# 1951 college football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1951 college football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

## Legend

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

## AP Poll

The final AP Poll was released on December 3, at the end of the 1951 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.
| | Preseason | Week 3 Oct 1 | Week 4 Oct 8 | Week 5 Oct 15 | Week 6 Oct 22 | Week 7 Oct 29 | Week 8 Nov 5 | Week 9 Nov 12 | Week 10 Nov 19 | Week 11 Nov 26 | Week 12 (Final) Dec 3 | |
| 1. | Tennessee (60) | Michigan State (2–0) (37) | Michigan State (3–0) (42) | California (4–0) (50) | Tennessee (4–0) (70) | Tennessee (5–0) (59) | Tennessee (6–0) (60) | Michigan State (7–0) (55) | Tennessee (8–0) (60) | Tennessee (9–0) (92) | Tennessee (10–0) (139) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan State (18) | California (2–0) (22) | California (3–0) (36) | Tennessee (3–0) (26) | Michigan State (5–0) (28) | Michigan State (6–0) (25) | Illinois (6–0) (29) | Tennessee (7–0) (42) | Michigan State (8–0) (38) | Michigan State (9–0) (34) | Michigan State (9–0) (104) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State (8) | Tennessee (1–0) (27) | Tennessee (2–0) (18) | Michigan State (4–0) (16) | Georgia Tech (5–0) (16) | Illinois (5–0) (15) | Maryland (6–0) (21) | Illinois (7–0) (20) | Stanford (9–0) (18) | Maryland (9–0) (18) | Maryland (9–0) (18) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (16) | Oklahoma (1–0) (18) | Texas A&M (2–0) (3) | Texas (4–0) (6) | Illinois (4–0) (12) | Maryland (5–0) (22) | Princeton (6–0) (6) | Stanford (8–0) (12) | Maryland (8–0) (26) | Illinois (8–0–1) (4) | Illinois (8–0–1) (10) | 4. |
| 5. | California (3) | Notre Dame (1–0) (9) | Notre Dame (2–0) (4) | Georgia Tech (4–0) (12) | Maryland (4–0) (13) | Georgia Tech (6–0) (9) | Michigan State (6–0) (12) | Maryland (7–0) (16) | Princeton (8–0) (8) | Princeton (9–0) (4) | Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (8) | 5. |
| 6. | Kentucky (1) | Texas (2–0) (6) | Texas (3–0) (4) | Texas A&M (3–0) (8) | USC (5–0) (13) | Princeton (5–0) (14) | USC (7–0) (6) | Princeton (7–0) (6) | Illinois (7–0–1) (3) | Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (1) | Princeton (9–0) (3) | 6. |
| 7. | Texas A&M | Ohio State (1–0) (1) | Illinois (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) (14) | Baylor (4–0) (2) | USC (6–0) (7) | Stanford (7–0) (8) | Georgia Tech (7–0–1) | Georgia Tech (8–0–1) (2) | Wisconsin (7–1–1) (5) | Stanford (9–1) (1) | 7. |
| 8. | Washington (3) | Illinois (1–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) (3) | Illinois (3–0) (3) | Princeton (4–0) (2) | Baylor (4–0–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0–1) (1) | Wisconsin (5–1–1) (2) | Wisconsin (6–1–1) (3) | Stanford (9–1) (1) | Wisconsin (7–1–1) (10) | 8. |
| 9. | Alabama (2) | Maryland (1–0) (4) | Ohio State (1–1) | Princeton (3–0) (1) | California (4–1) (1) | California (5–1) | Wisconsin (4–1–1) (3) | Kentucky (6–3) (4) | Kentucky (7–3) (4) | Baylor (7–1–1) | Baylor (8–1–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Illinois (2) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Maryland (2–0) (1) | Baylor (3–0) | Texas (4–1) | Wisconsin (3–1–1) (2) | Texas (6–1) | Baylor (5–1–1) | Baylor (6–1–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) (2) | Oklahoma (8–2) (4) | 10. |
