It ended with Oklahoma halfback Billy Vessels winning the Heisman Trophy and Notre Dame halfback Johnny Lattner winning the Maxwell Award.
Two teams claim the 1952 national championship: Small college teams that compiled perfect seasons in 1952 included East Texas (11–0, Lone Star and Tangerine Bowl champion), Idaho State (8–0, Rocky Mountain champion), Peru State (10–0, part of 26-game winning streak), and Shippensburg (7–0, part of 20-game winning streak).
Florida A&M (8–2) was selected by the Associated Negro Press as the black college national champion.
Individual statistical leaders in major college football for the 1952 season included Detroit quarterback Ted Marchibroda with 1,813 yards of total offense, Tulsa halfback Howard Waugh with 1,372 rushing yards, Georgia quarterback Zeke Bratkowski with 1,824 passing yards, Fordham end Ed Brown with 774 receiving yards, and Mississippi State quarterback Jackie Parker with 120 points scored.
Tulsa led the major colleges in total offense with an average of 466.6 yards per game.
Tennessee led in total defense, giving up an average of only 166.7 yards per game.. September 20 Maryland won at Missouri 13–10, and Texas won at LSU 35–14.
In the preseason poll released on September 22, 1952, the Michigan State Spartans were rated first, followed by the Maryland Terrapins.
As the regular season progressed, a new poll would be issued on the Monday following the weekend's games.
3 Georgia Tech narrowly beat Florida 17–14 and fell to 6th place in the next poll.
5 Illinois, which beat Iowa State 33–7, rose to second place in the next poll.
6 Georgia Tech, which beat SMU 20–7 in Dallas, returned to the Top Five.
1 Michigan State won 62–13 over Marquette to close its season unbeaten.
2 Georgia Tech also stayed unbeaten as it beat Florida State 30–0.
The Yellow Jackets were invited to the Sugar Bowl to face unbeaten, but twice tied (8–0–2) and No.
As late as 1952, many colleges, and some football conferences, did not participate in postseason bowl games.
1 Michigan State had joined the Big Ten conference in 1950 for football, but as part of the terms of membership, was ineligible to play in a bowl game until the 1953 season.
The Oklahoma University Board of Regents considered a motion to allow the team to accept an invitation from the Orange Bowl, and passed a resolution that stated that "Oklahoma belongs to the Big Seven Conference and has followed its rules in the past and should follow them in the future.".
The exception was Georgia Tech, which played as the SEC champ in the Sugar Bowl.
In a forerunner of the SEC championship game, the two best teams in the conference met, with No.
Bill Brehany, VMI, 1,497 yards [10] The following players were the individual leaders in pass completions among major college football players during the 1952 season: 1.
Chuck Maloy, Holy Cross, 126 of 288 (43.8%), 1,514 yards, 16 interceptions, 13 touchdowns 5.
John Borton, Ohio State, 115 of 196 (58.7%), 1,555 yards, 6 interceptions, 15 touchdowns 6.
Dick Shinaut, Texas Western, 100 of 170 (58.8%), 1,559 yards, 8 interceptions, 12 touchdowns [11] The following players were the individual leaders in rushing yards among major college football players during the 1952 season: 1.
Dick Curran, Arizona State, 870 yards on 114 carries (7.63 average) 10.
Johnny Olszewski, California, 845 yards on 160 carries (5.28 average) [12] The following players were the individual leaders in receptions among major college football players during the 1952 season: 1.
Jack Carroll, Holy Cross, 46 receptions, 609 yards, 4 touchdowns 4.
Jim Byron, VMI, 40 receptions, 755 yards, 8 touchdowns [13] The following players were the individual leaders in scoring among major college football players during the 1952 season: 1.
Jackie Parker, Mississippi State, 120 points (16 TD, 24 PAT) 2.
Buford Long, Florida, 84 points (14 TD) [14] The following teams were the leaders in total offense in major college football during the 1952 season: 1.
Maryland, 377.2 yards per game [15] The following teams were the leaders in total defense in major college football during the 1952 season: 1.