# 1956 college football season

The 1956 college football season was the 88th season of intercollegiate football in the United States. It finished with five teams having claim to a national championship:
* Oklahoma compiled a 10–0 record in their 10th season under Bud Wilkinson and is recognized as the consensus national champion, having been ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) coaches polls. The Sooners were also recognized as the 1956 national champion by the Football Writers Association of America and at least 10 other official selectors. Two Oklahoma players, Tommy McDonald and Jerry Tubbs, ranked third and fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. The Sooners ranked first in total offense with 481.7 yards per game (391 rushing yards) and second in total defense with 193.8 yards per game. The 1956 season was part of a 47-game winning streak that ran from October 10, 1953, to November 9, 1957.
* Tennessee compiled a 10–1 record, losing to Baylor in the Sugar Bowl; prior to this the Volunteers were rated No. 2 in the final AP and UP polls. Tennessee halfback Johnny Majors was the runner up in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Decades later, Tennessee was chosen as the 1956 national champion by the Sagarin Ratings.
* Iowa compiled a 9–1 record, including a victory over Oregon State in the Rose Bowl. The Hawkeyes were rated No. 3 in the final AP and UP polls. Years later, they were chosen as the 1956 national champion by College Football Researchers Association.
* Georgia Tech compiled a 10–1 record under Bobby Dodd and defeated Pittsburgh in the Gator Bowl. The Yellow Jackets were rated No. 4 in the final AP and UP polls but were selected as the 1956 national champion by Berryman (QPRS), Houlgate System, and Sagarin Ratings.
* Tennessee A&I compiled a 10–0 record, defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, and has been recognized as the black college national champion.
At the small-college level, Montana State (9–0–1) and Saint Joseph's (8–1–1 ) played to a scoreless tie in the NAIA national championship game.
Notre Dame quarterback Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy, and Oklahoma's Tommy McDonald won the Maxwell Award. Individual statistical leaders in major college football included Stanford quarterback John Brodie with 1,642 yards of total offense and 1,633 passing yards, Wyoming back Jim Crawford with 1,104 rushing yards, and Oklahoma halfback Clendon Thomas with 108 points scored.

## Conference and program changes

One new conference began play in 1956: Ivy League
One new program began to play in 1956: Air Force Falcons.

## Season chronology
### September

In the preseason poll released on September 17, the defending champion Oklahoma Sooners, coming into the season with a 30-game winning streak, were the first place choice for 116 of 149 writers casting votes. They were followed by Michigan State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Ohio State. New polls were issued weekly on Monday.
On September 22, No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Michigan State were idle. No. 3 Notre Dame lost in Dallas to unranked SMU, 19–13, and dropped out of the top five for the season (and finished 2–8), while SMU would rise to fifth. No. 4 Georgia Tech won at Kentucky, 14–6. No. 5 Ohio State, which had not started play, fell out of the Top 5 and was replaced by No. 7 TCU, which had opened with a 32–0 win at Kansas. The first regular AP poll was No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 TCU, and No. 5 SMU.
September 29, No. 1 Oklahoma opened its season with a 36–0 win over North Carolina. In Dallas, No. 2 Georgia Tech visited No. 5 SMU and narrowly won, 9–7. No. 3 Michigan State won, 21–7, at No. 12 Stanford. No. 4 TCU was idle and dropped to 8th, while No. 8 Ohio State rose to 4th after a 34–7 win hosting Nebraska. No. 13 Michigan, which had beaten UCLA, 42–13, rose to fifth. The next poll was No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 4 Ohio State, and No. 5 Michigan.

### October

October 6 No. 1 Oklahoma registered another shutout, beating Kansas State 66–0. No. 2 Michigan State met No. 5 Michigan in the rain before a crowd of 101,001 at Ann Arbor, and MSU Coach Duffy Daugherty's "umbrella defense" forced two Michigan turnovers that led to the Spartans' 9–0 win No. 3 Georgia Tech was idle, and No. 4 Ohio State won 32–20 at home before 82,881 over Stanford. The poll saw Michigan drop to 12th, while No. 8 TCU (which beat Arkansas 41–6 on national television) returned to the top five: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 4 TCU, and No. 5 Ohio State.
October 13 At Dallas, No. 1 Oklahoma beat Texas 45–0, having outscored its opposition 147–0 in three games. A commentator of the day wrote, "The overpowering charge of the big red-shirted Oklahoma line ahead of adroit Quarterback Jimmy Harris is just one of the reasons why Oklahoma may be the greatest college football team of all time... They showed it in the sudden, lifting charge of a line which moved all of a piece, like a wave breaking evenly along a beach." No. 2 Michigan State defeated Indiana 53–6 at home. No. 3 Georgia Tech beat LSU, 39–7. No. 4 TCU won at Alabama 23–6, and No. 5 Ohio State won 26–6 at Illinois. The top five remained unchanged.
October 20 No. 1 Oklahoma gave up its first points of the season, but registered its fourth win, 34–12, at Kansas. No. 2 Michigan State stayed unbeaten with a 47–14 win at Notre Dame. No. 3 Georgia Tech beat Auburn 28–7. In a game that would ultimately determine the SWC championship, No. 4 TCU lost at No. 14 Texas A&M, 7–6. No. 5 Ohio State lost to Penn State by the same 7–6 score. No. 7 Tennessee, which had beaten Alabama 24–0, rose to 4th, and No. 8 Michigan returned to the Top 5 after its 34–20 win over Northwestern. The next poll: No. 1 Michigan State, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Michigan.
October 27 The new No. 1 Michigan State went to Champaign, and had a 13–0 lead over unranked Illinois at halftime. Abe Woodson plunged for a score to cut the lead to 13–6 after three quarters. In the fourth, Woodson ran 70 yards from scrimmage to help tie the game 13–13. After an MSU field goal was short, Woodson ran the ball up to the Illini 18. Woodson, who had once held the world record in the 50 yard high hurdles, took a short pass and dashed 82 yards for a touchdown, leaping over State's Art Johnson 30 yards from goal, to pull off the 20–13 upset. No. 2 Oklahoma was determined to prove itself number 1, and Coach Bud Wilkinson directed the team to six touchdowns for a 40–0 win at Notre Dame. No. 3 Georgia Tech beat No. 15 Tulane by the same 40–0 margin. No. 4 Tennessee beat Maryland 34–7 to stay unbeaten. No. 5 Michigan had its second loss, falling to unranked Minnesota at home, 20–7. No. 7 Texas A&M, which had extended its record to 5–0–1 with a 19–13 win at No. 8 Baylor, replaced the Wolverines. The next poll: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Michigan State, and No. 5 Texas A&M.

