| 1952 college football season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Michigan State[1] | |
| Number of bowls | 8 | |
| Champion(s) | Michigan State (AP, Coaches) Georgia Tech (INS) | |
| Heisman | Billy Vessels (halfback, Oklahoma) | |
| ||
The 1952 college football season was the 84th season of intercollegiate football in the United States. It ended with Oklahoma halfback Billy Vessels winning the Heisman Trophy and Notre Dame halfback Johnny Lattner winning the Maxwell Award. Two teams claim the 1952 national championship:
- Michigan State compiled a perfect 9–0 record and was ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) coaches polls. The team was also recognized as the 1952 national champion by the Boand System, DeVold System, Dunkel System, College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin Ratings, and Williamson System.[2]: 113 The Spartans ranked third nationally in total offense with an average of 428.7 yards per game. The 1952 season was part of a 28-game winning streak for Michigan State that began in October 1950 and continued until October 1953.
- Georgia Tech compiled a perfect 12–0 record and was ranked No. 1 by the International News Service poll at the end of the regular season. They finished No. 2 in the AP and UP polls. Tech went on to defeat No. 7 Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia Tech was also rated as the 1952 national champion by the Houlgate System and Poling System and later by Berryman (QPRS), Billingsley Report, and Sagarin Ratings. The Yellow Jackets ranked second nationally in total defense, giving up an average of only 173.2 yards per game.
Small college teams that compiled perfect seasons in 1952 included East Texas (11–0, Lone Star and Tangerine Bowl champion), Idaho State (8–0, Rocky Mountain champion), Peru State (10–0, part of 26-game winning streak), and Shippensburg (7–0, part of 20-game winning streak). Florida A&M (8–2) was selected by the Associated Negro Press as the black college national champion.
Individual statistical leaders in major college football for the 1952 season included Detroit quarterback Ted Marchibroda with 1,813 yards of total offense, Tulsa halfback Howard Waugh with 1,372 rushing yards, Georgia quarterback Zeke Bratkowski with 1,824 passing yards, Fordham end Ed Brown with 774 receiving yards, and Mississippi State quarterback Jackie Parker with 120 points scored.
Tulsa led the major colleges in total offense with an average of 466.6 yards per game. Tennessee led in total defense, giving up an average of only 166.7 yards per game..
- ^ "1952 Preseason AP Football Poll". CollegePollArchive.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.