1972 College football season - wikipedia 1972 College football season 1972 NCAA University Division football season Preseason AP # 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers Regular season September 9 -- December 2, 1972 Number of bowls 11 Bowl games December 18, 1972 -- January 1, 1973 Champion USC Trojans ( AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF ) Heisman Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska -- WB ← 1971 College football seasons 1973 → The 1972 NCAA University Division football season saw the USC Trojans, coached by John McKay, go undefeated and win the national championship as the unanimous choice of the fifty AP panelists. Eighth - ranked in the preseason, the Trojans were narrowly voted # 1 in the first AP poll, and stayed out front for the rest of the year. During the twentieth century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, which became Division I in 1973 ( and Division I-A in 1978 ). The NCAA Football Guide, however, did note an `` unofficial national champion '' based on the top ranked teams in the `` wire service '' ( AP and UPI ) polls. The `` writers ' poll '' by Associated Press ( AP ) was the most popular, followed by the `` coaches ' poll '' by United Press International ) ( UPI ). Through the 1973 season, the UPI issued its final poll in early December before the bowls, but since 1968 ( and 1965 ) the AP Trophy was withheld until the postseason was completed. The AP poll in 1972 consisted of the votes of fifty sportswriters, though not all of them voted in every poll. Those who cast votes would give their opinion of the ten best teams. Under a point system of twenty points for first place, nineteen for second, etc., the `` overall '' ranking was determined. This season was historically significant because it was the first in which freshmen were eligible to play varsity football in the University Division. The NCAA had historically prohibited freshmen from varsity competition, except during the United States involvement in World War II. In 1968, the NCAA allowed freshman eligibility in the University Division in all sports, except football and basketball, and extended the rule to those sports effective with the 1972 -- 73 academic year. Contents 1 Rule changes 2 Conference and program changes 2.1 NCAA structure 2.2 Membership changes 2.3 Program changes 3 September 4 October 5 November 6 Conference standings 7 Bowl games 7.1 Major bowls 7.2 Other bowls 8 Other champions 8.1 College Division 8.1. 1 College Division final polls 8.1. 2 College Division bowls 8.1. 3 Conference standings 8.2 NAIA 8.3 Black College National Championship 8.4 Minor conference champions 9 Heisman Trophy 10 See also 11 References Rule changes Kickoffs that land in the end zone untouched by the receivers are blown dead and the ball put in play by the receiving team at their own 20 - yard line ( touchback ). Official time - outs are called for players who are `` obviously injured. '' Previously, teams were charged a time - out for an injured player. Fouls committed by the team not in possession of the ball behind the dead - ball spot are enforced from the dead - ball spot. Jerseys must be replaced if the numbers are no longer readable. ( Tear - aways were popular for backs & receivers, later prohibited ) Mouthpieces are made mandatory starting with the 1973 season. Conference and program changes NCAA structure This was the last season for the `` University '' and `` College '' divisions. For the 1973 season, the NCAA created the three - division structure that exists today with teams and conferences designated accordingly : The University Division became Division I The College Division was subdivided into Division II and Division III Five years later in 1978, Division I was subdivided ( for football only ) into I-A and I - AA. In 2006, these were renamed Division I FBS and FCS, respectively. Many of the teams and conferences now in FCS ( Big Sky, Ohio Valley, SWAC, Yankee ) were initially in Division II and moved up to I - AA. Membership changes School 1971 Conference 1972 Conference Appalachian State Mountaineers Independent Southern McNeese State Cowboys Independent Southland New Mexico State Aggies Independent Missouri Valley Trinity ( TX ) Tigers Southland Independent Program changes Stanford University officially changed their nickname from Indians to Cardinals in 1972 ; it became the singular Cardinal in 1981. The Gulf South Conference, now in Division II, began football play in 1972. September In the preseason poll released on September 4, two - time defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers was ranked first, followed by their Big 8 conference rival, Colorado. Next was Ohio State, Arkansas, and Penn State. On September 9, # 1 Nebraska