# 1948 college football season

The 1948 college football season finished with SMU halfback Doak Walker as the Heisman Trophy winner and six teams in contention for the national championship:
* Bennie Oosterbaan's Michigan compiled a 9–0 record, defeated six ranked opponents, and was the consensus national champion, receiving 192 of 333 first-place votes in the final AP poll. It was Michigan's second consecutive undefeated season, extending the program's winning streak to 23 games.
* Frank Leahy's Notre Dame Fighting Irish compiled a 9–0–1 record and had a 21-game winning streak dating back to the 1946 season before playing a 14–14 tie with USC in the final game of the 1948 season. Notre Dame was ranked No. 2 in the final AP Poll, receiving 97 of 333 first-place votes, with the same record as Michigan due to the final poll being taken prior to their season-ending tie.
* Carl Snavely's No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Charlie Justice, were undefeated in the regular season (9–0–1) but lost to Oklahoma in the 1949 Sugar Bowl.
* Pappy Waldorf's No. 4 California Golden Bears, led by Jackie Jensen who finished fourth in the 1948 Heisman Trophy voting, were undefeated in the regular season (10–0), but lost to Northwestern in the 1949 Rose Bowl.
* Bud Wilkinson's No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners compiled a 10–1 record, including a victory over No. 3 North Carolina in the 1949 Sugar Bowl.
* Earl Blaik's No. 6 Army Cadets finished the season undefeated (8–0–1). They won the first eight games of the season and were ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll before playing Navy to a tie in the annual Army–Navy Game.
Eight other teams finished the season undefeated and untied: Southern (12–0, black college national champion); Clemson (11–0, SoCon and Gator Bowl champion, AP No. 11); Bloomsburg (9–0, PSTCC champion); Heidelberg (9–0, OAC champion); Occidental (9–0 SCC and Raisin Bowl champion); Alma (8–0 MIAA champion); and Wesleyan (8–0, third consecutive perfect season); Michigan Tech (7–0, independent).
Air travel to away games (as opposed to rail travel) became increasingly popular with college football programs in the late 1940s.
The NCAA began permitting the use of small 1-inch rubber "tees" (not the same tee used for kickoffs) for extra point and field goal attempts beginning this year; they were outlawed in 1989.

## Conference and program changes
### Conference changes

* One conferences began play in 1948:
** Ohio Valley Conference – an active NCAA Division I FCS conference; began play with six teams from Kentucky and Indiana.
* One conference played its final season in 1948:
** Dakota-Iowa Athletic Conference – conference active since the 1946 season
* Two conferences changed their names prior to the season:
** After the Big Six Conference, still officially known as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association, added Colorado, the conference's unofficial name became the Big Seven Conference.
** The Washington Intercollegiate Conference changed its name to the Evergreen Conference, the name it would retain until the conference's demise after the 1984 season.

### Membership changes

| School | 1947 conference | 1948 conference |
| Bradley Braves | Independent | Missouri Valley |
| Centenary Gentlemen | LIC | Dropped program |
| Colorado Buffaloes | Skyline (Mountain States) | Big Seven (MVIAA) |
| Eastern Kentucky State Colonels | KIAC | Ohio Valley |
| Evansville Purple Aces | Independent | Ohio Valley |
| Louisville Cardinals | KIAC | Ohio Valley |
| Morehead State Eagles | KIAC | Ohio Valley |
| Murray State Racers | KIAC | Ohio Valley |
| Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers | KIAC | Ohio Valley |

## Season chronology
### September

The Associated Press did not poll the writers until the fourth week of the season. Among the five teams that had been ranked highest in 1947 (Notre Dame, Michigan, SMU, Penn State, and Texas), all but Penn State began play on September 25. Notre Dame edged Purdue 28–27, Michigan won at Michigan State, 13–7, and SMU won at Pittsburgh, 33–14. The Texas Longhorns lost at North Carolina, 34–7. Northwestern beat UCLA, in Los Angeles, 19–0. In Baltimore, California beat Navy, 21–7. Army beat visiting Villanova 28–0.

