# 1933 college football season

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.
The unofficial east–west championship game, the Rose Bowl, was between Stanford (8–1–1) who was ranked behind USC and unranked Columbia (7–1). The Columbia Lions won the Rose Bowl game 7–0.

## Conference and program changes

Outside of College football: Due to the success of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game, the NFL stopped using the exact rules of college football and started to develop its own revisions.

### Conference changes

Two new conferences began play in 1933:
** Chesapeake Conference – active through the 1936 season
** Southeastern Conference (SEC) – active NCAA Division I FBS conference; formed after its thirteen members broke away from the Southern Conference in 1932.

### Membership changes

| School | 1932 Conference | 1933 Conference |
| Auburn Tigers | SoCon | SEC |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | SoCon | SEC |
| Florida Gators | SoCon | SEC |
| Georgia Bulldogs | SoCon | SEC |
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | SoCon | SEC |
| Kentucky Wildcats | SoCon | SEC |
| LSU Tigers | SoCon | SEC |
| Mississippi Rebels | SoCon | SEC |
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | SoCon | SEC |
| Northeastern Huskies | No program | NEC |
| Sewanee Tigers | SoCon | SEC |
| Tennessee Volunteers | SoCon | SEC |
| Tulane Green Wave | SoCon | SEC |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | SoCon | SEC |

## 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. Oregon 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.

## October

October 7 USC defeated Washington State 33–0, Stanford 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.

## November

November 4 Oregon 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 streak 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 (6–1–1) 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.

## December

December 2 In Los Angeles, USC (8–1–1) hosted Georgia (8–1–0) and won 31–0 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.

## 1934 Rose Bowl

The Columbia Lions 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.

## Other bowls

* Dixie Classic

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1933 Big Six Conference football standings :
| 1933 Big Six Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 2 Nebraska $ 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Kansas State 4 –1 –06 –2 –1 Oklahoma 3 –2 –04 –4 –1 Kansas 2 –3 –05 –4 –1 Iowa State 1 –4 –03 –5 –1 Missouri 0 –5 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from Dickinson System | 1933 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Michigan + 5 –0 –17 –0 –1 No. 3 Minnesota + 2 –0 –44 –0 –4 No. 5 Ohio State 4 –1 –07 –1 –0 No. 10 Purdue 3 –1 –16 –1 –1 Illinois 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Iowa 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Northwestern 1 –4 –11 –5 –2 Chicago 0 –3 –23 –3 –2 Indiana 0 –3 –21 –5 –2 Wisconsin 0 –5 –12 –5 –1 + – Conference co-championsRankings from Dickinson System | 1933 Border Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Texas Tech $ 1 –0 –08 –1 –0 Arizona State–Flagstaff 4 –1 –05 –1 –0 Arizona 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 New Mexico 2 –2 –03 –4 –1 Arizona State 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 New Mexico A&M 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference championReference |
| 1933 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 11 Stanford ^ + 4 –1 –08 –2 –1 No. 8 Oregon + 4 –1 –09 –1 –0 No. 6 USC 4 –1 –110 –1 –1 Oregon State 2 –1 –16 –2 –2 Washington State 3 –3 –15 –3 –1 California 2 –2 –26 –3 –2 Washington 3 –4 –05 –4 –0 UCLA 1 –3 –16 –4 –1 Idaho 1 –4 –04 –4 –0 Montana 0 –4 –03 –4 –0 + – Conference co-champions^ – Selected as Rose Bowl representativeRankings from Dickinson System | 1933 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Utah + 5 –1 –05 –3 –0 Colorado Agricultural + 5 –1 –15 –1 –1 Denver + 5 –1 –15 –3 –1 Colorado 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 BYU 5 –3 –05 –4 –0 Utah State 4 –3 –04 –4 –0 Colorado Teachers 3 –3 –04 –3 –0 Colorado College 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Montana State 1 –3 –02 –5 –0 Colorado Mines 1 –5 –01 –5 –0 Wyoming 1 –6 –12 –6 –1 Western State (CO) 0 –5 –00 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1933 Southeastern Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Alabama $ 5 –0 –17 –1 –1 LSU 3 –0 –27 –0 –3 Georgia 3 –1 –08 –2 –0 Tennessee 5 –2 –07 –3 –0 Tulane 4 –2 –16 –3 –1 Auburn 2 –2 –05 –5 –0 Ole Miss 2 –2 –16 –3 –2 Vanderbilt 2 –2 –24 –3 –3 Florida 2 –3 –05 –3 –1 Kentucky 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Georgia Tech 2 –5 –05 –5 –0 Mississippi State 1 –5 –13 –6 –1 Sewanee 0 –6 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Southern Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Duke $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –0 South Carolina 3 –0 –06 –3 –1 North Carolina 2 –1 –04 –5 –0 VMI 2 –1 –12 –7 –1 Washington and Lee 1 –1 –14 –4 –2 Clemson 1 –1 –03 –6 –2 VPI 1 –1 –34 –3 –3 Virginia 1 –3 –12 –6 –2 Maryland 1 –4 –03 –7 –0 NC State 0 –4 –01 –5 –3 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Southwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Arkansas 4 –1 –07 –3 –1 TCU 4 –2 –09 –2 –1 Baylor 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Texas A&M 2 –2 –16 –3 –1 Texas 2 –3 –14 –5 –2 SMU 2 –4 –04 –7 –1 Rice 1 –5 –03 –8 –0 Because of an ineligible played used by Arkansas, no championship was awarded. |

