1972_small_college_football_rankings
The 1972 small college football rankings are rankings of college football teams representing smaller college and university teams during the 1972 college football season, including the 1972 NCAA College Division football season and the 1972 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.
Quick Facts
| 1972 small college football rankings | |
|---|---|
No. 1: Delaware | |
| Small college football rankings (AP, UPI) | |
«1971 1973» |
Close
The 1972 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team (10–0), led by head coach Tubby Raymond, was rated No. 1 by both the AP and UPI. Louisiana Tech (12–0) and Cal Poly (8–1–1) were ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, by the AP and UPI.
1972 was the last year the polls would be used to crown a national "Small College" or "College Division" champion. In 1973, season-ending playoffs were begun to determine a champion for "Division II". The UPI and AP continued publishing "College Division" polls through the 1974 season.
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
(#–#) |
Win–loss record | |
(Italics) |
Number of first place votes | |
т |
Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
More information Week 1 Sept 21, Week 2 Sept 28 ...
| Week 1 Sept 21[1] | Week 2 Sept 28[2] | Week 3 Oct 5[3] | Week 4 Oct 12[4] | Week 5 Oct 19[5] | Week 6 Oct 26[6] | Week 7 Nov 2[7] | Week 8 Nov 9[8] | Week 9 Nov 16[9] | Week 10 Nov 23[10] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Delaware (1–0) (9) | Delaware (2–0) (11) | Delaware (3–0) (11) | Louisiana Tech (5–0) (7) | Louisiana Tech (6–0) (8) | Delaware (6–0) (11) | Delaware (7–0) (14) | Delaware (8–0) (10) | Delaware (9–0) (13) | Delaware (10–0) (9) | 1. |
| 2. | North Dakota (1–0) | Louisiana Tech (3–0) (4) | Louisiana Tech (4–0) (1) | Delaware (4–0) (7) | Delaware (5–0) (7) | Louisiana Tech (7–0) (7) | Louisiana Tech (8–0) (3) | Louisiana Tech (9–0) (4) | Louisiana Tech (10–0) (4) | Louisiana Tech (11–0) (4) | 2. |
| 3. | Louisiana Tech (2–0) (2) | Tennessee State (2–0) (1) | Tennessee State (3–0) (1) | North Dakota (5–0) (2) | North Dakota (6–0) (2) | Cal Poly (5–0) | Cal Poly (6–0) | Cal Poly (6–0–1) | Cal Poly (7–0–1) | Cal Poly (8–0–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Tennessee State (1–0) (2) | North Dakota (3–0) (2) | North Dakota (4–0) (1) | Cal Poly (4–0) (1) [note 1] | McNeese State (4–1) | Tennessee State (5–1) | Tennessee State (6–1) (1) | Tennessee State (7–1) | Ashland (10–0) | Ashland (11–0) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | McNeese State (2–0) (1) т | Boise State (2–0) | Drake (3–0) (1) | McNeese State (3–1) | Western Illinois (6–0) (1) | McNeese State (5–1) | Ashland (8–0) | South Dakota (8–1) | Tennessee State (8–1) | Tennessee State (8–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Akron (1–0–1) т | Carson–Newman (3–0) | Boise State (3–0) | Carson–Newman (5–0) | Cal Poly (4–0) | North Dakota State (7–1) | North Dakota State (8–1) | Ashland (9–0) | South Dakota (9–1) (1) | South Dakota (9–1) (1) т | 6. |
| 7. | Boise State (1–0) | Texas Southern (2–0) | Carson–Newman (4–0) | Western Illinois (5–0) | Boise State (4–1) | Ashland (7–0) | McNeese State (6–1) | North Dakota (8–1) | North Dakota (9–1) | North Dakota (9–1) т | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Southern (2–0) | Drake (2–0) | McNeese State (2–1) | Boise State (3–1) | Tennessee State (4–1) | North Dakota (6–1) | North Dakota (7–1) | Grambling (7–2) | Grambling (8–2) | Grambling (8–2) т | 8. |
| 9. | South Dakota (1–0) | Western Carolina (3–0) | Fresno State (4–0) | Tennessee State (3–1) | Drake (4–1) | Fresno State (5–1–1) | Grambling (6–2) | Idaho State (6–2) | McNeese State (7–2) | Western Carolina (7–2–1) т | 9. |
| 10. | Carson–Newman (2–0) | McNeese State (2–1) | Western Illinois (4–0) | Livingston (6–0) | Ashland (6–0) | Western Illinois (6–1) | UMass (6–0) [note 2] | McNeese State (6–2) | Drake (7–2) | Carson–Newman (9–1) т | 10. |
| 11. | McNeese State (8–2) т | 11. | |||||||||
| Week 1 Sept 21[11] | Week 2 Sept 28[12] | Week 3 Oct 5[13] | Week 4 Oct 12[14] | Week 5 Oct 19[15] | Week 6 Oct 26[16] | Week 7 Nov 2[17] | Week 8 Nov 9[18] | Week 9 Nov 16[19] | Week 10 Nov 23[20] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: 9 Idaho State | Dropped: 10 Drake | |||
Close
More information Week Preseason, Week 1 Sept 13 ...