### October

October 2: In Pittsburgh, Notre Dame shut out Pitt, 40–0, while in Dallas, SMU defeated Texas Tech 41–6. Penn State beat Bucknell 35–0, Michigan beat Oregon 14–0. North Carolina won at Georgia 21–14. Army beat Lafayette 54–7. Northwestern beat Purdue 21–0. When the first poll was issued, Notre Dame had fewer first place votes than North Carolina (50 vs. 55), but ten more points overall (1,200 to 1,190) Northwestern was third, followed by SMU and Army. Though unbeaten, Michigan was ranked 7th, after Georgia Tech.
October 9: No. 1 Notre Dame beat Michigan State 26–7. No. 2 North Carolina won at Wake Forest, 28–6, and was ranked first in the next poll. No. 3 Northwestern beat No. 8 Minnesota 19–16. No. 4 SMU lost at Missouri, 20–14. No. 5 Army won at Illinois, 26–21. No. 7 Michigan, which had won at No. 15 Purdue, 40–0, rose to 4th.
October 16: No. 1 North Carolina beat N.C. State 14–0, but dropped to third in the next poll. No. 2 Notre Dame won at Nebraska 44–13. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, No. 3 Northwestern faced Big Nine rival No. 4 Michigan, and the home team Wolverines won 28–0. No. 5 Army defeated Harvard 20–7. Michigan moved up to first place in the next poll, and No. 6 California (which beat Oregon State 42–0) moved to No. 4, with Northwestern dropping out of the Top Five.
October 23: In Minneapolis, No. 1 Michigan beat No. 13 Minnesota 27–14, and No. 2 Notre Dame won at Iowa 27–12. No. 3 North Carolina beat visiting LSU 34–7. In Seattle, No. 4 California blanked Washington 21–0, and No. 5 Army won at No. 12 Cornell 27–6. The top five remained the same in the next poll.
October 30: No. 1 Michigan beat Illinois 28–20, while in Baltimore, No. 2 Notre Dame beat Navy 41–7. No. 3 North Carolina won at Tennessee 14–7. In Los Angeles, No. 4 California beat USC, 13–7. No. 5 Army beat Virginia Tech 49–7. In the next poll, Notre Dame was ranked at the new number one, followed by Michigan, North Carolina, Army, and California.

### November

November 6: No. 1 Notre Dame won at Indiana 42–6. No. 2 Michigan beat visiting Navy 35–0. No. 3 North Carolina was tied by William & Mary, 7–7. No. 4 Army defeated Stanford at Yankee Stadium in New York, 43–0, while
No. 5 California beat visiting UCLA 28–13. Michigan was elevated to No. 1 in the next poll, followed by Notre Dame, Army, and California. No. 14 Penn State, which had shut out No. 7 Pennsylvania in Philadelphia 13–0, was moved up to No. 5.
November 13: No. 1 Michigan beat Indiana 54–0. No. 2 Notre Dame beat No. 8 Northwestern 12–7. No. 3 Army won at No. 17 Pennsylvania 26–20. No. 4 California beat Washington State 44–14. No. 5 Penn State beat Temple 47–0, but still dropped in the next poll. It switched spots with No. 6 North Carolina, which moved up after a win at Maryland 49–20.
November 20: No. 1 Michigan closed its season with a 13–3 win at No. 18 Ohio State. No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Army were both idle. No. 4 California beat Stanford 7–6. No. 5 North Carolina beat Duke 20–0. The next poll switched North Carolina to No. 4 and California to No. 5, with the top three remaining the same.
November 27: No. 1 Michigan, which had completed its season, had 105 of 190 first place votes. No. 2 Notre Dame defeated Washington 46–0. The annual Army–Navy Game in Philadelphia pitted unbeaten (8–0–0) and No. 3 Army against winless (0–8–0) Navy, and 102,000 fans turned out to watch the mismatch, including President Truman. It was a surprise when the Midshipmen scored first, but Army went ahead 21–14 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Navy pushed the Cadets back to their own goal line, and took the punt at midfield. In six plays, Navy drove down to the four yard line, and Bill Hawkins crashed into the end zone to make it 21–20. Roger Drew added the point after to ruin Army's perfect record, 21–21. No. 4 North Carolina won at Virginia 34–12, and No. 5 California had finished its season. The final poll was released on November 29, although some colleges had not completed their schedules. Michigan, Notre Dame, North Carolina, and California were the top four, with Oklahoma (which had won its last nine games in a row after a narrow season-opening loss to Santa Clara) at No. 5.
On December 4, No. 2 Notre Dame's perfect record was compromised in Los Angeles with a 14–14 tie against unranked USC.