### Independents

1933 Eastern college football independents records :
| 1933 Eastern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 7 Princeton   –  9 –0 –0 Duquesne   –  10 –1 –0 No. 9 Army   –  9 –1 –0 Boston College   –  8 –1 –0 Columbia   –  8 –1 –0 Pittsburgh   –  8 –1 –0 Colgate   –  6 –1 –1 Bucknell   –  7 –2 –0 Fordham   –  6 –2 –0 Tufts   –  6 –2 –0 Villanova   –  7 –2 –1 Harvard   –  5 –2 –1 Drexel   –  5 –3 –0 Massachusetts State   –  5 –3 –0 Temple   –  5 –3 –0 Manhattan   –  5 –3 –1 Cornell   –  4 –3 –0 Carnegie Tech   –  4 –3 –2 La Salle   –  3 –3 –2 Syracuse   –  4 –4 –0 Yale   –  4 –4 –0 Penn State   –  3 –3 –1 Brown   –  3 –5 –0 Vermont   –  3 –5 –0 Franklin & Marshall   –  4 –5 –0 NYU   –  2 –4 –1 Penn   –  2 –4 –1 Northeastern   –  1 –3 –1 Boston University   –  2 –5 –0 Washington & Jefferson   –  2 –7 –1 CCNY   –  1 –5 –1 Rankings from Dickinson System | 1933 Midwestern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T DePaul   –  6 –0 –1 Detroit   –  7 –1 –0 Michigan State Normal   –  5 –2 –0 Saint Louis   –  6 –3 –0 Central State (MI)   –  5 –2 –1 Michigan State   –  4 –2 –2 Missouri Mines   –  4 –3 –0 Michigan Tech   –  2 –2 –0 Western State Teachers (MI)   –  3 –3 –1 Marquette   –  3 –4 –1 Notre Dame   –  3 –5 –1 Haskell   –  2 –6 –3 Detroit City   –  2 –5 –1 | 1933 Southern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Oklahoma City   –  8 –1 –0 Tulsa   –  6 –1 –0 Troy State   –  5 –1 –0 Texas A&I   –  6 –2 –0 Catholic University   –  6 –3 –0 South Georgia Teachers   –  5 –3 –0 Western Maryland   –  5 –3 –0 William & Mary Norfolk   –  5 –3 –1 George Washington   –  5 –3 –1 Navy   –  5 –4 –0 Delaware State   –  4 –4 –0 Oglethorpe   –  4 –5 –0 Texas Mines   –  3 –5 –1 West Virginia   –  3 –5 –2 Delaware   –  2 –4 –2 Dixie (TX)   –  2 –4 –0 Georgetown   –  1 –6 –1 Jacksonville State   –  1 –4 –1 East Carolina   –  1 –5 –0 Wake Forest   –  0 –5 –1 | 1933 Western college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Cal Poly   –  7 –0 –0 Loyola (CA)   –  7 –2 –1 Santa Clara   –  6 –2 –1 Saint Mary's   –  6 –3 –1 Hawaii   –  4 –3 –0 Columbia (OR)   –  4 –3 –1 Humboldt State   –  1 –1 –0 Gonzaga   –  2 –6 –1 San Francisco State   –  2 –6 –0 San Francisco   –  1 –6 –1 |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association | Morgan College | 9–0 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Wichita | 6–0 |
| Far Western Conference | Nevada | 3–0 |
| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Simpson | 6–0–1 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Ottawa | 4–0 |
| Lone Star Conference | East Texas State Teachers | 5–0 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Hillsdale | 4–0 |
| Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference | Adrian Lawrence Technological University | — — |
| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference | Coe | 4–0 |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Gustavus Adolphus | 4–0–1 |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Northeast Missouri State Teachers | 4–0 |
| Nebraska College Athletic Conference | Hastings | 3–0–1 |
| Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association | State Normal–Chadron | 4–0 |
| North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | South Dakota State College | 4–0 |
| North Dakota College Athletic Conference | Jamestown College | 5–0–1 |
| Northern Teachers Athletic Conference | St. Cloud State Teachers | 4–0 |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | Dayton | 2–0–1 |
| Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference | Southwestern State Teachers (OK) | 4–0 |
| Pacific Northwest Conference | College of Puget Sound | 5–0 |
| South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Augustana (SD) Northern Normal and Industrial | 4–0 4–0–1 |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Redlands | 6–0–1 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Tuskegee | — |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Wiley (TX) | 5–0 |
| Texas Conference | St. Edward's (TX) | 5–1 |
| Tri-Normal League | State Normal–Ellensburg | 2–0 |
| Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference | Stevens Point State Teachers | 3–0–1 |

