1933 college football season
Encyclopedia
The 1933 college football season saw the Michigan Wolverines
repeat as winners of the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the Dickinson system. Thirteen members of the old Southern Conference split off in 1933 to form the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The ten Southern teams that remained behind would later (1953) constitute the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Other major conferences that existed in 1933 were the Western Conference(today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Big Six (later the Big 8)and the Southwest Conference, many of whom would later make up the Big Twelve. After several years of matching two of the nation's best teams against each other in an unofficial East-West championship game, the Rose Bowl matchup was less than spectacular. Stanford (8-1-1) was ranked behind USC by Dickinson, and Columbia (7-1-0) was not ranked at all. The Columbia Lions won the Pasadena game 7-0.
defeated Linfield College 53-0. Stanford
beat San Jose State 27-0
September 30 Stanford
narrowly defeated UCLA 3-0, USC beat Loyola Marymount 18-0, and Oregon
won at Gonzaga 14-0. Army
opened with a 19-6 win over Mercer College. Minnesota beat visiting South Dakota State 19-6. Pittsburgh
beat Washington & Jefferson 9-0.
beat Santa Clara 7-0, and Oregon
got past Portland College 14-7. Minnesota and Indiana tied 6-6. Michigan
(whose team included Gerald Ford
as a center) beat Michigan State 20-6, Purdue
beat Ohio University 13-6, and Ohio State rolled over Virginia 75-0. Army
beat Virginia Military Institute (VMI) 32-0 Pittsburgh
beat West Virginia 21-0. Nebraska
beat visiting Texas 26-0. Princeton
opened its season with a shutout (40-0) over Amherst.
October 14 In Minneapolis, Minnesota and Purdue
played to a 7-7 tie.
In Chicago, Stanford
and Northwestern played to a 0-0 tie. Oregon
won at Washington 6-0, and USC beat St. Mary's 14-7. Army
defeated Delaware 52-0 and Pittsburgh
beat Navy 34-6. Ohio State defeated Vanderbilt 20-0. Michigan
beat Cornell 40-0. Nebraska
won at Iowa State 20-0. Princeton
recorded its second shutout, a 45-0 win over Williams. Tennessee suffered its first defeat since 1930, losing 10-2 against Duke.
October 21 Michigan
beat visiting Ohio State 13-0.
Minnesota (1-0-2) hosted Pittsburgh
(3-0-0), with the home team Gophers winning, 7-3. Purdue
won at Chicago 14-0. In Portland, USC and Oregon State played to a 0-0 tie. Stanford
won at the University of San Francisco, 20-13. In Cleveland Army
beat Illinois 6-0. Nebraska
won at Kansas State 9-0. Oregon
beat Idaho 19-0 in a Friday Night game. Princeton
beat Columbia, 20-0, to stay unscored upon.
October 28 USC narrowly won at California, 6-3, Oregon
won at UCLA 7-0, and Stanford
lost at Washington 6-0. Michigan
won at Chicago 28-0, Ohio State beat Northwestern 12-0, Minnesota beat Iowa 19-7, and Purdue
won at Wisconsin 14-0. Army
won at Yale 21-0. Pittsburgh
won at Notre Dame 14-0. Nebraska
beat Oklahoma 16-7. Princeton
narrowly won, but stayed unscored upon, with a 6-0 win over Washington & Lee.
beat Utah 26-7. Stanford
beat the Olympic Club 21-0 and Army
beat Coe College 34-0. Purdue
beat Carnegie Tech 17-7. Michigan
won at Illinois, 7-6, Ohio State beat Indiana 21-0.
Minnesota and Northwestern played to a 0-0 tie. Pittsburgh
beat Centre College 37-0. Nebraska
stayed unbeaten with a 26-0 win over Missouri. Princeton
extended its shutout streat to five with a 33-0 win at Brown.
November 11 In Los Angeles, USC (6-0-1) hosted Stanford
(5-1-1). The Trojans suffered their first defeat in 27 games, losing 13-7, in a game that ultimately decided the Pacific Coast championship.
