1998 NCAA Division I-A football season

1998 NCAA Division I-A season
SEC and National Championship rings for the 1998 season Tennessee Volunteers
Total # of teams	112
Preseason AP #1	Ohio State Buckeyes
Number of bowls	22
Bowl games	December 19, 1998 – January 4, 1999
National championship	1999 Fiesta Bowl
Location of championship	Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Champions	Tennessee Volunteers
Heisman	Ricky Williams, Texas
NCAA Division I-A football season «1997 1999»

The 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first of the Bowl Championship Series, which saw Tennessee win the national championship, one year after star quarterback Peyton Manning left for the NFL. The Volunteers defeated the Florida State Seminoles 23-16 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona to secure the inaugural BCS National Championship.

The BCS combined elements of the old Bowl Coalition and the Bowl Alliance it replaced. The agreement existed between the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange Bowls, the Cotton Bowl Classic diminishing in status since the breakup of the Southwest Conference. Like the Bowl Alliance, a national championship game would rotate between the four bowls, with the top two teams facing each other. These teams were chosen based upon a BCS poll, combining the AP poll, the Coaches poll, and a third computer component. The computer factored in things such as strength of schedule, margin of victory, and quality wins without taking into account time (in other words a loss in October and a loss in November were on equal footing).

However, like the Bowl Coalition, the bowls not hosting the national championship would retain their traditional tie-ins.

The first run of the Bowl Championship Series was not without controversy as Kansas State finished third in the final BCS standings but was not invited to a BCS bowl game. Ohio State (ranked 4th) and two-loss Florida (8th) received the at-large bids instead. Also, Tulane went undefeated but finished 10th in the BCS standings and was not invited to a BCS bowl because of their strength of schedule.

Army broke away from almost one hundred years of tradition as an independent, joining Conference USA

Contents 1 Final Conference Standings 2 Progress of #1 and #2 (AP and BCS) 3 Final BCS Rankings 4 Bowl Games 5 Final AP Poll 6 Final Coaches Poll 7 Heisman Trophy Voting 8 Other Major Awards 9 References