### November

November 3 Unbeaten No. 1 Oklahoma (5–0), met the Colorado Buffaloes (5–1) on the road, and were losing 19–6 at halftime to a team that was a four-touchdown underdog, but came back with touchdowns by Tommy McDonald and Clendon Thomas for a difficult 27–19 win. The rest of top five won in shutouts: No. 2 Georgia Tech won 7–0 at Duke, No. 3 Tennessee over North Carolina 20–0, No. 4 Michigan State crushed Wisconsin 33–0, and No. 5 Texas A&M beat Arkansas 27–0. The poll remained unchanged.
November 10 While No. 1 Oklahoma registered its fifth shutout in seven games, trouncing Iowa State 44–0, No. 2 Georgia Tech and No. 3 Tennessee met in Atlanta for a game that proved to determine the SEC title. There were 23 punts altogether, and no score until midway through the third quarter, when Tennessee end Buddy Cruze noticed that Tech had stopped double-teaming him. Halfback Johnny Majors (who would later be head coach for UT) passed to Cruze at the 35–yard line, and Cruze ran 64 yards down to the Tech goal line, setting up the touchdown that won the game 6–0. In the poll that followed, Tennessee was the new No. 1 by a margin of 2 points (1,446 to 1,444) over Oklahoma. No. 4 Michigan State narrowly beat Purdue, 12–9. No. 5 Texas A&M beat SMU 33–7 in Dallas, and increased its record to 7–0–1. Though on probation since 1955 for recruiting violations, coach Bear Bryant's Aggies had appealed to the NCAA to allow them to play in the postseason (as the top contenders for the Southwest Conference title, they would receive an automatic bid in the Cotton Bowl). The next day, however, the NCAA announced that Texas A&M was still banned, because of an additional recruiting violation of a basketball player. The next poll: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Georgia Tech, and No. 5 Texas A&M.
November 17 No. 1 Tennessee beat visiting No. 19 Ole Miss 27–7, while No. 2 Oklahoma showed off its offense in crushing Missouri 67–14, sufficiently enough to regain the top spot in the next poll. No. 3 Michigan State traveled to Minnesota, which had been No. 6 a week before, but dropped to No. 17 after a loss to Iowa. The MSU visitors lost, 14–13, and dropped to tenth place in the next poll. No. 4 Georgia Tech beat Alabama 27–0. No. 5 Texas A&M beat visiting Rice, 21–7. No. 7 Iowa, which clinched an unexpected Big Ten championship by defeating No. 6 Ohio State 6–0, took Michigan State's place in the poll that followed. The Top 5 was No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 Iowa, No. 4 Texas A&M, and No. 5 Georgia Tech.
November 24 No. 1 Oklahoma gained 656 net yards in a defeat of visiting Nebraska 54–6. No. 2 Tennessee beat Kentucky 20–7. No. 3 Iowa finished its season with a 48–8 non-league win over Notre Dame, then accepted a bid to the Rose Bowl to play the PCC champion, No. 11 Oregon State. No. 4 Texas A&M was idle as it prepared for its Thanksgiving Day game with Texas, which it won 34–21. In Jacksonville, No. 5 Georgia Tech beat No. 13 Florida 28–0, and traded places with A&M. Tech would be invited back to the city for the Gator Bowl at season's end. The next poll: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 Iowa, No. 4 Georgia Tech, and No. 5 Texas A&M.
December 1 No. 1 Oklahoma closed its season with a 53–0 win over Oklahoma A&M, finishing 10–0, and with a 466–51 finish in points. Only one of its ten opponents (Colorado) finished 1956 with a winning record. In Nashville, No. 2 Tennessee beat Vanderbilt 27–7 to close with a 10–0 record and a spot in the Sugar Bowl, where it would face 8–2 Baylor. No. 4 Georgia Tech closed with a 35–0 win at Georgia. Unbeaten and once-tied (9–0–1), No. 5 Texas A&M won the Southwest Conference title, but the ban against post-season play sent runner-up TCU to the Cotton Bowl instead. The top five teams in the final poll remained the same from the previous week.

## Conference standings
### Major conference standings

1956 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings :
| 1956 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 19 Clemson $ 4 –0 –17 –2 –2 Duke 4 –1 –05 –4 –1 South Carolina 5 –2 –07 –3 –0 Maryland 2 –2 –12 –7 –1 North Carolina 2 –3 –12 –7 –1 NC State 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 Wake Forest 1 –5 –12 –5 –3 Virginia 1 –4 –03 –7 –0 Rankings from AP Poll | 1956 Big Seven Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Oklahoma $ 6 –0 –010 –0 –0 No. 20 Colorado 4 –1 –18 –2 –1 Missouri 3 –2 –14 –5 –1 Nebraska 3 –3 –04 –6 –0 Kansas 2 –4 –03 –6 –1 Kansas State 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 Iowa State 0 –6 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1956 Big Ten Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Iowa $ 5 –1 –09 –1 –0 No. 7 Michigan 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 No. 12 Minnesota 4 –1 –26 –1 –2 No. 9 Michigan State 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 No. 15 Ohio State 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Northwestern 3 –3 –14 –4 –1 Purdue 1 –4 –23 –4 –2 Illinois 1 –4 –22 –5 –2 Wisconsin 0 –4 –31 –5 –3 Indiana 1 –5 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1956 Border Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas Western $ 5 –0 –09 –2 –0 Arizona State 3 –1 –09 –1 –0 West Texas State 2 –2 –08 –2 –0 Arizona 1 –2 –04 –6 –0 Hardin–Simmons 1 –3 –04 –6 –0 New Mexico A&M 0 –4 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Ivy League football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Yale $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0 Princeton 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 Dartmouth 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 Penn 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Brown 3 –4 –05 –4 –0 Columbia 2 –5 –03 –6 –0 Harvard 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Cornell 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Middle Three Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lehigh $ 2 –0 –07 –2 –0 Rutgers 1 –1 –03 –7 –0 Lafayette 0 –2 –06 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Missouri Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Houston $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –1 Tulsa 2 –1 –17 –2 –1 Oklahoma A&M 2 –1 –13 –5 –2 Wichita 1 –3 –04 –7 –0 Detroit 0 –4 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Pacific Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 10 Oregon State $ 6 –1 –17 –3 –1 No. 18 USC 5 –2 –08 –2 –0 UCLA 5 –2 –07 –3 –0 Washington 4 –4 –05 –5 –0 Oregon 3 –3 –24 –4 –2 Stanford 3 –4 –04 –6 –0 Washington State 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 California 2 –5 –03 –7 –0 Idaho 0 –4 –04 –5 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1956 Skyline Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wyoming 7 –0 –010 –0 –0 Utah 5 –1 –05 –5 –0 Denver 4 –3 –06 –4 –0 Utah State 4 –3 –06 –4 –0 Colorado A&M 2 –4 –12 –7 –1 New Mexico 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 BYU 1 –5 –12 –7 –1 Montana 1 –6 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Southeastern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 2 Tennessee $ 6 –0 –010 –1 –0 No. 4 Georgia Tech 7 –1 –010 –1 –0 Florida 5 –2 –06 –3 –1 Ole Miss 4 –2 –07 –3 –0 Auburn 4 –3 –07 –3 –0 Kentucky 4 –4 –06 –4 –0 Tulane 3 –3 –06 –4 –0 Vanderbilt 2 –5 –05 –5 –0 Alabama 2 –5 –02 –7 –1 Mississippi State 2 –5 –04 –6 –0 LSU 1 –5 –03 –7 –0 Georgia 1 –6 –03 –6 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1956 Southern Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T West Virginia $ 5 –0 –06 –4 –0 VPI 3 –0 –07 –2 –1 No. 17 George Washington 5 –1 –08 –1 –1 Davidson 2 –2 –15 –3 –1 Furman 2 –2 –02 –8 –0 VMI 2 –3 –13 –6 –1 Richmond 2 –5 –04 –5 –0 The Citadel 1 –3 –03 –5 –1 Washington and Lee 0 –1 –01 –7 –0 William & Mary 0 –5 –00 –9 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll | 1956 Southwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Texas A&M $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –1 No. 14 TCU 5 –1 –08 –3 –0 No. 11 Baylor 4 –2 –09 –2 –0 Arkansas 3 –3 –06 –4 –0 SMU 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Rice 1 –5 –04 –6 –0 Texas 0 –6 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1956 NCAA University Division independents football records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 6 Miami (FL)   –  8 –1 –1 No. 16 Navy   –  6 –1 –2 No. 8 Syracuse   –  7 –2 –0 Air Force   –  6 –2 –1 Penn State   –  6 –2 –1 No. 13 Pittsburgh   –  7 –3 –1 Pacific (CA)   –  6 –3 –1 Army   –  5 –3 –1 Holy Cross   –  5 –3 –1 Villanova   –  5 –4 –0 Boston College   –  5 –4 –0 Florida State   –  5 –4 –1 Cincinnati   –  4 –5 –0 Colgate   –  4 –5 –0 Dayton   –  4 –6 –0 Drake   –  3 –6 –0 San Jose State   –  2 –7 –1 Texas Tech   –  2 –7 –1 Notre Dame   –  2 –8 –0 Boston University   –  1 –5 –2 Marquette   –  0 –9 –0 Rankings from AP Poll |