| Week Preseason[21] | Week 1 Sept 13[22] | Week 2 Sept 20[23] | Week 3 Sept 27[24] | Week 4 Oct 4[25] | Week 5 Oct 11[26] | Week 6 Oct 18[27] | Week 7 Oct 25[28] | Week 8 Nov 1[29] | Week 9 Nov 8[30] | Week 10 Nov 15[31] | Week 11 Nov 22[32] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Delaware (22) | Delaware (0–0) (22) | Delaware (1–0) (19) | Delaware (2–0) (21) | Delaware (3–0) (21) | Delaware (4–0) (21) | Delaware (5–0) (19) | Delaware (6–0) (20) | Delaware (7–0) (25) | Delaware (8–0) (23) | Delaware (9–0) (23) | Delaware (10–0) (21) | 1. |
| 2. | Eastern Michigan (3) | Eastern Michigan (1–0) (2) | McNeese State (2–0) (4) | Louisiana Tech (3–0) (5) | Louisiana Tech (4–0) (5) | Louisiana Tech (4–0) (11) | Louisiana Tech (5–0) (15) | Louisiana Tech (7–0) (15) | Louisiana Tech (8–0) (8) | Louisiana Tech (9–0) (9) | Louisiana Tech (10–0) (9) | Louisiana Tech (11–0) (12) | 2. |
| 3. | Tennessee State (1) | McNeese State (1–0) (2) | Louisiana Tech (2–0) (3) | Drake (2–0) (5) | Drake (3–0) (8) | North Dakota (5–0) | North Dakota (6–0) | Cal Poly (5–0–1) | Cal Poly (6–0–1) (1) | Cal Poly (6–0–1) (1) | Cal Poly (7–0–1) (1) | Cal Poly (8–0–1) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | McNeese State (1) | Tennessee State (1–0) (1) | Tennessee State (2–0) (4) | North Dakota (3–0) (1) | North Dakota (4–0) | Cal Poly (4–0) | McNeese State (4–1) | McNeese State (5–1) | McNeese State (6–1) | Tennessee State (8–1) | Tennessee State (9–1) | South Dakota (9–1) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Grambling (1) | North Dakota (1–0) (2) | North Dakota (2–0) (2) | Tennessee State (3–0) (2) | Tennessee State (4–0) (1) | McNeese State (3–1) | Western Illinois (5–0) | Tennessee State (6–1) | Tennessee State (7–1) | South Dakota (8–1) | South Dakota (9–1) (1) | Tennessee State (9–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Louisiana Tech (1) | Grambling (1–0) (1) | Boise State (1–0) | Boise State (2–0) | Boise State (3–0) | Western Illinois (5–0) (1) | Cal Poly (4–0–1) | Fresno State (5–1–1) | UMass (6–0) | North Dakota (8–1) | North Dakota (9–1) | North Dakota (9–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Boise State | Louisiana Tech (1–0) | Drake (1–0) | Texas Southern (2–0) | Fresno State (4–0) | Livingston State (5–0) | Tennessee State (5–1) | UMass (5–0) | South Dakota (7–1) | Ashland (9–0) | Ashland (10–0) | Ashland (11–0) | 7. |
| 8. | North Dakota | Boise State (0–0) | Akron (1–0–1) | McNeese State (2–1) | McNeese State (2–1) | Carson–Newman (5–0) | Drake (4–1) | Livingston State (6–0–1) | North Dakota (7–1) | Tennessee Tech (8–1) (1) | Tennessee Tech (9–1) | Tennessee Tech (10–1) | 8. |
| 9. | North Dakota State | North Dakota State (2–0) | Texas Southern (2–0) | Lamar (3–0) | Carson–Newman (4–0) | Drake (3–1) | Fresno State (4–1–1) | Hawaii (5–0) | Ashland (8–0) | Grambling (7–2) | Grambling (8–2) | Grambling (8–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Akron т | Arkansas Tech (1–0) (1) | Eastern Michigan (1–1) | Western Carolina (3–0) (1) | Livingston State (4–0) | Fresno State (4–1) | Boise State (4–1) | South Dakota (6–1) | North Dakota State (7–1) | Drake (6–2) (1) | Drake (7–2) (1) | Carson–Newman (9–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Arkansas Tech т | Tennessee Tech (1–0) | South Dakota (2–0) | Carson–Newman (3–0) | Western Illinois (3–0) | Jackson State (4–0) | Livingston State (5–0–1) | North Dakota (6–1) | Tennessee Tech (7–1) (1) | Carson–Newman (8–1) | Bridgeport (9–0) | Bridgeport (10–0) | 11. |
