1963 NCAA University Division football season

The 1963 NCAA University Division football season was played by American football teams representing 120 colleges and universities recognized the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as major programs. The remaining 299 colleges and universities that were NCAA members and fielded football teams competed in the 1963 NCAA College Division football season.^[2]

The 1963 Texas Longhorns football team compiled a perfect 11–0 record, won the Southwest Conference championship, and defeated No. 2 Navy in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns were the consensus national champion as chosen by 16 selectors, including the Associated Press poll, United Press International poll, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and the National Championship Foundation. Quarterback Duke Carlisle was the team's most valuable player, and tailback Tommy Ford led the team in rushing and was a first-team All-American. Defensive tackle Scott Appleton won the Outland Trophy, and head coach Darrell Royal won the Coach of the Year Award from both the FWAA and the American Football Coaches Association.

Navy quarterback Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award as the best player in college football. Baylor quarterback Don Trull led the University Division with 2,157 passing yards and won the Sammy Baugh Trophy. Other University Division leaders included Memphis State fullback Dave Casinelli (1,016 rushing yards), Kansas halfback Gale Sayers (1,072 yards from scrimmage), Baylor end Lawrence Elkins (873 receiving yards), and Maryland's Darryl Hill (90 points scored). Hill was the first African-American football player in any of the southern athletic conferences composed of formerly segregated white institutions.