1929 college football season

The 1929 college football season saw a number of unbeaten and untied teams. Purdue, Tulane, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh all finished the regular season with wins over all their opponents. Notre Dame was recognized as national champion by two of three contemporary major selectors (the Dickinson and Dunkel Systems), while the third (Houlgate) named USC (10–2). Eight of nine retrospective selectors later also named Notre Dame and USC as No. 1 teams.

1929 college football season
Number of bowls1
Bowl gamesJanuary 1, 1930
Champion(s)Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
football seasons

Following the season, Pittsburgh traveled to Pasadena to meet USC in the Rose Bowl, at that time the only postseason college football game, where the Trojans defeated the Panthers, 47–14. Four years later, football historian Parke Davis selected Pittsburgh as "Outstanding Nationwide Team" for 1929, the only one of 12 major selectors to do so.[1] Pittsburgh claims a 1929 national championship on this basis.[2]

A major change in the rules for 1929 was that a fumbled ball was dead as soon as it struck the ground. Previously, a defending player could run with a recovered fumble, as in the case of Roy Riegels in the 1929 Rose Bowl.[3]

Conference and program changes

Conferences

Programs

The Duke Blue Devils were independent in 1928 and joined the Southern Conference in 1929.

September

September 21 In Dallas, Southern Methodist University (SMU) opened its season with a 13–3 win over North Texas State.

September 28

SMU and Howard Payne College played to a 13–13 tie, and TCU rolled over visiting Daniel Baker College, 61–0. In Los Angeles, USC opened its season against crosstown rival UCLA, rolling over the Bruins 76–0. Pittsburgh beat Waynesburg State, 53–0 California beat Santa Clara 27–6 Pennsylvania beat Franklin & Marshall 14–7 Tulane opened with a win over Northwestern State, 40–6

October

October 5

SMU and Nebraska played to a 0–0 tie in Nebraska. Notre Dame opened its season with a 14–0 win at Indiana TCU beat Hardin Simmons, 20–0 Illinois beat Kansas 25–0, and Purdue beat Kansas State, 26–14 Pittsburgh won at Duke, 52–7 USC beat Oregon State 21–7 Pennsylvania defeated Swarthmore 20–6 California and St. Mary's played to a 0–0 tie. Tulane beat Texas A&M, 13–10

October 12

In Baltimore, Notre Dame defeated Navy, 14–7. SMU beat Austin College, 16–0 In Shreveport, TCU registered another shutout, beating Centenary College 28–0 Nebraska won at Syracuse, 13–6 USC won at Washington, 48–0, and California beat visiting Washington State, 14–0. Purdue beat Michigan 30–16 and Illinois beat Bradley 45–0 Pittsburgh beat West Virginia 27–7 Pennsylvania beat Virginia Tech, 14–8 Tulane beat Mississippi State, 34–0

October 19

Pittsburgh handed Nebraska its first loss, 12–7; TCU surrendered its first points, but beat Texas A&M, 13–7. Illinois and Iowa played to a 7–7 tie. Purdue beat DePauw 26–7 Tulane beat Lafayette College of Louisiana, 60–0 USC scored big again, with a 64–0 win over Occidental. At 4–0–0, the Trojans had outscored their opponents 209–7. In Chicago, Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin 19–0

In Philadelphia, (1–0–1) California and (3–0) Pennsylvania played, with California winning 12–7

October 26 During the weekend between October 24 and October 29, 1929 (see Wall Street Crash of 1929), SMU beat visiting Ole Miss, 52–0 and TCU, with a 131–7 aggregate lead over its opponents, won its fifth straight, a 22–0 win over Texas Tech. In Pittsburgh, the Pitt Panthers beat Allegheny 40–0 and Notre Dame defeated Carnegie Tech 7–0. Illinois beat visiting Michigan 14–0, and Purdue won at Chicago 26–0 The USC offense was held to single digits at Stanford, winning 7–0. California defeated the non-college Olympic Club, 21–19. Pennsylvania beat Lehigh 10–7 and in New Orleans, Tulane beat Georgia Tech, 20–14. Nebraska and Missouri played to a 7–7 tie.

