[pincemob]

I am no expert on 1940s college football history but a couple of things strike me about that year, after 15 minutes of research.  One is that the AP poll appears to have been based on regular season only.  Minnesota at 8-0 did not play in a bowl game, whereas we beat Nebraska 21-13 in the Rose Bowl to get to 10-0.  The second is that I would guess the mix of east vs. west coast voters was pretty slanted (the California population was only 7 million in 1940 and there were probably a lot fewer writers).  The third is that we were probably pretty low in the preseason poll having been 1-7-1 the prior year under "Tiny Thornhill", in a year where we scored 54 points all year.  Clark Shaughnessy deserves credit for a pretty good turnaround!

Incidentally, Nebraska and Minnesota played in the first game of 1940.  Minnesota won 13-7.  So we have the edge on point differential.  I think the computers would have crowned us. 

[pincemob]

I am no expert on 1940s college football history but a couple of things strike me about that year, after 15 minutes of research.  One is that the AP poll appears to have been based on regular season only.  Minnesota at 8-0 did not play in a bowl game, whereas we beat Nebraska 21-13 in the Rose Bowl to get to 10-0.  The second is that I would guess the mix of east vs. west coast voters was pretty slanted (the California population was only 7 million in 1940 and there were probably a lot fewer writers).  The third is that we were probably pretty low in the preseason poll having been 1-7-1 the prior year under "Tiny Thornhill", in a year where we scored 54 points all year.  Clark Shaughnessy deserves credit for a pretty good turnaround!

Incidentally, Nebraska and Minnesota played in the first game of 1940.  Minnesota won 13-7.  So we have the edge on point differential.  I think the computers would have crowned us.