The 1927 Southern Conference football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Conference as part of the 1927 college football season. The season began on September 17. Games were permitted after Thanksgiving for the first time in the conference.
Georgia's "dream and wonder team" was deemed the national champion by some selectors (the Boand System and Poling System), even though it was upset 12–0 in the rain at the end of the season by would-be SoCon champion Georgia Tech. Prior to the game, Georgia was ranked #1 by the authoritative Dickinson System.
Coach Robert Neyland's Tennessee and Jack McDowall-led North Carolina State also posted undefeated conference records and had claims to conference titles.
Vanderbilt back Jimmy Armistead led the nation in scoring with 138 points, in no small part due to quarterback Bill Spears. One fellow wrote Vanderbilt produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927."
After Florida had an unexpected loss to Davidson, captain Frank Oosterhoudt was declared ineligible, and replaced at captain by Bill Middlekauff. With Middlekauff at captain, Florida suffered its only further losses to powers Georgia and NC State.
Ole Miss won the first Egg Bowl with a trophy in 1927, led by players Ap Applewhite, Sollie Cohen and V. K. Smith. Clemson hired Josh Cody.
Season overview Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG1 (tie)Georgia TechWilliam Alexander8–1–17–0–112.53.91 (tie)TennesseeRobert Neyland8–15–0–127.22.91 (tie)NC State Gus Tebell9–14–021.66.94 GeorgiaKid Woodruff9–16–124.83.85VanderbiltDan McGugin8–1–25–0–226.88.56FloridaTom Sebring7–35–216.49.67Ole MissHomer Hazel 5–3–13–219.78.98 (tie)VirginiaGreasy Neale5–44–413.013.68 (tie)ClemsonJosh Cody5–3–12–28.19.310 AlabamaWallace Wade5–4–13–4–1 15.47.311LSUMike Donahue4–4–12–3–114.29.212 (tie)Mississippi A&MJohn W. Hancock5–32–311.66.812 (tie)VPIAndy Gustafson5–42–313.95.312 (tie)Washington and LeePat Herron4–4–12–310.89.815MarylandCurley Byrd4–73–516.913.116 (tie)VMIW. C. Raftery6–42–414.46.416 (tie)South Carolina Harry Lightsey4–62–45.119.118Tulane Bernie Bierman2–5–12–5–17.015.019North CarolinaChuck Collins4–62–58.610.720SewaneeM. S. Bennett2–61–49.818.421KentuckyHarry Gamage3–6–11–511.516.122AuburnDave Morey0–7–20–6–13.313.8 Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game
Regular season Index to colors and formattingNon-conference matchup; SoCon member wonNon-conference matchup; SoCon member lostNon-conference matchup; tieConference matchup SoCon teams in bold.
Week One Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceSeptember 17 VMIAlumni Field • Lexington, VirginiaW 37–0
Week Two Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference September 24MillsapsAlabamaDenny Field • Tuscaloosa, Alabama W 46–0 September 24StetsonAuburn Drake Field • Auburn, AlabamaL 6–0 September 24FloridaFleming Field • Gainesville, FloridaW 26–7 September 24ClemsonRiggs Field • Calhoun, South CarolinaT 0–0 September 24Kentucky Stoll Field • Lexington, KentuckyT 6–6 September 24Louisiana TechLSU Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LouisianaW 45–0 September 24Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, MarylandW 79–0 September 24Ole Miss Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MississippiW 58–0 September 24Wake ForestNorth CarolinaEmerson Field • Chapel Hill, North CarolinaL 9–812,000September 24NC StateRiddick Stadium • Raleigh, North CarolinaW 39–0 September 24SewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TennesseeW 34–6 September 24South CarolinaMelton Field • Columbia, South CarolinaW 13–6 September 24TennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeW 33–0 September 24VanderbiltChattanoogaChamberlain Field • Chattanooga, TennesseeW 45–18 September 24VirginiaLambeth Field • Charlottesville, Virginia W 38–6 September 24RichmondVMIAlumni Field • Lexington, VirginiaW 22–0 September 24RoanokeVPIMiles Stadium • Blacksburg, VirginiaW 21–2 September 24Washington & Lee Wilson Field • Lexington, VirginiaW 27–2
