The Poling System was a mathematical rating system used to rank college football teams.[1] Its selections were published in the Football Review Supplement and several newspapers.[1] The system was developed by Richard R. Poling, a native of Mansfield, Ohio who had played college football at Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Poling System is considered by the NCAA to have been a "major selector" of national championships for the years 1935–1984.[1]: 108
The Poling System named contemporary champions from 1935 to 1984 and retroactively named champions from 1924 to 1934.[1]: 108–109, 111–114, 120
Poling System (1935-84), a mathematical rating system for college football teams developed by Richard Poling from Mansfield, Ohio, a former football player at Ohio Wesleyan. Poling's football ratings were published annually in the Football Review Supplement and in various newspapers. Predated national champions from 1924 to 1934.
We predicted that STANFORD would beat NEBRASKA by from seven to ten points, and this game came home to us right – final score STANFORD 21 NEBRASKA 13. This game bore us out and thus made STANFORD NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS OF 1940. [...] No. 1 Stanford 45.06, No. 2 Minnesota 43.13, No 3. Boston College 43.0