1962 NCAA University Division football season

1962 NCAA University Division football season
1962 NCAA University Division football season
Preseason AP No. 1	Ohio State
Regular season	September 22 – December 1, 1962
Number of bowls	10
Bowl games	December 15, 1962 – January 1, 1963
Champion(s)	USC (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF); Ole Miss (Litkenhous);
Heisman	Terry Baker (quarterback, Oregon State)

The 1962 NCAA University Division football season was played by American football teams representing 140 colleges and universities recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as major programs. The remaining 370 colleges and universities that were NCAA members and fielded football teams competed as part of the 1962 NCAA College Division football season.^[2]

Four teams, including three from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), have a claim to the 1962 major college national championship:

USC (11–0) was ranked No. 1 in the final AP and UPI polls, defeated No. 2 Wisconsin in the 1963 Rose Bowl, and was rated as the national champion by more than 10 other official selectors, including The Football News and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Head coach John McKay won the Coach of the Year Award from both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the FWAA.
Ole Miss (10–0) won the SEC championship and were ranked No. 3 in the final AP and UPI polls before defeating No. 6 Arkansas in the 1963 Sugar Bowl. The Rebels were awarded the Litkenhous Ratings trophy for the national championship.^[3] Years later, they were also rated as national champions by Billingsley and Sagarin. To date, it is the only undefeated and untied season in Ole Miss football history.
Alabama (10–1) was ranked No. 5 in the final AP and UPI polls and defeated No. 8 Oklahoma in the 1963 Orange Bowl. The Crimson Tide was selected as national champion by the Billingsley Report.
LSU (9–1) defeated No. 4 Texas in the Cotton Bowl and was selected as national champion by Berryman QPRS. LSU halfback Jerry Stovall played on offense, defense, and special teams, won the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy as the nation's best back,^[4] was named SEC Player of the Year, and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker won both the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award as the best player in college football. Minnesota defensive lineman Bobby Bell finished third in the Heisman voting and won the Outland Trophy. Baylor quarterback Don Trull won the Sammy Baugh Trophy.

Statistical leaders in the 1962 University Division included Terry Baker with 1,738 passing yards; New Mexico State halfback Preacher Pilot with 1,247 rushing yards; Preacher Pilot and Cotton Clark of Alabama, each with 90 points scored; and Oregon State end Vern Burke with 1,007 receiving yards.

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Tommy Devine (December 12, 1962). "Bowl Survey May Lead to Tighter Code". The Miami News. p. 32.
^ Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy (Trophy plaque). Hollingsworth/Manning Hall, University of Mississippi: Litkenhous Ratings. July 18, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2023. The Difference By Score System
^ "Jerry Stovall Wins Walter Camp Trophy". The Post-Crescent. Associated Press. January 7, 1963. p. 9. Retrieved April 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[1] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[2] Tommy Devine (December 12, 1962). "Bowl Survey May Lead to Tighter Code". The Miami News. p. 32.

[LitkenhausTrophy-3] Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy (Trophy plaque). Hollingsworth/Manning Hall, University of Mississippi: Litkenhous Ratings. July 18, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2023. The Difference By Score System

[4] "Jerry Stovall Wins Walter Camp Trophy". The Post-Crescent. Associated Press. January 7, 1963. p. 9. Retrieved April 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

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