1951 college football rankings#Litkenhous Ratings

The final AP Poll was released on December 3, at the end of the 1951 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 = 0

|Week2 = 3

|Week3 = 4

|Week4 = 5

|Week5 = 6

|Week6 = 7

|Week7 = 8

|Week8 = 9

|Week9 = 10

|Week10 = 11

|Week11 = 12 (Final)

|Week1Date =

|Week2Date =Oct 1

|Week3Date =Oct 8

|Week4Date =Oct 15

|Week5Date =Oct 22

|Week6Date =Oct 29

|Week7Date =Nov 5

|Week8Date =Nov 12

|Week9Date =Nov 19

|Week10Date=Nov 26

|Week11Date=Dec 3

|Week1-1 = Tennessee (60)

|Week1-2 = Michigan State (18)

|Week1-3 = Ohio State (8)

|Week1-4 = Oklahoma (16)

|Week1-5 = California (3)

|Week1-6 = Kentucky (1)

|Week1-7 = Texas A&M

|Week1-8 = Washington (3)

|Week1-9 = Alabama (2)

|Week1-10 = Illinois (2)

|Week1-11 = Texas (1)

|Week1-12 = Nebraska

|Week1-13 = Baylor

|Week1-14 = Notre Dame (1)

|Week1-15 = Wisconsin

|Week1-16 = Maryland

|Week1-17 = Michigan

|Week1-18 = Princeton

|Week1-19 = Pennsylvania

|Week1-20 = Cornell

|Week2-1 = Michigan State (2–0) (37)

|Week2-1-Color = u

|Week2-2 = California (2–0) (22)

|Week2-2-Color = u

|Week2-3 = Tennessee (1–0) (27)

|Week2-3-Color = d

|Week2-4 = Oklahoma (1–0) (18)

|Week2-4-Color =

|Week2-5 = Notre Dame (1–0) (9)

|Week2-5-Color = u

|Week2-6 = Texas (2–0) (6)

|Week2-6-Color = u

|Week2-7 = Ohio State (1–0) (1)

|Week2-7-Color = d

|Week2-8 = Illinois (1–0)

|Week2-8-Color = u

|Week2-9 = Maryland (1–0) (4)

|Week2-9-Color = u

|Week2-10 = Texas A&M (1–0)

|Week2-10-Color = d

|Week2-11 = Georgia Tech (2–0) (4)

|Week2-11-Color = y

|Week2-12 = Washington (2–0) (2)

|Week2-12-Color = d

|Week2-13 = Georgia (2–0) (1)

|Week2-13-Color = y

|Week2-14 = Princeton (1–0)

|Week2-14-Color = u

|Week2-15 = Oregon State (1–1) (1)

|Week2-15-Color = y

|Week2-16 = Duke (2–0)

|Week2-16-Color = y

|Week2-17 = Kentucky (1–2)

|Week2-17-Color = d

|Week2-18 = Clemson (2–0) (1)

|Week2-18-Color = y

|Week2-19 = Baylor (1–0)

|Week2-19-Color = d

|Week2-20 = Kansas (2–0)

|Week2-20-Color = y

|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|Alabama|Nebraska|Wisconsin|Michigan|Pennsylvania|Cornell}}

|Week3-1 = Michigan State (3–0) (42)

|Week3-1-Color =

|Week3-2 = California (3–0) (36)

|Week3-2-Color =

|Week3-3 = Tennessee (2–0) (18)

|Week3-3-Color =

|Week3-4 = Texas A&M (2–0) (3)

|Week3-4-Color = u

|Week3-5 = Notre Dame (2–0) (4)

|Week3-5-Color =

|Week3-6 = Texas (3–0) (4)

|Week3-6-Color =

|Week3-7 = Illinois (2–0)

|Week3-7-Color = u

|Week3-8 = Georgia Tech (3–0) (3)

|Week3-8-Color = u

|Week3-9 = Ohio State (1–1)

|Week3-9-Color = d

|Week3-10 = Maryland (2–0) (1)

|Week3-10-Color = d

|Week3-11 = Oklahoma (1–1)

|Week3-11-Color = d

|Week3-12 = Baylor (2–0)

|Week3-12-Color = u

|Week3-13 = Princeton (2–0)

|Week3-13-Color = u

|Week3-14 = USC (3–0)

|Week3-14-Color = y

|Week3-15 = Holy Cross (2–0)

|Week3-15-Color = y

|Week3-16 = Clemson (3–0)

