (3–6–1) 24. Xavier (9–0–1) 25. Oregon State (4–6) 26. Arkansas (5–5) 27. San Francisco (9–0) 28. Rice (5–5) 29. Michigan (4–5) 30. Virginia (8–1) 31. Ohio State (4–3–2) 32. Tulsa (9–2) 33. LSU (7–3–1) 34. Cincinnati (10–1) 35. Florida (5–5) 36. Alabama (5–6) 37. Purdue (5–4) 38. Kansas (8–2) 39. Penn (5–4) 40. Texas Tech (7–4) 41. Miami (FL) (8–3) 42. Vanderbilt (6–5) 43. Northwestern (5–4) 44. Cornell (6–3) 45. Clemson (7–3) 46. Pacific (6–5) 47. Colorado (7–3) 48. Georgia (5–5) 49. Navy (2–6–1) 50. Mississippi State (4–5) 51. Duke (5–4–1) 52. Tulane (4–6) 53. Marquette (4–6–1) 54. Boston University (6–4) 55. Indiana (3–6_ 56. Villanova (5–3) 57. Wake Forest 58. Pittsburgh (3–7) 59. Columbia (5–3) 60. Penn State (5–4) 61. Santa Clara (3–5–1) 62. Wyoming (7–2–1) 63. Houston (6–5) 64. Bucknell (9–0) 65. Syracuse (5–4) 66. Washington & Lee (6–4) 67. North Carolina (2–8) 68. South Carolina (5–4) 69. Iowa (2–5–2) 70. North Texas (8–4) 71. Dayton (7–3) 72. Fordham (5–4) 73. Auburn (5–5) 74. Iowa State (4–4–1) 75. Minnesota (2–6–1) 76. Arizona State (6–3–1) 77. Denver (6–4) 78. Hardin–Simmons (6–6) 79. Dartmouth (4–5) 80. Drake (7–2) 81. Chattanooga (6–5) 82. Memphis State (5–3) 83. Miami (OH) (7–3) 84. Oklahoma A&M (3–7) 85. Boston College (3–6) 86. Missouri (3–7) 87. Arkansas State (10–2) 88. Del Mar (9–1) 89. Army (2–7) 90. Rutgers (4–4) 91. William & Mary (5–4–1) 92. VMI (7–3) 93. Nebraska (2–8) 94. Colgate (4–5) 95. Yale (2–5–2) 96. Loyola (Los Angeles) (3–6) 97. 1951 Tyler Apaches Tyler (10–1) 98. Temple (6–4) 99. Oregon (2–8) 100. Toledo (6–4) 101. Louisville (5–4) 102. Colorado A&M (5–4–1) 103. George Washington (2–6–1) 104. West Virginia (5–5) 105. Mississippi Southern (6–5) 106. Kansas State (0–9) 107. Utah (7–4) 108. 1951 Compton Tartars Compton (10–1) 109. 1951 Pasadena Bulldogs Pasadena (12–0) 110. Detroit (4–7) 111. NC State (3–7) 112. Idaho (2–7) 113. East Texas (9–2) 114. Furman (3–6–1) 115. 1951 Long Beach Vikings Long Beach (8–1–1) 116. South Dakota State (8–1–1) 117. Kent State (4–3–2) 118. Ohio (5–4–1) 119. Utah State (3–5–1) 120. St. Bonaventure (5–4) 121. San Jose State (2–7–1) 122. Harvard (3–5–1) 123. Valparaiso (9–0) 124. South Dakota (7–1) 125. Abilene Christian (6–4) 126. Brown (2–7) 132. Arizona (6–5) 133. Murray State (8–1) 137. Lehigh (7–2) 138. San Diego State (10–0–1) 139. Middle Tennessee (7–2–2) 140. Citadel (4–6) 146. Marshall (5–4–1) 204. Western Kentucky (4–5) HBCU rankings The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1951 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 8:Purple Wave Edges FAMU in Torrid Football Campaign The Pittsburgh Courier Ric Roberts December 8, 1951 15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-courier-rates-mor/40006165/ Newspapers.com Morris Brown (10–1) Florida A&M (7–1–1) Tennessee A&I (8–2) Prairie View A&M (9–1) Central State (7–2) North Carolina A&T (7–1–1) North Carolina College (6–2–1) West Virginia State (6–2–1) Xavier (LA) (8–1) Lincoln (MO) (7–2) Maryland State (7–1) Bethune-Cookman (6–2) The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 14:The Pigskin Huddle The Call December 14, 1951 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-associated-negro-press-1951-ran/141454348/ Newspapers.com 16em North Carolina A&T (7–1–1) Morris Brown (10–1) Florida A&M (7–1–1) Prairie View A&M (9–1) Central State (7–2) North Carolina College (6–2–1) Tennessee A&I (8–2) West Virginia State (6–2–1) Lincoln (MO) (7–2) Xavier (LA) (8–1) Alcorn (8–3) Bethune-Cookman (6–2) Maryland State (7–1) Texas Southern (7–2–1) Benedict (7–3) Virginia State (5–3) Texas College (5–3–2) Hampton (5–4) Lincoln (PA) (5–4) Arkansas A&M (5–4–1) Southern (5–4–2) Fisk (6–2) South Carolina State (5–2) Tuskegee (6–3) Grambling (4–5–1) Jackson State Virginia Union (5–5) Langston (4–5) Mississippi Industrial Howard (5–4) Allen (3–7) See also 1951 College Football All-America Team References * Category:College football rankings