### Minor conference standings

1933 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings :
| 1933 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Cincinnati + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Miami (OH) + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Ohio 3 –1 –16 –2 –1 Ohio Wesleyan 2 –3 –06 –4 –0 Marshall 1 –3 –13 –5 –1 Wittenberg 0 –5 –02 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1933 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Wichita $ 6 –0 –08 –2 –0 Fort Hays State 3 –1 –26 –2 –2 Pittsburg State 2 –2 –24 –3 –2 Washburn 2 –3 –14 –6 –1 Emporia Teachers 2 –4 –03 –5 –1 College of Emporia 1 –3 –24 –3 –2 Southwestern (KS) 1 –4 –11 –6 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Morgan $ 8 –0 –09 –0 –0 Hampton 7 –1 –17 –1 –1 Bluefield State 4 –1 –25 –2 –2 Virginia Union 4 –2 –34 –2 –4 Saint Paul's (VA) 4 –2 –24 –2 –4 North Carolina A&T 3 –3 –33 –3 –3 North Carolina College 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Howard 3 –3 –03 –3 –0 Johnson C. Smith 1 –5 –01 –5 –0 Virginia State 1 –8 –01 –8 –0 Lincoln (PA) 0 –4 –11 –4 –2 Shaw 0 –6 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Dixie Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Howard (AL) $ 4 –0 –17 –1 –2 Centre 2 –0 –07 –3 –0 Mercer 2 –0 –14 –3 –2 Birmingham–Southern 2 –1 –33 –3 –3 Mississippi College 1 –1 –13 –4 –1 Millsaps 1 –1 –14 –4 –2 Southwestern (TN) 1 –3 –13 –4 –2 Chattanooga 0 –2 –22 –3 –2 Spring Hill 0 –5 –00 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Far Western Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Nevada $ 3 –0 –04 –4 –0 San Jose State 3 –1 –04 –4 –0 Pacific (CA) 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Fresno State 1 –2 –05 –4 –0 Chico State 1 –3 –02 –6 –0 Cal Aggies 1 –4 –02 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Illinois Wesleyan $ 4 –0 –16 –2 –1 North Central 2 –0 –24 –0 –2 St. Viator 2 –0 –03 –4 –0 Millikin 1 –0 –23 –1 –2 McKendree 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Augustana (IL) 4 –1 –17 –1 –1 Illinois College 4 –1 –14 –2 –1 Carthage 3 –1 –14 –1 –2 Illinois State Normal 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Southern Illinois 4 –2 –04 –4 –1 Lake Forest 2 –1 –03 –3 –1 Bradley 3 –2 –13 –5 –2 Northern Illinois State 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 Monmouth (IL) 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Western Illinois 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Wheaton (IL) 1 –2 –22 –2 –3 Eastern Illinois 1 –5 –01 –8 –0 Elmhurst 0 –3 –10 –5 –1 Shurtleff 0 –5 –00 –7 –1 Knox (IL) 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 Eureka 0 –7 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T DePauw $ 7 –0 –07 –0 –0 Valparaiso 3 –0 –07 –1 –0 Indiana State 6 –1 –07 –1 –0 Hanover 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Wabash 4 –2 –14 –2 –1 Central Normal 3 –2 –04 –2 –1 Oakland City 3 –2 –03 –3 –0 Butler 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Gary 1 –2 –02 –3 –0 Evansville 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Franklin (IN) 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Earlham 1 –3 –03 –3 –0 Manchester 1 –3 –01 –5 –1 Ball State 1 –6 –11 –6 –1 Rose Poly 0 –8 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Iowa Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Simpson (IA) $ 6 –0 –17 –2 –1 Iowa Wesleyan 6 –0 –07 –2 –0 Morningside 2 –0 –04 –4 –0 St. Ambrose 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 Parsons 3 –2 –13 –2 –2 Iowa State Teachers 2 –2 –03 –6 –0 Upper Iowa 3 –2 –04 –2 –0 Penn (IA) 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Luther 3 –2 –04 –3 –0 Dubuque 0 –3 –01 –6 –0 Western Union 0 –3 –00 –8 –0 Buena Vista 1 –4 –02 –6 –1 Central (IA) 1 –5 –12 –6 –1 Columbia (IA) 0 –5 –11 –5 –1 $ – Conference championConference standings were based on Stanley-Dean ranking. | 1933 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T East Texas State $ 5 –0 –05 –2 –1 Southwest Texas State 3 –1 –17 –1 –1 North Texas State 2 –2 –13 –4 –2 Sam Houston State 1 –2 –23 –4 –2 Trinity (TX) 1 –3 –12 –5 –2 Stephen F. Austin 0 –4 –10 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Ottawa $ 4 –0 –05 –3 –0 McPherson 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Kansas Wesleyan 2 –2 –05 –4 –0 Baker 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Bethany (KS) 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Hillsdale $ 4 –0 –06 –0 –2 Hope 1 –1 –23 –2 –2 Kalamazoo 1 –1 –23 –2 –2 Albion 0 –2 –21 –3 –2 Alma 0 –2 –20 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Middle Three Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Rutgers $ 2 –0 –06 –3 –1 Lafayette 1 –1 –03 –5 –1 Lehigh 0 –2 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Midwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Coe $ 4 –0 –06 –1 –2 Beloit 3 –1 –03 –2 –2 Cornell (IA) 3 –1 –13 –4 –2 Ripon 1 –1 –03 –2 –1 Monmouth (IL) 1 –2 –04 –5 –0 Lawrence 1 –2 –03 –4 –0 Carleton 0 –2 –12 –2 –2 Knox 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Gustavus Adolphus $ 4 –0 –15 –0 –2 St. Thomas (MN) 4 –1 –05 –2 –2 St. Olaf 3 –1 –04 –3 –0 Saint Mary's (MN) 2 –2 –13 –3 –1 Concordia (MN) 2 –2 –12 –3 –3 Hamline 2 –2 –12 –3 –1 Saint John's (MN) 1 –2 –23 –3 –2 Macalester 1 –4 –01 –5 –0 Augsburg 0 –5 –00 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Mississippi Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T West Tennessee State Teachers 3 –0 –07 –1 –1 Sunflower Junior 2 –1 –02 –1 –0 Bethel (TN) $ 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Tennessee Poly 1 –1 –04 –4 –0 Lambuth 2 –3 –12 –5 –1 Delta State 1 –2 –02 –7 –0 Freed–Hardeman 0 –3 –10 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Missouri Valley $ 2 –0 –14 –2 –1 Tarkio 2 –1 –06 –2 –0 Culver–Stockton 1 –1 –05 –1 –0 Central (MO) 1 –2 –11 –5 –1 William Jewell 0 –2 –21 –4 –3 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kirksville $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –0 Warrensburg 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Cape Girardeau 2 –2 –05 –3 –1 Maryville (MO) 1 –3 –01 –8 –0 Springfield (MO) 0 –4 –02 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Oklahoma A&M $ 2 –0 –06 –2 –1 Drake 5 –1 –06 –3 –1 Creighton 2 –2 –03 –4 –1 Washington University 1 –2 –04 –5 –0 Butler 0 –2 –02 –6 –0 Grinnell 0 –3 –00 –8 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Hastings $ 3 –0 –14 –2 –1 Nebraska Wesleyan 3 –1 –03 –5 –1 Midland 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 York (NE) 0 –2 –24 –4 –2 Doane 0 –3 –11 –5 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Chadron State $ 4 –0 –06 –1 –0 Omaha 2 –1 –15 –3 –1 Wayne State (NE) 1 –1 –26 –1 –2 Peru State 1 –2 –15 –2 –1 Kearney State 0 –4 –00 –6 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1933 New England Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Rhode Island State $ 2 –0 –06 –2 –0 New Hampshire 1 –0 –03 –3 –1 Connecticut State 0 –1 –01 –6 –1 Maine 0 –2 –04 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 