# 1938 college football season

The 1938 college football season ended with the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University (TCU) being named the nation's No. 1 team by 55 of the 77 voters in the final Associated Press writers' poll in early December. Tennessee was also chosen by six contemporary math system selectors as a national champion; both teams won every game. Notre Dame was chosen by the Dickinson System and won the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy.

## Conference and program changes
### Conference changes

* Two conferences began play during 1938:
** Alabama Intercollegiate Conference – active through the 1959 season
** Mountain States Conference – an NCAA University Division conference active through the 1961 season; also known as the Big Seven and Skyline Conference
* One conference changed its name in 1938:
** The Tri-Normal League changed its name to the Washington Intercollegiate Conference

### Membership changes

| School | 1937 Conference | 1938 Conference |
| BYU Cougars | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Colorado Buffaloes | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Colorado A&M Rams | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Denver Pioneers | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Utah Utes | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Utah State Aggies | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |
| Wyoming Cowboys | Rocky Mountain | Mountain States (Big Seven) |

## September

September 24 Defending champion Pittsburgh beat West Virginia, 19–0. California defeated St. Mary's 12–7. In Los Angeles, Alabama beat USC 19–7. Minnesota defeated Washington 15–0, and Dartmouth beat Bates 46–0.

## October

October 1 Alabama defeated Samford 34–0, Fordham beat Upsala 47–0, Dartmouth beat St Lawrence 51–0, and Notre Dame beat Kansas 52–0. Pitt defeated Temple 28–6, California beat Washington State 27–3, and Minnesota beat Nebraska 16–7.
October 8 Minnesota defeated Purdue 7–0. Alabama beat North Carolina State 14–0. Dartmouth stayed unscored upon, winning at Princeton 22–0. Pittsburgh beat cross-town rival Duquesne 27–0. Fordham beat Waynesburg College 53–0. California played a double-header for the fans, with the reserves beating the California Agricultural school (lager UC-Davis) 48–0, and the varsity and reserves beating College of the Pacific 39–0. In Atlanta, Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech 14–6.
October 15 Pittsburgh won at Wisconsin 26–6. California defeated UCLA 20–7. Dartmouth beat Brown 34–13, and Notre Dame beat Illinois 14–6. Minnesota edged Michigan, 7–6. Fordham was tied by Purdue 6–6, and in Birmingham, Alabama was shut out by Tennessee, 13–0. When the first round of balloting was finished, the defending champion Panthers were again No. 1, followed by Minnesota, California, Dartmouth, and Notre Dame.
October 22 No. 1 Pittsburgh beat SMU 34–7. No. 2 Minnesota was idle. No. 3 California won at Seattle over Washington 14–7. No. 4 Dartmouth won at Harvard 13–7. No. 5 Notre Dame beat No. 13 Carnegie Tech 7–0. No. 6 Santa Clara beat Arkansas 21–6 in San Francisco, while in Milwaukee, No. 7 TCU beat Marquette 21–0, and the two winners replaced Dartmouth and Notre Dame in the Top Five: No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 2 Minnesota, No. 3 California, No. 4 TCU, and No. 5 Santa Clara.
October 29 No. 1 Pittsburgh beat No. 9 Fordham, 24–13. No. 2 Minnesota fell to No. 12 Northwestern, 6–3. No. 3 California beat Oregon State 13–7. No. 4 TCU beat Baylor 39–7, and No. 5 Santa Clara won at Michigan State 7–6. No. 6 Dartmouth won at Yale 24–6 and No. 7 Notre Dame beat Army in Yankee Stadium, 19–7, and both returned to the Top Five: No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 2 TCU, No. 3 California, No. 4 Notre Dame, and No. 5 Dartmouth.

