The 1956 college football season finished with five teams having claim to a national championship:
Oklahoma compiled a 10–0 record in their 10th season under Bud Wilkinson and is recognized as the consensus national champion, having been ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) coaches polls. The Sooners were also recognized as the 1956 national champion by the Football Writers Association of America and at least 10 other official selectors. Two Oklahoma players, Tommy McDonald and Jerry Tubbs, ranked third and fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. The Sooners ranked first in total offense with 481.7 yards per game (391 rushing yards) and second in total defense with 193.8 yards per game. The 1956 season was part of a 47-game winning streak that ran from October 10, 1953, to November 9, 1957.
Tennessee compiled a 10–1 record, including a victory over Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. The Volunteers were rated No. 2 in the final AP and UP polls. Tennessee halfback Johnny Majors was the runner up in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Decades later, Tennessee was chosen as the 1956 national champion by the Sagarin Ratings.
Iowa compiled a 9–1 record, including a victory over Oregon State in the Rose Bowl. The Hawkeyes were rated No. 3 in the final AP and UP polls. Years later, they were chosen as the 1956 national champion by College Football Researchers Association.
Georgia Tech compiled a 10–1 record under Bobby Dodd and defeated Pittsburgh in the Gator Bowl. The Yellow Jackets were rated No. 4 in the final AP and UP polls but were selected as the 1956 national champion by Berryman (QPRS), Houlgate System, and Sagarin Ratings.
Tennessee A&I compiled a 10–0 record, defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, and has been recognized as the black college national champion.
At the small-college level, Montana State (9–0–1) and Saint Joseph's (8–1–1 ) played to a scoreless tie in the NAIA national championship game.
Notre Dame quarterback Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy, and Oklahoma's Tommy McDonald won the Maxwell Award. Individual statistical leaders in major college football included Stanford quarterback John Brodie with 1,642 yards of total offense and 1,633 passing yards, Wyoming back Jim Crawford with 1,104 rushing yards, and Oklahoma halfback Clendon Thomas with 108 points scored.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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