Final Conference Standings

1998 ACC football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   #3 Florida State †§   7 – 1         11 – 2   #9 Georgia Tech §   7 – 1         10 – 2   #18 Virginia   6 – 2         9 – 3   North Carolina   5 – 3         7 – 5   NC State   5 – 3         7 – 5   Duke   2 – 6         4 – 7   Wake Forest   2 – 6         3 – 8   Clemson   1 – 7         3 – 8   Maryland   1 – 7         3 – 8   † – BCS representative as champion § – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll	1998 Big 12 football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   North #10 Kansas State x   8 – 0         11 – 2   #19 Nebraska   5 – 3         9 – 4   #21 Missouri   5 – 3         8 – 4   Colorado   4 – 4         8 – 4   Kansas   1 – 7         4 – 7   Iowa State   1 – 7         3 – 8   South #11 Texas A&M x†   7 – 1         11 – 3   #15 Texas   6 – 2         9 – 3   Texas Tech   4 – 4         7 – 5   Oklahoma State   3 – 5         5 – 6   Oklahoma   3 – 5         5 – 6   Baylor   1 – 7         2 – 9   Championship: Texas A&M 36, Kansas State 33 (2OT) † – BCS representative as champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll	1998 Big East football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   #25 Syracuse †   6 – 1         8 – 4   #20 Miami   5 – 2         9 – 3   #23 Virginia Tech   5 – 2         9 – 3   West Virginia   5 – 2         8 – 4   Boston College   3 – 4         4 – 7   Rutgers   2 – 5         5 – 6   Temple   2 – 5         2 – 9   Pittsburgh   0 – 7         2 – 9   † – BCS representative as champion Rankings from AP Poll
1998 Big Ten football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   #2/2 Ohio State ‡§   7 – 1         11 – 1   #6/5 Wisconsin †§   7 – 1         11 – 1   #12/12 Michigan §   7 – 1         10 – 3   #24/23 Purdue   6 – 2         9 – 4   #17/15 Penn State   5 – 3         9 – 3   Michigan State   4 – 4         6 – 6   Minnesota   2 – 6         5 – 6   Indiana   2 – 6         4 – 7   Illinois   2 – 6         3 – 8   Iowa   2 – 6         3 – 8   Northwestern   0 – 8         3 – 9   † – BCS representative as champion ‡ – BCS at-large representative § – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll	1998 Big West Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   Idaho †   4 – 1         9 – 3   Nevada   3 – 2         6 – 5   North Texas   3 – 2         3 – 8   Boise State   2 – 3         6 – 5   Utah State   2 – 3         3 – 8   New Mexico State   1 – 4         3 – 8   † – Conference champion † – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll	1998 Conference USA football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   #7 Tulane †   6 – 0         12 – 0   Southern Miss   5 – 1         7 – 5   Louisville   4 – 2         7 – 5   East Carolina   3 – 3         6 – 5   Army   2 – 4         3 – 8   Houston   2 – 4         3 – 8   Cincinnati   1 – 5         2 – 9   Memphis   1 – 5         2 – 9   † – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll
1998 Division I-A independents football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   UCF   –         9 – 2   #22 Notre Dame   –         9 – 3   Louisiana Tech   –         6 – 6   Louisiana–Monroe   –         5 – 6   UAB   –         4 – 7   Arkansas State   –         4 – 8   Navy   –         3 – 8   Southwestern Louisiana   –         2 – 9   Rankings from AP Poll	1998 Mid-American Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   East Marshall xy†   7 – 1         12 – 1   Miami x   7 – 1         10 – 1   Bowling Green   5 – 3         5 – 6   Ohio   5 – 3         5 – 6   Akron   3 – 6         4 – 7   Kent State   0 – 8         0 – 11   West Toledo x   6 – 2         7 – 5   Western Michigan   5 – 3         7 – 4   Central Michigan   5 – 3         6 – 5   Eastern Michigan   3 – 6         3 – 8   Northern Illinois   2 – 6         2 – 9   [[{{{school}}}|Ball State]]   1 – 7         1 – 10   Championship: Marshall 23, Toledo 17 † – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll	1998 Pacific-10 football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   #8 UCLA †   8 – 0         10 – 2   #4 Arizona   7 – 1         12 – 1   [[{{{school}}}|Oregon]]   5 – 3         8 – 4   USC   5 – 3         8 – 5   Washington   4 – 4         6 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|Arizona State]]   4 – 4         5 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|California]]   3 – 5         5 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|Oregon State]]   2 – 6         5 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|Stanford]]   2 – 6         3 – 8   [[{{{school}}}|Washington State]]   0 – 8         3 – 8   † – BCS representative as champion Rankings from AP Poll
1998 SEC football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   Eastern Division #1 Tennessee x†   8 – 0         13 – 0   #5 Florida ‡   7 – 1         10 – 2   #14 Georgia   6 – 2         9 – 3   Kentucky   4 – 4         7 – 5   [[{{{school}}}|Vanderbilt]]   1 – 7         2 – 9   South Carolina   0 – 8         1 – 10   Western Division [[{{{school}}}|Mississippi State]] xy   6 – 2         8 – 5   #16 Arkansas x   6 – 2         9 – 3   Alabama   4 – 4         7 – 5   [[{{{school}}}|Ole Miss]]   3 – 5         7 – 5   LSU   2 – 6         4 – 7   Auburn   1 – 7         3 – 8   Championship: Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 14 † – BCS representative as champion ‡ – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll	1998 WAC football standings Conf     Overall Team   W   L         W   L   Mountain #13 [[{{{school}}}|Air Force]] x†   7 – 1         12 – 1   [[{{{school}}}|Wyoming]]   6 – 2         8 – 3   [[{{{school}}}|Colorado State]]   5 – 3         8 – 4   [[{{{school}}}|Rice]]   5 – 3         5 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|TCU]]   4 – 4         7 – 5   [[{{{school}}}|SMU]]   4 – 4         5 – 7   [[{{{school}}}|Tulsa]]   2 – 6         4 – 7   [[{{{school}}}|UNLV]]   0 – 8         0 – 11   Pacific [[{{{school}}}|BYU]] xy   7 – 1         9 – 5   [[{{{school}}}|San Diego State]] x   7 – 1         7 – 5   Utah   5 – 3         7 – 4   [[{{{school}}}|Fresno State]]   5 – 3         5 – 6   [[{{{school}}}|San Jose State]]   3 – 5         4 – 8   [[{{{school}}}|UTEP]]   3 – 5         3 – 8   [[{{{school}}}|New Mexico]]   1 – 7         3 – 9   [[{{{school}}}|Hawaii]]   0 – 8         0 – 12   Championship: Air Force 20, BYU 13 † – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

Progress of #1 and #2 (AP and BCS)

Ohio State University was ranked first in the AP poll beginning with the preseason and on until the poll after its October 30 28-24 loss to Michigan State.

