# 1942 college football season

The 1942 college football season was the 74th season of intercollegiate football in the United States. Competition included schools from the Big Ten Conference, the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big Six Conference, the Southern Conference, the Southwestern Conference, and numerous smaller conferences and independent programs. The season was the first after the entry of the United States into World War II.
The teams ranked highest in the final AP poll in December 1942 were:
* The Ohio State Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship and compiled an overall record of 9–1 record with the team's one loss coming against No. 3 Wisconsin. The Buckeyes ranked second nationally in scoring offense (33.7 points per game) and fourth in total offense (397.5 yards per game). They were ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll but did not appear in a bowl game. Gene Fekete led the Big Ten with 910 rushing yards. Ohio State was selected as the national champion by the Associated Press (AP).
* The Georgia Bulldogs won the SEC championship and had an overall record of 11–1, including a victory over UCLA in the 1943 Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs ranked first nationally with 429.5 yards of total offense per game and were voted second in the final AP Poll in December 1942, prior to the Rose Bowl. A majority of selectors (including Billingsley and Houlgate) later named the Bulldogs as the national champion.
* The Wisconsin Badgers finished second in the Big Ten with an overall record of 8–1–1 record, including a 17–7 victory over eventual AP national champion Ohio State. They were ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll. The Helms Athletic Foundation selected Wisconsin as 1942 national champions following the bowl games.
* The Tulsa Golden Hurricane won the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) championship with a 10–1 record and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP Poll. They ranked first nationally in scoring offense (39.5 points per game) and passing offense (233.9 yards per game). Glenn Dobbs ranked fourth nationally with 1,427 yards of total offense.
* The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets finished second in the SEC and compiled a 9–2 record, including a loss to Texas in the 1943 Cotton Bowl Classic. They were ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll.
Frank Sinkwich of Georgia won the Heisman Trophy and led the nation with 2,187 yards of total offense (including 1,392 passing yards), making him the first major-college player to tally more than 2,000 yards in a season. Paul Governali of Columbia won the Maxwell Award. The year's other statistical leaders included Rudy Mobley of Hardin-Simmons with 1,281 rushing yards, Ray Evans of Kansas with 1,117 passing yards, Harding Miller of SMU with 531 receiving yards, and Bob Steuber of Missouri with 121 points scored.
With large numbers of college and professional football players serving in the armed forces, "service teams" competed against the college teams. The top-ranked service teams were Great Lakes Navy (No. 1), Iowa Pre-Flight (No. 2), and Georgia Pre-Flight (No. 3).

## Conference and program changes
### Conference changes

The Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which had been active since 1928, played its final season in 1942. The Northern Teachers Athletic Conference, an active NCAA Division II conference now known as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, changed its name to the State Teacher's College Conference of Minnesota.

### Membership changes

| School | 1941 Conference | 1942 Conference |
| American Eagles | Mason-Dixon | Dropped Program |
| Centenary Gentlemen | SIAA | Dropped program |
| Gonzaga (WA) Bulldogs | Independent | Dropped Program |
| Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels | Independent | Dropped program |
| Providence Friars | Independent | Dropped program |
| Transylvania Pioneers | SIAA | Dropped program |

## September

On September 19, in Louisville, Georgia defeated Kentucky, 7–6. The following Friday, Georgia defeated the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, 14–0, in Macon. The soldiers at the Flight School at the University of Iowa, organized as the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks, overwhelmed Kansas, 61–0.
Most schools got their seasons underway on September 26. Defending champion Minnesota beat Pittsburgh, 50–7. Duke beat Davidson 21–0. Notre Dame and Wisconsin played to a 7–7 tie in Madison. Illinois beat South Dakota 46–0. In Montgomery, Alabama beat South Louisiana Institute (later University of Louisiana at Lafayette), 54–0. Texas beat the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, 18–7. Michigan beat the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, 9–0. Before its smallest crowd since 1933 (22,555) Ohio State defeated a service team, the Fort Knox Armoraiders, 59–0. Iowa Pre-Flight won again, at Northwestern, 20–12.

