College Football Playoff: Who would win it all in 1951?
By Zach Bigalke
Who would get into into a playoff in 1951?
By the early 1950s, college football had grown to the point where the sport was flooded with teams large and small. In 1951, there was still five years before the NCAA split up its membership into the University Division and the College Division. The University Division eventually became Division I in 1973, while the College Division was divided into Division II and Division III.
Prior to this point, however, it was an open field where any number of teams could compete. It was a free-for-all with a glut of conferences and college programs. The haves were increasingly becoming separated from the have-nots. Even so, determining who deserved one of the 16 playoff spots would be especially tough this season.
Among the undefeated teams, there were powerhouse programs and small colleges alike. There would not be enough spaces for every conference to earn automatic bids. Thus it would come down to a matter of what method the NCAA chose to use to select playoff participants.
Would any mid-majors get their shot at a Cinderella moment?
The champions of conferences like the SEC, SWC, PCC, Big Nine, and Big Seven would almost certainly get into the playoff field. The Southern Conference, filling the role later occupied by the ACC, would also be in the mix for automatic bids. Beyond those six, however, it would come down to a matter of personal preference.
The Mountain States Conference and Border Conference, forerunners to the WAC, could make a solid case for champions Utah and Texas Tech. The CCAA featured undefeated San Diego State as its champion.
This was also an era where independent programs still held major sway. Michigan State, ranked No. 2 in the country, was still years away from joining the Big Ten. The Spartans would be in the 16-team field with their undefeated record. Princeton also offered a strong case after going 9-0 prior to the formation of the Ivy League.
It would be a tough goal to determine which 16 teams were most deserving of a spot in the playoff bracket.