WEEK	#1	#2	EVENT
AUG 24	Ohio State	Florida State	Preseason poll
SEP 7	Ohio State	Florida State	[[{{{school}}}|NC State]] 24, Florida State 7
SEP 14	Ohio State	Florida	Tennessee 20, Florida 17
SEP 21	Ohio State	Nebraska	Nebraska 55, Washington 7
SEP 28	Ohio State	Nebraska	Ohio St. 28, Penn St. 9
OCT 5	Ohio State	Nebraska	Texas A&M 28, Nebraska 21
OCT 12	Ohio State	UCLA
OCT 19	Ohio State	UCLA
BCS	Rankings	Begin	--------
OCT 26	UCLA	Ohio State	Tennessee 49, So.Carolina 14
NOV 2	Ohio State	Tennessee	Michigan St 28, Ohio St 24
NOV 9	Tennessee	UCLA
NOV 16	Tennessee	UCLA
NOV 23	Tennessee	UCLA
NOV 30	Tennessee	UCLA	[[{{{school}}}|Miami]] 49, UCLA 45; Texas A&M 36, Kansas State (#3 BCS) 33 (2OT)
FINAL	Tennessee	Florida State	Fiesta Bowl set

Final BCS Rankings

1. Tennessee
2. Florida State
3. Kansas State
4. Ohio State
5. UCLA
6. Texas A&M
7. Arizona
8. Florida
9. Wisconsin
10. Tulane
11. Nebraska
12. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]
13. Arkansas
14. [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]
15. [[{{{school}}}|Syracuse]]

Bowl Games

(As ranked by AP)

BOWL					SITE
Fiesta Bowl	#1 Tennessee	23	#2 Florida State	16	Tempe, AZ
Sugar Bowl	#4 Ohio State	24	#8 Texas A&M	14	New Orleans
Orange Bowl	#7 Florida	31	#18 [[{{{school}}}|Syracuse]]	10	Miami
Rose Bowl	#9 Wisconsin	38	#6 UCLA	31	Pasadena, CA
Cotton Bowl Classic	#20 Texas	38	#25 [[{{{school}}}|Mississippi State]]	11	Dallas
Peach Bowl	#19 Georgia	35	#13 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	33	Atlanta
Florida Citrus Bowl	#15 Michigan	45	#11 Arkansas	31	Orlando
Outback Bowl	#22 Penn State	26	Kentucky	14	Tampa
{{{alt}}}	#12 [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	35	#17 Notre Dame	28	Jacksonville
{{{alt}}}	#24 [[{{{school}}}|Miami (FL)]]	46	[[{{{school}}}|NC State]]	23	Miami
{{{alt}}}	[[{{{school}}}|TCU]]	28	USC	19	El Paso
Alamo Bowl	Purdue	37	#3 Kansas State	34	San Antonio
Insight.com Bowl	#23 [[{{{school}}}|Missouri]]	34	[[{{{school}}}|West Virginia]]	31	Tempe, AZ
Holiday Bowl	#5 Arizona	23	#14 Nebraska	20	San Diego
{{{alt}}}	#10 Tulane	41	[[{{{school}}}|BYU]]	27	Memphis
{{{alt}}}	[[{{{school}}}|Colorado]]	51	#21 [[{{{school}}}|Oregon]]	43	Honolulu
{{{alt}}}	#16 [[{{{school}}}|Air Force]]	45	Washington	25	Honolulu
{{{alt}}}	[[{{{school}}}|Mississippi]]	35	Texas Tech	18	Shreveport
Music City Bowl	[[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]	38	Alabama	7	Nashville
Las Vegas Bowl	North Carolina	20	[[{{{school}}}|San Diego State]]	13	Las Vegas
{{{alt}}}	[[{{{school}}}|Marshall]]	48	[[{{{school}}}|Louisville]]	29	Detroit
Humanitarian Bowl	Idaho	42	[[{{{school}}}|Southern Mississippi]]	35	Boise, ID

