The 1939 College Football Season - Football History Rewind

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The Tumultuous 1939 College Football Season: Undefeated Champions and Surprising Twists

Despite lacking a universally recognized national champion, the 1939 college football season was anything but uneventful. It was a year marked by unexpected twists, dominant teams, and individual brilliance, impacting the sport's history.

A Season of Upsets and Contenders:

Pre-season favorites like Pitt and Notre Dame suffered surprising losses early in the season, shaking up the national landscape. Even the previous year's highly ranked team, TCU, lost at UCLA, 6–2, on September 29, spiraling the Horned Frogs to a losing season. The year saw the emergence of several strong contenders, including Tulane, Cornell, and Tennessee, all vying for the top spot.

The University of Tennessee's Volunteers completed a regular-season campaign of 10-0 and garnered an invitation to the Rose Bowl. The Vols were the defending national champions, and their run through the schedule in 1939 may have outdone the efforts of 1938. The 1939 Vols version is the last team in NCAA history to go undefeated, untied, and unscored upon in the regular season. Under Coach Robert Neyland's guidance, the team completed what would be their second of three consecutive undefeated regular seasons.

The USC Trojans still have their stalwart Coach Howard Jones, now in his fifteenth season. Southern Cal sported stars such as future College Football Hall of Fame inductee guard Harry Smith, who in '39 was a consensus first-team pick. Quarterback Grenny Lansdell was also an All-American lauded by a few publications. Southern Cal suffered a couple of regular season ties against rivals Oregon and UCLA but still bested the others on the West Coast to have the honor of attending the Rose Bowl.

USC emerged victorious in the Rose Bowl against a talented Tennessee team, boasting a solid defense. The Trojans blanked the Number 3 Vols 14-0 to finish 8-0-2 on the year.

The Big Red of Cornell University finished 8–0 and, per the Litkenhous System, were selected as the National Champions. The Big Red was also retroactively chosen as co-national champion in the Sagarin Ratings. Coach Carl Snavely's squad was invited to the 1940 Rose Bowl but declined the bid for academic reasons, as they wanted their players to catch up on their schoolwork after a long season.

Cornell's freshman team included a future College Football Hall of Fame tackle, Nick Drahos. Drahos was a consensus first-team selection on the 1939 All-America college football team and was inducted into the Hall in 1981.

Texas A&M Emerges Victorious:

The season culminated with the Texas A&M Aggies, led by consensus All-American fullback John Kimbrough, claiming the Associated Press (AP) national championship title. Their undefeated season, featuring a dominant win over a highly-ranked Tulane team 14-13 in the Sugar Bowl, has solidified their place as the top team in the eyes of many voters. The A&M squad went 11–0 and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 212 to 31.

The 1939 Texas A&M College Football team etched their name in history as one of the most dominant teams of their era. Led by a strong defense and a prolific offense, the Aggies marched through the season undefeated, culminating in a national championship victory.

Building a Dynasty Under Homer Norton:

This pinnacle of success wasn't a coincidence. Under the guidance of head coach Homer Norton, who entered his sixth year at the helm, the Aggies had been steadily building a winning culture. Norton's emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and a solid running game laid the foundation for the team's dominance.

A Season of Perfection: Shutouts and Offensive Exploits

The 1939 season was a masterclass in both defensive prowess and offensive efficiency. The Aggies boasted one of the nation's stingiest defenses, allowing a meager 1.6 points per game and shutting out six of their eleven opponents. This defensive dominance was anchored by a talented line led by tackle Joe Boyd, who served as team captain.
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Other Notable Teams and Performances:

Despite not being crowned national champions, several other teams had remarkable seasons. Iowa, led by Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick, finished with an impressive 6-1-1 record.

A Season of Controversy:

The lack of a unified governing body to declare a national champion in 1939 fueled the debate and controversy surrounding the top teams. This highlighted the need for a more centralized system to determine a definitive winner, ultimately leading to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) creation in the late 1990s.

A Pivotal Year for College Football:

Despite the lack of undisputed champions, the 1939 season was pivotal for college football. It showcased the sport's increasing depth and competitiveness, with multiple teams vying for national relevance. Additionally, it paved the way for future discussions and advancements in determining a national champion, shaping the landscape of college football as we know it today.