Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1939 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .595 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.464.
The average home field advantage for this year is 2.98 points.
Some game locations are unknown and have been estimated. Research continues.
KEY: PR=Final power rating, PS=Pre-season power rating, SOS=strength of schedule.
| Rank | Team | PR | PS | SOS | PF | PA | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Conference |
| 1 | Texas A&M | .977 | .654 | .780 | 19.27 | 2.82 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | SWC |
| 2 | Tulane | .906 | .740 | .803 | 19.40 | 6.00 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .850 | SEC |
| 3 | Southern California | .891 | .758 | .625 | 18.10 | 3.30 | 8 | 0 | 2 | .900 | PCC |
| 4 | Duke | .890 | .870 | .667 | 20.33 | 4.67 | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Southern |
| 5 | Clemson | .876 | .705 | .604 | 16.50 | 4.50 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Southern |
| 6 | Tennessee | .866 | .869 | .459 | 19.27 | 1.27 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SEC |
| 7 | Cornell | .851 | .553 | .552 | 24.63 | 6.50 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Northeast Independent |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | .850 | .616 | .744 | 15.00 | 5.60 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | SEC |
| 9 | North Carolina | .843 | .775 | .556 | 22.80 | 5.20 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .850 | Southern |
| 10 | Missouri | .811 | .574 | .747 | 15.50 | 7.90 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Big 6 |
| 11 | Duquesne | .808 | .552 | .330 | 16.89 | 4.78 | 8 | 0 | 1 | .944 | Eastern Independent |
| 12 | Nebraska | .795 | .620 | .646 | 12.78 | 7.78 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Big 6 |
| 13 | Mississippi State | .790 | .523 | .501 | 21.60 | 3.20 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | SEC |
| 14 | Oregon State | .771 | .611 | .441 | 16.91 | 7.00 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | PCC |
| 15 | Santa Clara | .771 | .778 | .585 | 13.00 | 4.44 | 5 | 1 | 3 | .722 | South/West Independent |
| 16 | Notre Dame | .770 | .817 | .702 | 11.11 | 8.11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Eastern Independent |
| 17 | Southern Methodist | .767 | .631 | .691 | 11.80 | 6.00 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | SWC |
| 18 | Oklahoma | .766 | .758 | .616 | 20.67 | 6.89 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Big 6 |
| 19 | UCLA | .751 | .620 | .512 | 12.70 | 6.20 | 6 | 0 | 4 | .800 | PCC |
| 20 | Boston College | .741 | .477 | .330 | 19.91 | 4.18 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Northeast Independent |
| 21 | Mississippi | .740 | .671 | .435 | 25.56 | 7.11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | SEC |
| 22 | Villanova | .726 | .786 | .521 | 13.63 | 6.88 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 23 | Holy Cross | .716 | .693 | .364 | 19.56 | 5.22 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Northeast Independent |
| 24 | Kentucky | .707 | .453 | .501 | 17.89 | 7.11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | SEC |
| 25 | Ohio State | .704 | .621 | .472 | 23.63 | 8.00 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Western |
| 26 | Georgetown | .703 | .613 | .178 | 13.63 | 2.75 | 7 | 0 | 1 | .938 | South/West Independent |
| 27 | Baylor | .699 | .706 | .626 | 13.60 | 8.10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | SWC |
| 28 | Alabama | .693 | .854 | .725 | 11.22 | 5.89 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | SEC |
| 29 | Wake Forest | .686 | .488 | .470 | 25.70 | 8.90 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Southern |
| 30 | Auburn | .681 | .704 | .950 | 6.45 | 6.27 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | SEC |
| 31 | Utah | .679 | .631 | .265 | 29.00 | 8.22 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .778 | Mountain States |
| 32 | Princeton | .667 | .464 | .330 | 16.50 | 8.13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 | Eastern Independent |
| 33 | Richmond | .664 | .449 | .126 | 15.50 | 2.00 | 7 | 1 | 2 | .800 | Southern |
| 34 | Fordham | .661 | .777 | .439 | 15.50 | 6.00 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Northeast Independent |
| 35 | Pittsburgh | .651 | .859 | .714 | 13.22 | 10.89 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 36 | Iowa | .637 | .294 | .395 | 16.25 | 11.38 | 6 | 1 | 1 | .813 | Western |
| 37 | Hardin-Simmons | .630 | .232 | .096 | 15.22 | 6.00 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | South/West Independent |
| 38 | Penn State | .613 | .456 | .375 | 14.25 | 9.63 | 5 | 1 | 2 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 39 | Virginia Military Institute | .610 | .561 | .489 | 12.50 | 10.00 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Southern |
| 40 | New Mexico | .610 | .517 | .179 | 16.70 | 9.80 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Border |
| 41 | William & Mary | .608 | .302 | .265 | 17.56 | 10.56 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Southern |
| 42 | Arizona State | .608 | .260 | .060 | 19.27 | 5.09 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | Border |