|Week3-16-Color = u

|Week3-17 = Cornell (2–0)

|Week3-17-Color = y

|Week3-18 = Oregon State (2–1)

|Week3-18-Color = d

|Week3-19 = Stanford (3–0)

|Week3-19-Color = y

|Week3-20 = Pacific (3–0) (1)

|Week3-20-Color = y

|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|Washington|Georgia|Duke|Kentucky|Kansas}}

|Week4-1 = California (4–0) (50)

|Week4-1-Color = u

|Week4-2 = Tennessee (3–0) (26)

|Week4-2-Color = u

|Week4-3 = Michigan State (4–0) (16)

|Week4-3-Color = d

|Week4-4 = Texas (4–0) (6)

|Week4-4-Color = u

|Week4-5 = Georgia Tech (4–0) (12)

|Week4-5-Color = u

|Week4-6 = Texas A&M (3–0) (8)

|Week4-6-Color = d

|Week4-7 = Maryland (3–0) (14)

|Week4-7-Color = u

|Week4-8 = Illinois (3–0) (3)

|Week4-8-Color = d

|Week4-9 = Princeton (3–0) (1)

|Week4-9-Color = u

|Week4-10 = Baylor (3–0)

|Week4-10-Color = u

|Week4-11 = USC (4–0)

|Week4-11-Color = u

|Week4-12 = Villanova (3–0)

|Week4-12-Color = y

|Week4-13 = Stanford (4–0)

|Week4-13-Color = u

|Week4-14 = Cornell (3–0)

|Week4-14-Color = u

|Week4-15 = SMU (3–1)

|Week4-15-Color = y

|Week4-16 = Pacific (4–0) (1)

|Week4-16-Color = u

|Week4-17 = Ohio State (1–1–1)

|Week4-17-Color = d

|Week4-18 = Northwestern (3–0)

|Week4-18-Color = y

|Week4-19 = Oklahoma (1–2)

|Week4-19-Color = d

|Week4-20 = Washington (3–1)

|Week4-20-Color = y

|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|Notre Dame|Holy Cross|Clemson|Oregon State}}

|Week5-1 = Tennessee (4–0) (70)

|Week5-1-Color = u

|Week5-2 = Michigan State (5–0) (28)

|Week5-2-Color = u

|Week5-3 = Georgia Tech (5–0) (16)

|Week5-3-Color = u

|Week5-4 = Illinois (4–0) (12)

|Week5-4-Color = u

|Week5-5 = Maryland (4–0) (13)

|Week5-5-Color = u

|Week5-6 = USC (5–0) (13)

|Week5-6-Color = u

|Week5-7 = Baylor (4–0) (2)

|Week5-7-Color = u

|Week5-8 = Princeton (4–0) (2)

|Week5-8-Color = u

|Week5-9 = California (4–1) (1)

|Week5-9-Color = d

|Week5-10 = Texas (4–1)

|Week5-10-Color = d

|Week5-11 = Stanford (5–0) (1)

|Week5-11-Color = u

|Week5-12 = Cornell (4–0) (1)

|Week5-12-Color = u

|Week5-13 = Northwestern (4–0)

|Week5-13-Color = u

|Week5-14 = Wisconsin (2–1–1)

|Week5-14-Color = y

|Week5-15 = Notre Dame (3–1)

|Week5-15-Color = y

|Week5-16 = Texas A&M (3–1) (1)

|Week5-16-Color = d

|Week5-17 = Kentucky (3–3) (1)

|Week5-17-Color = y

|Week5-18 = Washington State (3–2)

|Week5-18-Color = y

|Week5-19 = Arkansas (3–2)

|Week5-19-Color = y

|Week5-20 = San Francisco (5–0)

|Week5-20-Color = y

|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|Villanova|SMU|Pacific|Ohio State|Oklahoma|Washington}}

|Week6-1 = Tennessee (5–0) (59)

|Week6-1-Color =

|Week6-2 = Michigan State (6–0) (25)

|Week6-2-Color =

|Week6-3 = Illinois (5–0) (15)

|Week6-3-Color = u

|Week6-4 = Maryland (5–0) (22)

|Week6-4-Color = u

|Week6-5 = Georgia Tech (6–0) (9)

|Week6-5-Color = d

|Week6-6 = Princeton (5–0) (14)

|Week6-6-Color = u

|Week6-7 = USC (6–0) (7)

|Week6-7-Color = d

|Week6-8 = Baylor (4–0–1)

