1926 college football season
The 1926 college football season was led by Stanford, coached by Pop Warner. Stanford finished undefeated at 10-0 and was ranked No. 1 by the Dickinson System, earning the then-new Rissman Trophy as the season’s top team. Stanford and Alabama, both undefeated, met in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the game ended in a 7-7 tie.
Other strong teams included Navy (9-0-1) and Lafayette (9-0). Notre Dame also had key moments, defeating Army 7-0 at Yankee Stadium on November 13, and later beating USC 13-12 on December 4. Notre Dame began the season strong as well, with notable big wins earlier on.
The season’s only bowl game was the Rose Bowl, played January 1, 1927, in Pasadena, with a record 68,000 in attendance.
National champions after the season are a matter of retroactive rankings and debate. Different systems rewarded different teams:
- Stanford and Alabama named co-champions by Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation, and Jeff Sagarin’s Elo chess method.
- Alabama named the sole champion by Berryman QPRS, Billingsley Report, College Football Researchers Association, and Poling System.
- Navy was named champion by Boand System and Houlgate System.
- Lafayette was named champion by Parke H. Davis in Spalding’s Official Foot Ball Guide (1934).
- Michigan was named champion by Jeff Sagarin’s Predictor.
The 1926 season is remembered for its dramatic Rose Bowl and the unsettled discussion over the national championship, with several teams receiving retrospective honors.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:49 (CET).