<P> Several major modern college football conferences rose to prominence during this time period . The Southwest Athletic Conference had been founded in 1915 . Consisting mostly of schools from Texas, the conference saw back - to - back national champions with Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1938 and Texas A&M in 1939 . The Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), a precursor to the Pac - 12 Conference (Pac - 12), had its own back - to - back champion in the University of Southern California which was awarded the title in 1931 and 1932 . The Southeastern Conference (SEC) formed in 1932 and consisted mostly of schools in the Deep South . As in previous decades, the Big Ten continued to dominate in the 1930s and 1940s, with Minnesota winning 5 titles between 1934 and 1941, and Michigan (1933, 1947, and 1948) and Ohio State (1942) also winning titles . </P> <P> As it grew beyond its regional affiliations in the 1930s, college football garnered increased national attention . Four new bowl games were created: the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, the Sun Bowl in 1935, and the Cotton Bowl in 1937 . In lieu of an actual national championship, these bowl games, along with the earlier Rose Bowl, provided a way to match up teams from distant regions of the country that did not otherwise play . In 1936, the Associated Press began its weekly poll of prominent sports writers, ranking all of the nation's college football teams . Since there was no national championship game, the final version of the AP poll was used to determine who was crowned the National Champion of college football . </P> <P> The 1930s saw growth in the passing game . Though some coaches, such as General Robert Neyland at Tennessee, continued to eschew its use and was the last college team to produce an undefeated, untied & unscored upon season in 1939 . several rules changes to the game had a profound effect on teams' ability to throw the ball . In 1934, the rules committee removed two major penalties--a loss of five yards for a second incomplete pass in any series of downs and a loss of possession for an incomplete pass in the end zone--and shrunk the circumference of the ball, making it easier to grip and throw . Players who became famous for taking advantage of the easier passing game included Alabama end Don Hutson and TCU passer "Slingin" Sammy Baugh . </P> <P> In 1935, New York City's Downtown Athletic Club awarded the first Heisman Trophy to University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger, who was also the first ever NFL Draft pick in 1936 . The trophy was designed by sculptor Frank Eliscu and modeled after New York University player Ed Smith . The trophy recognizes the nation's "most outstanding" college football player and has become one of the most coveted awards in all of American sports . </P>

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