lost 20 -- 17 on a late field goal to unranked UCLA at night in Los Angeles and dropped to tenth place. # 2 Colorado beat California 20 -- 10. # 3 Ohio State was idle, and # 4 Arkansas lost 31 -- 10 to # 8 USC in Little Rock. # 5 Penn State had not begun its season and fell to sixth. # 7 Alabama beat Duke 35 -- 12 in Birmingham, reached the top five, as did # 6 Oklahoma, which had not yet played a game and moved up two slots. In the next poll, USC received 13 first place votes, and Colorado and Oklahoma had 12 apiece, but USC had a narrow lead in points, 779 to Colorado 's 769. The poll was : 1. USC 2. Colorado 3. Ohio State 4. Oklahoma 5. Alabama September 16 : # 1 USC trounced Oregon State 51 -- 6, and # 2 Colorado was idle. # 3 Ohio State blanked Iowa 21 -- 0, and # 4 Oklahoma shut out Utah State 49 -- 0. # 5 Alabama was idle, and # 7 Tennessee took its place in the next poll : 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Colorado 4. Ohio State 5. Tennessee September 23 : # 1 USC won 55 -- 20 at Illinois, and # 2 Oklahoma crushed Oregon 68 -- 3. # 3 Colorado won 38 -- 6 at Minnesota, # 4 Ohio State was idle, and # 5 Tennessee beat Wake Forest 45 -- 6. The poll was 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Colorado 4. Tennessee 5. Ohio State September 30 : # 1 USC played another Big Ten opponent, beating Michigan State 51 -- 6 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. # 2 Oklahoma beat Clemson 52 -- 3, having outscored its first three opponents 169 -- 6. # 3 Colorado lost 31 -- 6 at Oklahoma State, and # 4 Tennessee lost 10 -- 6 to Auburn in Birmingham. # 5 Ohio State beat North Carolina 29 -- 14. # 6 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 48 -- 21, and # 8 Michigan defeated Tulane 41 -- 7, and both returned to the top five. The poll was 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Ohio State 4. Alabama 5. Michigan October October 7 : # 1 USC won 30 -- 21 at Stanford ; the nine - point margin of victory was the closest of their perfect season. # 2 Oklahoma was idle, and # 3 Ohio State won 35 -- 18 at California. # 4 Alabama won 25 -- 7 at Georgia and # 5 Michigan beat Navy 35 -- 7. The poll was 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Alabama 4. Ohio State 5. Michigan October 14 : # 1 USC went back to winning big, 42 -- 14 over California. # 2 Oklahoma shut out rival Texas 27 -- 0 at Dallas, and # 3 Alabama beat Florida 24 -- 7. # 4 Ohio State beat Illinois 25 -- 7, and # 5 Michigan blanked Michigan State 10 -- 0, but dropped to sixth, replaced by # 6 Nebraska, which rolled over Missouri 62 -- 0. The poll was 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Alabama 4. Ohio State 5. Nebraska October 21 : # 1 USC beat Washington 34 -- 7, but # 2 Oklahoma yielded its first touchdown of the season at Colorado, and eventually fell 20 -- 14. # 3 Alabama won at Tennessee 17 -- 10, # 4 Ohio State won at Wisconsin 28 -- 20, and # 5 Nebraska won 56 -- 0 at Kansas to continue its rise in the polls. # 6 Michigan won 31 -- 7 at Illinois and returned to the top five. The poll was 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Nebraska 4. Ohio State 5. Michigan October 28 : # 1 USC won 18 -- 0 at Oregon, its only shutout in a perfect season. # 2 Alabama beat Southern Mississippi 48 -- 11 in Birmingham, and # 3 Nebraska registered its fourth consecutive shutout, 34 -- 0 at Oklahoma State. Including a 77 -- 7 win at Army, the Cornhuskers had outscored their opponents 271 -- 14 after their opening loss. # 4 Ohio State handled Indiana 44 -- 7, and # 5 Michigan beat Minnesota 27 -- 19. The poll was 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Nebraska 4. Michigan 5. Ohio State November November 4 : # 1 USC beat Washington State 44 -- 3 in Seattle, and # 2 Alabama defeated Mississippi State 58 -- 14. # 3 Nebraska won 33 -- 10 at Colorado, # 4 Michigan won 21 -- 7 at Indiana, and # 5 Ohio State beat Minnesota 27 -- 19. The poll remained unchanged at : 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Nebraska 4. Michigan 5. Ohio State November 11 : # 1 USC had the week off, and # 2 Alabama beat LSU 35 -- 21 at Birmingham. # 3 Nebraska visited Iowa State and played to a 23 -- 23 tie. # 4 Michigan won 31 -- 0 at Iowa to extend its record to 9 -- 0. # 5 Ohio State lost 19 -- 12 at Michigan State, and # 7 Oklahoma beat Missouri 17 -- 6 to return to the top five. The poll was : 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Michigan 4. Oklahoma 5. Nebraska November 18 : # 1 USC beat # 14 UCLA, 24 -- 7, and # 2 Alabama beat Virginia Tech 52 -- 13. # 3 Michigan got past Purdue 9 -- 6, # 4 Oklahoma won 31 -- 7 at Kansas and # 5 Nebraska beat Kansas State 59 -- 7. The top nine stayed unchanged ; the top five : 