# 1946 Nebraska College Conference football season

The 1946 Nebraska College Conference football season was the season of college football played by the nine member schools of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) as part of the 1946 college football season. The Doane Tigers from Crete, Nebraska were led by head coach James L. Dutcher and compiled an overall record of 6–2–1 with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, winning the NCC championship. The Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen were led by head coach George W. Knight. They finished second in the conference with a 5–0–2 record in conference play and a mark of 7–0–3 overall in the regular season. They then lost to Pepperdine in the Will Rogers Bowl.
None of the NCC teams was ranked in the Associated Press poll.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Conf. record | Overall record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Doane | James L. Dutcher | 5–0–1 | 6–2–1 | 253 | 51 |
| 2 | Nebraska Wesleyan | George W. Knight | 4–0–2 | 7–1–3 | 169 | 37 |
| 3 | Kearney State | Charlie Foster | 5–2–1 | 6–2–1 | 116 | 49 |
| 4 | Peru State | Alfred G. Wheeler | 4–3–1 | 4–4–1 | 116 | 100 |
| 5 | Midland | John Pfitsch | 4–3 | 4–4 | 89 | 73 |
| 6 | Wayne State (NE) | Don B. Emery | 2–3 | 4–3 | 69 | 33 |
| 7 | Hastings | Larry Owens | 1–4–1 | 1–6–1 | 45 | 123 |
| 8 | Chadron State | Ross O. Armstrong | 1–5 | 3–7 | 70 | 230 |
| 9 | York (NE) | Rolland E. Tonkin | 0–6 | 3–6 | 92 | 138 |

## Teams
### Doane

The 1946 Doane Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Doane University as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach James L. Dutcher, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record (5–0–1 against NCC opponents), won the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 136 to 78.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | at Simpson* | Indianola, IA | L 0–14 |
| September 28 | Peru State | | W 12–0 |
| October 4 | York (NE) | Crete, NE | W 12–6 |
| October 12 | Hastings | Crete, NE | T 19–19 |
| October 18 | at Wayne State (NE) | Wayne, NE | W 7–6 |
| October 25 | Kearney State | Kearney, NE | W 13–7 |
| November 1 | Dakota Wesleyan* | Crete, NE | L 7–19 |
| November 15 | Chadron State | Crete, NE | W 21–0 |
| November 28 | at Roswell Army Air Force* | Roswell, NM | W 45–7 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Nebraska Wesleyan

The 1946 Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen football team represented Nebraska Wesleyan University as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach George W. Knight, the Plainsmen compiled a 7–1–3 (4-0-2 against NCC opponents), outscored opponent by a total of 169 to 37, and finished second in the NCC. They were invited to play in the Will Rogers Bowl in Oklahoma City on New Year's Day, losing to Pepperdine by a 38–13 score.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 21 | Morningside* | Sioux City, IA | W 13–6 | 3,500 |
| September 28 | Simpson* | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | T 6–6 | 4,000 |
| October 4 | at Nebraska Central | Central City, NE | W 33–0 | |
| October 12 | at Kearney State | Kearney, NE | T 6–6 | |
| October 18 | Midland | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | W 7–6 | |
| October 25 | Tarkio* | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | W 20–7 | |
| November 1 | at Peru State | Peru, NE | T 6–6 | |
| November 8 | at York | York, NE | W 26–0 | |
| November 15 | Hastings | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | W 19–0 | |
| November 22 | Chadron State | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | W 33–0 | |
| January 1, 1947 | vs. Pepperdine* | Taft StadiumOklahoma City, OK | L 13–38 | 800 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Kearney State

The 1946 Kearney State Antelopes football team represented Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney (now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney) as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Charlie Foster, the Antelopes compiled a 6–2–1 record (5-2-1 against NCC opponents), outscored opponent by a total of 116 to 49, and finished third in the NCC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | York | Kearney, NE | W 16–0 |
| | Hastings | | W 7–0 |
| October 5 | Chadron State | Kearney, NE | W 14–0 |
| October 12 | Nebraska Wesleyan | Kearney, NE | T 6–6 |
| | Sterling | | W 32–0 |
| October 25 | Doane | Kearney, NE | L 7–13 |
| November 2 | at Wayne State (NE) | Wayne, NE | W 14–12 |
| November 9 | at Peru State | Peru, NE | W 20–12 |
| November 15 | Midland | | L 0–6 |

