Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1956 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .546 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.436.
The average home field advantage for this year is 2.11 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 | Georgia Tech | .930 | .853 | .824 | 22.55 | 4.27 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SEC |
| 2 | Tennessee | .914 | .646 | .712 | 25.00 | 8.00 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SEC |
| 3 | Texas A&M | .906 | .651 | .717 | 22.30 | 8.10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | .950 | SWC |
| 4 | Oklahoma | .878 | .913 | .340 | 46.60 | 5.10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Big 7 |
| 5 | Baylor | .863 | .668 | .757 | 18.36 | 6.64 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | SWC |
| 6 | Miami (Florida) | .862 | .686 | .675 | 16.10 | 5.30 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .850 | South/West Independent |
| 7 | Iowa | .848 | .596 | .580 | 21.90 | 8.40 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Big Ten |
| 8 | Texas Christian | .801 | .739 | .796 | 21.00 | 10.00 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | SWC |
| 9 | Arizona State | .788 | .582 | .354 | 30.60 | 8.30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Border |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | .787 | .639 | .895 | 14.18 | 10.82 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Eastern Independent |
| 11 | Texas-El Paso | .776 | .617 | .456 | 27.73 | 7.09 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Border |
| 12 | Mississippi | .772 | .835 | .702 | 20.70 | 8.20 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | SEC |
| 13 | Wyoming | .761 | .619 | .188 | 25.20 | 11.20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Skyline |
| 14 | Michigan | .759 | .680 | .668 | 25.89 | 13.67 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Big Ten |
| 15 | Southern California | .757 | .695 | .600 | 21.80 | 12.60 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | PCC |
| 16 | Florida | .753 | .617 | .804 | 15.80 | 9.80 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | SEC |
| 17 | Houston | .750 | .591 | .602 | 18.50 | 9.00 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | MVC |
| 18 | Auburn | .748 | .723 | .721 | 17.40 | 11.70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | SEC |
| 19 | Oregon State | .745 | .459 | .801 | 18.45 | 15.09 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | PCC |
| 20 | Syracuse | .742 | .560 | .591 | 25.56 | 13.00 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Eastern Independent |
| 21 | Minnesota | .739 | .531 | .700 | 14.11 | 9.67 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .778 | Big Ten |
| 22 | Michigan State | .739 | .787 | .490 | 26.56 | 9.67 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Big Ten |
| 23 | Colorado | .736 | .668 | .516 | 26.73 | 13.00 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | Big 7 |
| 24 | Clemson | .721 | .590 | .569 | 15.18 | 9.18 | 7 | 2 | 2 | .727 | ACC |
| 25 | Penn State | .720 | .571 | .551 | 19.67 | 6.67 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Eastern Independent |
| 26 | UCLA | .712 | .848 | .680 | 14.80 | 12.20 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | PCC |
| 27 | George Washington | .702 | .437 | .252 | 17.10 | 8.10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .850 | Southern |
| 28 | Kentucky | .692 | .704 | .767 | 11.90 | 10.50 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | SEC |
| 29 | West Texas A&M | .679 | .380 | .227 | 29.60 | 9.60 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Border |
| 30 | Virginia Tech | .673 | .540 | .326 | 26.40 | 9.80 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | Southern |
| 31 | Arkansas | .661 | .653 | .738 | 16.00 | 15.50 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | SWC |
| 32 | Oregon | .661 | .569 | .780 | 13.30 | 10.20 | 4 | 4 | 2 | .500 | PCC |
| 33 | Duke | .654 | .763 | .672 | 18.40 | 10.00 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | ACC |
| 34 | Ohio State | .654 | .756 | .562 | 17.78 | 9.00 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 35 | South Carolina | .650 | .487 | .392 | 12.60 | 6.70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | ACC |
| 36 | Tulane | .642 | .514 | .647 | 12.40 | 12.30 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | SEC |
| 37 | Yale | .640 | .529 | .108 | 27.33 | 10.78 | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Ivy |
| 38 | Navy | .636 | .701 | .270 | 23.00 | 8.44 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .778 | Eastern Independent |
