I think prior to WWII every school that could field a team could find someone to declare them National Champions... during the '30's it was not uncommon to have 5 or 6 different NC's each year.
Where did you see this? If it's from the NCAA records, what page? I'm curious for several reasons, mainly because the NCAA doesn't recognize a NC in Div. 1A football. It's on page 84 of the link. It is in error. Auburn was 1913. LSU got one in 1908. That is the first one. Oops. I could fire the good lookin' girl who pulled the info. But I can't. She did it on company time. Plus I did her on company time. She'd sue. She'd win. Sorry.