1927 college football season
Encyclopedia
The 1927 college football season ended with the Illini of the University of Illinois (7-0-1) being recognized as champion under the Dickinson system. In the Rose Bowl, the Pittsburgh Panthers
(8-0-1) were invited to play against the Pacific Coast Conference champion. Though USC and Stanford had identical records in conference play, Stanford was given a chance to "avenge" its 7-7 tie against Alabama in the last Rose Bowl. Although an Illinois vs. USC matchup would have been equally plausible for the 1928 Rose Bowl, their Pasadena meeting would have to wait 80 years-- until 2008.
The major rules change in 1927 was the moving of the goal posts from the goal line, to the end of the end zone, where they have been ever since. The move was for both safety reasons and to de-emphasize the kicking game
Major conferences that existed in 1927 were the Western Conference(today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA, forerunner of the Big 12), the Southwest Conference, and the Southern Conference (whose members later formed the SEC and the ACC). At season's end, the Rissler Cup was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule, in that a win, loss or tie against a "strong" opponent was worth more than one against a lesser team, and the results were averaged.
September 24 USC beat Occidental 33-0; Army
beat Boston University, 13-0; Pittsburgh
beat Thiel College 42-0. Texas A&M
shut out Trinity 45-0.
beat Detroit Mercy 6-0. Yale
beat Bowdoin 41-0;
The Western Conference (later the Big Ten) teams opened their seasons. Minnesota beat North Dakota, 57-10, Michigan beat Ohio Wesleyan, 33-0, and Illinois beat Bradley, 19-0.
Pittsburgh
beat Grove City College, 33-0; Nebraska
beat Iowa State, 6-0; Georgia
beat Virginia, 32-0; and Texas A&M
beat Southwest Texas 31-0.
October 8 USC edged Oregon State 13-12; Detroit Mercy, fresh from its 6-0 loss at West Point, played at Notre Dame and lost 20-0; Army
beat Marquette 21-12;
In a battle of Bulldogs, Georgia
beat Yale
14-10 in New Haven. Pittsburgh
won another shutout, over West Virginia, 49-0;
Minnesota beat Oklahoma State, 40-0, Michigan beat Michigan State, 21-0, and Illinois beat Butler 58-0. At Columbia, Missouri, Missouri beat Nebraska
, 7-6, and Texas A&M
recorded its third shutout, an 18-0 win over Sewanee.
October 15 USC played at Stanford University in Palo Alto, to a 13-13 tie.
Notre Dame and Navy played at Baltimore, with the Irish winning 19-6.
Army
beat Davis & Elkins College, 27-6
Yale
beat Brown 19-0;
In Western Conference play, Minnesota and Indiana played to a 14-14 tie
Michigan won at Wisconsin, 14-0, Illinois and Iowa State played to a 12-12 tie,
Pittsburgh
beat Drake 32-0;
Nebraska
beat Grinnell College 58-0
Furman v. Georgia
took place in Athens, Ga., as the University of Georgia
hosted the Paladins of Furman University and won, 32-0.
Texas A&M
surrendered its first points in a 40-6 win over Arkansas.
October 22 USC beat Caltech 51-0 ;
Notre Dame beat Indiana 19-6
(4-0)
Army
and (2-1) Yale
met at New Haven, with Yale winning 10-6
Minnesota beat Iowa, 38-0
Michigan beat Ohio State, 21-0,
Brown
was upset by Lebanon Valley
, 13-12
Illinois edged Northwestern, 7-6
Pittsburgh
beat crosstown team Carnegie Tech, but not in a shutout (23-7).
Nebraska
was idle; Georgia
beat Auburn, 33-3
Texas A&M
played at Texas Christian, and was tied, 0-0.
October 29 Michigan (4-0-0) and Illinois (3-0-1) faced off at Champaign, Ill. The Illini won 14-0.
USC beat California, 13-0
Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech, 26-7
Army
beat Bucknell 34-0;
Yale
beat Dartmouth, 19-0;
Minnesota beat Wisconsin, 13-7;
Pittsburgh
beat Allegheny 62-0;
Nebraska
beat visiting Syracuse, 21-0; Georgia
beat Tulane, 31-0
Texas A&M
had beaten Texas Tech, 47-6, in a Friday game.
In a meeting of unbeatens, (5-0-0) Notre Dame hosted (4-0-1) Minnesota. The teams played to a 7-7 tie.