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1948 Big Nine Conference football standings :
| 1948 Big Nine Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Michigan $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 No. 7 Northwestern 5 –1 –08 –2 –0 No. 16 Minnesota 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 Ohio State 3 –3 –06 –3 –0 Iowa 2 –4 –04 –5 –0 Purdue 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Indiana 2 –4 –02 –7 –0 Illinois 2 –5 –03 –6 –0 Wisconsin 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1948 Big Seven Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Oklahoma $ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Missouri 5 –1 –08 –3 –0 Kansas 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 Colorado 2 –3 –03 –6 –0 Iowa State 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Nebraska 2 –4 –02 –8 –0 Kansas State 0 –6 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1948 Border Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas Tech $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0 Texas Mines 4 –1 –18 –2 –1 Arizona 3 –2 –06 –5 –0 Arizona State 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Hardin–Simmons 3 –2 –16 –2 –3 West Texas State 2 –3 –06 –5 –0 Arizona State–Flagstaff 1 –2 –04 –5 –0 New Mexico 1 –6 –02 –9 –0 New Mexico A&M 0 –4 –03 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Ivy Group football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 19 Cornell 4 –0 –08 –1 –0 Penn 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Dartmouth 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Brown 1 –2 –07 –2 –0 Princeton 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Harvard 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Yale 1 –4 –04 –5 –0 Columbia 1 –5 –04 –5 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1948 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Oklahoma A&M $ 2 –0 –06 –4 –0 Wichita 2 –1 –15 –4 –1 Drake 1 –1 –07 –3 –0 Tulsa 0 –1 –10 –9 –1 Saint Louis 0 –2 –04 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 California ^ + 6 –0 –010 –1 –0 No. 9 Oregon + 7 –0 –09 –2 –0 USC 4 –2 –06 –3 –1 Washington State 4 –3 –14 –5 –1 Stanford 3 –4 –04 –6 –0 Oregon State 2 –3 –25 –4 –3 Washington 2 –5 –12 –7 –1 UCLA 2 –6 –03 –7 –0 Idaho 1 –5 –03 –6 –0 Montana 0 –3 –03 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions^ – Selected as Rose Bowl representativeRankings from AP Poll |
| 1948 Skyline Six Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Utah $ 5 –0 –08 –1 –1 Colorado A&M 4 –1 –08 –3 –0 Denver 2 –2 –04 –5 –1 Utah State 2 –3 –05 –6 –0 BYU 1 –3 –05 –6 –0 Wyoming 0 –5 –04 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Southeastern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 8 Georgia $ 6 –0 –09 –2 –0 No. 15 Ole Miss 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 No. 13 Tulane 5 –1 –09 –1 –0 No. 12 Vanderbilt 4 –2 –18 –2 –1 Georgia Tech 4 –3 –07 –3 –0 Alabama 4 –4 –16 –4 –1 Mississippi State 3 –3 –04 –4 –1 Tennessee 2 –3 –14 –4 –2 Kentucky 1 –3 –15 –3 –2 Florida 1 –5 –05 –5 –0 LSU 1 –5 –03 –7 –0 Auburn 0 –7 –01 –8 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1948 Southern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 11 Clemson $ 5 –0 –011 –0 –0 No. 3 North Carolina 4 –0 –19 –1 –1 VMI 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 No. 17 William & Mary 5 –1 –17 –2 –2 No. 20 Wake Forest 5 –2 –06 –4 –0 Maryland 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Duke 3 –2 –14 –3 –2 Richmond 3 –3 –15 –3 –2 Washington and Lee 2 –2 –04 –6 –0 Furman 2 –4 –02 –6 –1 George Washington 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Davidson 2 –5 –03 –5 –1 South Carolina 1 –3 –03 –5 –0 NC State 1 –4 –13 –6 –1 VPI 0 –6 –10 –8 –1 The Citadel 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1948 Southwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 10 SMU $ 5 –0 –19 –1 –1 Texas 4 –1 –17 –3 –1 Baylor 3 –2 –16 –3 –2 Rice 3 –2 –15 –4 –1 Arkansas 2 –4 –05 –5 –0 TCU 1 –4 –14 –5 –1 Texas A&M 0 –5 –10 –9 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |

### Major independents

1948 Eastern major college football independents records :
| 1948 Eastern major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 6 Army   –  8 –0 –1 Penn State   –  7 –1 –1 Rutgers   –  7 –2 –0 Lafayette   –  7 –2 –0 Villanova   –  8 –2 –1 Boston University   –  6 –2 –0 Boston College   –  5 –2 –2 Pittsburgh   –  6 –3 –0 Holy Cross   –  5 –5 –0 Colgate   –  3 –6 –0 Fordham   –  3 –6 –0 NYU   –  3 –6 –0 Temple   –  2 –6 –1 Duquesne   –  2 –7 –0 Syracuse   –  1 –8 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1948 Midwestern major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 2 Notre Dame   –  9 –0 –1 Michigan State   –  6 –2 –2 Detroit   –  6 –3 –0 Marquette   –  2 –8 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1948 Southern major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T West Virginia   –  9 –3 –0 Virginia   –  5 –3 –1 Chattanooga   –  4 –5 –0 Georgetown   –  3 –4 –1 Miami (FL)   –  4 –6 –0 Navy   –  0 –8 –1 |
| 1948 Western major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Nevada   –  9 –2 –0 Santa Clara   –  7 –2 –1 Saint Mary's   –  4 –6 –0 San Francisco   –  2 –7 –0 |

