1952 NCAA football rankings
Two human polls comprised the 1952 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 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.
| 1952 NCAA football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1952 |
| Bowl season | 1952–53 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Michigan State |
Legend
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| National champion | ||
(#–#) |
Win–loss record | |
(Italics) |
Number of first place votes | |
т |
Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP Poll
The final AP Poll was released on December 1, at the end of the 1952 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.
| Preseason Aug[1] | Week 1 Sep 29[2] | Week 2 Oct 6[3] | Week 3 Oct 13[4] | Week 4 Oct 20[5] | Week 5 Oct 27[6] | Week 6 Nov 3[7] | Week 7 Nov 10[8] | Week 8 Nov 17[9] | Week 9 Nov 24[10] | Week 10 (Final) Dec 1[11] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Michigan State (77) | Michigan State (1–0) (52) | Wisconsin (2–0) (27) | Michigan State (3–0) (39) | Michigan State (4–0) (49) | Michigan State (5–0) (38) | Michigan State (6–0) (33) | Michigan State (7–0) (57) | Michigan State (8–0) (80) | Michigan State (9–0) (88) | Michigan State (9–0) (207) | 1. |
| 2. | Maryland (79) | Illinois (1–0) (4) | Michigan State (2–0) (24) | Maryland (4–0) (31) | Maryland (5–0) (36) | Maryland (6–0) (32) | Maryland (7–0) (35) | Georgia Tech (8–0) (32) | Georgia Tech (9–0) (14) | USC (9–0) (24) | Georgia Tech (11–0) (36) | 2. |
| 3. | Georgia Tech (15) | Maryland (2–0) (7) | California (3–0) (23) | California (4–0) (21) | Oklahoma (3–0–1) (23) | Oklahoma (4–0–1) (20) | Georgia Tech (7–0) (27) | Maryland (7–0) (24) | UCLA (8–0) (9) | Georgia Tech (10–0) (20) | Notre Dame (7–2–1) (4) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (16) | California (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) (22) | Georgia Tech (4–0) (4) | California (5–0) (9) | Georgia Tech (6–0) (7) | Oklahoma (5–0–1) (27) | UCLA (8–0) (15) | USC (8–0) (11) | Oklahoma (7–1–1) (3) | Oklahoma (8–1–1) (14) | 4. |
| 5. | Illinois (7) | Texas (2–0) (5) | Georgia Tech (3–0) (12) | Duke (4–0) (9) | Georgia Tech (5–0) (5) | USC (6–0) (7) | UCLA (7–0) (11) | USC (7–0) (7) | Oklahoma (6–1–1) (1) | UCLA (8–1) | USC (9–1) (2) | 5. |
| 6. | Tennessee (5) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Duke (3–0) (12) | Oklahoma (2–0–1) (5) | Duke (5–0) (5) | Duke (6–0) (10) | USC (6–0) (3) | Notre Dame (5–1–1) (3) | Ole Miss (7–0–2) (4) | Ole Miss (7–0–2) (5) | UCLA (8–1) (1) | 6. |
| 7. | Wisconsin (4) | USC (2–0) (5) | USC (3–0) (6) | USC (4–0) (2) | USC (5–0) (1) | UCLA (6–0) (6) | Kansas (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Tennessee (7–1) (4) | Notre Dame (6–2–1) | Ole Miss (8–0–2) (3) | 7. |
| 8. | California (2) | Wisconsin (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (1–0–1) (3) | Kansas (4–0) (1) | UCLA (5–0) (3) | Purdue (3–1–1) (1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–1–1) | Maryland (7–1) | Alabama (8–2) (1) | Tennessee (8–1–1) | 8. |
| 9. | TCU (1) | Kansas (2–0) | Kansas (3–0) (1) | Purdue (2–0–1) | Virginia (4–0) (5) | Kansas (5–1) | Purdue (3–2–1) | Texas (6–2) | Notre Dame (5–2–1) | Tennessee (7–1–1) | Alabama (9–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Notre Dame | Duke (2–0) | Princeton (2–0) (3) | UCLA (4–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Villanova (6–0) | Notre Dame (4–1–1) | Purdue (3–2–2) | Texas (7–2) | Texas (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Texas | Tennessee (1–0) (2) | UCLA (3–0) | Virginia (3–0) (7) | Penn (3–0–1) | California (5–1) | Villanova (6–0–1) | Ole Miss (6–0–2) | Tulsa (6–1–1) (3) | Tulsa (7–1–1) (8) | Wisconsin (6–2–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Penn | Villanova (2–0) (2) | Oklahoma (1–0–1) (1) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Villanova (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Duke (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Michigan (5–3) | Wisconsin (6–2–1) | Tulsa (8–1–1) (3) | 12. |
| 13. | Stanford | Princeton (1–0) (1) | Illinois (1–1) | Stanford (4–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1–1) | Texas (5–2) | Syracuse (5–2) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Duke (8–2) | Maryland (7–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Princeton | UCLA (2–0) | Villanova (3–0) | Penn (2–0–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | Texas (4–2) | Ole Miss (5–0–2) | Pittsburgh (5–2) (1) | Alabama (7–2) | Purdue (4–3–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Washington State | Ohio State (1–0) | Virginia (2–0) (3) | Villanova (4–0) | Kansas (4–1) | Michigan (3–2) | Penn State (5–1–1) | Wisconsin (5–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | Maryland (7–2) | Florida (6–3) | 15. |
| 16. | USC (1) | Virginia (1–0) (2) | Purdue (1–0–1) | Ohio State (2–1) | Notre Dame (2–1–1) | Virginia (4–1) | Alabama (6–1) | Princeton (6–1) | Pittsburgh (6–2) (1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Duke (8–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Kansas (1) | Rice (1–0) | Navy (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Penn State (4–0–1) (2) | Penn (3–0–2) | Florida (4–2) | Washington (6–2) | Princeton (7–1) | Florida (6–3) | Ohio State (6–3) | 17. |