November

November 2 In Los Angeles, USC (5–0–0) hosted California (4–0–1). California handed the Trojans their first loss, 15–7 In Dallas, unbeaten (3–0–2) SMU and unbeaten and untied Texas (5–0–0) both stayed unbeaten, playing to 0–0 tie. Notre Dame beat visiting Georgia Tech 26–6 In Columbus, Georgia, Tulane beat Georgia, 21–15

TCU beat North Texas State, 25–0 Nebraska beat Kansas, 12–6 Purdue won at Wisconsin 13–0, but Illinois lost at Northwestern, 7–0, Pittsburgh beat Ohio State, 18–2 Pennsylvania defeated Navy, 7–2

November 9

SMU won at Texas A&M 12–7 and TCU beat Rice, 24–0 Illinois beat Army, 17–7 and Purdue beat Ole Miss 27–7 Pittsburgh beat Washington & Jefferson 21–0 Notre Dame defeated Drake University Tulane beat Auburn, 52–0 USC beat visiting Nevada, 66–0 and California beat Montana 53–18

At Philadelphia, (5–1–0) Penn State defeated (5–1–0) Pennsylvania, 19–7

November 16

In Chicago, a record crowd of 123,000 turned out at Soldier Field to watch Notre Dame (6–0–0) and USC (6–1–0). Knute Rockne, who had been hospitalized with an infected leg, guided his team from a cot set behind the Notre Dame bench. In the third quarter, the Irish took a 13–6 lead, on—Savoldi's plunge and Frank Carideo's extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, -- Saunders ran the ball back 95 yards for a touchdown, but the point after failed, and Notre Dame held on to win 13–12.[4]

Nebraska and visiting Oklahoma played to a 13–13 draw; at (2–1–3), the Cornhuskers had tied more games than they had won or lost. SMU beat Baylor, 25–6. TCU was (7–0–0) and had outscored its opposition 193–7; Texas (5–0–2) had an aggregate 120–0 lead on its opponents, though its last two games had been scoreless ties. When they met at Austin, Texas scored first, but Cy Leland returned the kickoff 90 yards for a TCU score. At halftime, TCU led 13–12 on the only extra point scored that day, and finished 15–12 [5] Illinois defeated Chicago 20–6 and Purdue beat Iowa 7–0 Pittsburgh beat Carnegie Tech, 34–13 Pennsylvania visited Columbia and won 20–0 California beat Washington 7–0

Tulane defeated Sewanee 18–0

November 23 Nebraska won at Kansas State, 10–6 SMU beat Rice, 34–0 TCU beat Baylor, 34–7 Illinois beat Ohio State, 27–0, and Purdue won at Indiana 32–0 to finish its season unbeaten. Notre Dame won at Northwestern 26–6. USC beat visiting Idaho, 72–0 Stanford (7–2–0) and California met in Palo Alto, with Stanford winning 21–6.

November 28, Thanksgiving Day; Pittsburgh beat Penn State 20–7 Pennsylvania beat Cornell 17–7 Nebraska closed its season with a 31–12 win over Iowa State, to finish at 4–1–3.

November 30 In a season-ending matchup of the Southwest Conference's two best teams at Fort Worth, Texas Christian (9–0–0) hosted Southern Methodist (6–0–3). Although SMU took a 7–0 lead in the third quarter, and held the Frogs once at the goal line, TCU reached the one on its next possession, and scored on third down. Hawks Green's kick staved off an upset, tied the Mustangs 7–7, and gave TCU the conference title.[6]

Notre Dame (8–0–0) closed its season at Yankee Stadium in New York, where it faced Army (6–2–1). The Fighting Irish won 7–0. USC beat Washington State, 27–7 Tulane closed its season with a 21–0 win at LSU, to finish unbeaten at 9–0–0

On December 14, USC defeated Carnegie Tech, 45–13.

1930 Rose Bowl
Main article: 1930 Rose Bowl

USC had been beaten earlier in the year, at Chicago, by Notre Dame. The Trojans and the Fighting Irish were not able to agree on a rematch, and USC was given the right to invite another eastern powerhouse—the unbeaten (9–0–0) Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt's bid for a claim to the national championship started on the first play of the game, as Toby Uansa ran 68 yards before being tackled at the 11, but the Panthers failed to reach the end zone. Six minutes into the game, Russ Saunders and --- Edelson connected on a 56-yard pass play for USC's first touchdown. By halftime, USC led 26–0. Pitt finally scored in the third quarter to trail 33–7. After seven USC touchdowns, the final score was USC 47, Pitt 14.[7]

Conference standings

For this article, major conferences defined as those including multiple state flagship public universities.