Week Three Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference September 30Southwestern (TN)AlabamaDenny Field • Tuscaloosa, AlabamaW 31–0 September 30NC StateFurmanManly Field • Greenville, South CarolinaL 20–03,000 October 1 Auburn ClemsonRiggs Field • Calhoun, South CarolinaCLEM 3–0 October 1DavidsonFloridaFleming Field • Gainesville, FloridaL 12–07,000 October 1VMIGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaGT 7–017,000October 1IndianaKentuckyStoll Field • Lexington, KentuckyL 21–0 October 1Southwestern LouisianaLSUTiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LouisianaW 52–0 October 1Ole MissTulaneTulane Stadium • New Orleans, LouisianaTUL 19–7 October 1Birmingham–SouthernMississippi A&MScott Field • Starkville, MississippiW 19–7 October 1South CarolinaMarylandByrd Stadium • College Park, MarylandMD 26–0 October 1SewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TennesseeL 7–0 October 1TennesseeNorth CarolinaEmerson Field • Chapel Hill, North CarolinaTENN 26–07,000October 1VanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeW 39–10 October 1VirginiaGeorgiaSanford Field • Athens, GeorgiaUGA 32–0 October 1Hampden–SydneyVPIMiles Stadium • Blacksburg, VirginiaW 13–0 October 1Washington & LeeWest VirginiaLaidley Field • Charleston, West VirginiaT 6–6
Week Four Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 7 Ole MissHemingway Stadium • Oxford, MississippiT 0–0 October 8LSUAlabamaRickwood Field • Birmingham, AlabamaT 0–012,000October 8FloridaAuburnDrake Field • Auburn, AlabamaFLA 33–6 October 8 GeorgiaYaleYale Bowl • New Haven, ConnecticutW 14–10 October 8TulaneGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaGT 13–612,000October 8KentuckyStoll Field • Lexington, KentuckyW 13–7 October 8MarylandNorth CarolinaEmerson Field • Chapel Hill, North CarolinaUNC 7–6 October 8Louisiana TechMississippi A&MScott Field • Starkville, MississippiW 14–0 October 8SewaneeTexas A&MFair Park Stadium • Dallas, TexasL 18–06,000October 8Maryville (TN)TennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeW 7–0 October 8VanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeW 53–6 October 8South CarolinaVirginiaLambeth Field • Charlottesville, VirginiaSCAR 13–12 October 8VPIColgateWhitnall Field • Hamilton, New York W 6–0 October 8RoanokeVMIAlumni Field • Lexington, VirginiaW 32–0 October 8DukeWashington & LeeWilson Field • Lexington, VirginiaW 12–7
Week Five Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference October 13ErskineClemsonRiggs Field • Calhoun, South CarolinaW 25–6 October 13Wake ForestNC StateRiddick Stadium • Raleigh, North CarolinaW 30–7 October 15AlabamaGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaGT 13–025,000October 15LSUAuburnCramton Bowl • Montgomery, AlabamaLSU 9–0 October 15KentuckyFloridaDurkee Field • Jacksonville, FloridaFLA 27–610,000 October 15FurmanGeorgiaSanford Field • Athens, GeorgiaW 32–0 October 15VPIMarylandLeague Park • Norfolk, Virginia MD 13–7 October 15Ole MissTennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeTENN 21–7 October 15Mississippi A&MTulaneTulane Stadium • New Orleans, LouisianaMSA&M 13–6 October 15North CarolinaSouth CarolinaMelton Field • Columbia, South CarolinaSCAR 14–67,000October 15VanderbiltTexasFair Park Stadium • Dallas, TexasL 13–610,000October 15VMIVirginiaLambeth Field • Charlottesville, VirginiaUVA 13–8
Week Six Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference October 20 Clemson South Carolina State Fairgrounds • Columbia, South Carolina CLEM 20–0 13,000October 22SewaneeAlabamaRickwood Field • Birmingham, AlabamaALA 24–0 October 22AuburnGeorgiaMemorial Stadium • Columbus, Georgia UGA 33–3 October 22NC StateFloridaPlant Field • Tampa, FloridaNCST 12–6 7,000October 22North CarolinaGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaGT 13–013,000October 22Mississippi A&MLSUMississippi State Fairgrounds • Jackson, Mississippi LSU 9–7 October 22Maryland VMITate Field • Richmond, VirginiaMD 10–6 October 22TransylvaniaTennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeW 57–0 October 22TulaneVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeVAN 32–0 October 22VPIVirginiaLambeth Field • Charlottesville, VirginiaUVA 7–0 October 22Washington & LeeKentuckyStoll Field • Lexington, KentuckyW&L 25–0
