1951 college football season

The 1951 college football season was the 83rd season of intercollegiate football in the United States. It finished with Princeton halfback Dick Kazmaier winning the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award. Five teams have laid claim to the 1951 national championship:

• Tennessee was unbeaten and untied in the regular season and was ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) coaches polls. The Volunteers then lost to No. 3 Maryland in the Sugar Bowl. The final polls were issued prior to the bowl games, leaving intact Tennessee's claim as AP and UP national champion. Tennessee's Hank Lauricella rushed for 881 yards and finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
• Maryland compiled a perfect 10–0 record, including a 28–13 victory over Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. The Terrapins were ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll but were recognized as national champion by Billingsley Report, College Football Researchers Association, National Championship Foundation, DeVold System, Dunkel System, and Sagarin Ratings. Maryland guard Bob Ward was a consensus All-American.
• Michigan State compiled a perfect 9–0 record, including victories over No. 7 Ohio State and No. 11 Notre Dame. The Spartans were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UP polls, trailing Tennessee in the final AP poll by 139 first-place votes to 104. The Spartans were selected as national champion by the Billingsley Report, Helms Athletic Foundation, and Poling System. Michigan State tackle Don Coleman and end Bob Carey were consensus All-Americans.
• Georgia Tech compiled an 11–0–1 record, including a victory over No. 9 Baylor in the Orange Bowl. The Yellow Jackets were ranked No. 5 in the final AP and UP polls and were selected as national champion by Berryman (QPRS), Boand System, and Houlgate System.
• Illinois compiled a 9–0–1 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and defeated No. 7 in the Rose Bowl. The Illini were ranked No. 3 in the final UP poll and were selected as co-national champion by Boand System. Illinois halfback Johnny Karras was a consensus All-American.

Individual statistical leaders for the 1951 season included San Francisco halfback Ollie Matson with 1,566 rushing yards and 126 points scored, Princeton halfback Dick Kazmaier with 1,827 yards of total offense, Loyola quarterback Don Klosterman with 1,843 passing yards, and Wyoming end Dewey McConnell with 47 receptions.