The 1921 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing California Golden Bears, Cornell Big Red, Iowa Hawkeyes, Lafayette Leopards, Washington & Jefferson Presidents, and Vanderbilt Commodores as champions.[1] Only California, Cornell, Iowa, and Lafayette claim national championships for the 1921 season.

Andy Smith's Pacific Coast Conference champion "Wonder Team" at California continued on its streak since 1920. Eastern power Cornell was coached by Gil Dobie and led by one of the sport's great backfields with George Pfann, Eddie Kaw, Floyd Ramsey, and Charles E. Cassidy. Jock Sutherland's Lafayette Maroons were led on the line by Frank Schwab.

Big Ten champion Iowa upset Notre Dame 10–7. Grantland Rice noted that the 1921 Notre Dame team "was the first team we know of to build its attack around a forward passing game, rather than use a forward passing game as a mere aid to the running game."[2]

1921 was the last season for the old Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Vanderbilt tied co-champion Georgia on an onside kick. On October 6, Centre upset Harvard 6–0 in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Overjoyed students painted the "impossible formula" C6H0 (Centre 6, Harvard 0) on everything in sight. Georgia Tech also claimed a conference title.

The 1922 Rose Bowl was fought to a scoreless tie, between California and Washington & Jefferson, in the last Rose Bowl to be played at Tournament Park. Washington & Jefferson is the smallest school to ever play in a Rose Bowl.

Conference and program changes

Conference establishments

Membership changes

School1920 Conference1921 Conference
Fresno State BulldogsProgram EstablishedIndependent
Nebraska CornhuskersIndependentMVIAA
Oglethorpe Stormy PetrelsIndependentSIAA
Phillips HaymakersSouthwestIndependent
San Diego State ProfessorsProgram EstablishedIndependent

First radio broadcast

A historical highlight of the regular season was the 1921 West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh football game, the first college football game to be broadcast live on radio.[3] Today, college football on radio is common for nearly every game in every division.

C6H0

On October 29, Centre College beat Harvard 6 to 0 in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Overjoyed students painted the "impossible formula" C6H0 (Centre 6, Harvard 0) on everything in sight.

Bowl games

Image from the Rose Bowl.

In the 1922 Rose Bowl, heavily favored California played Washington & Jefferson to a scoreless tie. The game holds several distinctions including being the only scoreless contest and the first tie in a Rose Bowl. Charles Fremont West of Washington & Jefferson was the first African-American quarterback to play in the Rose Bowl, and Herb Kopf, also of Washington and Jefferson, was the first freshman to play in a Rose Bowl. The 1922 Rose Bowl was the last played at Tournament Park and featured the smallest school—Washington & Jefferson College had only 450 students at the time—to ever play in a Rose Bowl.[4][5]

Other bowls

Conference standings

Major conference standings

For this article, major conferences defined as those including multiple state flagship public universities.

