1959 college football season

The 1959 college football season was the 91st season of intercollegiate football in the United States. It concluded with two teams having claim to the major college national championship:

1959 college football season
Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon
Preseason AP No. 1LSU[1]
Regular seasonSeptember 19 – December 5, 1959
Number of bowls8
Bowl gamesDecember 19, 1959 – January 2, 1960
Champion(s)Syracuse (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
HeismanBilly Cannon (halfback, LSU)
football seasons

Three small college teams also claimed national championships:

LSU halfback Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy, and Penn State quarterback Richie Lucas received the Maxwell Award. Individual statistical leaders in major college football included New Mexico State running back Pervis Atkins with 971 rushing yards and 107 points scored and Stanford quarterback Dick Norman with 1,963 passing yards and 2,018 yards of total offense.

A rule change in 1959 widened the goal posts from 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) to 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m). This width remained in effect for 32 seasons, until the 1991 season, when it was returned to 18½ feet.

Conference and program changes

Conference changes

Membership changes
School1958 Conference1959 Conference
California Golden BearsPCCAAWU
Idaho VandalsPCCIndependent
Oregon DucksPCCIndependent
Oregon State BeaversPCCIndependent
USC TrojansPCCAAWU
Stanford IndiansPCCAAWU
UCLA BruinsPCCAAWU
Washington HuskiesPCCAAWU
Washington State CougarsPCCIndependent

Season chronology

September

In the preseason poll released on September 14, the defending champion LSU Tigers were ranked first, followed by Oklahoma, Auburn, SMU, and Army. With more than 100 sportswriters weighing in, eighteen different schools received first place votes. Syracuse was ranked No. 20 overall.[8] As the regular season progressed, a new poll would be issued on the Monday following the weekend's games.

On September 19, No. 1 LSU beat Rice at home, 26–3. Oklahoma, Auburn, SMU, and Army had not yet opened their seasons; SMU and Army fell to 6th and 7th. No. 8 Mississippi, which won 16–0 at Houston, rose to 4th in the next poll. No. 18 Clemson moved up to 5th after its 20–18 win at No. 12 North Carolina. Three of the Top Five schools were from the SEC: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Mississippi, and No. 5 Clemson

September 26 No. 1 LSU beat No. 9 TCU at home, 10–0. No. 2 Oklahoma lost its opener, falling 45–13 at No. 10 Northwestern, and dropped out of the Top 20 entirely, while Northwestern took its place. No. 3 Auburn lost at Tennessee 3–0 and fell to 17th place in the next poll. No. 4 Mississippi recorded another 16–0 win, this time at Kentucky, and rose to third. No. 5 Clemson won at 47–0 at Virginia, but fell to 6th. No. 7 Army returned to the Top 5 after its 44–8 win over Boston College. No. 13 Iowa, which had won at California 42–12, rose to fifth. The next poll was No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Mississippi, No. 4 Army, and No. 5 Iowa.

October

October 3 No. 1 LSU and Baylor met at a game in Shreveport, with LSU winning 22–0. No. 2 Northwestern won at No. 5 Iowa, 14–10. No. 3 Mississippi registered a third shutout, beating Memphis State 43–0, but fell to fifth. No. 4 Army lost at Illinois, 20–14, and fell out of the Top 20 completely. No. 7 Georgia Tech which went to 3–0 after a 16–6 win over No. 6 Clemson, rose to 3rd in the poll. No. 10 Texas rose to fourth after its third shutout in a row, a 33–0 walloping of California. The poll was: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 4 Texas, and No. 5 Mississippi.

October 10 No. 1 LSU beat the visiting Miami Hurricanes 27–3. No. 2 Northwestern beat Minnesota 6–0. No. 3 Georgia Tech won at No. 8 Tennessee, 14–7. In Dallas, No. 4 Texas defeated No. 13 Oklahoma 19–12. No. 5 Mississippi won at Vanderbilt, 33–0. In four games, Ole Miss was 4–0 and had outscored its opponents 108–0. The next poll was: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Georgia Tech, and No. 5 Mississippi.

On October 17, No. 1 LSU won at Kentucky, 9–0. No. 2 Northwestern won at Michigan 20–7. No. 3 Texas narrowly beat No. 12 Arkansas 13–12 in Little Rock. No. 4 Georgia Tech lost to No. 11 Auburn, 7–6. No. 5 Mississippi yielded some points for the first time in the season, but beat Tulane 53–7. The No. 7 USC Trojans rose to 5th after beating No. 18 Washington in Seattle, 22–15. The next poll was: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Mississippi, and No. 5 USC.

October 24 No. 1 LSU recorded its fourth shutout, winning 9–0 in Florida. No. 2 Northwestern killed another giant on the road, beating Notre Dame 30–24. No. 3 Texas defeated Rice 28–6. No. 4 Mississippi shut out No. 10 Arkansas 28–0 at Memphis. The No. 5 USC Trojans got past Stanford 30–28 and fell to 6th. Taking USC's place was No. 6 Syracuse, which had beaten West Virginia 44–0 to reach the 5–0 mark. The next poll was: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Mississippi, No. 4 Texas, and No. 5 Syracuse.

October 31 No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Mississippi, both 6–0, met in Baton Rouge and both schools had great defenses. LSU had outscored its opposition 103–6, while Ole Miss had a 189–7 point differential over all comers. Someone had to lose, and Ole Miss fell to LSU 7–3. Billy Cannon returned a Jake Gibbs punt 89 yards for the game's only touchdown, but the Rebels had a chance to win the game when it drove to the LSU 1–yard line in the closing seconds, only to see third-string quarterback Doug Elmore stopped cold on fourth and goal by Cannon. No. 2 Northwestern beat visiting Indiana 30–13. No. 4 Texas beat SMU in Dallas, 21–0. No. 5 Syracuse won at Pittsburgh, 35–0, and rose to fourth. The next poll was: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Syracuse, and No. 5 Mississippi.

November

November 7 No. 1 LSU traveled to Knoxville to face No. 13 Tennessee, and gave up a touchdown for the first time in the season. The Vols made it to the end zone twice, winning 14–13 over the Tigers. Losing also was No. 2 Northwestern, which fell to visiting No. 9 Wisconsin, 24–19, and dropped to 6th. Northwestern would close the season on a three-game losing streak after a 6-0 start. No. 3 Texas won a close one over Baylor, 13–12, and rose to 2nd. No. 4 Syracuse, which had won at No. 7 Penn State 20–18, was catapulted to the No. 1 spot. No. 5 Mississippi crushed UT-Chattanooga 58–0. No. 6 USC returned to the Top Five after a 36–0 win over West Virginia. The next poll was No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 USC, and No. 5 Mississippi.

