Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1953 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .518 and the root for determining point spreads was 0.967.
The average home field advantage for this year is 1.26 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 | Maryland | .896 | .811 | .699 | 27.09 | 3.45 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | ACC |
| 2 | Notre Dame | .894 | .788 | .807 | 31.70 | 13.90 | 9 | 0 | 1 | .950 | Eastern Independent |
| 3 | Oklahoma | .890 | .847 | .824 | 26.64 | 8.18 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | Big 7 |
| 4 | Michigan State | .841 | .842 | .718 | 24.00 | 11.00 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Big Ten |
| 5 | Rice | .840 | .632 | .798 | 26.82 | 9.55 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | SWC |
| 6 | Texas Tech | .830 | .521 | .598 | 38.58 | 13.92 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Border |
| 7 | UCLA | .809 | .772 | .633 | 22.40 | 7.60 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | PCC |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | .788 | .879 | .681 | 24.00 | 9.25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | SEC |
| 9 | Texas | .773 | .819 | .840 | 19.00 | 12.50 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | SWC |
| 10 | Illinois | .766 | .649 | .677 | 25.33 | 14.78 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Big Ten |
| 11 | Kentucky | .753 | .707 | .684 | 20.10 | 11.60 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | SEC |
| 12 | Wisconsin | .743 | .689 | .788 | 19.89 | 12.22 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Big Ten |
| 13 | Mississippi | .738 | .750 | .642 | 23.60 | 11.30 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | SEC |
| 14 | Duke | .731 | .760 | .528 | 21.70 | 8.10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | ACC |
| 15 | Baylor | .727 | .693 | .730 | 21.90 | 16.60 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | SWC |
| 16 | Mississippi State | .723 | .566 | .725 | 19.60 | 11.90 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .650 | SEC |
| 17 | Iowa | .721 | .428 | .760 | 20.78 | 10.11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Big Ten |
| 18 | Auburn | .714 | .444 | .696 | 24.55 | 15.73 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | SEC |
| 19 | West Virginia | .696 | .575 | .415 | 30.90 | 15.40 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Southern |
| 20 | Oklahoma State | .694 | .478 | .661 | 17.80 | 14.90 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | MVC |
| 21 | Army | .689 | .569 | .365 | 23.33 | 9.00 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Northeast Independent |
| 22 | Southern Methodist | .681 | .662 | .899 | 12.80 | 12.90 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | SWC |
| 23 | Stanford | .679 | .641 | .593 | 24.60 | 14.80 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | PCC |
| 24 | Michigan | .679 | .627 | .680 | 18.11 | 11.22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 25 | Louisiana State | .677 | .628 | .778 | 17.64 | 14.45 | 5 | 3 | 3 | .591 | SEC |
| 26 | Ohio State | .670 | .655 | .725 | 20.22 | 18.22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 27 | Marquette | .666 | .492 | .525 | 19.60 | 10.80 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Eastern Independent |
| 28 | Alabama | .665 | .754 | .736 | 14.83 | 12.67 | 6 | 3 | 3 | .625 | SEC |
| 29 | Southern California | .663 | .773 | .666 | 19.90 | 16.10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | PCC |
| 30 | South Carolina | .660 | .558 | .431 | 19.80 | 9.70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | ACC |
| 31 | Missouri | .660 | .557 | .704 | 13.00 | 11.60 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Big 7 |
| 32 | Utah | .659 | .575 | .343 | 26.40 | 15.00 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Skyline |
| 33 | Kansas State | .644 | .269 | .526 | 19.80 | 11.60 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Big 7 |
| 34 | Tennessee | .639 | .833 | .643 | 21.82 | 13.91 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | SEC |
| 35 | Colorado | .635 | .654 | .614 | 20.10 | 19.40 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Big 7 |
| 36 | Penn State | .619 | .645 | .545 | 23.00 | 16.44 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Eastern Independent |
| 37 | Texas A&M | .617 | .600 | .883 | 12.80 | 18.60 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | SWC |
| 38 | Texas-El Paso | .614 | .426 | .196 | 25.70 | 14.40 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Border |
| 39 | Houston | .610 | .612 | .751 | 21.00 | 20.56 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | MVC |