### Minor conferences

| Conference | Champion(s) | Record |
| California Collegiate Athletic Association | San Jose State | 5–0 |
| Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association | West Virginia State | 5–1 |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Kansas State Teachers (Emporia State) | 5–0 |
| College Conference of Illinois | Illinois Wesleyan | 5–0 |
| Dakota-Iowa Athletic Conference | Buena Vista | 3–0–1 |
| Evergreen Conference | Eastern Washington College Puget Sound | 5–1 |
| Far Western Conference | Chico State College Southern Oregon College | 3–1 |
| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Dubuque | 5–0 |
| Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Ottawa (KS) | 6–0 |
| Lone Star Conference | Southwest Texas State Teachers | 6–0 |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Alma | 5–0 |
| Mid-American Conference | Miami (OH) | 4–0 |
| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference | Ripon | 6–0 |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Saint Thomas (MN) | 5–0 |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Northwest Missouri State Southwest Missouri State | 4–1 |
| Nebraska College Conference | Charon State Wayne State (NE) | 6–1 |
| New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference | Sul Ross | 5–0 |
| North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Iowa State Teachers (Northern Iowa) | 5–0 |
| North Dakota College Athletic Conference | Minot State College North Dakota Science | 5–0 |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | Heidelberg | 7–0 |
| Ohio Valley Conference | Murray State College | 3–1 |
| Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference | Central State College (OK) Southeastern State College (OK) | 4–1 |
| Pacific Northwest Conference | College of Idaho | 5–1 |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | Bloomsburg State Teachers California State Teachers | 6–0 |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | Colorado State College | 3–0 |
| South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Northern State Teachers (SD) | 6–0 |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Occidental | 4–0 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Florida A&M College | 6–0 |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Southern | 7–0 |
| State Teacher's College Conference of Minnesota | Duluth State Teachers Mankato State Teachers St. Cloud State Teachers | 4–1 |
| Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference | McMurry (TX) | 4–1 |
| Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference | Eau Claire State Teachers | 5–1 |

