The 1915 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Cornell, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh as having been selected national champions in later years. Only Cornell (named by four major selectors) and Pittsburgh (named by one) claim national championships for the 1915 season.
Conference and program changes
Conference establishments The Southwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, later known as the Southwest Conference, began its first season of play in 1915. The league had eight founding members in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, now a Division III conference, began football play in 1915.
Membership changes School 1914 Conference 1915 Conference Akron football Independent Ohio Athletic Arkansas Razorbacks Independent Southwest Baylor Bears Independent Southwest California Golden Bears Program reinstated Independent University Farm Cal Aggies Program Established Independent Chattanooga MocsIndependentSIAACatholic CardinalsIndependentSAIAA Louisville CardinalsIndependentSIAA Oklahoma Sooners Independent Southwest Oklahoma A&M Cowboys Independent Southwest Rice Owls Independent SouthwestSouthern Methodist ParsonsProgram Established TIAA Southwestern (TX) Pirates Independent Southwest Texas Longhorns Independent Southwest Texas A&M Aggies Independent Southwest Transylvania PioneersIndependentSIAA
Rose Bowl The Rose Bowl was played for the first time since its inception on January 1, 1902, following the 1901 season. Washington State defeated Brown, 14–0. The game has been played annually ever since.
Conference standings Major conference standings
Independents
Minor conferences ConferenceChampion(s)Record Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Hampton Institute 3–0 Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin River Falls Normal 5–0 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Baker (KS)Kansas State Normal — Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association Transylvania — Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association Louisiana Industrial 2–0–1 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association AlbionAlma 4–0–1 Ohio Athletic Conference Western Reserve 6–1 Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Central State Teachers — Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Occidental 4–0 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Fisk —
Minor conference standings
Awards and honors
All-Americans
The consensus All-America team included: PositionNameHeightWeight (lbs.)ClassHometownTeamQBCharley Barrett6'0"180Sr.Cleveland, OhioCornellHBDick King5'8"175Sr.Boston, MassachusettsHarvardHBBart Macomber5'9"183Jr.Oak Park, IllinoisIllinoisHBBuck Mayer172Sr.Norfolk, VirginiaVirginiaHBNeno DaPrato5'10"185Sr.Iron Mountain, MichiganMichigan AgriculturalFBEddie Mahan5'11"171Sr.Natick, MassachusettsHarvardEMurray Shelton6'1"170Sr.Dunkirk, New YorkCornellEBert Baston6'1"170Jr.St. Louis Park, MinnesotaMinnesotaTCub BuckSr.Eau Claire, WisconsinWisconsinGClarence SpearsSr.De Witt, ArkansasDartmouthCBob Peck5'9"179So.Lock Haven, PennsylvaniaPittsburghGHarold White6'6"273Sr.New York, New YorkSyracuseTJoseph GilmanJr.Honolulu, HawaiiHarvardEGuy Chamberlin6'2"196Sr.Blue Springs, NebraskaNebraskaEBob HigginsSo.Corning, New YorkPenn State
Statistical leaders Team scoring most points: Vanderbilt, 514 to 38. Player scoring most points: Jerry DaPrato, Michigan Agricultural, 185 Player scoring most touchdowns: Jerry DaPrato, Michigan Agricultural, 34 Player scoring most goals after touchdown: F. Parke Geyer, Oklahoma, 56 Player scoring most field goals: William T. Van de Graaff, Alabama, 11 Longest punt: Fritz Shiverick, Cornell, 86 yards, inclusive of roll of ball Longest run from kickoff: John Barrett, Washington & Lee, 101 yards Longest punt return: James DeHart, Pittsburgh, 105 yards Longest run from scrimmage: Dave Tayloe, North Carolina, and John R. Georgetown, 90 yards each
References