1952 college football rankings

The final AP Poll was released on December 1, at the end of the 1952 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 = 1

|Week3 = 2

|Week4 = 3

|Week5 = 4

|Week6 = 5

|Week7 = 6

|Week8 = 7

|Week9 = 8

|Week10 = 9

|Week11 = 10 (Final)

|Week1Date = Aug{{cite web |title=1952 Preseason AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=141

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week2Date = Sep 29{{cite web |title=September 29, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=142

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week3Date = Oct 6{{cite web |title=October 6, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=143

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week4Date = Oct 13{{cite web |title=October 13, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=144

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week5Date = Oct 20{{cite web |title=October 20, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=145

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week6Date = Oct 27{{cite web |title=October 27, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=146

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week7Date = Nov 3{{cite web |title=November 3, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=147

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week8Date = Nov 10{{cite web |title=November 10, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=148

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week9Date = Nov 17{{cite web |title=November 17, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=149

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week10Date = Nov 24{{cite web |title=November 24, 1952 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=150

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week11Date = Dec 1{{cite web |title=1952 Final AP Football Poll|url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=151

|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}

|Week1-1 = Michigan State (77)

|Week1-2 = Maryland (79)

|Week1-3 = Georgia Tech (15)

|Week1-4 = Oklahoma (16)

|Week1-5 = Illinois (7)

|Week1-6 = Tennessee (5)

|Week1-7 = Wisconsin (4)

|Week1-8 = California (2)

|Week1-9 = TCU (1)

|Week1-10 = Notre Dame

|Week1-11 = Texas

|Week1-12 = Penn

|Week1-13 = Stanford

|Week1-14 = Princeton

|Week1-15 = Washington State

|Week1-16 = USC (1)

|Week1-17 = Kansas (1)

|Week1-18 = UCLA

|Week1-19 = Duke

|Week1-20 = Ohio State

|Week2-1 = Michigan State (1–0) (52)

|Week2-1-Color =

|Week2-2 = Illinois (1–0) (4)

|Week2-2-Color = u

|Week2-3 = Maryland (2–0) (7)

|Week2-3-Color = d

|Week2-4 = California (2–0)

|Week2-4-Color = u

|Week2-5 = Texas (2–0) (5)

|Week2-5-Color = u

|Week2-6 = Georgia Tech (2–0)

|Week2-6-Color = d

|Week2-7 = USC (2–0) (5)

|Week2-7-Color = u

|Week2-8 = Wisconsin (1–0) (1)

|Week2-8-Color = d

|Week2-9 = Kansas (2–0)

|Week2-9-Color = u

|Week2-10 = Duke (2–0)

|Week2-10-Color = u

|Week2-11 = Tennessee (1–0) (2)

|Week2-11-Color = d

|Week2-12 = Villanova (2–0) (2)

|Week2-12-Color = npr

|Week2-13 = Princeton (1–0) (1)

|Week2-13-Color = u

|Week2-14 = UCLA (2–0)

|Week2-14-Color = u

|Week2-15 = Ohio State (1–0)

|Week2-15-Color = u

|Week2-16 = Virginia (1–0) (2)

|Week2-16-Color = npr

|Week2-17 = Rice (1–0)

|Week2-17-Color = npr

|Week2-18 = Ole Miss (1–0–1)

|Week2-18-Color = npr

|Week2-19 = Notre Dame (0–0–1)

|Week2-19-Color = d

|Week2-20 = Oklahoma (0–0–1)

|Week2-20-Color = d

|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|Penn|Stanford|TCU|Washington State|}}

|Week3-1 = Wisconsin (2–0) (27)

|Week3-1-Color = u

|Week3-2 = Michigan State (2–0) (24)

|Week3-2-Color = d

|Week3-3 = California (3–0) (23)

|Week3-3-Color = u

|Week3-4 = Maryland (3–0) (22)

|Week3-4-Color = d

|Week3-5 = Georgia Tech (3–0) (12)

