The McComas Power Index for 1956 NCAA Football. These ratings were lasted updated on June 17, 2011, 12:05 a.m.
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | MPI | Sched (Rk) | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.8565 | 0.5442 (42) | SEC |
| 2 | Georgia Tech | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.8540 | 0.5873 (18) | SEC |
| 3 | Texas A&M | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0.8504 | 0.5406 (45) | SWC |
| 4 | Iowa | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.8264 | 0.5199 (56) | Big Ten |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.8230 | 0.4201 (92) | Big 7 |
| 6 | Miami (Florida) | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0.8205 | 0.6003 (15) | South/West Independent |
| 7 | Wyoming | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.8032 | 0.3657 (101) | Skyline |
| 8 | Baylor | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7625 | 0.5428 (43) | SWC |
| 9 | Arizona State | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.7554 | 0.4532 (80) | Border |
| 10 | Yale | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0.7524 | 0.4223 (91) | Ivy |
| 11 | George Washington | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0.7419 | 0.4089 (94) | Southern |
| 12 | Texas-El Paso | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.7369 | 0.4503 (81) | Border |
| 13 | Syracuse | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.7295 | 0.5774 (22) | Eastern Independent |
| 14 | Southern California | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0.7177 | 0.4925 (65) | PCC |
| 15 | Michigan | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.7165 | 0.6226 (7) | Big Ten |
| 16 | UCLA | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.7083 | 0.5663 (32) | PCC |
| 17 | Pittsburgh | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.7072 | 0.6439 (3) | Eastern Independent |
| 18 | Colorado | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0.7025 | 0.4999 (63) | Big 7 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0.6974 | 0.5951 (16) | Big Ten |
| 20 | Texas Christian | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.6816 | 0.5744 (26) | SWC |
| 21 | Penn State | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0.6798 | 0.5724 (29) | Eastern Independent |
| 22 | Auburn | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.6789 | 0.5937 (17) | SEC |
| 23 | Oregon State | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0.6729 | 0.6128 (10) | PCC |
| 24 | Houston | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0.6702 | 0.5552 (37) | MVC |
| 25 | Virginia Tech | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0.6683 | 0.4071 (95) | Southern |
| 26 | North Texas | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0.6671 | 0.2523 (107) | South/West Independent |
| 27 | Princeton | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.6669 | 0.4644 (78) | Ivy |
| 28 | Mississippi | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.6608 | 0.5598 (34) | SEC |
| 29 | West Texas A&M | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0.6587 | 0.2497 (108) | Border |
| 30 | Clemson | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0.6587 | 0.4982 (64) | ACC |
| 31 | Michigan State | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.6569 | 0.4803 (71) | Big Ten |
| 32 | Navy | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0.6503 | 0.4245 (90) | Eastern Independent |
| 33 | South Carolina | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.6481 | 0.4277 (88) | ACC |
| 34 | Tulsa | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0.6431 | 0.4068 (96) | MVC |
| 35 | Florida | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0.6326 | 0.6131 (9) | SEC |
| 36 | Ohio State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.6172 | 0.5530 (41) | Big Ten |
| 37 | Kentucky | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5994 | 0.5655 (33) | SEC |
| 38 | West Virginia | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5951 | 0.5547 (39) | Southern |
| 39 | Arkansas | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5761 | 0.5588 (35) | SWC |
| 40 | Pacific | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0.5648 | 0.4007 (97) | South/West Independent |
| 41 | Army | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0.5591 | 0.5764 (23) | Eastern Independent |
| 42 | Villanova | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.5576 | 0.4858 (68) | Eastern Independent |
| 43 | Washington | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.5507 | 0.5746 (24) | PCC |
| 44 | Tulane | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5470 | 0.5550 (38) | SEC |
| 45 | Holy Cross | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0.5405 | 0.4425 (86) | Eastern Independent |
| 46 | Oregon | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0.5332 | 0.6121 (11) | PCC |
| 47 | Dartmouth | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0.5326 | 0.4562 (79) | Ivy |
| 48 | Utah State | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.5204 | 0.4430 (84) | Skyline |
| 49 | Vanderbilt | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.5181 | 0.4748 (72) | SEC |
| 50 | Duke | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.5086 | 0.5833 (20) | ACC |
| 51 | Brown | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.5073 | 0.4495 (82) | Ivy |
| 52 | Davidson | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0.5018 | 0.1993 (111) | Southern |
| 53 | Denver | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.4973 | 0.3774 (100) | Skyline |
| 54 | Florida State | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.4950 | 0.4428 (85) | South/West Independent |
| 55 | Utah | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.4896 | 0.5230 (54) | Skyline |
