1963 small college football rankings
{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox
| abovestyle =
| above = 1963 small college football rankings
| image =
| caption =
| headerstyle =
| data1 =
| data2 = {{align|left|Selectors: AP, UPI}}
| data3 = {{align|left|No. 1: Northern Illinois (AP)}}
| data4 = {{align|left|No. 1: Delaware (UPI)}}
| data5 = Small college football rankings (AP, UPI)
| data6 = {{align|left|«1962}}{{align|right|1964»}}
}}
The 1963 small college football rankings are rankings of college football teams representing smaller college and university teams during the 1963 college football season, including the 1963 NCAA College Division football season and the 1963 NAIA football season. Separate rankings were published by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI). The AP rankings were selected by a board of sports writers, and the UPI rankings were selected by a board of small-college coaches.
In the final AP poll, the 1963 Northern Illinois Huskies football team (10–0) was rated as the small-college champion. The Huskies were led by the record-setting passing of quarterback George Bork.{{cite news|title=Hens Lose AP Poll|newspaper=The News Journal|date=November 29, 1963|page=85|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-journal-hens-lose-ap-poll/126024275/|via=Newspapers.com}}
In the final UPI poll, the 1963 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team (8–0) was rated as the small-college champion.{{cite news|title=Delaware tops small colleges|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|date=December 4, 1962|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-delaware-tops-small/126024533/|via=Newspapers.com}} Delaware was ranked No. 2 in the AP poll.
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 |
| {{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
{{clear right}}
{{ColPollTable
|Week1 = 1
|Week2 = 2
|Week3 = 3
|Week4 = 4
|Week5 = 5
|Week6 = 6
|Week7 = 7
|Week1Date = Oct 17{{cite news|title=Small College Football Poll|newspaper=The Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune|location=Muscatine, Iowa|date=October 18, 1963|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065522/poll_1963_1018_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week2Date = Oct 24{{cite news|title=N. Illinois Is No. 1 Small College Team|newspaper=Marshfield News-Herald|location=Marshfield, Wisconsin|date=October 25, 1963|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065556/poll_1963_1025_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week3Date = Oct 31{{cite news|title=Delaware Second, UMass Voted 8th In Small College Football Rankings|newspaper=Hartford Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|date=November 1, 1963|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065600/poll_1963_1101_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week4Date = Nov 7{{cite news|title=Small College Football Poll|newspaper=Hartford Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|date=November 7, 1963|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065647/poll_1963_1107_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week5Date = Nov 14{{cite news|title=McNeese Remains Ninth In Small College Grid Poll|newspaper=Lake Charles American-Press|location=Lake Charles, Louisiana|date=November 14, 1963|page=27|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065704/poll_1963_1114_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week6Date = Nov 21{{cite news|title=Hens hold slim lead in AP poll|newspaper=The Morning News|location=Wilmington, Delaware|date=November 21, 1963|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065728/poll_1963_1121_small_ap/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week7Date = Nov 28{{cite news|title=N. Illinois On Top in Final Vote|newspaper=The News Journal|location=Wilmington, Delaware|date=November 29, 1963|page=85|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065755/poll_1963_1129_small_ap_final/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week1-1 = Northern Illinois