## October

October 3
Minnesota's winning streak ended when the defending national champs lost their first game in almost four years, to the Seahawks of Iowa Pre-Flight (who just happened to be coached that season by "former" Minnesota head coach Bernie Bierman who had taken leave from Minnesota to serve as an officer in the military during World War II), 7–6. Ohio State beat Indiana 32–21. Michigan beat Michigan State 20–0. Illinois defeated Butler 67–0. Texas beat LSU 27–14. Notre Dame lost to Georgia Tech 13–6. Georgia defeated Furman 40–7. Alabama beat Mississippi State 21–6. Duke lost at Wake Forest, 20–7.
October 10
Minnesota lost at Illinois, 20–13. Ohio State beat visiting USC, 28–12. Michigan lost to Iowa Pre-Flight, 26–14. Georgia beat Ole Miss, 48–13, at Memphis. In Mobile, Alabama defeated the Pensacola NAS, 27–0. Texas lost at Tulane, 18–7. In the poll that followed, the Top Five consisted of three teams from the Big Nine (No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, and No. 5 Illinois) and two from the SEC (No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama).
October 17
No. 1 Ohio State beat Purdue 26–0. No. 2 Georgia beat Tulane 40–0. No. 3 Michigan defeated Northwestern 34–16. In Birmingham, No. 4 Alabama beat No. 15 Tennessee, 8–0. No. 5 Illinois won at No. 19 Iowa, 12–7. Losing also that day was Iowa Pre-Flight, which sustained its first loss at Notre Dame, 28–0.
In the next poll, the Top Five shuffled slightly, with Alabama and Michigan trading places: Ohio State (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), Alabama (No. 3), Michigan (No. 4), Illinois (No. 5).
October 24
No. 1 Ohio State won at Northwestern 20–6. No. 2 Georgia won at Cincinnati 35–13. No. 3 Alabama won at Kentucky, 14–0. No. 4 Michigan lost at No. 13 Minnesota, 16–14. No. 5 Illinois lost to No. 8 Notre Dame, 21–14. No. 6 Georgia Tech won at Navy, 21–0.
In the poll that followed, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech replaced Michigan and Illinois: Ohio State (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), Alabama (No. 3), Notre Dame (No. 4), Georgia Tech (No. 5).
October 31
No. 1 Ohio State lost at No. 6 Wisconsin, 17–7. In Atlanta, No. 2 Georgia beat No. 3 Alabama, 21–10. No. 4 Notre Dame beat Navy in Cleveland, 9–0. No. 5 Georgia Tech won at Duke, 26–7. No. 7 Boston College beat Georgetown, 47–0. The Georgia Bulldogs took over first place in the poll that followed, and Wisconsin and Boston College moved in while Ohio State and Alabama fell out: 1. Georgia 2. Wisconsin 3. Georgia Tech 4. Notre Dame 5. Boston College.

## November

November 7
In Jacksonville, No. 1 Georgia beat Florida, 75–0. No. 2 Wisconsin lost at unranked Iowa, 6–0. No. 3 Georgia Tech beat Kentucky 47–7. No. 4 Notre Dame beat Army 13–0 at Yankee Stadium. No. 5 Boston College beat Temple, 28–0. No. 8 Alabama beat South Carolina 29–0 and moved into the Top Five as Wisconsin dropped out. The nation's top two teams were Georgia and Georgia Tech: Georgia (No. 1), Georgia Tech (No. 2), Boston College (No. 3), Notre Dame (No. 4), Alabama (No. 5).
November 14
No. 1 Georgia won at Chattanooga, 40–0. In Atlanta, No. 2 Georgia Tech beat No. 5 Alabama 7–0. No. 3 Boston College beat Fordham at home, 56–6. No. 4 Notre Dame lost to No. 6 Michigan, 32–20, while in Cleveland, No. 10 Ohio State beat No. 13 Illinois 44–20. The poll: Georgia (No. 1), Georgia Tech (No. 2), Boston College (No. 3), Michigan (No. 4), Ohio State (No. 5).
November 21
In Columbus, Georgia, No. 1 Georgia lost to unranked Auburn, 27–13. No. 2 Georgia Tech beat Florida 20–7. No. 3 Boston College defeated Boston University, 37–0. No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Ohio State met in Columbus, with OSU winning 21–7, capturing the Big Nine championship. No. 7 Wisconsin beat No. 10 Minnesota 21–6 to finish its season at 8–1–1. In the next poll, the Boston College Eagles were No. 1: Boston College (No. 1), Georgia Tech (No. 2), Ohio State (No. 3), Wisconsin (No. 4), Georgia (No. 5).
November 28
No. 1 Boston College lost to unranked Holy Cross, 55–12. No. 2 Georgia Tech visited No. 5 Georgia, and lost 34–0. No. 3 Ohio State defeated the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks, 41–12, finishing 9–1–0 and capturing the No. 1 ranking in the final AP poll, ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Tulsa, and No. 5 Georgia Tech.