Michigan
defeated Iowa 5-3. At Portland, Oregon
beat Oregon State, 13-3 to extend its record to 8-0-0. Army
won at Harvard 27-0. In Phildadelphia, Ohio State beat Penn 20-7 and Purdue
won at Notre Dame 19-0.
Pittsburgh
beat Duquesne 7-0 and Nebraska
defeated Kansas 12-0
Princeton
beat Dartmouth, 7-0, for its sixth straight shutout.
November 18 USC (7-0-1) handed visiting Oregon
(8-0-0) its first defeat, 26-0. Michigan
(6-0-0) and Minnesota (3-0-3), both unbeaten, played to a scoreless tie. Pittsburgh
(6-1-0) hosted Nebraska
(5-0-0) and won 6-0. Princeton
beat visiting Navy 13-0. In seven games, it had outscored its opponents 164-0. Stanford
beat Montana 33-7. Army
defeated Pennsylvania Military Institute, 12-0. Ohio State won at Wisconsin 6-0. Purdue
suffered its first loss of the season, falling 14-6 to visiting Iowa.
November 25 Princeton
was finally scored upon, after holding its first seven opponents scoreless. The streak was broken by Rutgers, which lost 26-6. USC won at Notre Dame, 19-0 and Stanford
beat California 7-3. The annual Army–Navy Game took place in Philadelphia, and Army
won 12-7. Ohio State closed its season with a 7-6 win over Illinois and Michigan
won at Northwestern 13-0, Minnesota beat Wisconsin 6-3, and Purdue
won at Indiana 19-3. Nebraska
beat Iowa 7-6
Thanksgiving Day fell on November 30 in 1933. Nebraska
defeated Oregon State 22-0 to close its season at 8-1-0. Oregon
won at St. Mary's, 13-7. Pittsburgh
beat Carnegie Tech 16-0.
Army
(9-0-0) and Notre Dame (2-5-1) met at Yankee Stadium. The Fighting Irish pulled off a 13-12 upset. Princeton
, no longer having to maintain a streak of shutouts, won at Yale 27-2 to finish as the nation's only unbeaten and untied team.
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 the Rockne Memorial Trophy was awarded to the winning university.
In an AP story with the caption "Figure This Out!", the system was explained:
"For each victory of a first division team over another first division team, the winner gets 30 points and the loser 15 points. For each tie between two first
division teams, each team gets 12.5 points. For each victory of a first division team over a second division team, the first division winner gets 20 points and the second division loser 10 points. For each tie between two second
division teams, each gets 15 points. For each tie between a nr»t division team and a second division team, the first ivision team gets 15 points and the second dhision
team gets 20 points. Then, after each team has been given its quota of points its final "score" is tabulated by taking an average on the number of games played."
defeated the Stanford Indians
(now Cardinal) 7-0. Cliff Montgomery
, the Columbia quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively. At 35,000, it has the lowest attendance in the Rose Bowl game since the Rose Bowl Stadium was built in 1922. This was one of the few rainy New Year's Day celebrations in Pasadena, California. Rain three days before had turned the Rose Bowl stadium into a small lake.
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
repeat as winners of the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the Dickinson system. Thirteen members of the old Southern Conference split off in 1933 to form the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The ten Southern teams that remained behind would later (1953) constitute the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Other major conferences that existed in 1933 were the Western Conference(today's Big Ten), the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-10), the Big Six (later the Big 8)and the Southwest Conference, many of whom would later make up the Big Twelve. After several years of matching two of the nation's best teams against each other in an unofficial East-West championship game, the Rose Bowl matchup was less than spectacular. Stanford (8-1-1) was ranked behind USC by Dickinson, and Columbia (7-1-0) was not ranked at all. The Columbia Lions won the Pasadena game 7-0.
