8-1 in the regular season, UPI and FWAA (Grantland Rice Award) national champion after beating Oregon 10-7 in the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State’s 1957 schedule1957: 3 Champions, Zero Agreement
SPLITMULTIPLEDISPUTEDAuburn topped the final AP poll unbeaten and on probation, while Ohio State, after beating Oregon in the Rose Bowl, was named champion by the UPI coaches and the FWAA.
The case for each side
10-0, AP national champion; on SEC probation and ineligible for a bowl game.
Auburn’s 1957 schedule
Claimed by the program: no recognized selector picked them
Finished in the final rankings but was not named champion by AP, UPI, or FWAA; claim rests on other rating systems.
Michigan State’s 1957 scheduleNo national title game was played after the 1957 season: before 1998 there was no mechanism to play one, which is why so many of these seasons were settled by vote instead.