1949 college football rankings
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football rankings
| season = 1949
| image =
| image_caption =
| preseason_number_1 =
| champions = Notre Dame
| conference =
}}
One human poll comprised the 1949 college football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.
Legend
| style="border:1px solid black;" |
| style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| style="background:#9cf; width:20px; border:1px solid black;"|
| | National champion |
| {{center|(#–#)}}
| | Win–loss record |
| {{center|(Italics)}}
| | Number of first place votes |
| {{center|т}}
| | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP Poll
The final AP Poll was released on November 28, at the end of the 1949 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.
{{clear right}}
{{ColPollTable
|Week1 = 1
|Week2 = 2
|Week3 = 3
|Week4 = 4
|Week5 = 5
|Week6 = 6
|Week7 = 7
|Week8 = 8
|Week9 = 9 (Final)
|Week1Date = Oct 3{{cite web |title=October 3, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=111
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week2Date = Oct 10{{cite web |title=October 10, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=112
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week3Date = Oct 17{{cite web |title=October 17, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=113
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week4Date = Oct 24{{cite web |title=October 24, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=114
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week5Date = Oct 31{{cite web |title=October 31, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=115
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week6Date = Nov 7{{cite web |title=November 7, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=116
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week7Date = Nov 14{{cite web |title=November 14, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=117
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week8Date = Nov 21{{cite web |title=November 21, 1949 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=118
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week9Date = Nov 28{{cite web |title=1949 Final AP Football Poll|url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=119
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}
|Week1-1 = Michigan (2–0) (34)
|Week1-2 = Notre Dame (2–0) (15)
|Week1-3 = Oklahoma (2–0) (17)
|Week1-4 = Tulane (2–0) (4)
|Week1-5 = Minnesota (2–0) (2)
|Week1-6 = North Carolina (2–0) (3)
|Week1-7 = Army (2–0) (1)
|Week1-8 = USC (2–0)
|Week1-9 = SMU (2–0)
|Week1-10 = California (3–0)
|Week1-11 = Ohio State (2–0)
|Week1-12 = Texas (3–0)
|Week1-13 = Michigan State (2–0)
|Week1-14 = Duke (2–0) (3)
|Week1-15 = Kentucky (3–0) (1)
|Week1-16 = Villanova (3–0)
|Week1-17 = Cornell (2–0)
|Week1-18 = UCLA (3–0)
|Week1-19 = Pittsburgh (2–0)
|Week1-20 = {{ubl|Missouri (0–2) т|Northwestern (1–1) т|Penn (2–0) т}}
|Week2-1 = Notre Dame (3–0) (67)
|Week2-1-Color = u
|Week2-2 = Army (3–0) (58)
|Week2-2-Color = u
|Week2-3 = Oklahoma (3–0) (28)
|Week2-3-Color =
|Week2-4 = Tulane (3–0) (1)
|Week2-4-Color =
|Week2-5 = Minnesota (3–0) (6)
|Week2-5-Color =
|Week2-6 = North Carolina (3–0) (3)
|Week2-6-Color =
|Week2-7 = Michigan (2–1)
|Week2-7-Color = d
|Week2-8 = Kentucky (4–0) (8)
