| 1968 NCAA University Division football season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Purdue[1] | |
| Regular season | September 21 – December 7, 1968 | |
| Number of bowls | 10 | |
| Bowl games | December 14, 1968 – January 1, 1969 | |
| Champion(s) | Ohio State (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) | |
| Heisman | O. J. Simpson (halfback, USC) | |
| ||
In the 1968 NCAA University Division football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. 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 1968, the UPI issued its final poll before the bowls, but the AP Trophy was withheld until the postseason was completed.
The AP poll in 1968 consisted of the votes of as many as 49 sportswriters, though not all of them voted in every poll. With a Top 20 for the first time since the 1960 season, there were more matchups between ranked teams. Those who cast votes would give their opinion of the ten best teams. Under a point system of 20 points for first place, 19 for second, etc., the "overall" ranking was determined. In 1969, there were four regular season games that matched "Top Five" teams.
- ^ "www.appollarchive.com". www.appollarchive.com. August 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2010.