### Minor conference standings

1948 Badger-Illini Conference football standings :
| 1948 Badger-Illini Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lewis + 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Northwestern (WI) + 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Aurora 4 –2 –05 –2 –0 Mission House 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Milton 2 –3 –03 –4 –0 Wisconsin Tech 1 –3 –01 –5 –0 Wisconsin–Extension 1 –5 –11 –5 –1 Concordia (IL) 1 –4 –01 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T San Jose State $ 5 –0 –09 –3 –0 Pacific (CA) 4 –1 –07 –1 –2 Santa Barbara 2 –3 –06 –5 –0 Fresno State 2 –3 –03 –6 –1 San Diego State 1 –4 –04 –7 –0 Cal Poly 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Emporia State $ 5 –0 –08 –2 –0 Fort Hays State 3 –1 –15 –4 –0 Southwestern (KS) 3 –2 –07 –3 –0 Washburn 2 –2 –13 –5 –1 Pittsburg State 1 –4 –02 –6 –2 St. Benedict's 0 –5 –00 –9 –0 Rockhurst 0 –0 –03 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 College Conference of Illinois football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Illinois Wesleyan $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0 Wheaton (IL) 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Lake Forest 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Millikin 3 –3 –03 –6 –0 Augustana (IL) 2 –3 –04 –3 –1 Illinois College 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Carthage 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 North Central (IL) 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Elmhurst 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 West Virginia State $ 5 –1 –05 –2 –2 Winston-Salem State 5 –1 –08 –1 –0 Howard 7 –2 –07 –4 –0 No. 8 Lincoln (PA) 4 –2 –05 –2 –0 North Carolina A&T 4 –2 –14 –4 –1 No. 9 Morgan State 5 –3 –05 –3 –0 Virginia State 5 –3 –05 –3 –0 North Carolina College 4 –3 –16 –3 –1 Shaw 4 –3 –04 –3 –0 Delaware State 4 –4 –04 –5 –0 No. 10 Virginia Union 3 –5 –06 –5 –0 Hampton 2 –5 –14 –5 –1 Bluefield State 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Johnson C. Smith 0 –7 –10 –7 –1 St. Augustine's 1 –4 –04 –4 –0 Saint Paul's (VA) 0 –4 –00 –4 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from the Pittsburgh Courier | 1948 Dakota-Iowa Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Buena Vista $ 3 –0 –14 –3 –1 Dakota Wesleyan 3 –1 –04 –5 –0 Huron 2 –2 –14 –4 –1 Westmar 2 –2 –12 –6 –1 Yankton 1 –2 –13 –4 –1 Sioux Falls 0 –4 –01 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Dixie Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Florida State $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 Mississippi College 2 –1 –04 –5 –0 Tampa 1 –1 –02 –6 –0 Stetson 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Millsaps 0 –3 –02 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Evergreen Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Eastern Washington + 5 –1 –08 –1 –0 Puget Sound + 5 –1 –06 –2 –1 Pacific Lutheran 4 –2 –06 –2 –1 Whitworth 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Central Washington 2 –3 –15 –3 –1 Western Washington 2 –4 –05 –4 –0 Saint Martin's 0 –6 –02 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 Far Western Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Chico State + 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Southern Oregon + 3 –1 –05 –5 –0 San Francisco State 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 Humboldt State 1 –3 –06 –3 –0 Cal Aggies 1 –3 –02 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1948 Gulf States Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Mississippi Southern $ 4 –0 –07 –3 –0 Louisiana Tech 4 –1 –07 –2 –1 Southwestern Louisiana 3 –2 –06 –3 –1 Northwestern State 2 –3 –05 –3 –1 Louisiana College 1 –3 –02 –8 –0 Southeastern Louisiana 0 –5 –03 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Hoosier Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hanover + 6 –0 –06 –2 –0 Anderson (IN) + 5 –0 –06 –2 –0 Indiana Central 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 Canterbury 1 –3 –22 –4 –2 Rose Poly 1 –3 –13 –3 –1 Manchester (IN) 1 –3 –11 –6 –1 Franklin (IN) 1 –4 –21 –5 –2 Earlham 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Eastern Illinois $ 4 –0 –07 –3 –0 Illinois State Normal 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Northern Illinois State 2 –2 –06 –4 –0 Western Illinois 1 –3 –04 –4 –0 Southern Illinois 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Iowa Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Dubuque + 5 –0 –07 –1 –0 Upper Iowa + 4 –0 –05 –2 –0 Wartburg 5 –2 –05 –3 –0 Central (IA) 3 –2 –05 –2 –1 Luther 3 –2 –03 –5 –0 Parsons 3 –3 –03 –5 –0 Buena Vista 1 –2 –04 –3 –1 Simpson (IA) 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Iowa Wesleyan 1 –5 –01 –6 –0 Westmar 0 –1 –02 –6 –1 William Penn 0 –4 –00 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Ottawa $ 6 –0 –07 –3 –0 Bethany (KS) 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 College of Emporia 3 –3 –04 –3 –1 Kansas Wesleyan 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Baker 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Bethel (KS) 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 McPherson 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Southwest Texas State $ 6 –0 –08 –1 –0 North Texas State 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Stephen F. Austin 3 –2 –17 –2 –1 Trinity (TX) 2 –2 –26 –2 –2 Houston 3 –3 –05 –6 –0 East Texas State 1 –4 –13 –6 –1 Sam Houston State 0 –6 –00 –9 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Mason–Dixon Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Johns Hopkins $ 3 –0 –07 –1 –0 Hampden–Sydney 2 –0 –06 –2 –1 Western Maryland 4 –1 –05 –2 –0 Mount St. Mary's 2 –1 –02 –6 –0 Randolph–Macon 3 –2 –04 –6 –0 Washington College 2 –4 –02 –4 –0 Gallaudet 0 –3 –01 –5 –0 Catholic University 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference championConference standings were based on the Dickinson Scoring System; three conference games were necessary to be eligible for conference title. | 1948 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Alma $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Kalamazoo 3 –1 –14 –4 –1 Hillsdale 2 –2 –16 –2 –1 Hope 2 –3 –05 –3 –0 Adrian 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Albion 0 –5 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Midlands Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Loras + 2 –1 –07 –1 –0 St. Ambrose + 2 –1 –07 –3 –0 St. Norbert 1 –2 –04 –5 –0 Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –2 –03 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1948 Midwest Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Wilberforce State $ 3 –0 –09 –1 –1 No. 6 Kentucky State 2 –1 –17 –2 –1 Tennessee A&I 2 –2 –05 –3 –1 Lincoln (MO) 1 –2 –12 –3 –2 Louisville Municipal 0 –3 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from the Pittsburgh Courier | 1948 Midwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Ripon $ 6 –0 –06 –2 –0 Lawrence 5 –1 –07 –1 –0 Carleton 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Knox 3 –3 –04 –3 –1 Cornell (IA) 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Monmouth (IL) 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Coe 1 –4 –11 –5 –2 Grinnell 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Beloit 0 –5 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Thomas (MN) $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –1 Gustavus Adolphus 4 –1 –07 –1 –1 Macalester 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Saint John's (MN) 3 –2 –06 –2 –0 Hamline 2 –2 –23 –2 –2 St. Olaf 2 –2 –13 –4 –1 Augsburg 0 –3 –21 –3 –2 Concordia (MN) 0 –4 –13 –4 –1 Saint Mary's (MN) 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Minnesota Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Mankato State + 4 –1 –05 –2 –0 Duluth State + 4 –1 –04 –3 –0 St. Cloud State + 4 –1 –04 –3 –0 Bemidji State 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Winona State 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Moorhead State 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 + – Conference co-championsMoorhead State forfeited a conference wins over St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, and Winona State because of an ineligible player. | 1948 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Missouri Valley $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –1 Culver–Stockton 3 –1 –04 –5 –0 Central (MO) 2 –2 –05 –3 –0 William Jewell 1 –3 –03 –6 –0 Tarkio 0 –4 –02 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T SW Missouri State + 4 –1 –09 –2 –0 NW Missouri State + 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Missouri Mines 2 –1 –24 –3 –2 Kirksville State 2 –2 –14 –3 –2 SE Missouri State 0 –3 –20 –7 –2 Central Missouri State 0 –4 –10 –7 –2 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1948 Mid-American Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Miami (OH) $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –1 Western Michigan 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Cincinnati 3 –1 –03 –6 –1 Ohio 2 –3 –03 –6 –0 Western Reserve 1 –4 –01 –8 –1 Butler 0 –4 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Nebraska College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wayne State (NE) + 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 Chadron State + 6 –1 –07 –1 –0 Nebraska Wesleyan 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Doane 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Kearney State 3 –3 –05 –3 –0 Peru State 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Hastings 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 York (NE) 0 –5 –02 –6 –0 Midland 0 –6 –00 –10 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 New Mexico Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Sul Ross $ 5 –0 –010 –0 –1 Adams State 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Eastern New Mexico 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 New Mexico Highlands 2 –3 –1 ? – ? – ? New Mexico Teachers 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 New Mexico Military 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Panhandle A&M 1 –5 –11 –7 –1 St. Michael's (NM) 0 –3 –10 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 North Central Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Iowa State Teachers $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0 South Dakota 4 –1 –07 –3 –0 North Dakota 3 –3 –03 –7 –0 South Dakota State 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Morningside 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Augustana (SD) 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 North Dakota State 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 North Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Minot State + 5 –0 –06 –1 –0 Wahpeton Science + 5 –0 –05 –2 –0 Valley City State 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Bottineau 3 –2 –03 –2 –1 Ellendale 3 –3 –03 –3 –0 Dickinson State 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Mayville State 2 –3 –02 –3 –0 Jamestown 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 Bismarck JC 0 –6 –00 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 North State Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Appalachian State $ 7 –0 –18 –1 –1 Western Carolina 3 –1 –07 –3 –0 Catawba 5 –2 –05 –4 –1 Lenoir Rhyne 5 –2 –16 –3 –1 High Point 4 –3 –15 –3 –2 Elon 3 –4 –14 –5 –1 Guilford 1 –5 –04 –6 –0 Atlantic Christian 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 East Carolina 0 –6 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Northwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T College of Idaho $ 5 –1 –09 –1 –0 Pacific (OR) 4 –1 –15 –3 –1 Lewis & Clark 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Willamette 4 –2 –06 –5 –0 Whitman 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Linfield 1 –5 –03 –6 –0 British Columbia 0 –5 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Heidelberg $ 7 –0 –09 –0 –0 Denison 6 –0 –08 –0 –0 Kent State 3 –0 –06 –2 –1 Ohio Wesleyan 2 –0 –06 –2 –0 Wilmington (OH) 1 –0 –05 –3 –1 Mount Union 6 –2 –06 –3 –0 Ohio Northern 2 –2 –05 –3 –1 Muskingum 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Capital 3 –4 –04 –4 –0 Findlay 1 –2 –04 –3 –1 Marietta 1 –2 –04 –4 –0 Wooster 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 Oberlin 1 –3 –03 –5 –0 Akron 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 Wittenberg 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 