|Week6-8-Color = d

|Week6-9 = California (5–1)

|Week6-9-Color =

|Week6-10 = Wisconsin (3–1–1) (2)

|Week6-10-Color = u

|Week6-11 = Stanford (6–0)

|Week6-11-Color =

|Week6-12 = Texas (5–1)

|Week6-12-Color = d

|Week6-13 = Notre Dame (4–1)

|Week6-13-Color = u

|Week6-14 = Kentucky (4–3) (1)

|Week6-14-Color = u

|Week6-15 = Michigan (3–2)

|Week6-15-Color = y

|Week6-16 = Washington State (4–2)

|Week6-16-Color = u

|Week6-17 = Oklahoma (3–2) (1)

|Week6-17-Color = y

|Week6-18 = Texas A&M (3–1–1)

|Week6-18-Color = d

|Week6-19 = Miami (FL) (4–1)

|Week6-19-Color = y

|Week6-20 = San Francisco (6–0)

|Week6-20-Color =

|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|Cornell|Northwestern|Arkansas}}

|Week7-1 = Tennessee (6–0) (60)

|Week7-1-Color =

|Week7-2 = Illinois (6–0) (29)

|Week7-2-Color = u

|Week7-3 = Maryland (6–0) (21)

|Week7-3-Color = u

|Week7-4 = Princeton (6–0) (6)

|Week7-4-Color = u

|Week7-5 = Michigan State (6–0) (12)

|Week7-5-Color = d

|Week7-6 = USC (7–0) (6)

|Week7-6-Color = u

|Week7-7 = Stanford (7–0) (8)

|Week7-7-Color = u

|Week7-8 = Georgia Tech (6–0–1) (1)

|Week7-8-Color = d

|Week7-9 = Wisconsin (4–1–1) (3)

|Week7-9-Color = u

|Week7-10 = Texas (6–1)

|Week7-10-Color = u

|Week7-11 = Notre Dame (5–1) (1)

|Week7-11-Color = u

|Week7-12 = Kentucky (5–3) (3)

|Week7-12-Color = u

|Week7-13 = TCU (5–2)

|Week7-13-Color = y

|Week7-14 = Oklahoma (4–2) (1)

|Week7-14-Color = u

|Week7-15 = San Francisco (7–0)

|Week7-15-Color = u

|Week7-16 = Baylor (4–1–1)

|Week7-16-Color = d

|Week7-17 = California (5–2) т

|Week7-17-Color = td

|Week7-18 = Washington State (5–2) т

|Week7-18-Color = d

|Week7-19 = Pacific (6–1) (1)

|Week7-19-Color = y

|Week7-20 = {{ubl|Arkansas (4–3) т|Ohio State (3–2–1) т}}

|Week7-20-Color = y

|Week7Dropped = {{ubl|Michigan|Texas A&M|Miami (FL)}}

|Week8-1 = Michigan State (7–0) (55)

|Week8-1-Color = u

|Week8-2 = Tennessee (7–0) (42)

|Week8-2-Color = d

|Week8-3 = Illinois (7–0) (20)

|Week8-3-Color = d

|Week8-4 = Stanford (8–0) (12)

|Week8-4-Color = u

|Week8-5 = Maryland (7–0) (16)

|Week8-5-Color = d

|Week8-6 = Princeton (7–0) (6)

|Week8-6-Color = d

|Week8-7 = Georgia Tech (7–0–1)

|Week8-7-Color = u

|Week8-8 = Wisconsin (5–1–1) (2)

|Week8-8-Color = u

|Week8-9 = Kentucky (6–3) (4)

|Week8-9-Color = u

|Week8-10 = Baylor (5–1–1)

|Week8-10-Color = u

|Week8-11 = USC (7–1)

|Week8-11-Color = d

|Week8-12 = Oklahoma (5–2) (1)

|Week8-12-Color = u

|Week8-13 = TCU (5–2)

|Week8-13-Color =

|Week8-14 = San Francisco (7–0)

|Week8-14-Color = u

|Week8-15 = Texas (6–2)

|Week8-15-Color = d

|Week8-16 = California (5–3)

|Week8-16-Color = u

|Week8-17 = Washington State (5–3)

|Week8-17-Color =

|Week8-18 = UCLA (4–3)

|Week8-18-Color = y

|Week8-19 = Rice (4–3)

|Week8-19-Color = y

|Week8-20 = Cincinnati (8–0)

|Week8-20-Color = y

|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|Notre Dame|Pacific|Arkansas|Ohio State}}

