The Williamson System was a mathematical system used to rank college football teams. The system was created by Paul B. Williamson, a geologist and member of the Sugar Bowl committee.
The NCAA college football records book includes the Williamson System as a "major selector" of national championships for the years 1932-1963.
Paul Williamson died in 1955. His son Mitch Williamson subsequently took up his father's syndicated column for the 1955–1963 seasons.
National champions
The following teams were ranked No. 1 by the Williamson System for the 1932–1963 college football seasons.
The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book contains five apparent errors in its listing of Williamson System champions. The following table contains the contemporary champions syndicated by Paul Williamson. The NCAA record book's errors are documented in the Notes column.
Season Champion Record Coach Notes 1932 USC 10–0 Howard Jones 1933 USC 10–1–1 Howard Jones 1934 Alabama 10–0 Frank Thomas 1935 TCU 12–1 Dutch Meyer 1936 Minnesota 7–1 Bernie Bierman 1937 California 10–0–1 Stub Allison 1938 TCU 11–0 Dutch Meyer Tennessee 11–0 Robert Neyland 1939 Texas A&M 11–0 Homer Norton 1940 Stanford 10–0 Clark Shaughnessy 1941 Texas 8–1–1 Dana X. Bible 1942 Georgia 10–1 Wally Butts 1943 Notre Dame 9–1 Frank Leahy 1944 Army 9–0 Earl Blaik 1945 Army 9–0 Earl Blaik 1946 Georgia 11–0 Wally Butts 1947 Notre Dame 9–0 Frank Leahy 1948 Michigan 9–0 Bennie Oosterbaan 1949 Notre Dame 10–0 Frank Leahy 1950 Oklahoma 10–1 Bud Wilkinson 1951 Tennessee 10–1 Robert Neyland 1952 Michigan State 9–0 Biggie Munn 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 Ole Miss 10–0–1 Johnny Vaught 1961 Alabama 11–0 Bear Bryant 1962 USC 11–0 John McKay 1963 Texas 11–0 Darrell Royal
References