# 1930 college football season

The 1930 college football season saw Notre Dame repeat as national champion under the Dickinson System, as well as claim the No. 1 position from each of the other three contemporary major selectors, (the Boand, Dunkel, and Houlgate Systems). The post-season Rose Bowl matchup featured two unbeaten (9–0) teams, Washington State and Alabama, ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Alabama won the Pasadena contest, 24–0.

## Conference and program changes
### Conference changes

* Three conferences played their first seasons in 1930:
** Dixie Conference – the first of three conferences to share the Dixie Conference name; ended football sponsorship after 1941
** Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference – minor conference with members in Michigan, Ohio, and the Canadian province of Ontario; ended football sponsorship after 1941
** North State Conference – later known as Conference Carolinas; ended football sponsorship in 1973

### Membership changes

| School | 1929 Conference | 1930 Conference |
| Duke Blue Devils | Independent | SoCon |

### Program changes

* Stanford University football officially adopted the Indians nickname.

## September

September 20 Stanford opened its season against a non-college team, beating the West Coast Army club, 32–0
September 27 Nearly all the big schools scheduled tune-up games against weaker visitors, and all but one shut out the opposition. Michigan opened its season with a doubleheader, beating Denison 33–0 and Eastern Michigan 7–0. Other schools rolled up high scores, as Stanford beat the Olympic Club, 18–0; Army beat Boston University 39–0; Alabama beat Samford, 43–0; USC rolled over UCLA 52–0; Tennessee beat Maryville College 54–0; Dartmouth beat Norwich College 79–0; and Tulane defeated Lafayette College of Louisiana, 84–0. Only Washington State was scored upon, getting a surprise from the Coyotes of College of Idaho, which unleashed a surprise passing attack for two touchdowns (and 12 of 19 completions) in the fourth quarter. WSU won 47–12.

## October

October 4 Notre Dame opened its season with a 20–14 win over visiting Southern Methodist.
Northwestern beat visiting Tulane, 14–0. Washington State won at California 16–0 and USC beat visiting Oregon State 27–7, while Stanford defeated Santa Clara 20–0. Dartmouth beat Bates 20–0 and Army beat Furman, 54–0. Alabama rolled over visiting Ole Miss, 64–0 and in Danville, Kentucky, Tennessee defeated Centre College 18–0. Michigan and Michigan State played to a scoreless tie.
October 11 Washington State edged visiting USC 7–6. Notre Dame beat Navy 26–2. Northwestern beat Ohio State 19–2, and Michigan narrowly won over Purdue 14–13. Dartmouth crushed visiting Boston University 74–0, and Army beat Swarthmore 39–0. Tennessee beat Ole Miss 27–0. In Birmingham, Alabama shut out Sewanee 25–0, and in Dallas, Tulane beat Texas A&M 19–9. In Minneapolis, Stanford and Minnesota played to a 0–0 tie.
October 18 Alabama and Tennessee, both 3–0–0, and both unscored upon, met at Tuscaloosa in a game that would ultimately determine the fictional championship of the South. Alabama won 18–6. Notre Dame beat Carnegie Tech 21–6. Northwestern won at Illinois 32–0 and Michigan won at Ohio State, 13–0 USC won at Utah State 65–0, Washington State won in Spokane at Gonzaga University, 24–0, and Stanford beat Oregon State 13–7. Dartmouth beat Columbia 52–0 and Army defeated Harvard, 6–0. Tulane defeated Birmingham Southern College 21–0
October 25 Alabama and Vanderbilt, both 4–0–0, met at Birmingham. In another close game, Alabama won 12–7. USC (3–1–0) and Stanford (3–0–1) met in Palo Alto, with the Trojans handing the Indians their first loss of the season, 41–12. Notre Dame won at Pittsburgh 35–19. Washington State beat visiting Montana, 61–0. Northwestern beat Centre College 45–7 and Michigan beat Illinois 15–7.(Dartmouth was scored upon, winning at Harvard 7–2, and Army's streak of shutouts ended with its 7–7 tie at Yale. Tennessee beat visiting North Carolina 9–7, and in Atlanta, Tulane shut out Georgia Tech 28–0.