|Week1-2 = Florida A&M
|Week1-3 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Texas A&I Javelinas|title=Texas A&I}}
|Week1-4 = Delaware
|Week1-5 = San Diego State
|Week1-6 = Saint John's (MN)
|Week1-7 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Kearney State Lopers|title=Kearney State}}
|Week1-8 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Clarion Golden Eagles|title=Clarion State}}
|Week1-9 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=College of Emporia Fighting Presbies|title=College of Emporia}}
|Week1-10 = McNeese State
|Week1-11 =
|Week2-1 = Northern Illinois (6–0)
|Week2-1-Color =
|Week2-2 = Florida A&M (3–0)
|Week2-2-Color =
|Week2-3 = Delaware (4–0)
|Week2-3-Color = u
|Week2-4 = Wittenberg (4–0–1)
|Week2-4-Color = npr
|Week2-5 = Texas A&I (4–0)
|Week2-5-Color = d
|Week2-6 = Saint John's (MN)
|Week2-6-Color =
|Week2-7 = South Dakota State (5–1)
|Week2-7-Color = npr
|Week2-8 = Kearney State
|Week2-8-Color = d
|Week2-9 = McNeese State
|Week2-9-Color = u
|Week2-10 = San Diego State (3–0)
|Week2-10-Color = d
|Week2-11 =
|Week3-1 = Northern Illinois (7–0) (3)
|Week3-1-Color =
|Week3-2 = Delaware (5–0) (3)
|Week3-2-Color = u
|Week3-3 = Florida A&M (3–1)
|Week3-3-Color = d
|Week3-4 = Wittenberg (5–0–1)
|Week3-4-Color =
|Week3-5 = South Dakota State (6–1)
|Week3-5-Color = u
|Week3-6 = Saint John's (MN) (7–0)
|Week3-6-Color =
|Week3-7 = Texas A&I (4–1)
|Week3-7-Color = d
|Week3-8 = UMass (5–0–1)
|Week3-8-Color = npr
|Week3-9 = Kearney State (7–0)
|Week3-9-Color = d
|Week3-10 = San Diego State (4–1)
|Week3-10-Color =
|Week3-11 =
|Week4-1 = Northern Illinois (8–0) (3)
|Week4-1-Color =
|Week4-2 = Delaware (6–0) (4)
|Week4-2-Color =
|Week4-3 = Florida A&M (4–1)
|Week4-3-Color =
|Week4-4 = Wittenberg (6–0–1)
|Week4-4-Color =
|Week4-5 = South Dakota State (7–1)
|Week4-5-Color =
|Week4-6 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week4-6-Color =
|Week4-7 = UMass (5–0–1)
|Week4-7-Color = u
|Week4-8 = San Diego State (5–1)
|Week4-8-Color = u
|Week4-9 = McNeese State (5–0)
|Week4-9-Color = npr
|Week4-10 = Kearney State (8–0) т
|Week4-10-Color = td
|Week4-11 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Slippery Rock The Rock|title=Slippery Rock}} (6–0) т
|Week4-11-Color = npr
|Week5-1 = Delaware (7–0) (3)
|Week5-1-Color = u
|Week5-2 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (4)
|Week5-2-Color = d
|Week5-3 = Wittenberg (7–0–1)
|Week5-3-Color = u
|Week5-4 = UMass (6–0–1) т
|Week5-4-Color = tu
|Week5-5 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0) т
|Week5-5-Color = tu
|Week5-6 = South Dakota State (6–1) т
|Week5-6-Color = d
|Week5-7 = Florida A&M (5–1)
|Week5-7-Color = d
|Week5-8 = San Diego State (6–1)
|Week5-8-Color =
|Week5-9 = McNeese State (6–0)
|Week5-9-Color =
|Week5-10 = Slippery Rock (6–1)
|Week5-10-Color = u
|Week5-11 =
|Week6-1 = Delaware (8–0) (5)
|Week6-1-Color =
|Week6-2 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (2)
|Week6-2-Color =
|Week6-3 = Wittenberg (8–0–1)
|Week6-3-Color =
|Week6-4 = UMass (7–0–1)
|Week6-4-Color =
