AFCA Blue Ribbon Commission Champion 1936

Teams named national champions by NCAA-designated selectors
(Underline: Claimed title for the season; +: co-champion selection)

Other Possible Contenders

	Alabama	Duke	LSU	Minnesota	Northwestern	Pittsburgh	Santa Clara
Record	8-0-1	9-1	9-1-1	7-1	7-1	8-1-1	8-1
Opponent Win %	0.561	0.540	0.548	0.529	0.508	0.596	0.629
+.500 Opponents	5	5	6	4	4	7	6
Average PF-PA	18.7-3.9	20.8-2.8	26.8-4.9	25.4-4.0	16.5-9.1	22.4-3.4	15.4-4.0
FBS Record	7-0-1	9-1	8-1-1	7-1	6-1	7-1-1	6-1
FBS Opponent Win %	0.556	0.540	0.577	0.529	0.518	0.638	0.658
Average FBS PF-PA	15.3-4.4	20.8-2.8	20.2-5.4	25.4-4.0	13.1-9.4	19.0-3.8	13.3-5.1
Conference Record	5-0-1	7-0	6-0	4-1	6-0	Ind	Ind
Non-Home Games	3	7	5	2	3	4	4 ^
SOS (S-R/BR)	37/44	34/63	15/4	5/30	16/31	8/9	42/23

1936 is a season of note as this was the official beginning of the ‘poll era’ of college football with the AP sportswriters’ poll beginning this season. It also saw the Cotton Bowl join the growing postseason bowl slate, which would definitely begin to play more of a factor into national title claims. I have to say, this was a pretty tough season to sort through. All of the teams were fairly interconnected in some shape, form, or fashion. Either through head-to-head, transitive path, or common opponent, everyone has a path back to the other team or an argument of being better than everyone else. I will readily admit I could be very off-base with my summation of who will have the best case with the Blue Ribbon Commission for this season, but I will try my best.

First of all, I want to hit on 2 teams that have some NCAA-designated selections: Duke and LSU. The Blue Devils were 1 of only 2 contenders this season to play an all-FBS schedule and were buoyed by the best scoring defense of the group. Duke also played the fewest home games of any of the contenders, with only 3 games taking place in Durham. Despite that fact, their SOS is toward the tail end of the contenders. The Blue Devils played only 2 Top 25-caliber teams (North Carolina, Tennessee), taking a loss to the Vols. While they had an intersectional win over a solid Colgate team, the majority of their opponents were hovering around the .500 mark. The Tigers, meanwhile, had the overall largest scoring margin of any of the contenders, and one of the best schedules as they faced 5 Top 25-caliber teams (Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Santa Clara, Tulane). However, their scoring numbers among FBS foes narrows up some when you remove the ridiculous blowout of non-FBS Louisiana-Lafayette. In addition, they took a tie against 2-win Texas and lost a de-facto home game at the Sugar Bowl to Santa Clara: a shame since they were #2 in the final AP Poll and probably could’ve solidified a title claim with a win in New Orleans. I think these two might be on the outside looking in for the BRC.

This leads me to Santa Clara, who was arguably the best team in the West this season and had favor from a CFBDW selector. The Broncos didn’t wow on the scoreboard but managed to win by more than 1 possession in 6 of their games. They faced 3 Top 25-caliber teams in intersectional games (Auburn, LSU, TCU) and had the best opponent win percentage of the contenders. Due to being denied a spot in the Rose Bowl since they weren’t a PCC member, the Broncos jumped on a Sugar Bowl invite following a 7-0 start. Working against them was fact they played 2 non-FBS opponents (the most of any contenders), which helps drag down their SOS. In addition, their loss to the Horned Frogs (who went on to win the Cotton Bowl) occurred at home and took place after accepting the bowl bid. Despite the planned postseason match-up of unbeatens (and a potential de-facto title game) getting spoiled, Santa Clara made the most of their postseason shot by striking early against LSU and holding on for a win in New Orleans. That win at least puts the Broncos ahead of the Tigers in the pecking order with the BRC.

Alabama, who received a CFBDW selection, ended up as 1 of only 2 unbeaten FBS-level teams in 1936 (the other being RMC champ Utah State). The Crimson Tide faced 3 Top 25-caliber teams (Mississippi State, Tennessee, Tulane), with a tie to the Volunteers being the only blemish and preventing a share of the SEC title. While they did finish the season unbeaten, there are some arguments working against them. One of those is that their average scoring margin is better than only 3 of the other 7 contenders. Alabama had the most games decided by 1 possession of the group, and their schedule is considered to be on the weaker side as well. When compared to LSU, the Tigers had better results against common opponents. The Tide also didn’t play any significant intersectional games and were passed over for any postseason games despite finishing #4 in the final AP Poll. After the Rose Bowl passed over them & fellow unbeaten LSU, the Sugar Bowl had contemplated a match between the 2 conference mates before deciding on a national opponent for the Tigers. The other bowls chose other teams as well, with 2 (Bacardi and Orange) choosing 2 teams that finished behind Alabama in the SEC standings. Despite the postseason snubs, Alabama is the only unbeaten and the tie over Tennessee does give them a transitive path over fellow contender Duke. While maybe not the best case, think that does give them a puncher’s chance with the BRC.

