1936–37 NCAA football bowl games


The 1936–37 NCAA football bowl games were the final games of the 1936 college football season, and included the debuts of the Cotton Bowl Classic and Bacardi Bowl, which would complement the Orange, Rose, Sugar Bowl and Sun Bowl as the fifth and sixth post-season games. This was the only season that the Bacardi Bowl was recognized by the NCAA.

Poll rankings

The below table lists top teams, their win-loss records, and the bowls they later played in.
APTeamW–LConf.Bowl
1Minnesota Golden Gophers7–1Big Ten
2LSU Tigers9–0–1SECSugar Bowl
3Pittsburgh Panthers7–1–1Ind.Rose Bowl
4Alabama Crimson Tide8–0–1SEC
5Washington Huskies7–1–1PCCRose Bowl
6Santa Clara Broncos7–0Ind.Sugar Bowl
7Northwestern Wildcats7–1Big Ten
8Notre Dame Fighting Irish6–2Ind.
9Nebraska Cornhuskers7–2Big Six
10Penn Quakers7–1Ind.
11Duke Blue Devils9–1Southern
12Yale Bulldogs7–1Ind.
13Dartmouth Indians7–1–1Ind.
14Duquesne Dukes7–2Ind.Orange Bowl
15Fordham Rams5–1–2Ind.
16TCU Horned Frogs7–2–2SWCCotton Bowl Classic
17Tennessee Volunteers6–2–1SEC
T18Arkansas Razorbacks6–3SWC
T18Navy Midshipmen6–3Ind.
20Marquette Golden Avalanche7–1Ind.Cotton Bowl Classic

The Big Ten Conference did not allow its members to participate in bowl games until the 1947 Rose Bowl.

Bowl schedule

Rankings are from the final regular season AP Poll.
DateGameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResults
Jan. 1Rose BowlRose Bowl
Pasadena, California
#3 Pittsburgh Panthers
#5 Washington Huskies
Independent
PCC
Pittsburgh 21
Washington 0
Jan. 1Sugar BowlTulane Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana
#6 Santa Clara Broncos
#2 LSU Tigers
Independent
SEC
Santa Clara 21
LSU 14
Jan. 1Orange BowlMiami Field
Miami, Florida
#14 Duquesne Dukes
Mississippi State
Independent
SEC
Duquesne 13
Mississippi State 12
Jan. 1Sun BowlJones Stadium
El Paso, Texas
Hardin–Simmons Cowboys
Texas Mines Miners
Independent
Border
Hardin–Simmons 34
Texas Mines 6
Jan. 1Cotton Bowl ClassicCotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
#16 TCU
#20 Marquette
SWC
Independent
TCU 16
Marquette 6
Jan. 1Bacardi BowlLa Tropical Stadium
Havana, Cuba
Auburn Tigers
Villanova Wildcats
SEC
Independent
Auburn 7
Villanova 7