1963 NCAA College Division football season


The 1963 NCAA College Division football season was played by American football teams representing 299 colleges and universities recognized the National Collegiate Athletic Association as minor programs. The remaining 120 colleges and universities that were NCAA members and fielded football teams competed in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season.

Conference standings

Rankings

Small college poll

In 1963, both United Press International and the Associated Press conducted "small college" polls, and selected different number one teams. UPI's panel of coaches selected, who had a record of 8–0 and had outscored their opponents 290–76 while winning all their games by at least 9 points. The AP's panel of sportswriters selected Northern Illinois, who finished the regular season at 9–0 including three shutouts. The Huskies went on to defeat in the Mineral Water Bowl, 21–14.
After the season ended, the NCAA announced plans to play "four postseason regional games" in 1964. These were played from 1964 through 1972. However, not until 1973, when the NCAA College Division was reorganized as NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III, did these postseason games to determine a national champion.
Associated Press final poll
Published on November 29
RankSchoolRecordNo. 1
votes		Total
points
1Northern Illinois9–0363
28–0353
38–0–138
4UMass7–0–137
58–035
6South Dakota State9–133
7Florida A&M7–124
87–118
910–0110
108–09

Denotes team played a game after UPI poll, hence record differs in AP poll
UMass was actually 8–0–1 when the poll was taken.
United Press International final poll
Published on December 4
RankSchoolRecordNo. 1
votes		Total
points
18–018309
2Northern Illinois10–08286
3UMass8–0–11160
49–01158
58–0–1153
6Florida A&M8–21141
7San Diego State7–21101
8Western Kentucky8–0–1278
910–057
109–155

Florida A&M actually 7–2 when the poll was taken.