|Week3-5-Color = u

|Week3-6 = Duke (3–0) (12)

|Week3-6-Color = u

|Week3-7 = USC (3–0) (6)

|Week3-7-Color =

|Week3-8 = Notre Dame (1–0–1) (3)

|Week3-8-Color = u

|Week3-9 = Kansas (3–0) (1)

|Week3-9-Color =

|Week3-10 = Princeton (2–0) (3)

|Week3-10-Color = u

|Week3-11 = UCLA (3–0)

|Week3-11-Color = u

|Week3-12 = Oklahoma (1–0–1) (1)

|Week3-12-Color = u

|Week3-13 = Illinois (1–1)

|Week3-13-Color = d

|Week3-14 = Villanova (3–0)

|Week3-14-Color = d

|Week3-15 = Virginia (2–0) (3)

|Week3-15-Color = u

|Week3-16 = Purdue (1–0–1)

|Week3-16-Color = npr

|Week3-17 = Navy (2–0)

|Week3-17-Color = npr

|Week3-18 = Alabama (3–0)

|Week3-18-Color = npr

|Week3-19 = Georgia (3–0)

|Week3-19-Color = npr

|Week3-20 = Penn State (2–0–1) (1)

|Week3-20-Color = npr

|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|Ole Miss|Ohio State|Rice|Tennessee|Texas|}}

|Week4-1 = Michigan State (3–0) (39)

|Week4-1-Color = u

|Week4-2 = Maryland (4–0) (31)

|Week4-2-Color = u

|Week4-3 = California (4–0) (21)

|Week4-3-Color =

|Week4-4 = Georgia Tech (4–0) (4)

|Week4-4-Color = u

|Week4-5 = Duke (4–0) (9)

|Week4-5-Color = u

|Week4-6 = Oklahoma (2–0–1) (5)

|Week4-6-Color = u

|Week4-7 = USC (4–0) (2)

|Week4-7-Color =

|Week4-8 = Kansas (4–0) (1)

|Week4-8-Color = u

|Week4-9 = Purdue (2–0–1)

|Week4-9-Color = u

|Week4-10 = UCLA (4–0)

|Week4-10-Color = u

|Week4-11 = Virginia (3–0) (7)

|Week4-11-Color = u

|Week4-12 = Wisconsin (2–1)

|Week4-12-Color = d

|Week4-13 = Stanford (4–0)

|Week4-13-Color = npr

|Week4-14 = Penn (2–0–1)

|Week4-14-Color = npr

|Week4-15 = Villanova (4–0)

|Week4-15-Color = d

|Week4-16 = Ohio State (2–1)

|Week4-16-Color = npr

|Week4-17 = Illinois (2–1)

|Week4-17-Color = d

|Week4-18 = Alabama (4–0)

|Week4-18-Color =

|Week4-19 = Penn State (3–0–1)

|Week4-19-Color = u

|Week4-20 = Navy (3–0)

|Week4-20-Color = d

|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|Georgia|Notre Dame|Princeton|}}

|Week5-1 = Michigan State (4–0) (49)

|Week5-1-Color =

|Week5-2 = Maryland (5–0) (36)

|Week5-2-Color =

|Week5-3 = Oklahoma (3–0–1) (23)

|Week5-3-Color = u

|Week5-4 = California (5–0) (9)

|Week5-4-Color = d

|Week5-5 = Georgia Tech (5–0) (5)

|Week5-5-Color = d

|Week5-6 = Duke (5–0) (5)

|Week5-6-Color = d

|Week5-7 = USC (5–0) (1)

|Week5-7-Color =

|Week5-8 = UCLA (5–0) (3)

|Week5-8-Color = u

|Week5-9 = Virginia (4–0) (5)

|Week5-9-Color = u

|Week5-10 = Wisconsin (3–1)

|Week5-10-Color = u

|Week5-11 = Penn (3–0–1)

|Week5-11-Color = u

|Week5-12 = Villanova (5–0)

|Week5-12-Color = u

|Week5-13 = Tennessee (3–1)

