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1959 major college football rankings

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FieldValue
season1959
preseason_number_1[LSU](1959-lsu-tigers-football-team)
champions[Syracuse](1959-syracuse-orangemen-football-team)

Two human polls comprised the 1959 major college football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

Legend

Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

AP poll

The final AP poll was released on December 7, at the end of the 1959 regular season, weeks before the major bowls.

|Week1-1 = LSU (60) |Week1-2 = Oklahoma (48) |Week1-3 = Auburn (17) |Week1-4 = SMU (6) |Week1-5 = Army (4) |Week1-6 = Wisconsin (10) |Week1-7 = Ohio State (2) |Week1-8 = Ole Miss (5) |Week1-9 = Iowa (4) |Week1-10 = Northwestern (6) |Week1-11 = Purdue (2) |Week1-12 = North Carolina (6) |Week1-13 = TCU (2) |Week1-14 = South Carolina (4) |Week1-15 = Air Force (1) |Week1-16 = Notre Dame (3) |Week1-17 = Texas |Week1-18 = Clemson (1) |Week1-19 = Michigan State (1) |Week1-20 = Syracuse |Week2-1 = LSU (1–0) (64) |Week2-1-Color = |Week2-2 = Oklahoma (0–0) (12) |Week2-2-Color = |Week2-3 = Auburn (0–0) (6) |Week2-3-Color = |Week2-4 = Ole Miss (1–0) (6) |Week2-4-Color = u |Week2-5 = Clemson (1–0) |Week2-5-Color = u |Week2-6 = SMU (0–0) |Week2-6-Color = d |Week2-7 = Army (0–0) |Week2-7-Color = d |Week2-8 = Wisconsin (0–0) |Week2-8-Color = d |Week2-9 = TCU (1–0) |Week2-9-Color = u |Week2-10 = Northwestern (0–0) |Week2-10-Color = |Week2-11 = USC (1–0) (4) |Week2-11-Color = npr |Week2-12 = Ohio State (0–0) |Week2-12-Color = d |Week2-13 = Iowa (0–0) т |Week2-13-Color = td |Week2-14 = Navy (1–0) т |Week2-14-Color = npr |Week2-15 = Texas (1–0) |Week2-15-Color = u |Week2-16 = Georgia Tech (1–0) |Week2-16-Color = npr |Week2-17 = Georgia (1–0) |Week2-17-Color = npr |Week2-18 = Penn State (1–0) (2) |Week2-18-Color = npr |Week2-19 = Florida (1–0) |Week2-19-Color = npr |Week2-20 = South Carolina (1–0) |Week2-20-Color = d |Week3-1 = LSU (2–0) (48) |Week3-1-Color = |Week3-2 = Northwestern (1–0) (20) |Week3-2-Color = u |Week3-3 = Ole Miss (2–0) (4) |Week3-3-Color = u |Week3-4 = Army (1–0) |Week3-4-Color = u |Week3-5 = Iowa (1–0) (4) |Week3-5-Color = u |Week3-6 = Clemson (2–0) (7) |Week3-6-Color = d |Week3-7 = Georgia Tech (2–0) |Week3-7-Color = u |Week3-8 = Notre Dame (1–0) (1) |Week3-8-Color = npr |Week3-9 = Tennessee (1–0) |Week3-9-Color = npr |Week3-10 = Texas (2–0) |Week3-10-Color = u |Week3-11 = USC (2–0) (1) |Week3-11-Color = |Week3-12 = Wisconsin (1–0) |Week3-12-Color = d |Week3-13 = Georgia (2–0) |Week3-13-Color = u |Week3-14 = Ohio State (1–0) |Week3-14-Color = d |Week3-15 = Navy (2–0) |Week3-15-Color = d |Week3-16 = South Carolina (2–0) |Week3-16-Color = u |Week3-17 = Auburn (0–1) |Week3-17-Color = d |Week3-18 = Air Force (1–0) |Week3-18-Color = npr |Week3-19 = Florida (2–0) |Week3-19-Color = |Week3-20 = Syracuse (1–0) |Week3-20-Color = npr |Week4-1 = LSU (3–0) (69) |Week4-1-Color = |Week4-2 = Northwestern (2–0) (30) |Week4-2-Color = |Week4-3 = Georgia Tech (3–0) |Week4-3-Color = u |Week4-4 = Texas (3–0) |Week4-4-Color = u |Week4-5 = Ole Miss (3–0) (2) |Week4-5-Color = d |Week4-6 = USC (3–0) (9) |Week4-6-Color = u |Week4-7 = Purdue (1–0–1) |Week4-7-Color = npr |Week4-8 = Tennessee (2–0) |Week4-8-Color = u |Week4-9 = Wisconsin (2–0) |Week4-9-Color = u |Week4-10 = Iowa (1–1) |Week4-10-Color = d |Week4-11 = South Carolina (3–0) (3) |Week4-11-Color = u |Week4-12 = Syracuse (2–0) (1) |Week4-12-Color = u |Week4-13 = Oklahoma (1–1) (2) |Week4-13-Color = npr |Week4-14 = Auburn (1–1) |Week4-14-Color = u |Week4-15 = SMU (1–1) |Week4-15-Color = npr |Week4-16 = Penn State (3–0) (2) |Week4-16-Color = npr |Week4-17 = Florida (3–0) |Week4-17-Color = u |Week4-18 = Air Force (2–0) |Week4-18-Color = |Week4-19 = Arkansas (3–0) |Week4-19-Color = npr |Week4-20 = Illinois (1–1) |Week4-20-Color = npr |Week5-1 = LSU (4–0) (83) |Week5-1-Color = |Week5-2 = Northwestern (3–0) (10) |Week5-2-Color = |Week5-3 = Texas (4–0) (10) |Week5-3-Color = u |Week5-4 = Georgia Tech (4–0) (6) |Week5-4-Color = d |Week5-5 = Ole Miss (4–0) (6) |Week5-5-Color = |Week5-6 = Purdue (2–0–1) (5) |Week5-6-Color = u |Week5-7 = USC (3–0) (7) |Week5-7-Color = d |Week5-8 = Syracuse (3–0) (2) |Week5-8-Color = u |Week5-9 = Iowa (2–1) (5) |Week5-9-Color = u |Week5-10 = Penn State (4–0) (4) |Week5-10-Color = u |Week5-11 = Auburn (2–1) (1) |Week5-11-Color = u |Week5-12 = Arkansas (4–0) |Week5-12-Color = u |Week5-13 = Illinois (2–1) |Week5-13-Color = u |Week5-14 = Tennessee (2–1) |Week5-14-Color = d |Week5-15 = Clemson (3–1) т |Week5-15-Color = tnpr |Week5-16 = SMU (2–1) т |Week5-16-Color = |Week5-17 = Air Force (3–0) |Week5-17-Color = u |Week5-18 = Washington (4–0) |Week5-18-Color = npr |Week5-19 = Florida (3–0–1) |Week5-19-Color = d |Week5-20 = Pittsburgh (3–1) |Week5-20-Color = npr |Week6-1 = LSU (5–0) (68) |Week6-1-Color = |Week6-2 = Northwestern (4–0) (23) |Week6-2-Color = |Week6-3 = Texas (5–0) (8) |Week6-3-Color = |Week6-4 = Ole Miss (5–0) (18) |Week6-4-Color = u |Week6-5 = USC (4–0) (12) |Week6-5-Color = u |Week6-6 = Syracuse (4–0) (4) |Week6-6-Color = u |Week6-7 = Auburn (3–1) (5) |Week6-7-Color = u |Week6-8 = Penn State (5–0) (3) |Week6-8-Color = u |Week6-9 = Georgia Tech (4–1) |Week6-9-Color = d |Week6-10 = Arkansas (4–1) (1) |Week6-10-Color = u |Week6-11 = Oregon (5–0) (1) |Week6-11-Color = npr |Week6-12 = Wisconsin (3–1) |Week6-12-Color = npr |Week6-13 = Illinois (3–1) |Week6-13-Color = |Week6-14 = Purdue (2–1–1) |Week6-14-Color = d |Week6-15 = Iowa (2–2) |Week6-15-Color = d |Week6-16 = TCU (3–2) |Week6-16-Color = npr |Week6-17 = Clemson (3–1) |Week6-17-Color = d |Week6-18 = Oklahoma (3–2) |Week6-18-Color = npr |Week6-19 = Yale (4–0) (1) |Week6-19-Color = npr |Week6-20 = Ohio State (2–0) |Week6-20-Color = npr |Week7-1 = LSU (6–0) (71) |Week7-1-Color = |Week7-2 = Northwestern (5–0) (25) |Week7-2-Color = |Week7-3 = Ole Miss (6–0) (46) |Week7-3-Color = u |Week7-4 = Texas (6–0) (6) |Week7-4-Color = d |Week7-5 = Syracuse (5–0) (11) |Week7-5-Color = u |Week7-6 = USC (5–0) (6) |Week7-6-Color = d |Week7-7 = Penn State (6–0) (6) |Week7-7-Color = u |Week7-8 = Auburn (4–1) (5) |Week7-8-Color = d |Week7-9 = Georgia Tech (5–1) (1) |Week7-9-Color = |Week7-10 = Wisconsin (4–1) (2) |Week7-10-Color = u |Week7-11 = Purdue (3–1–1) |Week7-11-Color = u |Week7-12 = Clemson (4–1) (2) |Week7-12-Color = u |Week7-13 = Yale (5–0) (1) |Week7-13-Color = u |Week7-14 = Georgia (5–1) |Week7-14-Color = npr |Week7-15 = TCU (4–2) |Week7-15-Color = u |Week7-16 = Oregon (5–1) |Week7-16-Color = d |Week7-17 = Arkansas (4–2) т |Week7-17-Color = td |Week7-18 = Washington (5–1) т |Week7-18-Color = npr |Week7-19 = Oklahoma (4–2) |Week7-19-Color = d |Week7-20 = Tennessee (3–1–1) |Week7-20-Color = npr |Week8-1 = LSU (7–0) (132) |Week8-1-Color = |Week8-2 = Northwestern (6–0) (30) |Week8-2-Color = |Week8-3 = Texas (7–0) (6) |Week8-3-Color = u |Week8-4 = Syracuse (6–0) (14) |Week8-4-Color = u |Week8-5 = Ole Miss (6–1) (1) |Week8-5-Color = d |Week8-6 = USC (6–0) (4) |Week8-6-Color = |Week8-7 = Penn State (7–0) (8) |Week8-7-Color = |Week8-8 = Auburn (5–1) (3) |Week8-8-Color = |Week8-9 = Wisconsin (5–1) (2) |Week8-9-Color = u |Week8-10 = Clemson (5–1) (2) |Week8-10-Color = u |Week8-11 = Georgia (6–1) |Week8-11-Color = u |Week8-12 = Washington (6–1) |Week8-12-Color = u |Week8-13 = Tennessee (4–1–1) |Week8-13-Color = u |Week8-14 = Purdue (3–1–2) |Week8-14-Color = d |Week8-15 = Oregon (6–1) |Week8-15-Color = u |Week8-16 = Arkansas (5–2) |Week8-16-Color = u |Week8-17 = TCU (5–2) |Week8-17-Color = d |Week8-18 = Air Force (4–1–1) |Week8-18-Color = npr |Week8-19 = Georgia Tech (5–2) |Week8-19-Color = d |Week8-20 = North Texas State (7–0) |Week8-20-Color = npr |Week9-1 = Syracuse (7–0) (111) |Week9-1-Color = u |Week9-2 = Texas (8–0) (85) |Week9-2-Color = u |Week9-3 = LSU (7–1) (13) |Week9-3-Color = d |Week9-4 = USC (7–0) (14) |Week9-4-Color = u |Week9-5 = Ole Miss (7–1) (14) |Week9-5-Color = |Week9-6 = Northwestern (6–1) (2) |Week9-6-Color = d |Week9-7 = Wisconsin (6–1) (19) |Week9-7-Color = u |Week9-8 = Auburn (6–1) (9) |Week9-8-Color = |Week9-9 = Tennessee (5–1–1) (4) |Week9-9-Color = u |Week9-10 = Penn State (7–1) |Week9-10-Color = d |Week9-11 = Clemson (6–1) (3) |Week9-11-Color = d |Week9-12 = Georgia (7–1) (2) |Week9-12-Color = d |Week9-13 = Washington (7–1) |Week9-13-Color = d |Week9-14 = Oregon (7–1) (2) |Week9-14-Color = u |Week9-15 = Georgia Tech (6–2) |Week9-15-Color = u |Week9-16 = Iowa (4–3) (1) т |Week9-16-Color = tnpr |Week9-17 = North Texas State (8–0) т |Week9-17-Color = u |Week9-18 = TCU (5–2) |Week9-18-Color = d |Week9-19 = Michigan State (4–3) |Week9-19-Color = npr |Week9-20 = Arkansas (6–2) |Week9-20-Color = d |Week10-1 = Syracuse (8–0) (126) |Week10-1-Color = |Week10-2 = Ole Miss (8–1) (68) |Week10-2-Color = u |Week10-3 = LSU (8–1) (16) |Week10-3-Color = |Week10-4 = USC (8–0) (16) |Week10-4-Color = |Week10-5 = Texas (8–1) (1) |Week10-5-Color = d |Week10-6 = Georgia (8–1) (6) |Week10-6-Color = u |Week10-7 = Penn State (8–1) (6) |Week10-7-Color = u |Week10-8 = Northwestern (6–2) (1) |Week10-8-Color = d |Week10-9 = Wisconsin (6–2) |Week10-9-Color = d |Week10-10 = TCU (6–2) |Week10-10-Color= u |Week10-11 = Michigan State (5–3) (1) |Week10-11-Color= u |Week10-12 = Auburn (6–2) |Week10-12-Color= d |Week10-13 = Arkansas (7–2) |Week10-13-Color= u |Week10-14 = Washington (8–1) |Week10-14-Color= d |Week10-15 = Oregon (8–1) (1) |Week10-15-Color= d |Week10-16 = Iowa (5–3) (3) |Week10-16-Color= |Week10-17 = Alabama (5–1–2) (4) |Week10-17-Color= npr |Week10-18 = Miami (FL) (5–3) |Week10-18-Color= npr |Week10-19 = Clemson (6–2) |Week10-19-Color= d |Week10-20 = Tennessee (5–2–1) |Week10-20-Color= d |Week11-1 = Syracuse (9–0) (121) |Week11-1-Color = |Week11-2 = Ole Miss (8–1) (32) |Week11-2-Color = |Week11-3 = LSU (9–1) (1) |Week11-3-Color = |Week11-4 = Texas (8–1) (1) |Week11-4-Color = u |Week11-5 = Wisconsin (7–2) (1) |Week11-5-Color = u |Week11-6 = Georgia (8–1) (2) |Week11-6-Color = |Week11-7 = USC (8–1) |Week11-7-Color = d |Week11-8 = TCU (7–2) |Week11-8-Color = u |Week11-9 = Washington (9–1) (4) |Week11-9-Color = u |Week11-10 = Arkansas (8–2) (1) |Week11-10-Color= u |Week11-11 = Auburn (7–2) |Week11-11-Color= u |Week11-12 = Miami (FL) (6–3) (5) |Week11-12-Color= u |Week11-13 = Illinois (5–3–1) |Week11-13-Color= npr |Week11-14 = Clemson (7–2) |Week11-14-Color= u |Week11-15 = Penn State (8–2) |Week11-15-Color= d |Week11-16 = Pittsburgh (6–4) |Week11-16-Color= npr |Week11-17 = Oklahoma (6–3) |Week11-17-Color= npr |Week11-18 = Missouri (6–4) (2) |Week11-18-Color= npr |Week11-19 = Alabama (6–1–2) (1) |Week11-19-Color= d |Week11-20 = UCLA (4–3–1) |Week11-20-Color= npr |Week12-1 = Syracuse (9–0) (95) |Week12-1-Color = |Week12-2 = Ole Miss (9–1) (49) |Week12-2-Color = |Week12-3 = LSU (9–1) (6) |Week12-3-Color = |Week12-4 = Texas (9–1) |Week12-4-Color = |Week12-5 = Georgia (9–1) (2) |Week12-5-Color = u |Week12-6 = Wisconsin (7–2) (15) |Week12-6-Color = d |Week12-7 = TCU (8–2) |Week12-7-Color = u |Week12-8 = Washington (9–1) (2) |Week12-8-Color = u |Week12-9 = Arkansas (8–2) |Week12-9-Color = u |Week12-10 = Clemson (8–2) |Week12-10-Color= u |Week12-11 = Alabama (7–1–2) (6) |Week12-11-Color= u |Week12-12 = Illinois (5–3–1) (1) |Week12-12-Color= u |Week12-13 = USC (8–2) |Week12-13-Color= d |Week12-14 = Penn State (8–2) |Week12-14-Color= u |Week12-15 = Oklahoma (7–3) |Week12-15-Color= u |Week12-16 = Wyoming (9–1) |Week12-16-Color= npr |Week12-17 = UCLA (5–3–1) |Week12-17-Color= u |Week12-18 = Florida (5–4–1) |Week12-18-Color= npr |Week12-19 = Notre Dame (5–5) |Week12-19-Color= npr |Week12-20 = Missouri (6–4) |Week12-20-Color= d |Week13-1 = Syracuse (10–0) (134) |Week13-1-Color = nc |Week13-2 = Ole Miss (9–1) (47) |Week13-2-Color = |Week13-3 = LSU (9–1) (6) |Week13-3-Color = |Week13-4 = Texas (9–1) (1) |Week13-4-Color = |Week13-5 = Georgia (9–1) (3) |Week13-5-Color = |Week13-6 = Wisconsin (7–2) (5) |Week13-6-Color = |Week13-7 = TCU (8–2) |Week13-7-Color = |Week13-8 = Washington (9–1) |Week13-8-Color = |Week13-9 = Arkansas (8–2) |Week13-9-Color = |Week13-10 = Alabama (7–1–2) (5) |Week13-10-Color= u |Week13-11 = Clemson (8–2) |Week13-11-Color= d |Week13-12 = Penn State (8–2) |Week13-12-Color= u |Week13-13 = Illinois (5–3–1) |Week13-13-Color= d |Week13-14 = USC (8–2) |Week13-14-Color= d |Week13-15 = Oklahoma (7–3) |Week13-15-Color= |Week13-16 = Wyoming (9–1) |Week13-16-Color= |Week13-17 = Notre Dame (5–5) |Week13-17-Color= u |Week13-18 = Missouri (6–4) |Week13-18-Color= u |Week13-19 = Florida (5–4–1) |Week13-19-Color= d |Week13-20 = Pittsburgh (6–4) |Week13-20-Color= npr