September
September 23 USC opened its season with a doubleheader against Occidental College, and Whittier College. Using a combination of varsity and reserves, the Trojans won 39-0 and 51-0, respectively. Although future President Richard M. Nixon had been on the freshman football team at Whittier, he was not part of the varsity squad that played against USC. OregonOregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
defeated Linfield College 53-0. 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...
beat San Jose State 27-0
September 30 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...
narrowly defeated UCLA 3-0, USC beat Loyola Marymount 18-0, and Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
won at Gonzaga 14-0. 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....
opened with a 19-6 win over Mercer College. Minnesota beat visiting South Dakota State 19-6. 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 Washington & Jefferson 9-0.
October
October 7 USC defeated Washington State 33-0, StanfordStanford 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...
beat Santa Clara 7-0, and Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
got past Portland College 14-7. Minnesota and Indiana tied 6-6. Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
(whose team included Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
as a center) beat Michigan State 20-6, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
beat Ohio University 13-6, and Ohio State rolled over Virginia 75-0. 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 Virginia Military Institute (VMI) 32-0 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 West Virginia 21-0. 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 Texas 26-0. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
opened its season with a shutout (40-0) over Amherst.
October 14 In Minneapolis, Minnesota and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
played to a 7-7 tie.
In Chicago, 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...
and Northwestern played to a 0-0 tie. Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
won at Washington 6-0, and USC beat St. Mary's 14-7. 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....
defeated Delaware 52-0 and 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 Navy 34-6. Ohio State defeated Vanderbilt 20-0. Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
beat Cornell 40-0. 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...
won at Iowa State 20-0. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
recorded its second shutout, a 45-0 win over Williams. Tennessee suffered its first defeat since 1930, losing 10-2 against Duke.
October 21 Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
beat visiting Ohio State 13-0.
Minnesota (1-0-2) hosted 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...
(3-0-0), with the home team Gophers winning, 7-3. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Chicago 14-0. In Portland, USC and Oregon State played to a 0-0 tie. 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...
won at the University of San Francisco, 20-13. In Cleveland 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 Illinois 6-0. 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...
won at Kansas State 9-0. Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
beat Idaho 19-0 in a Friday Night game. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
beat Columbia, 20-0, to stay unscored upon.
October 28 USC narrowly won at California, 6-3, Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
won at UCLA 7-0, and 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...
lost at Washington 6-0. Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
won at Chicago 28-0, Ohio State beat Northwestern 12-0, Minnesota beat Iowa 19-7, and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Wisconsin 14-0. 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....
won at Yale 21-0. 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...
won at Notre Dame 14-0. 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 Oklahoma 16-7. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
narrowly won, but stayed unscored upon, with a 6-0 win over Washington & Lee.
November
November 4 OregonOregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
beat Utah 26-7. 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...
beat the Olympic Club 21-0 and 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 Coe College 34-0. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
beat Carnegie Tech 17-7. Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
won at Illinois, 7-6, Ohio State beat Indiana 21-0.
Minnesota and Northwestern played to a 0-0 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 Centre College 37-0. 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...
stayed unbeaten with a 26-0 win over Missouri. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
extended its shutout streat to five with a 33-0 win at Brown.
November 11 In Los Angeles, USC (6-0-1) hosted 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...
(5-1-1). The Trojans suffered their first defeat in 27 games, losing 13-7, in a game that ultimately decided the Pacific Coast championship.
Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
defeated Iowa 5-3. At Portland, Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
beat Oregon State, 13-3 to extend its record to 8-0-0. 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....
won at Harvard 27-0. In Phildadelphia, Ohio State beat Penn 20-7 and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Notre Dame 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 Duquesne 7-0 and 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...
defeated Kansas 12-0
Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
beat Dartmouth, 7-0, for its sixth straight shutout.
November 18 USC (7-0-1) handed visiting Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
(8-0-0) its first defeat, 26-0. Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
(6-0-0) and Minnesota (3-0-3), both unbeaten, played to a scoreless 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...
(6-1-0) hosted 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...
(5-0-0) and won 6-0. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
beat visiting Navy 13-0. In seven games, it had outscored its opponents 164-0. 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...
beat Montana 33-7. 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....
defeated Pennsylvania Military Institute, 12-0. Ohio State won at Wisconsin 6-0. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
suffered its first loss of the season, falling 14-6 to visiting Iowa.