### Minor conference standings

1956 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 1956 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Fresno State 2 –0 –08 –2 –0 San Diego State 2 –1 –04 –3 –2 Santa Barbara 2 –1 –05 –5 –0 Los Angeles State 1 –1 –03 –5 –1 Cal Poly 1 –2 –07 –3 –0 Long Beach State 0 –3 –03 –5 –0 No champion named for the 1956 season | 1956 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T North Carolina College + 5 –0 –25 –2 –2 Delaware State + 5 –0 –17 –1 –1 Morgan State + 5 –0 –15 –2 –1 Maryland State 5 –1 –16 –2 –1 St. Augustine's 5 –1 –16 –1 –1 Bluefield State 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 Fayetteville State 4 –2 –04 –3 –0 Virginia Union 4 –3 –06 –3 –0 North Carolina A&T 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Winston-Salem State 3 –3 –14 –4 –1 Shaw 3 –4 –13 –4 –1 Hampton 2 –7 –12 –7 –1 Johnson C. Smith 2 –5 –03 –5 –0 Virginia State 1 –6 –11 –7 –1 Lincoln (PA) 1 –6 –01 –6 –0 Howard 1 –5 –04 –5 –0 Saint Paul's (VA) 0 –7 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1956 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Benedict's $ 4 –1 –07 –3 –0 Pittsburg State 3 –1 –17 –2 –1 Southwestern (KS) 3 –1 –14 –4 –2 Washburn 3 –2 –03 –6 –0 Emporia State 1 –4 –02 –6 –1 Fort Hays State 0 –5 –11 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 College Conference of Illinois football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wheaton (IL) $ 7 –0 –07 –1 –0 Millikin 6 –1 –06 –2 –0 Carroll (WI) 5 –2 –05 –3 –0 Lake Forest 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Illinois Wesleyan 3 –3 –13 –5 –1 North Central (IL) 1 –6 –02 –6 –0 Elmhurst 1 –6 –01 –6 –0 Augustana (IL) 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Far Western Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Humboldt State + 4 –1 –09 –2 –0 Cal Aggies + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 San Francisco State + 4 –1 –05 –5 –0 Chico State 1 –3 –12 –6 –1 Sacramento State 1 –4 –03 –5 –1 Nevada 0 –4 –10 –7 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1956 Gulf Coast Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T North Texas State + 2 –0 –17 –2 –1 Trinity (TX) + 2 –0 –15 –3 –1 Abilene Christian 1 –2 –04 –6 –0 Midwestern (TX) 0 –3 –03 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 Gulf States Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Southeastern Louisiana $ 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Northwestern State 3 –1 –16 –2 –2 Louisiana Tech 3 –1 –14 –3 –2 Northeast Louisiana State 2 –3 –07 –3 –0 McNeese State 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Southwestern Louisiana 1 –4 –04 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Hoosier Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hanover $ 6 –0 –08 –1 –0 Anderson (IN) 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Indiana Central 4 –2 –04 –5 –0 Franklin (IN) 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Manchester (IN) 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Taylor 1 –5 –03 –6 –0 Earlham 0 –6 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Saint Joseph's (IN) $^ 6 –0 –08 –1 –1 Butler 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Valparaiso 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Evansville 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Ball State 2 –4 –04 –4 –0 DePauw 1 –5 –01 –6 –1 Indiana State 0 –6 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff (Aluminum Bowl) participant |
| 1956 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central Michigan $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 Western Illinois 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Eastern Michigan 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Illinois State Normal 3 –3 –04 –4 –1 Southern Illinois 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Eastern Illinois 2 –4 –02 –7 –0 Northern Illinois State 0 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Iowa Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central (IA) $ 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 Simpson (IA) 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Luther 5 –2 –15 –3 –1 Iowa Wesleyan 5 –3 –05 –4 –0 Dubuque 3 –3 –23 –3 –2 Parsons 3 –5 –05 –5 –0 Buena Vista 3 –5 –03 –5 –1 Upper Iowa 1 –6 –12 –6 –2 Wartburg 0 –7 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Sam Houston State $ 6 –0 –010 –0 –0 Texas A&I 5 –1 –07 –3 –0 Southwest Texas State 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Stephen F. Austin 3 –3 –04 –6 –0 Lamar Tech 2 –4 –04 –4 –1 East Texas State 1 –5 –02 –8 –0 Sul Ross 0 –6 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Mason–Dixon Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Johns Hopkins $ 3 –0 –04 –3 –1 Hampden–Sydney 3 –1 –07 –2 –0 Randolph–Macon 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Gallaudet 0 –0 –10 –5 –1 Bridgewater 0 –2 –13 –4 –1 Western Maryland 0 –3 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hillsdale $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 Kalamazoo 5 –1 –05 –3 –0 Hope 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 Albion 3 –3 –03 –5 –0 Adrian 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Alma 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Olivet 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Mid-American Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Bowling Green $ 5 –0 –18 –0 –1 Miami (OH) 4 –0 –17 –1 –1 Kent State 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 Marshall 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Ohio 2 –4 –02 –7 –0 Western Michigan 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Toledo 1 –5 –01 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Mid-Ohio League football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Bluffton $ 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Findlay 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Wilmington (OH) 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 Ashland 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Ohio Northern 0 –4 –10 –7 –1 Defiance 0 –4 –10 –8 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Midwest Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Tennessee A&I $ 4 –0 –010 –0 –0 No. 3 Grambling 1 –1 –08 –1 –0 No. 7 Jackson State 1 –1 –06 –2 –2 No. 14 Central State (OH) 1 –1 –14 –3 –1 Lincoln (MO) 1 –2 –05 –4 –0 Kentucky State 0 –3 –13 –5 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from Pittsburgh Courier | 1956 Midwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Carleton + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Knox + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 St. Olaf + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Ripon 4 –3 –14 –3 –1 Coe 