Army
beat Franklin & Marshall, 45-0;
Yale
beat Maryland 30-6
Michigan won at Chicago, 14-0 and Illinois beat Iowa 14-0
Pittsburgh
and Washington & Jefferson, both (6-0-0), played to a 0-0 tie
Nebraska
beat Kansas, 47-13;
Georgia
defeated Florida at Jacksonville, 28-0; Texas A&M
beat SMU, 39-13
On Armistice Day, November 11, Texas A&M
defeated Rice University in Houston, 14-0.
November 12 USC beat Colorado 46-7;
(6-1-0) Army
faced off against (5-0-1) Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. The Cadets handed Rockne's team its first defeat, 18-0
Yale
beat Princeton 14-6;
Minnesota beat Drake 27-6;
Michigan beat Navy 27-12;
Illinois beat Chicago 15-6; Georgia
beat Clemson, 32-0
(6-0-1) Pittsburgh
and (4-1-0) Nebraska
faced off in Pittsburgh, with the Panthers winning 21-13
November 19 USC defeated Washington State, 27-0, while Stanford beat visiting California, 13-6 to close their season at 8-2-1. Though USC, at 8-1-1, had the better overall record, Stanford's two losses at been outside the conference, to St. Mary's and to Santa Clara, and they had tied USC. In PCC play, Stanford and USC both finished 4-0-1, and either could have been invited to play in the 1928 Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl committee went with Stanford, which had been tied by Alabama in the 1927 New Year's Day game.
Notre Dame beat Drake University in Des Moines, 32-0. Drake, which played against Navy, Pitt, Minnesota, Notre Dame and UCLA, would finish at 3-6-0
Army
beat Ursinus College 13-0; Yale
closed its season hosting Harvard, and won 14-0;
Illinois defeated Ohio State, 13-0
At Ann Arbor, (5-0-2) Minnesota visited (6-1-0) Michigan. The Gophers beat the Wolverines 13-7 to close their seasons. Nebraska
won at Kansas State, 33-0
Georgia
beat Mercer, 26-7
November 24 On Thanksgiving Day, Pittsburgh
beat Penn State, 30-0. Pitt, with a record of 8-0-1, had outscored its opponents 283 to 20, with seven shutouts, and was selected to meet Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
Nebraska
beat visiting New York University, 27-18; Texas A&M
closed its season with a 28-7 win over Texas.
November 26 Notre Dame (6-1-1) and USC (7-0-1) played before an estimated record crowd of 123,000 (Reported as 117,000 in the Chicago Tribune) at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Notre Dame winning 7-6 (on the strength of a blocked extra point attempt) to hand the Trojans their first loss.
In the Army–Navy Game, played before a crowd of 70,000 at the Polo Grounds in New York, Army
came back from 9-0 at halftime to win 14-9. In Birmingham, Georgia
beat Alabama, 20-6.
December 3 USC closed its season with a 33-13 win over Washington.
(9-0-0) Georgia
faced off against (7-1-1) Georgia Tech in Atlanta to close the season. The Yellow Jackets undid the Bulldogs' hopes for a perfect season, winning 12-0
would not begin continuously until 1936. (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System
to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition. The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.
Although Dickinson retroactively applied the system to the 1924 and 1925 seasons, the year 1926 was the first in which the trophy was awarded at season's end. The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.
had been the "goat" of the 1927 Rose Bowl, after an Alabama defender broke through the line, blocked his kick, and set up the Tide's tying touchdown. Wilton lost the ball after being hit on his own 20 yard line, and Pitt's Jimmy Hagan ran the fumble in for a touchdown. Walter Heinecke of Stanford blocked the point attempt, holding Pitt's lead to 6-0. Wilton's chance at redemption came later, when his teammate Spud Lewis fumbled a yard from goal. Wilton scooped up the ball and crashed through for the tying touchdown. The Stanford kick was good, and the Indians held on for a 7-6 win.
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
(8-0-1) were invited to play against the Pacific Coast Conference champion. Though USC and Stanford had identical records in conference play, Stanford was given a chance to "avenge" its 7-7 tie against Alabama in the last Rose Bowl. Although an Illinois vs. USC matchup would have been equally plausible for the 1928 Rose Bowl, their Pasadena meeting would have to wait 80 years-- until 2008.
The major rules change in 1927 was the moving of the goal posts from the goal line, to the end of the end zone, where they have been ever since. The move was for both safety reasons and to de-emphasize the kicking game
Major conferences that existed in 1927 were the Western Conference(today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA, forerunner of the Big 12), the Southwest Conference, and the Southern Conference (whose members later formed the SEC and the ACC). At season's end, the Rissler Cup was awarded to the team that finished first in the "Dickinson ratings", which considered strength of schedule, in that a win, loss or tie against a "strong" opponent was worth more than one against a lesser team, and the results were averaged.