1921 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Iowa $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0
Chicago 4 –1 –06 –1 –0
Ohio State 4 –1 –05 –2 –0
Wisconsin 3 –1 –15 –1 –1
Michigan 2 –1 –15 –1 –1
Indiana 1 –2 –03 –4 –0
Minnesota 2 –4 –03 –4 –0
Illinois 1 –4 –03 –4 –0
Purdue 1 –4 –01 –6 –0
Northwestern 0 –5 –01 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Nebraska $ 3 –0 –07 –1 –0
Kansas State 4 –2 –05 –3 –0
Missouri 4 –2 –06 –2 –0
Drake 2 –2 –05 –2 –0
Kansas 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Iowa State 3 –4 –04 –4 –0
Oklahoma 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Washington University 2 –3 –04 –3 –1
Grinnell 0 –4 –02 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
California $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –1
Washington State 2 –1 –14 –2 –1
Stanford 1 –1 –14 –2 –2
Oregon Agricultural 1 –2 –14 –3 –2
Oregon 0 –1 –25 –1 –3
Washington 0 –3 –13 –4 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Utah Agricultural $ 4 –0 –07 –1 –0
Colorado 4 –0 –14 –1 –1
Utah 2 –1 –13 –2 –1
Denver 2 –2 –14 –2 –1
Colorado Agricultural 2 –2 –12 –3 –1
Colorado College 2 –4 –04 –4 –0
Wyoming 1 –3 –21 –4 –2
Colorado Mines 1 –5 –01 –5 –0
Montana State 0 –1 –02 –4 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Washington and Lee $ 2 –0 –06 –3 –0
Georgetown 1 –0 –08 –1 –0
Virginia 5 –1 –05 –4 –0
North Carolina 3 –1 –15 –2 –2
VPI 4 –2 –07 –3 –0
Maryland 2 –1 –13 –5 –1
Richmond 2 –2 –14 –3 –1
Catholic University 2 –2 –03 –5 –0
NC State 1 –1 –33 –3 –3
William & Mary 1 –3 –14 –3 –1
Trinity (NC) 0 –1 –06 –1 –2
Davidson 0 –1 –33 –4 –3
Johns Hopkins 0 –2 –06 –3 –0
VMI 0 –3 –13 –5 –1
George Washington 0 –3 –13 –3 –2
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Centre + 5 –0 –010 –1 –0
Georgia + 6 –0 –17 –2 –1
Georgia Tech + 5 –0 –08 –1 –0
Vanderbilt + 5 –0 –17 –0 –1
Tennessee 4 –1 –16 –2 –1
Florida 4 –1 –26 –3 –2
Mississippi College 3 –1 –17 –2 –1
Sewanee 4 –2 –06 –2 –0
Transylvania 2 –1 –04 –4 –0
LSU 2 –1 –16 –1 –1
South Carolina 2 –1 –15 –1 –2
Furman 4 –2 –17 –2 –1
Auburn 3 –2 –05 –3 –0
Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –14 –4 –1
Tulane 3 –4 –04 –6 –0
Alabama 2 –4 –25 –4 –2
Oglethorpe 2 –4 –05 –4 –0
Chattanooga 2 –4 –04 –6 –0
The Citadel 1 –2 –13 –3 –2
Kentucky 1 –3 –14 –3 –1
Ole Miss 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Howard (AL) 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Mercer 1 –5 –03 –6 –0
Louisville 0 –1 –02 –2 –1
Wofford 0 –2 –02 –7 –0
Georgetown (KY) 0 –3 –02 –6 –0
Millsaps 0 –3 –01 –5 –1
Clemson 0 –5 –21 –6 –2
  • + – Conference co-champions
1921 Southwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Texas A&M $ 3 –0 –26 –1 –2
Texas 1 –0 –16 –1 –1
Arkansas 2 –1 –05 –3 –1
Baylor 2 –2 –08 –3 –0
Oklahoma A&M 1 –1 –05 –4 –1
Rice 1 –2 –14 –4 –1
SMU 0 –4 –01 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion

Independents

1921 Eastern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Washington & Jefferson   –  10 –0 –1
Lafayette   –  9 –0 –0
Cornell   –  8 –0 –0
Penn State   –  8 –0 –2
Yale   –  8 –1 –0
New Hampshire   –  8 –1 –1
Franklin & Marshall   –  6 –1 –2
Villanova   –  6 –1 –2
Carnegie Tech   –  7 –2 –0
Syracuse   –  7 –2 –0
Harvard   –  7 –2 –1
Boston University   –  6 –2 –0
Dartmouth   –  6 –2 –1
Brown   –  5 –3 –1
Bucknell   –  5 –3 –1
Geneva   –  5 –3 –1
Pittsburgh   –  5 –3 –1
Holy Cross   –  5 –3 –0
Army   –  6 –4 –0
Princeton   –  4 –3 –0
Boston College   –  4 –3 –1
Fordham   –  4 –3 –2
Penn   –  4 –3 –2
Colgate   –  4 –4 –2
Lehigh   –  4 –4 –0
Springfield   –  4 –5 –2
Vermont   –  3 –4 –0
NYU   –  2 –3 –3
Buffalo   –  2 –3 –2
Drexel   –  2 –3 –1
Rutgers   –  4 –6 –0
Rhode Island State   –  3 –5 –0
Columbia   –  2 –6 –0
Tufts   –  1 –5 –2
Duquesne   –  0 –4 –1
1921 Midwestern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Detroit Junior College   –  6 –0 –2
Notre Dame   –  10 –1 –0
Creighton   –  8 –1 –0
Detroit   –  8 –1 –0
South Dakota State   –  7 –1 –0
Iowa State Teachers   –  5 –1 –1
Wabash   –  7 –2 –0
Central Michigan   –  7 –2 –1
Butler   –  6 –2 –0
Western State Normal (MI)   –  6 –2 –0
Marquette   –  6 –2 –1
DePauw   –  4 –3 –0
Haskell   –  5 –4 –0
North Dakota Agricultural   –  3 –3 –1
Saint Louis   –  4 –4 –1
Valparaiso   –  2 –2 –1
Michigan Agricultural   –  3 –5 –0
Northern Illinois State   –  3 –5 –0
Earlham   –  2 –4 –1
St. Ignatius (OH)   –  2 –6 –0
Dayton   –  1 –7 –1
Kent State   –  0 –2 –1
1921 Southern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Tennessee Docs   –  8 –0 –0
Southwest Texas State   –  7 –0 –0
Talladega   –  4 –0 –1
Navy   –  6 –1 –0
Sam Houston Normal   –  3 –1 –2
Erskine   –  6 –2 –0
Marshall   –  5 –2 –1
Delaware   –  5 –4 –0
West Virginia   –  5 –4 –1
Middle Tennessee State Normal   –  3 –2 –1
East Tennessee State Normal   –  4 –3 –0
Birmingham–Southern   –  4 –4 –1
Louisville   –  2 –2 –1
Marion   –  4 –4 –0
Spring Hill   –  4 –4 –0
West Tennessee State Normal   –  4 –5 –1
Mississippi Normal   –  3 –4 –0
Loyola (LA)   –  2 –4 –0
Western Kentucky State Normal   –  2 –4 –1
Abilene Christian   –  2 –5 –0
Bryson College   –  2 –5 –0
Wake Forest   –  2 –8 –0
Texas Mines   –  1 –4 –0
Presbyterian   –  1 –7 –0
1921 Western college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
USC   –  10 –1 –0
Arizona   –  7 –2 –0
Santa Clara   –  6 –0 –0
Chico State   –  4 –2 –1
La Verne   –  4 –2 –1
Idaho   –  4 –3 –1
Nevada   –  4 –3 –1
Saint Mary's   –  4 –3 –0
Hawaii   –  3 –3 –2
Montana   –  3 –3 –1
Pacific (CA)   –  3 –3 –0
University Farm   –  3 –4 –0
New Mexico   –  2 –2 –0
New Mexico A&M   –  2 –2 –0
Gonzaga   –  2 –4 –1
Fresno State   –  2 –4 –0
San Jose State   –  1 –5 –0

Minor conferences

Conference Champion(s) Record
Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Virginia Union 3–0
Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin Stout Normal 3–0
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Kansas State Teachers
Kansas State Teachers–Fort Hays		 6–0–1
6–0
Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association Louisiana Polytechnic 3–0
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association No champion –
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hamline 5–0
Nebraska Intercollegiate Conference Unknown —
Ohio Athletic Conference Miami (OH) 7–0
Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Unknown —
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pomona 5–0
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Morehouse —
Southwestern Athletic Conference Wiley —
Tri-Normal League State Normal–Cheney —