November 14 No. 1 Syracuse exercised its top status, brushing off overmatched Colgate 71–0. No. 2 Texas lost to No. 18 TCU, 14–9, and No. 3 LSU returned to its winning ways, beating Mississippi State at home, 27–0. No. 4 USC beat Baylor 17–8. No. 5 Mississippi beat No. 9 Tennessee in Memphis, 37–7. The poll changed slightly: No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Mississippi, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 USC, and No. 5 Texas.

November 21 No. 1 Syracuse won at Boston University, 46–0, for its fifth shutout as it reached the 9–0 mark. No. 3 LSU beat Tulane 14–6, then accepted an invitation to play in the Sugar Bowl. No. 4 USC lost to rival UCLA, 10–3 and fell to 7th. No. 9 Wisconsin, which closed its season and clinched the Big Ten title with an 11–7 win at Minnesota, rose to 5th. No. 2 Mississippi and No. 5 Texas were idle. The next poll: No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Mississippi, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Texas, and No. 5 Wisconsin.

On Thanksgiving Day, No. 4 Texas won 20–17 at Texas A&M. No. 1 Syracuse was idle as it prepared for its December 5 trip to Los Angeles to play UCLA. On Saturday, November 28, No. 2 Mississippi played its season ender against Mississippi State, in Starkville, and won 42–0. Both LSU and Ole Miss were invited to a rematch in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. A third SEC team, the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs, beat Georgia Tech 21–14 in Atlanta and accepted a spot in the Orange Bowl. Because Oklahoma had played in the Orange Bowl the year before, a "no repeat" rule gave the Big 7 (Oklahoma State would join later) berth to 6–4 Missouri. The Rose Bowl matched No. 6 Wisconsin against No. 8 Washington. The penultimate poll was No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Mississippi, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Texas, and No. 5 Georgia.

On December 5, No. 1 Syracuse closed its season with trip to the Los Angeles Coliseum to face the upset-minded (but 5–3–1) No. 17 UCLA Bruins [9] In a nationally televised game, the Orangemen took a 14–0 lead and went on to win 36–8 to finish the season with a perfect 10–0 record.[10] As the only unbeaten team among universities, Syracuse was voted No. 1 in the AP Poll (with 134 of 201 first-place votes)[2][3] and in the UPI Coaches Poll, with 31 of the 35 first-place votes.[4][5][11] The Orangemen prepared to play SWC champion Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

Conference standings

Major college standings
1959 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8 Washington ^ + 3 –1 –010 –1 –0
No. 14 USC + 3 –1 –08 –2 –0
UCLA + 3 –1 –05 –4 –1
California 1 –3 –02 –8 –0
Stanford 0 –4 –03 –7 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – Selected as Rose Bowl representative
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 11 Clemson $ 6 –1 –09 –2 –0
North Carolina 5 –2 –05 –5 –0
Maryland 4 –2 –05 –5 –0
South Carolina 4 –3 –06 –4 –0
Wake Forest 4 –3 –06 –4 –0
Duke 2 –3 –04 –6 –0
NC State 0 –6 –01 –9 –0
Virginia 0 –5 –00 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Big Seven Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Oklahoma $ 5 –1 –07 –3 –0
No. 18 Missouri 4 –2 –06 –5 –0
Colorado 3 –3 –05 –5 –0
Iowa State 3 –3 –07 –3 –0
Kansas 3 –3 –05 –5 –0
Nebraska 2 –4 –04 –6 –0
Kansas State 1 –5 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 6 Wisconsin $ 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Michigan State 4 –2 –05 –4 –0
Purdue 4 –2 –15 –2 –2
No. 13 Illinois 4 –2 –15 –3 –1
Northwestern 4 –3 –06 –3 –0
Iowa 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
Michigan 3 –4 –04 –5 –0
Indiana 2 –4 –14 –4 –1
Ohio State 2 –4 –13 –5 –1
Minnesota 1 –6 –02 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Border Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Arizona State $ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0
Arizona 2 –1 –04 –6 –0
New Mexico A&M 2 –2 –08 –3 –0
Hardin–Simmons 2 –2 –03 –7 –0
Texas Western 2 –3 –03 –7 –0
West Texas State 0 –5 –01 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Ivy League football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Penn $ 6 –1 –07 –1 –1
Dartmouth 5 –1 –15 –3 –1
Harvard 4 –3 –06 –3 –0
Yale 4 –3 –06 –3 –0
Cornell 3 –4 –05 –4 –0
Princeton 3 –4 –04 –5 –0
Brown 1 –5 –12 –6 –1
Columbia 1 –6 –02 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
North Texas State + 3 –1 –09 –2 –0
Houston + 3 –1 –03 –7 –0
Tulsa 2 –2 –05 –5 –0
Wichita 1 –2 –15 –4 –1
Cincinnati 0 –3 –15 –4 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1959 Skyline Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 16 Wyoming $ 7 –0 –09 –1 –0
Colorado State 5 –2 –06 –4 –0
New Mexico 4 –2 –07 –3 –0
Utah 3 –2 –05 –5 –0
Utah State 2 –5 –05 –6 –0
BYU 2 –5 –03 –7 –0
Denver 2 –5 –02 –8 –0
Montana 1 –5 –01 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Georgia $ 7 –0 –010 –1 –0
No. 3 LSU 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
No. 2 Ole Miss # 5 –1 –010 –1 –0
No. 10 Alabama 4 –1 –27 –2 –2
Auburn 4 –3 –07 –3 –0
Vanderbilt 3 –2 –25 –3 –2
Georgia Tech 3 –3 –06 –5 –0
Tennessee 3 –4 –15 –4 –1
No. 19 Florida 2 –4 –05 –4 –1
Kentucky 1 –6 –04 –6 –0
Tulane 0 –5 –13 –6 –1
Mississippi State 0 –7 –02 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • # Berryman, Billingsley, Dunkel, Sagarin national champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
VMI $ 5 –0 –18 –1 –1
The Citadel 5 –1 –08 –2 –0
VPI 3 –1 –06 –4 –0
Furman 3 –2 –03 –7 –0
Richmond 4 –3 –14 –5 –1
West Virginia 2 –2 –03 –7 –0
William & Mary 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Davidson 0 –5 –01 –8 –0
George Washington 0 –5 –01 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 Southwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 9 Arkansas + 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
No. 4 Texas + 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
No. 7 TCU + 5 –1 –08 –3 –0
SMU 2 –3 –15 –4 –1
Baylor 2 –4 –04 –6 –0
Rice 1 –4 –11 –7 –2
Texas A&M 0 –6 –03 –7 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1959 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Syracuse   –  11 –0 –0
No. 12 Penn State   –  9 –2 –0
Oregon   –  8 –2 –0
Rutgers   –  6 –3 –0
Detroit   –  6 –4 –0
Holy Cross   –  6 –4 –0
Miami (FL)   –  6 –4 –0
Oklahoma State   –  6 –4 –0
No. 20 Pittsburgh   –  6 –4 –0
Washington State   –  6 –4 –0
Boston College   –  5 –4 –0
Pacific (CA)   –  5 –4 –0
Air Force   –  5 –4 –1
Navy   –  5 –4 –1
Army   –  4 –4 –1
No. 17 Notre Dame   –  5 –5 –0
Boston University   –  4 –5 –0
Florida State   –  4 –6 –0
San Jose State   –  4 –6 –0
Texas Tech   –  4 –6 –0
Dayton   –  3 –7 –0
Marquette   –  3 –7 –0
Oregon State   –  3 –7 –0
Colgate   –  2 –7 –0
Idaho   –  1 –9 –0
Villanova   –  1 –9 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

