# 1921 college football season

The 1921 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing California Golden Bears, Cornell Big Red, Iowa Hawkeyes, Lafayette Leopards, Washington & Jefferson Presidents, and Vanderbilt Commodores as champions. Only California, Cornell, Iowa, and Lafayette claim national championships for the 1921 season.
Andy Smith's Pacific Coast Conference champion "Wonder Team" at California continued on its streak since 1920. Eastern power Cornell was coached by Gil Dobie and led by one of the sport's great backfields with George Pfann, Eddie Kaw, Floyd Ramsey, and Charles E. Cassidy. Jock Sutherland's Lafayette Maroons were led on the line by Frank Schwab.
Big Ten champion Iowa upset Notre Dame 10–7. Grantland Rice noted that the 1921 Notre Dame team "was the first team we know of to build its attack around a forward passing game, rather than use a forward passing game as a mere aid to the running game."
1921 was the last season for the old Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Vanderbilt tied co-champion Georgia on an onside kick. On October 29, Centre upset Harvard 6–0 in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Overjoyed students painted the "impossible formula" C6H0 (Centre 6, Harvard 0) on everything in sight. Georgia Tech also claimed a conference title.
The 1922 Rose Bowl was fought to a scoreless tie, between California and Washington & Jefferson, in the last Rose Bowl to be played at Tournament Park. Washington & Jefferson is the smallest school to ever play in a Rose Bowl.

## Conference and program changes
### Conference establishments

* Two conferences began play in 1921:
** Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference – an active NCAA Division III conference
** Southwestern Athletic Conference – an active NCAA Division I FCS conference

### Membership changes

| School | 1920 Conference | 1921 Conference |
| Fresno State Bulldogs | Program Established | Independent |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | Independent | MVIAA |
| Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels | Independent | SIAA |
| Phillips Haymakers | Southwest | Independent |
| San Diego State Professors | Program Established | Independent |

## First radio broadcast

A historical highlight of the regular season was the 1921 West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh football game, the first college football game to be broadcast live on radio. Today, college football on radio is common for nearly every game in every division.

## C6H0

On October 29, Centre College beat Harvard 6 to 0 in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Overjoyed students painted the "impossible formula" C6H0 (Centre 6, Harvard 0) on everything in sight.

## Bowl games

In the 1922 Rose Bowl, heavily favored California played Washington & Jefferson to a scoreless tie. The game holds several distinctions including being the only scoreless contest and the first tie in a Rose Bowl. Charles Fremont West of Washington & Jefferson was the first African-American quarterback to play in the Rose Bowl, and Herb Kopf, also of Washington and Jefferson, was the first freshman to play in a Rose Bowl. The 1922 Rose Bowl was the last played at Tournament Park and featured the smallest school—Washington & Jefferson College had only 450 students at the time—to ever play in a Rose Bowl.