November 25 Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
was finally scored upon, after holding its first seven opponents scoreless. The streak was broken by Rutgers, which lost 26-6. USC won at Notre Dame, 19-0 and 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...
beat California 7-3. The annual Army–Navy Game took place in Philadelphia, and 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....
won 12-7. Ohio State closed its season with a 7-6 win over Illinois and Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
won at Northwestern 13-0, Minnesota beat Wisconsin 6-3, and Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
won at Indiana 19-3. 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 7-6
Thanksgiving Day fell on November 30 in 1933. 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...
defeated Oregon State 22-0 to close its season at 8-1-0. Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
won at St. Mary's, 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 Carnegie Tech 16-0.
December
December 2 In Los Angeles, USC (8-1-1) hosted Georgia (8-1-0) and won 31-0Army
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....
(9-0-0) and Notre Dame (2-5-1) met at Yankee Stadium. The Fighting Irish pulled off a 13-12 upset. Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, no longer having to maintain a streak of shutouts, won at Yale 27-2 to finish as the nation's only unbeaten and untied team.
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... |
4-1-0 | 8-1-1 |
| Independent | Princeton Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... |
9-0-0 | 9-0-0 |
| Western | Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
5-0-1 | 7-0-1 |
| SEC | Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... |
5-0-1 | 7-1-1 |
| Southern | Duke Duke Blue Devils football The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal... |
4-0-0 | 9-1-0 |
| Big Six | 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... |
5-0-0 | 8-1-0 |
| Southwest | Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
4-1-0 | 7-3-1 |
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 the Rockne Memorial Trophy was awarded to the winning university.
In an AP story with the caption "Figure This Out!", the system was explained:
"For each victory of a first division team over another first division team, the winner gets 30 points and the loser 15 points. For each tie between two first
division teams, each team gets 12.5 points. For each victory of a first division team over a second division team, the first division winner gets 20 points and the second division loser 10 points. For each tie between two second
division teams, each gets 15 points. For each tie between a nr»t division team and a second division team, the first ivision team gets 15 points and the second dhision
team gets 20 points. Then, after each team has been given its quota of points its final "score" is tabulated by taking an average on the number of games played."
Final Dickinson rankings
Michigan (7-0-1), Minnesota (4-0-4) and Princeton (9-0-0) were all unbeaten, and Princeton was untied as well. Based on its schedule, Michigan was ranked highest by Professor Dickinson. As in 1933, Dickinson (an economics professor at the University of Illinois) included four "Big Ten" colleges among the best in the nation. In 1933, they were Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Purdue.| Rank | Team | Record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Wolverines Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
7-0-1 | 28.52 |
| 2 | 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... |
8-1-0 | 24.61 |
| 3 | Minnesota Gophers | 4-0-4 | 23.87 |
| 4 | 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... |
8-1-0 | 23.01 |
| 5 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 7-1-0 | 22.79 |
| 6 | USC Trojans | 10-1-1 | 22.61 |
| 7 | Princeton Tigers Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... |
9-0-0 | 22.50 |
| 8 | Oregon Ducks Oregon Ducks football The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the... |
9-1-0 | 22.36 |
| 9 | 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 | 22.16 |
| 10 | Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
6-1-1 | 21.88 |
| 11 | Stanford Indians 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... |
9-1-1 | 20.34 |
1934 Rose Bowl
The Columbia LionsColumbia Lions
The Columbia University Lions are the collective athletic teams and their members from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City, United States. The current director of athletics is M...
defeated the Stanford Indians
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...
(now Cardinal) 7-0. Cliff Montgomery
Cliff Montgomery
Cliff Montgomery was the captain of the Columbia University Lions college football team that won the 1934 Rose Bowl Game. Montgomery threw the pass, a trick play known as KF-79, that led to Columbia's 7-0 upset over Stanford University...
, the Columbia quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively. At 35,000, it has the lowest attendance in the Rose Bowl game since the Rose Bowl Stadium was built in 1922. This was one of the few rainy New Year's Day celebrations in Pasadena, California. Rain three days before had turned the Rose Bowl stadium into a small lake.