The Poling System was a mathematical rating system used to rank college football teams. Its selections were published in the Football Review Supplement and several newspapers. The system was developed by Richard R. Poling (1908–1994), a native of Mansfield, Ohio who had played college football at Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Poling System is considered by the NCAA to have been a "major selector" of national championships for the years 1935–1984.
Champions The Poling System named contemporary champions from 1935 to 1984 and retroactively named champions from 1924 to 1934.
Season Champion(s) Record Coach Retrospective selections 1924 Notre Dame 10–0 Knute Rockne 1925 Alabama 10–0 Wallace Wade 1926 Alabama 9–0–1 Wallace Wade 1927 Georgia 9–1 George Cecil Woodruff 1928 Georgia Tech 10–0 William Alexander 1929 Notre Dame 9–0 Knute Rockne 1930 Notre Dame 10–0 Knute Rockne 1931 USC 10–1 Howard Jones 1932 USC 10–0 Howard Jones 1933 Michigan 7–0–1 Harry Kipke 1934 Alabama 10–0 Frank Thomas Poling's Football Ratings 1935 Minnesota 8–0 Bernie Bierman 1936 Minnesota 7–1 Bernie Bierman 1937 Pittsburgh 9–0–1 Jock Sutherland 1938 Tennessee 11–0 Robert Neyland 1939 Texas A&M 11–0 Homer Norton 1940 Stanford 10–0 Clark Shaughnessy 1941 Minnesota 8–0 Bernie Bierman 1942 Georgia 11–1 Wally Butts 1943 Notre Dame 9–1 Frank Leahy 1944 Army 9–0 Earl Blaik 1945 Army 9–0 Earl Blaik 1946 Army 9–0–1 Earl Blaik Notre Dame 8–0–1 Frank Leahy 1947 Michigan 10–0 Fritz Crisler 1948 Michigan 9–0 Bennie Oosterbaan 1949 Notre Dame 10–0 Frank Leahy 1950 Princeton 9–0 Charley Caldwell 1951 Michigan State 9–0 Biggie Munn 1952 Georgia Tech 12–0 Bobby Dodd 1953 Notre Dame 9–0–1 Frank Leahy 1954 Ohio State 10–0 Woody Hayes 1955 Oklahoma 11–0 Bud Wilkinson 1956 Oklahoma 10–0 Bud Wilkinson 1957 Auburn 10–0 Ralph Jordan 1958 LSU 11–0 Paul Dietzel 1959 Syracuse 11–0 Ben Schwartzwalder 1960 Missouri 11–0 Dan Devine 1961 Ohio State 8–0–1 Woody Hayes 1962 USC 11–0 John McKay 1963 Texas 11–0 Darrell Royal 1964 Arkansas 11–0 Frank Broyles 1965 Michigan State 10–1 Duffy Daugherty 1966 Notre Dame 9–0–1 Ara Parseghian 1967 Oklahoma 10–1 Chuck Fairbanks 1968 Ohio State 10–0 Woody Hayes 1969 Texas 11–0 Darrell Royal 1970 Arizona State 11–0 Frank Kush 1971 Nebraska 13–0 Bob Devaney 1972 USC 12–0 John McKay 1973 Michigan 10–0–1 Bo Schembechler Ohio State 10–0–1 Woody Hayes 1974 Oklahoma 11–0 Barry Switzer 1975 Ohio State 11–1 Woody Hayes 1976 Pittsburgh 12–0 Johnny Majors 1977 Notre Dame 11–1 Dan Devine 1978 Oklahoma 11–1 Barry Switzer 1979 Alabama 12–0 Paul "Bear" Bryant 1980 Georgia 12–0 Vince Dooley 1981 Clemson 12–0 Danny Ford 1982 Penn State 11–1 Joe Paterno 1983 Nebraska 12–1 Tom Osborne 1984 BYU 13–0 LaVell Edwards
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