## November

November 5 In Pittsburgh, the No. 1 Panthers lost to No. 19 Carnegie Tech, 20–10. No. 2 TCU won at Tulsa 21–0. No. 3 California lost at No. 13 USC 13–7. In Baltimore, No. 4 Notre Dame beat Navy 15–0. No. 5 Dartmouth beat Dickinson College, 44–6. No. 6 Tennessee beat Chattanooga 45–0 to extend its record to 7–0–0. The Horned Frogs of TCU leaped into the top spot, ahead of Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Dartmouth.
November 12 No. 1 TCU beat Texas 28–6. No. 2 Notre Dame beat No. 12 Minnesota 19–0. No. 3 Pittsburgh beat Nebraska 19–0. No. 4 Tennessee won at Vanderbilt 14–0. No. 5 Dartmouth lost at No. 20 Cornell 14–7. No. 7 Duke remained unbeaten (7–0–0), untied, and unscored upon with a 21–0 win at Syracuse. In the next poll, the Irish moved up to the top rung, followed by TCU, Tennessee, Duke, and Pittsburgh.
November 19 No. 1 Notre Dame won at No. 16 Northwestern 9–7. No. 2 TCU won at Rice 29–7. No. 3 Tennessee was idle as it prepared for a holiday game. No. 4 Duke beat N.C. State, 7–0. No. 5 Pittsburgh beat Penn State 26–0. The rankings shuffled to No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 TCU, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Pittsburgh, and No. 5 Tennessee.
On Thanksgiving Day No. 5 Tennessee beat Kentucky 46–0, while No. 6 Oklahoma beat Oklahoma A&M 19-0. Two days later, November 26, No. 1 Notre Dame remained idle. No. 2 TCU beat SMU in Dallas, 20–7. No. 3 Duke and No. 4 Pittsburgh met at Durham, with the hosts winning 7–0. With a record of 9–0–0, Duke had outscored its opponents 114–0, but stayed in third in the next set of rankings. On November 29 the "final" AP Poll was released with Notre Dame No. 1, followed by No. 2 TCU, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Oklahoma.
On December 3, No. 1 Notre Dame lost in Los Angeles to No. 8 USC, 13–0. As a result the AP Poll was extended for another week. On December 6 previously No. 2-ranked TCU received 55 first place votes in the second final poll and accepted a bid to the Sugar Bowl. No. 4 Tennessee beat Ole Miss 47–0 in Memphis, and moved up to second place. Though the SEC champion would be Sugar Bowl bound in later years, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 match was not to be had, as Tennessee instead took a bid for the Orange Bowl. No. 3 Duke stayed in third place, despite having never been scored upon in 1938, and accepted an invitation to the Rose Bowl. No. 5 Oklahoma beat Washington State 28–0 and moved up to fourth place. Both unbeaten and untied at 10–0–0, Tennessee and Oklahoma would meet in Miami, but the title had been awarded to 10–0–0 TCU. Notre Dame fell to fifth place.

