1946 AFCA Blue Ribbon Commission

Teams named national champions by NCAA-designated selectors
(Underline: claimed title season; +: co-champion/split selection)

	Army	Georgia	Hardin-Simmons	Notre Dame
Record	9-0-1	11-0	11-0	8-0-1
Opponent Win %	0.608	0.478	0.473	0.512
+.500 Opponents	7	4	2	4
Average PF-PA	26.3-8.0	35.6-10.0	29.3-4.4	30.1-2.7
FBS Record	9-0-1	11-0	8-0	8-0-1
FBS Opp Win %	0.608	0.478	0.434	0.512
Average FBS PF-PA	26.3-8.0	35.6-10.0	28.0-5.1	30.1-2.7
Conference Record	Independent	5-0	6-0	Independent
Non-Home games	5	7	5	5
SOS (S-R/BR)	3/12	35/23	115/82	7/9

The 1946 saw many players (and in some cases, coaches and programs) return from the service with World War II now over. One of the cases for an entire program returning was Hardin-Simmons University, which had stopped play after the 1942 season due to the war. The Cowboys had gone an impressive 63-12-5 from 1935 until their war stoppage. With Hall of Fame coach Warren Wilson and 1942 national leading rusher Rudy Mobley, this season was almost picking up where they left off. The Cowboys posted a perfect record in their 1st season back and Mobley would again lead the nation in rushing again. However, a slow decline would set in that would result in Hardin-Simmons’ decline as a major football program (the program was disbanded again after 1963, and would return as a Division III program). Despite their accomplishments, the Cowboys received no consideration from NCAA or CFBDW selectors as national champion. When peeling back the layers of the onion, I see why: their schedule would’ve been considered among one of the worst in all of college football. Hardin-Simmons played 3 non-FBS teams and only 2 teams with a winning record. While they defeated a Texas Tech team that would’ve been pushing Top 25 consideration, it could be argued their best win was against non-FBS San Jose State (the Spartans won their league title and a bowl game – in fact, their only loss was to the Cowboys). While their resume puts them at a longshot with the BRC, I think the fact they did what they did after being shuttered for 3 years ought to be celebrated.

SEC champion Georgia, who I made a case for claiming a retroactive Coaches Trophy in 1942, finds themselves in consideration again. Hall of Fame coach Wally Butts, who managed to go 22-9 in the in-between despite the wartime effects on roster, received a boost as the war came to an end. That boost primarily came in the form of Hall of Fame halfback Charlie Trippi, who would win the Maxwell Award and SEC Player of the Year this year. The Bulldogs posted a perfect season and best scoring offense of the contenders. While they defeated 4 Top 25-caliber teams (Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina) and played the most non-home games of the group, the schedule took a noticeable dip outside of those 4 teams as no other opponent finished above .500. Another thing that might’ve affected the Bulldogs’ chances in terms of contemporary selections was the bowl season. Starting with the 1946 season, the Rose Bowl – which had hosted a PCC representative from its inception – would begin an agreement with the Big 9 (Big 10) to provide the ‘eastern’ representative. This would deny Georgia a postseason match-up with a UCLA team that went 10-0 in the regular season and finished #4 in the final AP Poll. While the Bulldogs faced a Top 10-caliber North Carolina in the postseason, a win over the Bruins (who were soundly beat by Big 9 champ Illinois) would’ve probably given them more selections outside of the contemporary selection they received from the Williamson System.