Final AP Poll

Team	Final Record	Points
1. Tennessee (70)	13-0	1750
2. Ohio St.	11-1	1673
3. Florida State	11-2	1574
4. Arizona	12-1	1535
5. Florida	10-2	1463
6. Wisconsin	11-1	1427
7. Tulane	12-0	1252
8. UCLA	10-2	1123
9. [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	10-2	1122
10. Kansas St.	11-2	1086
11. Texas A&M	11-3	1071
12. Michigan	10-3	1052
13. [[{{{school}}}|Air Force]]	12-1	980
14. Georgia	9-3	785
15. Texas	9-3	740
16. Arkansas	9-3	621
17. Penn St.	9-3	619
18. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	9-3	544
19. Nebraska	9-4	454
20. [[{{{school}}}|Miami-FL]]	9-3	426
21. [[{{{school}}}|Missouri]]	8-4	335
22. Notre Dame	9-3	315
23. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]	9-3	256
24. Purdue	9-4	236
25. [[{{{school}}}|Syracuse]]	8-4	161

Others receiving votes: 26. Colorado 46 points, 27. Marshall 45 pts, 28. Oregon 28 pts,29. Mississippi St. 10 pts,30. Miami-OH 9 pts, 31. West Virginia 6 pts, 32. Idaho 2 pts and TCU 2 pts, 34. Mississippi 1 pt and USC 1 pt.

Final Coaches Poll

Team	Final Record
1. Tennessee	13-0-0
2. Ohio St.	11-1-0
3. Florida State	11-2-0
4. Arizona	12-1-0
5. Wisconsin	11-1-0
6. Florida	10-2-0
7. Tulane	12-0-0
8. UCLA	10-2-0
9. Kansas St.	11-2-0
10. [[{{{school}}}|Air Force]]	12-1-0
11. [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	10-2-0
12. Michigan	10-3-0
13. Texas A&M	11-3-0
14. Georgia	9-3-0
15. Penn St.	9-3-0
16. Texas	9-3-0
17. Arkansas	9-3-0
18. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	9-3-0
19. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]	9-3-0
20. Nebraska	9-4-0
21. [[{{{school}}}|Miami (FL)]]	9-3-0
22. Notre Dame	9-3-0
23. Purdue	9-4-0
24. [[{{{school}}}|Syracuse]]	8-4-0
25. [[{{{school}}}|Missouri]]	8-4-0

Heisman Trophy Voting

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is given to the

Most Outstanding Player of the year
Winner: Ricky Williams, Texas, Running Back (2335 points)

• 2. Michael Bishop, Kansas St. (792 points)
• 3. Cade McNown, UCLA (696 points)
• 4. Tim Couch, Kentucky (527 points)
• 5. Donovan McNabb, Syracuse (232 points)

Other Major Awards

• Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) - Ricky Williams, Texas
• Walter Camp Award (Back) - Ricky Williams, Texas
• Davey O'Brien Award (Quarterback) - Michael Bishop, Kansas St.
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Senior Quarterback) - Cade McNown, UCLA
• Doak Walker Award (Running Back) - Ricky Williams, Texas
• Fred Biletnikoff Award (Wide Receiver) - Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player) - Champ Bailey, Georgia
• Chuck Bednarik Award - Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M
• Dick Butkus Award (Linebacker) - Chris Claiborne, USC
• Lombardi Award (Lineman or Linebacker) - Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M
• Outland Trophy (Interior Lineman) - Kris Farris, UCLA
• Jim Thorpe Award (Defensive Back) - Antoine Winfield, Ohio St.
• Lou Groza Award (Placekicker) - Sebastian Janikowski, Florida St.
• Paul "Bear" Bryant Award - Bill Snyder, Kansas St.
• Football Writers Association of America Coach of the Year Award - Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee

References

NCAA college football seasons Pre-regulation 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 IAAUS 1906 1907 1908 1909 NCAA 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 NCAA Division I 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 NCAA Division I-A/FBS 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 NCAA Division I-AA/FCS 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012