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- The 1943 college football season was the 75th season of intercollegiate football in the United States. Competition included schools from the Big Ten Conference, the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big Six Conference, the Southwestern Conference, and numerous smaller conferences and independent programs. The season was played during World War II. The teams ranked highest in the final Associated Press poll in December 1942 were: 1.
* 1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team - The Fighting Irish compiled a 9–1 and were ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll. They lost their final game of the season, a Chicago contest against No. 6 Great Lakes Navy. Along the way, however, the Fighting Irish had played one of the toughest college schedules ever, beating two No. 2 ranked teams (Michigan and Iowa Pre-Flight) and two No. 3 ranked teams (Navy and Army). 2.
* 1943 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team - In 1943, voting in the AP poll included "service teams" drawn from military flight schools and training centers. Led by head coach Don Faurot, the Seahawks compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 277 to 98, and ranked highest among the service teams. They led the nation with 324.4 rushing yards per game. 3.
* 1943 Michigan Wolverines football team - Led by head coach Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–1 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 302 to 73. Their only loss was to No. 1 Notre Dame. The Wolverines led the Big Ten (and ranked fifth nationally) with an average of 363.2 yards per game of total offense. They also led the Big Ten (and ranked 10th nationally) giving up 164.1 yards per game in total defense. Bill Daley rushed for 817 yards and led the nation with an average of 6.81 yards per carry. 4.
* 1943 Navy Midshipmen football team - The Midshipmen compiled a 6–0–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 236 to 88. They ranked eighth nationally in total defense, giving up only 161.2 yards per game. 5.
* 1943 Purdue Boilermakers football team - The Boilermakers compiled a 9–0 record, tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 214 to 55. Guard Alex Agase was a consensus All-American. Fullback Tony Butkovich led the Big Ten (and ranked third nationally) with 833 rushing yards; he was later killed at the Battle of Okinawa. Quarterback Angelo Bertelli of Notre Dame won the Heisman Trophy, and halfback Bob O'Dell of Penn won the Maxwell Award. The statistical leaders for 1943 included Robert Hoernschemeyer of Indiana with 1,648 yards of total offense, Creighton Miller of Notre Dame with 911 rushing yards, Paul Rickards of Pittsburgh with 997 passing yards, Marion Flanagan of Texas A&M with 403 receiving yards, and Steve Van Buren of LSU with 98 points scored. A number of universities suspended their football programs for the 1943 season, including Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Duquesne, Florida, Fordham, Harvard, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Washington State, and William & Mary. (en)
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