# 1968 small college football rankings

The 1968 small college football rankings are rankings of college football teams representing smaller college and university teams during the 1968 college football season, including the 1968 NCAA College Division football season and the 1968 NAIA football season. Separate rankings were published by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI). The AP rankings were selected by a board of sports writers, and the UPI rankings were selected by a board of small-college coaches.
North Dakota State (10–0) and San Diego State were ranked as the top two teams: North Dakota State No. 1 by the AP and No. 2 by the UPI; and San Diego State No. 1 by the UPI and No. 2 by the AP. Chattanooga (9–1) and New Mexico Highlands (9–0) were ranked third and fourth, respectively, in both polls.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| (Italics) | Number of first place votes |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## AP poll

| | Week 1 Sept 26 | Week 2 Oct 3 | Week 3 Oct 10 | Week 4 Oct 17 | Week 5 Oct 24 | Week 6 Oct 31 | Week 7 Nov 7 | Week 8 Nov 14 | Week 9 Nov 21 | Week 10 Nov 28 | Week 11 Dec 5 | |
| 1. | San Diego State (2–0) (12) | San Diego State (3–0) (12) | San Diego State (3–0) (9) | San Diego State (4–0) (10) | San Diego State (5–0) (10) | San Diego State (6–0) (14) | San Diego State (7–0) (10) | San Diego State (8–0) (11) | San Diego State (8–0) (12) | North Dakota State (9–0) (5) | North Dakota State (9–0) (6) | 1. |
| 2. | Eastern Kentucky (1–0) (1) | North Dakota State (3–0) | North Dakota State (4–0) (1) | North Dakota State (5–0) | North Dakota State (6–0) | North Dakota State (7–0) | North Dakota State (8–0) (1) | North Dakota State (9–0) (1) | North Dakota State (7–2) (1) | San Diego State (8–0–1) (3) | San Diego State (9–0–1) (3) | 2. |
| 3. | North Dakota State (2–0) | Eastern Kentucky (2–0) (2) | Eastern Kentucky (3–0) | Eastern Kentucky (4–0) | Western Kentucky (6–0) (2) | Chattanooga (7–0) (1) | Chattanooga (8–0) (1) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) (1) | Chattanooga (10–1) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | Lenoir–Rhyne | Northern Michigan (4–0) | Northern Michigan (4–0) (1) | Western Kentucky (4–0) (2) | New Mexico Highlands (7–0) | New Mexico Highlands (8–0) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) (1) | Tampa (7–1) | Chattanooga (9–1) | Chattanooga (10–1) (1) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) | 4. |
| 5. | Akron | Lenoir–Rhyne | New Mexico Highlands (4–0) | Texas A&I (4–0) (1) | Chattanooga (6–0) | Weber State (6–0) | Tampa (6–1) | Chattanooga (8–1) | IUP (9–0) (1) | IUP (9–0) (1) | IUP (9–0) (1) | 5. |
| 6. | Texas–Arlington (1–1) | Weber State | Texas A&I (3–0) (1) | New Mexico Highlands (5–0) | Weber State (5–0) | Tampa (5–1) | Eastern Kentucky (6–1) | Eastern Kentucky (7–1) (1) | Texas A&I (8–1) (1) | Texas A&I (9–1) (1) | Texas A&I (10–1) (1) | 6. |
| 7. | Northern Michigan (3–0) (1) | Texas A&I (2–0) | Weber State | Weber State (4–0) | Northern Michigan (6–1) | Eastern Kentucky (5–1) | IUP (8–0) (1) | Texas A&I (7–1) (1) | Tampa (7–2) | Eastern Michigan (8–2) | Eastern Michigan (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Central Michigan | New Mexico Highlands (3–0) | Lenoir–Rhyne (1) | Northern Michigan | Arkansas State (6–1) (1) | IUP (7–0) (1) | Texas A&I (6–1) | Western Kentucky (8–1) | Eastern Michigan (8–2) | South Dakota (9–1) | South Dakota (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Fairmont State | Fairmont State | Morgan State | Chattanooga (4–0) | IUP (6–0) | Morgan State (5–0) | Western Kentucky (7–1) | IUP (9–0) (1) | Western Kentucky (8–1–1) | Eastern Kentucky (8–2) | Eastern Kentucky (8–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas A&I (1–0) | Tennessee A&I | Western Kentucky (1) | Arkansas State (4–1) | Texas A&I (4–1) | Western Kentucky (6–1) | Arkansas State (7–1–1) | Weber State (7–1) | Eastern Kentucky (7–2) | Willamette (9–0) (2) | Southwestern Louisiana (8–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Tennessee A&I | Louisiana Tech (2–0) | Arkansas State (3–1) | Morgan State | Eastern Kentucky (4–1) | Texas A&I (5–1) | Weber State (6–1) | Central Missouri State (7–0–1) (1) | Morgan State (7–1) | Morgan State (8–1) | Troy State (9–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Weber State | Texas–Arlington | Louisiana Tech (2–1) | Texas–Arlington | Morgan State (4–0) | Texas–Arlington (4–3) | Lenoir–Rhyne (6–1) | Morgan State (6–1) | Willamette (9–0) | Manual | Morgan State (8–1) | 12. |
| 13. | New Mexico Highlands | Morgan State | Tennessee A&I | IUP (1) | Appalachian State (5–0) (2) | Arkansas State (6–1–1) | Appalachian State (6–1) | Troy State (8–1) | South Dakota (9–1) | Humboldt State (9–1) (1) | Willamette (9–0) | 13. |
| 14. | Western Kentucky | Eastern Washington (2–0) | Trinity (TX) | Tampa (3–1) | Tampa (4–1) | Northern Michigan (6–2) | Morgan State (5–1) | South Dakota (8–1) | Central Missouri State (7–1–1) | Troy State (9–1) | Tampa (7–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Louisiana Tech | Arkansas State | IUP (1) | Appalachian State (1) | Akron (4–2) | Akron (4–2) | Akron (5–2) | Akron (6–2) | Troy State (9–1) | Western Kentucky (8–2–1) (1) | Arkansas State (7–2–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Wittenberg | Western Kentucky | Tampa (3–0) | Trinity (TX) | East Texas State (4–1) | Central Michigan (6–1) (1) | Troy State (8–0) | Willamette (8–0) | Akron (6–2–1) | Tampa (7–3) | Humboldt State (9–1) | 16. |
| 17. | West Chester | Tampa т | Chattanooga (3–0) | Tennessee A&I | Lenoir–Rhyne (4–1) т | East Texas State (4–1) | Kings Point (7–0) | Texas–Arlington (5–3) | Kings Point (7–1) | Akron (7–2–1) | Akron (7–2–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Eastern Michigan т | Akron т | Illinois State | Eastern Michigan | Tennessee State (3–1) т | Lenoir–Rhyne (5–1) | Texas–Arlington (7–1) т | Appalachian State (7–1) т | Humboldt State (8–1) | Arkansas State (7–2–1) | Ferris State (7–0–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Eastern Washington (1–0) т | IUP | Wittenberg | Emory & Henry | Texas–Arlington (3–3) т | Troy State (7–0) т | Emory & Henry (7–1) т | Humboldt State (7–1) т | Arkansas State (7–2–1) | Central Missouri State (7–1–1) | Wilkes (8–0) т | 19. |
| 20. | Carson–Newman | Trinity (TX) | Fairmont State | Lenoir–Rhyne | Troy State (6–0) т | Appalachian State (5–1) т | Northern Michigan (6–3) | Kings Point (7–1) | Weber State (7–2) | Ferris State (7–0–1) | Western Kentucky (8–2–1) т | 20. |
| 21. | | | | | Willamette (5–0) т | | | | | | | 21. |
| | Week 1 Sept 26 | Week 2 Oct 3 | Week 3 Oct 10 | Week 4 Oct 17 | Week 5 Oct 24 | Week 6 Oct 31 | Week 7 Nov 7 | Week 8 Nov 14 | Week 9 Nov 21 | Week 10 Nov 28 | Week 11 Dec 5 | |
