1963 NCAA College Division football season

{{Main|1963 small college football rankings}}

In 1963, both United Press International (UPI) and the Associated Press (AP) conducted "small college" polls, and selected different number one teams. UPI's panel of coaches selected Delaware, who had a record of 8–0 and had outscored their opponents 290–76 while winning all their games by at least 9 points.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/d/delaware/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |title=Delaware Game by Game Results |access-date=2019-02-26 |archive-date=2015-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905204019/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/d/delaware/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |url-status=dead }} The AP's panel of sportswriters selected Northern Illinois, who finished the regular season at 9–0 including three shutouts.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/n/northern_illinois/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |title=Northern Illinois Yearly Results |access-date=2019-02-26 |archive-date=2019-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227061749/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/n/northern_illinois/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |url-status=dead }} The Huskies went on to defeat {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Southwest Missouri State Bears|title=Southwest Missouri State}} in the Mineral Water Bowl, 21–14.

After the season ended, the NCAA announced plans to play "four postseason regional games" in 1964.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189017801/?terms=camellia |title=NCAA Holds Upper Hand |first=Steve |last=Snider |agency=UPI |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |via=newspapers.com |date=January 8, 1964 |access-date=February 28, 2017}} These were played from 1964 through 1972.{{cite web|title=Regional Championship Results |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2012/d2/2012DIIfbchamp.pdf |publisher=NCAA |year=2012 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |page=3}} However, not until 1973, when the NCAA College Division was reorganized as NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III, did these postseason games to determine a national champion.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

Associated Press (writers) final poll

Published on November 29{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/229398955/?terms=wittenberg |title=Jacks Sixth In Final AP College Poll |author=AP |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Argus Leader |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |via=newspapers.com |date=November 29, 1963 |access-date=February 28, 2017}}

{{dagger}}Denotes team played a game after UPI poll, hence record differs in AP poll

{{note|note1|note1}}UMass was actually 8–0–1 when the poll was taken.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/massachusetts/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |title=Massachusetts Yearly Results |access-date=2019-02-26 |archive-date=2019-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227070515/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/massachusetts/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |url-status=dead }}

{{col-break}}

United Press International (coaches) final poll

Published on December 4{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/72345643/?terms=wittenberg |title=UPI Coaches Board Names Delaware Poll Champion |author=UPI |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The Pantagraph |location=Bloomington, Illinois |via=newspapers.com |date=December 4, 1963 |access-date=February 28, 2017}}

{{note|note2|note2}}Florida A&M actually 7–2 when the poll was taken.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida_a%26m/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |title=Florida A&M Yearly Results |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=2019-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227123534/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida_a%26m/1960-1964_yearly_results.php |url-status=dead }}

{{col-end}}

• 1963 NCAA University Division football season
• 1963 NAIA football season

{{Reflist}}

{{NCAA football season navbox}}