North Central Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T South Dakota State $ 4 –0 –06 –3 –0 North Dakota Agricultural 2 –1 –13 –2 –4 North Dakota 1 –2 –13 –5 –1 Morningside 1 –3 –04 –4 –0 South Dakota 1 –3 –05 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 North Dakota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Jamestown $ 5 –0 –15 –1 –1 Dickinson State 3 –1 –05 –1 –0 Minot State 2 –1 –24 –1 –2 Mayville State 2 –2 –02 –2 –0 Wahpeton 2 –2 –13 –3 –1 Valley City State 1 –5 –01 –5 –0 Ellendale 0 –4 –00 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 North State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Elon $ 2 –0 –15 –3 –1 Appalachian State 1 –0 –07 –2 –0 Lenoir Rhyne 2 –1 –13 –3 –3 Catawba 1 –1 –12 –5 –2 Guilford 1 –1 –12 –7 –1 Western Carolina 0 –4 –01 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1933 Northern Teachers College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T St. Cloud State $ 3 –0 –07 –0 –0 Winona State 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Duluth State 3 –1 –13 –3 –1 Bemidji State 2 –3 –03 –3 –1 Moorhead State 0 –2 –12 –4 –2 Mankato State 0 –4 –00 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Northwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Puget Sound $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0 Willamette 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Pacific (OR) 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Linfield 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Whitman 1 –3 –13 –5 –1 College of Idaho 0 –2 –12 –3 –2 Albany (OR) 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Dayton $ 2 –0 –18 –2 –1 Wooster 7 –1 –07 –1 –1 Akron 5 –2 –15 –3 –1 Case 4 –2 –05 –3 –1 Muskingum 4 –2 –15 –2 –1 Baldwin–Wallace 4 –2 –15 –3 –1 Toledo 3 –2 –15 –2 –1 John Carroll 3 –2 –25 –2 –2 Hiram 2 –2 –22 –2 –3 Kent State 2 –2 –32 –2 –3 Otterbein 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Mount Union 3 –4 –03 –5 –1 Heidelberg 2 –3 –22 –5 –2 Marietta 2 –3 –13 –3 –1 Ashland 2 –4 –13 –4 –1 Bowling Green 1 –3 –22 –3 –2 Capital 1 –4 –21 –4 –2 Oberlin 1 –3 –04 –4 –0 Kenyon 0 –4 –11 –5 –1 Ohio Northern 0 –4 –10 –5 –2 Xavier * 1 –0 –05 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion * – did not compete for championship |
| 1933 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T SW Oklahoma State $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –1 SE Oklahoma State 2 –1 –05 –2 –0 Northeastern State 3 –2 –03 –3 –1 Central State (OK) 2 –2 –14 –5 –1 East Central 0 –3 –22 –5 –2 NW Oklahoma State 0 –3 –13 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Carson–Newman $ 6 –0 –07 –1 –0 East Tennessee State Teachers 3 –1 –16 –1 –2 Maryville (TN) 3 –2 –04 –5 –1 Tusculum 1 –2 –22 –3 –2 King 1 –4 –04 –6 –0 Milligan 0 –4 –12 –6 –1 Cumberland (TN) 0 –1 –07 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Augustana (SD) + 4 –0 –05 –2 –0 Northern Normal + 4 –0 –14 –2 –2 Huron 4 –1 –24 –1 –2 South Dakota Mines 3 –1 –04 –3 –0 Yankton 3 –2 –13 –3 –2 Eastern Normal 2 –2 –03 –2 –1 Southern Normal 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Sioux Falls 1 –4 –03 –4 –0 Dakota Wesleyan 1 –6 –01 –6 –0 Spearfish 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-championsSouth Dakota Mines and Spearfish played twice. The second game was not counted in the conference stnadings. |
| 1933 Southern California Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Redlands $ 6 –0 –16 –1 –1 Whittier 3 –1 –24 –4 –2 La Verne 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 San Diego State 4 –2 –14 –4 –1 Pomona 2 –3 –02 –5 –0 Occidental 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Caltech 2 –5 –02 –7 –0 Santa Barbara State 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Murray State $ 7 –0 –09 –0 –0 Howard (AL) 5 –0 –07 –1 –2 Centenary 3 –0 –08 –0 –4 Furman 4 –0 –16 –1 –2 Union (KY) 3 –0 –14 –1 –1 Miami (FL) 2 –0 –15 –1 –2 Western Kentucky State Teachers 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Centre 3 –1 –07 –3 –0 Loyola (LA) 3 –1 –06 –4 –1 Rollins 2 –1 –06 –2 –0 SW Louisiana 3 –2 –06 –3 –0 Presbyterian 3 –2 –04 –2 –2 Millsaps 3 –2 –14 –4 –2 Newberry 2 –2 –16 –3 –1 Tennessee Tech 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 The Citadel 2 –2 –13 –5 –1 Louisiana Normal 2 –3 –06 –3 –0 Mississippi College 2 –3 –03 –4 –1 Georgetown (KY) 2 –3 –12 –5 –1 Mississippi State Teachers 2 –4 –13 –5 –2 Southwestern (TN) 1 –2 –03 –4 –2 Louisiana Tech 1 –3 –01 –7 –0 Louisiana College 1 –4 –03 –4 –0 Wofford 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Transylvania 1 –4 –01 –7 –1 Erskine 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Union (TN) 1 –5 –03 –7 –0 Louisville 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 Stetson 0 –0 –14 –2 –1 Mercer 0 –0 –14 –3 –2 Eastern Kentucky State Teachers 0 –2 –21 –2 –3 Middle Tennessee State Teachers 0 –4 –01 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Langston +   –   –   Prairie View +   –   –   + – Conference co-champions |
| 1933 Texas Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T St. Edward's $ 5 –1 –07 –2 –0 Howard Payne 4 –2 –05 –3 –1 Abilene Christian * 2 –1 –25 –3 –2 McMurry 3 –2 –04 –4 –2 Austin 1 –2 –21 –6 –2 Simmons (TX) 1 –2 –14 –5 –1 Southwestern (TX) 1 –4 –11 –8 –2 Daniel Baker 0 –4 –20 –7 –2 $ – Conference champion * – Abilene Christian's game against Texas A&I counted in conference standings even though Texas A&I was not a conference member. | 1933 Tri-State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Geneva $ 4 –0 –07 –3 –0 Grove City 4 –1 –06 –1 –1 Thiel 2 –3 –03 –4 –0 Westminster (PA) 1 –2 –02 –6 –0 Waynesburg 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Bethany (WV) 0 –3 –00 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1933 Virginia Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Emory and Henry + 2 –1 –010 –1 –0 Richmond + 2 –1 –05 –4 –0 William & Mary + 2 –1 –06 –5 –0 Roanoke 0 –3 –04 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1933 West Virginia Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Davis & Elkins $ 5 –0 –09 –1 –1 Salem 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 Fairmont State 3 –1 –06 –1 –0 West Virginia Wesleyan 2 –2 –04 –7 –0 West Liberty State 1 –3 –12 –4 –2 Glenville State 1 –3 –12 –4 –1 Morris Harvey 0 –5 –01 –8 –0 Concord * 2 –1 –04 –3 –0 New River State * 1 –1 –04 –2 –0 Shepherd * 1 –2 –05 –2 –0 Marshall * 0 –1 –03 –5 –1 Potomac State * 0 –3 –02 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Ties did not count in conference standings. | 1933 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Stevens Point State $ 4 –0 –17 –0 –1 Milwaukee State 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Superior State 2 –1 –05 –1 –2 River Falls State 2 –1 –14 –1 –1 Oshkosh State 2 –1 –14 –1 –2 Stout Institute 2 –2 –03 –3 –0 La Crosse State 2 –2 –13 –4 –1 Whitewater State 1 –3 –03 –4 –0 Eau Claire State 0 –3 –05 –2 –1 Platteville State 0 –4 –01 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion |

## Dickinson System

The AP sportswriters' poll 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 first division team and a second division team, the first division team gets 15 points and the second division 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) were all unbeaten, and Princeton was untied as well. Based on its schedule, Michigan was ranked highest by Professor Dickinson. As in 1932, Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, included four Big Ten Conference teams among the best in the US. In 1933, they were Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.
| Rank | Team | Record | Rating |
| 1 | Michigan | 7–0–1 | 28.52 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 8–1 | 24.61 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 4–0–4 | 23.87 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | 8–1 | 23.01 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 7–1 | 22.79 |
| 6 | USC | 10–1–1 | 22.61 |
| 7 | Princeton | 9–0 | 22.50 |
| 8 | Oregon | 9–1 | 22.36 |
| 9 | Army | 9–1 | 22.16 |
| 10 | Purdue | 6–1–1 | 21.88 |
| 11 | Stanford | 9–1–1 | 20.34 |

## Awards and honors
### All-Americans

The consensus All-America team included:
| Position | Name | Height | Weight (lbs.) | Class | Hometown | Team |
| QB | Cotton Warburton | 5'7" | 145 | Jr. | San Diego, California | USC |
| HB | Beattie Feathers | 5'10" | 180 | Sr. | Bristol, Virginia | Tennessee |
| HB | George Sauer | 6'2" | 195 | Sr. | Stratton, Nebraska | Nebraska |
| FB | Duane Purvis | | | Jr. | Mattoon, Illinois | Purdue |
| E | Joe Skladany | 5'10" | 190 | Sr. | Larksville, Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh |
| T | Whitey Wistert | 6'2" | 210 | Sr. | Chicago, Illinois | Pittsburgh |
| G | Bill Corbus | 5'11" | 178 | Sr. | San Francisco, California | Stanford |
| C | Chuck Bernard | 6'3" | 225 | Sr. | Benton Harbor, Michigan | Michigan |
| G | Aaron Rosenberg | 6'0" | 210 | Sr. | Brooklyn, New York | USC |
| T | Fred Crawford | 6'2" | 195 | Sr. | Waynesville, North Carolina | Duke |
| E | Paul Geisler | | | Sr. | Berwick, Louisiana | Centenary |

### Statistical leaders

* Player scoring most points: Beattie Feathers, Tennessee, 78