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1942 Big Six Conference football standings :
| 1942 Big Six Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Missouri $ 4 –0 –18 –3 –1 Oklahoma 3 –1 –13 –5 –2 Nebraska 3 –2 –03 –7 –0 Kansas State 2 –3 –03 –8 –0 Iowa State 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Kansas 1 –4 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Ohio State $ 5 –1 –09 –1 –0 No. 3 Wisconsin 4 –1 –08 –1 –1 No. 9 Michigan 3 –2 –07 –3 –0 Illinois 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 Iowa 3 –3 –06 –4 –0 No. 19 Minnesota 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Indiana 2 –2 –07 –3 –0 Purdue 1 –4 –01 –8 –0 Northwestern 0 –6 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1942 Border Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hardin–Simmons + 4 –0 –19 –1 –1 Texas Tech + 3 –0 –14 –5 –1 West Texas State 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 Arizona 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Texas Mines 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 New Mexico 3 –4 –04 –5 –2 Arizona State 2 –5 –02 –8 –0 Arizona State–Flagstaff 1 –4 –01 –5 –0 New Mexico A&M 0 –6 –01 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1942 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 Tulsa $ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Oklahoma A&M 4 –1 –06 –3 –1 Washington University 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Saint Louis 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Creighton 1 –4 –05 –4 –0 Drake 1 –4 –03 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1942 Mountain States Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Colorado + 5 –1 –07 –2 –0 Utah + 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 Denver 3 –2 –16 –3 –1 Utah State 2 –3 –16 –3 –1 Colorado A&M 2 –3 –04 –3 –0 BYU 1 –4 –02 –5 –0 Wyoming 1 –5 –03 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 13 UCLA $ 6 –1 –07 –4 –0 Washington State 5 –1 –16 –2 –2 No. 12 Stanford 5 –2 –06 –4 –0 USC 4 –2 –15 –5 –1 Oregon State 4 –4 –04 –5 –1 Washington 3 –3 –24 –3 –3 California 3 –4 –05 –5 –0 Oregon 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Idaho 1 –5 –03 –7 –0 Montana 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1942 Southeastern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall Team W L W L  No. 2 Georgia $ 6 –1 –011 –1 –0 No. 5 Georgia Tech 4 –1 –09 –2 –0 No. 7 Tennessee 4 –1 –09 –1 –1 No. 18 Mississippi State 5 –2 –08 –2 –0 No. 10 Alabama 4 –2 –08 –3 –0 LSU 3 –2 –07 –3 –0 No. 16 Auburn 3 –3 –06 –4 –1 Vanderbilt 2 –4 –06 –4 –0 Florida 1 –3 –03 –7 –0 Tulane 1 –4 –04 –5 –0 Kentucky 0 –5 –03 –6 –1 Ole Miss 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1942 Southern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 14 William & Mary $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –1 VPI 5 –1 –07 –2 –1 Wake Forest 6 –1 –16 –2 –1 North Carolina 3 –1 –15 –2 –2 Duke 3 –1 –15 –4 –1 NC State 3 –1 –24 –4 –2 Furman 3 –3 –03 –6 –0 The Citadel 2 –2 –05 –2 –0 Clemson 2 –3 –13 –6 –1 Davidson 2 –4 –12 –6 –1 VMI 2 –4 –13 –5 –1 George Washington 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Maryland 1 –2 –07 –2 –0 South Carolina 1 –4 –01 –7 –1 Richmond 1 –5 –03 –6 –1 Washington and Lee 0 –4 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1942 Southwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 11 Texas $ 5 –1 –09 –2 –0 Rice 4 –1 –17 –2 –1 TCU 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 Baylor 3 –2 –16 –4 –1 Texas A&M 2 –3 –14 –5 –1 SMU 1 –4 –13 –6 –2 Arkansas 0 –6 –03 –7 –0 Rankings from AP Poll |