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Lawrence 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Cornell (IA) 3 –5 –03 –5 –0 Monmouth (IL) 1 –6 –11 –6 –1 Grinnell 1 –7 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Thomas (MN) $ 7 –0 –08 –0 –0 Concordia (MN) 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Macalester 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Minnesota–Duluth 3 –4 –03 –4 –0 Saint John's (MN) 2 –4 –13 –4 –1 Augsburg 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Hamline 0 –7 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Minnesota State College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Winona State $ 3 –1 –04 –4 –0 St. Cloud State 2 –1 –16 –2 –1 Moorhead State 2 –1 –13 –3 –1 Mankato State 1 –2 –16 –2 –1 Bemidji State 0 –3 –12 –4 –2 $ – Conference championSt. Cloud State forfeited a win over Moorhead State and Moorhead State forfeited a win over Winona State. | 1956 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central Missouri State + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Missouri–Rolla + 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 NE Missouri State 3 –2 –03 –5 –0 SW Missouri State 3 –2 –03 –6 –0 NW Missouri State 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 SE Missouri State 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 North Central Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Morningside $ 4 –1 –16 –1 –1 Augustana (SD) 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 South Dakota 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 North Dakota State 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 South Dakota State 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 North Dakota 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Iowa State Teachers 0 –5 –12 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Heidelberg $ 5 –1 –08 –1 –0 Hiram 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Denison 5 –2 –07 –2 –0 Muskingum 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Wittenberg 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Capital 4 –2 –15 –2 –1 Wooster 4 –3 –15 –3 –1 Otterbein 3 –4 –04 –5 –0 Akron 3 –5 –13 –5 –1 Kenyon 1 –3 –11 –5 –1 Mount Union 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Oberlin 1 –4 –11 –6 –1 Ohio Wesleyan 1 –4 –11 –7 –1 Marietta 0 –5 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Ohio Valley Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Middle Tennessee $ 5 –0 –07 –2 –0 Murray State 4 –1 –06 –4 –0 Western Kentucky 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Tennessee Tech 2 –3 –05 –4 –1 Eastern Kentucky 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Morehead State 0 –5 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T West Chester $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 East Stroudsburg 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 Indiana (PA) 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Slippery Rock 2 –1 –02 –5 –0 Shippensburg 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Lock Haven 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Edinboro 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Clarion 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Millersville 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Kutztown 1 –3 –05 –4 –0 Bloomsburg 1 –3 –05 –2 –1 California (PA) 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 Mansfield 1 –4 –02 –5 –0 Cheyney 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference championConference standings were based on the Saylor system of ratings. | 1956 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wayne State (MI) $ 3 –0 –14 –2 –1 John Carroll 2 –0 –14 –1 –2 Western Reserve 1 –2 –04 –3 –0 Case Tech 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Montana State $^ 5 –0 –09 –0 –1 Idaho State 3 –2 –06 –3 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Western State (CO) 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Colorado College 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Colorado Mines 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participant |
| 1956 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Redlands $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –0 Pomona-Claremont 2 –1 –14 –3 –1 Whittier 2 –1 –14 –3 –3 Occidental 1 –3 –03 –6 –0 Caltech 0 –4 –03 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas Southern + 5 –1 –09 –2 –0 Wiley + 5 –1 –06 –3 –1 Southern 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Prairie View A&M 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Langston 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 Arkansas AM&N 0 –5 –12 –6 –1 Texas College 0 –5 –12 –6 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1956 Virginia Little Eight Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Emory and Henry $ 2 –0 –09 –1 –0 Hampden–Sydney 2 –1 –07 –2 –0 Randolph–Macon 1 –2 –04 –4 –0 Bridgewater 0 –2 –03 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Wisconsin State College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Eau Claire State + 7 –0 –07 –1 –0 Platteville State + 5 –0 –05 –1 –0 River Falls State 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Stevens Point State 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Whitewater State 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Superior State 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 La Crosse State 2 –3 –03 –6 –0 Oshkosh State 2 –4 –03 –4 –0 Stout State 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 Milwaukee 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1956 Yankee Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Connecticut $ 3 –0 –16 –2 –1 Maine 3 –1 –05 –2 –0 New Hampshire 2 –1 –13 –4 –1 Vermont 1 –2 –02 –5 –0 UMass 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 Rhode Island 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 NCAA College Division independents football records vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Alfred   –  8 –0 –0 Northern Michigan   –  7 –0 –1 St. Norbert   –  8 –1 –0 Carthage   –  8 –2 –0 Tampa   –  7 –2 –0 Cal Poly San Dimas   –  6 –2 –0 Mississippi Southern   –  7 –2 –1 Wabash   –  6 –2 –1 Hawaii   –  7 –3 –0 Hofstra   –  7 –3 –0 Xavier   –  7 –3 –0 Franklin & Marshall   –  5 –2 –1 Louisville   –  6 –3 –0 Pepperdine   –  6 –3 –0 Washington University   –  6 –3 –0 La Verne   –  6 –4 –0 Buffalo   –  5 –3 –0 Drexel   –  5 –3 –0 Delaware   –  5 –3 –1 Memphis State   –  5 –4 –1 Arkansas State   –  5 –4 –0 Chattanooga   –  5 –4 –0 Baldwin–Wallace   –  4 –5 –0 Washington & Jefferson   –  3 –4 –1 Rose Poly   –  3 –4 –0 Bucknell   –  3 –5 –0 Carnegie Tech   –  3 –5 –0 Temple   –  3 –5 –0 Howard (AL)   –  2 –5 –2 Sewanee   –  1 –6 –1 UC Riverside   –  1 –6 –0 |

