1872 college football season
Encyclopedia
The 1872 college football season is considered to be the third season ever played of intercollegiate football competition, due to no season taking place (no games played) in 1871
. Much like in the first and second years, 1869
and 1870
, the rules were still considered in flux, and were decided on in a game-to-game basis. However, the rules used likely did not resemble anything that a modern football observer would recognize, being that of a mix of soccer and rugby
.
In addition to the 3 teams competing in the 1870 season
, there were the two additional teams of and competing, to bring the total number of teams up to five.
The season ended on November 23, 1872 with the fifth and final game of the year, a 6-0 win of Columbia over Stevens Tech in Stevens Tech's first official game that they ever played as an institution. Over the course of the season, there were only 5 total games played.
1872 saw the first time ever that two teams finished with an undefeated record. (both 1-0) Princeton and Yale, are generally considered to have (retroactively) split the college football national championship
for play during the 1872 season. The Billingsley Report and the National Championship Foundation named Princeton as the national champion, while football research historian Parke H. Davis
named it a split title.
1871 college football season
The 1871 college football season is the only one since the first season in 1869 up until present day that there were no games played for the entire season....
. Much like in the first and second years, 1869
1869 college football season
The 1869 college football season was the first season of intercollegiate football. It is considered the inaugural college football season, and consisted of only two total games, both of which occurred between the and ; The first was played on November 6 at Rutgers' campus, and the second was...
and 1870
1870 college football season
The 1870 college football season is considered to be the second season ever played of intercollegiate football competition. Much like in the first year, 1869, the rules were still considered in flux, and were decided on in a game-to-game basis...
, the rules were still considered in flux, and were decided on in a game-to-game basis. However, the rules used likely did not resemble anything that a modern football observer would recognize, being that of a mix of soccer and rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
.
In addition to the 3 teams competing in the 1870 season
1870 college football season
The 1870 college football season is considered to be the second season ever played of intercollegiate football competition. Much like in the first year, 1869, the rules were still considered in flux, and were decided on in a game-to-game basis...
, there were the two additional teams of and competing, to bring the total number of teams up to five.
Regular season
The five game season began on November 2, 1872 with the first ever college football game tie, in a 0-0 contest between Rutgers and Columbia on Columbia's campus. Some sources report this game as a 1–0 victory for Rutgers.The season ended on November 23, 1872 with the fifth and final game of the year, a 6-0 win of Columbia over Stevens Tech in Stevens Tech's first official game that they ever played as an institution. Over the course of the season, there were only 5 total games played.
1872 saw the first time ever that two teams finished with an undefeated record. (both 1-0) Princeton and Yale, are generally considered to have (retroactively) split the college football national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
for play during the 1872 season. The Billingsley Report and the National Championship Foundation named Princeton as the national champion, while football research historian Parke H. Davis
Parke H. Davis
Parke Hill Davis was an American football player, coach and historian who retroactively named the national championship teams in American college football from the 1869 through the 1932 seasons. He also named co-national champions at the conclusion of the 1933 season...
named it a split title.