By Darin The 1926 American football season was a year of explosive growth, cross-country drama, and intense competition. It was highlighted by a legendary Rose Bowl matchup in college football and a massive expansion—followed by a fierce market correction—in the professional ranks.
1926 College Football: The Rose Bowl Classic
The college gridiron featured several powerhouse teams battling for supremacy, culminating in one of the most famous bowl games ever played.
- The Rose Bowl Tie (Alabama vs. Stanford): Stanford, coached by Pop Warner, and Alabama, led by Wallace Wade, both entered the 1927 Rose Bowl undefeated. The grueling, dramatic game ended in a 7–7 tie, leading both schools to be recognized as consensus national champions for the 1926 season.
- The Army-Navy Masterpiece: On November 27, an estimated 110,000 fans packed Chicago’s Soldier Field for its formal dedication game. Undefeated Navy battled Army to a spectacular 21–21 tie, a game widely considered one of the greatest in college football history. The Navy team also claimed a share of the national title from various selectors.
- The Shocking Upset: Knute Rockne’s powerhouse Notre Dame squad seemed destined for a perfect season until they traveled to play Carnegie Tech. In one of the sport’s biggest historic shocks, Carnegie Tech shut out the Fighting Irish 19–0.
1926 Professional Football: Expansion & Rival Leagues
Pro football experienced massive growing pains in 1926 as leagues fought for the public’s attention.
- The Frankford Yellow Jackets: Based out of Philadelphia, the Yellow Jackets captured the official NFL championship with an extraordinary 14–1–2 record. Because of Pennsylvania’s strict “blue laws” banning Sunday sports, the Yellow Jackets played their home games on Saturdays before frequently boarding a train that same night to play a road game on Sunday.
- The First AFL War: When Red Grange and his manager, C.C. Pyle, were denied an NFL franchise at Yankee Stadium, they formed the very first American Football League (AFL). Boasting nine teams—including Grange’s New York Yankees and the champion Philadelphia Quakers—the league competed directly with the NFL.
- The NFL Bloats to 22: In response to the AFL threat, the NFL expanded to a record 22 franchises, including the legendary Duluth Eskimos. Dubbed the “Iron Men of the North” and led by star fullback Ernie Nevers, the Eskimos played 28 of their 29 games on the road as a traveling attraction.
- The Aftermath: The market couldn’t sustain 31 pro teams. The AFL folded entirely at the end of the season, and the NFL aggressively purged its weaker franchises, shrinking down to 12 teams for 1927.
A Deep Dive into 1926 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1926 – The Rose Bowl game featured Alabama against Washington in a contest called “The Game That Changed The South.” The Tide won the game 20-19.
- January 1, 1926 – Pasadena, California – The first game was officially called the Rose Bowl.
- February 6, 1926 – George Halas led the passage of an NFL rule prohibiting the signing of players whose college class had not yet graduated, ensuring athletes completed their education before turning pro.
- November 27, 1926 – An estimated 110,000 fans packed Chicago’s Soldier Field for the annual Army-Navy game. Undefeated Navy battled Army to a spectacular 21–21 tie, a game widely considered one of the greatest in college football history. The game formally dedicated the stadium to the honor of World War I servicemen.
- December 4, 1926 – The Ottawa Senators edged the University of Toronto Blues 10-7 to keep the trophy at the 14th Grey Cup.
- December 19, 1926 – The National Football League Championship Game: The Frankford Yellow Jackets claimed the title with a 14-1-2 record.