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1938 Big Six Conference football standings :
| 1938 Big Six Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 Oklahoma $ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Iowa State 3 –1 –17 –1 –1 Missouri 2 –3 –06 –3 –0 Nebraska 2 –3 –03 –5 –1 Kansas State 1 –3 –14 –4 –1 Kansas 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1938 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 10 Minnesota $ 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 No. 16 Michigan 3 –1 –16 –1 –1 Purdue 3 –1 –15 –1 –2 No. 17 Northwestern 2 –1 –24 –2 –2 Wisconsin 3 –2 –05 –3 –0 Ohio State 3 –2 –14 –3 –1 Illinois 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Iowa 1 –3 –11 –6 –1 Indiana 1 –4 –01 –6 –1 Chicago 0 –4 –01 –6 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1938 Border Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T New Mexico A&M + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 New Mexico + 4 –2 –08 –3 –0 No. 11 Texas Tech 2 –0 –010 –1 –0 Texas Mines 3 –2 –06 –3 –0 Arizona State–Flagstaff 1 –2 –02 –6 –1 Arizona 0 –3 –03 –6 –0 Arizona State 0 –4 –03 –6 –0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from AP Poll |
| 1938 Mountain States Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Utah $ 4 –0 –27 –1 –2 BYU 3 –2 –14 –3 –1 Denver 3 –2 –14 –4 –1 Colorado 3 –2 –13 –4 –1 Utah State 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Wyoming 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 Colorado A&M 0 –4 –21 –5 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 7 USC + 6 –1 –09 –2 –0 No. 14 California + 6 –1 –010 –1 –0 UCLA 4 –3 –17 –4 –1 Oregon State 4 –3 –15 –3 –1 Oregon 4 –4 –04 –5 –0 Washington 3 –4 –13 –5 –1 Idaho 2 –3 –16 –3 –1 Stanford 2 –5 –03 –6 –0 Washington State 1 –7 –02 –8 –0 Montana 0 –1 –05 –3 –1 + – Conference co-championsRankings from AP Poll | 1938 Southeastern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall Team W L W L  No. 2 Tennessee $ 7 –0 –011 –0 –0 No. 13 Alabama 4 –1 –17 –1 –1 No. 19 Tulane 4 –1 –17 –2 –1 Ole Miss 3 –2 –09 –2 –0 Georgia Tech 2 –1 –33 –4 –3 Vanderbilt 4 –3 –06 –3 –0 Florida 2 –2 –14 –6 –1 Auburn 3 –3 –14 –5 –1 Georgia 1 –2 –15 –4 –1 LSU 2 –4 –06 –4 –0 Mississippi State 1 –4 –04 –6 –0 Kentucky 0 –4 –02 –7 –0 Sewanee 0 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1938 Southern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Duke $ 5 –0 –09 –1 –0 Clemson 3 –0 –17 –1 –1 VMI 4 –0 –36 –1 –4 North Carolina 4 –1 –06 –2 –1 Richmond 3 –2 –16 –3 –1 Washington and Lee 2 –2 –04 –4 –1 NC State 3 –3 –13 –7 –1 South Carolina 2 –2 –06 –4 –1 Wake Forest 3 –4 –14 –5 –1 VPI 2 –3 –23 –5 –2 The Citadel 2 –3 –06 –5 –0 Maryland 1 –2 –02 –7 –0 Davidson 2 –6 –04 –6 –0 Furman 0 –4 –12 –7 –1 William & Mary 0 –4 –03 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1938 Southwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 TCU $ 6 –0 –011 –0 –0 SMU 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Baylor 3 –2 –17 –2 –1 Rice 3 –3 –04 –6 –0 Texas A&M 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Arkansas 1 –5 –02 –7 –1 Texas 1 –5 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |

### Independents

1938 Eastern college football independents records :
| 1938 Eastern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Worcester Tech   –  6 –0 –0 No. 18 Villanova   –  8 –0 –1 No. 9 Holy Cross   –  8 –1 –0 Boston College   –  6 –1 –2 No. 15 Fordham   –  6 –1 –2 No. 12 Cornell   –  5 –1 –1 Army   –  8 –2 –0 No. 8 Pittsburgh   –  8 –2 –0 No. 6 Carnegie Tech   –  7 –2 –0 No. 20 Dartmouth   –  7 –2 –0 Vermont   –  4 –2 –1 Brown   –  5 –3 –0 Bucknell   –  5 –3 –0 Syracuse   –  5 –3 –0 CCNY   –  4 –3 –0 Penn   –  3 –2 –3 Manhattan   –  5 –4 –0 Harvard   –  4 –4 –0 La Salle   –  4 –4 –0 NYU   –  4 –4 –0 Boston University   –  3 –4 –1 Penn State   –  3 –4 –1 Princeton   –  3 –4 –1 Hofstra   –  2 –3 –1 Duquesne   –  4 –6 –0 Temple   –  3 –6 –1 Providence   –  3 –5 –0 Columbia   –  3 –6 –0 Massachusetts State   –  3 –6 –0 Colgate   –  2 –5 –0 Buffalo   –  2 –6 –0 Yale   –  2 –6 –0 Tufts   –  1 –6 –1 Rankings from AP Poll | 1938 Midwestern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Notre Dame   –  8 –1 –0 Central Michigan   –  7 –1 –0 Michigan State Normal   –  6 –1 –1 Xavier   –  7 –2 –0 Akron   –  6 –3 –0 Michigan State   –  6 –3 –0 Detroit Tech   –  6 –3 –0 Detroit   –  6 –4 –0 Western State Teachers (MI)   –  4 –3 –0 Cincinnati   –  4 –5 –0 Haskell   –  2 –6 –0 Wayne   –  2 –6 –0 DePaul   –  2 –7 –0 Marquette   –  1 –7 –0 Rankings from AP poll | 1938 Southern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Georgetown   –  8 –0 –0 Hardin–Simmons   –  8 –2 –0 Roanoke   –  5 –2 –3 Western Maryland   –  5 –2 –1 Catholic University   –  5 –3 –0 George Washington   –  5 –4 –0 Navy   –  4 –3 –2 Virginia   –  4 –4 –1 West Virginia   –  4 –5 –1 Loyola (LA)   –  4 –5 –0 South Georgia Teachers   –  3 –5 –1 William & Mary Norfolk   –  3 –5 –1 Delaware   –  3 –5 –0 Delaware State   –  1 –2 –0 Oglethorpe   –  2 –8 –0 Oklahoma City   –  2 –8 –0 East Carolina   –  1 –6 –1 Jacksonville State   –  1 –6 –1 |
| 1938 Western college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T San Jose State   –  11 –1 –0 Cal Poly   –  7 –2 –0 Santa Clara   –  6 –2 –0 Saint Mary's   –  6 –2 –0 San Francisco   –  5 –2 –1 Humboldt State   –  4 –2 –0 Idaho Southern Branch   –  4 –3 –0 Portland   –  5 –3 –0 Hawaii   –  4 –4 –0 Loyola (CA)   –  4 –5 –0 San Francisco State   –  2 –5 –0 La Verne   –  1 –4 –0 Santa Barbara State   –  2 –8 –0 Gonzaga   –  1 –7 –0 |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| Alamo Conference | Texas A&I | |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association | Virginia State College | 6–0–1 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Wichita | 4–0 |
| Far Western Conference | Pacific (CA) | 4–0 |
| Indiana Intercollegiate Conference | Manchester College | 6–1 |
| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Luther | 4–0–1 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Ottawa (KS) | 5–0 |
| Lone Star Conference | East Texas State Teachers | 4–0 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Hillsdale | 4–0 |
| Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference | Lawrence Technological University | 3–0 |
| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference | Lawrence | 5–0 |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Saint John's | 5–0 |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Northwest Missouri State Teachers | 5–0 |
| Nebraska College Athletic Conference | Doane Midland Lutheran | 3–1 |
| Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Nebraska State Teachers State Normal and Teachers (NE) | 2–0–1 |
| North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | South Dakota | 5–0 |
| North Dakota College Athletic Conference | North Dakota Science | 5–0 |
| Northern Teachers Athletic Conference | Duluth State Teachers Mankato State Teachers | 3–0 |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | John Carroll | 4–0–1 |
| Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference | Central State Teachers (OK) | 6–0 |
| Pacific Northwest Conference | Pacific (OR) Willamette | 4–1 |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | Mansfield State Teachers | 5–0 |
| South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Yankton | 5–1 |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Pomona | 4–0–1 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Florida A&M College | 6–0 |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Langston Southern | 2–0–3 4–1–1 |
| Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Payne | 6–0–1 |
| Washington Intercollegiate Conference | Western Washington College | 2–0 |
| Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference | North: River Falls State Teachers Co-South: Milwaukee State Teachers Co-South: Platteville State Teachers | 4–0 3–1 3–1 |