Small college standings
1959 Badger-Gopher Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Lakeland + 3 –1 –03 –2 –1
Northland + 3 –1 –03 –5 –0
Northwestern (WI) 2 –2 –05 –2 –0
Bethel (MN) 1 –3 –01 –7 –0
Milton 1 –3 –0 ? – ? – ?
  • + – Conference co-champions
1959 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Fresno State $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0
Los Angeles State 3 –2 –07 –3 –0
Cal Poly 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
UC Santa Barbara 2 –3 –06 –4 –0
Long Beach State 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
San Diego State 0 –5 –01 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
North Carolina A&T $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
Virginia Union 7 –0 –17 –0 –2
Virginia State 7 –2 –07 –2 –0
St. Augustine's 6 –2 –07 –2 –0
Winston-Salem State 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
Maryland State 6 –1 –06 –1 –1
Johnson C. Smith 5 –4 –05 –4 –0
North Carolina College 3 –3 –04 –4 –1
Saint Paul's (VA) 3 –4 –03 –4 –0
Hampton 4 –4 –04 –4 –1
Elizabeth City State 3 –5 –03 –6 –0
Howard 2 –4 –03 –5 –0
Lincoln (PA) 2 –4 –03 –6 –0
Fayetteville State 1 –6 –01 –7 –0
Shaw 1 –6 –11 –6 –1
Bluefield State 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Delaware State 1 –6 –01 –7 –0
Morgan State 1 –6 –01 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
St. Benedict's $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0
Pittsburg State 4 –1 –06 –3 –0
Washburn 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Emporia State 2 –3 –02 –7 –0
Fort Hays State 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Omaha 1 –4 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 College Conference of Illinois football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Wheaton (IL) $ 6 –0 –16 –1 –2
Illinois Wesleyan 5 –2 –06 –3 –0
Carroll (WI) 4 –2 –15 –2 –1
Augustana (IL) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0
North Central (IL) 3 –2 –24 –3 –2
Lake Forest 2 –5 –03 –5 –0
Millikin 2 –5 –02 –6 –0
Elmhurst 0 –7 –00 –7 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Evergreen Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 19 Whitworth $ 4 –1 –09 –1 –0
Puget Sound 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
Central Washington 3 –2 –03 –6 –0
Western Washington 2 –3 –03 –5 –0
Eastern Washington 1 –3 –12 –6 –1
Pacific Lutheran 1 –3 –11 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Far Western Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 17 San Francisco State $ 5 –0 –010 –0 –0
Humboldt State 4 –1 –09 –1 –0
Nevada 3 –2 –04 –3 –0
Chico State 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
Sacramento State 1 –4 –02 –7 –0
UC Davis 0 –5 –01 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from UPI small college poll
1959 Frontier Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Arizona State–Flagstaff $ 3 –0 –06 –2 –1
Panhandle A&M 2 –1 –04 –5 –1
New Mexico Western 0 –2 –13 –3 –1
New Mexico Highlands 0 –2 –12 –5 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Gulf States Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Louisiana Tech $ 5 –0 –09 –1 –0
McNeese State 2 –3 –06 –3 –0
Northwestern State 2 –3 –04 –5 –1
Southwestern Louisiana 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Southeastern Louisiana 1 –4 –03 –2 –0
Northeast Louisiana State 1 –4 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Hoosier Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Anderson (IN) $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –0
Taylor 3 –2 –06 –3 –0
Franklin (IN) 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Hanover 2 –3 –02 –6 –1
Indiana Central 1 –3 –13 –5 –1
Manchester (IN) 0 –4 –13 –5 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1959 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0
Evansville 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Indiana State 3 –3 –05 –3 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Valparaiso 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
DePauw 1 –5 –01 –7 –1
Ball State 1 –5 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Western Illinois $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0
No. 17 Northern Illinois State 4 –2 –07 –2 –0
Central Michigan 4 –2 –07 –3 –0
Southern Illinois 4 –2 –05 –4 –0
Eastern Illinois 1 –4 –13 –5 –1
Eastern Michigan 1 –5 –01 –7 –0
Illinois State Normal 0 –5 –13 –5 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Iowa Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Wartburg $ 8 –0 –08 –1 –0
Buena Vista 7 –1 –08 –1 –0
Luther 6 –2 –06 –3 –0
Iowa Wesleyan 5 –3 –05 –4 –0
Dubuque 4 –4 –05 –4 –0
Parsons 3 –5 –03 –7 –0
Central (IA) 2 –6 –03 –6 –0
Upper Iowa 1 –7 –01 –8 –0
Simpson 0 –8 –00 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
College of Emporia $ 7 –0 –09 –1 –0
Ottawa 6 –1 –06 –3 –0
Baker 5 –2 –05 –4 –0
Kansas Wesleyan 3 –3 –13 –5 –1
McPherson 3 –4 –04 –5 –0
Bethany (KS) 2 –4 –14 –4 –1
Friends 1 –6 –01 –8 –0
Bethel (KS) 0 –7 –00 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Lone Star Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Texas A&I +^ 6 –1 –012 –1 –0
No. 4 East Texas State + 6 –1 –09 –1 –0
Lamar Tech 4 –3 –08 –3 –0
Stephen F. Austin 4 –3 –04 –6 –1
Sam Houston State 3 –4 –05 –5 –0
Howard Payne 3 –4 –03 –7 –0
Southwest Texas State 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Sul Ross 0 –7 –00 –9 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Mason–Dixon Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Johns Hopkins $ 2 –1 –07 –1 –0
Western Maryland 2 –1 –15 –2 –2
Hampden–Sydney 2 –1 –15 –3 –1
Randolph–Macon 2 –2 –14 –2 –3
Bridgewater 1 –3 –02 –6 –0
Gallaudet 0 –2 –03 –3 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Conference standings were based on the Dickinson Scoring System.
1959 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Hillsdale $^ 6 –0 –08 –2 –0
Hope 5 –1 –08 –1 –0
Alma 4 –2 –05 –4 –0
Albion 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Olivet 1 –5 –03 –5 –0
Adrian 1 –5 –02 –6 –0
Kalamazoo 1 –5 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Bowling Green $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0
No. 9 Ohio 4 –2 –07 –2 –0
No. 19 Miami (OH) 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Kent State 3 –3 –05 –3 –0
Western Michigan 3 –3 –04 –5 –0
Marshall 1 –4 –01 –8 –0
Toledo 0 –6 –02 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from UPI small college poll
1959 Mid-Ohio League football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Bluffton $ 5 –0 –06 –3 –0
Findlay 3 –1 –15 –3 –1
Ashland 3 –1 –14 –3 –2
Ohio Northern 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Defiance 1 –4 –01 –8 –0
Wilmington (OH) 0 –5 –01 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
University
Delaware x 5 –0 –08 –1 –0
Gettysburg 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Lafayette 4 –3 –05 –4 –0
Bucknell 3 –3 –04 –5 –0
Rutgers 2 –2 –06 –3 –0
Lehigh 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Temple 0 –5 –00 –9 –0
Muhlenberg * 1 –2 –03 –6 –0
College–Northern
