1947 College Football Recap
Michigan replaced Army as Notre Dame's primary competition for the national championship in 1947. The two undefeated teams didn't play each other but they traded the No.1 ranking back and forth three times.
The Irish and Wolverines had two common opponents during the regular season: Pittsburgh and Northwestern. Notre Dame beat both teams 40–6 and 26–19, respectively, Michigan beat them in the same order, 69–0 and 49–21.
Notre Dame won the final AP poll at the close of the regular season, but after Michigan trounced USC, 49–0, in the Rose Bowl there was such an outcry for another vote that AP gave in. Michigan carried the unprecedented “Who's No.1?” ballot, 226–119, but AP ruled that the earlier poll would be the vote of record.
The Heisman Trophy also came down to picking between Michigan and Notre Dame. This time the Irish won as QB Johnny Lujack outpointed Wolverine HB Bob Chappuis. Lujack, who served two years in the Navy during the war, quarterbacked the Irish to three national titles (1943–46–47).
Both the Cotton and Sugar Bowls had strong match-ups. No.3 Southern Methodist and No.4 Penn State brought their unbeaten records to Dallas and tied 13–all. In New Orleans, however, No.5 Texas and Bobby Layne whipped No.6 Alabama, 27–7.
Finally, Columbia ended Army's three-year unbeaten streak at 32. The Cadets lost 21–20, ended up at 5–2–2 and ranked 11th.
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