### Minor conference standings

1938 Alamo Conference football standings :
| 1938 Alamo Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas A&I $ 2 –0 –06 –3 –0 Sul Ross 1 –1 –04 –3 –1 St. Mary's (TX) 0 –2 –06 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Dayton + 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Ohio + 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Marshall 2 –2 –05 –4 –0 Miami (OH) 1 –3 –06 –3 –0 Ohio Wesleyan 1 –3 –01 –9 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wichita $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –1 Fort Hays State 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Pittsburg State 2 –2 –04 –4 –2 Emporia State 1 –3 –03 –6 –0 Southwestern (KS) 0 –4 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Virginia State $ 6 –0 –17 –0 –1 Morgan 5 –1 –15 –1 –1 Shaw 4 –1 –24 –1 –2 Virginia Union 4 –2 –25 –2 –2 Bluefield State 3 –3 –24 –3 –2 Hampton 3 –3 –14 –3 –1 Johnson C. Smith 2 –2 –15 –2 –1 North Carolina A&T 3 –3 –13 –5 –1 North Carolina College 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Howard 2 –4 –04 –5 –0 Lincoln (PA) 2 –4 –04 –5 –0 Saint Paul's (VA) 2 –5 –02 –5 –0 St. Augustine's 0 –4 –00 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Dixie Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Southwestern (TN) $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –1 Mississippi College 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Loyola (LA) 2 –1 –04 –5 –0 Howard (AL) 2 –1 –02 –5 –0 Chattanooga 3 –2 –04 –5 –0 Birmingham–Southern 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Spring Hill 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Mercer 0 –3 –03 –6 –0 Millsaps 0 –5 –01 –10 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Franklin & Marshall + 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Gettysburg + 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Muhlenberg + 3 –1 –07 –3 –0 Drexel 1 –3 –04 –3 –1 Ursinus 0 –4 –00 – ? –1 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1938 Far Western Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Pacific (CA) $ 4 –0 –07 –3 –0 Fresno State 2 –1 –07 –3 –0 Nevada 1 –2 –02 –3 –1 Chico State 0 –2 –12 –5 –1 Cal Aggies 0 –2 –12 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Illinois College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Bradley Tech + 4 –0 –07 –0 –1 Lake Forest + 4 –0 –05 –2 –0 Illinois College 2 –1 –04 –4 –0 Wheaton (IL) 2 –1 –03 –3 –0 Illinois Wesleyan 2 –1 –03 –4 –1 Knox (IL) 1 –2 –13 –4 –1 Monmouth (IL) 1 –2 –05 –5 –0 North Central 1 –3 –03 –4 –0 Augustana (IL) 1 –3 –03 –4 –1 Millikin 0 –5 –12 –5 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Northern Illinois State $ 4 –0 –06 –1 –1 Carthage 3 –0 –06 –1 –1 Illinois State Normal 4 –1 –05 –4 –1 Western Illinois 2 –2 –04 –3 –1 Eastern Illinois 1 –3 –05 –3 –0 Elmhurst 1 –3 –02 –5 –0 Eureka 0 –2 –01 –6 –0 Southern Illinois 0 –4 –02 –7 –0 |
| 1938 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Butler $ 3 –0 –04 –4 –0 Manchester 6 –1 –07 –1 –0 Ball State 6 –1 –16 –1 –1 Hanover 4 –2 –05 –2 –0 DePauw 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Rose Poly 2 –1 –05 –3 –0 Evansville 4 –3 –14 –4 –1 Valparaiso 2 –2 –12 –4 –1 Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –2 –12 –4 –1 Franklin (IN) 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Indiana State 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Earlham 1 –5 –11 –6 –1 Wabash 1 –5 –11 –6 –1 Central Normal 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Iowa Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Luther $ 4 –0 –15 –2 –1 St. Ambrose 3 –0 –07 –0 –1 Upper Iowa 5 –1 –15 –1 –1 Dubuque 4 –1 –05 –1 –2 Penn (IA) 2 –2 –13 –3 –1 Buena Vista 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 Iowa Wesleyan 2 –2 –22 –4 –2 Parsons 2 –3 –12 –4 –2 Western Union 1 –2 –05 –3 –0 Central (IA) 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Columbia (IA) 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Simpson (IA) 1 –4 –01 –8 –0 Wartburg 0 –5 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Ottawa $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Bethany (KS) 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 College of Emporia 3 –2 –04 –4 –1 McPherson 2 –3 –03 –5 –1 Kansas Wesleyan 1 –4 –02 –6 –1 Baker 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T East Texas State $ 4 –0 –08 –1 –0 Sam Houston State 3 –1 –08 –2 –0 North Texas State 2 –2 –07 –4 –0 Stephen F. Austin 1 –3 –03 –5 –1 Southwest Texas State 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hillsdale $ 4 –0 –08 –0 –0 Albion 2 –1 –15 –2 –1 Kalamazoo 1 –2 –13 –4 –1 Alma 1 –2 –13 –5 –1 Hope 0 –3 –14 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Middle Three Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Rutgers $ 2 –0 –07 –1 –0 Lafayette 1 –1 –05 –3 –0 Lehigh 0 –2 –02 –5 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Midwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lawrence $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –0 Coe 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Knox 3 –2 –03 –4 –1 Beloit 2 –2 –13 –3 –1 Monmouth (IL) 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Ripon 2 –3 –02 –5 –0 Cornell (IA) 1 –3 –13 –5 –1 Carleton 1 –4 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Saint John's (MN) $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 4 –1 –05 –1 –0 St. Thomas (MN) 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 St. Olaf 3 –2 –05 –2 –0 Hamline 2 –3 –02 –4 –0 Macalester 2 –3 –04 –3 –0 Concordia (MN) 0 –5 –02 –6 –1 Saint Mary's (MN) 0 –5 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T William Jewell $ 4 –0 –05 –2 –0 Central (MO) 1 –1 –22 –4 –2 Missouri Valley 1 –2 –15 –3 –1 Culver–Stockton 1 –2 –02 –6 –0 Tarkio 0 –2 –14 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Maryville (MO) $ 5 –0 –09 –0 –0 Rolla 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Springfield (MO) 2 –2 –15 –2 –2 Kirksville 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Warrensburg 1 –3 –12 –5 –1 Cape Girardeau 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Washburn * 2 –0 –06 –3 –0 Creighton * 1 –0 –16 –1 –1 Tulsa $ 3 –1 –04 –5 –1 Washington University 2 –1 –16 –3 –1 Drake 2 –1 –15 –4 –1 Saint Louis 1 –1 –13 –5 –2 Grinnell 0 –3 –03 –5 –0 Oklahoma A&M 0 –4 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion * ineligible for championship because of insufficient games | 1938 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Midland + 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Doane + 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Hastings 2 –1 –15 –3 –2 Nebraska Wesleyan 1 –2 –14 –4 –1 York (NE) 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1938 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Kearney State + 2 –0 –14 –4 –1 Wayne State (NE) + 2 –0 –13 –5 –1 Chadron State 0 –2 –02 –6 –0 Peru State 0 –2 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 New England Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Rhode Island State $ 2 –0 –04 –4 –0 Maine 2 –1 –03 –4 –0 New Hampshire 1 –1 –03 –6 –0 Northeastern 0 –0 –03 –3 –1 Connecticut State 0 –3 –04 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 North Central Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T South Dakota $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –0 North Dakota 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 North Dakota Agricultural 3 –1 –05 –4 –0 South Dakota State 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Morningside 1 –3 –14 –3 –1 Omaha 1 –3 –12 –5 –1 Iowa State Teachers 0 –4 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 North Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wahpeton $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0 Valley City State 5 –1 –05 –2 –0 Ellendale 3 –2 –13 –2 –2 Jamestown 2 –2 –12 –5 –1 Dickinson State 1 –2 –11 –3 –2 Minot State 1 –2 –21 –3 –2 Mayville State 0 –4 –10 –5 –1 Bottineau 0 –4 –00 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 North State Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Catawba + 4 –1 –07 –2 –1 Elon + 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Appalachian State 3 –1 –09 –1 –0 Lenoir Rhyne 4 –2 –04 –3 –2 