|Week5-13-Color = npr

|Week5-14 = Ohio State (3–1)

|Week5-14-Color = u

|Week5-15 = Kansas (4–1)

|Week5-15-Color = d

|Week5-16 = Notre Dame (2–1–1)

|Week5-16-Color = npr

|Week5-17 = Penn State (4–0–1) (2)

|Week5-17-Color = u

|Week5-18 = Pittsburgh (3–1)

|Week5-18-Color = npr

|Week5-19 = Michigan (2–2)

|Week5-19-Color = npr

|Week5-20 = Texas (3–2)

|Week5-20-Color = npr

|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|Alabama|Illinois|Navy|Purdue|Stanford|}}

|Week6-1 = Michigan State (5–0) (38)

|Week6-1-Color =

|Week6-2 = Maryland (6–0) (32)

|Week6-2-Color =

|Week6-3 = Oklahoma (4–0–1) (20)

|Week6-3-Color =

|Week6-4 = Georgia Tech (6–0) (7)

|Week6-4-Color = u

|Week6-5 = USC (6–0) (7)

|Week6-5-Color = u

|Week6-6 = Duke (6–0) (10)

|Week6-6-Color =

|Week6-7 = UCLA (6–0) (6)

|Week6-7-Color = u

|Week6-8 = Purdue (3–1–1) (1)

|Week6-8-Color = npr

|Week6-9 = Kansas (5–1)

|Week6-9-Color = u

|Week6-10 = Villanova (6–0)

|Week6-10-Color = u

|Week6-11 = California (5–1)

|Week6-11-Color = u

|Week6-12 = Tennessee (4–1)

|Week6-12-Color = u

|Week6-13 = Notre Dame (3–1–1)

|Week6-13-Color = u

|Week6-14 = Texas (4–2)

|Week6-14-Color = u

|Week6-15 = Michigan (3–2)

|Week6-15-Color = u

|Week6-16 = Virginia (4–1)

|Week6-16-Color = d

|Week6-17 = Penn (3–0–2)

|Week6-17-Color = d

|Week6-18 = Wisconsin (3–2)

|Week6-18-Color = d

|Week6-19 = Alabama (5–1)

|Week6-19-Color = npr

|Week6-20 = Florida (3–2)

|Week6-20-Color = npr

|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|Ohio State|Penn State|Pittsburgh|}}

|Week7-1 = Michigan State (6–0) (33)

|Week7-1-Color =

|Week7-2 = Maryland (7–0) (35)

|Week7-2-Color =

|Week7-3 = Georgia Tech (7–0) (27)

|Week7-3-Color = u

|Week7-4 = Oklahoma (5–0–1) (27)

|Week7-4-Color = d

|Week7-5 = UCLA (7–0) (11)

|Week7-5-Color = u

|Week7-6 = USC (6–0) (3)

|Week7-6-Color = d

|Week7-7 = Kansas (6–1)

|Week7-7-Color = u

|Week7-8 = Tennessee (5–1)

|Week7-8-Color = u

|Week7-9 = Purdue (3–2–1)

|Week7-9-Color = d

|Week7-10 = Notre Dame (4–1–1)

|Week7-10-Color = u

|Week7-11 = Villanova (6–0–1)

|Week7-11-Color = d

|Week7-12 = Duke (6–1)

|Week7-12-Color = d

|Week7-13 = Texas (5–2)

|Week7-13-Color = u

|Week7-14 = Ole Miss (5–0–2)

|Week7-14-Color = npr

|Week7-15 = Penn State (5–1–1)

|Week7-15-Color = npr

|Week7-16 = Alabama (6–1)

|Week7-16-Color = u

|Week7-17 = Florida (4–2)

|Week7-17-Color = u

|Week7-18 = Wisconsin (4–2)

|Week7-18-Color =

|Week7-19 = Princeton (5–1)

|Week7-19-Color = npr

|Week7-20 = Holy Cross (5–1)