|Week6-5 = Florida A&M (6–1)
|Week6-5-Color = u
|Week6-6 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week6-6-Color = d
|Week6-7 = South Dakota State (7–1)
|Week6-7-Color = d
|Week6-8 = McNeese State (7–0)
|Week6-8-Color = u
|Week6-9 = San Diego State (7–1)
|Week6-9-Color = d
|Week6-10 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Abilene Christian Wildcats|title=Abilene Christian}} (8–0)
|Week6-10-Color = npr
|Week6-11 =
|Week7-1 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (3)
|Week7-1-Color = u
|Week7-2 = Delaware (8–0) (3)
|Week7-2-Color = d
|Week7-3 = Wittenberg (8–0–1)
|Week7-3-Color =
|Week7-4 = UMass (7–0–1)
|Week7-4-Color =
|Week7-5 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week7-5-Color = u
|Week7-6 = South Dakota State (7–1)
|Week7-6-Color = u
|Week7-7 = Florida A&M (7–1)
|Week7-7-Color = d
|Week7-8 = Abilene Christian (7–1)
|Week7-8-Color = u
|Week7-9 = Southwest Texas (10–0)
|Week7-9-Color = npr
|Week7-10 = McNeese State (8–0)
|Week7-10-Color = d
|Week7-11 =
|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|8 Clarion State|9 College of Emporia}}
|Week3Dropped = 9 McNeese State
|Week4Dropped = 7 Texas A&I
|Week5Dropped = 10 Kearney State
|Week6Dropped = 10 Slippery Rock
|Week7Dropped = 9 San Diego State
}}
UPI coaches poll
{{clear right}}
{{ColPollTable
|Week1 = 1
|Week2 = 2
|Week3 = 3
|Week4 = 4
|Week5 = 5
|Week6 = 6
|Week7 = 7
|Week8 = 8
|Week9 = 9
|Week10 = 10
|Week1Date = Oct 2{{cite news|title=Florida A&M Takes Small College Lead|newspaper=Las Vegas Daily Optic|location=East Las Vegas, New Mexico|date=October 3, 1963|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065238/poll_1963_1003_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week2Date = Oct 9{{cite news|title=Northern Illinois Jumps to Second In Grid Poll|newspaper=The Edwardsville Intelligencer|location=Edwardsville, Illinois|date=October 10, 1963|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11086058/poll_1963_1010_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week3Date = Oct 16{{cite news|title=Illinois School Leads Small College Poll|newspaper=The Lincoln Star|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|date=October 17, 1963|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8549986/poll_1963_1017_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week4Date = Oct 23{{cite news|title=Delaware Move In on Northern Illinois in Poll|newspaper=The Edwardsville Intelligencer|location=Edwardsville, Illinois|date=October 23, 1963|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11086360/poll_1963_1023_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week5Date = Oct 30{{cite news|title=Small College Poll|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|date=October 30, 1963|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8549888/poll_1963_1030_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week6Date = Nov 6{{cite news|title=Delaware Takes Over 1st In Small College Ratings|newspaper=Medford Mail Tribune|location=Medford, Oregon|author=George C. Langford|date=November 6, 1963|page=2-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8550154/poll_1963_1106_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week7Date = Nov 13{{cite news|title=Delaware Still First in Poll|newspaper=Medford Mail Tribune|location=Medford, Oregon|date=November 14, 1963|page=D-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8550227/poll_1963_1114_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week8Date = Nov 20{{cite news|title=Blule Hens Build Grid Poll