This radical rules shift made the 1953 season "The Year of the Great Adjustment," in the words of sportswriter Tommy Devine of the Detroit Free Press, in which teams scrambled to tighten their rosters and alter their strategies in accord with the more traditional "iron man" game.
[2] The season finished with four teams selected as national champions: The Cincinnati Bearcats, under head coach Sid Gilman, compiled a 9–1 record and led the country in both total offense (409.5 yards per game) and total defense (184.3 yards per game).
Small college teams compiling perfect records included Juniata (three consecutive undefeated seasons), Peru State (part of 26-game winning streak), and Shippensburg (consecutive perfect seasons).
In the preseason poll released on September 14, 1953, Notre Dame was rated first, followed by the defending champion, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, UCLA, and Alabama.
As the regular season progressed, a new poll would be issued on the Monday following the weekend's games.
Notre Dame and Michigan State began their seasons the following week.
5, Alabama, trying to salvage some respect against a second unranked opponent, went to 0–1–1 after a 7–7 tie against LSU in Mobile; in the poll that followed, the Crimson Tide fell completely out of the Top 20.
4 Michigan, which beat Tulane 26–7 at home, the other top teams won on the road: No.
6 Ohio State, which won 33–19 at California, rose to third in the next poll, knocking UCLA down to sixth.
6 UCLA returned to the top bracket with a 13–0 win over visiting Wisconsin.
6 Georgia Tech, which beat Auburn 36–6, took UCLA's place in the next poll: No.
20 Iowa in a controversial game where Notre Dame's players were accused of faking injuries to stop the clock and gain time for a final touchdown.
November 30 The final AP Poll ranked Maryland, the only unbeaten and untied team, No.
[5] ACC member Maryland would accept a bid to the Orange Bowl to meet once-beaten (8–1–1), Big 7 champ, and No.
After the AP national champion Maryland lost in the Orange Bowl, there was a lot of controversy since the AP Poll had been finalized beforehand and could not be changed to take this result into account.
1 by 10 polls, including Billingsley [1], Boand, DeVold, Dunkel, National Championship Foundation, Williamson, and several others.
Tony Rados,Penn State, 81 of 171 (47.4%), 1,025 yards, 12 interceptions, 8 touchdowns 6.
Richard "Iron Man" Carr, Columbia, 77 of 191 (40.3%), 1,367 yards, 18 interceptions, 13 touchdowns 9.
Cotton Davidson, Baylor, 74 of 156 (47.4%), 1,092 yards, 16 interceptions, 9 touchdowns [12] The following players were the individual leaders in rushing yards among major college football players during the 1953 season: 1.
Bobby Watkins, Ohio State, 875 yards on 153 carries (5.72 average) 5.
Neil Worden, Notre Dame, 859 yards on 145 carries (5.92 average) 6.
Bobby Cavazos, Texas Tech, 757 yards on 97 carries (7.80 average) 10.
Chet Hanulak, Maryland, 753 yards on 77 carries (9.78 average) [13] The following players were the individual leaders in receptions among major college football players during the 1953 season: 1.
John Allen, Arizona State, 30 receptions, 505 yards, 8 touchdowns 6.
Jim Garrity, Penn State, 30 receptions, 349 yards, 3 touchdowns 10.
Andy Nacrelli, Fordham, 29 receptions, 428 yards, 3 touchowns [14] The following players were the individual leaders in scoring among major college football players during the 1953 season: 1.
Earl Lindley, Utah State, 81 points (13 TD, 3 PAT) 2.
Bobby Cavazos, Texas Tech, 80 points (13 TD, 2 PAT) 3.
Talley, California, 66 points (11 TD) [15] The following teams were the leaders in total offense in major college football during the 1953 season: 1.
Army, 348.4 yards per game [16] The following teams were the leaders in total defense in major college football during the 1954 season: 1.