### NAIA standings

1956 Badger-Illini Conference football standings :
| 1956 Badger-Illini Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Milton $ 5 –0 –06 –0 –0 Lakeland 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 Northwestern (WI) 3 –2 –0 ? – ? – ? Wisconsin Tech 3 –2 –0 ? – ? – ? Concordia (IL) 1 –4 –01 –6 –0 St. Procopius 0 –5 –00 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Central Church College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Tarkio $ 3 –0 –07 –1 –0 Westmar 2 –1 –02 –4 –2 Concordia (NE) 1 –2 –02 –6 –0 Dana 0 –3 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Benedict's $ 4 –1 –07 –3 –0 Pittsburg State 3 –1 –17 –2 –1 Southwestern (KS) 3 –1 –14 –4 –2 Washburn 3 –2 –03 –6 –0 Emporia State 1 –4 –02 –6 –1 Fort Hays State 0 –5 –11 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 College Conference of Illinois football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Wheaton (IL) $ 7 –0 –07 –1 –0 Millikin 6 –1 –06 –2 –0 Carroll (WI) 5 –2 –05 –3 –0 Lake Forest 3 –3 –13 –4 –1 Illinois Wesleyan 3 –3 –13 –5 –1 North Central (IL) 1 –6 –02 –6 –0 Elmhurst 1 –6 –01 –6 –0 Augustana (IL) 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Evergreen Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Puget Sound $ 6 –0 –08 –0 –1 Eastern Washington 3 –2 –15 –2 –1 Whitworth 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Pacific Lutheran 3 –3 –03 –3 –1 Central Washington 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 Western Washington 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 UBC 1 –5 –0 ? – ? – ? $ – Conference champion | 1956 Frontier Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Arizona State–Flagstaff + 3 –0 –08 –2 –0 New Mexico Military + 3 –0 –06 –3 –0 New Mexico Highlands 2 –2 –05 –2 –1 New Mexico Western 1 –3 –05 –4 –0 Panhandle A&M 0 –4 –03 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Saint Joseph's (IN) $^ 6 –0 –08 –1 –1 Butler 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Valparaiso 4 –2 –06 –4 –0 Evansville 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Ball State 2 –4 –04 –4 –0 DePauw 1 –5 –01 –6 –1 Indiana State 0 –6 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff (Aluminum Bowl) participant | 1956 Iowa Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Central (IA) $ 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 Simpson (IA) 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Luther 5 –2 –15 –3 –1 Iowa Wesleyan 5 –3 –05 –4 –0 Dubuque 3 –3 –23 –3 –2 Parsons 3 –5 –05 –5 –0 Buena Vista 3 –5 –03 –5 –1 Upper Iowa 1 –6 –12 –6 –2 Wartburg 0 –7 –10 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Kansas Wesleyan $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0 College of Emporia 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 McPherson 5 –2 –05 –4 –0 Bethel (KS) 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Baker 3 –4 –04 –5 –0 Friends 2 –5 –02 –6 –1 Bethany (KS) 1 –6 –01 –7 –0 Ottawa 0 –7 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Hillsdale $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 Kalamazoo 5 –1 –05 –3 –0 Hope 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 Albion 3 –3 –03 –5 –0 Adrian 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Alma 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Olivet 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Mid-Ohio League football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Bluffton $ 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Findlay 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Wilmington (OH) 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 Ashland 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Ohio Northern 0 –4 –10 –7 –1 Defiance 0 –4 –10 –8 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Midwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Carleton + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Knox + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 St. Olaf + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Ripon 4 –3 –14 –3 –1 Coe 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Lawrence 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Cornell (IA) 3 –5 –03 –5 –0 Monmouth (IL) 1 –6 –11 –6 –1 Grinnell 1 –7 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T St. Thomas (MN) $ 7 –0 –08 –0 –0 Concordia (MN) 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Macalester 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Minnesota–Duluth 3 –4 –03 –4 –0 Saint John's (MN) 2 –4 –13 –4 –1 Augsburg 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Hamline 0 –7 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Minnesota State College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Winona State $ 3 –1 –04 –4 –0 St. Cloud State 2 –1 –16 –2 –1 Moorhead State 2 –1 –13 –3 –1 Mankato State 1 –2 –16 –2 –1 Bemidji State 0 –3 –12 –4 –2 $ – Conference championSt. Cloud State forfeited a win over Moorhead State and Moorhead State forfeited a win over Winona State. | 1956 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T William Jewell $ 1 –0 –16 –3 –1 Tarkio 2 –1 –07 –1 –0 Missouri Valley 0 –0 –18 –2 –1 Culver–Stockton 1 –1 –06 –3 –0 Central (MO) 0 –2 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 Montana Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Carroll (MT) $ 4 –0 –06 –2 –0 Eastern Montana 2 –1 –13 –2 –1 Rocky Mountain 2 –2 –02 –4 –1 Western Montana 1 –3 –0 ? – ? – ? Montana Mines 0 –3 –1 ? – ? – ? $ – Conference champion | 1956 Nebraska College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Kearney State $ 7 –0 –09 –0 –0 Hastings 5 –1 –05 –2 –0 Peru State 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Chadron State 3 –2 –15 –2 –1 Nebraska Wesleyan 3 –4 –03 –7 –0 Doane 2 –4 –14 –4 –1 Midland 1 –6 –02 –6 –0 Wayne State (NE) 0 –7 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 North Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Jamestown $ 4 –1 –14 –2 –1 Mayville State 4 –2 –04 –3 –0 Dickinson State 4 –2 –04 –2 –0 Wahpeton Science 3 –2 –14 –2 –1 Minot State 3 –2 –13 –3 –1 Bismarck JC 3 –3 –03 –3 –0 Valley City State 1 –2 –31 –4 –3 Ellendale 2 –4 –02 –4 –0 Bottineau 0 –6 –00 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1956 North State Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Lenoir Rhyne $ 6 –0 –010 –0 –0 Catawba 4 –2 –05 –4 –1 Elon 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Appalachian State 3 –3 –03 –6 –0 East Carolina 2 –3 –02 –7 –1 Guilford 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 Western Carolina 0 –5 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Northwest Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Linfield $ 3 –1 –16 –1 –2 Lewis & Clark 3 –2 –07 –3 –0 Willamette 2 –1 –22 –4 –2 Whitman 2 –2 –14 –4 –1 College of Idaho 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Pacific (OR) 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Northeastern State + 4 –1 –08 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Central State (OK)]] + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|SW Oklahoma State]] 3 –1 –15 –3 –1 [[{{{school}}}|East Central]] 2 –3 –02 –7 –0 [[{{{school}}}|SE Oklahoma State]] 1 –3 –14 –3 –0 [[{{{school}}}|NW Oklahoma State]] 0 –5 –04 –5 –0 + – Conference co-champions |
| 1956 Oregon Collegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|Eastern Oregon]] $ 4 –0 –05 –3 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Southern Oregon]] 2 –2 –04 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Oregon College]] 2 –2 –03 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Portland State]] 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Oregon Tech]] 1 –3 –04 –4 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1956 Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T West Chester $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0 East Stroudsburg 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 Indiana (PA) 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Slippery Rock 2 –1 –02 –5 –0 Shippensburg 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Lock Haven 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Edinboro 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Clarion 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Millersville 2 –5 –02 –6 –0 Kutztown 1 –3 –05 –4 –0 Bloomsburg 1 –3 –05 –2 –1 California (PA) 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 Mansfield 1 –4 –02 –5 –0 Cheyney 0 –4 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference championConference standings were based on the Saylor system of ratings. | 1956 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Montana State $^ 5 –0 –09 –0 –1 Idaho State 3 –2 –06 –3 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Western State (CO) 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Colorado College 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Colorado Mines 0 –5 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participant |
| 1956 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|Huron]] $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Southern State (SD)]] 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Northern State]] 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Black Hills]] 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Dakota Wesleyan]] 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Yankton]] 3 –3 –03 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|General Beadle]] 1 –3 –13 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|South Dakota Mines]] 0 –6 –10 –7 –1 [[{{{school}}}|Sioux Falls]] 0 –6 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference championNorthern state forfeited wins over Huron and Southern State. | 1956 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Texas Southern + 5 –1 –09 –2 –0 Wiley + 5 –1 –06 –3 –1 Southern 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Prairie View A&M 4 –2 –05 –5 –0 Langston 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 Arkansas AM&N 0 –5 –12 –6 –1 Texas College 0 –5 –12 –6 –1 + – Conference co-champions | 1956 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T [[{{{school}}}|West Liberty State]] $ 5 –0 –07 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Fairmont State]] 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Shepherd]] 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Potomac State]] 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Salem]] 4 –3 –04 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Glenville State]] 2 –6 –02 –6 –0 [[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Tech]] 1 –3 –04 –4 –1 [[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Wesleyan]] 1 –4 –03 –5 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Davis & Elkins]] 0 –6 –01 –7 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Concord]] 0 –7 –00 –9 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Morris Harvey]] * 1 –0 –05 –4 –0 [[{{{school}}}|Bethany (WV)]] * 2 –0 –06 –2 –0 [[{{{school}}}|West Virginia State]] * 1 –0 –04 –3 –0 Bluefield State * 0 –1 –06 –3 –0 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Conference standings based on power ratings |
| 1956 Wisconsin State College Conference football standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L TW L T Eau Claire State + 7 –0 –07 –1 –0 Platteville State + 5 –0 –05 –1 –0 River Falls State 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Stevens Point State 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Whitewater State 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Superior State 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 La Crosse State 2 –3 –03 –6 –0 Oshkosh State 2 –4 –03 –4 –0 Stout State 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 Milwaukee 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions |

## Bowl games
### Major bowls

Tuesday, January 1, 1957
| Bowl | Winner | | Runner-up | |
| Orange | No. 20 Colorado Buffaloes | 27 | No. 19 Clemson Tigers | 21 |
| Cotton | No. 14 TCU Horned Frogs | 28 | No. 8 Syracuse Orangemen | 27 |
| Sugar | No. 11 Baylor Bears | 13 | No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers | 7 |
| Rose | No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes | 35 | No. 10 Oregon State Beavers | 19 |