| 43 | Michigan | .605 | .541 | .315 | 27.38 | 11.75 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Western |
| 44 | Gonzaga | .594 | .331 | .251 | 12.50 | 5.63 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | South/West Independent |
| 45 | Louisiana State | .593 | .795 | .694 | 12.33 | 12.89 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | SEC |
| 46 | Oregon | .587 | .515 | .619 | 12.63 | 9.25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | PCC |
| 47 | New York University | .582 | .456 | .564 | 11.67 | 9.44 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Northeast Independent |
| 48 | Dartmouth | .578 | .694 | .335 | 17.11 | 8.11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Northeast Independent |
| 49 | Florida | .577 | .441 | .608 | 7.09 | 6.00 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | SEC |
| 50 | Detroit Mercy | .571 | .633 | .340 | 16.56 | 10.00 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Eastern Independent |
| 51 | Virginia | .570 | .369 | .423 | 15.89 | 8.33 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | South/West Independent |
| 52 | Arkansas | .565 | .626 | .761 | 11.50 | 11.70 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | SWC |
| 53 | Texas | .563 | .467 | .661 | 11.78 | 13.89 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | SWC |
| 54 | Kansas State | .556 | .506 | .621 | 13.00 | 12.00 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Big 6 |
| 55 | Washington (Missouri) | .551 | .484 | .256 | 17.20 | 10.30 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | MVC |
| 56 | Furman | .536 | .450 | .343 | 13.78 | 7.67 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Southern |
| 57 | Colorado | .531 | .539 | .453 | 13.25 | 13.75 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | Mountain States |
| 58 | Georgia | .531 | .621 | .637 | 10.27 | 8.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 59 | Purdue | .529 | .613 | .609 | 7.00 | 6.63 | 3 | 3 | 2 | .500 | Western |
| 60 | Oklahoma State | .526 | .305 | .517 | 12.80 | 11.50 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | MVC |
| 61 | Denver | .520 | .497 | .190 | 14.33 | 8.33 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Mountain States |
| 62 | Washington | .520 | .639 | .562 | 8.56 | 10.33 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | PCC |
| 63 | Minnesota | .515 | .720 | .505 | 19.25 | 10.25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Western |
| 64 | Brigham Young | .513 | .466 | .180 | 12.22 | 10.00 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .667 | Mountain States |
| 65 | George Washington | .512 | .522 | .327 | 9.75 | 6.63 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | South/West Independent |
| 66 | Texas Christian | .506 | .853 | .706 | 11.60 | 11.90 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | SWC |
| 67 | Texas-El Paso | .501 | .499 | .310 | 12.56 | 7.89 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Border |
| 68 | Marquette | .498 | .418 | .510 | 12.38 | 11.88 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 69 | Virginia Tech | .496 | .460 | .456 | 10.60 | 8.40 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Southern |
| 70 | Carnegie Tech | .493 | .635 | .649 | 9.38 | 7.75 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | Eastern Independent |
| 71 | Navy | .488 | .582 | .633 | 9.78 | 11.89 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Eastern Independent |
| 72 | Brown | .486 | .439 | .155 | 20.89 | 10.11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Northeast Independent |
| 73 | Syracuse | .477 | .488 | .511 | 7.88 | 11.50 | 3 | 3 | 2 | .500 | Northeast Independent |
| 74 | Texas Tech | .474 | .696 | .304 | 13.64 | 6.73 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Border |
| 75 | Manhattan | .473 | .535 | .526 | 8.88 | 10.63 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | Northeast Independent |
| 76 | Michigan State | .471 | .669 | .368 | 11.33 | 10.22 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | Washington State | .469 | .500 | .648 | 7.44 | 14.89 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | PCC |
| 78 | Arizona | .467 | .510 | .181 | 10.90 | 11.30 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Border |
| 79 | Columbia | .465 | .453 | .607 | 9.00 | 11.00 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .375 | Northeast Independent |
| 80 | Indiana | .461 | .402 | .651 | 8.75 | 12.00 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .375 | Western |
| 81 | Colgate | .455 | .460 | .653 | 8.25 | 11.50 | 2 | 5 | 1 | .313 | Northeast Independent |
| 82 | St. Louis | .450 | .414 | .143 | 10.30 | 9.50 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | MVC |
| 83 | Pennsylvania | .449 | .465 | .478 | 8.75 | 12.25 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 84 | San Francisco | .438 | .512 | .152 | 9.20 | 9.10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | .550 | South/West Independent |
| 85 | Washington & Lee | .435 | .410 | .423 | 6.38 | 6.38 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Southern |
| 86 | Northwestern | .422 | .618 | .552 | 5.88 | 8.38 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Western |
| 87 | Washburn | .415 | .306 | .050 | 14.50 | 14.80 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | MVC |