Major conference standings
1929 Big Six Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Nebraska $ 3 –0 –24 –1 –3
Missouri 3 –1 –15 –2 –1
Kansas State 3 –2 –03 –5 –0
Oklahoma 2 –2 –13 –3 –2
Kansas 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
Iowa State 0 –5 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Purdue $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0
No. 5 Illinois 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
Minnesota 3 –2 –06 –2 –0
Northwestern 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
Iowa 2 –2 –24 –2 –2
Ohio State 2 –2 –14 –3 –1
Michigan 1 –3 –15 –3 –1
Indiana 1 –3 –12 –6 –1
Chicago 1 –3 –07 –3 –0
Wisconsin 1 –4 –04 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 New England Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
New Hampshire $ 2 –0 –07 –2 –0
Rhode Island State 1 –1 –05 –2 –1
Connecticut 1 –2 –04 –4 –0
Maine 1 –2 –02 –5 –0
Massachusetts 0 –0 –03 –4 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 North Central Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
North Dakota $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –0
South Dakota State 2 –1 –15 –4 –1
North Dakota Agricultural 1 –1 –24 –3 –2
Morningside 1 –3 –04 –4 –0
South Dakota 0 –3 –14 –4 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 6 USC $ 6 –1 –010 –2 –0
Stanford 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
No. 4 California 4 –1 –07 –1 –1
Oregon 4 –1 –07 –3 –0
Washington State 4 –2 –010 –2 –0
UCLA 1 –3 –04 –4 –0
Oregon State 1 –4 –05 –4 –0
Idaho 1 –4 –04 –5 –0
Montana 0 –4 –13 –5 –1
Washington 0 –5 –12 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Utah $ 6 –0 –07 –0 –0
Colorado 4 –1 –15 –1 –1
Denver 4 –1 –15 –1 –1
Montana State 2 –1 –06 –2 –0
BYU 4 –2 –05 –3 –0
Colorado Teachers 3 –2 –04 –3 –0
Colorado College 4 –3 –04 –3 –0
Colorado Agricultural 4 –4 –05 –4 –0
Utah State 3 –4 –03 –4 –0
Colorado Mines 1 –5 –02 –5 –0
Western State (CO) 0 –5 –02 –5 –0
Wyoming 0 –7 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 10 Tulane $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0
Tennessee 6 –0 –19 –0 –1
North Carolina 7 –1 –09 –1 –0
Florida 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
Vanderbilt 5 –1 –07 –2 –0
Kentucky 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
Georgia 4 –2 –06 –4 –0
VMI 4 –2 –08 –2 –0
Duke 2 –1 –04 –6 –0
LSU 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
Alabama 4 –3 –06 –3 –0
Clemson 3 –3 –08 –3 –0
VPI 2 –3 –05 –4 –0
Georgia Tech 3 –5 –03 –6 –0
South Carolina 2 –5 –06 –5 –0
Virginia 1 –3 –24 –3 –2
Maryland 1 –3 –14 –4 –2
Washington and Lee 1 –4 –13 –5 –1
Ole Miss 0 –4 –21 –6 –2
Mississippi A&M 0 –3 –11 –5 –2
Sewanee 0 –4 –12 –5 –2
NC State 0 –5 –01 –8 –0
Auburn 0 –7 –02 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 Southwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8 TCU $ 4 –0 –19 –0 –1
No. 9 SMU 3 –0 –26 –0 –4
Arkansas 3 –2 –07 –2 –0
Texas 2 –2 –25 –2 –2
Baylor 2 –2 –17 –3 –1
Texas A&M 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Rice 0 –5 –02 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