September
September 17 Washington defeated Willamette 32-6.September 24 USC beat Occidental 33-0; Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Boston University, 13-0; Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Thiel College 42-0. Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
shut out Trinity 45-0.
October
October 1 USC beat Santa Clara 52-12. Notre Dame beat Iowa's Coe College 28-7; ArmyArmy Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Detroit Mercy 6-0. Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Bowdoin 41-0;
The Western Conference (later the Big Ten) teams opened their seasons. Minnesota beat North Dakota, 57-10, Michigan beat Ohio Wesleyan, 33-0, and Illinois beat Bradley, 19-0.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Grove City College, 33-0; Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
beat Iowa State, 6-0; Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Virginia, 32-0; and Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
beat Southwest Texas 31-0.
October 8 USC edged Oregon State 13-12; Detroit Mercy, fresh from its 6-0 loss at West Point, played at Notre Dame and lost 20-0; Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Marquette 21-12;
In a battle of Bulldogs, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
14-10 in New Haven. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
won another shutout, over West Virginia, 49-0;
Minnesota beat Oklahoma State, 40-0, Michigan beat Michigan State, 21-0, and Illinois beat Butler 58-0. At Columbia, Missouri, Missouri beat Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, 7-6, and Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
recorded its third shutout, an 18-0 win over Sewanee.
October 15 USC played at Stanford University in Palo Alto, to a 13-13 tie.
Notre Dame and Navy played at Baltimore, with the Irish winning 19-6.
Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Davis & Elkins College, 27-6
Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Brown 19-0;
In Western Conference play, Minnesota and Indiana played to a 14-14 tie
Michigan won at Wisconsin, 14-0, Illinois and Iowa State played to a 12-12 tie,
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Drake 32-0;
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
beat Grinnell College 58-0
Furman v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia, was a United States Supreme Court decision that ruled on the requirement for a degree of consistency in the application of the death penalty. The case led to a de facto moratorium on capital punishment throughout the United States, which came to an end when Gregg v. Georgia was...
took place in Athens, Ga., as the University of Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
hosted the Paladins of Furman University and won, 32-0.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
surrendered its first points in a 40-6 win over Arkansas.
October 22 USC beat Caltech 51-0 ;
Notre Dame beat Indiana 19-6
(4-0)
Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
and (2-1) Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
met at New Haven, with Yale winning 10-6
Minnesota beat Iowa, 38-0
Michigan beat Ohio State, 21-0,
Brown
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
was upset by Lebanon Valley
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, 13-12
Illinois edged Northwestern, 7-6
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat crosstown team Carnegie Tech, but not in a shutout (23-7).
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
was idle; Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Auburn, 33-3
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
played at Texas Christian, and was tied, 0-0.
October 29 Michigan (4-0-0) and Illinois (3-0-1) faced off at Champaign, Ill. The Illini won 14-0.
USC beat California, 13-0
Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech, 26-7
Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Bucknell 34-0;
Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Dartmouth, 19-0;
Minnesota beat Wisconsin, 13-7;
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Allegheny 62-0;
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
beat visiting Syracuse, 21-0; Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Tulane, 31-0
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
had beaten Texas Tech, 47-6, in a Friday game.
November
November 5 USC was idle, while (5-1-1) Stanford and (7-0-0) Washington met in Seattle for a conference game, with Stanford winning 13-7.In a meeting of unbeatens, (5-0-0) Notre Dame hosted (4-0-1) Minnesota. The teams played to a 7-7 tie.
Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Franklin & Marshall, 45-0;
Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Maryland 30-6
Michigan won at Chicago, 14-0 and Illinois beat Iowa 14-0
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and Washington & Jefferson, both (6-0-0), played to a 0-0 tie
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
beat Kansas, 47-13;
Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
defeated Florida at Jacksonville, 28-0; Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
beat SMU, 39-13
On Armistice Day, November 11, Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
defeated Rice University in Houston, 14-0.
November 12 USC beat Colorado 46-7;
(6-1-0) Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
faced off against (5-0-1) Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. The Cadets handed Rockne's team its first defeat, 18-0
Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
beat Princeton 14-6;
Minnesota beat Drake 27-6;
Michigan beat Navy 27-12;
Illinois beat Chicago 15-6; Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Clemson, 32-0
(6-0-1) Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and (4-1-0) Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
faced off in Pittsburgh, with the Panthers winning 21-13
November 19 USC defeated Washington State, 27-0, while Stanford beat visiting California, 13-6 to close their season at 8-2-1. Though USC, at 8-1-1, had the better overall record, Stanford's two losses at been outside the conference, to St. Mary's and to Santa Clara, and they had tied USC. In PCC play, Stanford and USC both finished 4-0-1, and either could have been invited to play in the 1928 Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl committee went with Stanford, which had been tied by Alabama in the 1927 New Year's Day game.