### Independents

1942 Eastern college football independents records :
| 1942 Eastern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Williams   –  7 –1 –0 No. 19 Penn State   –  6 –1 –1 No. 8 Boston College   –  8 –2 –0 Buffalo   –  6 –2 –0 Bucknell   –  6 –2 –1 Colgate   –  6 –2 –1 Army   –  6 –3 –0 Syracuse   –  6 –3 –0 Duquesne   –  6 –3 –1 Yale   –  5 –3 –0 Fordham   –  5 –3 –1 Penn   –  5 –3 –1 No. T–19 Holy Cross   –  5 –4 –1 Dartmouth   –  5 –4 –0 Brown   –  4 –4 –0 Villanova   –  4 –4 –0 Vermont   –  4 –3 –0 Carnegie Tech   –  3 –3 –0 Boston University   –  4 –5 –0 Cornell   –  3 –5 –1 Princeton   –  3 –5 –1 Temple   –  2 –5 –3 Columbia   –  3 –6 –0 Pittsburgh   –  3 –6 –0 Tufts   –  2 –5 –1 Franklin & Marshall   –  1 –4 –2 Massachusetts State   –  2 –5 –0 Harvard   –  2 –6 –1 Drexel   –  2 –6 –0 Manhattan   –  2 –6 –0 CCNY   –  1 –7 –1 Rankings from AP Poll | 1942 Midwestern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central Michigan   –  6 –0 –0 Western Michigan   –  5 –1 –0 Cincinnati   –  8 –2 –0 Dayton   –  8 –2 –0 Marquette   –  7 –2 –0 No. 6 Notre Dame   –  7 –2 –2 Bowling Green   –  6 –2 –1 Ohio   –  5 –3 –0 Detroit   –  5 –4 –0 Wichita   –  5 –4 –0 Michigan State   –  4 –3 –2 Michigan State Normal   –  3 –3 –1 Ohio Wesleyan   –  4 –4 –0 Xavier   –  4 –5 –0 Carthage   –  3 –4 –0 Miami (OH)   –  3 –6 –0 Wayne   –  1 –6 –1 Akron   –  0 –7 –2 Rankings from AP Poll | 1942 Southern college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Louisiana Normal (Grambling)   –  9 –0 –0 Delaware   –  8 –0 –0 Mississippi Southern   –  4 –0 –0 Sewanee   –  1 –0 –0 Miami (FL)   –  7 –2 –0 Delaware State   –  3 –1 –1 Middle Tennessee State Teachers   –  4 –2 –1 Chattanooga   –  7 –4 –0 Georgetown   –  5 –3 –1 Navy   –  5 –4 –0 West Virginia   –  5 –4 –0 Western Maryland   –  4 –4 –1 Tennessee Tech   –  3 –4 –2 Virginia   –  2 –6 –1 Roanoke   –  1 –5 –1 |
| 1942 Western college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Fresno State   –  9 –1 –0 San Jose State   –  7 –2 –0 No. 17 Santa Clara   –  7 –2 –0 Portland   –  5 –2 –0 Idaho Southern Branch   –  4 –2 –0 Saint Mary's   –  6 –3 –1 San Francisco   –  6 –4 –0 Loyola (CA)   –  5 –4 –1 Nevada   –  4 –3 –1 Cal Poly   –  4 –3 –0 San Diego State   –  0 –6 –1 San Francisco State   –  0 –6 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1942 military service football records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 11 Second Air Force   –  11 –0 –1 No. 9 Manhattan Beach Coast Guard   –  6 –0 –1 No. 17 March Field   –  11 –2 –0 No. 3 Georgia Pre-Flight   –  7 –1 –1 No. 4 North Carolina Pre-Flight   –  8 –2 –1 No. 6 Jacksonville NAS   –  9 –3 –0 No. 1 Great Lakes Navy   –  8 –3 –1 No. 2 Iowa Pre-Flight   –  7 –3 –1 No. 15 Fort Riley   –  6 –3 –0 No. 14 Fort Monmouth   –  5 –2 –2 No. 5 Saint Mary's Pre-Flight   –  6 –3 –1 No. T–20 Fort Douglas   –  5 –3 –0 No. 10 Corpus Christi NAS   –  4 –3 –1 No. 16 Camp Davis   –  4 –3 –2 Albuquerque AAB   –  5 –4 –0 No. 13 Lakehurst NAS   –  4 –4 –1 Santa Ana AAB   –  4 –4 –0 Will Rogers AB   –  4 –4 –0 No. 7 Camp Grant   –  4 –5 –0 No. 8 Pensacola NAS   –  3 –5 –1 No. T–18 Fort Totten   –  3 –5 –1 Camp Pickett   –  1 –6 –0 No. 12 Fort Knox   –  2 –6 –0 Alameda Coast Guard   –  1 –7 –1 No. T–18 Spence Field   –  0 –4 –0 No. T–20 Daniel Field   –  0 –6 –0 Rankings from AP Service Poll |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association | Morgan State College | 5–1–1 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Pittsburg State | 5–0 |
| Far Western Conference | Pacific (CA) | 2–0 |
| Indiana Intercollegiate Conference | Ball State Teachers College | 5–0 |
| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Dubuque | 8–0 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Baker | 6–0 |
| Lone Star Conference | East Texas State Teachers | 2–0–1 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Alma | 4–0 |
| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference | Lawrence | 5–0 |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Saint Thomas (MN) | 5–0 |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Northwest Missouri State Teachers Southeast Missouri State Teachers | 3–1 |
| Nebraska College Athletic Conference | Doane | 4–0 |
| Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Nebraska State Teachers (UN–Kearney) | 2–1 |
| New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference | New Mexico State Teachers | 1–0 |
| North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Augustana (SD) Iowa State Teachers (Northern Iowa) | 4–0 5–0 |
| North Dakota College Athletic Conference | North Dakota Science | 5–0 |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | Ohio Northern | 5–0–1 |
| Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference | Central State College (OK) | 2–0 |
| Pacific Northwest Conference | Willamette | 4–0 |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | East Stroudsburg State Teachers | 4–0 |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | Colorado Mines | 2–0 |
| South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Augustana (SD) | 2–0 |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Occidental Pomona-Pitzer Whittier | 2–1 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Florida A&M College | 7–0 |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Texas College | 4–0 |
| State Teacher's College Conference of Minnesota | Mankato State Teachers St. Cloud State Teachers | 4–0 |
| Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Payne | 4–0 |
| Washington Intercollegiate Conference | Central Washington College | 4–1–1 |
| Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference | North: La Crosse Teachers South: Platteville State Teachers | 4–0 3–0–1 |