|Week7-20-Color = npr

|Week7Dropped = {{ubl|California|Michigan|Penn|Virginia|}}

|Week8-1 = Michigan State (7–0) (57)

|Week8-1-Color =

|Week8-2 = Georgia Tech (8–0) (32)

|Week8-2-Color = u

|Week8-3 = Maryland (7–0) (24)

|Week8-3-Color = d

|Week8-4 = UCLA (8–0) (15)

|Week8-4-Color = u

|Week8-5 = USC (7–0) (7)

|Week8-5-Color = u

|Week8-6 = Notre Dame (5–1–1) (3)

|Week8-6-Color = u

|Week8-7 = Tennessee (6–1)

|Week8-7-Color = u

|Week8-8 = Oklahoma (5–1–1)

|Week8-8-Color = d

|Week8-9 = Texas (6–2)

|Week8-9-Color = u

|Week8-10 = Purdue (3–2–2)

|Week8-10-Color = d

|Week8-11 = Ole Miss (6–0–2)

|Week8-11-Color = u

|Week8-12 = Alabama (7–1)

|Week8-12-Color = u

|Week8-13 = Syracuse (5–2)

|Week8-13-Color = npr

|Week8-14 = Pittsburgh (5–2) (1)

|Week8-14-Color = npr

|Week8-15 = Wisconsin (5–2)

|Week8-15-Color = u

|Week8-16 = Princeton (6–1)

|Week8-16-Color = u

|Week8-17 = Washington (6–2)

|Week8-17-Color = npr

|Week8-18 = Florida (5–2)

|Week8-18-Color = d

|Week8-19 = Kansas (6–2)

|Week8-19-Color = d

|Week8-20 = Michigan (4–3)

|Week8-20-Color = npr

|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|Duke|Holy Cross|Penn State|Villanova|}}

|Week9-1 = Michigan State (8–0) (80)

|Week9-1-Color =

|Week9-2 = Georgia Tech (9–0) (14)

|Week9-2-Color =

|Week9-3 = UCLA (8–0) (9)

|Week9-3-Color = u

|Week9-4 = USC (8–0) (11)

|Week9-4-Color = u

|Week9-5 = Oklahoma (6–1–1) (1)

|Week9-5-Color = u

|Week9-6 = Ole Miss (7–0–2) (4)

|Week9-6-Color = u

|Week9-7 = Tennessee (7–1) (4)

|Week9-7-Color =

|Week9-8 = Maryland (7–1)

|Week9-8-Color = d

|Week9-9 = Notre Dame (5–2–1)

|Week9-9-Color = d

|Week9-10 = Texas (7–2)

|Week9-10-Color = d

|Week9-11 = Tulsa (6–1–1) (3)

|Week9-11-Color = npr

|Week9-12 = Michigan (5–3)

|Week9-12-Color = u

|Week9-13 = Wisconsin (6–2)

|Week9-13-Color = u

|Week9-14 = Alabama (7–2)

|Week9-14-Color = d

|Week9-15 = Syracuse (6–2)

|Week9-15-Color = d

|Week9-16 = Pittsburgh (6–2) (1)

|Week9-16-Color = d

|Week9-17 = Princeton (7–1)

|Week9-17-Color = d

|Week9-18 = Kansas (7–2)

|Week9-18-Color = u

|Week9-19 = Houston (6–2)

|Week9-19-Color = npr

|Week9-20 = Duke (7–2)

|Week9-20-Color = npr

|Week9Dropped = {{ubl|Florida|Purdue|Washington|}}

|Week10-1 = Michigan State (9–0) (88)

|Week10-1-Color =

|Week10-2 = USC (9–0) (24)

|Week10-2-Color = u

|Week10-3 = Georgia Tech (10–0) (20)

|Week10-3-Color = d

|Week10-4 = Oklahoma (7–1–1) (3)

|Week10-4-Color = u

|Week10-5 = UCLA (8–1)

|Week10-5-Color = d

|Week10-6 = Ole Miss (7–0–2) (5)