### Other bowls

* Dixie Classic
* San Diego Christmas Classic

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1921 Big Ten Conference football standings :
| 1921 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Iowa $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0 Chicago 4 –1 –06 –1 –0 Ohio State 4 –1 –05 –2 –0 Wisconsin 3 –1 –15 –1 –1 Michigan 2 –1 –15 –1 –1 Indiana 1 –2 –03 –4 –0 Minnesota 2 –4 –03 –4 –0 Illinois 1 –4 –03 –4 –0 Purdue 1 –4 –01 –6 –0 Northwestern 0 –5 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Nebraska $ 3 –0 –07 –1 –0 Kansas State 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Missouri 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Drake 2 –2 –05 –2 –0 Kansas 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Iowa State 3 –4 –04 –4 –0 Oklahoma 2 –3 –05 –3 –0 Washington University 2 –3 –04 –3 –1 Grinnell 0 –4 –02 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Northwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Whitman $ 3 –0 –04 –2 –0 Washington State 2 –0 –14 –2 –1 Oregon 1 –0 –35 –1 –3 Oregon Agricultural 1 –1 –14 –3 –2 Idaho 1 –2 –14 –3 –1 Montana 0 –2 –03 –3 –1 Willamette 0 –3 –01 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1921 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T California $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –1 Washington State 2 –1 –14 –2 –1 Stanford 1 –1 –14 –2 –2 Oregon Agricultural 1 –2 –14 –3 –2 Oregon 0 –1 –25 –1 –3 Washington 0 –3 –13 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Utah Agricultural $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 Colorado 4 –0 –14 –1 –1 Utah 2 –1 –13 –2 –1 Denver 2 –2 –14 –2 –1 Colorado Agricultural 2 –2 –12 –3 –1 Colorado College 2 –4 –04 –4 –0 Wyoming 1 –3 –21 –4 –2 Colorado Mines 1 –5 –01 –5 –0 Montana State 0 –1 –02 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Washington and Lee $ 2 –0 –06 –3 –0 Georgetown 1 –0 –08 –1 –0 Virginia 5 –1 –05 –4 –0 North Carolina 3 –1 –15 –2 –2 VPI 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 Maryland 2 –1 –13 –5 –1 Richmond 2 –2 –14 –3 –1 Catholic University 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 NC State 1 –1 –33 –3 –3 William & Mary 1 –3 –14 –3 –1 Trinity (NC) 0 –1 –06 –1 –2 Davidson 0 –1 –33 –4 –3 Johns Hopkins 0 –2 –06 –3 –0 VMI 0 –3 –13 –5 –1 George Washington 0 –3 –13 –3 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Centre + 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Georgia + 6 –0 –17 –2 –1 Georgia Tech + 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Vanderbilt + 5 –0 –17 –0 –1 Tennessee 4 –1 –16 –2 –1 Florida 4 –1 –26 –3 –2 Mississippi College 3 –1 –17 –2 –1 Sewanee 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Transylvania 2 –1 –04 –4 –0 LSU 2 –1 –16 –1 –1 South Carolina 2 –1 –15 –1 –2 Furman 4 –2 –17 –2 –1 Auburn 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Tulane 3 –4 –04 –6 –0 Alabama 2 –4 –25 –4 –2 Oglethorpe 2 –4 –05 –4 –0 Chattanooga 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 The Citadel 1 –2 –13 –3 –2 Kentucky 1 –3 –14 –3 –1 Ole Miss 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Howard (AL) 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Mercer 1 –5 –03 –6 –0 Louisville 0 –1 –02 –2 –1 Wofford 0 –2 –02 –7 –0 Georgetown (KY) 0 –3 –02 –6 –0 Millsaps 0 –3 –01 –5 –1 Clemson 0 –5 –21 –6 –2 + – Conference co-champions | 1921 Southwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Texas A&M $ 3 –0 –26 –1 –2 Texas 1 –0 –16 –1 –1 Arkansas 2 –1 –05 –3 –1 Baylor 2 –2 –08 –3 –0 Oklahoma A&M 1 –1 –05 –4 –1 Rice 1 –2 –14 –4 –1 SMU 0 –4 –01 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion |

### Independents

1921 Eastern college football independents records :
| 1921 Eastern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Washington & Jefferson   –  10 –0 –1 Lafayette   –  9 –0 –0 Cornell   –  8 –0 –0 Penn State   –  8 –0 –2 Yale   –  8 –1 –0 New Hampshire   –  8 –1 –1 Franklin & Marshall   –  6 –1 –2 Villanova   –  6 –1 –2 Carnegie Tech   –  7 –2 –0 Syracuse   –  7 –2 –0 Harvard   –  7 –2 –1 Boston University   –  6 –2 –0 Dartmouth   –  6 –2 –1 Brown   –  5 –3 –1 Bucknell   –  5 –3 –1 Geneva   –  5 –3 –1 Pittsburgh   –  5 –3 –1 Holy Cross   –  5 –3 –0 Army   –  6 –4 –0 Princeton   –  4 –3 –0 Boston College   –  4 –3 –1 Fordham   –  4 –3 –2 Penn   –  4 –3 –2 Colgate   –  4 –4 –2 Lehigh   –  4 –4 –0 Springfield   –  4 –5 –2 Vermont   –  3 –4 –0 NYU   –  2 –3 –3 Buffalo   –  2 –3 –2 Drexel   –  2 –3 –1 Rutgers   –  4 –6 –0 Rhode Island State   –  3 –5 –0 Columbia   –  2 –6 –0 Tufts   –  1 –5 –2 Duquesne   –  0 –4 –1 | 1921 Midwestern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Detroit Junior College   –  6 –0 –2 Notre Dame   –  10 –1 –0 Creighton   –  8 –1 –0 Detroit   –  8 –1 –0 South Dakota State   –  7 –1 –0 Kirksville Osteopaths   –  6 –1 –0 Iowa State Teachers   –  5 –1 –1 Wabash   –  7 –2 –0 Central Michigan   –  7 –2 –1 Butler   –  6 –2 –0 Western State Normal (MI)   –  6 –2 –0 Marquette   –  6 –2 –1 DePauw   –  4 –3 –0 Haskell   –  5 –4 –0 Michigan Mines   –  1 –1 –0 North Dakota Agricultural   –  3 –3 –1 Saint Louis   –  4 –4 –1 Valparaiso   –  2 –2 –1 Michigan Agricultural   –  3 –5 –0 Northern Illinois State   –  3 –5 –0 Earlham   –  2 –4 –1 St. Ignatius (OH)   –  2 –6 –0 Dayton   –  1 –7 –1 Kent State   –  0 –2 –1 | 1921 Southern college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Tennessee Docs   –  8 –0 –0 Southwest Texas State   –  7 –0 –0 Talladega   –  4 –0 –1 Navy   –  6 –1 –0 Sam Houston Normal   –  3 –1 –2 Erskine   –  6 –2 –0 Marshall   –  5 –2 –1 Delaware   –  5 –4 –0 West Virginia   –  5 –4 –1 Middle Tennessee State Normal   –  3 –2 –1 East Tennessee State Normal   –  4 –3 –0 Birmingham–Southern   –  4 –4 –1 Louisville   –  2 –2 –1 Marion   –  4 –4 –0 Spring Hill   –  4 –4 –0 West Tennessee State Normal   –  4 –5 –1 Mississippi Normal   –  3 –4 –0 Western Kentucky State Normal   –  2 –4 –1 Loyola (LA)   –  2 –4 –0 Roanoke   –  3 –7 –0 Abilene Christian   –  2 –5 –0 Bryson College   –  2 –5 –0 Wake Forest   –  2 –8 –0 Texas Mines   –  1 –4 –0 Presbyterian   –  1 –7 –0 |
| 1921 Western college football independents records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T USC   –  10 –1 –0 Arizona   –  7 –2 –0 Santa Clara   –  6 –0 –0 Chico State   –  4 –2 –1 La Verne   –  4 –2 –1 Nevada   –  4 –3 –1 Saint Mary's   –  4 –3 –0 Hawaii   –  3 –3 –2 Pacific (CA)   –  3 –3 –0 University Farm   –  3 –4 –0 New Mexico   –  2 –2 –0 New Mexico A&M   –  2 –2 –0 Gonzaga   –  2 –4 –1 Fresno State   –  2 –4 –0 San Jose State   –  1 –5 –0 |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association | Virginia Union | 3–0 |
| Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin | Stout Normal | 3–0 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Kansas State Teachers Kansas State Teachers–Fort Hays | 6–0–1 6–0 |
| Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Louisiana Polytechnic | 3–0 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | No champion | – |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Hamline | 5–0 |
| Nebraska Intercollegiate Conference | Unknown | — |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | Miami (OH) | 7–0 |
| Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference | Unknown | — |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Pomona | 5–0 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Morehouse | — |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Wiley | — |

### Minor conference standings

1921 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 1921 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Virginia Union $ 3 –0 –06 –0 –2 Howard 4 –1 –07 –1 –0 Lincoln (PA) 2 –1 –08 –1 –0 Virginia Normal 1 –1 –02 –1 –1 Hampton 1 –3 –02 –3 –0 Shaw 0 –2 –0 ? – ? –0 Virginia Seminary 0 –3 –04 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Carthage 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Southern Illinois   –  4 –3 –2 | 1921 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Hays Normal $ 6 –0 –06 –1 –0 Kansas State Normal 6 –1 –06 –1 –0 Pittsburg Normal 5 –1 –17 –2 –1 College of Emporia 4 –1 –04 –2 –1 Fairmount 4 –2 –15 –2 –1 Bethany (KS) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Baker 4 –3 –15 –3 –1 Southwestern (KS) 4 –4 –05 –4 –0 Friends 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Washburn 3 –3 –13 –5 –1 St. Mary's (KS) 2 –5 –03 –5 –0 Ottawa 2 –5 –13 –5 –1 McPherson 2 –6 –05 –6 –0 Sterling 1 –6 –01 –6 –0 Kansas Wesleyan 0 –7 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1921 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kalamazoo $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –0 Albion 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Hillsdale 2 –2 –05 –3 –0 Michigan State Normal 1 –2 –03 –3 –0 Olivet 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 Alma 1 –4 –02 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Hamline $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0 Carleton 3 –1 –06 –1 –0 St. Olaf 3 –2 –04 –2 –0 St. Thomas (MN) 2 –2 –04 –2 –0 Macalester 2 –2 –02 –2 –1 Concordia (MN) 0 –2 –02 –3 –1 Saint John's (MN) 0 –2 –01 –4 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 0 –4 –02 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Missouri Wesleyan + 6 –1 –07 –1 –0 Kirksville + 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 William Jewell + 6 –1 –06 –2 –0 Missouri Mines 4 –1 –04 –4 –0 Central (MO) 3 –2 –05 –2 –0 Tarkio 3 –3 –03 –6 –0 Springfield (MO) 3 –4 –03 –5 –0 Warrensburg 2 –3 –02 –5 –1 Missouri Valley 1 –2 –22 –2 –3 Drury 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 Westminster (MO) 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 Maryville (MO) 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 Culver–Stockton 0 –2 –03 –4 –0 Cape Girardeau 0 –2 –01 –3 –2 Central Wesleyan 0 –3 –00 –4 –1 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1921 Nebraska Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Nebraska Wesleyan $ 5 –0 –08 –3 –0 Wayne Normal 5 –0 –06 –2 –0 Doane 4 –2 –15 –3 –1 Peru Normal 5 –3 –06 –1 –0 Kearney Normal 3 –2 –13 –2 –1 Hastings 3 –3 –24 –3 –2 York (NE) 3 –4 –03 –5 –0 Cotner 2 –3 –02 –3 –2 Midland 2 –4 –03 –4 –0 Grand Island 1 –4 –11 –5 –1 Chadron Normal 0 –3 –02 –4 –0 Nebraska Central 0 –5 –00 –5 –0 Championship: Nebraska Wesleyan 17, Wayne Normal 3 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Northwest Ohio League football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Bowling Green $ 3 –0 –03 –1 –1 Toledo   –  3 –5 –0 Findlay 0 –3 –00 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Miami (OH) $ 7 –0 –08 –0 –0 St. Xavier 1 –0 –06 –2 –0 Oberlin 7 –0 –17 –0 –1 Case 6 –1 –26 –2 –2 Wooster 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Denison 5 –2 –05 –3 –0 Akron 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Ohio Northern 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 Ohio State 1 –1 –05 –2 –0 Wittenberg 3 –3 –24 –3 –2 Kenyon 1 –1 –41 –1 –5 Ohio 1 –1 –04 –4 –1 Otterbein 1 –3 –21 –5 –2 Western Reserve 2 –5 –12 –7 –1 Hiram 1 –4 –22 –4 –2 Ohio Wesleyan 1 –6 –11 –6 –1 Mount Union 0 –5 –11 –6 –1 Cincinnati 0 –4 –03 –6 –0 Heidelberg 0 –7 –00 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1921 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Dakota Wesleyan $ 3 –0 –06 –2 –0 Columbus (SD) 2 –1 –05 –2 –0 Huron 1 –2 –03 –3 –0 Yankton 1 –2 –03 –4 –0 South Dakota Mines 1 –2 –02 –4 –1 Northern Normal 1 –2 –01 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Southern California Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Whittier $ 5 –0 –05 –2 –0 Redlands 4 –1 –05 –2 –1 Occidental 2 –2 –12 –4 –1 Pomona 2 –2 –12 –3 –1 Caltech 1 –4 –02 –5 –1 Southern Branch 0 –5 –00 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Wiley $   –  7 –0 –1 Bishop   –   –   Paul Quinn   –   –   Prairie View State   –   –   Samuel Huston   –   –   Texas College   –   –   $ – Conference champion |
| 1921 Spokane Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Cheney Normal $ 3 –0 –03 –3 –0 Whitworth 4 –1 –05 –1 –0 Spokane College 1 –3 –1 ? – ? – ? Spokane University 0 –4 –1 ? – ? – ? $ – Conference champion | 1921 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Rice $ 3 –0 –04 –4 –1 Howard Payne 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 TCU 2 –1 –06 –3 –1 Simmons (TX) 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 Austin 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Trinity (TX) 2 –4 –04 –4 –0 SMU 1 –3 –11 –6 –1 Daniel Baker 0 –2 –03 –4 –1 Southwestern (TX) 0 –3 –10 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1921 Wisconsin Normal Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Stout Normal $ 3 –0 –05 –0 –2 Oshkosh Normal 3 –1 –05 –2 –0 La Crosse Normal 3 –1 –15 –1 –1 Superior Normal 2 –1 –15 –1 –1 Stevens Point Normal 1 –1 –13 –2 –1 Whitewater Normal 2 –2 –03 –2 –1 Eau Claire Normal 1 –2 –12 –2 –1 River Falls Normal 1 –3 –13 –4 –1 Milwaukee Normal 0 –2 –14 –2 –1 Platteville Normal 0 –3 –04 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion |

## Awards and honors
### All-Americans

The consensus All-America team included:
| Position | Name | Height | Weight (lbs.) | Class | Hometown | Team |
| QB | Aubrey Devine | 5'9" | 170 | Sr. | Des Moines, Iowa | Iowa |
| QB | Bo McMillin | 5'9" | 165 | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas | Centre |
| HB | Glenn Killinger | 5'9" | 163 | Sr. | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Penn State |
| HB | Mal Aldrich | 5'11" | 165 | Sr. | Fall River, Massachusetts | Yale |
| FB | Eddie Kaw | 5'10" | 168 | Jr. | Houston, Texas | Cornell |
| E | Harold Muller | 6'0" | 180 | Jr. | Dunsmuir, California | California |
| T | Dan McMillan | 6'1" | 225 | Sr. | Los Angeles, California | California |
| G | Fiske Brown | | | Sr. | Plymouth, Massachusetts | Harvard |
| G | Stan Keck | 5'11" | 206 | Sr. | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Princeton |
| C | Herb Stein | 6'1" | 186 | Sr. | Warren, Ohio | Pittsburgh |
| G | Frank Schwab | 5'11" | 195 | Sr. | Saltsburg, Pennsylvania | Lafayette |
| G | Iolas Huffman | 5'11" | 228 | Sr. | Chandlersville, Ohio | Ohio State |
| E | Eddie Anderson | | | Sr. | Mason City, Iowa | Notre Dame |

## Statistical leaders

* Total offense leader: Aubrey Devine, Iowa, 2211
* Receptions leader: Eddie Anderson, Notre Dame, 26
* Receiving yards leader: Eddie Anderson, 394