Guilford 0 –3 –11 –5 –2 High Point 0 –4 –12 –4 –1 Western Carolina 0 –3 –00 –7 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 Northern Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Duluth State + 3 –0 –07 –0 –1 Mankato State + 3 –0 –05 –2 –1 Winona State 3 –1 –05 –2 –0 St. Cloud State 2 –3 –02 –4 –1 Moorhead State 0 –3 –00 –6 –1 Bemidji State 0 –4 –01 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1938 Northwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Willamette + 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Pacific (OR) + 4 –1 –04 –3 –0 College of Idaho 2 –2 –14 –4 –1 Whitman 1 –3 –12 –4 –1 Puget Sound 1 –3 –02 –5 –0 Linfield 1 –3 –02 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T John Carroll $ 4 –0 –16 –2 –1 Wooster 4 –0 –25 –0 –3 Ohio Northern 6 –1 –16 –1 –1 Capital 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 Muskingum 4 –1 –15 –3 –1 Mount Union 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Baldwin–Wallace 2 –1 –03 –5 –0 Kent State 3 –2 –06 –2 –0 Wittenberg 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Toledo 0 –0 –16 –3 –1 Bowling Green 2 –2 –23 –2 –3 Case 2 –2 –12 –4 –2 Oberlin 1 –3 –03 –4 –1 Kenyon 1 –3 –01 –5 –0 Marietta 1 –3 –01 –6 –0 Findlay 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 Otterbein 1 –6 –02 –6 –0 Heidelberg 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 Ashland 0 –7 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central State (OK) $ 6 –0 –06 –3 –0 Oklahoma Baptist 5 –1 –07 –3 –0 SE Oklahoma State 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 NW Oklahoma State 3 –3 –03 –5 –1 SW Oklahoma State 2 –4 –03 –5 –1 East Central 1 –5 –02 –6 –1 Northeastern State 0 –6 –00 –6 –3 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Pennsylvania State Teachers Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Mansfield $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0 Slippery Rock 3 –0 –16 –2 –1 West Chester 1 –0 –24 –2 –3 Shippensburg 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 Lock Haven 3 –1 –14 –3 –1 Kutztown 2 –1 –24 –1 –2 Indiana (PA) 3 –4 –03 –4 –0 Clarion 1 –2 –05 –3 –0 California (PA) 1 –2 –02 –3 –2 Edinboro 1 –3 –01 –4 –0 East Stroudsburg 1 –3 –02 –6 –0 Millersville 0 –3 –22 –4 –2 Bloomsburg 0 –6 –11 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Montana State $ 1 –0 –13 –5 –1 Colorado Mines 2 –1 –04 –3 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 1 –1 –13 –4 –1 Colorado College 1 –1 –01 –6 –0 Western State (CO) 1 –3 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T East Tennessee State Teachers 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Appalachian State 3 –0 –09 –1 –0 King 3 –1 –15 –1 –3 Carson–Newman 3 –3 –15 –4 –1 Maryville (TN) 3 –3 –04 –5 –1 Milligan 1 –2 –25 –3 –2 Cumberland (TN) 1 –4 –02 –8 –0 Tusculum 0 –5 –00 –8 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T South Dakota Mines $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Dakota Wesleyan 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Yankton 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Southern Normal 3 –2 –04 –2 –0 Augustana (SD) 2 –2 –15 –2 –1 Huron 3 –3 –05 –3 –0 Northern Normal 2 –3 –12 –4 –2 Sioux Falls 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Eastern Normal 0 –3 –01 –6 –0 Spearfish 0 –4 –03 –4 –0 $ – Conference championYankton initially won the conference title with a 5–1 mark, but later forfeited and their win over South Dakota Mines and the title because of an ineligible player. | 1938 Southern California Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Pomona $ 4 –0 –16 –0 –1 Whittier 2 –0 –27 –1 –2 San Diego State 2 –1 –15 –2 –1 Redlands 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Occidental 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 Caltech 0 –3 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T West Tennessee State Teachers $ 7 –0 –010 –0 –0 Centre 4 –0 –07 –2 –0 Miami (FL) 3 –0 –08 –2 –0 Centenary 2 –0 –07 –4 –0 Mississippi State Teachers 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 Presbyterian 6 –1 –06 –4 –0 Mississippi College 5 –1 –07 –2 –0 Western Kentucky