|Week10-6-Color =

|Week10-7 = Notre Dame (6–2–1)

|Week10-7-Color = u

|Week10-8 = Alabama (8–2) (1)

|Week10-8-Color = u

|Week10-9 = Tennessee (7–1–1)

|Week10-9-Color = d

|Week10-10 = Texas (7–2)

|Week10-10-Color=

|Week10-11 = Tulsa (7–1–1) (8)

|Week10-11-Color=

|Week10-12 = Wisconsin (6–2–1)

|Week10-12-Color= u

|Week10-13 = Duke (8–2)

|Week10-13-Color= u

|Week10-14 = Purdue (4–3–2)

|Week10-14-Color= npr

|Week10-15 = Maryland (7–2)

|Week10-15-Color= d

|Week10-16 = Syracuse (7–2)

|Week10-16-Color= d

|Week10-17 = Florida (6–3)

|Week10-17-Color= npr

|Week10-18 = Princeton (8–1)

|Week10-18-Color= d

|Week10-19 = Kentucky (5–3–2)

|Week10-19-Color= npr

|Week10-20 = Virginia (7–2)

|Week10-20-Color= npr

|Week10Dropped = {{ubl|Houston|Kansas|Michigan|Pittsburgh|}}

|Week11-1 = Michigan State (9–0) (207)

|Week11-1-Color = nc

|Week11-2 = Georgia Tech (11–0) (36)

|Week11-2-Color = u

|Week11-3 = Notre Dame (7–2–1) (4)

|Week11-3-Color = u

|Week11-4 = Oklahoma (8–1–1) (14)

|Week11-4-Color =

|Week11-5 = USC (9–1) (2)

|Week11-5-Color = d

|Week11-6 = UCLA (8–1) (1)

|Week11-6-Color = d

|Week11-7 = Ole Miss (8–0–2) (3)

|Week11-7-Color = d

|Week11-8 = Tennessee (8–1–1)

|Week11-8-Color = u

|Week11-9 = Alabama (9–2)

|Week11-9-Color = d

|Week11-10 = Texas (8–2)

|Week11-10-Color=

|Week11-11 = Wisconsin (6–2–1)

|Week11-11-Color= u

|Week11-12 = Tulsa (8–1–1) (3)

|Week11-12-Color= d

|Week11-13 = Maryland (7–2)

|Week11-13-Color= u

|Week11-14 = Syracuse (7–2)

|Week11-14-Color= u

|Week11-15 = Florida (6–3)

|Week11-15-Color= u

|Week11-16 = Duke (8–2)

|Week11-16-Color= d

|Week11-17 = Ohio State (6–3)

|Week11-17-Color= npr

|Week11-18 = Purdue (4–3–2)

|Week11-18-Color= d

|Week11-19 = Princeton (8–1)

|Week11-19-Color= d

|Week11-20 = Kentucky (5–3–2)

|Week11-20-Color= d

|Week11Dropped = {{ubl|Virginia|}}

}}

The final UP Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on {{nowrap|December 2.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6SRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5125%2C449783 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=United Press |title=Michigan State tops press poll; jackets second |date=December 2, 1952 |page=3B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-JBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1918%2C4453330 |work=Bend Bulletin |location=(Oregon)

|agency=United Press |last=Miller |first=Norman |title=Board of coaches selects Michigan State's great Spartans for mythical title for '52 |date=December 2, 1952 |page=2}}}}

Michigan State received 32 of the 35 first-place votes; one each went to Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.

