Why SEC Teams Not Rated in WWII?

by Rikki
(Australia)

Question:
As someone who has only recently come to College Football (ESPN now carries good coverage in Australia) I have located a number of sites with information/statistics (and now yours) and I have encountered a puzzle.

What does it mean when quite a few S.E.C. teams are marked as "Not Rated" around the time of the Second World War"? Your assistance in this matter would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Rikki

Answer (Tex got from Bo):

I think this might be what happened:

Vanderbilt and some of the other smaller schools played "informal" schedules (not the usual 5-6 required SEC games and some games against military bases) and were not counted in officlal SEC standings. I think in 1953 or '44 Vandy only played 5-6 games total because of travel restrictions and lack on manpower - Seems like that might have affected 1-2 other schools (maybe Ole Miss).

But, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, and Mississippi State had large ROTC programs or V-2 training and kept their full conference status - I would have to look at SEC standings in 1942-44, but I think that's the case.

Best wishes, Bo Carter