**Update 07/24/2024**: By dumb luck back in March 2023, I stumbled across photos and videos of TCU’s Athletics Hall of Fame that showed 2 AFCA trophies being on display. Reddit user CindyBLUUWho was able to verify their existence and provided me photos.

AFCA Blue Ribbon Commission Champion 1938

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

	Notre Dame	Southern Cal	Tennessee	TCU
Record	8-1	9-2	11-0	11-0
Opponent Win %	0.616	0.614	0.594	0.457
+.500 Opponents	6	7	7	4
Average PF-PA	16.6-4.3	15.6-5.9	26.6-1.5	24.5-5.5
FBS Record	8-1	9-2	10-0	11-0
FBS Opponent Win %	0.616	0.614	0.607	0.457
Average FBS PF-PA	16.6-4.3	15.6-5.9	24.8-1.6	24.5-5.5
Conference Record	Independent	6-1	7-0	6-0
Non-Home games	5	5	4	7
SOS (S-R/BR)	2/6	1/1	44/3	45/12

There were 2 other major teams with unbeaten records that I ultimately passed: Georgetown and Villanova. Due to very weak schedules, they were not very highly rated despite their records.

Our 1st two teams to look at are 2 that faced each other during the season: Notre Dame and USC. The Irish played arguably one of the best schedules this year, as they faced 4 Top 25-caliber teams (Carnegie Tech, Minnesota, Northwestern, USC), another pushing Top 25 consideration (Army), and 6 teams with winning records across an all-FBS schedule. Notre Dame didn’t exactly wow on the scoreboard as a result, and ultimately dropped their season finale via shutout to the Trojans to spoil a perfect season. However, that didn’t stop the Dickinson System from naming them national champs this season, although the Irish do not claim this as a title season. Speaking of the Trojans, they received a CFBDW-designated selection for this year. They played arguably the best schedule, as their Top 25-caliber opponents (Alabama, California, Duke, Notre Dame) weren’t just Top 25 teams, but would’ve been Top 10-caliber teams. In addition, they faced 3 other teams (Ohio State, Oregon State, UCLA) that would’ve been pushing Top 25 consideration, and 7 teams with winning records over an all-FBS slate of their own. However, they weren’t as impressive on the scoreboard either and they also had the most blemishes thanks to losses to Alabama and Washington. However, they managed to capture the PCC’s Rose Bowl berth thanks to handing Cal their only loss, then ended the season by handing Notre Dame and Duke their only losses of the season as well. However, both teams are going to trail well behind the other 2 contenders.

After missing out on a surefire case in 1935, TCU would complete a perfect season in 1936 behind the play of Heisman Trophy winner Davey O’Brien. The Horned Frogs won their games by an average of 20 points/game enroute to winning the SWC crown and earning a berth to the Sugar Bowl, where they would defeat a Top 10-caliber and Lambert Trophy winner Carnegie Tech. However, when you look at their schedule, you see they easily had the worst schedule of the contenders. TCU only played 4 teams with winning records this year, and only 3 of them would’ve been top 50 rated. The only other top 50 caliber team faced was .500 Texas A&M. The Sugar Bowl win over the Tartans was the only game against a Top 25-caliber opponent the entire year for the Horned Frogs, and their 7-point win over a 2-win Arkansas was probably the worst result outside of USC’s loss to Washington. Despite those things working against them, that didn’t stop the AP Poll and the contemporary Williamson System from naming TCU national champions for the season.

However, TCU wasn’t the only major team with a perfect record. SEC champ Tennessee also went unbeaten and untied on the year. Despite being the lone contender with a non-FBS opponent on the schedule, the Volunteers have a case for having a better SOS than TCU. They played 3 Top 25-caliber opponents (Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma), 2 teams pushing for Top 25 consideration (Mississippi, Vanderbilt), and faced 7 teams with winning records. The Volunteers had the best scoring offense and defense of the contenders, winning almost every game by double digits (although they had a close call against sub-.500 Auburn). Tennessee would also prevail in the top postseason contest of the year, shutting out Big 6 champ Oklahoma at the Orange Bowl in a match-up of unbeatens (and also the first official bowl game for both teams). The Volunteers have the majority of NCAA-designated selectors, including the 5 contemporary selectors didn’t go with Notre Dame/TCU and splitting a selector with TCU. 1938 is also the first claimed national championship season by the program.

With only 4 teams to choose from and 2 of those having blemishes while lacking selector support, the Blue Ribbon Commission’s choice I think ultimately comes down to TCU and Tennessee. Both teams had perfect seasons, won in the postseason, and won by sound margins more times than not. However, Tennessee was more impressive against a tougher schedule and have more selector support than TCU. I believe that the Volunteers have the best case for a retroactive Coaches Trophy; therefore, they’re my Tier 1 team. Tennessee need to call up AFCA and claim, if for nothing else, to get rid of one of these knock-offs here. TCU, who had the 2nd-most selector support, is my Tier 2: they don’t have enough to overtake Tennessee as a sole champion, but could be able to make a case for AFCA to split the title. Notre Dame, despite the loss to USC, gets my Tier 3 nod since they had support from a NCAA-designated selector and fewer blemishes, although I think they have a poor case with the BRC.

Tier 1 (Best case to be awarded AFCA Trophy): Tennessee
Tier 2 (Legitimate case for champion/co-champion): TCU
Tier 3 (Minor Contender, could make a case): Notre Dame
Tier 4 (Not Serious Contenders): Southern California