Independents
1929 Eastern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Pittsburgh   –  9 –1 –0
Colgate   –  8 –1 –0
Fordham   –  7 –0 –2
Bucknell   –  8 –2 –0
No. 11 Penn   –  7 –2 –0
Boston College   –  7 –2 –1
Villanova   –  7 –2 –1
Cornell   –  6 –2 –0
Tufts   –  5 –1 –2
Harvard   –  5 –2 –1
Yale   –  5 –2 –1
NYU   –  7 –3 –0
Franklin & Marshall   –  6 –3 –0
Penn State   –  6 –3 –0
Syracuse   –  6 –3 –0
Washington & Jefferson   –  5 –2 –2
Drexel   –  6 –3 –1
Temple   –  6 –3 –1
Carnegie Tech   –  5 –3 –1
Army   –  6 –4 –1
Providence   –  3 –3 –2
Brown   –  5 –5 –0
Columbia   –  4 –5 –0
CCNY   –  2 –4 –2
Princeton   –  2 –4 –1
Boston University   –  3 –6 –0
Vermont   –  2 –7 –0
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 Midwestern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –  9 –0 –0
Detroit   –  7 –1 –1
Haskell   –  8 –2 –0
Loyola (IL)   –  5 –2 –1
Michigan State   –  5 –3 –0
John Carroll   –  5 –3 –1
Marquette   –  4 –3 –1
Butler   –  4 –4 –0
Wabash   –  4 –5 –0
Saint Louis   –  3 –4 –1
DePaul   –  2 –7 –0
Kent State   –  1 –7 –0
Valparaiso   –  1 –7 –0
Ball State   –  0 –7 –0
Rankings from Dickinson System
1929 Southern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Western Maryland   –  11 –0 –0
Delaware State   –  1 –0 –0
Guilford   –  7 –1 –1
Texas Mines   –  6 –1 –2
Appalachian State   –  4 –1 –3
Navy   –  6 –2 –2
Georgetown   –  5 –2 –2
Middle Tennessee State Teachers   –  6 –3 –1
Beacom College   –  3 –2 –0
South Georgia Teachers   –  4 –3 –2
Wake Forest   –  6 –5 –1
Catholic University   –  5 –4 –0
West Virginia   –  4 –3 –3
Loyola (LA)   –  4 –4 –2
Davidson   –  5 –5 –0
Texas A&I   –  3 –4 –1
East Tennessee State Teachers   –  2 –5 –1
Mississippi State Teachers   –  2 –6 –1
Texas Tech   –  1 –7 –2
Delaware   –  0 –7 –1
George Washington   –  0 –8 –0
1929 Western college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint Mary's   –  8 –0 –1
Arizona   –  7 –1 –0
Loyola (CA)   –  6 –3 –0
Santa Clara   –  5 –3 –0
Gonzaga   –  4 –3 –0
Hawaii   –  4 –3 –0
New Mexico A&M   –  3 –2 –3
St. Ignatius (CA)   –  4 –3 –1
Santa Barbara State   –  4 –4 –1
Cal Poly   –  3 –5 –0
New Mexico   –  2 –4 –2
Regis   –  3 –7 –0
Humboldt State   –  1 –4 –1
Arizona State   –  0 –6 –0
Columbia (OR)   –    –  

Minor conferences
Conference Champion(s) Record
Big Four Conference Tulsa 4–0–1
Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Virginia State College 6–0
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Kansas State Teachers 5–1
Far Western Conference Northern Branch 2–0
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Iowa Wesleyan 5–0
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Kansas Wesleyan 4–0–1
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Alma 5–0
Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference Coe
Lawrence
Ripon		 4–0
2–0–1
2–0–1
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saint Thomas (MN) 3–1
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northeast Missouri State Teachers 3–0
Nebraska College Athletic Conference Cotner 5–0
Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association Nebraska State Teachers–Peru —
North Central Intercollegiate Conference North Dakota 4–0
Ohio Athletic Conference Muskingum 5–0
Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Central State Teachers (OK) 5–0
Pacific Northwest Conference Willamette 4–0
South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Black Hills Teachers
Dakota Wesleyan		 5–0
4–0–1
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Occidental 4–0
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tuskegee 5–0–0
Southwestern Athletic Conference Wiley (TX) 3–0–1
Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference Howard Payne 5–0
Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Southwest Texas State Normal 4–2
Tri-Normal League State Normal–Ellensburg 2–0
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference Milwaukee State Teachers 3–0–1