Albright x 6 –1 –07 –3 –0
Juniata 5 –1 –07 –1 –0
Wagner 5 –1 –06 –2 –0
Lebanon Valley 3 –2 –05 –3 –0
Susquehanna 3 –2 –04 –3 –0
Moravian 2 –4 –03 –5 –0
Wilkes 2 –5 –02 –5 –0
Lycoming 1 –4 –03 –5 –0
Scranton * 3 –1 –05 –4 –0
College–Southern
Johns Hopkins x 6 –0 –07 –1 –0
Pennsylvania Military 6 –2 –06 –2 –0
Western Maryland 3 –2 –15 –2 –2
Ursinus 2 –5 –02 –6 –0
Dickinson 1 –5 –01 –7 –0
Haverford 0 –5 –01 –5 –0
Drexel 0 –5 –01 –6 –0
Franklin & Marshall * 1 –2 –14 –3 –1
Swarthmore * 1 –3 –02 –5 –0
West Chester * 0 –0 –07 –1 –0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Ineligible for championship due to insufficient conference games
1959 Midwest Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Tennessee A&I $ 3 –0 –09 –1 –0
No. 21 Kentucky State 1 –1 –13 –5 –1
No. 22 Central State (OH) 1 –2 –04 –3 –1
No. 11 Lincoln (MO) 0 –2 –17 –2 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Associated Negro Press[12]
1959 Midwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Coe $ 8 –0 –08 –0 –0
Cornell (IA) 7 –1 –07 –1 –0
St. Olaf 6 –2 –06 –2 –0
Beloit 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
Lawrence 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
Ripon 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
Carleton 3 –5 –03 –5 –0
Knox 2 –6 –02 –6 –0
Grinnell 1 –7 –01 –7 –0
Monmouth (IL) 1 –7 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Gustavus Adolphus $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0
Concordia (MN) 6 –1 –07 –2 –0
Minnesota–Duluth 4 –2 –15 –2 –1
Saint John's (MN) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0
St. Thomas (MN) 3 –3 –14 –3 –1
Augsburg 2 –5 –03 –5 –0
Macalester 1 –6 –02 –6 –0
Hamline 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 William Jewell $ 3 –0 –08 –1 –0
Missouri Valley 2 –1 –07 –2 –0
Culver–Stockton 1 –2 –16 –3 –1
Tarkio 1 –2 –13 –5 –1
Central (MO) 0 –2 –00 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
SE Missouri State $ 5 –0 –07 –2 –0
NE Missouri State 3 –1 –17 –1 –1
NW Missouri State 2 –2 –13 –3 –2
Missouri–Rolla 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
SW Missouri State 1 –4 –04 –5 –0
Central Missouri State 1 –4 –03 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Montana Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Eastern Montana + 4 –1 –05 –2 –0
Rocky Mountain + 4 –1 –04 –2 –0
Carroll (MT) 3 –2 –04 –4 –0
Western Montana 3 –2 –05 –2 –1
Northern Montana 1 –4 –01 –6 –0
Montana Mines 0 –5 –0 ? – ? – ?
  • + – Conference co-champions
1959 Nebraska College Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Kearney State $ 7 –0 –08 –2 –0
Peru State 6 –1 –07 –1 –0
Chadron State 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
Doane 5 –3 –15 –3 –1
Nebraska Wesleyan 4 –3 –15 –3 –1
Wayne State (NE) 4 –3 –14 –4 –1
Hastings 2 –2 –33 –2 –3
Concordia (NE) 2 –6 –03 –6 –0
Dana 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
Midland 0 –8 –00 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 North Central Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Augustana (SD) $ 4 –1 –16 –2 –1
North Dakota State 3 –2 –14 –4 –1
South Dakota 3 –2 –14 –5 –1
Iowa State Teachers 3 –3 –06 –3 –0
Morningside 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
South Dakota State 2 –4 –02 –7 –0
North Dakota 1 –4 –12 –5 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 North Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Mayville State $ 5 –0 –16 –0 –1
Dickinson State 4 –2 –05 –2 –0
Minot State 2 –2 –23 –2 –2
Valley City State 3 –3 –04 –3 –0
Wahpeton Science 2 –2 –22 –2 –2
Jamestown 1 –4 –12 –5 –1
Ellendale 1 –5 –02 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 North State Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. Lenoir Rhyne $^ 6 –0 –010 –1 –0
Appalachian State 5 –1 –06 –4 –0
Western Carolina 4 –2 –07 –2 –1
East Carolina 3 –3 –05 –6 –0
Catawba 2 –4 –02 –7 –1
Guilford 1 –5 –02 –7 –0
Elon 0 –6 –01 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Northern State College Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Bemidji State + 4 –1 –06 –1 –1
Michigan Tech + 4 –1 –06 –2 –0
Mankato State + 4 –1 –06 –3 –0
Winona State 2 –3 –02 –5 –0
St. Cloud State 1 –4 –02 –6 –0
Moorhead State 0 –5 –00 –9 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1959 Northwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Willamette $ 3 –1 –15 –3 –1
Lewis & Clark 3 –2 –04 –5 –0
College of Idaho 2 –2 –16 –3 –1
Whitman 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Pacific (OR) 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Linfield 1 –2 –24 –3 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Middle Tennessee + 5 –0 –110 –0 –1
Tennessee Tech + 5 –0 –17 –2 –2
East Tennessee State 4 –2 –07 –3 –0
Western Kentucky 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
Eastern Kentucky 2 –4 –03 –6 –0
Morehead State 1 –5 –03 –6 –0
Murray State 0 –6 –00 –10 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from UPI small college poll
1959 Mid-Ohio League football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Bluffton $ 5 –0 –06 –3 –0
Findlay 3 –1 –15 –3 –1
Ashland 3 –1 –14 –3 –2
Ohio Northern 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Defiance 1 –4 –01 –8 –0
Wilmington (OH) 0 –5 –01 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Langston $ 6 –0 –07 –1 –0
No. 11 Central State (OK) 5 –1 –08 –1 –0
East Central 4 –2 –08 –4 –0
SW Oklahoma State 3 –3 –03 –6 –1
Northeastern State 2 –4 –03 –6 –0
NW Oklahoma State 1 –5 –04 –5 –0
SE Oklahoma State 0 –6 –00 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Oregon Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Oregon Tech $ 4 –0 –06 –2 –0
Southern Oregon 3 –1 –04 –5 –0
Eastern Oregon 2 –2 –03 –6 –0
Portland State 1 –3 –01 –8 –0
Oregon College 0 –4 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 10/10 West Chester $ 5 –1 –07 –1 –0
California (PA) 4 –2 –06 –2 –0
Shippensburg 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
Clarion 4 –1 –16 –1 –1
East Stroudsburg 3 –2 –05 –2 –2
Lock Haven 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
Millersville 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
Slippery Rock 2 –3 –02 –6 –0
Edinboro 2 –3 –13 –4 –1
Bloomsburg 2 –4 –05 –2 –1
Indiana (PA) 1 –3 –13 –4 –1
Mansfield 1 –4 –22 –4 –2
Kutztown 1 –2 –13 –4 –1
Cheyney 0 –6 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Conference standings were based on the Saylor system of ratings.
Rankings from NAIA poll and UPI small college poll
1959 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
John Carroll $ 6 –0 –07 –0 –0
Allegheny 4 –1 –06 –2 –0
Wayne State (MI) 4 –1 –04 –3 –0
Western Reserve 3 –2 –03 –4 –0
Thiel 1 –4 –11 –5 –1
Case Tech 1 –4 –01 –6 –0
Bethany (WV) 1 –4 –01 –8 –0
Washington & Jefferson 0 –4 –11 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Idaho State $ 3 –0 –06 –2 –0
Adams State 3 –1 –08 –1 –0
Colorado State–Greeley 3 –2 –07 –2 –0
Colorado College 2 –3 –04 –4 –0
Colorado Mines 1 –3 –04 –6 –0
Western State (CO) 1 –4 –03 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 South Central Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Mississippi Vocational $ 3 –1 –03 –4 –1
