1962 McMNC: Mississippi Rebels

AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results

1. USC: 11-0-0 -- W, Rose, 42-37
2. Wisconsin: 8-2-0 -- L, Rose, 37-42
3. Mississippi: 10-0-0 -- W, Sugar, 17-13
4. Texas: 9-1-1 -- L, Cotton, 0-13
5. Alabama: 10-1-0 -- W, Orange, 17-0
6. Arkansas: 9-2-0 -- L, Sugar, 13-17
7. LSU: 9-1-1 -- W, Cotton, 13-0
8. Oklahoma: 8-3-0 -- L, Orange, 0-17
9. Penn State: 9-2-0 -- L, Gator, 7-17
10. Minnesota: 6-2-1 -- NONE

Note: The AP only ranked ten teams in 1962. Don't ask why, but this affects how we view "ranked" teams for the SOS analysis below. By the way, did you know the 2-7 Illinois squad finished the year ranked #18 in the UPI poll? Seriously. Don't you just LOVE the quirks of college football?! And hey, a #1 vs. #2 in the Rose Bowl! Woo-hoo!

Hello, John McKay. Still one of my favorite quipsters. The Trojans lead the debate here, but Mississippi, 'Bama and LSU might be able to lay claim. Let's check it out.

USC: The Trojans only had a 48% SOS rating, which isn't really bad, but it's not good, either. They beat UPI #14 Duke (8-2) by seven at home, UPI #18 Illinois by 12 on the road, and UPI #14 Washington (7-1-2) by 14 points in a home shutout. They also outscored #2 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. That's not a strong schedule, since the only AP-ranked team they beat was Wisconsin. Overall, they only played THREE winning teams ALL year. But hey, they went undefeated, right?

Mississippi: They won the SEC, which eliminates 'Bama and LSU from this discussion, actually, although AGAIN, there was uneven scheduling (Ole Miss was 6-0 in SEC play, the Tide was 6-1 in conference games). They, too, had a 48% SOS rating. Mississippi beat 8-1 Memphis on the road by 14 points, beat 7-4 Houston at home by 33 points, they beat #7 LSU on the road by eight points, and they beat #6 Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. So, they barely played a better schedule than USC did. Maybe that was the key to going undefeated in 1962?

So, that's that. Pretty pathetic, either way, huh? USC had five road games, Mississippi had four road games. The Rebels gave up 53 points in ten games, while the Trojans gave up 92 points in 11 games. Mississippi won its games by an average of 19 points per game, while USC only won its games by an average of 15 points per outing. The Rebels had four players drafted by the NFL; the Trojans only had two players drafted by the NFL. The SEC had some very good Top 10 teams; the "Pac-6" did not.

So why was Mississippi ranked below one-loss Wisconsin heading into the bowl season? They seem to be, on paper, a better team than USC was in 1962. Wisconsin's only loss prior to the Rose Bowl was a 14-7 defeat on the road at Ohio State (#13 UPI, 6-3 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten). Wisconsin had a win over #10 Minnesota, but nothing stands out in their record for 1962.

The AP voters saw it as USC >>> Wisconsin >>> Mississippi, though, for some reason. I can't figure out why. Not that I need to, but ... there was no "Heisman Hype" for USC in 1962. Maybe the media just liked McKay? I can see that, but ... as much as I like him, I am not buying it.

Mississippi wins my McMNC for 1962, denying Southern Cal its first McMNC.

McMNC Revisions
1. Mississippi
2. USC
3. Alabama
4. LSU
5. Texas

RUNNING SCORECARD:
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951
Mississippi: +1962
Washington: +1960
Iowa: +1956
Georgia Tech: +1952
Illinois: +1951
Michigan: +1947, =1948
Georgia: +1946
Alabama: +1945, =1961
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937
Syracuse: =1959
LSU: =1958
Texas A&M: =1939
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957
TCU: -1938
Maryland: -1953
Auburn: -1957
USC: -1962
Army: -1944, -1945
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949