| 12. | Western Kentucky | Lehigh (1–0) | Carson–Newman (2–0) | Livingston State (3–0) | Cal Poly (3–0) | Tennessee State (4–1) | Hawaii (4–0) | Ashland (7–0) | Hawaii (5–1) | Idaho State (6–2) | Carson–Newman (8–1) | Livingston State (8–1–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&I (1) | Texas Southern (1–0) т | Angelo State (2–0) (1) | Fresno State (3–0) | Jackson State (3–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (5–0) | Jackson State (5–0) | Carson–Newman (6–1) | Carson–Newman (7–1) | Livingston State (6–2–1) | Livingston State (7–1–1) | Drake (7–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Samford | Akron (0–0–1) т | Livingston State (2–0) | Western Illinois (2–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (4–0) | Boise State (3–1) | UMass (4–0) | North Dakota State (6–1) | Fresno State (5–2–1) | McNeese State (6–2) | Northwestern State (7–2) | Idaho State (7–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Northern Colorado | Northern Colorado (0–0) (1) | Lamar (2–0) | Weber State (1–0) | Texas Southern (2–1) | Hawaii (3–0) | South Dakota (5–1) | Grambling (5–2) | Drake (5–2) | UMass (6–1) | Missouri Southern State (10–0) | Northwestern State (8–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Southwest Texas | Drake (0–0) | Northern Colorado (1–0) | Hawaii (2–0) т | Hawaii (2–0) | UMass (3–0) | Western Carolina (4–1–1) | Tennessee Tech (6–1) | East Texas State (6–1) | Jackson State (7–1) | Fort Valley State (8–0) | North Carolina Central (9–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Drake | South Dakota (1–0) | Grambling (1–1) | Jackson State (2–0) т | Western Carolina (3–1) | North Carolina A&T (5–0) | Grambling (4–2) | Western Illinois (5–1) | Livingston State (6–1–1) | Central Oklahoma (8–0) | UC Davis (6–0–2) | East Texas State (8–2) | 17. |
| 18. | C.W. Post | Livingston State (1–0) т | Western Carolina (2–0) (1) | Tennessee Tech (2–1) | UMass (2–0) | Western Carolina (4–1) | Samford (5–1) | Nebraska–Omaha (6–1) | Nebraska–Omaha (6–1) | Northwestern State (6–2) [note 3] | North Carolina A&T (8–1) | Missouri Southern State (10–0) | 18. |
| 19. | Arkansas State | Angelo State (1–0) т | Alcorn A&M (1–0) | Cal Poly (2–0) | East Texas State (3–1) т | Ashland (5–0) | Ashland (6–0) | East Texas State (5–1) | Idaho State (5–2) | Bridgeport (8–0) | McNeese State (7–2) | Western Carolina (7–2–1) т | 19. |
| 20. | Livingston State т | Carson–Newman (1–0) | Lehigh (1–1) | UMass (1–0) | Florida A&M (1–1) т | East Texas State (4–1) | Carson–Newman (5–1) | Montana State (5–2) | Central Washington (7–0) | UC Davis (5–0–2) | Western Carolina (6–2–1) | McNeese State (8–2) т | 20. |
| 21. | Tennessee Tech т | Saint John's (MN) (0–0) [note 4] | Middle Tennessee (3–0–1) [note 5] | 21. | |||||||||
| Week Preseason[33] | Week 1 Sept 13[34] | Week 2 Sept 20[35] | Week 3 Sept 27[36] | Week 4 Oct 4[37] | Week 5 Oct 11[38] | Week 6 Oct 18[39] | Week 7 Oct 25[40] | Week 8 Nov 1[41] | Week 9 Nov 8[42] | Week 10 Nov 15[43] | Week 11 Nov 22[44] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| |||
Close
The Mutual Black Network ranked the top 1972 teams from historically black colleges and universities.[45]
- 1. Grambling (11–2)
- 2. Tennessee State (11–1)
- 3. Albany State (7–2–1)
- 4. Jackson State (8–3)
- 5. North Carolina College (9–2)
- 6. Fort Valley State (8–2)
- 7. North Carolina A&T (9–2)
- 8. Fisk (7–1–1)
- 9. Alabama A&M (7–1–1)
- 10. Virginia State (7–3)
- In the actual printed polls, Cal Poly was listed as San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly SLO
- In the actual printed polls, UMass was listed as Massachusetts
- In the actual printed polls, Northwestern State was listed as Northwestern Louisiana
- In the September 13th poll, Saint John's was listed as #20 but there were 20 teams listed ahead of them and they did not tie for 20th. They have been included here, but they shouldn't have been listed in the poll in 1972 (same error as week 4).