Mississippi Industrial 2 –1 –04 –5 –0
Paul Quinn 1 –2 –14 –4 –1
Alcorn A&M 2 –2 –03 –5 –0
Leland 0 –2 –11 –4 –3
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 14 Huron + 7 –1 –09 –1 –0
Southern State + 7 –1 –07 –2 –0
General Beadle 5 –2 –15 –2 –1
Northern State 5 –3 –05 –4 –0
Dakota Wesleyan 3 –4 –13 –5 –1
South Dakota Tech 3 –4 –03 –4 –0
Sioux Falls 2 –5 –02 –5 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Black Hills]] 1 –6 –01 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Yankton]] 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 18 [[{{{school}}}|Whittier]] $ 5 –0 –08 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Redlands]] 4 –1 –06 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Pomona]] 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Occidental]] 2 –3 –03 –5 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Caltech]] 1 –4 –01 –7 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Claremont-Mudd]] 0 –5 –01 –7 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Southern $ 7 –0 –08 –2 –0
No. 16 Prairie View A&M 6 –1 –09 –2 –0
Texas Southern 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Jackson State 4 –3 –06 –4 –0
Arkansas AM&N 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Grambling 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Texas College 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Wiley 0 –7 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Virginia Little Eight Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
[[{{{school}}}|Emory and Henry]] * 1 –0 –07 –3 –0
Randolph–Macon $ 1 –0 –14 –2 –3
Hampden–Sydney 1 –1 –15 –3 –1
Bridgewater 0 –2 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Emory and Henry did not play enough conference games to be eligible for the championship.
1959 West Penn Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
[[{{{school}}}|Westminster (PA)]] $ 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Carnegie Tech]] 3 –1 –07 –1 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Geneva]] 2 –2 –07 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Saint Vincent]] 1 –3 –03 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Grove City]] 0 –2 –13 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Waynesburg]] 0 –3 –11 –6 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Eastern Division
[[{{{school}}}|West Liberty State]] x 4 –3 –04 –5 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Shepherd]] 3 –2 –04 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|West Virginia State]] 2 –2 –02 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Davis & Elkins]] 1 –6 –01 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Salem]] 0 –8 –00 –8 –0
Bluefield State * 0 –1 –03 –6 –0
Western Division
No. 12 [[{{{school}}}|Fairmont State]] x$ 8 –0 –08 –1 –0
[[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Tech]] 4 –1 –07 –1 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Potomac State]] 4 –2 –07 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|West Virginia Wesleyan]] 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Glenville State]] 4 –3 –04 –3 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Concord]] 2 –6 –02 –7 –0
Bethany (WV) * 0 –1 –01 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Salem forfeited seven conference wins, over Concord, Davis & Elkins, Glenville State, Potomac State, West Liberty State, West Virginia State, and West Virginia Wesleyan.
    Conference standings based on power ratings
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 Wisconsin State College Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
[[{{{school}}}|Whitewater State]] $ 6 –0 –07 –1 –1
[[{{{school}}}|La Crosse State]] 5 –1 –08 –1 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Superior State]] 3 –1 –24 –3 –2
[[{{{school}}}|Stevens Point State]] 3 –3 –14 –3 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Milwaukee]] 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Oshkosh State]] 2 –3 –23 –3 –2
[[{{{school}}}|Eau Claire State]] 2 –4 –12 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|River Falls State]] 2 –4 –12 –6 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Platteville State]] 2 –4 –02 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Stout State]] 0 –5 –12 –5 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 Yankee Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Connecticut $ 4 –0 –06 –3 –0
UMass 2 –2 –03 –5 –1
Maine 1 –2 –23 –3 –2
New Hampshire 1 –2 –13 –3 –2
Rhode Island 1 –2 –13 –5 –1
Vermont 0 –1 –04 –3 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1959 NCAA College Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Hofstra   –  9 –0 –0
Howard (AL)   –  9 –1 –0
Buffalo   –  8 –1 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Carnegie Tech]]   –  7 –1 –0
Cal Poly Pomona   –  7 –1 –1
[[{{{school}}}|North Park]]   –  6 –1 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Santa Clara]]   –  4 –1 –0
No. 8 [[{{{school}}}|Southern Connecticut State]] ^   –  8 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Northern Michigan]]   –  6 –2 –0
UC Riverside   –  5 –2 –0
Montana State   –  6 –3 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Carthage]]   –  5 –3 –1
Louisville   –  6 –4 –0
Memphis State   –  6 –4 –0
Mississippi Southern   –  6 –4 –0
Arlington State   –  4 –3 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Sewanee]]   –  4 –3 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Abilene Christian]]   –  5 –5 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Baldwin–Wallace]]   –  4 –4 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Washington and Lee]]   –  3 –4 –1
Xavier   –  4 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Wabash]]   –  3 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Rose Poly]]   –  2 –4 –1
Arkansas State   –  3 –6 –0
Hawaii   –  3 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Trinity (TX)]]   –  3 –6 –0
Pepperdine   –  2 –5 –1
Chattanooga   –  3 –7 –0
Tampa   –  3 –7 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Drake]]   –  2 –7 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]]   –  1 –6 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Washington University]]   –  1 –7 –0
[[{{{school}}}|St. Norbert]]   –  0 –6 –1
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1959 NAIA independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
[[{{{school}}}|Austin]]   –  8 –2 –0
No. 9 [[{{{school}}}|McMurry]]   –  8 –2 –0
No. 8 [[{{{school}}}|Southern Connecticut State]] ^   –  8 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Georgetown (KY)]]   –  5 –2 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Oklahoma Panhandle State]]   –  4 –5 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Eastern New Mexico]]   –  4 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|La Verne]]   –  3 –6 –0
[[{{{school}}}|Carson–Newman]]   –  1 –7 –1
[[{{{school}}}|Earlham]]   –  1 –7 –0
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll

Bowl games
Main article: 1959–60 NCAA football bowl games

Major bowls

Friday, January 1, 1960

COTTON No. 1 Syracuse Orangemen 23 No. 4 Texas Longhorns 14
SUGAR No. 2 Mississippi Rebels 21 No. 3 LSU Tigers 0
ROSE No. 8 Washington Huskies 44 No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers 8
ORANGE No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs 14 No. 18 Missouri Tigers 0

Behind future Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, the Orangemen proved the voters' decision to name them national champions in the final polls was a wise one. It was the first Cotton Bowl for the Longhorns under coach Darrell Royal, who guided Texas to national championships in 1963, 1969, and 1970, and compiled a career record of 167–47–5 (.774) in Austin from 1957 through 1976.

Ole Miss systematically demolished LSU in the Sugar Bowl. LSU was Ole Miss's sole loss of the regular season. The Rebels outgained the Bayou Bengals and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon 373–74 in front of a largely pro-LSU crowd of over 83,000 at Tulane Stadium. Immediately following the game, Cannon signed a contract with the Houston Oilers of the fledgling American Football League, spurning the Los Angeles Rams and general manager Pete Rozelle, who would become the Commissioner of the National Football League in late-January.

Other bowls
BOWL Location Date Winner Score Runner-up
SUN El Paso, TX December 31 New Mexico State 28–8 North Texas State
GATOR Jacksonville, FL January 2 No. 9 Arkansas 14–7 Georgia Tech
BLUEBONNET Houston, TX December 19 No. 11 Clemson 23–7 No. 7 TCU
LIBERTY Philadelphia, PA December 19 No. 12 Penn State   7–0 No. 10 Alabama
  • Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and AAWU (later Pac-8) conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.

NAIA post-season
Semifinals
December 5, 1959 		Championship
December 19, 1959
Holiday Bowl[13]
      
Hillsdale 0
Texas A&I* 20
Texas A&I 20
Lenoir Rhyne 7
[[{{{school}}}|Southern Connecticut State]] 20
Lenoir Rhyne* 47

Rankings

Major college polls
Main article: 1959 major college football rankings

Final polls were released in the first week of December.

Small college poll
Main article: 1959 small college football rankings

In 1959, United Press International (UPI) conducted its "small college" coaches' poll for the second time; they voted the Bowling Green Falcons, who had a 9–0 record and outscored their opponents 274–83, as the number one team.[16]

United Press International (coaches) final poll
Published on November 27[17]

Rank School Record No. 1
votes		 Total
points
1Bowling Green9–023407
2Mississippi Southern6–35247
3Middle Tennessee9–02231
4Delaware8–11211
5East Texas State9–1179
6Western Illinois9–0152
7Memphis State5–486
8Louisiana Tech8–1281
9Ohio7–276
10West Chester7–171

Award season

Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player

PlayerSchoolPosition1st2nd3rdTotal
Billy CannonLSUHB519147781,929
Richie LucasPenn StateQB97109104613
Don MeredithSMUQB266774286
Bill BurrellIllinoisG234733196
Charlie FlowersOle MissFB115844193
Dean LookMichigan StateHB234125176
Dale HackbartWisconsinQB192135134
Dwight NicholsIowa StateHB212513126
Monty SticklesNotre DameE162136126
Ron BurtonNorthwesternHB102836122

Source: [18][19]

All-Americans
Main article: 1959 College Football All-America Team
Main article: 1959 Little All-America college football team

For the year 1960, the NCAA recognizes six published All-American teams as "official" designations for purposes of its consensus determinations. The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans and displays which first-team designations they received.