### Minor conference standings

1942 Badger State Conference football standings :
| 1942 Badger State Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Milton + 3 –1 –03 –2 –0 Wisconsin Tech + 3 –1 –03 –2 –0 Northwestern (WI) + 3 –1 –03 –3 –0 Mission House 1 –3 –01 –5 –0 Wisconsin–Extension 0 –4 –00 –4 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Pittsburg State $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –0 St. Benedict's 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Southwestern (KS) 2 –2 –14 –3 –2 Emporia State 2 –2 –13 –4 –1 Washburn 1 –4 –01 –6 –0 Fort Hays State 0 –5 –01 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Morgan State $ 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 Johnson C. Smith 4 –1 –15 –1 –1 Bluefield State 2 –1 –34 –1 –3 Virginia State 5 –2 –16 –2 –1 Hampton 2 –1 –34 –1 –3 Lincoln (PA) 1 –1 –12 –3 –1 North Carolina College 1 –3 –01 –4 –0 Virginia Union 1 –4 –02 –5 –0 North Carolina A&T 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 West Virginia State 2 –2 –06 –2 –0 Howard 0 –3 –01 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Far Western Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Pacific (CA) $ 2 –0 –02 –6 –1 Chico State 1 –1 –05 –1 –0 Cal Aggies 0 –2 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Illinois College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Millikin $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0 Augustana (IL) 4 –1 –07 –1 –0 Knox (IL) 2 –1 –06 –2 –0 Illinois Wesleyan 2 –1 –04 –5 –0 North Central (IL) 1 –1 –05 –2 –0 Bradley 0 –1 –04 –4 –0 Illinois College 0 –3 –03 –4 –1 Lake Forest 0 –3 –02 –4 –1 Monmouth (IL) 0 –3 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Western Illinois $ 3 –0 –15 –0 –2 Northern Illinois State 1 –0 –23 –2 –2 Illinois State Normal 2 –1 –12 –5 –1 Southern Illinois 1 –3 –02 –4 –0 Eastern Illinois 0 –3 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Ball State + 5 –0 –06 –2 –0 Saint Joseph's (IN) + 3 –0 –07 –0 –1 Rose Poly 4 –1 –05 –1 –0 Wabash 4 –1 –04 –2 –1 DePauw 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Valparaiso 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Manchester 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Hanover 2 –3 –02 –5 –0 Butler 1 –2 –02 –7 –0 Indiana State 1 –3 –04 –3 –0 Evansville 1 –3 –01 –4 –0 Franklin (IN) 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Central Normal 0 –3 –00 –4 –0 Earlham 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Iowa Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Dubuque $ 8 –0 –08 –0 –0 St. Ambrose 1 –0 –03 –4 –1 Upper Iowa 4 –1 –04 –1 –0 Simpson (IA) 4 –1 –04 –3 –0 Wartburg 3 –2 –04 –2 –0 Parsons 2 –1 –23 –3 –2 Loras 1 –1 –05 –3 –0 Central (IA) 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 Buena Vista 1 –3 –11 –4 –1 Western Union 0 –1 –10 –4 –1 Luther 1 –4 –02 –4 –1 Iowa Wesleyan 1 –4 –01 –6 –0 Penn (IA) 0 –7 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Baker $ 6 –0 –07 –0 –0 Ottawa 4 –1 –15 –1 –1 Kansas Wesleyan 3 –1 –25 –4 –2 Bethany (KS) 3 –2 –13 –3 –1 McPherson 1 –4 –11 –4 –3 College of Emporia 1 –4 –11 –5 –1 Bethel (KS) 0 –6 –02 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T East Texas State $ 2 –0 –14 –3 –1 Sam Houston State 2 –1 –05 –3 –0 North Texas State 1 –2 –03 –5 –0 Southwest Texas State 0 –2 –13 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Louisiana Normal $ 3 –0 –06 –2 –0 Southwestern Louisiana 2 –1 –03 –4 –0 Louisiana Tech 1 –2 –06 –3 –0 Southeastern Louisiana 0 –3 –05 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Alma $ 4 –0 –07 –0 –0 Kalamazoo 2 –2 –04 –3 –0 Albion 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Hillsdale 1 –3 –03 –5 –0 Hope 1 –3 –01 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Middle Three Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lehigh + 1 –0 –15 –2 –1 Lafayette + 1 –0 –13 –5 –1 Rutgers 0 –2 –03 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Midwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lawrence $ 5 –0 –06 –0 –0 Knox 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Grinnell 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 Cornell (IA) 3 –3 –04 –3 –0 Ripon 3 –3 –03 –5 –0 Monmouth (IL) 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Beloit 1 –5 –01 –5 –0 Coe 1 –5 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Thomas (MN) + 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Concordia (MN) + 3 –0 –16 –0 –1 Saint John's (MN) 4 –1 –14 –1 –1 Hamline 3 –2 –03 –2 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Macalester 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 St. Olaf 2 –3 –02 –4 –1 Saint Mary's (MN) 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 Augsburg 0 –5 –00 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1942 Minnesota Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Cloud State + 4 –0 –06 –0 –0 Mankato State + 4 –0 –04 –2 –0 Bemidji State 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 Duluth State 2 –2 –02 –3 –1 Winona State 0 –4 –02 –4 –1 Moorhead State 0 –4 –02 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Missouri Valley $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –0 William Jewell 2 –1 –04 –3 –1 Culver–Stockton 1 –1 –13 –3 –1 Central (MO) 0 –2 –14 –3 –1 Tarkio 0 –3 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Cape Girardeau + 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Maryville (MO) + 3 –1 –04 –2 –1 Missouri Mines 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 Springfield (MO) 2 –2 –02 –7 –2 Warrensburg} 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1942 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Doane $ 4 –0 –05 –3 –0 Nebraska Wesleyan 3 –1 –05 –3 –1 York (NE) 1 –3 –03 –4 –0 Midland 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 Hastings 1 –3 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Kearney State $ 2 –1 –06 –2 –0 Chadron State 1 –1 –04 –1 –1 Peru State 1 –1 –16 –2 –1 Wayne State (NE) 0 –1 –14 –1 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1942 New England Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T New Hampshire + 3 –0 –06 –0 –0 Connecticut + 2 –0 –06 –2 –0 Northeastern 0 –1 –00 –5 –1 Rhode Island State 0 –2 –03 –3 –0 Maine 0 –2 –02 –4 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1942 New England Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T New Hampshire + 3 –0 –06 –0 –0 Connecticut + 2 –0 –06 –2 –0 Northeastern 0 –1 –00 –5 –1 Rhode Island State 0 –2 –03 –3 –0 Maine 0 –2 –02 –4 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 North Central Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Iowa State Teachers + 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Augustana (SD) + 4 –0 –08 –0 –0 South Dakota 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 South Dakota State 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 North Dakota 2 –3 –03 –3 –0 North Dakota Agricultural 2 –3 –02 –5 –1 Morningside 1 –6 –02 –6 –0 Omaha 0 –4 –01 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Northwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Willamette $ 4 –0 –04 –1 –0 Puget Sound 2 –1 –04 –2 –0 Whitman 2 –2 –02 –5 –0 Linfield 0 –1 –12 –1 –1 Pacific (OR) 0 –3 –20 –5 –2 College of Idaho 0 –1 –10 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Ohio Northern $ 5 –0 –16 –1 –1 John Carroll 3 –0 –13 –2 –3 Oberlin 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Toledo 1 –0 –14 –4 –1 Baldwin–Wallace 2 –1 –06 –2 –0 Wooster 4 –3 –06 –3 –0 Kent State 1 –1 –05 –3 –0 Findlay 2 –3 –05 –4 –1 Heidelberg 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Wittenberg 1 –2 –11 –5 –1 Kenyon 1 –2 –05 –2 –0 Case 1 –2 –04 –4 –0 Muskingum 1 –4 –03 –4 –2 Capital 1 –4 –03 –4 –0 Mount Union 0 –5 –01 –6 –0 Ashland 0 –1 –00 –1 –0 Otterbein * 2 –0 –05 –1 –1 Marietta * 1 –0 –02 –0 –0 $ – Conference champion * – did not complete for championship | 1942 Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T East Stroudsburg $ 4 –0 –06 –0 –0 Lock Haven 4 –0 –16 –0 –1 Indiana (PA) 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Slippery Rock 2 –2 –04 –2 –0 Mansfield 2 –2 –12 –2 –1 West Chester 1 –2 –05 –3 –1 Clarion 1 –2 –01 –3 –0 Edinboro 1 –2 –01 –3 –0 Shippensburg 1 –4 –02 –4 –0 Kutztown 0 –4 –01 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Colorado Mines $ 2 –0 –03 –4 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 1 –1 –04 –5 –0 Colorado College 0 –2 –03 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Southern California Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Whittier + 2 –1 –05 –4 –0 Pomona + 2 –1 –03 –3 –1 Occidental + 2 –1 –03 –4 –0 Redlands 0 –3 –04 –4 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1942 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas College $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 Prairie View 3 –1 –05 –2 –0 Langston 1 –2 –16 –2 –1 Wiley 1 –3 –03 –4 –0 Southern 0 –3 –14 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1942 Texas Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Howard Payne $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –0 Abilene Christian 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Southwestern (TX) 2 –2 –06 –4 –0 McMurry 1 –3 –02 –6 –0 Austin 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1942 Washington Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central Washington $ 4 –1 –15 –1 –2 Saint Martin's 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Eastern Washington 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 Pacific Lutheran 1 –3 –12 –5 –1 Western Washington 0 –3 –21 –4 –2 $ – Conference champion | 1942 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Morris Harvey $ 4 –0 –06 –1 –2 West Liberty State 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Glenville State 4 –2 –04 –2 –0 Fairmont State 3 –4 –03 –4 –0 Potomac State 0 –4 –01 –8 –0 Bethany (WV) * 1 –2 –06 –2 –0 Marshall * 0 –1 –08 –2 –0 West Virginia Tech * 0 –2 –00 –2 –4 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Ties did not count in conference standings. | 1942 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Northern Division La Crosse State x 4 –0 –06 –0 –1 Stout Institute 2 –2 –03 –2 –0 Superior State 2 –2 –03 –2 –1 River Falls State 2 –2 –02 –4 –0 Eau Claire State 0 –4 –00 –6 –0 Southern Division Milwaukee State x 3 –0 –13 –0 –3 Platteville State x 3 –0 –13 –1 –1 Whitewater State 2 –2 –02 –4 –0 Stevens Point State 1 –3 –01 –4 –0 Oshkosh State 0 –4 –00 –5 –0 x – Division champion/co-champions |