| | | Dropped: 8 Central Michigan16 Wittenberg17 West Chester18 Eastern Michigan20 Carson–Newman | Dropped: 12 Texas–Arlington14 Eastern Washington18 Akron | Dropped: 12 Louisiana Tech18 Illinois State19 Wittenberg20 Fairmont State | Dropped: 16 Trinity (TX)17 Tennessee A&I18 Eastern Michigan19 Emory & Henry | Dropped: 18 Tennessee State20 Willamette | Dropped: 16 Central Michigan17 East Texas State | Dropped: 10 Arkansas State12 Lenoir–Rhyne19 Emory & Henry20 Northern Michigan | Dropped: 17 Texas–Arlington18 Appalachian State | Dropped: 17 Kings Point20 Weber State | Dropped: 19 Central Missouri State | |

## UPI coaches poll

| | Week 1 Sept 25 | Week 2 Oct 2 | Week 3 Oct 9 | Week 4 Oct 16 | Week 5 Oct 23 | Week 6 Oct 30 | Week 7 Nov 6 | Week 8 Nov 13 | Week 9 Nov 20 | Week 10 Nov 27 | |
| 1. | San Diego State (2–0) (26) | San Diego State (3–0) (27) | San Diego State (3–0) (25) | San Diego State (4–0) (25) | San Diego State (5–0) (22) | San Diego State (6–0) (26) | San Diego State (7–0) (28) | San Diego State (8–0) | San Diego State (8–0) (29) | San Diego State (8–0–1) (21) | 1. |
| 2. | North Dakota State (2–0) (2) | North Dakota State (3–0) (4) | North Dakota State (4–0) (5) | North Dakota State (5–0) (4) | North Dakota State (6–0) (5) | North Dakota State (7–0) (3) | North Dakota State (8–0) (3) | North Dakota State (9–0) | North Dakota State (9–0) (3) | North Dakota State (9–0) (9) | 2. |
| 3. | Northern Michigan (3–0) | Northern Michigan (4–0) (1) | Texas A&I (3–0) | Texas A&I (4–0) | New Mexico Highlands (6–0) (4) | Chattanooga (6–0) | Chattanooga (7–0) | Tampa (8–1) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) (2) | Chattanooga (9–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Eastern Kentucky (1–0) (2) | Eastern Kentucky (2–0) (1) | Northern Michigan (4–0) (1) | Eastern Kentucky (4–0) (1) | Chattanooga (5–0) | Tampa (5–1) | Tampa (6–1) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) | Chattanooga (8–1) | New Mexico Highlands (9–0) (4) | 4. |
| 5. | Texas A&I (1–0) | Texas A&I (2–0) (1) | Eastern Kentucky (3–0) | New Mexico Highlands (5–0) (3) | Tampa (4–1) | New Mexico Highlands (7–0) (4) | New Mexico Highlands (8–0) (3) | Chattanooga (7–1) | Texas A&I (8–1) | Texas A&I (9–1) | 5. |
| 6. | West Chester (1–0) | Eastern Washington (2–0) | New Mexico Highlands (4–0) (1) | Chattanooga (4–0) | Western Kentucky (5–0) (2) | Weber State (6–0) (1) | Eastern Kentucky (6–1) | Eastern Kentucky (7–1) | Morgan State (7–1) | Morgan State (8–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Texas–Arlington (1–1) | New Mexico Highlands (3–0) | Chattanooga (3–0) (1) | Arkansas State (4–1) | Weber State (5–0) (1) | Morgan State (5–0) | Texas A&I (6–1) | Texas A&I (7–1) | Tampa (7–2) | Troy State (9–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Eastern Washington (1–0) | Louisiana Tech (2–0) | Tampa (3–0) (1) | Tampa (3–1) | Morgan State (4–0) | Eastern Kentucky (5–1) | Troy State (8–0) (1) | Weber State (7–1) | Western Kentucky (7–1–1) | Eastern Kentucky (8–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Montana State (2–0) | Chattanooga (2–0) | Arkansas State (3–1) | Western Kentucky (4–0) (1) | Northern Michigan (5–1) | Texas A&I (5–1) | Arkansas State (6–1) | Morgan State (6–1) | Troy State (9–1) | Adams State (8–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Southwest Texas State (1–0) | Adams State (2–0) | Louisiana Tech (2–1) | Weber State (4–0) | Texas A&I (4–1) | Troy State (6–0) (1) | Weber State (6–1) | Western Kentucky (7–1) | Adams State (8–1) | Humboldt State (9–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Fairmont State | Arkansas State | Weber State | Morgan State | Arkansas State (6–1) | Arkansas State (6–1–1) | Morgan State (5–1) | Adams State | Eastern Kentucky (7–2) | Tampa (7–3) | 11. |
