What Is 1965 small college football rankings

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1965 small college football rankings were determined by the Associated Press (AP) and ranked teams in the NCAA College Division, which included smaller schools not in the University Division. The top-ranked team at season's end was the University of North Dakota, finishing with a 9-0 record.

Key Facts

The 1965 small college football rankings were compiled by the Associated Press (AP) for NCAA College Division teams.
University of North Dakota finished the 1965 season undefeated at 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll.
Texas A&I (now Texas A&M–Kingsville) was ranked No. 2 and won the 1965 NAIA national championship.
The AP poll included 20 teams, with rankings updated weekly during the season.
Schools like Lehigh, Wittenberg, and Baldwin–Wallace also appeared in the final top 10 rankings.

Overview

The 1965 small college football rankings were a national ranking system for NCAA College Division teams, which consisted of smaller institutions not competing at the major college level. These rankings were compiled by the Associated Press (AP) and provided a weekly assessment of the top-performing teams in non-major college football.

Unlike the University Division (now Division I), the College Division included schools with smaller athletic budgets and regional schedules. The final 1965 rankings highlighted dominant programs such as North Dakota and Texas A&I, reflecting both regular season performance and postseason results.

University of North Dakota finished the season undefeated at 9-0 and was ranked No. 1 in the final AP small college poll, earning national recognition.
Texas A&I (now Texas A&M–Kingsville) went 10-0-1 and won the 1965 NAIA national title, defeating Linfield 20-0 in the Champion Bowl.
The AP small college poll included 20 ranked teams, updated weekly, and was the most widely recognized ranking system for non-major programs.
Schools from conferences like the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) were strongly represented in the rankings.
Wittenberg University finished ranked No. 3 with an 8-1 record, losing only to College Division powerhouse North Carolina Central.

How It Works

The AP small college football rankings were determined through a voting system involving sportswriters and broadcasters across the United States, similar to the major college poll.

Voting Panel: A panel of about 150 sportswriters from small college markets submitted weekly ballots ranking their top 20 teams based on performance and strength of schedule.
Weekly Updates: Rankings were released every Monday during the season, starting in September and ending after the final polls in December 1965.
Final Poll: The final AP poll was published after the regular season and postseason bowls, reflecting the overall season performance rather than just bowl results.
Eligibility: Only teams in the NCAA College Division were eligible; major programs in the University Division were excluded from this ranking.
NAIA vs. NCAA: Some top small colleges played in the NAIA; Texas A&I won the NAIA title but was also ranked No. 2 in the NCAA College Division poll.
Regional Bias: Teams from the Midwest and Southwest were frequently overrepresented due to stronger regional media coverage and conference strength.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the top 5 teams in the final 1965 small college football rankings based on AP poll results and postseason achievements.

Rank	Team	Record	Conference	Postseason Result
1	North Dakota	9-0	NDIC	AP Small College Champion
2	Texas A&I	10-0-1	Alamo	NAIA National Champion
3	Wittenberg	8-1	Ohio	Lost in OAC Championship
4	Lehigh	8-1	Independent	Defeated by Lafayette in rivalry game
5	Baldwin–Wallace	8-1	Ohio	Won OAC title, ranked in final top 5

These rankings illustrate how both undefeated records and postseason success influenced final standings. While North Dakota claimed the AP title, Texas A&I's NAIA championship gave them strong claim as the season's most dominant small college team. Regional powerhouses like Wittenberg and Lehigh also demonstrated national competitiveness, highlighting the depth of talent in the College Division.

Why It Matters

The 1965 small college football rankings were significant in shaping the perception of non-major college football and helped elevate programs that would later transition into higher NCAA divisions.

North Dakota's No. 1 ranking solidified its status as a football powerhouse and led to increased recruitment and funding for the program.
The success of Texas A&I in winning the NAIA title brought national attention to historically strong small college football programs in Texas.
These rankings helped establish Wittenberg University as a national contender, contributing to its later success in Division III football.
The AP poll provided media exposure for smaller schools, improving fan engagement and alumni support across regional campuses.
Coaches used rankings to justify budgets, recruit talent, and schedule tougher opponents to boost national visibility.
The 1965 season underscored the growing competitiveness of small college football, paving the way for NCAA reorganization in 1973 into Divisions II and III.

The 1965 rankings remain a benchmark for historians analyzing the evolution of college football beyond the major programs, illustrating how smaller schools achieved excellence on a national scale.