|Week2-8-Color = u
|Week2-9 = California (4–0)
|Week2-9-Color = u
|Week2-10 = SMU (2–0) (1)
|Week2-10-Color = d
|Week2-11 = Ohio State (2–0–1)
|Week2-11-Color =
|Week2-12 = USC (2–0–1)
|Week2-12-Color = d
|Week2-13 = UCLA (4–0)
|Week2-13-Color = u
|Week2-14 = Cornell (3–0)
|Week2-14-Color = u
|Week2-15 = Pittsburgh (3–0)
|Week2-15-Color = u
|Week2-16 = Texas (3–1)
|Week2-16-Color = d
|Week2-17 = Villanova (4–0)
|Week2-17-Color = d
|Week2-18 = Navy (2–1)
|Week2-18-Color = npr
|Week2-19 = Michigan State (2–1)
|Week2-19-Color = d
|Week2-20 = Baylor (3–0)
|Week2-20-Color = npr
|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|Duke|Missouri|Northwestern|Penn|}}
|Week3-1 = Notre Dame (4–0) (146)
|Week3-1-Color =
|Week3-2 = Army (4–0) (10)
|Week3-2-Color =
|Week3-3 = Minnesota (4–0) (8)
|Week3-3-Color = u
|Week3-4 = Oklahoma (4–0) (6)
|Week3-4-Color = d
|Week3-5 = California (5–0)
|Week3-5-Color = u
|Week3-6 = North Carolina (4–0) (6)
|Week3-6-Color =
|Week3-7 = Kentucky (5–0) (3)
|Week3-7-Color = u
|Week3-8 = Cornell (4–0)
|Week3-8-Color = u
|Week3-9 = Rice (3–1)
|Week3-9-Color = npr
|Week3-10 = Texas (4–1)
|Week3-10-Color = u
|Week3-11 = Baylor (4–0)
|Week3-11-Color = u
|Week3-12 = Michigan (2–2)
|Week3-12-Color = d
|Week3-13 = Northwestern (2–2)
|Week3-13-Color = npr
|Week3-14 = Penn (3–0)
|Week3-14-Color = npr
|Week3-15 = Michigan State (3–1)
|Week3-15-Color = u
|Week3-16 = Pittsburgh (4–0)
|Week3-16-Color = d
|Week3-17 = SMU (2–1)
|Week3-17-Color = d
|Week3-18 = Missouri (2–2)
|Week3-18-Color = npr
|Week3-19 = USC (2–1–1)
|Week3-19-Color = d
|Week3-20 = Tulane (3–1)
|Week3-20-Color = d
|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|Navy|Ohio State|UCLA|Villanova|}}
|Week4-1 = Notre Dame (4–0) (120)
|Week4-1-Color =
|Week4-2 = Army (5–0) (12)
|Week4-2-Color =
|Week4-3 = Oklahoma (5–0) (10)
|Week4-3-Color = u
|Week4-4 = California (6–0)
|Week4-4-Color = u
|Week4-5 = Rice (4–1)
|Week4-5-Color = u
|Week4-6 = Michigan (3–2)
|Week4-6-Color = u
|Week4-7 = Minnesota (4–1)
|Week4-7-Color = d
|Week4-8 = Cornell (5–0)
|Week4-8-Color =
|Week4-9 = Penn (4–0)
|Week4-9-Color = u
|Week4-10 = Baylor (5–0)
|Week4-10-Color = u
|Week4-11 = SMU (3–1)
|Week4-11-Color = u
|Week4-12 = Michigan State (4–1) (1)
|Week4-12-Color = u
|Week4-13 = North Carolina (4–1)
|Week4-13-Color = d
|Week4-14 = Kentucky (5–1)
|Week4-14-Color = d
|Week4-15 = USC (3–1–1)
|Week4-15-Color = u
|Week4-16 = Missouri (3–2)
|Week4-16-Color = u
|Week4-17 = LSU (3–2)
|Week4-17-Color = npr
|Week4-18 = Ohio State (3–1–1)
|Week4-18-Color = npr
|Week4-19 = Texas (4–2)
|Week4-19-Color = d
|Week4-20 = UCLA (5–1)
|Week4-20-Color = npr
|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|Northwestern|Pittsburgh|Tulane|}}
|Week5-1 = Notre Dame (5–0) (133)
|Week5-1-Color =
|Week5-2 = Army (6–0) (10)
|Week5-2-Color =
|Week5-3 = Oklahoma (6–0) (11)
|Week5-3-Color =
|Week5-4 = California (7–0) (4)
|Week5-4-Color =
|Week5-5 = Michigan (4–2)
|Week5-5-Color = u
|Week5-6 = Baylor (6–0)
|Week5-6-Color = u
|Week5-7 = Cornell (6–0) (1)
|Week5-7-Color = u
|Week5-8 = Rice (5–1)
|Week5-8-Color = d
|Week5-9 = SMU (4–1)
|Week5-9-Color = u
|Week5-10 = Michigan State (5–1) (2)
|Week5-10-Color = u
|Week5-11 = Ohio State (4–1–1)
|Week5-11-Color = u
|Week5-12 = USC (4–1–1)
|Week5-12-Color = u
|Week5-13 = Kentucky (6–1)
|Week5-13-Color = u
|Week5-14 = Tennessee (4–1–1)
|Week5-14-Color = npr
