1872 college football season

The 1872 college football season is considered to be the third season ever played of intercollegiate football competition, due to no season taking place (no games played) in 1871. Much like in the first and second years, 1869 and 1870, the rules were still considered in flux, and were decided on in a game-to-game basis. However, the rules used likely did not resemble anything that a modern football observer would recognize, being that of a mix of soccer and rugby.

In addition to the three teams competing in the 1870 season (Columbia, Rutgers, and Princeton), there were the two additional teams of Stevens Tech and Yale competing, to bring the total number of teams up to five.