Minor conference standings

1921 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Virginia Union $ 3 –0 –06 –0 –2
Howard 4 –1 –07 –1 –0
Lincoln (PA) 2 –1 –08 –1 –0
Virginia Normal 1 –1 –02 –1 –1
Hampton 1 –3 –02 –3 –0
Shaw 0 –2 –0 ? – ? –0
Virginia Seminary 0 –3 –04 –4 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Carthage 4 –2 –06 –2 –0
Southern Illinois   –  4 –3 –2
1921 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Hays Normal $ 6 –0 –06 –1 –0
Kansas State Normal 6 –1 –06 –1 –0
Pittsburg Normal 5 –1 –17 –2 –1
College of Emporia 4 –1 –04 –2 –1
Fairmount 4 –2 –15 –2 –1
Bethany (KS) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0
Baker 4 –3 –15 –3 –1
Southwestern (KS) 4 –4 –05 –4 –0
Friends 3 –3 –13 –4 –1
Washburn 3 –3 –13 –5 –1
St. Mary's (KS) 2 –5 –03 –5 –0
Ottawa 2 –5 –13 –5 –1
McPherson 2 –6 –05 –6 –0
Sterling 1 –6 –01 –6 –0
Kansas Wesleyan 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Kalamazoo $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –0
Albion 4 –1 –06 –2 –0
Hillsdale 2 –2 –05 –3 –0
Michigan State Normal 1 –2 –03 –3 –0
Olivet 1 –3 –02 –5 –1
Alma 1 –4 –02 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Hamline $ 5 –0 –07 –0 –0
Carleton 3 –1 –06 –1 –0
St. Olaf 3 –2 –04 –2 –0
St. Thomas (MN) 2 –2 –04 –2 –0
Macalester 2 –2 –02 –2 –1
Concordia (MN) 0 –2 –02 –3 –1
Saint John's (MN) 0 –2 –01 –4 –0
Gustavus Adolphus 0 –4 –02 –4 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Missouri Wesleyan + 6 –1 –07 –1 –0
Kirksville + 6 –1 –07 –2 –0
William Jewell + 6 –1 –06 –2 –0
Missouri Mines 4 –1 –04 –4 –0
Central (MO) 3 –2 –05 –2 –0
Tarkio 3 –3 –03 –6 –0
Springfield (MO) 3 –4 –03 –5 –0
Warrensburg 2 –3 –02 –5 –1
Missouri Valley 1 –2 –22 –2 –3
Drury 1 –4 –12 –5 –1
Westminster (MO) 1 –4 –12 –5 –1
Maryville (MO) 1 –4 –02 –6 –0
Culver–Stockton 0 –2 –03 –4 –0
Cape Girardeau 0 –2 –01 –3 –2
Central Wesleyan 0 –3 –00 –4 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
1921 Nebraska Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Nebraska Wesleyan $ 5 –0 –08 –3 –0
Wayne Normal 5 –0 –06 –2 –0
Doane 4 –2 –15 –3 –1
Peru Normal 5 –3 –06 –1 –0
Kearney Normal 3 –2 –13 –2 –1
Hastings 3 –3 –24 –3 –2
York (NE) 3 –4 –03 –5 –0
Cotner 2 –3 –02 –3 –2
Midland 2 –4 –03 –4 –0
Grand Island 1 –4 –11 –5 –1
Chadron Normal 0 –3 –02 –4 –0
Nebraska Central 0 –5 –00 –5 –0
Championship: Nebraska Wesleyan 17, Wayne Normal 3
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Northwest Ohio League football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Bowling Green $ 3 –0 –03 –1 –1
Toledo   –  3 –5 –0
Findlay 0 –3 –00 –3 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Miami (OH) $ 7 –0 –08 –0 –0
St. Xavier 1 –0 –06 –2 –0
Oberlin 7 –0 –17 –0 –1
Case 6 –1 –26 –2 –2
Wooster 6 –2 –06 –2 –0
Denison 5 –2 –05 –3 –0
Akron 4 –3 –05 –3 –0
Ohio Northern 4 –3 –05 –4 –0
Ohio State 1 –1 –05 –2 –0
Wittenberg 3 –3 –24 –3 –2
Kenyon 1 –1 –41 –1 –5
Ohio 1 –1 –04 –4 –1
Otterbein 1 –3 –21 –5 –2
Western Reserve 2 –5 –12 –7 –1
Hiram 1 –4 –22 –4 –2
Ohio Wesleyan 1 –6 –11 –6 –1
Mount Union 0 –5 –11 –6 –1
Cincinnati 0 –4 –03 –6 –0
Heidelberg 0 –7 –00 –7 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Dakota Wesleyan $ 3 –0 –06 –2 –0
Columbus (SD) 2 –1 –05 –2 –0
Huron 1 –2 –03 –3 –0
Yankton 1 –2 –03 –4 –0
South Dakota Mines 1 –2 –02 –4 –1
Northern Normal 1 –2 –01 –4 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Southern California Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Whittier $ 5 –0 –05 –2 –0
Redlands 4 –1 –05 –2 –1
Occidental 2 –2 –12 –4 –1
Pomona 2 –2 –12 –3 –1
Caltech 1 –4 –02 –5 –1
Southern Branch 0 –5 –00 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Wiley $   –  7 –0 –1
Bishop   –    –  
Paul Quinn   –    –  
Prairie View State   –    –  
Samuel Huston   –    –  
Texas College   –    –  
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Rice $ 3 –0 –04 –4 –1
Howard Payne 4 –1 –05 –3 –0
TCU 2 –1 –06 –3 –1
Simmons (TX) 3 –2 –06 –4 –0
Austin 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Trinity (TX) 2 –4 –04 –4 –0
SMU 1 –3 –11 –6 –1
Daniel Baker 0 –2 –03 –4 –1
Southwestern (TX) 0 –3 –10 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
1921 Wisconsin Normal Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Stout Normal $ 3 –0 –05 –0 –2
Oshkosh Normal 3 –1 –05 –2 –0
La Crosse Normal 3 –1 –15 –1 –1
Superior Normal 2 –1 –15 –1 –1
Stevens Point Normal 1 –1 –13 –2 –1
Whitewater Normal 2 –2 –03 –2 –1
Eau Claire Normal 1 –2 –12 –2 –1
River Falls Normal 1 –3 –13 –4 –1
Milwaukee Normal 0 –2 –14 –2 –1
Platteville Normal 0 –3 –04 –3 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

