1952: Bowls & playoff
Seven games. Five ranked teams lost. Five games matched two ranked teams. Winners are listed first; numbers before names are AP ranks going in.
The week in review
Ranked against ranked
| Jan 1, 1953 | 3Georgia Tech 24, 6Ole Miss 7Sugar Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 2USC 7, 12Wisconsin 0Rose Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 10Texas 16, 9Tennessee 0upsetCotton Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 8Alabama 61, 16Syracuse 6Orange Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 17Florida 14, 11Tulsa 13upsetGator Bowl | Box score |
Upsets
A ranked team beaten as the betting favorite, or, where no line is on file, by an unranked or lower-ranked team.
FBS vs. FBS
| Jan 1, 1953 | 8Alabama 61, 16Syracuse 6Orange Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 17Florida 14, 11Tulsa 13upsetGator Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 3Georgia Tech 24, 6Ole Miss 7Sugar Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 2USC 7, 12Wisconsin 0Rose Bowl | Box score |
| Jan 1, 1953 | 10Texas 16, 9Tennessee 0upsetCotton Bowl | Box score |