|Week5-15 = Iowa (4–2)
|Week5-15-Color = npr
|Week5-16 = Duke (5–1)
|Week5-16-Color = npr
|Week5-17 = LSU (4–2)
|Week5-17-Color =
|Week5-18 = Boston University (5–0)
|Week5-18-Color = npr
|Week5-19 = Virginia (6–0)
|Week5-19-Color = npr
|Week5-20 = {{ubl|Fordham (4–0) т|Penn (4–1) т|item1_style=background-color:#FFFFE6}}
|Week5-20-Color = d
|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|Minnesota|Missouri|North Carolina|Texas|UCLA|}}
|Week6-1 = Notre Dame (6–0) (137)
|Week6-1-Color =
|Week6-2 = Army (7–0) (13)
|Week6-2-Color =
|Week6-3 = Oklahoma (7–0) (9)
|Week6-3-Color =
|Week6-4 = California (8–0) (3)
|Week6-4-Color =
|Week6-5 = Michigan (5–2)
|Week6-5-Color =
|Week6-6 = Cornell (7–0) (1)
|Week6-6-Color = u
|Week6-7 = Rice (6–1)
|Week6-7-Color = u
|Week6-8 = Michigan State (5–2)
|Week6-8-Color = u
|Week6-9 = Minnesota (5–2)
|Week6-9-Color = npr
|Week6-10 = Virginia (7–0)
|Week6-10-Color = u
|Week6-11 = Ohio State (5–1–1)
|Week6-11-Color =
|Week6-12 = SMU (4–1–1)
|Week6-12-Color = d
|Week6-13 = Texas (5–3)
|Week6-13-Color = npr
|Week6-14 = Kentucky (7–1)
|Week6-14-Color = d
|Week6-15 = Boston (6–0)
|Week6-15-Color = u
|Week6-16 = LSU (5–2)
|Week6-16-Color = u
|Week6-17 = Stanford (5–2–1)
|Week6-17-Color = npr
|Week6-18 = Wake Forest (4–4)
|Week6-18-Color = npr
|Week6-19 = Pacific (7–0)
|Week6-19-Color = npr
|Week6-20 = Santa Clara (6–1–1)
|Week6-20-Color = npr
|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|Baylor|Duke|Fordham|Iowa|Penn|Tennessee|USC|}}
|Week7-1 = Notre Dame (7–0) (140)
|Week7-1-Color =
|Week7-2 = Oklahoma (8–0) (15)
|Week7-2-Color = u
|Week7-3 = California (9–0) (5)
|Week7-3-Color = u
|Week7-4 = Army (8–0) (1)
|Week7-4-Color = d
|Week7-5 = Michigan (6–2)
|Week7-5-Color =
|Week7-6 = Rice (7–1)
|Week7-6-Color = u
|Week7-7 = Ohio State (6–1–1)
|Week7-7-Color = u
|Week7-8 = Minnesota (6–2)
|Week7-8-Color = u
|Week7-9 = Virginia (7–0) (1)
|Week7-9-Color = u
|Week7-10 = SMU (5–1–1)
|Week7-10-Color = u
|Week7-11 = Kentucky (8–1)
|Week7-11-Color = u
|Week7-12 = Stanford (6–2–1)
|Week7-12-Color = u
|Week7-13 = LSU (6–2)
|Week7-13-Color = u
|Week7-14 = Dartmouth (6–1)
|Week7-14-Color = npr
|Week7-15 = Baylor (7–1)
|Week7-15-Color = npr
|Week7-16 = Maryland (6–1)
|Week7-16-Color = npr
|Week7-17 = Cornell (7–1)
|Week7-17-Color = d
|Week7-18 = Michigan State (5–3)
|Week7-18-Color = d
|Week7-19 = Santa Clara (7–1–1) т
|Week7-19-Color = tu
|Week7-20 = Tulane (6–1–1) т
|Week7-20-Color = npr
|Week7Dropped = {{ubl|Boston|Pacific|Texas|Wake Forest|}}
|Week8-1 = Notre Dame (8–0) (113)
|Week8-1-Color =
|Week8-2 = California (10–0) (24)
|Week8-2-Color = u
|Week8-3 = Oklahoma (9–0) (11)
|Week8-3-Color = d
|Week8-4 = Army (8–0) (1)
|Week8-4-Color =
|Week8-5 = Ohio State (6–1–2)
|Week8-5-Color = u
|Week8-6 = Michigan (6–2–1)
|Week8-6-Color = d
|Week8-7 = Rice (8–1)
|Week8-7-Color = d
|Week8-8 = Minnesota (7–2)
|Week8-8-Color =
|Week8-9 = Baylor (8–1)
|Week8-9-Color = u
|Week8-10 = Tulane (7–1–1)
|Week8-10-Color = u
|Week8-11 = Pacific (9–0) (2)
|Week8-11-Color = npr
|Week8-12 = Stanford (6–3–1)
|Week8-12-Color =
|Week8-13 = LSU (7–2)
|Week8-13-Color =
|Week8-14 = Santa Clara (7–2–1)
|Week8-14-Color = u
|Week8-15 = Maryland (6–1)
|Week8-15-Color = u
|Week8-16 = Villanova (8–1)
|Week8-16-Color = npr
|Week8-17 = USC (5–2–1)
|Week8-17-Color = npr
|Week8-18 = Tennessee (6–2–1)
|Week8-18-Color = npr
