1936 McMNC: Pittsburgh Panthers

AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results

1. Minnesota: 7-1-0 -- None
2. LSU: 9-1-1 -- L, Sugar, 14-21
3. Pittsburgh: 8-1-1 -- W, Rose, 21-0
4. Alabama: 8-0-1 -- None
5. Washington: 7-2-1 -- L, Rose, 0-21
6. Santa Clara: 8-1-0 -- W, Sugar, 21-14
7. Northwestern: 7-1-0 -- None
8. Notre Dame: 6-2-1 -- None
9. Nebraska: 7-2-0 -- None
10. Penn: 7-1-0 -- None

Prior to the 1960s, the AP’s final vote was in late November or early December, thereby eliminating any bowl games from impacting the vote. Bowl game participation wasn’t plentiful, either, so not all top teams played in them, obviously.

Immediately, the problems are clear: Minnesota didn’t have to defend its #1 ranking in a bowl game, and Alabama didn’t put its near-perfect record on the line a bowl game, either. Beyond those two teams, only two top teams won their bowl games: Pittsburgh and Santa Clara. I know what you’re thinking.

Add a new wrinkle: Northwestern was the Big Ten champion of record that season, with a 6-0 league mark and a win OVER the Gophers. Minnesota didn’t even win its conference, yet it was ranked ahead of the team that did win the conference and the H2H matchup. I know Minnesota only gave up six points all conference season, but those six points were against Northwestern in a 6-0 loss. That's the breaks: you don't get the edge over a team that beat you and won your conference no matter what else you did all season (unless you have a superior record, of course, which the Gophers do not). Sorry! Minnesota is eliminated from McMNC consideration, in favor of Northwestern. But the Wildcats face the same challenge: they didn’t play in a bowl game, either.

The SEC was strong, too, in 1936. But the league champion of record, LSU with a 6-0 conference record, didn’t win its bowl game. Alabama didn’t win the league, so both teams are eliminated from McMNC consideration.

This really comes down to Pittsburgh and Santa Clara, and the schedule comparisons aren’t even close. Pitt beat Notre Dame, Nebraska and Washington – all Top 10 teams. Santa Clara beat LSU, and no one else special. Plus, Pittsburgh’s bowl win was more dominating.

Thus, the 8-1-1 Panthers deserve the McMNC more than Minnesota does for the 1936 season.

McMNC Revisions

1. Pittsburgh
2. Santa Clara
3. Alabama
4. Northwestern
5. Minnesota
6. LSU
7. Washington