The 1972 NCAA College Division football season was the 17th and final season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA College Division level.
Conference realignment Membership changes School 1971 conference 1972 conference Newark State New program New Jersey State William Paterson New program New Jersey State
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 polls Both the UPI and AP panels ranked Delaware (10–0) first, followed by Louisiana Tech (11–0), and Cal Poly (8–0–1)."UPI Names Delaware College Div. Grid King", Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 24, 1972, p19"AP Poll Picks Hens as Little Big Men", Pacific Stars and Stripes, Nov. 25, 1972, p19 Louisiana Tech later defeated in the Grantland Rice Bowl, while Cal Poly lost to North Dakota in the Camellia Bowl. Delaware declined an invitation to face UMass (7–2) in the Boardwalk Bowl, and did not play in the postseason.
United Press International (coaches) final poll Published on November 22 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints 1 Delaware 10–0 21 334 2 Louisiana Tech 11–0 12 310 3 Cal Poly 8–0–1 1 239 4 South Dakota 9–1 1 193 5 Tennessee State 9–1 184 6 North Dakota 9–1 148 7 Ashland 11–0 104 8 10–1 98 9 Grambling 8–2 68 10 9–1 46
Associated Press (writers) final poll Published on November 23 RankSchool RecordNo. 1votesTotalpoints 1 Delaware 10–0 9 272 2 Louisiana Tech 11–0 4 237 3 Cal Poly 8–0–1 197 4 Ashland 11–0 1 195 5 Tennessee State 8–1 164 T6 South Dakota 9–1 1 144 T6 North Dakota 9–1 144 T8 Grambling 8–2 76 T8 7–2–1 76 T10 9–1 55 T10 McNeese State 8–2 55 Tennessee State actually 9–1 when the poll was taken.
Bowl games The postseason consisted of four bowl games as regional finals, all played on December 10. Bowl RegionLocation Winning team Losing team RefBoardwalkEastAtlantic City, New JerseyUMass35UC Davis14Grantland RiceMideastBaton Rouge, LouisianaLouisiana Tech350PioneerMidwestWichita Falls, TexasTennessee State29Drake7CamelliaWestSacramento, CaliforniaNorth Dakota38Cal Poly21
Black college national championship Grambling defeated North Carolina Central in the inaugural Pelican Bowl to capture the black college football national championship.
See also 1972 NCAA University Division football season 1972 NAIA Division I football season 1972 NAIA Division II football season
References