Final Coaches Poll

The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 8.

Syracuse received 31 of the 35 first-place votes; Mississippi received three and Washington one.

RankingTeamConferenceBowl
1[Syracuse](1959-syracuse-orangemen-football-team)Independent**Won** [Cotton](1960-cotton-bowl-classic), 23–14
2[Ole Miss](1959-ole-miss-rebels-football-team)SEC**Won** [Sugar](1960-sugar-bowl), 21–0
3[LSU](1959-lsu-tigers-football-team)SECLost [Sugar](1960-sugar-bowl), 0–21
4[Texas](1959-texas-longhorns-football-team)SouthwestLost [Cotton](1960-cotton-bowl-classic), 14–23
5[Georgia](1959-georgia-bulldogs-football-team)SEC**Won** [Orange](1960-orange-bowl), 14–0
6[Wisconsin](1959-wisconsin-badgers-football-team)Big TenLost [Rose](1960-rose-bowl), 8–44
7[Washington](1959-washington-huskies-football-team)AAWU**Won** [Rose](1960-rose-bowl), 44–8
8[TCU](1959-tcu-horned-frogs-football-team)SouthwestLost [Bluebonnet](1959-bluebonnet-bowl), 7–23
9[Arkansas](1959-arkansas-razorbacks-football-team)Southwest**Won** [Gator](1960-gator-bowl-january), 14–7
10[Penn State](1959-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-team)Independent**Won** [Liberty](1959-liberty-bowl), 7–0
11[Clemson](1959-clemson-tigers-football-team)ACC**Won** [Bluebonnet](1959-bluebonnet-bowl), 23–7
12[Illinois](1959-illinois-fighting-illini-football-team)Big Ten*none*
13[Alabama](1959-alabama-crimson-tide-football-team)SECLost [Liberty](1959-liberty-bowl), 0–7
[USC](1959-usc-trojans-football-team)AAWU*none*
15[Auburn](1959-auburn-tigers-football-team)SEC
16[Michigan State](1959-michigan-state-spartans-football-team)Big Ten
17[Oklahoma](1959-oklahoma-sooners-football-team)Big Eight
18[Notre Dame](1959-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-team)Independent
19[Florida](1959-florida-gators-football-team)SEC
[Pittsburgh](1959-pittsburgh-panthers-football-team)Independent
[Missouri](1959-missouri-tigers-football-team)Big EightLost [Orange](1960-orange-bowl), 0–14
  • Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and AAWU (later Pac-8) conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.
  • The Ivy League has prohibited its members from participating in postseason football since the league was officially formed in 1954.

Litkenhous Ratings

The final Litkenhous Ratings were released in December 1959. The top 25 teams according to Litkenhous were:

  1. Syracuse (11-0) - 111.0

  2. Ole Miss (10-1) - 110.5

  3. LSU (9-2) - 105.1

  4. TCU (8-3) - 102.4

  5. Texas (9-2) - 102.0

  6. Auburn (7-3) - 100.8

  7. Georgia (10-1) - 100.2

  8. Northwestern (6-3) - 98.1

  9. Iowa (5-4) - 97.9

  10. Purdue (5-2-2) - 96.7

  11. Michigan State (5-4) - 96.5

  12. USC (8-2) -96.6

  13. Arkansas (9-2) - 96.3

  14. Washington (10-1) - 96.2

  15. Wisconsin (7-3) - 95.8

  16. Penn State (9-2) - 95.2

  17. Georgia Tech - 94.9

  18. Illinois - 94.7

  19. Oklahoma - 04.7

  20. Clemson - 94.3

  21. Indiana - 93.7

  22. Kentucky - 93.6

  23. SMU - 93.0

  24. Florida - 92.9

  25. UCLA - 91.5

References

References

  1. (December 8, 1959). "Orange win grid crown". Spokesman-Review.
  2. (December 8, 1959). "Syracuse tops final grid poll by wide margin". Bend Bulletin.
  3. (December 8, 1959). "Syracuse is voted national champion by coaches board". Reading Eagle.
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