1972 College Football Season

NATIONAL CHAMPION

AP TITLE
CHAMPIONUSC12–0 overall
HEISMANJohnny RodgersNebraska · WR/RB
#1 PICKJohn MatuszakTampa · Houston Oilers, 1973 draft

MAJOR BOWL RESULTS

6 BOWL GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Jan 1, 1973Rose BowlUSC 42, Ohio State 17
Jan 1, 1973Cotton BowlTexas 17, Alabama 13
Jan 1, 1973Orange BowlNebraska 40, Notre Dame 6
Dec 31, 1972Sugar BowlOklahoma 14, Penn State 0
Dec 29, 1972Peach BowlNC State 49, West Virginia 13
Dec 23, 1972Fiesta BowlArizona State 49, Missouri 35

1972 STANDINGS

13 CONFERENCES + INDEPENDENTS

ACC

North Carolina finished atop the 1972 ACC standings at 6–0 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
North Carolina6–011–1UNC 32–28 TTU
NC State4–1–18–3–1NCSU 49–13 WVU
Maryland3–2–15–5–1–
Duke3–35–6–
Clemson2–44–7–
Virginia1–54–7–
Wake Forest1–52–9–

BIG 8

Oklahoma finished atop the 1972 Big 8 standings at 6–1 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Oklahoma6–111–1OU 14–0 PSU
Nebraska5–1–19–2–1NEB 40–6 ND
Colorado4–38–4AUB 24–3 COLO
Oklahoma State4–35–5–
Missouri3–46–6ASU 49–35 MIZ
Iowa State2–4–15–6–1GT 31–30 ISU
Kansas2–54–7–
Kansas State1–62–8–

BIG SKY

Boise State finished atop the 1972 Big Sky standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Boise State0–00–1

BIG TEN

Michigan finished atop the 1972 Big Ten standings at 7–1 in conference play (10–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Michigan7–110–1–
Ohio State7–19–2USC 42–17 OSU
Purdue6–26–5–
Michigan State5–2–15–5–1–
Minnesota4–44–7–
Indiana3–55–6–
Illinois3–53–8–
Wisconsin2–64–7–
Iowa2–6–13–7–1–
Northwestern1–82–9–

MAC

Kent State finished atop the 1972 MAC standings at 4–1 in conference play (5–4–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Kent State4–15–4–1–
Bowling Green3–1–16–2–1–
Western Michigan2–2–16–3–1–
Miami (OH)2–36–3–
Toledo2–35–4–
Ohio1–43–8–

OVC

Middle Tennessee finished atop the 1972 OVC standings at 1–0.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Middle Tennessee0–01–0
Western Kentucky0–00–1

PACIFIC 8

USC finished atop the 1972 Pacific 8 standings at 7–0 in conference play (12–0 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
USC7–012–0USC 42–17 OSU
UCLA5–28–3–
Washington State4–37–4–
Washington4–37–3–
California3–43–8–
Stanford2–56–5–
Oregon2–54–7–
Oregon State1–62–9–

PACIFIC COAST ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

San Diego State finished atop the 1972 Pacific Coast Athletic Association standings at 4–0 in conference play (8–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
San Diego State4–08–1–
Fresno State1–35–2–1–
San José State1–32–6–

SEC

Alabama finished atop the 1972 SEC standings at 7–1 in conference play (10–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Alabama7–110–2TEX 17–13 ALA
Auburn6–110–1AUB 24–3 COLO
Tennessee5–210–2TENN 24–17 LSU
LSU4–2–18–2–1TENN 24–17 LSU
Georgia4–37–4–
Florida3–3–15–5–1–
Ole Miss2–55–5–
Kentucky2–53–8–
Mississippi State1–64–7–
Vanderbilt0–63–7–

SOUTHERN

East Carolina finished atop the 1972 Southern standings at 6–0 in conference play (9–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
East Carolina6–09–2–
App State0–3–15–5–1–

SOUTHLAND

Louisiana Tech and Louisiana finished atop the 1972 Southland standings at 1–0.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Louisiana Tech0–01–0
Louisiana0–01–0
Arkansas State0–00–1

SOUTHWEST

Texas finished atop the 1972 Southwest standings at 7–0 in conference play (10–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Texas7–010–1TEX 17–13 ALA
Texas Tech4–38–4UNC 32–28 TTU
SMU4–37–4–
Arkansas3–46–5–
Rice3–45–5–1–
Baylor3–45–6–
TCU2–54–6–
Texas A&M2–52–8–

WESTERN ATHLETIC

Arizona State finished atop the 1972 Western Athletic standings at 5–1 in conference play (10–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Arizona State5–110–2ASU 49–35 MIZ
Utah5–26–5–
BYU5–26–4–
Arizona4–34–7–
Wyoming3–44–7–
New Mexico2–43–8–
UTEP1–62–7–
Colorado State1–41–10–

INDEPENDENTS

Penn State finished atop the 1972 independents at 10–2.

TEAMOVERALLBOWL
Penn State10–2OU 14–0 PSU
West Virginia8–4NCSU 49–13 WVU
Notre Dame8–3NEB 40–6 ND
Utah State8–3–
Louisville7–1–
Florida State7–4–
Georgia Tech7–4–1GT 31–30 ISU
Virginia Tech6–4–1–
Air Force6–4–
Tulane6–5–
Houston6–4–1–
Army6–4–
Rutgers6–4–
Miami5–5–
Northern Illinois5–4–
Syracuse5–6–
Navy4–7–
Temple4–3–
Memphis4–5–1–
South Carolina4–7–
Boston College4–7–
Tulsa3–7–
Southern Miss2–7–1–
Cincinnati2–7–
Delaware2–0–
Marshall2–7–
Massachusetts2–1–
Hawai'i1–2–
New Mexico State1–8–
Ball State1–2–
Pittsburgh1–10–
North Texas1–8–
UConn0–3–
Sacramento State0–1–
Central Michigan0–1–
UL Monroe0–3–
Akron0–0–1–
Eastern Michigan0–1–
UNLV0–1–

OTHER POSTSEASON RESULTS

4 GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Dec 30, 1972Postseason gameTennessee 24, LSU 17
Dec 30, 1972Postseason gameAuburn 24, Colorado 3
Dec 30, 1972Postseason gameNorth Carolina 32, Texas Tech 28
Dec 18, 1972Postseason gameGeorgia Tech 31, Iowa State 30