Name Position School Number Official Other
Mike DitkaEndPittsburgh6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Dan LaRoseEndMissouri6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Bob LillyTackleTCU6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Tom BrownGuardMinnesota6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Joe BellinoHalfbackNavy6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Bob FergusonFullbackOhio State6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Jake GibbsQuarterbackOle Miss6/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, WC
Ken RiceTackleAuburn5/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
E. J. HolubCenterTexas Tech5/6AFCA, FWAA, NEA, SN, UPICP, Time, WC
Joe RomigGuardColorado3/6AFCA, FWAA, UPIWC
Ernie DavisHalfbackSyracuse2/6AFCA, UPIWC

Other awards

Statistical leaders

Total offense

The following players were the individual leaders in total offense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Player Team Games Plays Total Yds PtR[20]
1Dick NormanStanford10319201868
2Charley JohnsonNew Mexico State102511635114
3Pete HallMarquette10330155566
4Jacky LeeCincinnati10298152870
5Norm SneadWake Forest10218136578
6Rich MayoAir Force10249135758
7Dwight NicholsIowa State102871355102
8Fran CurciMiami (FL)10289132850
9Gale WeidnerColorado10256130584
10Don MeredithSMU10283129182

[21]

Small college

Rank Player Team Games Plays Total Yds
1Gary CampbellWhittier103092383
2Jim St. ClairUC Santa Barbara102451858
3Jim NorthrupAlma92961658
4Vince TesoneColorado Mines102911619
5GreenYoungstown102301504
6MillerAustin92431485
7Dale MillsNE Missouri92501447
8AlvaroCollege of Idaho102271441
9FergusonGraceland82641422
10KincaidWilliam Jewell92211368

[22]

Passing

The following players were the individual leaders in pass completions during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Player Team Games Compl. Att. Pct.
Compl.		 Yds. Int. TDs
1Dick NormanStanford10152263.57819631211
2Jacky LeeCincinnati10132232.569153567
3Pete HallMarquette10120237.5061589147
4Rich MayoAir Force10110211.5211212106
5Don MeredithSMU10105181.58012661011
6Joe CaldwellArmy9105188.559134379
7Charley JohnsonNew Mexico State10105199.5281449818
8Fran CurciMiami (FL)10100195.5131068145
9Gale WeidnerColorado10100207.4831200137
10Dick SoergelOklahoma State1093155.600110248

[21]

Small college

Rank Player Team Games Compl. Att. Pct.
Compl.		 Yds. Int. TDs
1Gary CampbellWhittier10111183.6071717412
2LightPacific9110197.5581086193
3St. ClairUC Santa Barbara10107208.51419011217
4StoneAkron9102231.4421196223
5TerhesBucknell997173.56183186
6ConiamOberlin896165.5821111810
7JohnsonPepperdine896187.51311971311
8CostelloXavier (OH)1093161.578106296
9FlinnNorthern Illinois993174.53414201218
10MillerAustin990154.58412191413
10SpurlockWhitworth990167.5391309918

[23]

Rushing

The following players were the individual leaders in rushing yards during the 1959 season:
Major college

Rank Player Team Games Yds Rushes Avg
1Pervis AtkinsNew Mexico State109711307.47
2Tom WatkinsIowa State108431585.34
3Dwight NicholsIowa State107462073.60
4Dick BassPacific97421395.34
5Billy BrownNew Mexico10740957.79
6Charlie FlowersOle Miss107331415.20
7Abner HaynesNorth Texas State107301166.29
8Bob CrandallNew Mexico107291166.28
9Fred DoellingPenn97071335.32
10Nolan JonesArizona State116891434.82
11Ernie DavisSyracuse10686987.00
12Tom MooreVanderbilt106761255.41
13Keith LincolnWashington State106701245.40
14Jack SpikesTCU106601404.72
15Monk BaileyUtah106401384.64
16Don PerkinsNew Mexico106351464.35
17Chet BoulrisHarvard96281255.02
18Charles BowersHardin-Simmons10619867.20
19Paul ChoquetteBrown96171793.45
20Alger PughVirginia Tech106151125.49

[24]

Small college

Rank Player Team Games Yds Rushes Avg
1Dale MillsNE Missouri924813855.58
2Dallas Lee GarberMarietta91881298
3Bill "Cannonball" CooperMuskingum92191191
4Brad HustadLuther92301188
5HawkConway State91621156
6Steve McClellanWooster91981088
7PriceBemidji State811710859.27
8Larry JacobsonKearney State101551075
9FowlerMartin Branch81511045
10MacDonaldTufts8179978

[22]

Receiving

The following players were the individual leaders in receptions during the 1957 season:

Major college

Rank Player Team Games Receptions Receiving
Yards		 Touchdowns
1Chris BurfordStanford10617566
2Bill CarpenterArmy9435913
3Dick EvansVMI10356989
4Ben RobinsonStanford10345952
5Bill MillerMiami (FL)10333951
6Paul MaguireThe Citadel103254910
7Ed KovacCincinnati10313325
8Bud WhiteheadFlorida State10313202
9NortonIowa9304284
10GregorySMU10303692

Small college

Rank Player Team Games Receptions Receiving
Yards		 Touchdowns
1Fred TunnicliffeUC Santa Barbara1048108711
1HillCal Poly SLO9487147
3HughesPacific University9465430
4HornOberlin8445785
5GregoryWhittier10427517
6HouseDavidson9425633
7DeNeefHofstra9415456
8CeremugaYoungstown10396158
9EachusBucknell9383102
10FosterHumboldt State10374694

[25]

Scoring

The following players were the individual leaders in scoring during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Player Team Pts TD PAT FG
1Pervis AtkinsNew Mexico State1071750
2Skip FaceStanford10011253
2Nolan JonesArizona State10011253
2Gerhard SchwedesSyracuse1001640
5Abner HaynesNorth Texas State901460
5Ed KovacCincinnati901500
7Larry WilsonUtah841360
8Bruce MaherDetroit741180
8Don PerkinsNew Mexico741220
10Bill MathisClemson701140
11Tony BanfieldOklahoma State661100
12Charlie FlowersOle Miss661100
13Alger PughVirginia Tech661100
14Ernie DavisSyracuse641040
15Bobby BoydOklahoma621020
16Paul MaguireThe Citadel601000
16LavoieSouth Carolina60120
16MooreVanderbilt601000
19GaitersNew Mexico State58940
19RavenelHarvard58940

[26]

Small college

Rank Player Team Pts TD PAT FG
1Garney HenleyHuron1412290
2Rusty AddlemanCollege of Emporia13816391
3Dale MillsNE Missouri12419100
4Richard David SeastrunkNewberry1202000
5Vernon Lee FarmerLenoir Rhyne11014260
6WhiteCapital1051701
7ChildsFlorida A&M10215120
8Bill "Cannonball" CooperMuskingum981580
8GarberMarietta981580
10Roger WaldrupEast Central Oklahoma961600
11PhelpsCornell (IA)921520
11SchleicherPittsburg9213140
13HawkConway State911510
14Gary CampbellWhittier901500
14ChambersClaflin901500
16BrandaWheaton8810251
17StosuySouthern Connecticut871215-
18McClellanWooster861380
18BassEast Carolina861420
18BroadwaterWest Carolina861380

[26]