### 1956 Aluminum Bowl

| Championship December 22, 1956 1956 Aluminum Bowl | Championship December 22, 1956 1956 Aluminum Bowl | Championship December 22, 1956 1956 Aluminum Bowl |
| Saint Joseph's (IN) | Saint Joseph's (IN) | 0 |
| Montana State | Montana State | 0 |

### Other bowls

| Bowl | Location | Date | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| Gator | Jacksonville, FL | December 29 | No. 4 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 21–14 | No. 13 Pittsburgh Panthers |
| Sun | El Paso, TX | January 1 | No. 17 George Washington Colonials | 13–0 | Texas Western Miners |
Minor bowls
| Bowl | Winner | | Runner-up | |
| Tangerine | West Texas State | 20 | Mississippi Southern | 13 |
| Burley | Memphis State | 32 | East Tennessee State | 12 |
| Refrigerator | Sam Houston State | 27 | Middle Tennessee State | 13 |
* Orange Blossom Classic - The Tennessee A&I (9–0) and the Florida A&M Rattlers (8–0) were considered to be the No. 1 and No. 2 teams "among the nation's Negro grid powers". The teams from the two historically black universities played at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, which hosted the Orange Blossom Classic as well as the New Year's Day, historically white universities, Orange Bowl game. A crowd of 41,808 watched Tennessee A&I win 41–39. Tennessee A&I were declared black college football national champion.
* Prairie View Bowl - On January 1, 1957, the Prairie View A&M Panthers hosted the SWAC champion Texas Southern Tigers in the Prairie View Bowl in Houston, Texas.

## Final polls

Final polls were released in the first week of December.
AP poll :
| Rank | Team | 1st | Points |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 104 | 1,715 |
| 2 | Tennessee | 48 | 1,618 |
| 3 | Iowa | 15 | 1,270 |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | | 1,211 |
| 5 | Texas A&M | | 1,070 |
| 6 | Miami (FL) | 12 | 867 |
| 7 | Michigan | | 599 |
| 8 | Syracuse | | 406 |
| 9 | Michigan State | | 309 |
| 10 | Oregon State | | 229 |
| 11 | Baylor | | 198 |
| 12 | Minnesota | | 183 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | | 175 |
| 14 | TCU | | 118 |
| 15 | Ohio State | | 60 |
| 16 | Navy | | 57 |
| 17 | George Washington | | 51 |
| 18 | USC | | 33 |
| 19 | Clemson | | 28 |
| 20 | Colorado | | 25 |
UP poll :
| Rank | Team | 1st | Points |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 26 | 337 |
| 2 | Tennessee | 5 | 301 |
| 3 | Iowa | 3 | 247 |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | 0 | 211 |
| 5 | Texas A&M | 0 | 202 |
| 6 | Miami (FL) | 1 | 134 |
| 7 | Michigan | 0 | 115 |
| 8 | Syracuse | 0 | 63 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 0 | 60 |
| 10 | Michigan State | 0 | 55 |
| 11 | Baylor | 0 | 46 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | 0 | 36 |
| 13 | Oregon State | 0 | 21 |
| 14 | TCU | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | USC | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Wyoming | 0 | 13 |
| 17 | Yale | 0 | 10 |
| 18 | Colorado | 0 | 9 |
| 19 | Navy | 0 | 8 |
| 20 | Duke | 0 | 6 |

## Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player
| Player | School | Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | QB | 197 | 162 | 151 | 1,066 |
| Johnny Majors | Tennessee | HB | 172 | 171 | 136 | 994 |
| Tommy McDonald | Oklahoma | HB | 205 | 122 | 114 | 973 |
| Jerry Tubbs | Oklahoma | C | 121 | 137 | 87 | 724 |
| Jim Brown | Syracuse | HB | 118 | 68 | 71 | 518 |
| Ron Kramer | Michigan | E | 70 | 104 | 100 | 518 |
| John Brodie | Stanford | QB | 39 | 52 | 60 | 281 |
| Jim Parker | Ohio State | G | 34 | 51 | 44 | 248 |
| Ken Ploen | Iowa | QB | 36 | 10 | 22 | 150 |
| Jon Arnett | USC | HB | 20 | 25 | 18 | 128 |
Source:

## Statistical leaders
### Individual
#### Total offense

The following players were the individual leaders in total offense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Plays | Total Yds | TdR |
| 1 | John Brodie | Stanford | 10 | 295 | 1,642 | 14 |
| 2 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | 10 | 205 | 1,337 | 10 |
| 3 | Bob Newman | Washington State | 10 | 213 | 1,177 | 9 |
| 4 | Tom Flores | Pacific | 10 | 171 | 1,167 | 18 |
| 5 | Guy Martin | Colgate | 9 | 208 | 1,165 | 10 |
| 6 | Jim Crawford | Wyoming | 10 | 202 | 1,114 | 15 |
| 7 | Johnny Majors | Tennessee | 10 | 167 | 1,101 | 12 |
| 8 | Billy Stacy | Mississippi State | 10 | 209 | 1,077 | 9 |
| 9 | Bob Reinhart | San Jose State | 10 | 212 | 1,068 | 12 |
| 10 | Jim Brown | Syracuse | 8 | 162 | 1,062 | 15 |
Small college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Plays | Total Yds |
| 1 | Dick Jamieson | Bradley | 10 | 240 | 1925 |
| 2 | John "Yommie" Costello | Pennsylvania Military | 9 | 167 | 1739 |
| 3 | Jim Stehlin | Brandeis | 9 | 316 | 1566 |
| 4 | Edward "Bo" Murray | Grambling | 9 | 164 | 1418 |
| 5 | Bill Engelhardt | Omaha | 9 | 273 | 1398 |
| 6 | Williams | Western Reserve | 7 | 258 | 1218 |
| 7 | Bob Webb | St. Ambrose | 9 | 179 | 1211 |
| 8 | Bill Rhodes | Colorado Western | 10 | 134 | 1200 |
| 9 | Joe Ortiz | College of Emporia | 9 | 140 | 1182 |
| 10 | Ron Parrish | Linfield | 9 | 199 | 1146 |