| 11. | Texas (1) | Georgia Tech (2–0) (4) | Oklahoma (1–1) | USC (4–0) | Stanford (5–0) (1) | Stanford (6–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) (1) | USC (7–1) | USC (7–2) | TCU (5–4) | TCU (6–4) | 11. |
| 12. | Nebraska | Washington (2–0) (2) | Baylor (2–0) | Villanova (3–0) | Cornell (4–0) (1) | Texas (5–1) | Kentucky (5–3) (3) | Oklahoma (5–2) (1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | California (8–2) (3) | California (8–2) (2) | 12. |
| 13. | Baylor | Georgia (2–0) (1) | Princeton (2–0) | Stanford (4–0) | Northwestern (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–1) | TCU (5–2) | TCU (5–2) | San Francisco (8–0) | Virginia (8–1) (1) | Virginia (8–1) (5) | 13. |
| 14. | Notre Dame (1) | Princeton (1–0) | USC (3–0) | Cornell (3–0) | Wisconsin (2–1–1) | Kentucky (4–3) (1) | Oklahoma (4–2) (1) | San Francisco (7–0) | Texas (7–2) | San Francisco (9–0) | San Francisco (9–0) (2) | 14. |
| 15. | Wisconsin | Oregon State (1–1) (1) | Holy Cross (2–0) | SMU (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Michigan (3–2) | San Francisco (7–0) | Texas (6–2) | Virginia (7–1) (1) | UCLA (5–3–1) | Kentucky (7–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Maryland | Duke (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Pacific (4–0) (1) | Texas A&M (3–1) (1) | Washington State (4–2) | Baylor (4–1–1) | California (5–3) | Holy Cross (7–1) (1) | Texas (7–2) | Boston University (6–4) (2) | 16. |
| 17. | Michigan | Kentucky (1–2) | Cornell (2–0) | Ohio State (1–1–1) | Kentucky (3–3) (1) | Oklahoma (3–2) (1) | California (5–2) т | Washington State (5–3) | Washington State (6–3) | Kentucky (7–4) | UCLA (5–3–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Princeton | Clemson (2–0) (1) | Oregon State (2–1) | Northwestern (3–0) | Washington State (3–2) | Texas A&M (3–1–1) | Washington State (5–2) т | UCLA (4–3) | Rice (5–3) | Washington State (7–3) | Washington State (7–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Pennsylvania | Baylor (1–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Oklahoma (1–2) | Arkansas (3–2) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Pacific (6–1) (1) | Rice (4–3) | California (7–2) | Holy Cross (8–1) | Holy Cross (8–2) (1) т | 19. |
| 20. | Cornell | Kansas (2–0) | Pacific (3–0) (1) | Washington (3–1) | San Francisco (5–0) | San Francisco (6–0) | Arkansas (4–3) тOhio State (3–2–1) т | Cincinnati (8–0) | Bucknell (9–0) | USC (7–3) | Clemson (7–2) т | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 3 Oct 1 | Week 4 Oct 8 | Week 5 Oct 15 | Week 6 Oct 22 | Week 7 Oct 29 | Week 8 Nov 5 | Week 9 Nov 12 | Week 10 Nov 19 | Week 11 Nov 26 | Week 12 (Final) Dec 3 | |
| | | Dropped: AlabamaNebraskaWisconsinMichiganPennsylvaniaCornell | Dropped: WashingtonGeorgiaDukeKentuckyKansas | Dropped: Notre DameHoly CrossClemsonOregon State | Dropped: VillanovaSMUPacificOhio StateOklahomaWashington | Dropped: CornellNorthwesternArkansas | Dropped: MichiganTexas A&MMiami (FL) | Dropped: Notre DamePacificArkansasOhio State | Dropped: TCUUCLACincinnati | Dropped: RiceBucknell | Dropped: TexasUSC | |

## Final Coaches Poll

The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 3. Tennessee received 23 of the 35 first-place votes; Michigan State received seven, Maryland two, and one each to Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Princeton.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
| 1 | Tennessee | SEC | Lost Sugar, 13–28 |
| 2 | Michigan State | Independent | none |
| 3 | Illinois | Big Ten | Won Rose, 40–7 |
| 4 | Maryland | Southern | Won Sugar, 28–13 |
| 5 | Georgia Tech | SEC | Won Orange, 17–14 |
| 6 | Princeton | Independent | none |
| 7 | Stanford | Pacific Coast | Lost Rose, 7–40 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | none |
| 9 | Baylor | Southwest | Lost Orange, 14–17 |
| 10 | TCU | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 7–20 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | Big Seven | none |
| 12 | California | Pacifie Coast | none |
| 13 | Notre Dame | Independent | none |
| 14 | Purdue | Big Ten | none |
| 14 | San Francisco | Independent | none |
| 14 | Washington State | Pacific Coast | none |
| 17 | Holy Cross | Independent | none |
| 17 | Kentucky | SEC | Won Cotton, 20–7 |
| 17 | UCLA | Pacific Coast | none |
| 20 | Kansas | Big Seven | none |
* Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pacific Coast (later AAWU / Pac-8) conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.
* The Ivy League has prohibited its members from participating in postseason football since the league was officially formed in 1954.

## Litkenhous Ratings

The Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December 1951 provided numerical rankings to over 650 college football programs. The top 100 ranked teams were:
1. Tennessee (10–1) 2. Maryland (10–0) 3. Michigan State (9–0) 4. Oklahoma (8–2) 5. California (8–2) 6. Georgia Tech (11–0–1) 7. Baylor (8–2–1) 8. Illinois (9–0–1) 9. Wisconsin (7–1–1) 10. Kentucky (8–4) 11. Stanford (9–2) 12. UCLA (5–3–1) 13. Texas (7–3) 14. Notre Dame (7–2–1) 15. Ole Miss (6–3–1) 16. USC (7–3) 17. TCU (6–5) 18. SMU (3–6–1) 19. Princeton (9–0) 20. Texas A&M (5–3–2) 21. Holy Cross (8–2) 22. Washington State (7–3) 23. Washington (3–6–1) 24. Xavier (9–0–1) 25. Oregon State (4–6) 26. Arkansas (5–5) 27. San Francisco (9–0) 28. Rice (5–5) 29. Michigan (4–5) 30. Virginia (8–1) 31. Ohio State (4–3–2) 32. Tulsa (9–2) 33. LSU (7–3–1) 34. Cincinnati (10–1) 35. Florida (5–5) 36. Alabama (5–6) 37. Purdue (5–4) 38. Kansas (8–2) 39. Penn (5–4) 40. Texas Tech (7–4) 41. Miami (FL) (8–3) 42. Vanderbilt (6–5) 43. Northwestern (5–4) 44. Cornell (6–3) 45. Clemson (7–3) 46. Pacific (6–5) 47. Colorado (7–3) 48. Georgia (5–5) 49. Navy (2–6–1) 50. Mississippi State (4–5) 51. Duke (5–4–1) 52. Tulane (4–6) 53. Marquette (4–6–1) 54. Boston University (6–4) 55. Indiana (3–6_ 56. Villanova (5–3) 57. Wake Forest 58. Pittsburgh (3–7) 59. Columbia (5–3) 60. Penn State (5–4) 61. Santa Clara (3–5–1) 62. Wyoming (7–2–1) 63. Houston (6–5) 64. Bucknell (9–0) 65. Syracuse (5–4) 66. Washington & Lee (6–4) 67. North Carolina (2–8) 68. South Carolina (5–4) 69. Iowa (2–5–2) 70. North Texas (8–4) 71. Dayton (7–3) 72. Fordham (5–4) 73. Auburn (5–5) 74. Iowa State (4–4–1) 75. Minnesota (2–6–1) 76. Arizona State (6–3–1) 77. Denver (6–4) 78. Hardin–Simmons (6–6) 79. Dartmouth (4–5) 80. Drake (7–2) 81. Chattanooga (6–5) 82. Memphis State (5–3) 83. Miami (OH) (7–3) 84. Oklahoma A&M (3–7) 85. Boston College (3–6) 86. Missouri (3–7) 87. Arkansas State (10–2) 88. Del Mar (9–1) 89. Army (2–7) 90. Rutgers (4–4) 91. William & Mary (5–4–1) 92. VMI (7–3) 93. Nebraska (2–8) 94. Colgate (4–5) 95. Yale (2–5–2) 96. Loyola (Los Angeles) (3–6) 97. Tyler (10–1) 98. Temple (6–4) 99. Oregon (2–8) 100. Toledo (6–4) 101. Louisville (5–4) 102. Colorado A&M (5–4–1) 103. George Washington (2–6–1) 104. West Virginia (5–5) 105. Mississippi Southern (6–5) 106. Kansas State (0–9) 107. Utah (7–4) 108. Compton (10–1) 109. Pasadena (12–0) 110. Detroit (4–7) 111. NC State (3–7) 112. Idaho (2–7) 113. East Texas (9–2) 114. Furman (3–6–1) 115. Long Beach (8–1–1) 116. South Dakota State (8–1–1) 117. Kent State (4–3–2) 118. Ohio (5–4–1) 119. Utah State (3–5–1) 120. St. Bonaventure (5–4) 121. San Jose State (2–7–1) 122. Harvard (3–5–1) 123. Valparaiso (9–0) 124. South Dakota (7–1) 125. Abilene Christian (6–4) 126. Brown (2–7) 132. Arizona (6–5) 133. Murray State (8–1) 137. Lehigh (7–2) 138. San Diego State (10–0–1) 139. Middle Tennessee (7–2–2) 140. Citadel (4–6) 146. Marshall (5–4–1) 204. Western Kentucky (4–5)

## HBCU rankings

The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1951 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 8:
* 1. Morris Brown (10–1)
* 2. Florida A&M (7–1–1)
* 3. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
* 4. Prairie View A&M (9–1)
* 5. Central State (7–2)
* 6. North Carolina A&T (7–1–1)
* 7. North Carolina College (6–2–1)
* 8. West Virginia State (6–2–1)
* 9. Xavier (LA) (8–1)
* 10. Lincoln (MO) (7–2)
* 11. Maryland State (7–1)
* 12. Bethune-Cookman (6–2)
The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 14:
* 1. North Carolina A&T (7–1–1)
* 2. Morris Brown (10–1)
* 3. Florida A&M (7–1–1)
* 4. Prairie View A&M (9–1)
* 5. Central State (7–2)
* 6. North Carolina College (6–2–1)
* 7. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
* 8. West Virginia State (6–2–1)
* 9. Lincoln (MO) (7–2)
* 10. Xavier (LA) (8–1)
* 11. Alcorn (8–3)
* 12. Bethune-Cookman (6–2)
* 13. Maryland State (7–1)
* 14. Texas Southern (7–2–1)
* 15. Benedict (7–3)
* 16. Virginia State (5–3)
* 17. Texas College (5–3–2)
* 18. Hampton (5–4)
* 19. Lincoln (PA) (5–4)
* 20. Arkansas A&M (5–4–1)
* 21. Southern (5–4–2)
* 22. Fisk (6–2)
* 23. South Carolina State (5–2)
* 24. Tuskegee (6–3)
* 25. Grambling (4–5–1)
* 26. Jackson State
* 27. Virginia Union (5–5)
* 28. Langston (4–5)
* 29. Mississippi Industrial
* 30. Howard (5–4)
* 31. Allen (3–7)