Minor conference standings
1929 Big Four Conference (Oklahoma) football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Tulsa $ 4 –0 –16 –3 –1
Oklahoma Baptist 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Oklahoma City 2 –3 –05 –5 –0
Phillips 1 –3 –14 –4 –3
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Buckeye Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Ohio $ 5 –0 –09 –0 –0
Ohio Wesleyan 3 –1 –16 –2 –1
Miami (OH) 3 –2 –07 –2 –0
Wittenberg 2 –2 –15 –4 –1
Cincinnati 0 –4 –14 –4 –1
Denison 0 –4 –11 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Emporia Teachers $ 5 –1 –06 –2 –0
Washburn 4 –2 –05 –6 –0
College of Emporia 2 –2 –23 –3 –2
Wichita 2 –2 –23 –3 –2
Southwestern (KS) 2 –4 –02 –5 –1
Hays Teachers 2 –4 –02 –5 –0
Pittsburg State 1 –3 –21 –5 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Virginia State $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0
Virginia Union 5 –1 –07 –1 –0
Lincoln (PA) 4 –2 –16 –2 –1
Hampton 3 –4 –03 –5 –0
Saint Paul's (VA) 3 –4 –06 –4 –0
North Carolina A&T 2 –4 –02 –6 –0
Shaw 1 –3 –04 –4 –0
Howard 0 –1 –10 –7 –2
North Carolina College 0 –6 –00 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Far Western Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Cal Aggies $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
Nevada 2 –1 –02 –5 –1
San Jose State 2 –1 –13 –3 –1
Pacific (CA) 1 –3 –13 –4 –1
Chico State 1 –3 –03 –5 –0
Fresno State 1 –4 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Knox (IL) + 5 –0 –07 –1 –0
Lombard + 3 –0 –06 –1 –1
Millikin 5 –1 –07 –1 –0
Eastern Illinois 5 –1 –06 –1 –0
Monmouth (IL) 5 –1 –05 –4 –0
Northern Illinois State 4 –1 –16 –1 –1
Illinois Wesleyan 5 –2 –05 –3 –0
Elmhurst 2 –1 –08 –1 –0
Bradley 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Southern Illinois 4 –2 –05 –3 –1
Shurtleff 3 –2 –05 –3 –0
Carthage 2 –2 –14 –3 –1
Eureka 3 –3 –23 –3 –2
Illinois College 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Augustana (IL) 3 –3 –13 –4 –1
North Central * 2 –4 –13 –5 –1
Lake Forest 1 –2 –02 –5 –0
McKendree 1 –4 –04 –6 –0
Wheaton (IL) 1 –4 –12 –6 –1
Illinois State Normal 1 –5 –21 –5 –2
St. Viator 0 –6 –10 –7 –1
Mount Morris 0 –6 –02 –6 –0
Western Illinois † 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • * – North Central finished the season 6–0–1 in conference play, but forfeited their share of the title and four wins, over Lake Forest, Augustana, Carthage, and Monmouth, because of an ineligible player.
    † – Western Illinois finished the season 3–4 in conference play, but forfeited three wins, over Shurtleff, Augustana, and Illinois State, because of an ineligible player.
1929 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $ 2 –0 –04 –4 –0
Indiana State 5 –0 –15 –2 –1
Central Normal 6 –1 –06 –2 –0
Franklin (IN) 5 –2 –15 –2 –1
Manchester 3 –2 –05 –2 –0
Earlham 3 –2 –13 –4 –1
Rose Poly 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
Indiana Central 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
DePauw 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Wabash 2 –2 –04 –5 –0
Hanover 1 –1 –12 –3 –1
Evansville 1 –5 –01 –7 –0
Valparaiso 0 –3 –01 –7 –0
Ball State 0 –4 –00 –8 –0
Oakland City 0 –6 –00 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Iowa Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Iowa Wesleyan $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0
Buena Vista 3 –1 –16 –1 –2
Columbia (IA) 3 –1 –14 –1 –1
Luther 6 –2 –06 –3 –0
Iowa State Teachers 3 –1 –03 –4 –0
Simpson 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Morningside 1 –1 –04 –4 –0
Central (IA) 2 –4 –03 –4 –1
St. Ambrose 1 –3 –03 –4 –1
Upper Iowa 1 –3 –11 –5 –1
Parsons 1 –4 –11 –6 –1
Penn (IA) 1 –5 –01 –6 –0
Dubuque 0 –2 –02 –3 –1
Western Union 0 –2 –01 –7 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Upper Iowa's forfeit to Simpson on November 22 was not counted in conference standings.
1929 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Kansas Wesleyan $ 4 –0 –16 –0 –2
Bethany (KS) 4 –1 –05 –3 –1
Baker 2 –2 –15 –3 –1
McPherson 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
St. Mary's (KS) 1 –2 –22 –5 –2
Ottawa 0 –5 –02 –6 –0
1929 Metropolitan Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Long Island $ 4 –0 –05 –5 –0
Brooklyn City College 3 –1 –03 –4 –1
New York Aggies 2 –2 –03 –2 –1
Cooper Union 1 –3 –01 –7 –0