#### Passing

The following players were the individual leaders in pass completions during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Compl. | Att. | Pct. Compl. | Yds. | Int. | TDs |
| 1 | John Brodie | Stanford | 10 | 139 | 240 | .579 | 1633 | 14 | 12 |
| 2 | Bob Newman | Washington State | 10 | 91 | 170 | .535 | 1240 | 8 | 8 |
| 3 | Bob Reinhart | San Jose State | 10 | 90 | 172 | .523 | 1138 | 5 | 10 |
| 4 | Guy Martin | Colgate | 9 | 88 | 170 | .518 | 1100 | 15 | 9 |
| 5 | Gene Saur | Hardin-Simmons | 10 | 78 | 133 | .586 | 968 | 10 | 8 |
| 6 | Ralph Hunsaker | Arizona | 10 | 75 | 148 | .507 | 823 | 12 | 4 |
| 7 | Joe Clements | Texas | 10 | 74 | 151 | .490 | 793 | 16 | 7 |
| 8 | Tom Flores | Pacific | 10 | 73 | 127 | .575 | 1119 | 8 | 11 |
| 9 | Charlie Arnold | SMU | 10 | 71 | 157 | .452 | 964 | 14 | 8 |
| 10 | Carroll Johnston | BYU | 10 | 71 | 167 | .425 | 945 | 15 | 8 |
Small college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Compl. | Att. | Pct. Compl. | Yds. | Int. | TDs |
| 1 | Jim Stehlin | Brandeis | 9 | 116 | 206 | .563 | 1155 | 11 | 6 |
| 2 | Dick Jamieson | Bradley | 10 | 95 | 192 | .495 | 1796 | 12 | 21 |
| 3 | Jack Kemp | Occidental | 9 | 92 | 184 | .500 | 1123 | 8 | 7 |
| 4 | Garda | Lebanon Valley | 8 | 83 | 163 | .509 | 874 | 12 | 7 |
| 5 | Williams | Western Reserve | 7 | 78 | 150 | .520 | 872 | 10 | 8 |
| 6 | Bob Webb | St. Ambrose | 9 | 77 | 147 | .524 | 1278 | 7 | 14 |
| 7 | Robert Anastas | Amer Intern | 9 | 74 | 147 | .504 | 833 | 19 | 9 |
| 7 | John "Yommie" Costello | Pennsylvania Military | 9 | 74 | 149 | .497 | 1702 | 10 | 17 |
| 9 | Frank Sudock | Albright | 9 | 72 | 170 | .424 | 993 | 14 | 3 |
| 10 | Ron Parrish | Linfeld | 9 | 63 | 143 | .441 | 889 | 13 | 7 |

#### Rushing

The following players were the individual leaders in rushing yards during the 1956 season: Major college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Yds | Rushes | Avg |
| 1 | Jim Crawford | Wyoming | 10 | 1,104 | 200 | 5.52 |
| 2 | Billy Ray Barnes | Wake Forest | 10 | 1,010 | 168 | 6.01 |
| 3 | Jim Brown | Syracuse | 8 | 986 | 158 | 6.24 |
| 4 | Hill | Utah State | 10 | 920 | 140 | 6.57 |
| 5 | Jim Bakhtiar | Virginia | 10 | 879 | 203 | 4.33 |
| 6 | Mel Dillard | Purdue | 9 | 873 | 193 | 4.52 |
| 7 | Tommy McDonald | Oklahoma | 10 | 853 | 119 | 7.17 |
| 8 | Clendon Thomas | Oklahoma | 10 | 817 | 104 | 7.86 |
| 9 | Don Clark | Ohio State | 9 | 797 | 139 | 5.73 |
| 10 | C. R. Roberts | USC | 10 | 775 | 120 | 6.46 |
| 11 | Ed Sutton | North Carolina | 10 | 748 | 120 | 6.23 |
| 12 | Don Bosseler | Miami (FL) | 10 | 723 | 161 | 4.49 |
| 13 | Bobby Mulgado | Arizona State | 10 | 721 | 107 | 6.74 |
| 14 | Jim Roseboro | Ohio State | 9 | 712 | 152 | 4.68 |
| 15 | Bob Kyasky | Army | 9 | 707 | 129 | 5.48 |
| 16 | Tommy Lorino | Auburn | 10 | 692 | 82 | 8.44 |
| 17 | Jerry Brown | Nebraska | 10 | 690 | 129 | 5.35 |
| 18 | Joel Wells | Clemson | 10 | 678 | 156 | 4.35 |
| 19 | Jim Swink | TCU | 10 | 665 | 158 | 4.21 |
| 20 | Pete Hart | Hardin-Simmons | 10 | 664 | 131 | 5.07 |
Small college
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Yds | Rushes | Avg |
| 1 | Bill Rhodes | Colorado Western | 10 | 1200 | 130 | 9.23 |
| 2 | Walter Livingston | Heidelberg | 9 | 1086 | 175 | 6.21 |
| 3 | James C. "Pancho" Villa | Allegheny | 8 | 1073 | 134 | 8.01 |
| 4 | Edward "Bo" Murray | Grambling | 9 | 1028 | 110 | 9.35 |
| 5 | Tom Dingle | Wooster | 9 | 1027 | 175 | 5.87 |
| 6 | Jarock | St. Norbert | 9 | 1000 | 125 | 8.00 |
| 7 | Addleman | College of Emporia | 9 | 964 | 148 | 6.51 |
| 8 | Kimmel | Youngstown | 8 | 940 | 168 | 5.60 |
| 9 | Smith | Denison | 9 | 913 | 158 | 5.78 |
| 10 | Taylor | Geneva | 9 | 869 | 137 | 6.34 |

#### Receiving

The following players were the individual leaders in receptions during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Player | Team | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
| 1 | Art Powell | San Jose State | 40 | 583 | 5 |
| 2 | Bill Steiger | Washington State | 39 | 607 | 5 |
| 3 | Baird | Hardin-Simmons | 37 | 455 | 1 |
| 4 | Brad Bomba | Indiana | 31 | 407 | 1 |
| 5 | Aldrich | Idaho | 30 | 409 | 1 |
| 5 | James | Missouri | 30 | 362 | 3 |
| 7 | Jamison | Colgate | 29 | 289 | 6 |
| 8 | Camera | Stanford | 28 | 350 | 2 |
| 9 | Farrell Funston | Pacific | 27 | 563 | 5 |
| 9 | Ellingsen | Washington State | 27 | 455 | 1 |
| 9 | Wilson | Denver | 27 | 383 | 4 |
Small college
| Rank | Player | Team | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
| 1 | Tom Rychlec | Amer Inter | 40 | 353 | 3 |
| 2 | Hill | Pennsylvania Military | 39 | 852 | 10 |
| 3 | Don Carothers | Bradley | 33 | 697 | 10 |
| 4 | Jim E. Mora | Occidental | 32 | 328 | 1 |
| 5 | Anderson | Los Angeles State | 30 | 603 | 7 |
| 6 | Bob Schembs | Whitman | 29 | 392 | 3 |
| 6 | Stein | Brandeis | 29 | 207 | 0 |
| 8 | Westmeyer | St. Ambrose | 28 | 538 | 5 |
| 8 | Payne | William Jewell | 28 | 343 | 3 |
| 10 | Tom Zesiger | Ohio Wesleyan | 27 | 513 | 5 |
| 10 | Cimino | Omaha | 27 | 485 | 5 |

#### Scoring

The following players were the individual leaders in scoring during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Player | Team | Pts | TD | PAT | FG |
| 1 | Clendon Thomas | Oklahoma | 108 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Jim Brown | Syracuse | 106 | 14 | 22 | 0 |
| 3 | Jack Hill | Utah State | 105 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 4 | Tommy McDonald | Oklahoma | 102 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Jim Crawford | Wyoming | 96 | 14 | 12 | 0 |
| 6 | Bob Kyasky | Army | 85 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | John Bayuk | Colorado | 66 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Jack Call | Colgate | 66 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Dean Derby | Washington | 63 | 7 | 18 | 1 |
| 10 | Hewes Agnew | Princeton | 61 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Mike Brown | Dartmouth | 60 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | John David Crow | Texas A&M | 60 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Lou Valli | Stanford | 60 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Del Shofner | Baylor | 60 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Jim Taylor | LSU | 59 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| 16 | Bobby Mulgado | Arizona State | 56 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 16 | Buford Waterhouse | Drake | 56 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | 56 | 7 | 14 | 0 |
| 19 | Bobby Jordan | VMI | 55 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| 20 | Dennis McGill | Yale | 54 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Charlie McCue | Kansas | 54 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Small college
| Rank | Player | Team | Pts | TD | PAT | FG |
| 1 | Larry Houdek | Kansas Wesleyan | 114 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | John Steffen | River Falls State | 111 | 14 | 27 | 0 |
| 3 | Al Frazier | Florida A&M | 109 | 15 | 19 | 0 |
| 4 | Tom Schwalbach | Northern Michigan | 103 | 14 | 19 | 0 |
| 5 | George Kelleher | Trinity (CT) | 99 | 14 | 15 | 0 |
| 5 | Bob "Spinner" Martin | Bates | 99 | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | Larson | Carthage | 97 | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| 8 | Villa | Allegheny | 96 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Bullard | Lenoir-Rhyne | 96 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Garber | Capital | 96 points | 16 | 0 | 0 |