## Rankings

Top 10 in final AP poll
1. Ohio State (9–1) 2. Georgia (10–1) 3. Wisconsin (8–1–1) 4. Tulsa (10–0) 5. Georgia Tech (9–1) 6. Notre Dame (7–2–1) 7. Tennessee (8–1–1) 8. Boston College (8–1) 9. Michigan (7–3) 10. Alabama (7–3)

## Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player
| Player | School | Position | Total |
| Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | HB | 1,059 |
| Paul Governali | Columbia | QB | 218 |
| Clint Castleberry | Georgia Tech | HB | 99 |
| Mike Holovak | Boston College | FB | 90 |
| Billy Hillenbrand | Indiana | HB | 86 |
| Angelo Bertelli | Notre Dame | QB | 75 |
| Dick Wildung | Minnesota | OT | 71 |
| Gene Fekete | Ohio State | FB | 65 |
| Glenn Dobbs | Tulsa | HB | 63 |
| Dave Schreiner | Wisconsin | E | 60 |

## Bowl games

| Bowl game | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| Rose Bowl | No. 2 Georgia | 9 | No. 13 UCLA | 0 |
| Sugar Bowl | No. 7 Tennessee | 14 | No. 4 Tulsa | 7 |
| Orange Bowl | No. 10 Alabama | 37 | No. 8 Boston College | 21 |
| Cotton Bowl Classic | No. 11 Texas | 14 | No. 5 Georgia Tech | 7 |
| Sun Bowl | Second Air Force | 13 | Hardin–Simmons | 7 |

## Statistical leaders
### Team leaders
#### Total offense

| Rank | Team | Games played | Yards gained | Yards per game | First downs |
| 1 | Georgia | 11 | 4725 | 429.5 | 186 |
| 2 | Tulsa | 10 | 4261 | 426.1 | 165 |
| 3 | Boston College | 9 | 3697 | 410.8 | 137 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 10 | 3975 | 397.5 | 152 |
| 5 | Missouri | 12 | 4272 | 356.0 | 169 |
| 6 | Hardin-Simmons | 9 | 3130 | 347.8 | 124 |
| 6 | Iowa Pre-Flight | 10 | 3356 | 335.6 | 133 |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | 10 | 3304 | 330.4 | 136 |
| 9 | Indiana | 10 | 3301 | 330.1 | 154 |
| 10 | Texas | 10 | 3205 | 320.5 | 148 |

#### Total defense

| Rank | Team | Games played | Yards gained | Yards per game | 1st downs |
| 1 | Texas | 10 | 1173 | 117.3 | 63 |
| 2 | Miami | 9 | 1154 | 128.2 | 66 |
| 3 | Boston College | 9 | 1186 | 131.8 | 72 |
| 4 | William & Mary | 11 | 1516 | 137.8 | 77 |
| 5 | North Carolina Pre-Flight | 10 | 1428 | 142.8 | 87 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 10 | 1435 | 143.5 | 75 |
| 7 | Minnesota | 9 | 1314 | 146.0 | 67 |
| 8 | Tulsa | 10 | 1487 | 148.7 | 70 |
| 9 | Holy Cross | 10 | 1494 | 149.4 | 61 |
| 10 | Great Lakes Navy | 12 | 1917 | 159.8 | 91 |

#### Rushing offense

| Rank | Team | Games | Rushes | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Hardin-Simmons | 9 | 508 | 2767 | 307.4 |
| 2 | Boston College | 9 | 538 | 2635 | 292.8 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 10 | 571 | 2833 | 283.3 |
| 4 | Missouri | 12 | 597 | 3230 | 269.2 |
| 5 | Texas | 10 | 532 | 2496 | 249.6 |
| 6 | Iowa Pre-Flight | 10 | 515 | 2493 | 249.3 |
| 7 | Auburn | 9 | 500 | 2223 | 247.0 |
| 8 | Great Lakes Navy | 12 | 619 | 2906 | 242.2 |
| 9 | Penn | 9 | 518 | 2162 | 240.2 |
| 10 | Georgia | 11 | 491 | 2624 | 238.5 |

#### Rushing defense

| Rank | Team | Games | Rushes | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Boston College | 9 | 294 | 440 | 48.9 |
| 2 | Texas | 10 | 306 | 575 | 57.5 |
| 3 | William & Mary | 11 | 329 | 734 | 66.7 |
| 4 | Alabama | 10 | 329 | 743 | 74.3 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 10 | 347 | 760 | 76.0 |

#### Passing offense

| Rank | Team | Games | Att. | Compl. | Int. | Pct. Compl. | Yards | Yds/Game | Yds/Attempt |
| 1 | Tulsa | 10 | 245 | 138 | 9 | .563 | 2339 | 233.9 | 9.55 |
| 2 | Georgia | 11 | 245 | 122 | 18 | .498 | 2101 | 191.0 | 8.58 |
| 3 | Columbia | 9 | 199 | 96 | 21 | .482 | 1661 | 184.6 | 8.35 |
| 4 | Creighton | 9 | 157 | 78 | 13 | .497 | 1393 | 154.8 | 8.87 |
| 5 | Maryland | 9 | 170 | 90 | 15 | .529 | 1364 | 151.6 | 8.02 |