Next up we have 2 teams from the Big 10, Minnesota and Northwestern. The Golden Gophers were the favorite of NCAA-designated selectors for a 3rd straight year, being named the 1st AP Poll champion as well as #1 by the Dickinson System. Despite finishing atop the polls, Minnesota came in 2nd in the Big 10 thanks to a loss at Northwestern. Despite the head-to-head win (Minnesota’s first loss since 1932), the Wildcats usually come up short in any serious consideration as national champion, with no NCAA-designated backing and 1 CFBDW selection. When looking at their bodies of work, you start to see the reasons why jump off the page. 1st of all is schedule. Both teams played 3 Top 25-caliber foes (Minnesota with Nebraska and Washington, Northwestern with Notre Dame and Ohio State, in addition to the head-to-head game between them). Nebraska and Washington were both Top 10-caliber. In addition, Minnesota (like Duke) played an all-FBS schedule, which also featured a win over a Purdue team that would’ve just been outside Top 25 consideration and a blowout over the Texas squad that tied fellow contender LSU. Notre Dame was the only Top 10-caliber team the Wildcats faced outside of the Minnesota contest, and that ended in a rough loss for them in the season finale. In addition, Northwestern barely got by Ohio State, played nobody stronger than Illinois (4-3-1) outside of Top 25-caliber teams, and played a non-FBS game (North Dakota State). Next is the way they won. While Minnesota beat Nebraska and Washington in 1 possession games, no one else came close to the Gophers outside the Northwestern game. The Wildcats, meanwhile, played much closer results before getting beat convincingly in the season finale at Notre Dame. With common opponents, the Gophers blew away the competition compared to what the Wildcats did. Northwestern’s head-to-head win should mean something. How much does it mean when Minnesota has so much favor from ranking systems and was much more dominant overall?

Finally, we have Pittsburgh, who received the inaugural Lambert Trophy as the best team in the East. The Panthers played arguably one of, if not the best, schedules among the contenders. They had 6 games among Top 25-caliber opponents (Duquesne, Fordham, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Washington), faced 7 opponents with winning records, and had the 2nd-best opponent win percentage of the contenders. In addition, they posted some of the best scoring numbers of the contenders, both overall and against FBS-only opposition. Working against them was tying LSU for the most blemishes on their record, with a 0-7 loss to Orange Bowl champ Duquesne and a scoreless tie at Fordham. However, they also handed Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Washington their worst losses on the season, which allowed them to compare very well with Minnesota and Northwestern. The latter took place at the Rose Bowl, exorcising some demons in what would be their final trip to Pasadena. Pitt had the 2nd-most favor from NCAA selectors including 2 of the contemporary selections for that season.

Think ultimately, it comes down to Minnesota, Northwestern, and Pittsburgh with the best cases for the Blue Ribbon Commission. Northwestern has the head-to-head win over Minnesota, but compares poorly to Pitt overall and to Minnesota outside of that contest. Minnesota had fewer blemishes than Pitt and was better overall performance-wise against an all-FBS schedule, along with the most contemporary support from selectors. Pitt had a stronger schedule than the other two, had better performances/scoring margins against common opponents, and has the most direct transitive claim of superiority over them as well. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that thanks to the edges their body of work gave them over the other 2, that the Panthers are the team with the best case; therefore, they’re my Tier 1. Minnesota, thanks to the contemporary ranking support, would definitely be Tier 2 and a solid co-champion contender should they chose to pursue (if they aren’t chosen outright by the BRC based on that alone). The Wildcats’ body of work screams Longshot, but the win over Minnesota should count for something even if the rest of their resume leaves something to be desired; hence them being Tier 3. Santa Clara I think compares favorably with Minnesota and will be on the Tier 2 line with them, while Alabama falls on the Tier 3 line with Northwestern. Minnesota is probably the least incentivized for filing a claim to AFCA thanks to the AP title. All the others would have the most to gain as a retroactive Coaches Trophy would bolster any claim they have on a title for this season.

Tier 1 (Best case to be awarded AFCA Trophy): Pittsburgh
Tier 2 (Legitimate case for champion/co-champion): Minnesota, Santa Clara
Tier 3 (Minor Contender, could make a case): Alabama, Northwestern
Tier 4 (Not Serious Contenders): Duke, LSU