Army, coming off 2 perfect national title seasons, would complete a 3rd straight unbeaten/claimed title season under Hall of Fame coach Earl Blaik. On the field, the Cadets were led by 3 consensus All-Americans, chief of them Heisman Trophy winner Glenn Davis (who followed teammate Doc Blanchard a year prior in winning the award). However, Army had lost talent they stockpiled due to the relaxed wartime eligibility rules, either through graduation or by players resigning from the academy to return to the schools they attended previously before the wartime effort. This would lead to decreased performance on the scoreboard compared to the1944 and 1945 squads. In addition, injuries impacted the 1946 team to greater extent than the prior teams, chief of them was to Blanchard (who missed 2 games and was hampered the rest of the way by a knee injury). Nevertheless, the Cadets still went unbeaten against arguably the toughest schedule of the contenders, playing 4 Top 25-caliber foes (Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn) and 3 more that would’ve been pushing consideration (Columbia, Cornell, Duke). While they did play 5 non-home games, only 1 was a true road game and 3 took place in New York City. Army played Notre Dame to a scoreless tie after soundly beating them the previous 2 years. The Cadets would then struggle to put away 1-win Navy in their season finale, which cost them the #1 spot in the AP Poll. Army would still receive 3 contemporary selections from NCAA-designated selectors (1 outright and 2 shared). In addition, the Cadets maintained season-long possession of the CFB Belt (college football’s ‘lineal championship’)

Notre Dame would also see an influx of postwar talent, in addition to the return of Hall of Fame coach Frank Leahy to the sidelines. 3 of the consensus All-Americans and 4 of the Hall of Fame players on the 1946 Fighting Irish squad had served in the military during WW2. Chief among them was George Connor, who played for Holy Cross prior to the war and was named the inaugural Outland Trophy winner this season. Also returning was Johnny Lujack, who served as QB on the 1943 squad after Heisman winner Angelo Bertelli was called into service midseason. The Irish played 3 Top 25-caliber opponents (Army, Illinois, Iowa) away from home, in addition to playing 2 more top 50-caliber foes (Northwestern, USC). By playing the 2nd highest amount on non-home games percentage-wise, it helps boost a schedule that had only 4 teams with winning records. Notre Dame had the nation’s best scoring defense and one of the best offenses, giving them the best scoring margin of the contenders. While they could only muster a scoreless tie against fellow contender Army, defeating Navy by a larger margin than the Cadets would help push the Irish to #1 in the final AP Poll. In addition, Notre Dame would receive selections from 3 contemporary selections and split 2 more with Army.

For the Blue Ribbon Commission, this is an interesting dilemma. Notre Dame had the best margin of victory against a decent schedule, as well as the toughest slate away from home. Army didn’t perform as well but faced a tougher slate of opponents overall. Both teams would be equal on the field of play. Georgia posted a perfect record and defeated all opponents by double digits, but their schedule is considered lesser than the other 2 teams and they weren’t as strong defensively as the Irish or Cadets. Notre Dame and Army have more ranking/selector favor than the Bulldogs. The Irish had the leg up against Army in selector favor and performance against common opponent. I will give Notre Dame my edge as the Tier 1 team as having the best case for a retroactive Coaches Trophy due to the selector favor and having the best average MOV. However, Army and Georgia would probably be able to make great cases for various reasons: the Cadets due to their SOS and being the Irish’s equal on the field, Georgia due to their unblemished record and playing more Top 25-caliber teams than the Irish. In addition, you can look at how they ranked in Richard Billingsley’s ratings (just a reminder, Billingsley’s College Football Encyclopedia was a major research source for the BRC). Army topped Notre Dame in both versions of Billingsley’s formula. While Georgia didn’t finish above either of those, the 1946 Bulldogs had a better numerical rating in the published non-MOV formula and a better SOS rating that the 1945 Oklahoma State team that got a nod from AFCA for a retroactive title. With an AP title under their belt, the Irish might not be as inclined to pursue a bid with AFCA. This would provide a perfect opportunity for Army to one-up the Irish and strengthen their claim on being the nation’s best team this year. As for Georgia, pursuing a claim would boost their national title count while also shining a light on an excellent and talented team that largely gets forgotten due to the Army/Notre Dame argument.

Tier 1 (Best Case to be awarded AFCA Trophy): Notre Dame
Tier 2 (Legitimate case for champion/co-champion): Army, Georgia
Tier 3 (Minor Contender, could make a case): none
Tier 4 (Not Serious Contenders): Hardin-Simmons