|Week8-19 = North Carolina (6–3)
|Week8-19-Color = npr
|Week8-20 = {{ubl|Cornell (7–1) т|Kentucky (8–2) т}}
|Week8-20-Color = d
|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|Dartmouth|Michigan State|SMU|Virginia|}}
|Week9-1 = Notre Dame (9–0) (172)
|Week9-1-Color = nc
|Week9-2 = Oklahoma (10–0) (18)
|Week9-2-Color = u
|Week9-3 = California (10–0)
|Week9-3-Color = d
|Week9-4 = Army (9–0) (12)
|Week9-4-Color =
|Week9-5 = Rice (9–1)
|Week9-5-Color = u
|Week9-6 = Ohio State (6–1–2)
|Week9-6-Color = d
|Week9-7 = Michigan (6–2–1)
|Week9-7-Color = d
|Week9-8 = Minnesota (7–2)
|Week9-8-Color =
|Week9-9 = LSU (8–2)
|Week9-9-Color = u
|Week9-10 = Pacific (10–0) (4)
|Week9-10-Color = u
|Week9-11 = Kentucky (9–2)
|Week9-11-Color = u
|Week9-12 = Cornell (8–1)
|Week9-12-Color = u
|Week9-13 = Villanova (8–1) (2)
|Week9-13-Color = u
|Week9-14 = Maryland (7–1)
|Week9-14-Color = u
|Week9-15 = Santa Clara (7–2–1)
|Week9-15-Color = d
|Week9-16 = North Carolina (7–3)
|Week9-16-Color = u
|Week9-17 = Tennessee (7–2–1)
|Week9-17-Color = u
|Week9-18 = Princeton (6–3)
|Week9-18-Color = npr
|Week9-19 = Michigan State (6–3)
|Week9-19-Color = npr
|Week9-20 = {{ubl|Baylor (8–2) т|Missouri (7–3) т}}
|Week9-20-Color = npr
|Week9Dropped = {{ubl|Stanford|Tulane|USC|}}
}}
Litkenhous Ratings
The final Litkenhous Ratings released in December 1949 ranked the following as the top 100 teams:{{cite news|title=Irish Eleven Officially Named Litkenhous Champ |author=E. E. Litkenhous|date=December 14, 1949|newspaper=Wilmington Morning News|page=32|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-irish-eleven-officially/124891231/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
1. Notre Dame (10–0)
2. California (10–1)
3. Oklahoma (11–0)
4. Minnesota (7–2)
5. Stanford (7–3–1)
6. Army (9–0)
7. Michigan (6–2–1)
8. Ohio State (7–1–2)
10. USC (5–3–1)
11. Wisconsin (5–3–1)
12. Rice (10–1)
13. Kentucky (9–3)
14. LSU (8–3)
15. Texas (6–4)
16. UCLA (6–3)
17. SMU (5–4–1)
18. Baylor (8–2)
19. Tulane (7–2–1)
20. Illinois (3–4–2)
21. Maryland (9–1)
22. Purdue (4–5)
23. Missouri (7–4)
24. Northwestern (4–5)
25. Pacific (11–0)
26. Oregon State (7–3)
27. Tennessee (7–2–1)
28. Villanova (8–1)
29. Iowa (4–5)
30. Santa Clara (8–2–1)
31. Duke (6–3)
32. San Francisco (7–3)
33. TCU (6–3–1)
34. Oregon (4–6)
35. Georgia Tech (7–3)
36. Alabama (6–3–1)
37. Pittsburgh (6–3)
38. Arkansas (5–5)
39. North Carolina (7–4)
40. Miami (FL) (6–3)
41. Kansas (5–5)
42. Xavier (10–1)
43. Miami (OH) (5–4)
44. Penn (4–4)
45. Georgia (4–6–1)
46. Vanderbilt (5–5)
47. Boston University (6–2)
48. Washington (3–7)
49. Iowa State (5–3–1)
50. William & Mary (6–4)
51. Virginia (7–2)
52. Dayton (6–3)
53. Cincinnati (7–4)
54. Cornell (8–1)
55. Indiana (1–8)
56. Ole Miss (4–5–1)
57. Navy (3–5–1)
58. Wyoming (9–1)
59. Boston College (4–4–1)
60. Penn State (5–4)
61. Wake Forest (4–6)
62. St. Bonaventure (6–3)
63. Princeton (6–3)
64. San Jose State (9–4)
65. Washington State (3–6)
66. Nebraska (4–5)
67. Nevada (5–5)
68. Oklahoma A&M (4–4–2)
69. Texas A&M (1–8–1)
70. Auburn (2–4–3)
71. Florida (4–5–1)
72. Texas Tech (7–5)
73. Hardin Simmons (6–4–1)
74. Brown (8–1)
75. South Carolina (4–6)
76. Rutgers (6–3)
77. Texas Western (8–2–1)
78. Dartmouth (6–2)
79. McMurry
80. Louisville (8–3)
81. Hardin (10–1)
82. North Texas (8–4)
83. Saint Mary's (3–6–1)
84. Detroit (5–4)
85. Houston (5–4–1)
86. Fordham (5–3)