Margin|newspaper=News-Journal|location=Mansfield, Ohio|date=November 20, 1963|page=32|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11065325/poll_1963_1120_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week9Date = Nov 27{{cite news|title=Delaware Virtually Assured Of UPI Title|newspaper=Kingsport News|location=Kingsport, Tennessee|author=George Langford|date=November 29, 1963|page=3-C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11087068/poll_1963_1129_small_upi/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week10Date = Dec 4{{cite news|title=Delaware tops small colleges|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|location=Redlands, California|date=December 4, 1963|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8972721/poll_1963_1204_small_upi_final/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 15, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Week1-1 = Florida A&M (1–0) (7)
|Week1-2 = Delaware (1–0) (2)
|Week1-3 = Northern Illinois (3–0) (3)
|Week1-4 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}} (2–0) (2)
|Week1-5 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Central State Bronchos|title=Central Oklahoma}} (1–1) (1)
|Week1-6 = Montana State (1–2) (1)
|Week1-7 = San Diego State (1–0) (2)
|Week1-8 = Texas A&I (2–0) (1) т
|Week1-8-Color = t
|Week1-9 = Wittenberg (1–0–1) т
|Week1-10 = East Carolina (2–0) (1)
|Week1-11 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Pittsburg State Gorillas|title=Pittsburg State}}
|Week1-12 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Omaha Indians|title=Omaha}}
|Week1-13 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|title=Tennessee Tech}} (1)
|Week1-14 = South Dakota State
|Week1-15 = UMass (2)
|Week1-16 = Central Michigan (1)
|Week1-17 = Middle Tennessee (1) т
|Week1-17-Color = t
|Week1-18 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=East Texas State Lions|title=East Texas State}} (1) т
|Week1-19 = Humboldt State (1)
|Week1-20 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Butler Bulldogs|title=Butler}}
|Week1-21 =
|Week2-1 = Florida A&M (2–0) (5)
|Week2-1-Color =
|Week2-2 = Northern Illinois (4–0) (6)
|Week2-2-Color = u
|Week2-3 = Delaware (2–0) (9)
|Week2-3-Color = d
|Week2-4 = Texas A&I (3–0) (5)
|Week2-4-Color = u
|Week2-5 = Montana State (2–2) (2)
|Week2-5-Color = u
|Week2-6 = San Diego State (2–0) (4)
|Week2-6-Color = u
|Week2-7 = Wittenberg (2–0–1) (1)
|Week2-7-Color = u
|Week2-8 = Lenoir–Rhyne (2–1)
|Week2-8-Color = d
|Week2-9 = Central Oklahoma (2–1)
|Week2-9-Color = d
|Week2-10 = East Carolina (3–1)
|Week2-10-Color =
|Week2-11 = Tennessee Tech
|Week2-11-Color = u
|Week2-12 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=East Central Oklahoma State Tigers|title=East Central Oklahoma}}
|Week2-12-Color = npr
|Week2-13 = South Dakota State
|Week2-13-Color = u
|Week2-14 = UMass
|Week2-14-Color = u
|Week2-15 = San Francisco State
|Week2-15-Color = npr
|Week2-16 = Saint John's (MN) т
|Week2-16-Color = tnpr
|Week2-17 = Western Kentucky т
|Week2-17-Color = npr
|Week2-18 = Central Michigan
|Week2-18-Color = d
|Week2-19 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Linfield Wildcats|title=Linfield}} т
|Week2-19-Color = tnpr
|Week2-20 = McNeese State т
|Week2-20-Color = tnpr
|Week2-21 = Fresno State т
|Week2-21-Color = npr
|Week3-1 = Northern Illinois (5–0) (5)
|Week3-1-Color = u
|Week3-2 = Florida A&M (2–0) (8)
|Week3-2-Color = d
|Week3-3 = Delaware (3–0) (9)
|Week3-3-Color =
|Week3-4 = Texas A&I (4–0) (4)
|Week3-4-Color =
|Week3-5 = San Diego State (3–0) (3)
|Week3-5-Color = u