| 88 | Creighton | .413 | .437 | .247 | 18.22 | 14.78 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | MVC |
| 89 | Army | .408 | .672 | .343 | 11.78 | 11.67 | 3 | 4 | 2 | .444 | Northeast Independent |
| 90 | Miami (Florida) | .396 | .526 | .154 | 13.10 | 10.60 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 91 | Drake | .394 | .566 | .200 | 8.30 | 10.40 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | MVC |
| 92 | St. Mary's | .385 | .692 | .285 | 10.50 | 7.13 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | South/West Independent |
| 93 | Illinois | .384 | .424 | .349 | 9.38 | 9.25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Western |
| 94 | Harvard | .383 | .477 | .087 | 20.25 | 8.38 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | Northeast Independent |
| 95 | Vanderbilt | .380 | .674 | .634 | 9.60 | 16.50 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | SEC |
| 96 | Hampden-Sydney | .377 | .214 | .342 | 10.78 | 15.89 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | South/West Independent |
| 97 | Tulsa | .372 | .576 | .216 | 9.40 | 10.40 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | MVC |
| 98 | Yale | .364 | .480 | .366 | 9.75 | 15.25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Northeast Independent |
| 99 | North Carolina State | .356 | .467 | .925 | 4.90 | 19.10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Southern |
| 100 | Rhodes | .354 | .232 | .352 | 9.44 | 14.56 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | South/West Independent |
| 101 | Utah State | .345 | .447 | .232 | 9.50 | 10.13 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | Mountain States |
| 102 | California | .343 | .829 | .493 | 9.30 | 13.40 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | PCC |
| 103 | Stanford | .335 | .567 | .747 | 6.00 | 16.22 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .167 | PCC |
| 104 | Temple | .333 | .554 | .616 | 5.67 | 10.67 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Eastern Independent |
| 105 | Bucknell | .333 | .489 | .226 | 11.00 | 8.00 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | Eastern Independent |
| 106 | West Virginia | .329 | .528 | .448 | 7.78 | 10.44 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .278 | Eastern Independent |
| 107 | South Carolina | .326 | .541 | .474 | 4.00 | 16.30 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Southern |
| 108 | Iowa State | .321 | .568 | .603 | 5.56 | 13.00 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Big 6 |
| 109 | Rice | .319 | .653 | .683 | 7.00 | 13.00 | 1 | 9 | 1 | .136 | SWC |
| 110 | Montana | .318 | .547 | .386 | 4.56 | 9.22 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | PCC |
| 111 | Citadel | .312 | .459 | .523 | 8.64 | 17.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southern |
| 112 | Kansas | .311 | .458 | .562 | 5.88 | 13.38 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | Big 6 |
| 113 | Sewanee | .310 | .274 | .454 | 5.38 | 18.75 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | SEC |
| 114 | New Mexico State | .302 | .580 | .302 | 10.22 | 15.67 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Border |
| 115 | Colorado State | .293 | .276 | .365 | 9.89 | 14.22 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Mountain States |
| 116 | Maryland | .292 | .436 | .478 | 7.00 | 11.78 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Southern |
| 117 | Davidson | .281 | .409 | .516 | 9.00 | 18.44 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Southern |
| 118 | Idaho | .278 | .541 | .438 | 5.63 | 16.38 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | PCC |
| 119 | Centenary | .256 | .589 | .486 | 4.25 | 12.17 | 2 | 9 | 1 | .208 | South/West Independent |
| 120 | Wisconsin | .236 | .507 | .404 | 6.75 | 14.13 | 1 | 6 | 1 | .188 | Western |
| 121 | Loyola Marymount | .232 | .445 | .204 | 6.56 | 18.00 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .278 | South/West Independent |
| 122 | Wild Card U | .223 | .232 | .530 | 4.32 | 20.45 | 26 | 142 | 11 | .176 | |
| 123 | Chicago | .154 | .205 | .197 | 4.63 | 38.50 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | Western |
| 124 | Wyoming | .154 | .301 | .485 | 5.88 | 30.13 | 0 | 7 | 1 | .063 | Mountain States |
| 125 | Northern Arizona | .149 | .290 | .244 | 6.63 | 28.00 | 1 | 6 | 1 | .188 | Border |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| SEC | .663 | .633 | .626 | 76 | 46 | 6 | .617 | 13 |
| SWC | .628 | .656 | .701 | 37 | 31 | 3 | .542 | 7 |
| Big 6 | .593 | .581 | .632 | 29 | 23 | 2 | .556 | 6 |
| Southern | .547 | .519 | .488 | 75 | 61 | 8 | .549 | 15 |
| Eastern Independent | .547 | .594 | .483 | 68 | 53 | 7 | .559 | 15 |
| Northeast Independent | .546 | .547 | .417 | 66 | 44 | 10 | .592 | 14 |
| PCC | .526 | .613 | .547 | 43 | 41 | 9 | .511 | 10 |
| South/West Independent | .478 | .466 | .295 | 58 | 48 | 12 | .542 | 13 |
| Western | .465 | .494 | .445 | 35 | 36 | 9 | .494 | 10 |
| MVC | .446 | .441 | .233 | 35 | 29 | 5 | .543 | 7 |
| Border | .444 | .479 | .226 | 36 | 29 | 3 | .551 | 7 |
| Mountain States | .434 | .451 | .310 | 26 | 27 | 7 | .492 | 7 |
This page has been accessed times since June 9, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net