### Peru State

The 1946 Peru State Bobcats football team represented Peru State Teachers College (now known as Peru State College) as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Alfred G. Wheeler, the Bobcats compiled a 4–4–1 record (4-3-1 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 116 to 100, and finished fourth in the NCC.
Other coaches included Wayne Riggs. For the prior three years, Navy V-12 students comprised the majority of Peru's football team. With the 1946, the team returned to non-military status.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | at Colorado College* | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | L 7–40 |
| September 28 | Doane | | L 0–12 |
| | Midland | | W 19–6 |
| | Wayne State (NE) | | L 0–7 |
| | Chadron State | | W 26–6 |
| | Hastings | | W 14–0 |
| November 1 | Nebraska Wesleyan | Peru, NE | T 6–6 |
| November 9 | Kearney State | Peru, NE | L 12–20 |
| | York | | W 32–3 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Midland

The 1946 Midland Warriors football team represented Midland University of Fremont, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach John Pfitsch, the Warriors compiled a 4–4 record (4-3 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 89 to 73, and finished fifth in the NCC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | Bethany (KS)* | Fremont, NE | L 4–13 |
| | Wayne State (NE) | | L 0–13 |
| | Peru State | | L 6–19 |
| | York | | W 20–14 |
| October 18 | at Nebraska Wesleyan | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | L 6–7 |
| | Chadron State | | W 40–6 |
| | Hastings | | W 7–0 |
| November 15 | Kearney State | | W 6–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Wayne State

The 1946 Wayne State Wildcats football team represented Midland University of Wayne, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Don B. Emery, the Warriors compiled a 4–3 record (2-3 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 69 to 33, and finished sixth in the NCC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| | South Dakota Wesleyan* | | W 13–0 |
| | Midland | | W 13–0 |
| October 5 | at South Dakota* | Inman FieldVermillion, SD | W 12–0 |
| | Peru State | | W 7–0 |
| October 18 | Doane | Wayne, NE | L 6–7 |
| | Kearney State | | L 12–14 |
| | Chadron State | | L 6–12 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Hastings

The 1946 Hastings Broncos football team represented Hastings College of Hastings, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Larry Owens, the Broncos compiled a 1–6–1 record (1–4–1 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 123 to 45, and finished seventh in the NCC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | at Washburn (KS)* | Topeka, KS | L 0–25 |
| | Kearney State | | L 0–7 |
| October 5 | at Western State (CO)* | Gunnison, CO | L 7–19 |
| October 12 | at Doane | Crete, NE | T 19–19 |
| | Peru State | | L 0–14 |
| | York | | W 19–13 |
| | Midland | | L 0–7 |
| November 15 | at Nebraska Wesleyan | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | L 0–19 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Chadron State

The 1946 Chadron State Eagles football team represented Chadron State College of Chadron, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Ross O. Armstrong, the Eagles compiled a 3–7 record (1–5 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 230 to 70, and finished eighth in the NCC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| | South Dakota Tech* | | W 19–6 |
| September 28 | Colorado State–Greeley* | Elliott FieldChadron, NE | L 8–46 |
| October 5 | at Kearney State | Kearney, NE | L 0–14 |
| | Black Hills State* | | W 19–0 |
| | Peru State | | L 6–26 |
| | Midland | | L 6–40 |
| November 2 | at Western State (CO)* | Gunnison, CO | L 0–38 |
| | Wayne State (NE) | | W 12–6 |
| November 15 | at Doane | Crete, NE | L 0–21 |
| November 22 | at Nebraska Wesleyan | O. N. Magee Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | L 0–33 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### York

The 1946 York Panthers football team represented York University of York, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Rolland E. Tonkin, the Eagles compiled a 3–6 record (0–6 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 138 to 92, and finished last in the NCC.

## All-conference team

The United Press (UP) and the NCC coaches each selected 1946 All-Nebraska College Conference football teams. NCC champion Doane did not place any players on the UP team. The all-conference picks were as follows:
* Quarterback: Rex Mercer, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP)
* Halfbacks: Dick Peterson, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Johnny Warwick, Hastings (Coaches); Revoe Hill, Midland (UP, Coaches)
* Fullback: Al Butterfield, Chadron (UP, Coaches)
* Ends: John Rumbaugh, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Rich Clough, Midland (UP); Orville Yocup, Peru (Coaches)
* Tackles: Bob Westphal, Wayne (UP, Coaches); Everett Poe, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP); Don Redman, Doane (Coaches)
* Guards: Wayne Linder, Peru (UP); Ralph Patterson, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Dick Uphoff, Hastings (Coaches)
* Center: Cliff Squires, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP, Coaches)