During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" (AP and UPI) polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press (AP) was the most popular, followed by the "coaches' poll" by United Press International) (UPI). Prior to 1965, both services issued their final polls at the close of the regular season, but before teams competed in bowl games. For the 1965 season, the AP took its final poll after the postseason games, an arrangement made permanent in 1968. The Associated Press presented the "AP Trophy" to the winner.
The AP poll in 1965 consisted of the votes of 55 sportswriters, each of whom would give their opinion of the ten best teams. Under a point system of 10 points for first place, 9 for second, etc., the "overall" ranking was determined. In the preseason poll for 1965, the writers cast first place votes for 9 different teams, and the range of points between the highest six finishers ranged from 252 to 311 points. Nebraska was #1 in the preseason rankings, followed by 2.Texas 3.Notre Dame 4.Michigan 5.Alabama 6.Arkansas.^[3] As the regular season progressed, a new poll would be issued on the Monday following the weekend's games.
At season's end, Michigan State, Arkansas and Nebraska were all unbeaten, with records of 10-0-0, and as champions of the Big Ten, Southwestern and Big 8 conferences, respectively, they played in three separate bowl games (Rose, Cotton and Orange). Arkansas and Michigan State lost in their bowl games, and Alabama defeated Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. In the poll taken after the bowls, Alabama was crowned the national champion by the Associated Press. The school had been #1 in the UPI coaches' poll at the end of the 1964 season. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_college_football_season.

Final Stats:

Conference	Best Team	Coach	Top NFL Player
SEC	Alabama 9 1 1	Bear Bryant	WR Ray Perkins picked 110th by BAL
Big Ten	Michigan State 10 1	Duffy Daugherty
SWC	Arkansas 10 1	Frank Broyles	T Dick Cunningham picked 136th by DET
AAWU	UCLA 8 2 1	Tommy Prothro	WR Dick Witcher picked 119th by SFO
Big 8	Nebraska 10 1	Bob Devaney	DT Walt Barnes picked 21st by WAS
Ind	New Mexico State 8 2	Warren Woodson
Ind	Utah State 8 2	Tony Knap	LB Ronald Sbranti picked 147th by SFO
Ind	Xavier 8 2	Edward Biles