| 1966 NCAA University Division football season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Alabama[1] | |
| Regular season | September 17 – December 3, 1966 | |
| Number of bowls | 8 | |
| Bowl games | December 10, 1966 – January 2, 1967 | |
| Champion(s) | Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) Michigan State (NFF) | |
| Heisman | Steve Spurrier (quarterback, Florida) | |
| ||
The 1966 University Division football season was marked by some controversy as the year of "The Tie", a famous 10–10 game between the two top-ranked teams, Michigan State and Notre Dame on November 19. Both teams were crowned national champions by various organizations after the regular season concluded, and neither participated in a bowl game. Alabama finished the regular season undefeated and was third in the AP poll, while Georgia was fourth. Alabama went on to win the Sugar Bowl in dominant fashion. 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 Football Guide, however, did note an "unofficial national champion" based on the top ranked teams in the "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). In 1966, both services issued their final polls at the close of the regular season, but before teams competed in bowl games. The Associated Press presented the "AP Trophy" to the winner.
The AP poll in 1966 consisted of the votes of as many as 63 sportswriters, though not all of them voted in every poll. Those who cast votes would give their opinion of the ten best teams. Under a point system of 10 points for first place, 9 for second, etc., the "overall" ranking was determined. In the preseason poll for 1966, Alabama was slightly ahead of Michigan State in first place votes (15 vs. 12) and points.
Prior to the start of the 1966 season, East Carolina was elevated to the University Division.[2]
ABC began showing college football in color this season. By the NCAA rules, only eight national and five regional telecasts were allowed during the season.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Stasavich Forecasts Another Strong EC Club". The Daily Independent (Kannapolis, NC). June 23, 1966. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.