| 18. | UCLA | Ole Miss (1–0–1) | Alabama (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Pittsburgh (3–1) | Wisconsin (3–2) | Wisconsin (4–2) | Florida (5–2) | Kansas (7–2) | Princeton (8–1) | Purdue (4–3–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Duke | Notre Dame (0–0–1) | Georgia (3–0) | Penn State (3–0–1) | Michigan (2–2) | Alabama (5–1) | Princeton (5–1) | Kansas (6–2) | Houston (6–2) | Kentucky (5–3–2) | Princeton (8–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Ohio State | Oklahoma (0–0–1) | Penn State (2–0–1) (1) | Navy (3–0) | Texas (3–2) | Florida (3–2) | Holy Cross (5–1) | Michigan (4–3) | Duke (7–2) | Virginia (7–2) | Kentucky (5–3–2) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug[12] | Week 1 Sep 29[13] | Week 2 Oct 6[14] | Week 3 Oct 13[15] | Week 4 Oct 20[16] | Week 5 Oct 27[17] | Week 6 Nov 3[18] | Week 7 Nov 10[19] | Week 8 Nov 17[20] | Week 9 Nov 24[21] | Week 10 (Final) Dec 1[22] | ||
Dropped:
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Final Coaches Poll
The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 2.[23][24]
Michigan State received 32 of the 35 first-place votes; one each went to Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.[23][24]
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State | Independent | none |
| 2 | Georgia Tech | SEC | Won Sugar, 24–7 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | Independent | none |
| 4 | Oklahoma | Big Seven | |
| USC | Pacific Coast | Won Rose, 7–0 | |
| 6 | UCLA | Pacific Coast | none |
| 7 | Ole Miss | SEC | Lost Sugar, 7–24 |
| 8 | Tennessee | SEC | Lost Cotton, 0–16 |
| 9 | Alabama | SEC | Won Orange, 61–6 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 0–7 |
| 11 | Texas | Southwest | Won Cotton, 16–0 |
| 12 | Purdue | Big Ten | none |
| 13 | Maryland | Southern | |
| 14 | Princeton | Independent | |
| 15 | Ohio State | Big Ten | |
| Pittsburgh | Independent | ||
| 17 | Navy | Independent | |
| 18 | Duke | Southern | |
| 19 | Houston | MVC | |
| Kentucky | SEC |
- 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 195w provided numerical rankings to over 600 college football programs. The top 100 ranked teams were:[25]
1. Michigan State
2. Georgia Tech
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. UCLA
6. Tennessee
7. Notre Dame
8. Florida
9. Ole Miss
10. Alabama
11. California
12. Maryland
13. Texas
14. Wisconsin
15. Ohio State
16. Duke
17. Michigan
18. Purdue
19. Kansas
20. Mississippi State
21. Houston
22. Tulas
23. Washington
24. Illinois
25. Colorado
26. Navy
27. Cincinnati
28. TCU
29. Arizona State
30. Kentucky
31. Georgia
32. Pittsburgh
33. SMU
34. Virginia
35. LSU
36. Rice
37. Tulane
38. Villanova
39. Miami (OH)
40. Missouri
41. Minnesota
42. Princeton
43. East Texas
44. Texas A&M
45. Nebraska
46. Baylor
47. Stanford
48. Chattanooga
49. Pacific
50. Vanderbilt
51. Penn State
52. Mississippi Southern
53. Army
54. Auburn
55. Penn
56. Arizona
57. Oklahoma A&M
58. Northwestern
59. Holy Cross
60. Washington State
61. Indiana
62. Marquette
63. Syracuse
64. Iowa
65. Arkansas
66. West Virginia
67. North Carolina
68. San Jose State
69. Wake Forest
70. Yale
71. North Texas
72. Utah
73. Fordham
74. Miami (FL)
75. Texas Tech
76. South Carolina
77. William & Mary
78. Oregon State
79. Clemson
80. Iowa State
81. Hardin Simmons
82. Detroit
83. Arkansas State
84. Santa Clara
85. Dayton
86. Idaho
87. Xavier
88. Oregon
89. Bowling Green
90. Colorado A&M
91. Compton
92. New Mexico
93. Kansas State
94. Wyoming
95. Lenoir Rhyne
96. Tyler JC
97. Columbia
98. Abilene Christian
99. Pasadena JC
100. Boston University
References
- "1952 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "September 29, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 6, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 13, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 20, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 27, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 3, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 10, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 17, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 24, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "1952 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "1952 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "September 29, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 6, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 13, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 20, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "October 27, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 3, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 10, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 17, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "November 24, 1952 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "1952 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- "Michigan State tops press poll; jackets second". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. December 2, 1952. p. 3B.
- Miller, Norman (December 2, 1952). "Board of coaches selects Michigan State's great Spartans for mythical title for '52". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). United Press. p. 2.
- "Michigan State Tops Litratings; Tech Is Runnerup". The Nashville Banner. October 19, 1952. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.