|Week3-6 = Montana State (3–0) (3)
|Week3-6-Color = d
|Week3-7 = Wittenberg (3–0) (1)
|Week3-7-Color =
|Week3-8 = Central Oklahoma (2–2)
|Week3-8-Color = u
|Week3-9 = UMass (3–0–1)
|Week3-9-Color = u
|Week3-10 = Western Kentucky (3–0–1)
|Week3-10-Color = u
|Week3-11 = East Carolina
|Week3-11-Color = d
|Week3-12 = McNeese State (1) т
|Week3-12-Color = tu
|Week3-13 = Fresno State т
|Week3-13-Color = u
|Week3-14 = South Dakota State т
|Week3-14-Color = td
|Week3-15 = Saint John's (MN) т
|Week3-15-Color = u
|Week3-16 = Lenoir–Rhyne
|Week3-16-Color = d
|Week3-17 = Lewis and Clark
|Week3-17-Color = npr
|Week3-18 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Wheaton (IL) Thunder|title=Wheaton (IL)}} т
|Week3-18-Color = tnpr
|Week3-19 = Louisiana Tech т
|Week3-19-Color = npr
|Week3-20 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Western State Mountaineers|title=Western State (CO)}}
|Week3-20-Color = npr
|Week3-21 =
|Week4-1 = Northern Illinois (6–0) (12)
|Week4-1-Color =
|Week4-2 = Delaware (4–0) (12)
|Week4-2-Color = u
|Week4-3 = Florida A&M (3–0) (4)
|Week4-3-Color = d
|Week4-4 = Texas A&I (4–0) (2)
|Week4-4-Color =
|Week4-5 = San Diego State (3–0)
|Week4-5-Color =
|Week4-6 = Wittenberg (4–0–1) (1)
|Week4-6-Color = u
|Week4-7 = Montana State (4–2) (2)
|Week4-7-Color = d
|Week4-8 = UMass (4–0–1)
|Week4-8-Color = u
|Week4-9 = Western Kentucky (4–0–1)
|Week4-9-Color = u
|Week4-10 = South Dakota State (5–1)
|Week4-10-Color = u
|Week4-11 = McNeese State (1)
|Week4-11-Color = u
|Week4-12 = Western State (CO)
|Week4-12-Color = u
|Week4-13 = Lewis and Clark
|Week4-13-Color = u
|Week4-14 = Fresno State
|Week4-14-Color = d
|Week4-15 = Saint John's (MN)
|Week4-15-Color =
|Week4-16 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=East Tennessee State Buccaneers|title=East Tennessee State}}
|Week4-16-Color = npr
|Week4-17 = Northeast Oklahoma State
|Week4-17-Color = npr
|Week4-18 = East Carolina
|Week4-18-Color = d
|Week4-19 = Los Angeles State (1)
|Week4-19-Color = npr
|Week4-20 = College of Emporia
|Week4-20-Color = npr
|Week4-21 =
|Week5-1 = Northern Illinois (7–0) (14)
|Week5-1-Color =
|Week5-2 = Delaware (5–0) (15)
|Week5-2-Color =
|Week5-3 = Florida A&M (4–1) (3)
|Week5-3-Color =
|Week5-4 = Wittenberg (5–0–1) (1)
|Week5-4-Color = u
|Week5-5 = Texas A&I (4–1)
|Week5-5-Color = d
|Week5-6 = UMass (5–0–1) (1)
|Week5-6-Color = u
|Week5-7 = San Diego State (4–1)
|Week5-7-Color = d
|Week5-8 = Western Kentucky (5–0–1)
|Week5-8-Color = u
|Week5-9 = South Dakota State (6–1)
|Week5-9-Color = u
|Week5-10 = Saint John's (MN) (7–0)
|Week5-10-Color = u
|Week5-11 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Washington University Bears|title=Washington University}}
|Week5-11-Color = npr
|Week5-12 = Lewis and Clark
|Week5-12-Color = u
|Week5-13 = Western State (CO)
|Week5-13-Color = d
|Week5-14 = Fresno State
|Week5-14-Color =
|Week5-15 = Montana State
|Week5-15-Color = d
|Week5-16 = East Carolina
|Week5-16-Color = u
|Week5-17 = McNeese State т
|Week5-17-Color = td
|Week5-18 = Northeast Oklahoma State т
|Week5-18-Color = d
|Week5-19 = Idaho State т
|Week5-19-Color = tnpr
|Week5-20 = Louisiana Tech т
|Week5-20-Color = tnpr
|Week5-21 = Southwest Texas State т
|Week5-21-Color = npr
|Week6-1 = Delaware (6–0) (16)
|Week6-1-Color = u
|Week6-2 = Northern Illinois (8–0) (12)
|Week6-2-Color = d
|Week6-3 = Florida A&M (5–1) (2)
|Week6-3-Color =
|Week6-4 = Wittenberg (6–0–1)
|Week6-4-Color =
|Week6-5 = UMass (6–0–1)
|Week6-5-Color = u
|Week6-6 = San Diego State (5–1) (1)
|Week6-6-Color = u
|Week6-7 = Western Kentucky (6–0–1) (1) т