| 56 | Missouri | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0.4790 | 0.4838 (69) | Big 7 |
| 57 | Boston College | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.4782 | 0.3486 (103) | Eastern Independent |
| 58 | Idaho | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.4677 | 0.4873 (67) | PCC |
| 59 | Northwestern | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0.4605 | 0.5201 (55) | Big Ten |
| 60 | Stanford | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4557 | 0.5854 (19) | PCC |
| 61 | Colgate | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.4550 | 0.5093 (60) | Eastern Independent |
| 62 | Pennsylvania | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.4462 | 0.5535 (40) | Ivy |
| 63 | Mississippi State | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4457 | 0.4653 (77) | SEC |
| 64 | Hardin-Simmons | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4434 | 0.6005 (14) | Border |
| 65 | Nebraska | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4366 | 0.5121 (57) | Big 7 |
| 66 | Rice | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4363 | 0.5714 (30) | SWC |
| 67 | Southern Methodist | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4294 | 0.6060 (13) | SWC |
| 68 | Richmond | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.4272 | 0.4199 (93) | Southern |
| 69 | Purdue | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0.4263 | 0.5370 (49) | Big Ten |
| 70 | Wichita State | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4204 | 0.4883 (66) | MVC |
| 71 | Arizona | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.4092 | 0.5373 (48) | Border |
| 72 | Cincinnati | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.4049 | 0.3646 (102) | Eastern Independent |
| 73 | Georgia | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0.4017 | 0.6076 (12) | SEC |
| 74 | Virginia Military Institute | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0.4011 | 0.4372 (87) | Southern |
| 75 | Indiana | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.3901 | 0.5401 (46) | Big Ten |
| 76 | Dayton | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.3886 | 0.2812 (106) | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | Kansas | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0.3882 | 0.5730 (28) | Big 7 |
| 78 | California | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3874 | 0.6214 (8) | PCC |
| 79 | Washington State | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0.3814 | 0.5687 (31) | PCC |
| 80 | Oklahoma State | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0.3756 | 0.5103 (59) | MVC |
| 81 | Citadel | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.3651 | 0.3143 (105) | Southern |
| 82 | Illinois | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0.3544 | 0.5744 (25) | Big Ten |
| 83 | Wake Forest | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0.3501 | 0.4823 (70) | ACC |
| 84 | Louisiana State | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3482 | 0.6348 (5) | SEC |
| 85 | Alabama | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.3444 | 0.5789 (21) | SEC |
| 86 | Texas Tech | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.3444 | 0.6601 (2) | South/West Independent |
| 87 | Columbia | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.3425 | 0.5120 (58) | Ivy |
| 88 | Drake | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.3368 | 0.2237 (110) | South/West Independent |
| 89 | Virginia | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3358 | 0.5091 (61) | ACC |
| 90 | Maryland | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.3350 | 0.6427 (4) | ACC |
| 91 | New Mexico | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.3324 | 0.4255 (89) | Skyline |
| 92 | Wisconsin | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0.3239 | 0.5739 (27) | Big Ten |
| 93 | North Carolina | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.3180 | 0.5254 (52) | ACC |
| 94 | Harvard | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.3159 | 0.4681 (75) | Ivy |
| 95 | Kansas State | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3138 | 0.5385 (47) | Big 7 |
| 96 | North Carolina State | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.3136 | 0.5420 (44) | ACC |
| 97 | Notre Dame | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.3120 | 0.6315 (6) | Eastern Independent |
| 98 | Boston University | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0.3108 | 0.5245 (53) | Eastern Independent |
| 99 | Rutgers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.2939 | 0.2485 (109) | Eastern Independent |
| 100 | Brigham Young | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.2891 | 0.3868 (99) | Skyline |
| 101 | Colorado State | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.2858 | 0.4718 (74) | Skyline |
| 102 | Iowa State | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.2752 | 0.5365 (51) | Big 7 |
| 103 | Furman | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.2674 | 0.5054 (62) | Southern |
| 104 | San Jose State | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.2590 | 0.3361 (104) | South/West Independent |
| 105 | Texas | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.2300 | 0.6789 (1) | SWC |
| 106 | Detroit Mercy | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.2057 | 0.4721 (73) | MVC |
| 107 | Cornell | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.2011 | 0.5558 (36) | Ivy |
| 108 | New Mexico State | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.1939 | 0.3940 (98) | Border |
| 109 | William & Mary | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0.1727 | 0.5368 (50) | Southern |
| 110 | Montana | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.1492 | 0.4465 (83) | Skyline |
| 111 | Marquette | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.0756 | 0.4664 (76) | Eastern Independent |