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Michigan 4. Oklahoma 5. Nebraska November 25 : # 1 USC and # 2 Alabama were idle, while # 3 Michigan ( 10 -- 0 ) and # 9 Ohio State ( 9 -- 1 ) met at Columbus to determine the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth. Ohio State won 14 -- 11, and # 4 Oklahoma returned the favor of last year 's Game of the Century, and beat # 5 Nebraska 17 -- 14 on the road in Lincoln. Oklahoma accepted a bid to the Sugar Bowl to face # 6 Penn State, which beat visiting Pittsburgh 49 -- 27 to close its regular season at 10 -- 1. The poll : 1. USC 2. Alabama 3. Oklahoma 4. Ohio State 5. Penn State December 2 : # 1 USC closed its regular season at home with a 45 -- 23 win over Notre Dame to finish at 11 -- 0. # 2 Alabama ( 10 -- 0 ) was preparing to do the same as it met Auburn ( 8 -- 1 ) in their annual Iron Bowl rivalry game in Birmingham. Auburn spoiled perfection, beating Alabama 17 -- 16, and # 3 Oklahoma closed its regular season with a 10 -- 1 record after a 38 -- 15 win over Oklahoma State. # 4 Ohio State and # 5 Penn State had both finished their regular seasons. The final regular season poll was : 1. USC 2. Oklahoma 3. Ohio State 4. Alabama 5. Penn State. In 1972, only the Rose Bowl ( Big Ten vs. Pac - 8 ) and Cotton Bowl ( SWC winner ) had rigid conference tie - ins. Thus, Big 8 champion Oklahoma passed up an Orange Bowl invitation to play in the Sugar Bowl, while SEC champion Alabama passed the Sugar to meet Texas in the Cotton. For the first time, the Sugar Bowl was played at night on New Year 's Eve, rather than New Year 's Day afternoon. With two consecutive victories in the Orange Bowl, # 9 Nebraska was invited to a third against # 12 Notre Dame. Conference standings 1972 ACC football standings Conf Overall Team No. 12 North Carolina $ 6 -- 0 -- 0 11 -- -- 0 No. 17 NC State -- -- 8 -- -- Maryland -- -- 5 -- 5 -- Duke -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Clemson -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Virginia -- 5 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Wake Forest -- 5 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Big 8 football standings Conf Overall Team No. 2 Oklahoma $ 6 -- -- 0 11 -- -- 0 No. 4 Nebraska $ 5 -- -- 9 -- -- No. 16 Colorado -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Oklahoma State -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Missouri -- -- 0 6 -- 6 -- 0 Iowa State -- -- 5 -- 6 -- Kansas -- 5 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Kansas State -- 6 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Due to a dispute over Oklahoma forfeiting games, both OU and Nebraska claim this title. Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Big Ten football standings Conf Overall Team No. 6 Michigan + 7 -- -- 0 10 -- -- 0 No. 9 Ohio State + 7 -- -- 0 9 -- -- 0 Purdue 6 -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Michigan State 5 -- -- 5 -- 5 -- Minnesota -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Indiana -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Illinois -- 5 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Iowa -- 6 -- -- 7 -- Wisconsin -- 6 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Northwestern -- 8 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 + -- Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Ivy League football standings Conf Overall Team Dartmouth $ 5 -- -- 7 -- -- Yale 5 -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Penn -- -- 0 6 -- -- 0 Cornell -- -- 0 6 -- -- 0 Harvard -- -- -- -- Princeton -- -- -- 5 -- Columbia -- -- -- 5 -- Brown -- 6 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Mid-American Conference football standings Conf Overall Team Kent State $ -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- Bowling Green -- -- 6 -- -- Western Michigan -- -- 7 -- -- Miami -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Toledo -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Ohio -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Missouri Valley Conference football standings Conf Overall Team No. 18 Louisville + -- -- 0 9 -- -- 0 Drake + -- -- 0 7 -- 5 -- 0 West Texas State -- -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Tulsa -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Memphis State -- -- 0 5 -- 5 -- Wichita State -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 New Mexico State -- -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 North Texas State 0 -- 7 -- 0 -- 10 -- 0 + -- Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Pacific - 8 football standings Conf Overall Team No. 1 USC $ 7 -- 0 -- 0 12 -- 0 -- 0 No. 15 UCLA 5 -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 No. 19 Washington State -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Washington -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 California -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Oregon -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Stanford -- 5 -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Oregon State -- 6 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team San Diego State $ -- 0 -- 0 10 -- -- 0 Pacific ( CA ) -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Fresno State -- -- 0 6 -- -- Long Beach State -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 San Jose State -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 SEC football standings Conf Overall Team No. 7 Alabama $ 7 -- -- 0 10 -- -- 0 No. 5 Auburn 6 -- -- 0 10 -- -- 0 No. 11 LSU -- -- 9 -- -- No. 8 Tennessee -- -- 0 10 -- -- 0 Georgia -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Florida -- -- 5 -- 5 -- Ole Miss -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Kentucky -- 5 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Mississippi State -- 6 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Vanderbilt 0 -- 6 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 Southern Conference football standings Conf Overall Team East Carolina $ 6 -- 0 -- 0 9 -- -- 0 Richmond 5 -- -- 0 6 -- -- 0 William & Mary -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 The Citadel -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Davidson -- -- -- 7 -- VMI -- 5 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 Furman -- 6 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 Appalachian State 0 -- -- 5 -- 5 -- $ -- Conference champion 1972 Southwest Conference football standings Conf Overall Team No. 3 Texas $ 7 -- 0 -- 0 10 -- -- 0 Texas Tech -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 SMU -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Arkansas -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Rice -- -- 0 5 -- 5 -- Baylor -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 TCU -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Texas A&M -- 5 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 WAC football standings Conf Overall Team No. 13 Arizona State $ 5 -- -- 0 10 -- -- 0 BYU 5 -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Utah 5 -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Arizona -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Wyoming -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 New Mexico -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Colorado State -- -- 0 -- 10 -- 0 UTEP -- 6 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll 1972 NCAA University Division independents football records Conf Overall Team No. 10 Penn State -- 10 -- -- 0 No. 14 Notre Dame -- 8 -- -- 0 Utah State -- 8 -- -- 0 West Virginia -- 8 -- -- 0 Florida State -- 7 -- -- 0 Northern Illinois -- 7 -- -- 0 Rutgers -- 7 -- -- 0 No. 20 Georgia Tech -- 7 -- -- Air Force -- 6 -- -- 0 Army -- 6 -- -- 0 Virginia Tech -- 6 -- -- Houston -- 6 -- -- Tulane -- 6 -- 5 -- 0 Temple -- 5 -- -- 0 Colgate -- 5 -- -- Holy Cross -- 5 -- -- Syracuse -- 5 -- 6 -- 0 Miami ( FL ) -- 5 -- 6 -- 0 Dayton -- -- 6 -- Boston College -- -- 7 -- 0 Navy -- -- 7 -- 0 South Carolina -- -- 7 -- 0 Southern Miss -- -- 7 -- Xavier -- -- 8 -- 0 Cincinnati -- -- 9 -- 0 Villanova -- -- 9 -- 0 Pittsburgh -- -- 10 -- 0 Rankings from AP Poll Bowl games Major bowls Sunday, December 31, 1972 Monday, January 1, 1973 BOWL SUGAR # 2 Oklahoma Sooners 14 # 5 Penn State Nittany Lions 0 COTTON # 7 Texas Longhorns 17 # 4 Alabama Crimson Tide 13 ROSE # 1 USC Trojans 42 # 3 Ohio State Buckeyes 17 ORANGE # 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers 40 # 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6 The final AP poll in January was : 1. USC ( 12 -- 0 ), 2. Oklahoma ( 11 -- 1 ), 3. Texas ( 10 -- 1 ), 4. Nebraska ( 9 -- 2 -- 1 ), 5. Auburn ( 10 -- 1 ) Other bowls BOWL City State Date Winner Score Runner - up SUN El Paso Texas December 30 # 16 North Carolina 32 -- 28 Texas Tech GATOR Jacksonville Florida December 30 # 6 Auburn 24 -- 3 # 13 Colorado TANGERINE Orlando Florida December 29 Tampa 21 -- 18 Kent State ASTRO - BLUEBONNET Houston Texas December 30 # 11 Tennessee 24 -- 17 # 10 LSU LIBERTY Memphis Tennessee December 18 Georgia Tech 31 -- 30 Iowa State PEACH Atlanta Georgia December 29 N.C. State 49 -- 13 # 18 West Virginia FIESTA Tempe Arizona December 23 # 15 Arizona State 49 -- 35 Missouri Source : Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac - 8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl. Other champions College Division Prior to 1973, the NCAA was divided into two divisions, University and College. College Division teams ( also referred to as `` small college '' ) were ranked in polls by the AP ( a panel of writers ) and by UPI ( coaches ). The national champion ( s ) for each season were determined by the final poll rankings, published at or near the end of the regular season, before any bowl games were played. College Division final polls Both the UPI and AP panels ranked Delaware ( 10 -- 0 ) first, followed by Louisiana Tech ( 11 -- 0 ), and Cal Poly SLO ( 8 -- 0 -- 1 ). Louisiana Tech later defeated Tennessee Tech in the Grantland Rice Bowl, while Cal Poly SLO lost to North Dakota in the Camellia Bowl. Delaware declined an invitation to face Massachusetts ( 7 -- 2 ) in the Boardwalk Bowl, and did not play in the postseason. United Press International ( coaches ) final poll Published on November 22 Rank School Record No. 1 votes Total points Delaware 10 -- 0 21 334 Louisiana Tech 11 -- 0 12 310 Cal Poly SLO 8 -- 0 -- 1 239 South Dakota 9 -- 1 193 5 Tennessee State 9 -- 1 184 6 North Dakota 9 -- 1 148 7 Ashland 11 -- 0 104 8 Tennessee Tech 10 -- 1 98 9 Grambling 8 -- 2 68 10 Carson -- Newman 9 -- 1 46 Associated Press ( writers ) final poll Published on November 23 Rank School Record No. 1 votes Total points Delaware 10 -- 0 9 272 Louisiana Tech 11 -- 0 237 Cal Poly SLO 8 -- 0 -- 1 197 Ashland 11 -- 0 195 5 Tennessee State 8 -- 1 164 T6 South Dakota 9 -- 1 144 T6 North Dakota 9 -- 1 144 T8 Grambling 8 -- 2 76 T8 Western Carolina 7 -- 2 -- 1 76 T10 Carson - Newman 9 -- 1 55 T10 McNeese State 8 -- 2 55 ^ note1 Tennessee State actually 9 -- 1 when the poll was taken. College Division bowls The postseason consisted of four bowls as regional finals, all played on December 10. Bowl Region Location Winning team Losing team Ref Boardwalk East Atlantic City, New Jersey Massachusetts 35 UC Davis 14 Grantland Rice Mideast Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana Tech 35 Tennessee Tech 0 Pioneer Midwest Wichita Falls, Texas Tennessee State 29 Drake 7 Camellia West Sacramento, California North Dakota 38 Cal Poly SLO 21 Conference standings 1972 Big Sky football standings Conf Overall Team Montana State $ 5 -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Idaho State -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Boise State -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Montana -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Idaho -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Weber State -- -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Northern Arizona 0 -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion No Big Sky teams advanced to the postseason 1972 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team # 3 AP / # 3 UPI Cal Poly + -- 0 -- 0 8 -- -- UC Riverside + -- 0 -- 0 9 -- -- 0 Cal State Fullerton -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Valley State -- -- 0 6 -- 5 -- 0 Cal Poly Pomona 0 -- -- 0 -- 6 -- 0 + -- Conference co-champions Rankings from College Division poll 1972 Far Western Conference football standings Conf Overall Team UC Davis $ 5 -- 0 -- 0 6 -- -- Humboldt State -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Chico State -- -- 0 -- 5 -- 0 Cal State Hayward -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 San Francisco State -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 Sacramento State -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from College Division poll 1972 MEAC football standings Conf Overall Team North Carolina Central $ 5 -- -- 0 9 -- -- 0 North Carolina A&T -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Morgan State -- -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Maryland Eastern Shore -- -- 0 -- 5 -- 0 Howard -- -- 0 6 -- -- 0 Delaware State -- -- 0 5 -- -- 0 South Carolina State 0 -- 6 -- 0 -- 9 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from Associated Press poll 1972 Ohio Valley football standings Conf Overall Team # 8 Tennessee Tech $ 7 -- 0 -- 0 10 -- -- 0 Western Kentucky 5 -- -- 0 7 -- -- 0 Middle Tennessee State -- -- 7 -- -- Morehead State -- -- -- 6 -- Eastern Kentucky -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Murray State -- 5 -- 0 -- 6 -- 0 East Tennessee State -- 5 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Austin Peay -- 6 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from UPI poll 1972 Southland Conference football standings Conf Overall Team Louisiana Tech $ 5 -- 0 -- 0 12 -- 0 -- 0 Texas -- Arlington -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 McNeese State -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Lamar -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 SW Louisiana -- -- 0 5 -- 6 -- 0 Arkansas State -- -- 0 -- 7 -- 0 Abilene Christian -- -- 0 -- 8 -- 0 $ -- Conference champion Louisiana Tech record includes Grantland Rice Bowl win. 1972 SWAC football standings