Notre Dame beat Drake University in Des Moines, 32-0. Drake, which played against Navy, Pitt, Minnesota, Notre Dame and UCLA, would finish at 3-6-0
Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
beat Ursinus College 13-0; Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
closed its season hosting Harvard, and won 14-0;
Illinois defeated Ohio State, 13-0
At Ann Arbor, (5-0-2) Minnesota visited (6-1-0) Michigan. The Gophers beat the Wolverines 13-7 to close their seasons. Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
won at Kansas State, 33-0
Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Mercer, 26-7
November 24 On Thanksgiving Day, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
beat Penn State, 30-0. Pitt, with a record of 8-0-1, had outscored its opponents 283 to 20, with seven shutouts, and was selected to meet Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
beat visiting New York University, 27-18; Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
closed its season with a 28-7 win over Texas.
November 26 Notre Dame (6-1-1) and USC (7-0-1) played before an estimated record crowd of 123,000 (Reported as 117,000 in the Chicago Tribune) at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Notre Dame winning 7-6 (on the strength of a blocked extra point attempt) to hand the Trojans their first loss.
In the Army–Navy Game, played before a crowd of 70,000 at the Polo Grounds in New York, Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
came back from 9-0 at halftime to win 14-9. In Birmingham, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
beat Alabama, 20-6.
December 3 USC closed its season with a 33-13 win over Washington.
(9-0-0) Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
faced off against (7-1-1) Georgia Tech in Atlanta to close the season. The Yellow Jackets undid the Bulldogs' hopes for a perfect season, winning 12-0
Conference standings
The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:Conference Leaders
| Conference | Champion | Conf. record | Overall record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast | Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
(4-0-1) | (7-2-1) |
| Independent | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
(8-0-1) | (8-0-1) |
| Western | Illinois | (5-0-0) | (7-0-1) |
| Southern | North Carolina State | (4-0-0) | (9-1-0) |
| Missouri Valley | Missouri Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996... |
(5-1-0) | (7-2-0) |
| Southwestern | Texas A&M Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
(4-0-1) | (8-0-1) |
Dickinson System
The AP sportswriters' pollAP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
would not begin continuously until 1936. (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System
Dickinson System
The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G...
to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition. The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.
Although Dickinson retroactively applied the system to the 1924 and 1925 seasons, the year 1926 was the first in which the trophy was awarded at season's end. The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.
Final Dickinson rankings
| Rank | Team | Record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Illini | 7-0-1 | 21.50 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Panthers Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
8-0-1 | 21.42 |
| 3 | Minnesota Gophers | 6-0-2 | 20.88 |
| 4 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 7-1-1 | 20.83 |
| 5 | Yale Bulldogs Yale University Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States... |
7-1-0 | 20.00 |
| 6 | Army Cadets Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.... |
9-1-0 | 18.75 |
| 7 | Michigan Wolverines | 6-2-0 | 18.33 |
| 8 | Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
9-1-0 | 17.50 |
| 9 | Nebraska Cornhuskers Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
6-2-0 | 17.42 |
| 10 | USC Trojans | 8-1-1 | 16.35 |
| 11 | Texas A&M Aggies Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
8-0-1 | 15.00 |
1928 Rose Bowl
As the only post-season college football game, the Rose Bowl sought an East-West matchup between the best available eastern team and the PCC champion. In 1927, the Pitt Panthers had finished the season at 8-0-1, with seven shutouts against various levels of opposition, while the Stanford Indians had been tied 7-7 by Alabama on New Year's Day. Since January 1, 1928, fell on a Sunday, the game was played on Monday, January 2. Stanford Punter Frankie WiltonFrank Wilton
Frank S. Wilton, Jr. was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He served as the head football coach for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1932 to 1941, compiling a record of 44–39–5...
had been the "goat" of the 1927 Rose Bowl, after an Alabama defender broke through the line, blocked his kick, and set up the Tide's tying touchdown. Wilton lost the ball after being hit on his own 20 yard line, and Pitt's Jimmy Hagan ran the fumble in for a touchdown. Walter Heinecke of Stanford blocked the point attempt, holding Pitt's lead to 6-0. Wilton's chance at redemption came later, when his teammate Spud Lewis fumbled a yard from goal. Wilton scooped up the ball and crashed through for the tying touchdown. The Stanford kick was good, and the Indians held on for a 7-6 win.