| 39 | North Texas | .630 | .437 | .337 | 18.80 | 13.10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | South/West Independent |
| 40 | West Virginia | .622 | .702 | .561 | 13.00 | 10.60 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Southern |
| 41 | Tulsa | .609 | .357 | .213 | 16.90 | 7.60 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | MVC |
| 42 | Washington | .603 | .541 | .695 | 23.20 | 20.60 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | PCC |
| 43 | Army | .595 | .647 | .537 | 24.78 | 17.00 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Eastern Independent |
| 44 | Vanderbilt | .570 | .594 | .592 | 14.70 | 11.30 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | SEC |
| 45 | Stanford | .568 | .645 | .722 | 21.80 | 21.30 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | PCC |
| 46 | Pacific | .561 | .519 | .267 | 24.10 | 14.80 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | South/West Independent |
| 47 | Rice | .559 | .591 | .740 | 16.00 | 16.90 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | SWC |
| 48 | Florida State | .557 | .426 | .446 | 17.80 | 11.60 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | South/West Independent |
| 49 | Southern Methodist | .557 | .651 | .860 | 12.50 | 20.20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | SWC |
| 50 | Princeton | .554 | .535 | .132 | 26.33 | 15.00 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Ivy |
| 51 | California | .535 | .522 | .811 | 13.50 | 18.10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | PCC |
| 52 | Purdue | .534 | .608 | .584 | 15.44 | 13.56 | 3 | 4 | 2 | .444 | Big Ten |
| 53 | Utah | .526 | .564 | .461 | 22.70 | 17.70 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Skyline |
| 54 | Mississippi State | .522 | .652 | .636 | 14.80 | 15.20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | SEC |
| 55 | Northwestern | .521 | .325 | .526 | 11.89 | 12.44 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Big Ten |
| 56 | Villanova | .514 | .300 | .365 | 16.89 | 10.22 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 57 | Missouri | .511 | .468 | .508 | 20.00 | 18.30 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Big 7 |
| 58 | Louisiana State | .507 | .615 | .865 | 10.40 | 19.70 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | SEC |
| 59 | Holy Cross | .496 | .457 | .275 | 15.78 | 13.67 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Eastern Independent |
| 60 | Hardin-Simmons | .496 | .471 | .665 | 17.30 | 21.70 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Border |
| 61 | Utah State | .494 | .445 | .285 | 22.10 | 19.90 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Skyline |
| 62 | Dartmouth | .493 | .329 | .232 | 13.56 | 9.89 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Ivy |
| 63 | Illinois | .485 | .556 | .688 | 13.78 | 17.11 | 2 | 5 | 2 | .333 | Big Ten |
| 64 | Texas Tech | .473 | .678 | .856 | 11.70 | 21.60 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | South/West Independent |
| 65 | Idaho | .471 | .317 | .515 | 22.00 | 23.89 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | PCC |
| 66 | Denver | .470 | .635 | .203 | 25.00 | 20.60 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Skyline |
| 67 | Arizona | .466 | .567 | .544 | 18.00 | 18.20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Border |
| 68 | Georgia | .462 | .580 | .769 | 6.60 | 16.20 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | SEC |
| 69 | Kansas | .456 | .393 | .633 | 16.30 | 21.50 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Big 7 |
| 70 | Oklahoma State | .451 | .470 | .563 | 13.10 | 16.60 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .400 | MVC |
| 71 | Washington State | .450 | .381 | .669 | 16.30 | 24.70 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | PCC |
| 72 | Colgate | .441 | .546 | .420 | 22.33 | 23.78 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Eastern Independent |
| 73 | Brown | .438 | .328 | .213 | 13.78 | 10.44 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Ivy |
| 74 | Davidson | .428 | .359 | .050 | 21.22 | 14.11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Southern |
| 75 | Maryland | .427 | .862 | .827 | 6.80 | 16.80 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | ACC |
| 76 | Boston College | .426 | .534 | .149 | 16.56 | 10.11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | Nebraska | .420 | .533 | .540 | 12.50 | 20.60 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Big 7 |
| 78 | Wisconsin | .418 | .629 | .640 | 10.33 | 14.33 | 1 | 5 | 3 | .278 | Big Ten |
| 79 | Texas | .416 | .683 | .950 | 10.10 | 27.20 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | SWC |
| 80 | Wake Forest | .402 | .510 | .465 | 9.10 | 10.20 | 2 | 5 | 3 | .350 | ACC |
| 81 | Notre Dame | .391 | .821 | .784 | 13.00 | 28.90 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Eastern Independent |
| 82 | Alabama | .388 | .436 | .763 | 8.50 | 20.80 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | SEC |
| 83 | North Carolina State | .383 | .381 | .575 | 9.40 | 16.90 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | ACC |
| 84 | Indiana | .380 | .427 | .590 | 14.33 | 29.22 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Big Ten |
| 85 | New Mexico | .375 | .347 | .297 | 16.70 | 20.50 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Skyline |
| 86 | Virginia Military Institute | .372 | .299 | .412 | 16.70 | 22.00 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Southern |
| 87 | Richmond | .369 | .443 | .282 | 15.78 | 17.78 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Southern |
| 88 | Kansas State | .368 | .494 | .540 | 14.30 | 25.90 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Big 7 |
| 89 | Wichita State | .366 | .624 | .362 | 11.70 | 19.80 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | MVC |
| 90 | Cincinnati | .360 | .344 | .156 | 17.33 | 15.56 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Eastern Independent |
| 91 | Virginia | .347 | .339 | .506 | 9.20 | 16.70 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | ACC |
| 92 | Pennsylvania | .338 | .245 | .325 | 10.67 | 24.00 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Ivy |
| 93 | North Carolina | .333 | .471 | .571 | 9.90 | 18.30 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | ACC |
| 94 | Citadel | .309 | .296 | .205 | 15.11 | 16.56 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Southern |
| 95 | Dayton | .302 | .290 | .160 | 10.60 | 16.20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Eastern Independent |
| 96 | Boston University | .297 | .403 | .447 | 12.00 | 20.75 | 1 | 5 | 2 | .250 | Eastern Independent |
| 97 | Colorado State | .293 | .554 | .424 | 15.60 | 31.40 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Skyline |
| 98 | Wild Card U | .281 | .290 | .354 | 13.47 | 25.17 | 25 | 61 | 4 | .300 | |
| 99 | Furman | .273 | .314 | .542 | 6.70 | 18.50 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Southern |
| 100 | San Jose State | .272 | .533 | .317 | 18.60 | 30.10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | South/West Independent |
| 101 | Brigham Young | .269 | .238 | .286 | 14.70 | 23.20 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Skyline |
| 102 | Iowa State | .269 | .325 | .524 | 9.20 | 26.00 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Big 7 |
| 103 | Columbia | .247 | .225 | .258 | 10.44 | 26.33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Ivy |
| 104 | Harvard | .234 | .363 | .205 | 19.13 | 24.88 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | Ivy |
| 105 | Drake | .221 | .322 | .066 | 18.89 | 29.22 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | South/West Independent |
| 106 | Detroit Mercy | .220 | .440 | .282 | 9.90 | 19.40 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | MVC |
| 107 | Rutgers | .204 | .282 | .082 | 11.70 | 24.00 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Eastern Independent |
| 108 | New Mexico State | .202 | .215 | .425 | 13.10 | 27.60 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Border |
| 109 | William & Mary | .191 | .385 | .479 | 8.40 | 24.60 | 0 | 9 | 1 | .050 | Southern |
| 110 | Montana | .190 | .315 | .357 | 12.50 | 27.20 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Skyline |
| 111 | Cornell | .189 | .439 | .352 | 11.11 | 23.22 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | Ivy |
| 112 | Marquette | .080 | .393 | .294 | 8.00 | 33.67 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | Eastern Independent |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| SWC | .680 | .662 | .794 | 41 | 30 | 1 | .576 | 7 |
| SEC | .658 | .647 | .733 | 69 | 50 | 3 | .578 | 12 |
| PCC | .611 | .553 | .697 | 45 | 41 | 4 | .522 | 9 |
| Big Ten | .608 | .590 | .603 | 48 | 33 | 10 | .582 | 10 |
| Border | .568 | .472 | .445 | 35 | 26 | 0 | .574 | 6 |
| Big 7 | .520 | .542 | .514 | 34 | 34 | 3 | .500 | 7 |
| South/West Independent | .511 | .514 | .423 | 33 | 30 | 6 | .522 | 7 |
| ACC | .490 | .550 | .572 | 31 | 42 | 8 | .432 | 8 |
| MVC | .479 | .496 | .404 | 23 | 23 | 4 | .500 | 5 |
| Eastern Independent | .466 | .499 | .398 | 64 | 67 | 8 | .489 | 15 |
| Southern | .438 | .419 | .346 | 38 | 43 | 6 | .471 | 9 |
| Skyline | .422 | .465 | .313 | 36 | 42 | 2 | .463 | 8 |
| Ivy | .392 | .374 | .228 | 35 | 35 | 1 | .500 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since April 28, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net