| 12. | New Mexico Highlands | Montana State | Texas–Arlington | C.W. Post | Troy State (6–0) | Western Kentucky (6–1) | Western Kentucky (7–1) | Willamette (8–0) | Humboldt State (8–1) | Willamette (9–0) | 12. |
| 13. | San Francisco State | Texas–Arlington | Morgan State | Alcorn A&M | Eastern Kentucky (4–1) | Willamette | Willamette | Humboldt State (7–1) | IUP (9–0) | IUP (9–0) | 13. |
| 14. | Adams State | Temple | Western Kentucky | Texas–Arlington | East Texas State (4–1) | Northern Michigan (6–2) | Arkansas Tech | North Carolina A&T | Willamette (9–0) | Arkansas State (7–2–1) | 14. |
| 15. | UMass | Morgan State | Lenoir–Rhyne | Northern Iowa | Willamette (5–0) | Florida A&M | Adams State | IUP (9–0) | Weber State (7–2) | Delaware | 15. |
| 16. | Chattanooga (1) т | Alcorn A&M | Alcorn A&M | Troy State | Arkansas Tech | Texas–Arlington (4–3) | Florida A&M | Troy State (8–1) | Arkansas State (7–2–1) | Weber State | 16. |
| 17. | Eastern Michigan т | Fairmont State | West Chester | Montana State | Appalachian State (5–0) т | Ashland т | East Texas State | Gustavus Adolphus | North Carolina A&T | Western Kentucky (8–2–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Louisiana Tech (1) | West Chester т | Northern Iowa | Colorado State (Greeley) т | Adams State т | Adams State т | Kings Point (7–0) | Eastern Michigan т | Kings Point (7–1) т | Fresno State | 18. |
| 19. | Whitewater | Western Kentucky т | C.W. Post | Willamette т | St. Norbert | Arkansas Tech т | Alcorn State | Central Missouri State (7–0–1) т | Florida A&M т | Kings Point т | 19. |
| 20. | Alcorn A&M | Weber State | Eastern Washington т | Appalachian State т | Texas–Arlington (3–3) т | Kings Point т | Humboldt State | Kings Point (7–1) т | Delaware | Florida A&M т | 20. |
| 21. | | | Willamette т | | Gustavus Adolphus т | East Texas State (4–1) т | | | | North Carolina A&T т | 21. |
| 22. | | | | | | Arkansas State College т | | | | | 22. |
| | Week 1 Sept 25 | Week 2 Oct 2 | Week 3 Oct 9 | Week 4 Oct 16 | Week 5 Oct 23 | Week 6 Oct 30 | Week 7 Nov 6 | Week 8 Nov 13 | Week 9 Nov 20 | Week 10 Nov 27 | |
| | | Dropped: 10 Southwest Texas State13 San Francisco State15 UMass17 Eastern Michigan19 Whitewater | Dropped: 10 Adams State12 Montana State14 Temple17 Fairmont State | Dropped: 4 Northern Michigan10 Louisiana Tech15 Lenoir–Rhyne17 West Chester20 Eastern Washington | Dropped: 12 C.W. Post13 Alcorn A&M15 Northern Iowa17 Montana State18 Colorado State (Greeley) | Dropped: 17 Appalachian State19 St. Norbert20 Gustavus Adolphus | Dropped: 14 Northern Michigan16 Texas–Arlington17 Ashland20 Arkansas State College | Dropped: 9 Arkansas State14 Arkansas Tech16 Florida A&M17 East Texas State19 Alcorn State | Dropped: 17 Gustavus Adolphus18 Eastern Michigan19 Central Missouri State | None | |

## HBCU rankings

The New Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1968 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was often racially segregated.
The rankings were published on December 7:
* 1. North Carolina A&T (8–1)
* 2. Morgan State (8–1)
* 3. Alcorn State (9–1)
* 4. Alabama State (8–1–1)
* 5. Lincoln (MO) (8–1)
* 6. Elizabeth City State (8–1)
* 7. Florida A&M (7–1)
* 8. West Virginia State (8–1)
* 9. Grambling (8–2)
* 10. Tuskegee (8–2)
* 11. South Carolina State (7–2)
* 12. Tennessee State (6–2–1)
* 13. North Carolina College (6–2)
* 14. Bishop (6–2)
* 15. Lane (6–2)
* 16. Fort Valley State (6–2)
* 17. Maryland State (5–2–1)
* 18. Virginia State (5–2–1)
* 19. Texas Southern (6–4)
* 20. Hampton (4–3–2)
* 21. Johnson C. Smith (5–4)
* 22. Alabama A&M (5–4)