## November

November 1 Dartmouth (5–0–0) and (3–1–1) Yale (3–1–1) played to a 0–0 tie in New Haven. Notre Dame beat Indiana 27–0 and Northwestern won at Minnesota 27–6 USC beat Denver, 33–13.
Army defeated visiting North Dakota 33–6. In Portland, Washington State defeated Oregon State 14–7. Alabama won at Kentucky, 19–0, Tennessee beat Clemson 27–0 and Tulane beat Mississippi State 53–0
November 8 Notre Dame beat Pennsylvania 60–20. Washington State won at Idaho 33–7. Northwestern won at Indiana 25–0 and Michigan won at Harvard 6–3. Army defeated Illinois at Yankee Stadium, 13–0. USC beat California 74–0 and Stanford beat Washington 25–7 Alabama won at Florida, 20–0, Tulane beat Auburn 21–0, and Allegheny College did what no other team had done that season, scoring two touchdowns against Dartmouth; the Big Green won 43–14 to stay unbeaten. Tennessee shut out Carson-Newman College 34–0
November 15 Tennessee and Vanderbilt University, both 6–1–0, met at Nashville, with Tennessee winning 13–0. Notre Dame defeated Drake University 28–7. In Seattle, Washington State won another close one, beating Washington 3–0. Alabama beat LSU in a game at Montgomery, Alabama, 33–0, while Tulane (6–1–0) and Georgia (6–0–1) met at New Orleans, with Tulane handing the Bulldogs their first loss, 25–0 Northwestern beat Wisconsin 20–7 and Michigan beat Minnesota 7–0 USC defeated visiting Hawaii 52–0, while Stanford beat Caltech, 57–7
Dartmouth won at Cornell 19–13. Army beat Kentucky Wesleyan 47–2
November 22 Notre Dame and Northwestern, both unbeaten (7–0–0) met at Evanston, with the Fighting Irish winning 14–0. Michigan beat Chicago 16–0 Stanford won at California 41–0. Army defeated Ursinus College 18–0.
November 27, Thanksgiving Day, Alabama (8–0–0) met Georgia (6–1–1) in Birmingham. The Crimson Tide extended its unbeaten streak, 13–0, to close the regular season unbeaten. The champion of the South also earned a Rose Bowl invitation to face Washington State. USC beat Washington 32–0. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 8–0 and Tulane won over LSU, 12–7.
November 29 (8–0–0) Notre Dame and (8–0–1) Army met at Chicago, with the Irish narrowly winning 7–6. In Philadelphia, Washington State beat Villanova, 13–0, to close its season 9–0–0. (8–1–1)Stanford hosted (7–0–1) Dartmouth and won 14–7

## December

Although the Rose Bowl was the lone postseason game, and other bowl games were still four years in the future, several big contests were played after most colleges had completed their seasons.
December 6 In Los Angeles, a crowd of 90,000 turned out at the Coliseum as Notre Dame (9–0–0) visited USC (8–1–0). While some predicted a Trojans win, or at least a close game, "Rockne's Ramblers" scored six minutes into the game and never looked back. Paul O'Connor, a third string player earlier in the season, had 11 carries for 142 yards, and one touchdown. The Irish closed their season with a decisive 27–0 victory and with another victory over a tough opponent, finished first in the Dickinson ratings. Nobody realized at the time that Knute Rockne had coached his final game. Rockne was killed in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. At Jacksonville, Tennessee defeated Florida 13–6.
December 13 In the Army–Navy Game, played in New York, Army won 6–0 to close its season at 9–1–1.

## 1931 Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl stadium's capacity had been increased to 81,000, but only 65,000 spectators turned out to watch an East-West matchup between two unbeaten (9–0–0), but out-of-state teams, the Washington State Cougars and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was the Cougars who were decked out in crimson, however, in what reports of the day described as "a bizarre touch". Besides solid red jerseys, pants and socks, the WSU players had bright red leather helmets and shoes.
Freddie Sington, Bama's star tackle/linebacker, was pitted against WSU's Turk Edwards, and blocked WSU's only chance to score. In addition, Sington blocked for the rushing of Johnny Campbell, "The Mississippi Rabbit", who ran 42 yards for one of Alabama's three touchdowns in the second quarter. After a 21–0 halftime lead, Alabama went on to a 24–0 win.