State Teachers 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 SW Louisiana 4 –1 –18 –2 –1 Murray State 4 –1 –06 –2 –1 Tennessee Tech 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Eastern Kentucky State Teachers 3 –1 –16 –1 –1 Morehead State 2 –1 –15 –1 –1 Stetson 4 –2 –16 –2 –1 Newberry 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Rollins 3 –2 –16 –2 –1 Louisiana Normal 3 –3 –05 –5 –0 Georgetown (KY) 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Union (TN) 2 –3 –04 –6 –0 Louisiana College 2 –4 –14 –4 –1 Union (KY) 1 –2 –04 –4 –0 Transylvania 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Louisiana Tech 2 –4 –03 –7 –1 Delta State 2 –5 –02 –7 –0 Oglethorpe 2 –5 –02 –9 –0 Middle Tennessee State Teachers 1 –5 –02 –6 –0 Howard (AL) 0 –2 –02 –5 –0 Emory and Henry 0 –2 –01 –6 –2 Louisville 0 –3 –02 –6 –0 Troy State 0 –3 –13 –4 –1 Jacksonville State 0 –3 –11 –6 –1 Erskine 0 –3 –11 –7 –2 Tampa 0 –4 –03 –7 –0 Wofford 0 –4 –10 –8 –1 Millsaps 0 –7 –01 –10 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Southern + 4 –1 –17 –1 –1 Langston + 3 –0 –34 –1 –3 Prairie View 2 –2 –25 –2 –3 Texas College 2 –3 –15 –3 –1 Wiley 2 –3 –16 –3 –2 Arkansas AM&N 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Bishop 1 –4 –14 –5 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1938 Texas Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Howard Payne $ 6 –0 –17 –3 –1 St. Edward's 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 Southwestern (TX) 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Trinity (TX) 4 –2 –04 –6 –0 Abilene Christian 3 –2 –16 –2 –1 Texas Wesleyan 2 –3 –03 –4 –1 Austin 2 –5 –02 –8 –0 Daniel Baker 1 –5 –01 –9 –0 McMurry 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1938 Washington Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Western Washington $ 3 –0 –07 –0 –0 Eastern Washington 2 –1 –06 –2 –1 Central Washington 1 –2 –03 –3 –1 Pacific Lutheran 0 –3 –02 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1938 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Morris Harvey $ 7 –0 –17 –1 –1 Concord 4 –0 –15 –2 –1 Glenville State 4 –2 –14 –3 –1 West Liberty State 3 –2 –04 –5 –0 Salem 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Potomac State 1 –3 –12 –4 –1 New River State 1 –3 –05 –2 –0 Fairmont State 1 –4 –11 –4 –2 Bethany (WV) 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 West Virginia Wesleyan * 2 –1 –03 –5 –0 Davis & Elkins * 1 –1 –12 –7 –1 Shepherd * 0 –2 –11 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Ties did not count in conference standings. | 1938 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Northern Division River Falls State x 4 –0 –06 –1 –0 La Crosse State 3 –1 –04 –3 –0 Superior State 2 –2 –02 –6 –0 Eau Claire State 1 –3 –02 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Stout Institute]] 0 –4 –00 –5 –2 Southern Division [[{{{school}}}|Platteville State]] x 3 –1 –04 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Milwaukee State]] x 3 –1 –04 –3 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Whitewater State]] 2 –2 –05 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Stevens Point State]] 2 –2 –03 –2 –2 [[{{{school}}}|Oshkosh State]] 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 x – Division champion/co-champions |

## Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player
| Player | School | Position | Total |
| Davey O'Brien | TCU | QB | 519 |
| Marshall Goldberg | Pittsburgh | HB | 294 |
| Sid Luckman | Columbia | QB | 154 |
| Bob MacLeod | Dartmouth | HB | 78 |
| Vic Bottari | California | HB | 67 |
| Howard Weiss | Wisconsin | FB | 60 |
| George Cafego | Tennessee | HB | 55 |
| Ki Aldrich | TCU | C | 48 |
| Whitey Beinor | Notre Dame | OL | 47 |
| Dan Hill | Duke | C | 38 |

## Bowl games

| Bowl game | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| Cotton Bowl Classic | Saint Mary's | 20 | No. 11 Texas Tech | 13 |
| Orange Bowl | No. 2 Tennessee | 17 | No. 4 Oklahoma | 0 |
| Rose Bowl | No. 7 USC | 7 | No. 3 Duke | 3 |
| Sugar Bowl | No. 1 TCU | 15 | No. 6 Carnegie Tech | 7 |
| Sun Bowl | Utah | 26 | New Mexico | 0 |