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. In the preseason poll for 1963, the defending national champion USC Trojans were first with 484 points, followed by the Mississippi Rebels with 389 points.