- In the October 4th poll, Middle Tennessee was listed as #20 but there were 20 teams listed ahead of them and they did not tie for 20th. They have been included here, but they shouldn't have been listed in the poll in 1972 (same error as week 1).
- "Blue Hens Lead College Division Football Poll". Alamogordo Daily News. Alamogordo, New Mexico. September 21, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Retains Top AP Ranking". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. September 29, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Small College Football Poll". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Lubbock, Texas. October 5, 1972. p. 4-D. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Louisiana Tech Voted No. 1 in AP Grid Poll". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. October 13, 1972. p. C-1. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Louisiana Tech Remains Atop College Division Football Poll". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. October 19, 1972. p. 77. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "AP College Division Football Poll". The Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. October 27, 1972. p. 17. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware First In Small College Poll". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. November 2, 1972. p. F-3. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Still No. 1". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. November 9, 1972. p. D-2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Tigers Hold, Fall; Tech Even in Polls". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. November 16, 1972. p. 78. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Takes Second Straight Rankings Title". The Jacksonville Daily Journal. Jacksonville, Illinois. November 23, 1972. p. 38. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Blue Hens Lead College Division Football Poll". Alamogordo Daily News. Alamogordo, New Mexico. September 21, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Retains Top AP Ranking". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. September 29, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Small College Football Poll". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Lubbock, Texas. October 5, 1972. p. 4-D. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Louisiana Tech Voted No. 1 in AP Grid Poll". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. October 13, 1972. p. C-1. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Louisiana Tech Remains Atop College Division Football Poll". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. October 19, 1972. p. 77. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "AP College Division Football Poll". The Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. October 27, 1972. p. 17. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware First In Small College Poll". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. November 2, 1972. p. F-3. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Still No. 1". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. November 9, 1972. p. D-2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Tigers Hold, Fall; Tech Even in Polls". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. November 16, 1972. p. 78. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Takes Second Straight Rankings Title". The Jacksonville Daily Journal. Jacksonville, Illinois. November 23, 1972. p. 38. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Picked to Win Title". Playground Daily News. Fort Walton Beach, Florida. September 7, 1972. p. 4B. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Bill Madden (September 13, 1972). "Johnnies 20th in UPI poll". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 2C. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Ray Finocchiaro (September 21, 1972). "Hens 1st; Bennett Sidelined". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. 34. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "MoVal's Drake Ranked Third In 'Small' Poll". Las Cruces Sun-News. Las Cruces, New Mexico. September 27, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Retains No. 1 Ranking". Clovis News-Journal. Clovis, New Mexico. October 4, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware No. 1 in UPI Poll". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. October 11, 1972. p. B2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Small College Poll". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 18, 1972. p. 42. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Bows up to 9th in grid poll". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. October 25, 1972. p. C1. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "ISU Moves Into UPI's Elige Group". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. November 1, 1972. p. 1D. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Leading Small College Poll". The Daily Notes. Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. November 8, 1972. p. 7. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "UPI Small Colleges". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. November 16, 1972. p. 78. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "College elite". The Delta Democrat-Times. Greenville, Mississippi. November 22, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Picked to Win Title". Playground Daily News. Fort Walton Beach, Florida. September 7, 1972. p. 4B. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Bill Madden (September 13, 1972). "Johnnies 20th in UPI poll". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 2C. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Ray Finocchiaro (September 21, 1972). "Hens 1st; Bennett Sidelined". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. 34. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "MoVal's Drake Ranked Third In 'Small' Poll". Las Cruces Sun-News. Las Cruces, New Mexico. September 27, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Retains No. 1 Ranking". Clovis News-Journal. Clovis, New Mexico. October 4, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware No. 1 in UPI Poll". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. October 11, 1972. p. B2. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Small College Poll". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 18, 1972. p. 42. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Bows up to 9th in grid poll". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. October 25, 1972. p. C1. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "ISU Moves Into UPI's Elige Group". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. November 1, 1972. p. 1D. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Delaware Leading Small College Poll". The Daily Notes. Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. November 8, 1972. p. 7. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "UPI Small Colleges". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. November 16, 1972. p. 78. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "College elite". The Delta Democrat-Times. Greenville, Mississippi. November 22, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Grambling Wins Championship". The Louisiana Weekly (p. 21). December 16, 1972 – via Newspapers.com.