|Week6-7-Color = tu
|Week6-8 = Texas A&I (4–2) (1) т
|Week6-8-Color = d
|Week6-9 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week6-9-Color = u
|Week6-10 = South Dakota State (6–1)
|Week6-10-Color = d
|Week6-11 = Washington University т
|Week6-11-Color = t
|Week6-12 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Southwest Missouri State Bears|title=Southwest Missouri State}} т
|Week6-12-Color = npr
|Week6-13 = East Carolina
|Week6-13-Color = u
|Week6-14 = Western State (CO)
|Week6-14-Color = d
|Week6-15 = Lewis and Clark (1)
|Week6-15-Color = d
|Week6-16 = Northeast Oklahoma State т
|Week6-16-Color = tu
|Week6-17 = McNeese State (5–0) (1) т
|Week6-17-Color = t
|Week6-18 = Southwest Texas State т
|Week6-18-Color = u
|Week6-19 = Montana State
|Week6-19-Color = d
|Week6-20 = Luther
|Week6-20-Color = npr
|Week6-21 =
|Week7-1 = Delaware (7–0) (15)
|Week7-1-Color =
|Week7-2 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (14)
|Week7-2-Color =
|Week7-3 = UMass (7–0–1) (1)
|Week7-3-Color = u
|Week7-4 = Florida A&M (6–1) (1)
|Week7-4-Color = d
|Week7-5 = Wittenberg (7–0–1)
|Week7-5-Color = d
|Week7-6 = San Diego State (6–1) (1)
|Week7-6-Color =
|Week7-7 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week7-7-Color = u
|Week7-8 = Western Kentucky (7–0–1) (1)
|Week7-8-Color = d
|Week7-9 = Texas A&I (4–3)
|Week7-9-Color = d
|Week7-10 = Southwest Missouri State (8–0)
|Week7-10-Color = u
|Week7-11 = McNeese State (6–0) (1) т
|Week7-11-Color = tu
|Week7-12 = South Dakota State (6–1) т
|Week7-12-Color = d
|Week7-13 = Lewis and Clark (1)
|Week7-13-Color = u
|Week7-14 = Abilene Christian
|Week7-14-Color = npr
|Week7-15 = Montana State
|Week7-15-Color = u
|Week7-16 = East Carolina
|Week7-16-Color = d
|Week7-17 = Luther
|Week7-17-Color = u
|Week7-18 = Northeast Oklahoma State
|Week7-18-Color = d
|Week7-19 = Southwest Texas State
|Week7-19-Color = d
|Week7-20 = Washington University
|Week7-20-Color = d
|Week7-21 =
|Week8-1 = Delaware (8–0) (18)
|Week8-1-Color =
|Week8-2 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (9)
|Week8-2-Color =
|Week8-3 = Florida A&M (7–1) (1)
|Week8-3-Color = u
|Week8-4 = Wittenberg (8–0–1)
|Week8-4-Color = u
|Week8-5 = UMass (8–0–1) (1)
|Week8-5-Color = d
|Week8-6 = San Diego State (7–1) (1)
|Week8-6-Color =
|Week8-7 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0)
|Week8-7-Color =
|Week8-8 = Southwest Missouri State (9–0) (1)
|Week8-8-Color = u
|Week8-9 = Western Kentucky (7–0–1) (1)
|Week8-9-Color = d
|Week8-10 = Texas A&I (5–3)
|Week8-10-Color = d
|Week8-11 = Abilene Christian (7–1) (1)
|Week8-11-Color = u
|Week8-12 = Northeast Oklahoma State
|Week8-12-Color = u
|Week8-13 = East Carolina
|Week8-13-Color = u
|Week8-14 = McNeese State (7–0) (1) т
|Week8-14-Color = td
|Week8-15 = Southwest Texas State т
|Week8-15-Color = u
|Week8-16 = Luther
|Week8-16-Color = u
|Week8-17 = Lewis and Clark (1)
|Week8-17-Color = d
|Week8-18 = Kearney State т
|Week8-18-Color = tnpr
|Week8-19 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Prairie View Panthers|title=Prairie View}} т
|Week8-19-Color = npr
|Week8-20 = Montana State
|Week8-20-Color = d
|Week8-21 =
|Week9-1 = Delaware (8–0) (18)
|Week9-1-Color =
|Week9-2 = Northern Illinois (9–0) (9)
|Week9-2-Color =
|Week9-3 = Florida A&M (8–1) (1)
|Week9-3-Color =
|Week9-4 = Wittenberg (8–0–1)
|Week9-4-Color =
|Week9-5 = UMass (8–0–1) (1)
|Week9-5-Color =
|Week9-6 = San Diego State (7–1) (1)
|Week9-6-Color =
|Week9-7 = Saint John's (MN) (8–0) (1)
|Week9-7-Color =
|Week9-8 = Western Kentucky (8–0–1) (1)
|Week9-8-Color = u
|Week9-9 = Southwest Missouri State (9–0) (1)