| 40 | Utah State | .599 | .346 | .300 | 18.82 | 12.64 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Skyline |
| 41 | Minnesota | .597 | .511 | .790 | 16.67 | 17.78 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Big Ten |
| 42 | California | .593 | .767 | .657 | 22.00 | 17.00 | 4 | 4 | 2 | .500 | PCC |
| 43 | Syracuse | .592 | .573 | .432 | 21.89 | 11.00 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Northeast Independent |
| 44 | Navy | .592 | .620 | .550 | 20.67 | 11.00 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 45 | Detroit Mercy | .585 | .433 | .421 | 23.10 | 12.40 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | MVC |
| 46 | Florida | .583 | .688 | .666 | 20.00 | 11.30 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .400 | SEC |
| 47 | Wyoming | .569 | .605 | .450 | 19.50 | 11.00 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Skyline |
| 48 | Texas Christian | .544 | .649 | .833 | 11.60 | 15.00 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | SWC |
| 49 | Furman | .542 | .433 | .102 | 18.67 | 10.11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Southern |
| 50 | Arizona | .535 | .521 | .550 | 23.40 | 18.10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Border |
| 51 | Purdue | .532 | .586 | .950 | 9.89 | 18.56 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Big Ten |
| 52 | Pittsburgh | .529 | .565 | .592 | 15.89 | 15.33 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Eastern Independent |
| 53 | Boston University | .528 | .479 | .321 | 24.89 | 15.00 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Northeast Independent |
| 54 | Arkansas | .523 | .515 | .862 | 11.60 | 16.10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | SWC |
| 55 | Pennsylvania | .520 | .613 | .708 | 10.67 | 16.89 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Eastern Independent |
| 56 | Boston College | .508 | .400 | .365 | 15.22 | 15.44 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Northeast Independent |
| 57 | Pacific | .504 | .550 | .409 | 19.10 | 17.20 | 4 | 4 | 2 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 58 | Miami (Florida) | .504 | .554 | .560 | 17.22 | 15.22 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | South/West Independent |
| 59 | Hardin-Simmons | .501 | .529 | .429 | 18.09 | 19.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Border |
| 60 | Washington | .499 | .645 | .707 | 15.40 | 21.70 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | PCC |
| 61 | Cornell | .494 | .473 | .453 | 14.22 | 16.89 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .556 | Northeast Independent |
| 62 | North Carolina | .491 | .518 | .593 | 17.30 | 18.70 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | ACC |
| 63 | Northwestern | .484 | .495 | .680 | 18.44 | 22.78 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Big Ten |
| 64 | Nebraska | .482 | .518 | .674 | 11.90 | 18.40 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Big 7 |
| 65 | Colorado State | .477 | .571 | .471 | 17.44 | 16.56 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Skyline |
| 66 | George Washington | .475 | .485 | .275 | 18.44 | 13.78 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Southern |
| 67 | New Mexico | .470 | .493 | .251 | 17.11 | 11.44 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Skyline |
| 68 | Yale | .469 | .510 | .128 | 13.67 | 9.89 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .667 | Northeast Independent |
| 69 | Oregon | .469 | .394 | .502 | 9.10 | 8.50 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | PCC |
| 70 | Wichita State | .468 | .317 | .360 | 19.11 | 12.22 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | MVC |
| 71 | Fordham | .466 | .438 | .382 | 19.56 | 14.22 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Northeast Independent |
| 72 | Washington State | .460 | .548 | .591 | 14.60 | 25.60 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | PCC |
| 73 | Georgia | .459 | .668 | .726 | 14.09 | 22.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 74 | Harvard | .454 | .377 | .050 | 18.25 | 9.75 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Northeast Independent |
| 75 | Clemson | .454 | .539 | .562 | 15.44 | 19.11 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | ACC |
| 76 | Richmond | .452 | .233 | .174 | 13.89 | 12.89 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Southern |
| 77 | William & Mary | .448 | .543 | .266 | 12.20 | 19.10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Southern |
| 78 | Holy Cross | .448 | .607 | .286 | 13.40 | 8.90 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Northeast Independent |
| 79 | Indiana | .448 | .422 | .785 | 13.22 | 25.22 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Big Ten |
| 80 | Villanova | .447 | .641 | .566 | 13.20 | 21.50 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Eastern Independent |
| 81 | Virginia Tech | .423 | .335 | .194 | 14.20 | 12.40 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Southern |
| 82 | Arizona State | .411 | .574 | .255 | 20.70 | 20.30 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Border |
| 83 | Vanderbilt | .407 | .600 | .637 | 13.10 | 25.80 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | SEC |
| 84 | Princeton | .407 | .711 | .185 | 16.00 | 22.67 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 85 | Kansas | .404 | .703 | .798 | 8.30 | 17.90 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Big 7 |
| 86 | Tulsa | .404 | .674 | .627 | 11.70 | 25.80 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | MVC |
| 87 | Virginia Military Institute | .404 | .466 | .168 | 17.40 | 19.60 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Southern |
| 88 | Wake Forest | .400 | .621 | .473 | 11.40 | 15.70 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | ACC |
| 89 | Columbia | .396 | .398 | .306 | 13.78 | 17.00 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Northeast Independent |
| 90 | San Jose State | .396 | .491 | .279 | 17.33 | 24.44 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 91 | Denver | .393 | .406 | .341 | 15.90 | 19.50 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .400 | Skyline |
| 92 | Washington & Lee | .384 | .469 | .343 | 19.30 | 24.20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Southern |
| 93 | Tulane | .378 | .610 | .722 | 12.90 | 22.80 | 1 | 8 | 1 | .150 | SEC |
| 94 | Colgate | .376 | .485 | .245 | 16.33 | 17.89 | 3 | 4 | 2 | .444 | Northeast Independent |
| 95 | North Texas | .373 | .275 | .337 | 16.70 | 16.70 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | South/West Independent |
| 96 | Oregon State | .371 | .493 | .632 | 4.33 | 20.78 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | PCC |
| 97 | Iowa State | .337 | .438 | .521 | 13.33 | 23.44 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Big 7 |
| 98 | Brigham Young | .317 | .422 | .356 | 17.20 | 22.80 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Skyline |
| 99 | Dartmouth | .316 | .396 | .432 | 16.89 | 24.33 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Northeast Independent |
| 100 | Brown | .310 | .296 | .117 | 14.89 | 14.11 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Northeast Independent |
| 101 | Drake | .309 | .367 | .127 | 13.88 | 21.88 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 102 | Montana | .303 | .313 | .234 | 18.13 | 25.63 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | Skyline |
| 103 | Wild Card U | .250 | .275 | .361 | 11.10 | 26.59 | 17 | 63 | 3 | .223 | |
| 104 | Rutgers | .238 | .436 | .223 | 15.75 | 27.00 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | Eastern Independent |
| 105 | West Texas A&M | .225 | .331 | .304 | 12.60 | 27.60 | 1 | 8 | 1 | .150 | Border |
| 106 | New Mexico State | .218 | .197 | .397 | 6.22 | 35.11 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Border |
| 107 | Virginia | .208 | .731 | .442 | 8.33 | 26.89 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | South/West Independent |
| 108 | North Carolina State | .203 | .374 | .437 | 8.00 | 26.50 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | ACC |
| 109 | Citadel | .193 | .389 | .275 | 8.56 | 29.33 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Southern |
| 110 | Idaho | .176 | .416 | .345 | 7.33 | 23.78 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | PCC |
| 111 | Davidson | .077 | .250 | .279 | 5.78 | 32.89 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | Southern |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| SWC | .672 | .653 | .835 | 38 | 32 | 1 | .542 | 7 |
| Big Ten | .648 | .590 | .755 | 50 | 37 | 4 | .571 | 10 |
| SEC | .627 | .677 | .695 | 62 | 49 | 17 | .551 | 12 |
| Big 7 | .579 | .570 | .666 | 34 | 33 | 3 | .507 | 7 |
| MVC | .552 | .503 | .564 | 24 | 22 | 2 | .521 | 5 |
| ACC | .548 | .597 | .532 | 35 | 32 | 3 | .521 | 7 |
| Eastern Independent | .546 | .612 | .523 | 42 | 35 | 6 | .542 | 9 |
| PCC | .524 | .605 | .592 | 39 | 43 | 6 | .477 | 9 |
| Border | .476 | .443 | .390 | 36 | 33 | 3 | .521 | 7 |
| Skyline | .473 | .466 | .343 | 38 | 34 | 5 | .526 | 8 |
| Northeast Independent | .465 | .461 | .299 | 58 | 48 | 11 | .543 | 13 |
| Southern | .409 | .418 | .249 | 46 | 47 | 2 | .495 | 10 |
| South/West Independent | .382 | .495 | .359 | 20 | 31 | 4 | .400 | 6 |
This page has been accessed times since June 17, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net