• 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 1952 provided numerical rankings to over 600 college football programs. The top 150 ranked teams were:{{cite news|title=Michigan State Tops Litratings; Tech Is Runnerup|newspaper=The Nashville Banner|date=October 19, 1952|page=38|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-michigan-state-tops-lit/124782704/|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

1. Michigan State (9–0) - 115.1

2. Georgia Tech (12–0) - 111.9

3. USC (10–1) - 111.3

4. Oklahoma (8–1–1) - 111.1

5. UCLA (8–1) - 111.0

6. Tennessee (8–2–1) - 109.6

7. Notre Dame (7–2–1) - 105.0

8. Florida (8–3) - 103.4

9. Ole Miss (8–1–2) - 103.1

10. Alabama (10–2) - 102.9

11. California (7–3) - 102.2

12. Maryland (7–2) - 102.2

13. Texas (9–2) - 101.8

14. Wisconsin (6–3–1) - 101.2

15. Ohio State (6–3) - 100.9

16. Duke (8–2) - 100.5

17. Michigan (5–4) - 99.7

18. Purdue (4–3–2) - 99.7

19. Kansas (7–3) - 99.2

20. Mississippi State (5–4) - 96.9

21. Houston (8–2) - 96.1

22. Tulsa (8–2–1) 95.9

23. Washington (7–3) - 95.4

24. Illinois (4–5) - 94.9

25. Colorado (6–2–2) - 94.5

26. Navy (6–2–1) - 93.9

27. Cincinnati (8–1–1) - 93.5

28. TCU (4–4–2) - 93.4

29. Arizona State (6–3) - 92.7

30. Kentucky (5–4–2) - 92.3

31. Georgia (7–4) - 92.0

32. Pittsburgh (6–3) - 92.0

33. SMU (4–5–1) - 92.0

34. Virginia (8–2) - 91.8

35. LSU (3–7) - 91.7

36. Rice (5–5) - 91.6

37. Tulane (5–5) - 91.6

38. Villanova (7–1–1) - 91.3

39. Miami (OH) (7–3) - 90.8

40. Missouri (5–5) - 90.8

41. Minnesota (4–3–2) - 90.2

42. Princeton (8–1) - 90.0

43. East Texas (11–0) - 89.8

44. Texas A&M (3–6–1) - 89.7

45. Nebraska (5–4–1) - 89.2

46. Baylor (4–4–2) - 88.6

47. Stanford (5–5) - 88.0

48. Chattanooga (7–3) - 87.8

49. Pacific (7–3–1) - 87.7

50. Vanderbilt (3–5–2) - 87.5

51. Penn State (7–2–1)

52. Mississippi Southern (10–2)

53. Army (4–4–1)

54. Auburn (2–8)

55. Penn (4–3–2)

56. Arizona (6–4)

57. Oklahoma A&M (3–7)

58. Northwestern (2-6-1)

59. Holy Cross (8–2)

60. Washington State (4–6)

61. Indiana (2–7)

62. Marquette (3–5–1)

63. Syracuse (7–3)

64. Iowa (2–7)

65. Arkansas (2–8)

66. West Virginia (7–2)

67. North Carolina (2–6)

68. San Jose State (6–3)

69. Wake Forest (5–4–1)

70. Yale (7–2)

71. North Texas (7–3)

72. Utah (6–3–1)

73. Fordham (2–5–1)

74. Miami (FL) (4–7)

75. Texas Tech (3–7–1)

76. South Carolina (5–5)

77. William & Mary (4–5)

78. Oregon State (2–7)

79. Clemson (2–6–1)

80. Iowa State (3–6)

81. Hardin–Simmons (5–3–2)

82. Detroit (3–6)

83. Arkansas State (8–3)

84. Santa Clara (2–6–1)

85. Dayton

86. Idaho (4–4–1)

87. Xavier (4–6)

88. Oregon (2–7–1)

89. Bowling Green

90. Colorado A&M (6–4)

91. Compton

92. New Mexico (7–2)

93. Kansas State (1–9)

94. Wyoming (5–4)

95. Lenoir Rhyne

96. Tyler JC

97. Columbia (2–6–1)

98. Abilene Christian (6–3–1)

99. Pasadena JC

100. Boston University (5–4–1)

101. John Carroll

102. West Chester (7–0)

103. Cornell (2–7)

104. Colgate (6–3)

105. Dartmouth (2–7)

106. Ohio (6–2–1)

107. Boston College (4–4–1)

108. Boise JC (8-1)

109. Western Kentucky (9–1)