Awards and honors

All-Americans

The consensus All-America team included:

Position Name Height Weight (lbs.) Class Hometown Team
QB Aubrey Devine 5'9" 170 Sr. Des Moines, Iowa Iowa
QB Bo McMillin 5'9" 165 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas Centre
HB Glenn Killinger 5'9" 163 Sr. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Penn State
HB Mal Aldrich 5'11" 165 Sr. Fall River, Massachusetts Yale
FB Eddie Kaw 5'10" 168 Jr. Houston, Texas Cornell
E Harold Muller 6'0" 180 Jr. Dunsmuir, California California
T Dan McMillan 6'1" 225 Sr. Los Angeles, California California
G Fiske Brown Sr. Plymouth, Massachusetts Harvard
G Stan Keck 5'11" 206 Sr. Greensburg, Pennsylvania Princeton
C Herb Stein 6'1" 186 Sr. Warren, Ohio Pittsburgh
G Frank Schwab 5'11" 195 Sr. Saltsburg, Pennsylvania Lafayette
G Iolas Huffman 5'11" 228 Sr. Chandlersville, Ohio Ohio State
E Eddie Anderson Sr. Mason City, Iowa Notre Dame

Statistical leaders

  • Total offense leader: Aubrey Devine, Iowa, 2211
  • Receptions leader: Eddie Anderson, Notre Dame, 26
  • Receiving yards leader: Eddie Anderson, 394

References

  1. ↑ Official 2013 Football Bowl Subdivision Records Book (PDF). The National Collegiate Athletic Association. pp. 76–77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ Grantland Rice (December 3, 1921). "Where The West Got The Jump: In Addition To Developing Strong Defense and Good Running Game, Has Built Up Forward Pass" (PDF). American Golfer. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  3. ↑ Sciullo, Sam Jr., ed. (1991). 1991 Pitt Football: University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Sports Information Office. p. 116.
  4. ↑ Campbell, Jim (August 2006). "The 1922 Rose Bowl: David v. Goliath" (PDF). College Football Historical Society Newsletter. LA84 Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Washington and Jefferson College". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
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