|Week9-1 = Tennessee (8–0) (60)

|Week9-1-Color = u

|Week9-2 = Michigan State (8–0) (38)

|Week9-2-Color = d

|Week9-3 = Stanford (9–0) (18)

|Week9-3-Color = u

|Week9-4 = Maryland (8–0) (26)

|Week9-4-Color = u

|Week9-5 = Princeton (8–0) (8)

|Week9-5-Color = u

|Week9-6 = Illinois (7–0–1) (3)

|Week9-6-Color = d

|Week9-7 = Georgia Tech (8–0–1) (2)

|Week9-7-Color =

|Week9-8 = Wisconsin (6–1–1) (3)

|Week9-8-Color =

|Week9-9 = Kentucky (7–3) (4)

|Week9-9-Color =

|Week9-10 = Baylor (6–1–1)

|Week9-10-Color =

|Week9-11 = USC (7–2)

|Week9-11-Color =

|Week9-12 = Oklahoma (6–2)

|Week9-12-Color =

|Week9-13 = San Francisco (8–0)

|Week9-13-Color = u

|Week9-14 = Texas (7–2)

|Week9-14-Color = u

|Week9-15 = Virginia (7–1) (1)

|Week9-15-Color = y

|Week9-16 = Holy Cross (7–1) (1)

|Week9-16-Color = y

|Week9-17 = Washington State (6–3)

|Week9-17-Color =

|Week9-18 = Rice (5–3)

|Week9-18-Color = u

|Week9-19 = California (7–2)

|Week9-19-Color = d

|Week9-20 = Bucknell (9–0)

|Week9-20-Color = y

|Week9Dropped = {{ubl|TCU|UCLA|Cincinnati}}

|Week10-1 = Tennessee (9–0) (92)

|Week10-1-Color =

|Week10-2 = Michigan State (9–0) (34)

|Week10-2-Color =

|Week10-3 = Maryland (9–0) (18)

|Week10-3-Color = u

|Week10-4 = Illinois (8–0–1) (4)

|Week10-4-Color = u

|Week10-5 = Princeton (9–0) (4)

|Week10-5-Color =

|Week10-6 = Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (1)

|Week10-6-Color = u

|Week10-7 = Wisconsin (7–1–1) (5)

|Week10-7-Color = u

|Week10-8 = Stanford (9–1) (1)

|Week10-8-Color = d

|Week10-9 = Baylor (7–1–1)

|Week10-9-Color = u

|Week10-10 = Oklahoma (7–2) (2)

|Week10-10-Color= u

|Week10-11 = TCU (5–4)

|Week10-11-Color= y

|Week10-12 = California (8–2) (3)

|Week10-12-Color= u

|Week10-13 = Virginia (8–1) (1)

|Week10-13-Color= u

|Week10-14 = San Francisco (9–0)

|Week10-14-Color= d

|Week10-15 = UCLA (5–3–1)

|Week10-15-Color= y

|Week10-16 = Texas (7–2)

|Week10-16-Color= d

|Week10-17 = Kentucky (7–4)

|Week10-17-Color= d

|Week10-18 = Washington State (7–3)

|Week10-18-Color= d

|Week10-19 = Holy Cross (8–1)

|Week10-19-Color= d

|Week10-20 = USC (7–3)

|Week10-20-Color= d

|Week10Dropped = {{ubl|Rice|Bucknell}}

|Week11-1 = Tennessee (10–0) (139)

|Week11-1-Color = nc

|Week11-2 = Michigan State (9–0) (104)

|Week11-2-Color =

|Week11-3 = Maryland (9–0) (18)

|Week11-3-Color =

|Week11-4 = Illinois (8–0–1) (10)

|Week11-4-Color =

|Week11-5 = Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (8)

|Week11-5-Color = u

|Week11-6 = Princeton (9–0) (3)

|Week11-6-Color = d

|Week11-7 = Stanford (9–1) (1)

|Week11-7-Color = u

|Week11-8 = Wisconsin (7–1–1) (10)

|Week11-8-Color = d

|Week11-9 = Baylor (8–1–1)

|Week11-9-Color =

|Week11-10 = Oklahoma (8–2) (4)

|Week11-10-Color=

|Week11-11 = TCU (6–4)

|Week11-11-Color=

|Week11-12 = California (8–2) (2)

|Week11-12-Color=

|Week11-13 = Virginia (8–1) (5)

