The Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system was a mathematical system used to rank football and basketball teams. The Litrating system was developed by Vanderbilt University professor Edward Earl ("E.E.") Litkenhous Jr. (1907 – December 22, 1984) and his brother, Francis H. Litkenhous (December 9, 1912 – June 22, 1996).
Edward Litkenhous (1907-1984) received an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He began his career as a professor of chemical engineering at the Speed Scientific School of the University of Louisville. He later became a professor at Vanderbilt University and served as head of that school's engineering department. He died in 1984.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football records book includes the Litkenhous Ratings as a "major selector" of college football national championships for the seasons 1934 through 1984.
College football national champions
Teams in the following table were ranked No. 1 by the Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system.
The NCAA records book credits Litkenhous as a "major selector" for the seasons 1934 through 1984, and credits the system with 51 total rankings. However no selections are listed in the NCAA records book for six seasons: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1980.
Season Champion Record Litrating Notes 1934 Minnesota 8–0 103.0 1935 Minnesota 8–0 100.0 1936 Minnesota 7–1 96.4 1937 Pittsburgh 9–0–1 100.0 1938 Tennessee 11–0 100.0 1939 Cornell 8–0 96.2 1940 Minnesota 8–0 100.1 1941 Minnesota 8–0 101.1 1942 Georgia 11–1 112.2 1943 Notre Dame 9–1 131.9 1944 Army 9–0 141.8 1945 Army 9–0 133.0 1946 Notre Dame 8–0–1 114.7 1947 Michigan 10–0 114.0 1948 Michigan 9–0 114.1 1949 Notre Dame 10–0 117.7 1950 Oklahoma 10–1 105.6 1951 Tennessee 10–1 114.0 1952 Michigan State 9–0 115.1 1953 Notre Dame 9–0–1 110.4 1954 UCLA 9–0 115.3 1955 Oklahoma 11–0 109.2 1956 Oklahoma 10–0 116.3 1957 Ohio State 9–1 106.7 1958 LSU 11–0 109.9 1959 Syracuse 11–0 111.0 1960 Iowa 8–1 112.8 1961 Alabama 11–0 113.5 1962 Ole Miss 10–0 107.3 1963 Texas 11–0 104.7 1964 Alabama 10–1 104.9 1965 Michigan State 10–1 114.0 1966 Notre Dame 9–0–1 113.8 1967 Tennessee 9–2 103.0 1968 Georgia 8–1–2 111.4 1969 Texas 10–0 117.3 1970 Texas 10–1 124.0 1971 Nebraska 13–0 120.6 1972 USC 12–0 119.2 1973 † Alabama 11–1 123.0 1974 Oklahoma 11–0 1975 † Ohio State 11–1 114.3 1976 † Michigan 10–2 115.2 1977 † Texas 11–1 1978 Alabama 11-1 1979 † 1980 † 1981 Clemson 12-0 1982 Nebraska † Penn St 12–111-1 1983 Nebraska 12–1 145.8 1984 Nebraska 10-2
† Years where Litkenhous selection is omitted from the NCAA records book.
Litkenhous trophy
The No. 1 team in the year's final ranking was awarded the Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy. The traveling trophy took the form of a huge wooden plaque and bronze mural by artist Marion Junkin.
The trophy plaque is engraved with the winners for 1934–1962. Ole Miss was evidently the last Litkenhous champion to receive the trophy; the trophy is still held today at the University of Mississippi.
Further reading
The Mysterious Dr. Litkenhous
References