### Team
#### Total offense

The following teams were the leaders in total offense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Games played | Total plays | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 10 | 775 | 4817 | 481.7 |
| 2 | Hardin-Simmons | 10 | 786 | 3912 | 391.2 |
| 3 | Auburn | 10 | 670 | 3749 | 374.9 |
| 4 | Pacific | 10 | 684 | 3645 | 364.5 |
| 5 | Arizona State | 10 | 625 | 3609 | 360.9 |
| 6 | Michigan State | 9 | 585 | 3231 | 359.0 |
| 7 | TCU | 10 | 718 | 3563 | 356.3 |
| 8 | Virginia Tech | 10 | 726 | 3559 | 355.9 |
| 9 | Yale | 9 | 574 | 3199 | 355.4 |
| 10 | Denver | 10 | 676 | 3505 | 350.5 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Games played | Total plays | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Florida A&M | 8 | 418 | 3800 | 475.0 |
| 2 | Tufts | 7 | 450 | 3083 | 440.4 |
| 3 | Tennessee A&I | 9 | 564 | 3803 | 422.6 |
| 4 | Bradley | 10 | 642 | 4110 | 411.0 |
| 5 | College of Emporia | 9 | 576 | 3687 | 409.7 |
| 6 | Grambling | 9 | 505 | 3618 | 402.0 |
| 7 | Alfred | 7 | 407 | 2800 | 400.0 |
| 8 | Texas Southern | 10 | 645 | 3959 | 395.9 |
| 9 | Montana State | 9 | 624 | 3488 | 387.6 |
| 10 | Bowling Green | 9 | 615 | 3434 | 381.6 |

#### Rushing offense

The following teams were the leaders in rushing offense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 391.0 |
| 2 | VPI | 283.5 |
| 3 | Auburn | 276.0 |
| 3 | Army | 276.0 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 274.2 |
| 6 | USC | 269.5 |
| 7 | Washington | 268.8 |
| 8 | Yale | 264.7 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | 263.8 |
| 10 | Michigan State | 256.9 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Tufts | 359.9 |
| 2 | Florida A&M | 347.9 |
| 3 | Montana State | 339.1 |
| 4 | College of Emporia | 322.4 |
| 5 | West Texas State | 319.9 |
| 6 | Bowling Green | 318.3 |
| 7 | Denison | 315.4 |
| 8 | Texas Southern | 298.6 |
| 9 | Colorado Western | 289.1 |
| 10 | Lewis and Clark | 283.8 |

#### Passing offense

The following teams were the leaders in passing offense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Washington State | 206.8 |
| 2 | Stanford | 204.4 |
| 3 | Pacific | 188.9 |
| 4 | San Jose State | 188.1 |
| 5 | Hardin-Simmons | 156.9 |
| 6 | Rice | 137.3 |
| 7 | Navy | 133.0 |
| 8 | Texas | 130.3 |
| 9 | Colgate | 129.0 |
| 10 | BYU | 128.6 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Pennsylvania Military | 207.7 |
| 2 | Bradley | 196.4 |
| 3 | St. Ambrose | 183.0 |
| 4 | Brandeis | 169.2 |
| 5 | Loras | 153.3 |
| 6 | Buffalo | 142.1 |
| 7 | Tennessee A&I | 141.7 |
| 8 | Hamilton | 138.7 |
| 9 | Occidental | 137.6 |
| 10 | New Haven State | 136.9 |

#### Total defense

The following teams were the leaders in total defense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Games played | Total plays | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 10 | 590 | 1894 | 189.4 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 10 | 634 | 1938 | 193.8 |
| 3 | Ole Miss | 10 | 572 | 1955 | 195.5 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 10 | 558 | 1998 | 199.8 |
| 5 | Georgia Tech | 10 | 537 | 2003 | 200.3 |
| 6 | Navy | 9 | 543 | 1840 | 204.4 |
| 7 | Auburn | 10 | 540 | 2083 | 208.3 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 10 | 601 | 2088 | 208.8 |
| 9 | Penn State | 9 | 534 | 1903 | 211.4 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | 10 | 591 | 2154 | 215.4 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Games played | Total plays | Yards gained | Yards per game |
| 1 | Tennessee A&I | 9 | 463 | 1070 | 118.9 |
| 2 | Hillsdale | 9 | 467 | 1128 | 125.3 |
| 3 | Westminster | 8 | 441 | 1105 | 138.1 |
| 4 | Capital | 8 | 424 | 1203 | 150.4 |
| 5 | Moravian | 8 | 394 | 1208 | 151.0 |
| 6 | Allen | 9 | 378 | 1367 | 151.9 |
| 7 | Florida A&M | 8 | 405 | 1259 | 157.4 |
| 8 | Juniata | 7 | 378 | 1120 | 160.0 |
| 9 | Montana State | 9 | 492 | 1506 | 167.3 |
| 10 | South Carolina State | 9 | 465 | 1531 | 170.1 |

#### Rushing defense

The following teams were the leaders in rushing defense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 106.9 |
| 2 | Navy | 113.1 |
| 3 | Holy Cross | 123.3 |
| 4 | Georgia Tech | 128.4 |
| 5 | Boston College | 130.1 |
| 6 | Texas A&M | 130.2 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 136.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 138.3 |
| 9 | Iowa | 142.8 |
| 10 | Ole Miss | 144.9 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Hillsdale | 51.1 |
| 2 | Tennessee A&I | 52.9 |
| 3 | New Haven State | 56.6 |
| 4 | Gettysburg | 73.7 |
| 5 | Mississippi Southern | 75.1 |
| 6 | Florida A&M | 79.3 |
| 7 | Juniata | 80.6 |
| 8 | Capital | 82.0 |
| 9 | Allen | 87.1 |
| 10 | Moravian | 88.4 |

#### Passing defense

The following teams were the leaders in passing defense during the 1956 season:
Major college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | Villanova | 43.8 |
| 2 | Dartmouth | 45.3 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 47.6 |
| 4 | Penn State | 48.2 |
| 5 | TCU | 49.7 |
| 5 | Wake Forest | 49.7 |
| 7 | Ole Miss | 50.6 |
| 8 | Clemson | 52.6 |
| 9 | Auburn | 52.8 |
| 10 | NC State | 53.0 |
Small college
| Rank | Team | Yards per game |
| 1 | West Virginia Tech | 29.1 |
| 2 | Mankato State | 30.3 |
| 3 | Virginia Union | 36.3 |
| 4 | Concordia | 41.8 |
| 5 | Davidson | 42.7 |
| 6 | North Dakota | 43.0 |
| 7 | Colorado State | 43.6 |
| 8 | Akron | 45.6 |
| 9 | Idaho State | 47.1 |
| 10 | Westminster | 47.6 |