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1930 Big Six Conference football standings :
| 1930 Big Six Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kansas $ 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Oklahoma 3 –1 –14 –3 –1 Kansas State 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Nebraska 2 –2 –14 –3 –2 Missouri 1 –2 –22 –5 –2 Iowa State 0 –5 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Michigan + 5 –0 –08 –0 –1 No. 4 Northwestern + 5 –0 –07 –1 –0 Purdue 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Wisconsin 2 –2 –16 –2 –1 Ohio State 2 –2 –15 –2 –1 Minnesota 1 –3 –03 –4 –1 Indiana 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 Illinois 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 Iowa 0 –1 –04 –4 –0 Chicago 0 –4 –02 –5 –2 + – Conference co-championsRankings from Dickinson System | 1930 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 2 Washington State $ 6 –0 –09 –1 –0 No. 6 USC 5 –1 –08 –2 –0 No. 7 Stanford 4 –1 –09 –1 –1 Oregon 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Washington 3 –4 –05 –4 –0 Oregon State 2 –3 –07 –3 –0 Montana 1 –3 –05 –3 –0 California 1 –4 –04 –5 –0 UCLA 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 Idaho 0 –5 –04 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from Dickinson System |
| 1930 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Utah $ 7 –0 –08 –0 –0 Colorado 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 BYU 4 –1 –15 –2 –4 Denver 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 Colorado Agricultural 3 –3 –13 –5 –1 Montana State 1 –1 –06 –3 –0 Colorado Teachers 2 –2 –32 –2 –3 Utah State 3 –4 –13 –5 –1 Colorado College 2 –4 –22 –4 –2 Wyoming 1 –5 –12 –5 –1 Colorado Mines 1 –4 –01 –5 –0 Western State (CO) 0 –5 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Southern Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Alabama + 8 –0 –010 –0 –0 No. 11 Tulane + 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 No. 10 Tennessee 6 –1 –09 –1 –0 Duke 4 –1 –18 –1 –2 Vanderbilt 5 –2 –08 –2 –0 Maryland 4 –2 –07 –5 –0 Florida 4 –2 –16 –3 –1 North Carolina 4 –2 –25 –3 –2 Clemson 3 –2 –08 –2 –0 Georgia 3 –2 –17 –2 –1 Kentucky 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 South Carolina 4 –3 –06 –4 –0 VPI 2 –3 –15 –3 –1 Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –02 –7 –0 Georgia Tech 2 –4 –12 –6 –1 LSU 2 –4 –06 –4 –0 Virginia 2 –5 –04 –6 –0 Sewanee 1 –4 –03 –6 –1 NC State 1 –5 –02 –8 –0 Ole Miss 1 –5 –03 –5 –1 Auburn 1 –6 –03 –7 –0 Washington and Lee 0 –4 –13 –6 –1 VMI 0 –5 –03 –6 –0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from Dickinson System | 1930 Southwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Texas $ 4 –1 –08 –1 –1 Baylor 3 –1 –16 –3 –1 TCU 4 –2 –09 –2 –1 SMU 2 –2 –16 –3 –1 Arkansas 2 –2 –03 –6 –0 Rice 2 –4 –08 –4 –0 Texas A&M 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |

### Independents

1930 Eastern college football independents records :
| 1930 Eastern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Colgate   –  9 –1 –0 Fordham   –  8 –1 –0 No. 9 Army   –  9 –1 –1 No. 8 Dartmouth   –  7 –1 –1 St. John's   –  7 –1 –0 NYU   –  7 –3 –0 Cornell   –  6 –2 –0 Pittsburgh   –  6 –2 –1 Washington & Jefferson   –  6 –2 –1 Tufts   –  5 –2 –0 Temple   –  7 –3 –0 Bucknell   –  6 –3 –0 Carnegie Tech   –  6 –3 –0 Duquesne   –  6 –3 –0 Syracuse   –  5 –2 –2 Yale   –  5 –2 –2 CCNY   –  5 –2 –1 Brown   –  6 –3 –1 Drexel   –  6 –3 –1 Franklin & Marshall   –  5 –3 –1 Manhattan   –  4 –3 –1 Columbia   –  5 –4 –0 Penn   –  5 –4 –0 Boston College   –  5 –5 –0 Villanova   –  5 –5 –0 Penn State   –  3 –4 –2 Harvard   –  3 –4 –1 Providence   –  3 –4 –1 Princeton   –  1 –5 –1 Boston University   –  1 –7 –1 Vermont   –  1 –7 –1 Massachusetts   –  1 –8 –0 Rankings from Dickinson System | 1930 Midwestern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Notre Dame   –  10 –0 –0 Marquette   –  8 –0 –1 Haskell   –  9 –1 –0 Michigan State   –  5 –1 –2 DePaul   –  4 –2 –1 Detroit   –  5 –3 –2 Kent State   –  3 –3 –1 Saint Louis   –  3 –3 –2 John Carroll   –  3 –5 –2 Loyola (IL)   –  2 –6 –1 Michigan Tech   –  1 –5 –0 Rankings from Dickinson System | 1930 Southern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Western Maryland   –  9 –0 –1 Texas Mines   –  7 –1 –1 Appalachian State   –  8 –2 –1 William & Mary Norfolk   –  3 –1 –0 Delaware   –  6 –3 –1 Furman   –  6 –3 –1 Delaware State   –  4 –2 –0 Wake Forest   –  5 –3 –1 Jacksonville State   –  4 –3 –1 Davidson   –  6 –4 –0 Navy   –  6 –5 –0 Middle Tennessee State Teachers   –  5 –5 –1 West Virginia   –  5 –5 –0 George Washington   –  4 –4 –1 Oglethorpe   –  4 –4 –1 Georgetown   –  5 –5 –0 South Georgia Teachers   –  3 –4 –2 Mississippi State Teachers   –  3 –5 –1 Texas Tech   –  3 –6 –0 Troy State   –  1 –2 –0 Jefferson   –  1 –3 –0 Beacom College   –  1 –5 –1 Catholic University   –  1 –8 –0 |
| 1930 Western college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Saint Mary's   –  8 –1 –0 Arizona   –  6 –1 –1 Santa Barbara State   –  6 –1 –1 Hawaii   –  5 –2 –0 Columbia (OR)   –  4 –2 –0 Regis   –  6 –3 –0 San Francisco   –  6 –3 –0 New Mexico A&M   –  5 –3 –0 Santa Clara   –  5 –3 –1 New Mexico   –  4 –5 –0 Loyola (CA)   –  2 –3 –1 Arizona State   –  3 –5 –1 Gonzaga   –  1 –7 –1 Humboldt State   –  0 –6 –0 |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| Big Four Conference | Tulsa | 3–0 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association | Morgan College | 6–1 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Washburn | 6–0 |
| Far Western Conference | Fresno State Normal | 5–0 |
| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Iowa Wesleyan William Penn | 4–0–1 5–0–3 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | St. Mary's (KS) | 5–0 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Alma Kalamazoo | 4–1 |
| Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference | Adrian | — |
| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference | Coe | 2–0–2 |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Saint Olaf Saint Thomas (MN) | 5–0 4–0 |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Northeast Missouri State Teachers | 3–0 |
| Nebraska College Athletic Conference | Cotner College | — |
| Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Nebraska State Teachers | — |
| North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | North Dakota | 4–0 |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | Muskingum | 3–0–1 |
| Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference | East Central State Normal | 4–0 |
| Pacific Northwest Conference | Whitman | 4–0–1 |
| South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Black Hills Teachers | — |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Caltech | 4–0 |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Wiley (TX) | 4–0 |
| Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Payne | 4–0–1 |
| Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Sam Houston State Teachers | 5–0 |
| Tri-Normal League | Unknown | — |
| Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference | Milwaukee State Teachers | 4–0 |

### Minor conference standings

1930 Big Four Conference (Oklahoma) football standings :
| 1930 Big Four Conference (Oklahoma) football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Tulsa $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –0 Oklahoma City 2 –1 –09 –1 –0 Phillips 1 –2 –06 –3 –0 Oklahoma Baptist 0 –3 –04 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Ohio $ 4 –0 –08 –0 –1 Ohio Wesleyan 3 –1 –05 –4 –0 Cincinnati 2 –2 –05 –4 –0 Miami (OH) 1 –3 –04 –4 –1 Denison 0 –4 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Washburn $ 6 –0 –07 –2 –0 Wichita 4 –1 –16 –3 –1 Emporia Teachers 2 –1 –34 –2 –3 Pittsburg State 3 –3 –05 –3 –0 Hays Teachers 1 –4 –12 –5 –2 Southwestern (KS) 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 College of Emporia 0 –4 –20 –7 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Morgan $ 7 –1 –08 –1 –0 Virginia Union 5 –1 –26 –1 –2 Virginia State 4 –1 –24 –3 –2 Hampton 4 –2 –16 –2 –1 Johnson C. Smith 2 –1 –34 –2 –4 Howard 3 –2 –14 –3 –1 Lincoln (PA) 4 –3 –14 –3 –1 North Carolina A&T 3 –5 –13 –5 –1 North Carolina College 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 Saint Paul's (VA) 2 –5 –13 –5 –1 Shaw 0 –4 –13 –5 –1 Virginia Seminary 0 –6 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Far Western Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Fresno State $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Nevada 2 –1 –02 –4 –2 Pacific (CA) 2 –2 –03 –6 –0 San Jose State 1 –2 –12 –3 –3 Chico State 0 –2 –03 –4 –0 Cal Aggies 0 –3 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Southern Illinois + 5 –0 –09 –0 –0 Millikin + 4 –0 –05 –2 –0 Mount Morris + 3 –0 –09 –0 –0 Eastern Illinois 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 Northern Illinois State 4 –1 –16 –2 –1 Knox (IL) 4 –1 –05 –2 –1 Monmouth (IL) 5 –2 –05 –4 –0 Lake Forest 2 –1 –05 –1 –1 Illinois Wesleyan 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Elmhurst 3 –2 –06 –2 –0 Augustana (IL) 3 –2 –04 –3 –0 North Central 2 –2 –16 –2 –1 Bradley 2 –2 –14 –3 –1 Carthage 3 –3 –03 –4 –1 Western Illinois 3 –4 –04 –4 –0 Shurtleff 2 –3 –06 –4 –0 St. Viator 3 –5 –03 –6 –0 Eureka 2 –6 –02 –6 –0 Illinois State Normal 1 –7 –01 –7 –0 Wheaton (IL) 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 McKendree 0 –5 –03 –6 –0 Illinois College 0 –7 –00 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1930 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T DePauw $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –0 Butler 2 –0 –02 –6 –0 Rose Poly 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 Ball State 6 –1 –06 –1 –0 Manchester 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Indiana State 5 –1 –15 –3 –1 Evansville 3 –1 –13 –3 –1 Franklin (IN) 3 –4 –13 –4 –1 Wabash 2 –5 –03 –6 –0 Valparaiso 1 –3 –05 –4 –0 Indiana Central 2 –7 –02 –7 –0 Oakland City 1 –5 –11 –5 –1 Hanover 0 –2 –21 –4 –2 Earlham 0 –5 –11 –5 –1 Central Normal 0 –6 –10 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Iowa Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Penn (IA) + 5 –0 –36 –0 –3 Iowa Wesleyan + 4 –0 –16 –2 –2 Morningside 2 –0 –07 –2 –0 Luther 5 –1 –05 –3 –0 Columbia (IA) 4 –2 –04 –3 –0 Iowa State Teachers 2 –1 –12 –5 –1 Simpson (IA) 3 –2 –13 –5 –1 Central (IA) 3 –2 –06 –2 –0 Buena Vista 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Upper Iowa 2 –4 –02 –4 –1 St. Ambrose 2 –5 –02 –7 –0 Western Union 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 Dubuque 0 –5 –02 –5 –0 Parsons 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1930 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T St. Mary's (KS) $ 5 –0 –06 –3 –0 Baker 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Kansas Wesleyan 2 –2 –14 –3 –2 Bethany (KS) 2 –2 –13 –4 –2 Ottawa 