Wagner College 0 –4 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Michigan Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Michigan State Normal + 2 –0 –15 –1 –2
Western State Teachers (MI) + 2 –0 –15 –2 –1
Detroit City College 1 –2 –02 –7 –0
Central State (MI) 0 –3 –02 –3 –2
  • + – Conference co-champions
1929 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Alma $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –0
Albion 4 –1 –05 –3 –0
Hillsdale 2 –2 –15 –2 –1
Olivet 1 –3 –13 –4 –1
Hope 1 –4 –01 –5 –0
Kalamazoo 0 –3 –21 –4 –3
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Middle Three Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Lehigh + 1 –1 –04 –3 –2
Rutgers + 1 –1 –05 –4 –0
Lafayette + 1 –1 –03 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint Mary's (MN) $ 3 –0 –16 –1 –1
St. Olaf 4 –1 –07 –1 –0
St. Thomas (MN) 4 –2 –07 –2 –0
Gustavus Adolphus 3 –2 –06 –2 –0
Augsburg 3 –2 –14 –2 –1
Concordia (MN) 1 –2 –12 –3 –1
Hamline 2 –4 –02 –6 –0
Macalester 1 –4 –11 –4 –1
Saint John's (MN) 0 –4 –00 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Mississippi Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
West Tennessee State Teachers $ 5 –0 –18 –0 –2
Murray State 3 –1 –05 –4 –0
Delta State 2 –1 –25 –1 –2
Lambuth 3 –2 –14 –5 –0
Caruthersville Junior 2 –2 –12 –2 –1
Tennessee Junior 3 –4 –04 –4 –0
Bethel (TN) 2 –3 –02 –5 –0
Will Mayfield 1 –2 –03 –4 –0
Sunflower Junior 0 –1 –10 –1 –1
Jonesboro College 0 –5 –00 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Missouri Valley $ 4 –0 –07 –0 –1
Westminster (MO) 5 –1 –16 –2 –1
Central (MO) 4 –2 –05 –3 –0
Tarkio 2 –1 –03 –5 –0
Missouri Mines 1 –2 –05 –3 –0
William Jewell 1 –2 –14 –3 –1
Drury 1 –3 –03 –5 –0
Central Wesleyan 0 –3 –12 –4 –2
Culver–Stockton 0 –4 –10 –7 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Kirksville $ 2 –0 –15 –3 –1
Springfield (MO) 2 –1 –16 –2 –1
Maryville (MO) 1 –1 –13 –2 –3
Cape Girardeau 1 –1 –03 –3 –1
Warrensburg 0 –3 –10 –8 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Drake $ 3 –0 –15 –3 –1
Grinnell 1 –0 –25 –1 –2
Oklahoma A&M 1 –1 –04 –3 –2
Washington University 0 –1 –13 –4 –1
Creighton 0 –3 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Nebraska College Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Cotner $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –0
Doane 5 –1 –06 –1 –0
Hastings 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Midland 3 –2 –04 –4 –2
Nebraska Wesleyan 2 –3 –03 –5 –1
Nebraska Central 1 –3 –1 ? – ? – ?
York (NE) 1 –4 –02 –5 –0
Grand Island 0 –5 –10 –6 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Chadron Normal + 3 –1 –08 –1 –0
Peru Normal + 3 –1 –06 –1 –2
Omaha 2 –2 –14 –2 –3
Wayne Normal 1 –1 –22 –4 –3
Kearney Normal 0 –3 –12 –7 –1
Dana 0 –1 –01 –5 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1929 Northwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Willamette $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
Whitman 4 –1 –05 –5 –0
College of Idaho 3 –2 –04 –4 –0
Pacific (OR) 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
Puget Sound 1 –4 –03 –5 –1
Linfield 0 –5 –00 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Northwest Ohio League football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Bowling Green + 3 –0 –14 –2 –1
Toledo + 3 –0 –14 –2 –1
Defiance 2 –2 –03 –4 –1
Findlay 1 –3 –03 –5 –0
Bluffton 0 –4 –00 –6 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1929 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Muskingum $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
Heidelberg 2 –0 –04 –3 –0
Dayton 1 –0 –04 –5 –0
Akron 7 –1 –09 –1 –0
Baldwin–Wallace 4 –1 –16 –1 –1
Wooster 5 –2 –15 –2 –1
Mount Union 4 –2 –15 –3 –1
Oberlin 3 –2 –04 –4 –0
Western Reserve 3 –2 –03 –6 –0
Marietta 2 –2 –03 –5 –0
Kenyon 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Otterbein 3 –5 –03 –5 –0
Case 1 –6 –02 –7 –0
Hiram 1 –6 –01 –7 –0
Ohio Northern 0 –4 –12 –6 –1
St. Xavier 0 –2 –06 –4 –0
Capital 0 –5 –00 –5 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Central State (OK) $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –2
East Central 4 –1 –05 –3 –0
NW Oklahoma State 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
SE Oklahoma State 2 –3 –06 –4 –0
SW Oklahoma State 1 –4 –02 –8 –1