Week Seven Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 27South CarolinaThe CitadelCounty Fairgrounds • Orangeburg, South CarolinaW 6–0 October 29Mississippi A&MAlabamaDenny Field • Tuscaloosa, AlabamaALA 13–77,000October 29AuburnHoward (AL)Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AlabamaT 9–9 October 29ClemsonRiggs Field • Calhoun, South CarolinaW 6–0 October 29Mercer FloridaFleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 32–6 9,000October 29GeorgiaTulaneTulane Stadium • New Orleans, LouisianaUGA 31–0 October 29Georgia TechNotre DameCartier Field • South Bend, Indiana L 26–720,000October 29ArkansasLSUState Fair Stadium • Shreveport, LouisianaL 28–012,000October 29Washington & LeeMarylandByrd Stadium • College Park, MarylandW&L 13–6 October 29Ole MissSewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TennesseeMISS 28–14 October 29North CarolinaNC StateRiddick Stadium • Raleigh, North CarolinaNCST 19–618,000October 29VPIChattanoogaChamberlain Field • Chattanooga, TennesseeL 14–13 October 29VirginiaTennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeTENN 42–0 October 29KentuckyVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeVAN 34–66,000October 29VMIDavidsonRichardson Field • Davidson, North Carolina W 20–0
Week Eight Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 5KentuckyAlabamaRickwood Field • Birmingham, AlabamaALA 21–6 November 5 AuburnTulaneTulane Stadium • New Orleans, LouisianaT 6–6 November 5ClemsonThe CitadelJohnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina W 13–0 November 5GeorgiaFloridaDurkee Field • Jacksonville, FloridaUGA 28–016,000November 5LSUOle MissHemingway Stadium • Oxford, MississippiMISS 12–7 November 5MarylandYaleYale Bowl • New Haven, ConnecticutL 30–6 November 5North CarolinaVMIAlumni Field • Lexington, VirginiaVMI 7–0 November 5South CarolinaVPITate Field • Richmond, VirginiaVPI 35–0 November 5SewaneeTennesseeShields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TennesseeTENN 32–12 November 5VirginiaWashington & LeeWilson Field • Lexington, VirginiaUVA 13–7 November 6VanderbiltGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaT 0–017,000
Week Nine Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 11Loyola (IL)Ole MissLeague Park • Jackson, MississippiL 7–6 November 12FloridaAlabamaCramton Bowl • Montgomery, AlabamaFLA 13–6 November 12 Mississippi A&MAuburnRickwood Field • Birmingham, AlabamaMSA&M 7–6 November 12ClemsonGeorgiaSanford Field • Athens, GeorgiaUGA 32–0 November 12LSUGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaGT 23–0 November 12KentuckyVMILaidley Field • Charleston, West VirginiaUK 25–0 November 12DavidsonNorth CarolinaKenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North CarolinaW 27–09,000November 12NC StateDukeHanes Field • Durham, North CarolinaW 20–18 November 13South CarolinaFurmanManly Field • Greenville, South CarolinaL 10–7 November 12TennesseeVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeT 7–7 November 12SewaneeTulaneTulane Stadium • New Orleans, LouisianaSEW 12–69,000November 12MarylandVirginiaLambeth Field • Charlottesville, VirginiaUVA 21–0 November 12Washington & LeeVPIMiles Stadium • Blacksburg, VirginiaVPI 21–0
Week Ten Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 18MillsapsMississippi A&MScott Field • Starkville, MississippiW 6–0 November 19MercerGeorgiaSanford Field • Athens, GeorgiaW 26–7 November 19OglethorpeGeorgia TechGrant Field • Atlanta, GeorgiaW 19–7 November 19KentuckyCentreFarris Stadium • Danville, KentuckyW 530 November 19North CarolinaDukeHanes Field • Durham, North CarolinaW 18–0 November 19MarylandVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TennesseeVAN 39–205,000
Week Eleven