87. Tulsa (5–5–1)
88. Marquette (4–5)
89. Memphis State (9–1)
90. Loyola [Los Angeles] (6–4)
91. Tyler (10–1)
92. John Carroll (6–3)
93. Kansas State (2–8)
94. West Texas (5–4)
95. Clemson (4–4–2)
96. Syracuse (4–5)
97. Mississippi Southern (0–8–1)
98. Bucknell (6–2)
99. Idaho (3–5)
100. Delaware (8–1)
{{Div col end}}
''Pittsburgh Courier''
The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1949 teams from historically black colleges and universities using the Dickinson System in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 10.{{cite news|title=Southern, West Va. Lose on Final Ballot|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Courier|author=Lucius Jones|date=December 10, 1949|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-southern-west-va/40078662/|via=Newspapers.com}}
- 1. Morgan State (8–0)
- 2. Southern (10–0–1), West Virginia State (8–0–1)
- 4. Tennessee A&M (9–1)
- 5. Florida A&M (7–2)
- 6. Maryland State (8–0), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Shaw Bears|title=Shaw}} (7–2), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=North Carolina A&T Aggies|title=North Carolina A&T}} (7–2)
- 9. Langston (8–1–1)
- 10. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Benedict Tigers|title=Benedict}} (6–1)
- 11. Grambling (7–3–2)
- 12. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Fisk Bulldogs|title=Fisk}} (6–2)
- 13. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Prairie View A&M Panthers|title=Prairie View A&M}} (7–3), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Hampton Pirates|title=Hampton}} (5–3)
- 15. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Alcorn A&M Braves|title=Alcorn A&M}} (7–1–2)
- 16. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Alabama A&M Bulldogs|title=Alabama A&M}} (5–2–2), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Bethune–Cookman Wildcats|title=Bethune–Cookman}} (5–3), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Kentucky State Thorobreds|title=Kentucky State}} (6–4), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Wilberforce State Green Wave|title=Wilberforce State}} (5–4)
- 20. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Fort Valley State Wildcats|title=Fort Valley State}} (5–3–1)
- 21. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Virginia State Trojans|title=Virginia State}} (4–2–1)
- 22. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Howard Bison|title=Howard}} (7–2)
- 23. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Clark Panthers|title=Clark}} (4–4)
- 24. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=North Carolina College Eagles|title=North Carolina College}} (4–4)
- 25. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Arkansas AM&N Golden Lions|title=Arkansas AM&N}} (5–4–2), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=St. Augustine's Falcons|title=St. Augustine's}} (6–2)
- 27. {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Morris Brown Wolverines|title=Morris Brown}} (6–3–1), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Bishop Tigers|title=Bishop}} (4–3–1), {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Morristown Red Knights|title=Morristown}} (6–3–1)
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NCAA football rankings navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1949 Ncaa Football Rankings}}