|Week9-9-Color = d
|Week9-10 = Northeast Oklahoma State (10–0) (1)
|Week9-10-Color = u
|Week9-11 = Abilene Christian (7–1)
|Week9-11-Color =
|Week9-12 = South Dakota State (7–1)
|Week9-12-Color = npr
|Week9-13 = East Carolina
|Week9-13-Color =
|Week9-14 = McNeese State (8–0) (1)
|Week9-14-Color =
|Week9-15 = Southwest Texas State
|Week9-15-Color =
|Week9-16 = Luther
|Week9-16-Color =
|Week9-17 = Lewis and Clark (1)
|Week9-17-Color =
|Week9-18 = Kearney State
|Week9-18-Color =
|Week9-19 = Prairie View (1)
|Week9-19-Color =
|Week9-20 = Montana State
|Week9-20-Color =
|Week9-21 =
|Week10-1 = Delaware (8–0) (18)
|Week10-1-Color =
|Week10-2 = Northern Illinois (10–0) (8)
|Week10-2-Color =
|Week10-3 = UMass (8–0–1) (1)
|Week10-3-Color = u
|Week10-4 = Saint John's (MN) (9–0) (1)
|Week10-4-Color = u
|Week10-5 = Wittenberg (8–0–1)
|Week10-5-Color = d
|Week10-6 = Florida A&M (8–2) (1)
|Week10-6-Color = d
|Week10-7 = San Diego State (7–2) (1)
|Week10-7-Color = d
|Week10-8 = Western Kentucky (8–0–1) (2)
|Week10-8-Color =
|Week10-9 = Northeast Oklahoma State (10–0)
|Week10-9-Color = u
|Week10-10 = Southwest Missouri State (9–1)
|Week10-10-Color = d
|Week10-11 = Abilene Christian (1)
|Week10-11-Color =
|Week10-12 = McNeese State
|Week10-12-Color = u
|Week10-13 = South Dakota State
|Week10-13-Color = d
|Week10-14 = Southwest Texas State (1)
|Week10-14-Color = u
|Week10-15 = Luther
|Week10-15-Color = u
|Week10-16 = Lewis and Clark (1)
|Week10-16-Color = u
|Week10-17 = {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}
|Week10-17-Color = npr
|Week10-18 = East Carolina
|Week10-18-Color = d
|Week10-19 = Texas A&I
|Week10-19-Color = npr
|Week10-20 = Montana State
|Week10-20-Color =
|Week10-21 =
|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|11 Pittsburg State|12 Omaha|17 Middle Tennessee|18 East Texas State|19 Humboldt State|20 Butler}}
|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|11 Tennessee Tech|12 East Central Oklahoma|15 San Francisco State|18 Central Michigan|19 Linfield}}
|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|8 Central Oklahoma|16 Lenoir–Rhyne|18 Wheaton (IL)|19 Louisiana Tech}}
|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|16 East Tennessee State|19 Los Angeles State|20 College of Emporia}}
|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|14 Fresno State|19 Idaho State|20 Louisiana Tech}}
|Week7Dropped = 14 Western State (CO)
|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|12 South Dakota State|20 Washington University}}
|Week9Dropped = 10 Texas A&I
|Week10Dropped = {{ubl|18 Kearney State|19 Prairie View}}
}}
Pittsburgh Courier rankings
The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, ranked the top 1963 teams from historically black colleges and universities in an era when college football was often racially segregated.
The rankings were published on December 7:{{cite web|date=December 7, 1963|title=Final Ratings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-national-champs-c/40181483/|work=Pittsburgh Courier (p. 14)|via=Newspapers.com}}
- 1. Prairie View A&M (10–1)
- 2. North Carolina College (8–1)
- 3. Morgan State (8–1)
- 4. Florida A&M (7–2)
- 5. Southern (7–3)
- 6. Texas Southern (7–3)
- 7. Arkansas AM&N (5–4–1)
- 8. Grambling (5–3–1)
- 9. Virginia Union (7–2)
- 10. North Carolina A&T (7–3)
- 11. Tennessee State (6–3)
- 12. South Carolina State (8–1)
- 13. Alabama A&M (8–0)
- 14. Bethune-Cookman (7–2)
- 15. Clark (7–1)
- 16. Johnson C. Smith (6–2)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NCAA football rankings navbox}}