Total offense

The following teams were the leaders in total offense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Games
played		 Total
plays		 Yards
gained		 Yards
per game
1Syracuse107384515451.5
2Iowa96323399377.7
3New Mexico State106183756375.6
4North Texas State106553713371.3
5Ole Miss106983686368.6
6Utah107123651365.1
7Wyoming106863577357.7
8New Mexico106393562356.2
9Stanford106653467346.7
10Oklahoma107313405340.5

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Games
played		 Total
plays		 Yards
gained		 Yards
per game
1Whittier106544613461.3
2Florida A&M95113686409.6
3Huron106573975397.5
4Butler96433468385.3
5Winston-Salem84632993374.1
6Otterbein95603313368.1
7Marietta95613285365.0
8Bemidji State84612919364.9
9Lenoir Rhyne95073280364.4
10Hofstra96213278364.2

[28]

Scoring offense

The following teams were the leaders in scoring offense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Points
per game
1Syracuse39.0
2New Mexico State33.2
3Ole Miss32.9
4North Texas State29.5
5Wyoming28.7
6Clemson26.2
7New Mexico26.0
8Iowa25.9
9Penn State25.5
10Iowa State24.8

[27]

Rushing offense

The following teams were the leaders in rushing offense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Syracuse313.6
2North Texas State290.8
3New Mexico289.8
4Oklahoma273.5
5Utah257.0
6Wyoming252.0
7USC249.3
8Ole Miss239.1
9Iowa239.0
10Iowa State228.7

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Bemidji State326.6
2Huron309.1
3Colorado State308.8
4Conway State303.9
5Florida A&M292.4
6Middle Tennessee289.8
7Johns Hopkins282.3
8Gustavus Adolphus279.0
9Muskingum278.4
10Delaware276.6

[28]

Passing offense

The following teams were the leaders in passing offense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Stanford227.8
2Marquette187.0
3San Jose State185.2
4Army182.3
5Boston College175.3
6Cincinnati158.5
7New Mexico State157.3
8Hardin-Simmons154.2
9Pacific152.3
10Wake Forest149.8

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Whittier199.3
2UC Santa Barbara199.0
3Hofstra189.2
4Whitworth180.0
5Xavier (OH)177.3
6Wagner172.6
7Cal Poly167.0
8Oberlin166.3
8Otterbein166.3
10Graceland160.6

[28]

Total defense

The following teams were the leaders in total defense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Games
played		 Total
plays		 Yards
gained		 Yards
per game
1Syracuse1048696296.2
2LSU105591432143.2
3Ole Miss105161472147.2
4Alabama105491799179.9
5Wyoming105721805180.5
6Auburn105651825182.5
7USC106031844184.4
8Illinois95331713190.3
9TCU105781945194.5
10North Texas State105531965196.5

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Games
played		 Total
plays		 Yards
gained		 Yards
per game
1Maryland State731352775.3
2Trenton State8807100.9
2Huron105951009100.9
4John Carroll7319796113.7
5Norfolk State8382948118.5
6Ithaca7340848121.1
7Winston-Salem83371009126.1
8Livingstone94181136126.2
9Henderson State4481145127.2
10Claflin93371171130.1

[28]

Scoring defense

The following teams were the leaders in scoring defense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Points
per game
1Ole Miss2.1
2LSU2.9
3Alabama5.2
3TCU5.2
5Auburn5.8
6Syracuse5.9
7Wyoming6.2
8Washington6.5
9Texas7.3
10North Texas7.5

[27]

Rushing defense

The following teams were the leaders in rushing defense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Syracuse19.3
2LSU90.8
3Ole Miss93.9
4USC98.1
5TCU101.7
6Clemson108.5
7Penn109.8
7Wyoming109.8
9South Carolina111.5
10Detroit112.9

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Maryland State36.3
2Florida A&M43.4
3Trenton State45.1
4Winston-Salem52.5
5Whitewater State57.8
6John Carroll57.9
7Geneva67.2
8Cornell (IA)68.1
9West Chester69.9
10San Francisco State69.9

[28]

Passing defense

The following teams were the leaders in passing defense during the 1959 season:

Major college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Alabama45.7
2Montana46.1
3LSU52.4
4Ole Miss53.3
5Iowa State55.3
6North Texas State58.1
7Wake Forest62.1
8Kentucky62.6
9Auburn63.6
10Tennessee66.8

[27]

Small college

Rank Team Yards
per game
1Huron21.9
2Henderson State25.3
3West Virginia State35.6
4Central (IA)35.9
5Ashland36.0
6St. Procopius36.6
7Martin Branch36.8
8Mankato State37.4
9Rochester37.6
10Maryland State39.0
10West Virginia Wesleyan39.0

[28]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Orange win grid crown". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 8, 1959. p. 18.
  3. "Syracuse runs off with title". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 8, 1959. p. 34.
  4. "Syracuse tops final grid poll by wide margin". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. December 8, 1959. p. 2.
  5. "Syracuse is voted national champion by coaches board". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. December 8, 1959. p. 23.
  6. "Harbaugh Sparks Defense: BeeGee Stomps Delaware". The Mansfield News-Journal. November 15, 1959. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Roster of independent football powers grows". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 2, 1959. p. 10.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "UCLA Threat To Syracuse's Title Hopes", Oakland Tribune, December 1, 1959, p44
  10. "Orange Rolls to 36–8 Win Over Bruins", Oakland Tribune, December 6, 1959, p79
  11. "Nation Votes Syracuse University Best On Gridiron", Syracuse Herald Journal, December 8, 1959, p.33
  12. "Top 25: Final Pigskin Ratings". The San Antonio Register. December 15, 1959. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "1959 NAIA Football Playoffs". JonFMorse.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  14. "Syracuse First On Final Ballot". Daily News-Post. December 8, 1958. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Earl Wright. "Unbeaten Syracuse Named National Football Champion". The Bryan Times. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Bowling Green Is Voted No. 1", Lincoln Evening Journal, November 27, 1959, p14
  17. UPI (November 27, 1959). "Bowling Green Top Small College Football Team". Palladium-Item. Richmond, Indiana. Retrieved February 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  18. "LSU's Billy Cannon Heisman Trophy winner". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 2, 1959. p. 1D.
  19. "Billy Cannon". Heisman Trophy. 1959. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  20. Points-for-which-responsible is player's total of points scored and points passed for
  21. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1960. p. 65.
  22. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1960. p. 72.
  23. 1960 Official Collegiate Football Record Book, p. 73.
  24. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1960. p. 67.
  25. 1960 Official Collegiate Football Record Book, p. 73.
  26. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1960. p. 66.
  27. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate AthleticAssoociation. 1960. p. 69.
  28. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate AthleticAssoociation. 1960. p. 74.
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