Northeastern State 0 –5 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Smoky Mountain Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Emory and Henry $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –1
Milligan 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
Maryville (TN) 2 –1 –15 –3 –1
King 2 –3 –05 –4 –0
Tusculum 0 –2 –12 –3 –3
Carson–Newman 0 –3 –11 –6 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Spearfish + 4 –0 –05 –2 –0
Dakota Wesleyan + 4 –0 –15 –2 –1
Yankton 3 –1 –15 –2 –1
Augustana (SD) 3 –1 –04 –4 –0
South Dakota Mines 3 –2 –03 –4 –0
Northern Normal 2 –2 –14 –3 –1
Sioux Falls 2 –2 –12 –3 –2
Eastern Normal 1 –6 –02 –6 –0
Huron 0 –4 –00 –8 –1
Southern Normal 0 –4 –20 –6 –2
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • Spearfish and South Dakota Mines played twice. The second game was not counted in the conference stnadings.
1929 Southern California Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Occidental $ 4 –0 –06 –2 –0
Pomona 5 –1 –06 –2 –0
Whittier 3 –2 –14 –4 –1
Redlands 2 –2 –13 –4 –1
Caltech 3 –3 –03 –6 –0
San Diego State 1 –5 –03 –5 –0
La Verne 0 –5 –00 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Chattanooga $ 7 –0 –08 –2 –0
Spring Hill 4 –0 –07 –1 –0
Centre 4 –0 –15 –3 –1
The Citadel 4 –0 –15 –4 –1
Louisiana College 3 –0 –16 –2 –1
Centenary 1 –0 –06 –3 –1
Louisiana Normal 1 –0 –24 –3 –2
Furman 4 –1 –15 –4 –1
Stetson 3 –1 –05 –1 –0
Millsaps 3 –1 –26 –1 –3
Southwestern (TN) 2 –1 –05 –3 –0
Transylvania 2 –1 –26 –4 –3
Miami (FL) 3 –2 –03 –2 –0
Erskine 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
Birmingham–Southern 4 –3 –04 –4 –0
Western Kentucky State Normal 3 –3 –07 –3 –0
Howard (AL) 3 –3 –25 –4 –2
Presbyterian 3 –3 –04 –4 –1
Georgetown (KY) 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Wofford 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Oglethorpe 1 –2 –05 –4 –1
Kentucky Wesleyan 1 –3 –05 –4 –0
Louisiana Tech 1 –3 –23 –4 –3
Louisville 1 –3 –03 –5 –0
Florida Southern 1 –3 –02 –5 –0
Mercer 2 –5 –02 –7 –0
Mississippi College 1 –4 –13 –6 –1
SW Louisiana 1 –5 –02 –7 –0
Union (TN) 0 –5 –11 –5 –1
Newberry 0 –5 –00 –7 –1
Rollins 0 –5 –00 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Wiley $   –    –  
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Texas Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Howard Payne $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –2
St. Edward's 4 –1 –05 –4 –2
Austin 3 –2 –03 –6 –0
Simmons (TX) 1 –3 –15 –4 –1
Trinity (TX) 1 –3 –13 –5 –1
Southwestern (TX) 0 –5 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Southwest Texas State $ 4 –0 –26 –1 –2
North Texas State Teachers 2 –0 –24 –3 –2
McMurry 3 –1 –14 –1 –3
Abilene Christian 2 –1 –16 –1 –1
Sam Houston State 2 –1 –16 –3 –1
West Texas State 2 –2 –06 –3 –1
Stephen F. Austin 1 –3 –11 –7 –2
Sul Ross 0 –1 –11 –3 –3
East Texas State 0 –3 –10 –6 –1
Daniel Baker 0 –4 –03 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 Tri-State Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Duquesne $ 3 –0 –09 –0 –1
Thiel 2 –1 –02 –5 –2
Waynesburg 2 –2 –05 –4 –0
Westminster (PA) 2 –2 –03 –4 –0
Geneva 1 –3 –02 –6 –1
Bethany (WV) 0 –2 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1929 West Virginia Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
New River State $ 5 –0 –06 –1 –1
West Liberty State 4 –0 –08 –1 –0
Glenville State 5 –1 –16 –2 –1
Marshall 4 –1 –05 –3 –1
Potomac State 4 –1 –06 –2 –0
West Virginia Wesleyan 4 –1 –04 –6 –0
Broaddus 6 –3 –06 –4 –0
Salem 2 –5 –02 –6 –0
Bethany (WV) 1 –3 –01 –7 –0
Morehead State 1 –3 –04 –4 –0
Fairmont State 1 –4 –01 –7 –0
Alderson 1 –5 –02 –6 –0
Shepherd 0 –4 –02 –6 –0
Morris Harvey 0 –8 –00 –12 –0
Davis & Elkins * 3 –0 –010 –1 –1
Concord * 0 –2 –01 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Ties did not count in conference standings.
1929 Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Milwaukee State $ 3 –0 –17 –0 –1
Superior State 3 –1 –05 –3 –0
Whitewater State 2 –1 –14 –2 –1
Eau Claire State 2 –1 –13 –1 –1
Oshkosh State 3 –2 –03 –4 –0
River Falls State 3 –2 –04 –3 –0
Platteville State 2 –2 –03 –3 –0
La Crosse State 1 –3 –02 –5 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Stout State]] 0 –3 –10 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Stevens Point State]] 0 –4 –00 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Superior State forfeited to Eau Claire State and Whitewater State forfeited to Platteville State.

