This Date in College Football History

Sept. 23, 1967: Frank Dickinson, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, passes away at age 67. Dickinson developed a mathematical point system (Dickinson system) to divide football teams into two categories, those who had higher than .500 winning percentage and those below. The system was originally intended to award the top team in the Big Ten, but Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne convinced Dickinson to use the ranking nationally and to predate the ranking. The system was used from 1924-1940 to award the Rissman National Trophy and the Knute K. Rockne Intercollegiate Memorial Trophy.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame