The 1971 NCAA College Division football season was the 16th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA College Division level.
Conference standings
Rankings
College Division teams (also referred to as "small college") were ranked in polls by the AP (a panel of writers) and by UPI (coaches). The national champion(s) for each season were determined by the final poll rankings, published at or near the end of the regular season, before any bowl games were played.
Small college final polls Delaware, who during the regular season had defeated Rutgers, Villanova, and Boston University, averaged 40 points per game, and had a 9–1 record, was ranked first by both UPI and AP; both polls also ranked McNeese State (9–0–1) second, and Eastern Michigan (7–0–2) third."Delaware Named Best In Nation", Daily News (Huntingdon, Pa.), Nov. 24, 1971, p4"North Dakota Number Nine", Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minnesota), Nov. 24, 1971, p12
United Press International (coaches) final poll Published on November 24 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints1 Delaware 9–1 20 3062 McNeese State 9–0–1 5 2673 Eastern Michigan 7–0–2 3 2384 Tennessee State 8–1 1 1855 8–1 1306 11–0 957 Samford 8–1 788 8–1–1 2 759 Louisiana Tech 8–2 7410 9–1–1 48
Associated Press (writers) final poll Published on November 24 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints1 Delaware 9–1 9 2562 McNeese State 9–0–1 3 2333 Eastern Michigan 7–0–2 2014 Louisiana Tech 8–2 1535 Tennessee State 8–1 1 1506 Western Kentucky 8–2 967 Boise State 9–2 928 Akron 8–2 919 North Dakota 6–3–1 7210 11–0 46
Bowl games The postseason consisted of four bowl games as regional finals, all played on December 11. This was the first year for the Pioneer Bowl; it succeeded the Pecan Bowl, which had been played in Arlington, Texas.
Top-ranked Delaware met in the Boardwalk Bowl; played indoors at Convention Hall, Delaware won by 50 points in a rout. The next two teams in the polls both lost; Eastern Michigan was defeated by Louisiana Tech in the Pioneer Bowl, and McNeese State fell to Tennessee State—led by future National Football League quarterback Joe Gilliam—in the Grantland Rice Bowl. Out west in the Camellia Bowl, Boise State mounted a 25–0 fourth quarter comeback to defeat Chico State. Bowl RegionLocation Winning team Losing team RefBoardwalkEastAtlantic City, New JerseyDelaware7222Grantland RiceMideastBaton Rouge, LouisianaTennessee State26McNeese State23PioneerMidwestWichita Falls, TexasLouisiana Tech14Eastern Michigan3CamelliaWestSacramento, CaliforniaBoise State32Chico State28
See also 1971 NCAA University Division football season 1971 NAIA Division I football season 1971 NAIA Division II football season
References