#### Passing defense

| Rank | Team | Games | Att. | Compl. | Pct. Compl. | Yards | Yds/Game |
| 1 | Harvard | 9 | 81 | 29 | .358 | 409 | 45.4 |
| 1 | Texas Mines | 8 | 105 | 40 | .381 | 363 | 45.4 |
| 3 | Miami | 9 | 115 | 46 | .400 | 437 | 48.6 |
| 3 | Penn State | 8 | 93 | 32 | .344 | 389 | 48.6 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 9 | 99 | 32 | .323 | 453 | 50.3 |

#### Scoring

| Rank | Team | Games | Points | Pts/Game |
| 1 | Tulsa | 11 | 434 | 39.5 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 10 | 337 | 33.7 |
| 3 | Georgia | 12 | 376 | 31.3 |
| 4 | Boston College | 10 | 282 | 28.2 |
| 5 | Colorado | 9 | 251 | 27.9 |
| 6 | Indiana | 10 | 256 | 25.6 |
| 7 | Missouri | 12 | 288 | 24.0 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 11 | 259 | 23.5 |
| 9 | Oklahoma A&M | 10 | 235 | 23.5 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 10 | 232 | 23.2 |

### Individual leaders
#### Total offense

| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Plays | Rush yds | Pass yds | Total Yds | Avg gain per play |
| 1 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | 11 | 341 | 795 | 1392 | 2187 | 6.41 |
| 2 | Paul Governali | Columbia | 9 | 268 | 168 | 1442 | 1610 | 6.01 |
| 3 | Bob Steuber | Missouri | 12 | 199 | 1098 | 356 | 1454 | 7.31 |
| 4 | Glenn Dobbs | Tulsa | 10 | 179 | 361 | 1066 | 1427 | 7.97 |
| 5 | Ray Evans | Kansas | 10 | 311 | 293 | 1117 | 1410 | 4.53 |
| 6 | Billy Hillenbrand | Indiana | 10 | 239 | 480 | 877 | 1357 | 5.68 |
| 7 | Bruce Smith | Great Lakes Navy | 12 | 245 | 849 | 486 | 1335 | 5.45 |
| 8 | Otto Graham | Northwestern | 10 | 318 | 235 | 1092 | 1327 | 4.17 |
| 9 | Dutton | Pittsburgh | 9 | 303 | 675 | 610 | 1285 | 4.24 |
| 10 | Rudy Mobley | Hardin-Simmons | 9 | 187 | 1281 | 0 | 1281 | 6.85 |

#### Rushing

| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Rushes | Net Yds | Avg Gain per Play |
| 1 | Rudy Mobley | Hardin-Simmons | 9 | 187 | 1281 | 6.85 |
| 2 | Bob Steuber | Missouri | 12 | 149 | 1098 | 7.37 |
| 3 | Camp Wilson | Hardin-Simmons | 9 | 196 | 981 | 5.01 |
| 4 | Mike Holowak | Boston College | 9 | 174 | 965 | 5.55 |
| 5 | Gene Fekete | Ohio State | 10 | 185 | 910 | 4.92 |
| 6 | Bruce Smith | Great Lakes Navy | 12 | 144 | 849 | 5.90 |
| 7 | Bob Kennedy | Washington State | 10 | 226 | 813 | 3.60 |
| 8 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | 11 | 175 | 795 | 4.54 |
| 9 | Elroy Hirsch | Wisconsin | 10 | 141 | 767 | 5.44 |
| 10 | Roy McKay | Texas | 10 | 132 | 701 | 5.31 |

#### Passing

| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Att. | Compl. | Int. | Pct. Compl. | Yds. |
| 1 | Ray Evans | Kansas | 10 | 200 | 101 | 9 | .505 | 1117 |
| 2 | Otto Graham | Northwestern | 10 | 182 | 89 | 18 | .489 | 1092 |
| 3 | Paul Governali | Columbia | 9 | 165 | 87 | 18 | .527 | 1442 |
| 4 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | 11 | 166 | 84 | 7 | .506 | 1392 |
| 5 | Turnbull Gillette | Virginia | 9 | 144 | 82 | 14 | .569 | 920 |
| 6 | Angelo Bertelli | Notre Dame | 11 | 162 | 72 | 16 | .444 | 1039 |
| 7 | Clark | Texas Mines | 9 | 136 | 71 | 12 | .522 | 846 |
| 8 | Glenn Dobbs | Tulsa | 10 | 107 | 67 | 4 | .626 | 1066 |
| 9 | Tommy Mont | Maryland | 9 | 127 | 66 | 12 | .520 | 1076 |
| 10 | Emery Nix± | TCU | 10 | 154 | 66 | 9 | .429 | 672 |