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 McPherson 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Michigan Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Michigan State Normal $ 3 –0 –06 –1 –0 Western State Teachers (MI) 2 –1 –05 –1 –1 Central State (MI) 1 –2 –06 –2 –0 Detroit City College 0 –3 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Alma + 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Kalamazoo + 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Hillsdale 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Albion 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Olivet 1 –4 –03 –4 –1 Hope 0 –5 –00 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1930 Middle Three Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Lafayette $ 2 –0 –05 –3 –1 Rutgers 1 –1 –04 –5 –0 Lehigh 0 –2 –04 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Midwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Coe $ 2 –0 –26 –0 –2 Cornell (IA) 3 –1 –13 –4 –1 Knox 2 –1 –15 –2 –1 Ripon 2 –1 –02 –5 –0 Lawrence 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 Carleton 1 –1 –03 –4 –0 Monmouth (IL) 0 –3 –05 –4 –0 Beloit 0 –3 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T St. Olaf + 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 St. Thomas (MN) + 4 –0 –06 –2 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 3 –2 –06 –2 –0 Macalester 3 –2 –05 –2 –0 Concordia (MN) 2 –2 –04 –3 –1 Saint John's (MN) 0 –3 –11 –4 –1 Augsburg 0 –4 –01 –4 –1 Hamline 0 –4 –10 –6 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1930 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Central (MO) $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 Missouri Mines 3 –0 –05 –1 –1 William Jewell 2 –2 –02 –5 –1 Missouri Valley 2 –3 –04 –4 –1 Westminster (MO) 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Drury 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Culver–Stockton 0 –1 –14 –2 –1 Tarkio 0 –3 –11 –5 –3 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kirksville $ 3 –0 –05 –5 –0 Maryville (MO) 3 –1 –04 –5 –1 Springfield (MO) 2 –2 –04 –5 –0 Cape Girardeau 0 –2 –01 –6 –1 Warrensburg 0 –3 –04 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Drake + 3 –0 –05 –4 –0 Oklahoma A&M + 2 –0 –07 –2 –1 Washington University 2 –2 –04 –2 –2 Grinnell 1 –2 –05 –4 –0 Creighton 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1930 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Cotner $ 5 –1 –06 –1 –1 Nebraska Wesleyan 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Doane 3 –2 –04 –3 –0 Hastings 3 –2 –03 –4 –1 York (NE) 1 –2 –13 –3 –2 Midland 2 –4 –02 –5 –1 Grand Island 1 –3 –11 –4 –2 Nebraska Central 0 –4 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kearney State $ 3 –0 –07 –0 –1 Peru State 2 –0 –14 –2 –1 Chadron State 1 –2 –05 –2 –0 Wayne State 1 –2 –15 –3 –1 Omaha 0 –3 –03 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1930 New England Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T New Hampshire $ 2 –0 –05 –2 –1 Maine 2 –1 –03 –4 –0 Rhode Island State 0 –1 –15 –2 –1 Connecticut 0 –2 –11 –5 –1 $ – Conference championDubious – Discuss | 1930 North Central Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T North Dakota $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –0 North Dakota Agricultural 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Morningside 2 –2 –07 –2 –0 South Dakota State 1 –3 –02 –6 –1 South Dakota 0 –4 –01 –5 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 North State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Catawba $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –1 Elon 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Guilford 2 –2 –04 –5 –1 High Point 1 –2 –12 –6 –2 Lenoir–Rhyne 1 –3 –13 –6 –1 Atlantic