| 1965 NCAA University Division football season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Nebraska[1] | |
| Regular season | September 17 – December 4, 1965 | |
| Number of bowls | 8 | |
| Bowl games | December 18, 1965 – January 1, 1966 | |
| Champion(s) | Alabama (AP, FWAA) Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) | |
| Heisman | Mike Garrett (halfback, USC) | |
| ||
During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A. The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" (AP and UPI) polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press (AP) was the most popular, followed by the "coaches' poll" by United Press International) (UPI). Prior to 1965, both services issued their final polls at the close of the regular season, but before teams competed in bowl games. For the 1965 season, the AP took its final poll after the postseason games, an arrangement made permanent in 1968. The Associated Press presented the "AP Trophy" to the winner.
The AP poll in 1965 consisted of the votes of 55 sportswriters, each of whom would give their opinion of the ten best teams. Under a point system of ten points for first place, nine for second, etc., the "overall" ranking was determined. In the preseason poll for 1965, the writers cast first place votes for nine different teams, and the range of points between the highest six finishers ranged from 252 to 311 points. Nebraska was first, followed by Texas, Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, and Arkansas.[2] As the regular season progressed, new polls were issued weekly on Mondays.
At the end of the regular season, Michigan State, Arkansas, and Nebraska were all unbeaten at 10–0. As champions of their respective conferences (Big Ten, Southwest, and Big Eight), they played in three separate bowl games (Rose, Cotton, and Orange) on New Year's Day.[3] Arkansas and Michigan State lost during the day, and Alabama defeated Nebraska at night in Miami. In the final poll, taken after the bowls, Alabama was crowned the national champion by the Associated Press. The Crimson Tide had been first in both final polls at the end of the 1964 regular season and crowned as national champions, but lost the Orange Bowl.
In addition to 1964 and 1965, the UPI national champions in 1970 and 1973 also lost their respective bowl games. Beginning with the 1974 season, the UPI released its final poll after the bowls.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "1965 college grid title to be decided in 1966". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 26, 1965. p. 20.