Otterbein 0 –4 –02 –6 –1 Kenyon 0 –3 –01 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Ohio Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Murray State + 3 –1 –09 –1 –1 Evansville + 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Eastern Kentucky 2 –2 –08 –3 –0 Louisville 1 –1 –05 –5 –0 Western Kentucky 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Morehead State 0 –3 –03 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1948 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T SE Oklahoma State + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Central State (OK) + 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 East Central 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 NW Oklahoma State 1 –3 –12 –5 –1 SW Oklahoma State 1 –3 –11 –7 –1 Northeastern State 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Bloomsburg $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 California (PA) 6 –0 –06 –1 –0 West Chester 3 –0 –07 –1 –0 Slippery Rock 3 –2 –07 –2 –0 Lock Haven 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 East Stroudsburg 3 –2 –04 –3 –1 Shippensburg 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Clarion 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Mansfield 3 –3 –03 –4 –1 Millersville 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 Indiana (PA) 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 Kutztown 0 –4 –03 –4 –1 Edinboro 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Pioneer Conference (Illinois) football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Quincy (IL) $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –0 Shurtleff 2 –1 –04 –4 –0 Eureka 1 –2 –04 –3 –0 McKendree 0 –3 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Colorado State–Greeley $ 3 –0 –04 –4 –0 Western State (CO) 2 –1 –06 –4 –0 Colorado College 1 –2 –02 –7 –1 Colorado Mines 0 –3 –03 –6 –0 Montana State 0 –0 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Milligan * 3 –0 –09 –1 –1 Emory and Henry 1 –1 –02 –8 –0 Carson–Newman 1 –2 –04 –6 –0 Tusculum 0 –2 –02 –7 –0 * – Milligan was suspended from title eligibility for using an ineligible player. | 1948 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Northern State $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –0 Southern State (SD) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 South Dakota Mines 2 –2 –05 –3 –0 General Beadle 2 –2 –14 –3 –1 Huron 2 –2 –04 –4 –1 Yankton 2 –3 –03 –4 –1 Black Hills 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Sioux Falls 0 –3 –11 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Southern California Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Occidental $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –0 Pomona 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Whittier 2 –2 –06 –4 –0 Redlands 1 –3 –01 –7 –0 Caltech 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1948 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Southern $ 7 –0 –012 –0 –0 No. 7 Texas College 5 –2 –08 –3 –0 Langston 5 –2 –07 –3 –0 Prairie View A&M 4 –2 –16 –4 –1 Samuel Huston 3 –4 –05 –5 –0 Arkansas AM&N 2 –5 –04 –5 –1 Bishop 1 –5 –12 –7 –1 Wiley 0 –7 –00 –9 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from The Pittsburgh Courier | 1948 Texas Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T McMurry $ 4 –1 –06 –4 –0 Abilene Christian 3 –1 –15 –3 –1 Hardin 3 –1 –14 –5 –1 Howard Payne 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Southwestern (TX) 2 –3 –06 –3 –0 Austin 0 –5 –02 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1948 Volunteer State Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|Austin Peay]] + 2 –0 –08 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Tennessee Tech]] + 2 –0 –05 –6 –0 Milligan 1 –0 –09 –1 –1 Middle Tennessee 2 –2 –05 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Union (TN)]] 1 –3 –03 –7 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Cumberland (TN)]] 0 –3 –03 –6 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1948 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|Morris Harvey]] $ 3 –0 –15 –2 –2 [[{{{school}}}|West Liberty State]] 4 –1 –08 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Davis & Elkins]] 7 –2 –07 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Salem]] 2 –1 –13 –4 –3 [[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Tech]] 5 –3 –00 –5 –5 [[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Wesleyan]] 3 –2 –24 –4 –2 [[{{{school}}}|Fairmont State]] 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Shepherd]] 2 –3 –13 –3 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Concord]] 2 –4 –04 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Potomac State]] 1 –3 –03 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Bethany (WV)]] 1 –3 –01 –6 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Glenville State]] 0 –7 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference championTies did not count in conference standings. | 1948 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|Eau Claire State]] $ 5 –1 –06 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|La Crosse State]] 4 –1 –17 –1 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Milwaukee State]] 4 –1 –14 –3 –1 [[{{{school}}}|River Falls State]] 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Superior State]] 3 –3 –05 –3 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Stevens Point State]] 3 –3 –04 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Stout Institute]] 3 –3 –03 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Oshkosh State]] 1 –4 –11 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Whitewater State]] 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Platteville State]] 0 –6 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference championThe La Crosse State–Whitewater State game and the Stevens Point State–Stout State game on November 6 did not count in the conference standings. |
| 1948 Yankee Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T New Hampshire $ 3 –1 –05 –3 –0 Connecticut 2 –1 –03 –5 –0 Vermont 1 –1 –04 –3 –1 UMass 1 –1 –13 –4 –1 Maine 1 –2 –04 –3 –0 Rhode Island State 1 –3 –02 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion |

### Non-major independents

1948 Eastern non-major college football independents records :
| 1948 Eastern non-major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Buffalo   –  6 –1 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Franklin & Marshall]]   –  5 –3 –1 Lehigh   –  5 –4 –0 CCNY   –  3 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Tufts]]   –  3 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Carnegie Tech]]   –  1 –7 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Hofstra]]   –  0 –6 –2 Bucknell   –  1 –8 –0 Drexel   –  0 –8 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1948 Midwestern non-major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Michigan Tech   –  7 –0 –0 Bowling Green   –  8 –0 –1 Washington University   –  9 –1 –0 John Carroll   –  7 –1 –2 [[{{{school}}}|Ashland]]   –  6 –1 –2 Ball State   –  6 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Baldwin–Wallace]]   –  5 –2 –2 [[{{{school}}}|Indiana State]]   –  4 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Wabash]]   –  4 –4 –0 Wayne   –  4 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Valparaiso]]   –  4 –5 –0 Toledo   –  5 –6 –0 Michigan State Normal   –  3 –5 –0 Xavier   –  4 –6 –0 Central Michigan   –  3 –6 –0 | 1948 Southern non-major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Maryland State   –  7 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Sewanee]]   –  6 –1 –1 Grambling   –  8 –2 –0 East Tennessee State   –  6 –2 –1 Delaware   –  5 –3 –0 Memphis State   –  6 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Tennessee Tech]]   –  5 –6 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Oklahoma City]]   –  4 –5 –1 Marshall   –  2 –7 –1 Tampa   –  2 –6 –0 Texas State   –  0 –8 –1 CCUNC   –  0 –5 –0 |
| 1948 Western non-major college football independents records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hawaii   –  7 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Idaho State]]   –  6 –1 –1 Cal Poly San Dimas   –  6 –4 –0 Pepperdine   –  4 –5 –0 Loyola (CA)   –  3 –5 –1 [[{{{school}}}|La Verne]]   –  3 –5 –0 Portland   –  2 –5 –1 |

## Bowl games
### Major bowls

| Bowl game | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| Rose Bowl | No. 7 Northwestern | 20 | No. 4 California | 14 |
| Sugar Bowl | No. 5 Oklahoma | 14 | No. 3 North Carolina | 6 |
| Orange Bowl | Texas | 41 | No. 8 Georgia | 28 |
| Cotton Bowl | No. 10 SMU | 21 | No. 9 Oregon | 13 |

### Other bowls

| Bowl game | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| Sun Bowl | West Virginia | 21 | Texas Mines | 12 |
| Gator Bowl | No. 11 Clemson | 24 | Missouri | 23 |
| Tangerine Bowl | Murray State | 21 | Sul Ross | 21 |
| Dixie Bowl | Baylor | 20 | No. 20 Wake Forest | 7 |
| Raisin Bowl | Occidental | 21 | Colorado A&M | 20 |
| Harbor Bowl | Villanova | 27 | Nevada | 7 |
| Salad Bowl | Drake | 14 | Arizona | 13 |
| Delta Bowl | No. 17 William & Mary | 20 | Oklahoma A&M | 0 |
| Fruit Bowl | Southern | 30 | San Francisco State | 0 |
| Grape Bowl | Hardin–Simmons | 35 | Pacific | 35 |
| Shrine Bowl | Hardin–Simmons | 40 | Ouachita Baptist | 12 |
| Camellia Bowl | Hardin–Simmons | 49 | Wichita | 12 |

## Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player
| Player | School | Position | Total |
| Doak Walker | SMU | HB | 778 |
| Charlie Justice | North Carolina | HB | 443 |
| Chuck Bednarik | Penn | C | 336 |
| Jackie Jensen | California | HB | 143 |
| Stan Heath | Nevada | QB | 113 |
| Norm Van Brocklin | Oregon | QB | 83 |
| Emil Sitko | Notre Dame | FB/HB | 73 |
| Jack Mitchell | Oklahoma | QB | 68 |
Source: