Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1972 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .538 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.141.
The average home field advantage for this year is 2.77 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 | Southern California | .964 | .784 | .880 | 38.92 | 11.17 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Pac 8 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | .951 | .835 | .890 | 33.25 | 6.17 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big 8 |
| 3 | Texas | .908 | .802 | .921 | 24.64 | 11.00 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SWC |
| 4 | Nebraska | .896 | .914 | .869 | 41.75 | 8.08 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Big 8 |
| 5 | Michigan | .884 | .792 | .642 | 24.00 | 5.18 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | Big Ten |
| 6 | Auburn | .882 | .817 | .891 | 19.00 | 12.82 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SEC |
| 7 | Alabama | .878 | .836 | .835 | 33.83 | 12.50 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 8 | Tennessee | .863 | .847 | .765 | 24.75 | 8.33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 9 | Louisiana State | .835 | .806 | .846 | 21.00 | 12.08 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | SEC |
| 10 | North Carolina | .822 | .629 | .656 | 27.00 | 17.50 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | ACC |
| 11 | Ohio State | .816 | .711 | .703 | 25.45 | 15.55 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Big Ten |
| 12 | UCLA | .789 | .595 | .844 | 31.91 | 21.73 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Pac 8 |
| 13 | Penn State | .788 | .805 | .657 | 29.83 | 15.75 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Eastern Independent |
| 14 | Notre Dame | .780 | .809 | .717 | 26.27 | 17.45 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Eastern Independent |
| 15 | San Diego State | .776 | .586 | .454 | 24.18 | 13.00 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | PCAA |
| 16 | Colorado | .763 | .788 | .826 | 26.08 | 17.17 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 17 | Washington | .742 | .644 | .807 | 18.91 | 18.55 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Pac 8 |
| 18 | Texas Tech | .738 | .546 | .756 | 23.50 | 15.67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SWC |
| 19 | North Carolina State | .728 | .398 | .638 | 34.08 | 20.00 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | ACC |
| 20 | Georgia | .727 | .795 | .904 | 15.82 | 14.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | SEC |
| 21 | Florida | .726 | .595 | .929 | 19.82 | 13.09 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | SEC |
| 22 | Arizona State | .720 | .817 | .416 | 46.83 | 24.67 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | WAC |
| 23 | Southern Methodist | .710 | .490 | .690 | 24.45 | 14.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | SWC |
| 24 | Tampa | .709 | .437 | .334 | 24.92 | 11.00 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | South/West Independent |
| 25 | Stanford | .704 | .776 | .740 | 24.18 | 16.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 8 |
| 26 | Oklahoma State | .703 | .578 | .830 | 23.55 | 18.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Big 8 |
| 27 | Louisville | .701 | .544 | .221 | 30.90 | 9.10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | MVC |
| 28 | Georgia Tech | .686 | .648 | .742 | 23.67 | 18.83 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | South/West Independent |
| 29 | Washington State | .685 | .455 | .727 | 24.91 | 21.91 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Pac 8 |
| 30 | Arkansas | .674 | .738 | .798 | 20.73 | 20.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | SWC |
| 31 | Purdue | .667 | .548 | .666 | 22.27 | 12.27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Big Ten |
| 32 | Baylor | .661 | .289 | .912 | 16.36 | 14.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 33 | Iowa State | .658 | .640 | .814 | 26.58 | 19.83 | 5 | 6 | 1 | .458 | Big 8 |
| 34 | Missouri | .656 | .532 | .945 | 18.25 | 25.92 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Big 8 |
| 35 | Florida State | .652 | .693 | .585 | 26.09 | 20.36 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | South/West Independent |
| 36 | Utah State | .651 | .590 | .426 | 29.91 | 20.91 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | South/West Independent |
| 37 | East Carolina | .648 | .328 | .236 | 24.45 | 16.00 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Southern |
| 38 | Pacific | .642 | .446 | .427 | 21.09 | 16.00 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | PCAA |
| 39 | Rice | .638 | .453 | .881 | 17.82 | 21.64 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | SWC |
| 40 | Houston | .633 | .785 | .544 | 29.55 | 18.36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | South/West Independent |
| 41 | Michigan State | .631 | .574 | .802 | 14.36 | 14.18 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Big Ten |
| 42 | Miami (Florida) | .627 | .468 | .801 | 19.45 | 15.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 43 | Mississippi | .625 | .768 | .747 | 19.20 | 14.20 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | SEC |
| 44 | Tulane | .622 | .511 | .649 | 19.27 | 15.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | South/West Independent |
| 45 | Bowling Green State | .622 | .484 | .502 | 18.40 | 12.70 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | MAC |
| 46 | West Virginia | .615 | .636 | .420 | 34.58 | 24.08 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Eastern Independent |
| 47 | Virginia Tech | .606 | .481 | .554 | 27.91 | 23.00 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | South/West Independent |
| 48 | Texas Christian | .585 | .518 | .804 | 19.36 | 22.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 49 | California | .573 | .611 | .911 | 20.73 | 28.55 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Pac 8 |
| 50 | Duke | .564 | .547 | .744 | 12.00 | 14.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | ACC |
| 51 | Western Michigan | .562 | .572 | .322 | 20.82 | 18.27 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | MAC |
| 52 | Oregon | .559 | .611 | .892 | 17.64 | 25.91 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Pac 8 |
| 53 | Kansas | .554 | .546 | .867 | 18.91 | 27.73 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big 8 |
| 54 | Air Force | .550 | .657 | .399 | 30.30 | 18.30 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | South/West Independent |
| 55 | Utah | .550 | .531 | .507 | 32.18 | 30.55 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | WAC |
| 56 | Brigham Young | .547 | .486 | .352 | 22.82 | 20.64 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | WAC |
| 57 | Maryland | .544 | .325 | .504 | 22.09 | 19.73 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | ACC |
| 58 | Miami (Ohio) | .543 | .620 | .187 | 23.20 | 11.60 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | MAC |
| 59 | Texas A&M | .537 | .502 | .904 | 15.00 | 22.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SWC |
| 60 | Mississippi State | .536 | .476 | .762 | 17.91 | 23.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SEC |
| 61 | Dartmouth | .529 | .620 | .129 | 28.89 | 18.67 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Ivy |
| 62 | Fresno State | .529 | .474 | .301 | 21.55 | 14.36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | PCAA |
| 63 | Northern Illinois | .529 | .390 | .233 | 18.00 | 12.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 64 | Illinois | .527 | .425 | .839 | 17.91 | 25.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big Ten |
| 65 | Kent | .523 | .366 | .480 | 15.92 | 16.33 | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | MAC |
| 66 | Indiana | .518 | .351 | .620 | 18.55 | 24.73 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 67 | Army | .512 | .481 | .556 | 16.00 | 28.20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Eastern Independent |
| 68 | Yale | .506 | .453 | .098 | 31.44 | 17.44 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Ivy |
| 69 | Minnesota | .498 | .514 | .776 | 16.82 | 27.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 70 | Rutgers | .497 | .366 | .115 | 26.36 | 15.64 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 71 | Toledo | .490 | .810 | .381 | 17.82 | 19.09 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 72 | Richmond | .490 | .433 | .270 | 18.30 | 15.00 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Southern |
| 73 | Navy | .489 | .381 | .669 | 16.45 | 23.36 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Eastern Independent |
| 74 | Memphis | .487 | .590 | .439 | 24.09 | 23.09 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | MVC |
| 75 | Drake | .478 | .417 | .199 | 23.92 | 16.67 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | MVC |
| 76 | Kansas State | .473 | .631 | .907 | 15.36 | 37.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 77 | Kentucky | .468 | .447 | .819 | 11.91 | 21.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 78 | Clemson | .466 | .486 | .677 | 13.00 | 22.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | ACC |
| 79 | Wisconsin | .458 | .446 | .628 | 13.82 | 20.82 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 80 | San Jose State | .453 | .478 | .585 | 17.91 | 26.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | PCAA |
| 81 | Syracuse | .452 | .556 | .510 | 12.82 | 20.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 82 | Oregon State | .452 | .638 | .905 | 11.91 | 26.82 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Pac 8 |
| 83 | Arizona | .449 | .498 | .512 | 20.55 | 24.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | WAC |
| 84 | South Carolina | .449 | .568 | .528 | 19.45 | 21.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 85 | Long Beach State | .448 | .582 | .404 | 20.36 | 24.73 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | PCAA |
| 86 | Tulsa | .448 | .438 | .552 | 17.73 | 24.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MVC |
| 87 | Cornell | .444 | .499 | .164 | 25.33 | 20.33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 88 | Iowa | .441 | .343 | .720 | 9.91 | 18.91 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Big Ten |
| 89 | William & Mary | .437 | .425 | .268 | 23.73 | 17.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 90 | Pennsylvania | .428 | .273 | .103 | 29.22 | 22.56 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 91 | Virginia | .427 | .370 | .531 | 18.09 | 25.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | ACC |
| 92 | Vanderbilt | .425 | .492 | .676 | 11.73 | 22.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 93 | Southern Mississippi | .414 | .529 | .486 | 16.55 | 21.00 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | South/West Independent |
| 94 | Wichita State | .401 | .230 | .147 | 14.18 | 20.73 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MVC |
| 95 | Boston College | .400 | .650 | .393 | 21.82 | 23.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Eastern Independent |
| 96 | Holy Cross | .398 | .294 | .143 | 18.70 | 18.20 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Eastern Independent |
| 97 | Colgate | .395 | .410 | .190 | 21.90 | 26.90 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Eastern Independent |
| 98 | West Texas A&M | .394 | .382 | .220 | 21.70 | 19.80 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | MVC |
| 99 | Wyoming | .386 | .502 | .391 | 20.27 | 28.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | WAC |
| 100 | Texas-Arlington | .376 | .256 | .212 | 14.91 | 20.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 101 | Appalachian State | .374 | .321 | .088 | 21.73 | 21.09 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Southern |
| 102 | Citadel | .371 | .456 | .157 | 17.45 | 16.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 103 | Northwestern | .366 | .566 | .727 | 13.27 | 26.36 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Big Ten |
| 104 | Dayton | .364 | .448 | .230 | 15.64 | 16.45 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Eastern Independent |
| 105 | Temple | .363 | .434 | .106 | 18.22 | 19.56 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Eastern Independent |
| 106 | Idaho | .355 | .466 | .357 | 15.00 | 25.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 107 | New Mexico | .349 | .562 | .493 | 18.91 | 29.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | WAC |
| 108 | Pittsburgh | .342 | .458 | .689 | 17.55 | 31.82 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Eastern Independent |
| 109 | Harvard | .337 | .436 | .095 | 22.00 | 20.67 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Ivy |
| 110 | Columbia | .329 | .345 | .197 | 15.89 | 13.78 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Ivy |
| 111 | Ohio | .311 | .543 | .396 | 16.82 | 29.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MAC |
| 112 | Wild Card U | .304 | .321 | .236 | 17.13 | 21.56 | 37 | 65 | 2 | .365 | |
| 113 | Princeton | .302 | .401 | .204 | 13.33 | 17.89 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | Ivy |
| 114 | Wake Forest | .300 | .504 | .659 | 8.00 | 30.82 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | ACC |
| 115 | Davidson | .259 | .225 | .141 | 18.36 | 31.18 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Southern |
| 116 | Texas-El Paso | .238 | .480 | .290 | 17.20 | 34.50 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | WAC |
| 117 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | .236 | .287 | .250 | 8.55 | 18.82 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | South/West Independent |
| 118 | Virginia Military Institute | .230 | .180 | .297 | 13.64 | 27.18 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Southern |
| 119 | Cincinnati | .225 | .544 | .308 | 12.55 | 29.36 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Eastern Independent |
| 120 | New Mexico State | .222 | .453 | .286 | 17.55 | 36.36 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | MVC |
| 121 | North Texas | .210 | .397 | .428 | 13.45 | 32.18 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | MVC |
| 122 | Marshall | .209 | .254 | .311 | 9.30 | 25.40 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Eastern Independent |
| 123 | Colorado State | .207 | .406 | .519 | 11.64 | 37.55 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | WAC |
| 124 | Villanova | .204 | .573 | .193 | 12.73 | 19.73 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Eastern Independent |
| 125 | Southern Illinois | .191 | .321 | .342 | 5.50 | 18.10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | .150 | Eastern Independent |
| 126 | Furman | .187 | .352 | .154 | 14.18 | 27.91 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Southern |
| 127 | Xavier | .182 | .232 | .152 | 10.80 | 24.60 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Eastern Independent |
| 128 | Brown | .161 | .168 | .196 | 19.11 | 33.44 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | Ivy |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| Big 8 | .707 | .683 | .869 | 52 | 39 | 2 | .570 | 8 |
| SEC | .696 | .688 | .817 | 66 | 44 | 2 | .598 | 10 |
| Pac 8 | .683 | .639 | .838 | 50 | 39 | 0 | .562 | 8 |
| SWC | .681 | .542 | .833 | 49 | 39 | 1 | .556 | 8 |
| Big Ten | .581 | .527 | .712 | 51 | 57 | 2 | .473 | 10 |
| PCAA | .570 | .513 | .434 | 33 | 21 | 1 | .609 | 5 |
| ACC | .550 | .466 | .630 | 39 | 38 | 2 | .506 | 7 |
| South/West Independent | .540 | .527 | .491 | 79 | 72 | 4 | .523 | 14 |
| MAC | .509 | .566 | .378 | 35 | 27 | 3 | .562 | 6 |
| WAC | .431 | .535 | .435 | 37 | 51 | 0 | .420 | 8 |
| MVC | .418 | .431 | .311 | 39 | 47 | 1 | .454 | 8 |
| Eastern Independent | .418 | .476 | .365 | 88 | 111 | 4 | .443 | 19 |
| Ivy | .379 | .399 | .148 | 37 | 31 | 4 | .542 | 8 |
| Southern | .375 | .340 | .201 | 37 | 48 | 2 | .437 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since June 2, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net