|Week11-13-Color=

|Week11-14 = San Francisco (9–0) (2)

|Week11-14-Color=

|Week11-15 = Kentucky (7–4)

|Week11-15-Color=

|Week11-16 = Boston University (6–4) (2)

|Week11-16-Color= y

|Week11-17 = UCLA (5–3–1)

|Week11-17-Color= d

|Week11-18 = Washington State (7–3)

|Week11-18-Color=

|Week11-19 = Holy Cross (8–2) (1) т

|Week11-19-Color= tw

|Week11-20 = Clemson (7–2) т

|Week11-20-Color= tnpr

|Week11Dropped = {{ubl|Texas|USC}}

}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=1951|title = 1951 Final Football Polls - College Poll Archive - Historical College Football, Basketball, and Softball Polls and Rankings}}

The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on {{nowrap|December 3.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G4xaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h08DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6108%2C1839521 |work=St. Petersburg Times |location=(Florida) |agency=United Press |title=Vols rated tops by UP |date=December 4, 1951 |page=17}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RO8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8PcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6439%2C3994957 |work=Bend Bulletin |location=(Oregon) |agency=United Press |title=Tennessee rated nation's No. 1 team for season |date=December 4, 1951 |page=2}}}}

Tennessee received 23 of the 35 first-place votes; Michigan State received seven, Maryland two, and one each to Illinois, Georgia Tech, {{nowrap|and Princeton.}}

• Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pacific Coast (later AAWU / Pac-8) conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.
• The Ivy League has prohibited its members from participating in postseason football since the league was officially formed in 1954.

The Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December 1951 provided numerical rankings to over 650 college football programs. The top 100 ranked teams were:{{cite news|title=Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings|newspaper=The Nashville Banner|date=December 14, 1951|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Litkenhous Rates Virginia As State's Top Grid Team; Cavaliers Get 30th Place|newspaper=The News and Advance|author=E.E. Litkenhous|date=December 13, 1951|page=8B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-litkenhous-rates-vi/166260824/|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

1. Tennessee (10–1)

2. Maryland (10–0)

3. Michigan State (9–0)

4. Oklahoma (8–2)

5. California (8–2)

6. Georgia Tech (11–0–1)

7. Baylor (8–2–1)

8. Illinois (9–0–1)

9. Wisconsin (7–1–1)

10. Kentucky (8–4)

11. Stanford (9–2)

12. UCLA (5–3–1)

13. Texas (7–3)

14. Notre Dame (7–2–1)

15. Ole Miss (6–3–1)

16. USC (7–3)

17. TCU (6–5)

18. SMU (3–6–1)

19. Princeton (9–0)

20. Texas A&M (5–3–2)

21. Holy Cross (8–2)

22. Washington State (7–3)

23. Washington (3–6–1)

24. Xavier (9–0–1)

25. Oregon State (4–6)

26. Arkansas (5–5)

27. San Francisco (9–0)

28. Rice (5–5)

29. Michigan (4–5)

30. Virginia (8–1)

31. Ohio State (4–3–2)

32. Tulsa (9–2)

33. LSU (7–3–1)

34. Cincinnati (10–1)

35. Florida (5–5)

36. Alabama (5–6)

37. Purdue (5–4)

38. Kansas (8–2)

39. Penn (5–4)

40. Texas Tech (7–4)

41. Miami (FL) (8–3)

42. Vanderbilt (6–5)

43. Northwestern (5–4)

44. Cornell (6–3)

45. Clemson (7–3)

46. Pacific (6–5)

47. Colorado (7–3)

48. Georgia (5–5)

49. Navy (2–6–1)

50. Mississippi State (4–5)

51. Duke (5–4–1)

52. Tulane (4–6)

53. Marquette (4–6–1)

54. Boston University (6–4)

55. Indiana (3–6_

56. Villanova (5–3)

57. Wake Forest

58. Pittsburgh (3–7)

59. Columbia (5–3)

60. Penn State (5–4)

61. Santa Clara (3–5–1)

62. Wyoming (7–2–1)

63. Houston (6–5)

64. Bucknell (9–0)

65. Syracuse (5–4)

66. Washington & Lee (6–4)

67. North Carolina (2–8)

68. South Carolina (5–4)

69. Iowa (2–5–2)

70. North Texas (8–4)

71. Dayton (7–3)

72. Fordham (5–4)

73. Auburn (5–5)

74. Iowa State (4–4–1)

75. Minnesota (2–6–1)

76. Arizona State (6–3–1)

77. Denver (6–4)

78. Hardin–Simmons (6–6)

79. Dartmouth (4–5)

80. Drake (7–2)

81. Chattanooga (6–5)

82. Memphis State (5–3)

83. Miami (OH) (7–3)

84. Oklahoma A&M (3–7)

85. Boston College (3–6)

86. Missouri (3–7)

87. Arkansas State (10–2)

88. Del Mar (9–1)

89. Army (2–7)

90. Rutgers (4–4)

91. William & Mary (5–4–1)

92. VMI (7–3)

93. Nebraska (2–8)

94. Colgate (4–5)

95. Yale (2–5–2)

96. Loyola (Los Angeles) (3–6)

97. {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Tyler Apaches|title=Tyler}} (10–1)

98. Temple (6–4)

99. Oregon (2–8)

100. Toledo (6–4)

101. Louisville (5–4)

102. Colorado A&M (5–4–1)

103. George Washington (2–6–1)

104. West Virginia (5–5)

105. Mississippi Southern (6–5)

106. Kansas State (0–9)

107. Utah (7–4)

108. {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Compton Tartars|title=Compton}} (10–1)

109. {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Pasadena Bulldogs|title=Pasadena}} (12–0)

110. Detroit (4–7)

111. NC State (3–7)

112. Idaho (2–7)

113. East Texas (9–2)

114. Furman (3–6–1)

115. {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Long Beach Vikings|title=Long Beach}} (8–1–1)

116. South Dakota State (8–1–1)

117. Kent State (4–3–2)

118. Ohio (5–4–1)

119. Utah State (3–5–1)

120. St. Bonaventure (5–4)

121. San Jose State (2–7–1)

122. Harvard (3–5–1)

123. Valparaiso (9–0)

124. South Dakota (7–1)

125. Abilene Christian (6–4)

126. Brown (2–7)

132. Arizona (6–5)

133. Murray State (8–1)

137. Lehigh (7–2)

138. San Diego State (10–0–1)

139. Middle Tennessee (7–2–2)

140. Citadel (4–6)

146. Marshall (5–4–1)

204. Western Kentucky (4–5)

{{Div col end}}

The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1951 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 8:{{cite news|title=Purple Wave Edges FAMU in Torrid Football Campaign|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Courier|author=Ric Roberts|date=December 8, 1951|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-courier-rates-mor/40006165/|via=Newspapers.com}}

• 1. Morris Brown (10–1)
• 2. Florida A&M (7–1–1)
• 3. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
• 4. Prairie View A&M (9–1)
• 5. Central State (7–2)
• 6. North Carolina A&T (7–1–1)
• 7. North Carolina College (6–2–1)
• 8. West Virginia State (6–2–1)
• 9. Xavier (LA) (8–1)
• 10. Lincoln (MO) (7–2)
• 11. Maryland State (7–1)
• 12. Bethune-Cookman (6–2)

The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 14:{{cite news|title=The Pigskin Huddle|newspaper=The Call|date=December 14, 1951|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-associated-negro-press-1951-ran/141454348/|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Div col|colwidth=16em}}

• 1. North Carolina A&T (7–1–1)
• 2. Morris Brown (10–1)
• 3. Florida A&M (7–1–1)
• 4. Prairie View A&M (9–1)
• 5. Central State (7–2)
• 6. North Carolina College (6–2–1)
• 7. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
• 8. West Virginia State (6–2–1)
• 9. Lincoln (MO) (7–2)
• 10. Xavier (LA) (8–1)
• 11. Alcorn (8–3)
• 12. Bethune-Cookman (6–2)
• 13. Maryland State (7–1)
• 14. Texas Southern (7–2–1)
• 15. Benedict (7–3)
• 16. Virginia State (5–3)
• 17. Texas College (5–3–2)
• 18. Hampton (5–4)
• 19. Lincoln (PA) (5–4)
• 20. Arkansas A&M (5–4–1)
• 21. Southern (5–4–2)
• 22. Fisk (6–2)
• 23. South Carolina State (5–2)
• 24. Tuskegee (6–3)
• 25. Grambling (4–5–1)
• 26. Jackson State
• 27. Virginia Union (5–5)
• 28. Langston (4–5)
• 29. Mississippi Industrial
• 30. Howard (5–4)
• 31. Allen (3–7)

{{Div col end}}

• 1951 College Football All-America Team

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{{DEFAULTSORT:1951 Ncaa Football Rankings}}

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Category:College football rankings