Dickinson System

The AP sportswriters' poll would not begin continuously until 1936.[8] (although, the first time was a one instance publishing in 1934[9]) Frank G. Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, had invented the Dickinson System to rank colleges based upon their records and the strength of their opposition.

The system was originally designed to rank teams in the Big Nine (later the Big Ten) conference. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman then persuaded Dickinson to rank the nation's teams under the system, and awarded the Rissman Trophy to the winning university.[10]

The system awarded 30 points for a win over a "strong team", and 20 for a win over a "weak team". Losses were awarded points (15 for loss to a strong team, 10 for loss to a weak team). Ties were treated as half a win and half a loss (22.5 for a tie with a strong team, 15 for a tie with a weak team). An average was then derived by dividing the points by games played.[11]

Final Dickinson rankings

Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, both with nine wins and no losses or ties (9–0) were ranked first and second by Dickinson, with the Irish getting the higher rating based on their opposition.[12] As Grantland Rice noted in his column, "There is no questioning the fact that among the unbeaten teams who were not even tied, Notre Dame fought its way through the hardest field. But when it comes to saying that Notre Dame could beat Pittsburgh or that Notre Dame could beat Purdue or that Pittsburgh could beat Purdue -- that is something else again,"[13]

Dickinson rankings, end of 1929 season
Rank Team Record Rating
1 Notre Dame 9–0 25.00
2 Purdue 8–0 23.60
3 Pittsburgh 9–0 22.00
4 California 7–1–1 20.00
5 Illinois 6–1–1 18.70
6 USC 9–2 17.75
7 Nebraska 4–1–3 16.82
8 TCU 9–0–1 16.51
9 SMU 6–0–4 16.31
10 Tulane 9–0 16.22
11 Penn 7–2 15.00

Awards and honors

All-Americans
Main article: 1929 College Football All-America Team

The consensus All-America team included:

Position Name Height Weight (lbs.) Class Hometown Team
QB Frank Carideo 5'7" 175 Jr. Mount Vernon, New York Notre Dame
HB Chris Cagle 5'10" 174 Sr. De Ridder, Louisiana Army
HB Gene McEver 5'10" 185 Jr. Bristol, Virginia Tennessee
FB Ralph Welch 6'1" 200 Sr. Sherman, Texas Purdue
E Joe Donchess 6'0" 175 Sr. Kingston, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh
T Bronko Nagurski 6'2" 217 Sr. International Falls, Minnesota Minnesota
G Jack Cannon 5'11" 193 Sr. Columbus, Ohio Notre Dame
C Ben Ticknor 6'2" 193 Jr. Canton, Massachusetts Harvard
G Ray Montgomery 6'1" 188 Sr. Wheeling, West Virginia Pittsburgh
T Elmer Sleight 6'2" 193 Sr. Sisseton, South Dakota Purdue
E Wes Fesler 6'0" 185 Jr. Youngstown, Ohio Ohio State

Statistical leaders

References
  1. Okeson, Walter R., ed. (1934). Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 1934. New York: American Sports Publishing Co. p. 206.
  2. Borghetti, E.J.; Nestor, Mendy; Welsh, Celeste, eds. (2008). 2008 Pitt Football Media Guide (PDF). Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh. pp. 16, 156. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  3. Alison Danzig, The History of American Football (Prentice-Hall, 1956) p 71
  4. "Notre Dame Nips U.S.C., 13–12," Decatur Herald November 17, 1929, p1
  5. "Longhorns Wilt Before Horned Frog Attack," Port Arthur News, November 17, 1929, p9
  6. "T.C.U.'s 7–7 Tie With S.M.U. Bags Southwest Title," Abilene Reporter-News, December 1, 1929, p4
  7. "Trojans Hand Pitt Worst Beating In History of Bowl Games," Oakland Tribune, Jan. 2, 1930, p39
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Herschel Nissenson Tales From College Football's Sidelines (Sports Publishing LLC, 2001), p93.
  11. "The Dickinson system awards 30 points for a victory over a strong team, and 20 for victory over a weak team. Defeats count half as much as victories, and ties are consideredas games half won and half lost. Dividing this total by the number of games played gives the final rating, "ILLINOIS BEST FOOTBALL TEAM OF YEAR," The Syracuse Herald, Dec. 4, 1927, p23
  12. "Irish Acclaimed National Victors," Charleston (WV) Gazette, December 1, 1929, p16
  13. Grantland Rice, "The Sport Light", from The Salt Lake Tribune, December 7, 1929, p 7
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