Football History Rewind Part 70

Our year-by-year look at the history of American football takes us to the 1932 College Football season. We dive into the top teams, and big games of the season.

1932 was still in an era where some schools and conferences did not believe in post season play, not did they allow their teams to participate in it. The Big Nine, predecessor of the Big 10 Conference, was one of these entities that disapproved of bowl games.The 1932 college football season saw the Michigan Wolverines win the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the math-based Dickinson System. The Big Nine's staunch position did not permit its teams to play in the postseason so the Wolverines were not able to accept a bid to the Rose Bowl that year.

That opened the door for the No. 2 and No. 3 teams to compete on Pasadena at New Years. USC and Pittsburgh, with the USC Trojans winning the east–west matchup 35–0. The other four contemporary math system selectors (the Boand, Dunkel, Houlgate, and Williamson Systems) all selected USC as national champions.

There were other teams that deserved consideration though as we look back. 

Here are some source articles we have found that bring their causes to light.

The level of football played by colleges and universities mostly by NCAA rules and guidelines. Enjoy the history of the collegiate brand of the gridiron!

1932 college football season

The 1932 college football season at a glance. NCAAF 1932

More Information

1932 Colgate Football

Comparison to Today - Undefeated, Untied, Unscored Upon, and Uninvited: The 1932 Colgate Football Team. NCAAF 1932

More Information

1932 College Football National Championship from Tip Top 25

The Champions of the 1932 College Football season in the opinion of experts. NCAAF 1932

More Information

Tip Top 25 look at 1932 College Football ‣ 1932 College Football

The website Tip-Top 25 refreshes the look at the 1932 College football season and places it in the context of modern-day ranking polls. NCAAF 1932

More Information

Special Thanks to the book of Football: A College History by Perrin, Newspapers.com, TipTop25.com and RetroSeasons.com for the information and inspiration.

Banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of A football with an ink sketch of Gerald Ford and plastic stick-on letters state the scores of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry from 1932-34 (Gerald R. Ford's three years on the Michigan varsity).