Conf Overall Team # 8 AP / # 9 UPI Grambling + 5 -- -- 0 11 -- -- 0 Jackson State + 5 -- -- 0 8 -- -- 0 Alcorn A&M -- -- 5 -- -- Texas Southern -- -- 5 -- -- Mississippi Valley State -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Prairie View A&M -- 5 -- 0 5 -- 5 -- 0 Southern -- 5 -- 0 -- 7 -- + -- Conference co-champions Rankings from College Division poll 1972 Yankee Conference football standings Conf Overall Team UMass $ 5 -- 0 9 -- Connecticut -- -- 5 Vermont -- -- 5 New Hampshire -- -- 5 Maine -- -- 6 Rhode Island 0 -- 5 -- 7 $ -- Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll NAIA Main articles : 1972 NAIA Division I football season and 1972 NAIA Division II football season In the NAIA Division I championship, East Texas State ( now Texas A&M - Commerce ) beat Carson - Newman 21 - 18. Missouri Southern beat Northwestern College ( of Iowa ) 21 - 14 for the NAIA Division II crown. Black College national championship Grambling State defeated North Carolina Central in the inaugural Pelican Bowl to capture the 1972 black college football national championship. Minor conference champions Conference Champion Record Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Adrian Alma 4 -- 1 -- 0 Heisman Trophy The Big Eight Conference dominated the Heisman race in 1972, as the top three were from Nebraska & Oklahoma : Johnny Rodgers, WB -- Nebraska, 1310 points Greg Pruitt, RB -- Oklahoma, 966 Rich Glover, MG -- Nebraska, 652 Bert Jones, QB -- LSU, 351 Terry Davis, QB -- Alabama, 338 John Hufnagel, QB -- Penn State, 292 George Amundson, RB -- Iowa State, 219 Otis Armstrong, RB -- Purdue, 208 Don Strock, QB -- Virginia Tech, 144 Gary Huff, QB -- Florida State, 138 Source : See also 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings 1972 College Football All - America Team References Jump up ^ http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=407 Jump up ^ `` 1972 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary ''. sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Hey, guess what ? USC acclaimed poll champs ''. Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. January 3, 1973. p. 31. Jump up ^ CFB Data Warehouse -- final AP polls -- 1970 -- 79 Jump up ^ `` Bowl games at a glance ''. Spokesman - Review. November 22, 1972. p. 15. Jump up ^ `` UPI Names Delaware College Div. Grid King '', Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 24, 1972, p19 Jump up ^ `` AP Poll Picks Hens as Little Big Men '', Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 25, 1972, p19 Jump up ^ `` Hens Scratch Bowl... ''. Philadelphia Daily News. November 22, 1972. Retrieved February 22, 2017 -- via newspapers.com. Jump up ^ UPI ( November 22, 1972 ). `` Delaware Names As Small College National Champs ''. The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, Texas. Retrieved February 25, 2017 -- via newspapers.com. Jump up ^ `` Delaware Top Squad ''. The Clarion - Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. Associated Press. November 23, 1972. Retrieved February 25, 2017 -- via newspapers.com. Jump up ^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/t/tennessee_state/1970-1974_yearly_results.php Jump up ^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=36 Jump up ^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=127 Jump up ^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=235 Jump up ^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=328 Jump up ^ `` Cal Poly upset ''. Eugene Register - Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 10, 1972. p. 4B. Jump up ^ AP Staff Reporters ( December 3, 1972 ). `` Grambling wins and claims title ''. New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved January 11, 2011. Jump up ^ Heisman.com -- 1972 -- Johnny Rodgers Jump up ^ `` Johnny Rodgers Heisman winner ''. Spokesman - Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 6, 1972. p. 17. NCAA football seasons Pre-regulation 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 IAAUS / NCAA 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 NCAA University Division / Division I 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 NCAA Division I-A / FBS 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 NCAA Division I - AA / FCS 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 NCAA Division II 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 NCAA Division III 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1972_college_football_season&oldid=836141529 '' Categories : 1972 NCAA University Division football season Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 12 April 2018, at 22 : 20. 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Question: when did ncaa allow freshmen to play football
Answer: This season