110. George Washington (6–2–1)

111. BYU (4–6)

112. Texas Western (5–5–1)

113. McNeese (7–3)

114. Wichita (3–6–1)

115. Central Michigan (7–2)

116. Harvard (5–4)

117. Del Mar

118. Tennessee Tech (9–2)

119. Trinity (TX)

120. Heidelberg

121. Furman (6–3–1)

122. Sam Houston (6–4)

123. Louisiana Tech (6–1–2)

124. Southeastern Louisiana

125. Gustavus Adolphus

126. Idaho State (8–0)

127. Bucknell (6–3)

128. Rutgers (4–4–1)

129. Virginia Tech (5–6)

130. Southwestern Louisiana (5–2–2)

131. Southwest Texas (7–2)

132. American International

133. Temple (2–7–1)

134. El Camino

135. Shippensburg

136. Toledo (4–5)

137. Colorado College

138. Western Reserve (5–4)

139. Rhode Island (7–1)

140. East Los Angeles

141. El Dorado

142. Baldwin Wallace

143. Bradley

144. Connecticut (5–3)

145. VMI (3–6–1)

146. The Citadel (3–5–1)

147. Tampa (8–3–1)

148. Utah State (3–7–1)

149. Louisville (3–5)

150. Western Michigan (4–4)

{{Div col end}}

The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1952 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was largely segregated. The rankings were published on December 20:{{cite news|title=Florida A. & M. Declared 1952 Nat'l Grid Champs|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Courier|date=December 20, 1952|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40006500/florida_a_m_declared_1952_natl/|via=Newspapers.com}}

• 1. Florida A&M (8–2)
• 2. Virginia State (8–1)
• 3. Lincoln (MO) (7–0–1)
• 4. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
• 5. Texas Southern (9–0–1)
• 6. Maryland State (9–1)
• 7. Southern (9–2)
• 8. Bethune-Cookman (7–1)
• 9. Prairie View A&M (7–2)

The Associated Negro Press also published rankings on December 20:{{cite web|title=Press Syndicate Rates Fla. Top Eleven; Va. State 4th|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xeklAAAAIBAJ&pg=1179%2C3135479|work=Baltimore Afro-American (p. 17)|date=December 20, 1952}}

{{Div col|colwidth=16em}}

• 1. Florida A&M (8–2)
• 2. Lincoln (MO) (7–0–1)
• 3. Texas Southern (9–0–1)
• 4. Virginia State (8–1)
• 5. Prairie View A&M (7–2)
• 6. Tennessee A&I (8–2)
• 7. Morris Brown (6–3)
• 8. Bethune-Cookman (7–1)
• 9. Maryland State (9–1)
• 10. Southern (9–2)
• 11. North Carolina A&T (6–4)
• 12. Grambling (7–3–1)
• 13. Texas College (4–3–1)
• 14. Central State (4–4)
• 15. South Carolina State (6–2)
• 16. Morris College (6–1)
• 17. Howard (6–2–1)
• 18. Allen (5–5)
• 19. North Carolina College (4–4)
• 20. Morgan State (4–4–1)
• 21. Hampton (4–5)
• 22. Alcorn (5–5)
• 23. Kentucky State (4–6–1)
• 24. Fisk (6–2)
• 25. Albany State (7–2)
• 26. Wiley (4–5)
• 27. Xavier (LA) (4–5)
• 28. Johnson C. Smith (5–2)
• 29. St. Augustine's (5–2)
• 30. Lane (6–2)
• 31. Fort Valley State (5–4–1)
• 32. West Virginia State (6–4)
• 33. Winston-Salem State (4–4)
• 34. Lincoln (PA) (5–3–1)
• 35. Elizabeth City (6–2)
• 36. Fayetteville State

{{Div col end}}

• 1952 College Football All-America Team

{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:1952 Ncaa Football Rankings}}

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Category:College football rankings