Christian 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Northwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Whitman $ 3 –0 –14 –2 –1 Willamette 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Pacific (OR) 2 –1 –15 –4 –1 College of Idaho 2 –2 –03 –4 –1 Puget Sound 1 –4 –01 –6 –1 Linfield 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Northwest Ohio League football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Findlay $ 3 –0 –14 –2 –1 Bowling Green 2 –0 –26 –0 –2 Defiance 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 Toledo 1 –2 –12 –5 –1 Bluffton 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Muskingum $ 3 –0 –16 –1 –1 Akron 5 –1 –07 –1 –0 Wooster 4 –1 –15 –3 –1 Xavier 2 –1 –06 –4 –0 Otterbein 3 –2 –04 –3 –1 Case 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Mount Union 3 –3 –04 –5 –1 Marietta 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 Oberlin 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Western Reserve 1 –3 –01 –7 –0 Ohio Northern 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 Baldwin–Wallace 1 –5 –01 –6 –0 Kenyon 0 –4 –11 –6 –1 Hiram 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 Heidelberg * 2 –0 –08 –0 –0 Dayton * 2 –0 –04 –3 –2 Capital * 4 –0 –15 –1 –1 $ – Conference champion * – did not compete for championship | 1930 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T East Central $ 4 –0 –08 –1 –0 Central State (OK) 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 SE Oklahoma State 3 –1 –06 –2 –1 NW Oklahoma State 1 –3 –15 –3 –1 Northeastern State 1 –4 –04 –5 –0 SW Oklahoma State 0 –4 –12 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Maryville (TN) $ 2 –0 –05 –4 –0 Lincoln Memorial 2 –0 –04 –6 –0 King 3 –1 –06 –2 –1 Carson–Newman 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Milligan 1 –2 –14 –4 –1 Tusculum 1 –3 –12 –5 –1 East Tennessee State Teachers 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Yankton $ 4 –0 –16 –0 –2 Northern Normal 4 –1 –05 –1 –1 Southern Normal 4 –1 –1 ? – ? – ? Dakota Wesleyan 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Spearfish 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Eastern Normal 2 –2 –12 –2 –2 Augustana (SD) 2 –3 –02 –7 –0 South Dakota Mines 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Huron 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 Sioux Falls 0 –5 –10 –6 –1 $ – Conference championSioux Falls and Spearfish played twice. The second game was not counted in the conference standings. | 1930 Southern California Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Caltech $ 4 –0 –05 –3 –1 Whittier 4 –1 –05 –3 –1 San Diego State 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Occidental 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Redlands 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Pomona 2 –3 –02 –5 –0 La Verne 0 –4 –00 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Presbyterian $ 6 –0 –09 –1 –0 Centre 5 –0 –07 –3 –0 Spring Hill 4 –0 –06 –2 –0 Loyola (LA) 2 –0 –09 –1 –0 Centenary 2 –0 –08 –1 –1 Western Kentucky State Teachers 6 –1 –08 –1 –1 Louisiana Normal 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Mississippi College 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 The Citadel 3 –1 –14 –5 –2 Kentucky Wesleyan 2 –1 –12 –4 –3 Chattanooga 3 –2 –15 –3 –2 Mercer 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Millsaps 3 –3 –06 –3 –0 Louisville 2 –2 –05 –3 –0 Birmingham–Southern 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Stetson 3 –3 –05 –3 –0 Howard (AL) 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Miami (FL) 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 Southwestern (TN) 1 –2 –06 –3 –0 Erskine 1 –2 –12 –5 –1 Louisiana Tech 2 –5 –03 –6 –0 Georgetown (KY) 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Wofford 1 –3 –02 –9 –0 Union (TN) 1 –4 –01 –5 –2 Transylvania 1 –4 –11 –5 –2 Louisiana College 1 –5 –02 –6 –0 SW Louisiana 1 –5 –02 –8 –0 Rollins 0 –0 –22 –1 –3 Newberry 0 –2 –10 –5 –3 Florida Southern 0 –4 –10 –6 –1 Eastern Kentucky 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Wiley $   –  8? –1? –1? $ – Conference champion | 1930 Texas Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Howard Payne $ 4 –0 –17 –2 –2 Southwestern (TX) 3 –1 –13 –4 –4 Simmons (TX) 1 –1 –35 –1 –4 Austin 2 –2 –13 –5 –1 St. Edward's 0 –3 –21 –4 –2 Trinity (TX) 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Sam Houston State $ 5 –0 –09 –1 –0 West Texas State 4 –0 –16 –3 –1 North Texas State Teachers 4 –1 –05 –4 –1 Southwest Texas State 3 –1 –25 –2 –3 McMurry 3 –2 –13 –4 –2 Daniel Baker 2 –2 –22 –7 –2 Texas A&I 1 –2 –13 –3 –3 Abilene Christian 1 –3 –12 –7 –1 East Texas State 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Sul Ross 0 –3 –01 –7 –0 Stephen F. Austin 0 –6 –01 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1930 Tri-State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Geneva $ 3 –0 –09 –1 –0 Thiel 2 –1 –03 –6 –0 Waynesburg 1 –1 –02 –7 –0 Westminster (PA) 1 –2 –04 –5 –0 Bethany (WV) 0 –3 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 Virginia Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T William & Mary $ 5 –0 –07 –2 –1 Emory and Henry 3 –1 –08 –1 –1 Randolph–Macon 3 –2 –13 –5 –2 Roanoke 3 –2 –23 –4 –2 Richmond 2 –2 –22 –4 –2 Hampden–Sydney 2 –3 –12 –6 –1 Lynchburg 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Bridgewater 0 –5 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1930 West Virginia Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T West Liberty State $ 4 –0 –05 –3 –1 West Virginia Wesleyan 3 –0 –24 –5 –2 Marshall 3 –0 –13 –5 –1 Glenville State 5 –1 –15 –1 –2 New River State 3 –1 –15 –2 –1 Potomac State 2 –1 –14 –3 –1 Broaddus 2 –2 –32 –4 –3 Morris Harvey 1 –3 –22 –5 –2 Salem 1 –5 –12 –6 –1 Concord 0 –3 –11 –5 –2 Fairmont State 0 –4 –10 –5 –2 Davis & Elkins * 1 –0 –06 –4 –1 Shepherd * 1 –1 –02 –3 –1 Bethany (WV) * 0 –2 –00 –8 –0 Morehead State * 0 –3 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Ties did not count in conference standings. |
| 1930 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Milwaukee State $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 River Falls State 3 –1 –05 –1 –0 Whitewater State 3 –1 –04 –2 –0 La Crosse State 3 –1 –15 –2 –2 Oshkosh State 2 –2 –12 –4 –2 Eau Claire State 1 –2 –13 –3 –1 Platteville State 1 –3 –02 –3 –0 Stevens Point State 1 –4 –11 –6 –1 Stout Institute 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 Superior State 0 –0 –03 –2 –2 $ – 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 awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.
The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.

## Final Dickinson rankings

Notre Dame, Washington State and Alabama, all unbeaten and untied at the end of the regular season, were ranked first, second and third by Dickinson, with the Irish getting the higher rating based on their opposition. The ratings were made before the 1931 Rose Bowl that matched Washington State and Alabama, with Alabama winning, 24 to 0. Notre Dame did not participate in a postseason bowl game.
| Rank | Team | Record | Rating |
| 1 | Notre Dame | 10–0 | 25.13 |
| 2 | Washington State | 9–0 | 20.44 |
| 3 | Alabama | 9–0 | 20.18 |
| 4 | Northwestern Wildcats | 7–1 | 18.63 |
| 5 | Michigan | 8–0–1 | 18.34 |
| 6 | USC | 8–2 | 17.98 |
| 7 | Stanford | 9–1–1 | 17.92 |
| 8 | Dartmouth | 7–1–1 | 17.11 |
| 9 | Army | 9–1–1 | 16.66 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 9–1 | 16.15 |
| 11 | Tulane | 8–1 | 16.05 |