1991 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split champion for the second consecutive season. Both the Miami Hurricanes and the Washington Huskies finished the season undefeated (12-0) and with the top ranking in a nationally recognized poll.

The Hurricanes closed the 1991 season with a 22-0 shutout over #11 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, much less dramatic than their November victory over #1 and perennial rival Florida State. That game ended with the FSU place kicker missing a field goal, wide right, which would become a theme in the Miami-FSU rivalry; this game later took on the moniker "Wide Right I." Nebraska lost to both national champions in 1991 and finished at 9-2-1, ranked fifteenth in the AP poll.

The Washington Huskies posted a 15-point victory at #9 Nebraska in September, a 7-point win at #7 California in October, and consecutive Pac-10 and Rose Bowl championships. Washington defended its Rose Bowl title with a 20-point victory in the 1992 Rose Bowl over #4 Michigan, the Big Ten champions with Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. The Wolverines scored a late touchdown to tighten the final score to 34-14, and finished at 10-2, ranked sixth in both polls.

The Florida Gators captured their first SEC title in school history (excepting the 1984 SEC title, which was vacated by the NCAA) in dominating fashion. Alabama finished second in the SEC in 1991 with an 11-1 record, but were annihilated 35-0 by the Gators, led by head coach Steve Spurrier. Florida's luck ran out in the Sugar Bowl, as #18 Notre Dame ran up 39 points to win by 11.

The SEC expanded from 10 to 12 members, adding Arkansas from the Southwest Conference and South Carolina, independent in football and a Metro Conference member for other sports. The two schools, however, would not begin SEC play until the 1992 season, when the SEC split into two divisions and added its season-ending championship game. The All-American Bowl played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, was discontinued as local officials prepared to host the new SEC title game.

Independent Florida State joined the ACC in 1991; known primarily as a basketball conference, the ACC would never be the same for football. Dominant from the moment they joined, Florida State went undefeated in conference play for years and won the conference title for the remainder of the 1990s.

The Big East began to sponsor football, adding powerhouse Miami and other independents, though conference play wasn't yet fully integrated and standings were not kept in 1991.

Conference Standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, Conf. = Conference Record

#1 and #2 Progress

In the pre-season poll, the Florida State was ranked #1 with 54 of the 59 votes cast, Michigan was 2nd, and Miami 3rd. As of the September 10th poll, Florida State remained the overwhelming choice for #1 and Miami reached #2. Those two Sunshine State teams would continue to be 1 and 2 as their November 16th meeting approached (the Florida Gators generally hovered between 5th and 6th place during that same period). On November 16th in Tallahassee, the long awaited #1 & #2 showdown had the 10-0 Seminoles hosting the 8-0 Hurricanes. Visiting Miami won, 17-16 to take the top spot. In the Pacific Northwest, Washington won its Apple Cup game by 35 points on November 23rd and finished the regular season at 11-0; the Huskies took over the #2 spot in the final two polls of the regular season.

Bowl Games

• Rose Bowl: #2 Washington 34, #4 Michigan 14
• Sugar Bowl: #18 Notre Dame 39, #3 Florida 28
• Gator Bowl: #20 Oklahoma 48, #19 Virginia 14
• Cotton Bowl Classic: #5 Florida State 10, #9 Texas A&M 2
• Fiesta Bowl: #6 Penn State 42, #10 Tennessee 17
• Florida Citrus Bowl: #14 California 37, #13 Clemson 13
• Orange Bowl: #1 Miami 22, #11 Nebraska 0
• Hall of Fame Bowl: #16 Syracuse 24, #25 Ohio State 17
• John Hancock Bowl: #22 UCLA 6, Illinois 3
• Copper Bowl: Indiana 24, Baylor 0
• Holiday Bowl: BYU 13, Iowa 13
• Freedom Bowl: #22 Tulsa 28, San Diego St. 17
• Peach Bowl: #12 East Carolina 37, #21 N.C. State 34
• Blockbuster Bowl: #8 Alabama 30, #15 Colorado 25
• Liberty Bowl: Air Force 38, Mississippi St. 15
• Aloha Bowl: Georgia Tech 18, #17 Stanford 17
• Independence Bowl: #24 Georgia 24, Arkansas 15
• California Bowl: Bowling Green 28, Fresno St. 21

Final AP Poll

1. Miami-FL - (32)
2. Washington - (28)
3. Penn St.
4. Florida St.
5. Alabama
6. Michigan
7. Florida
8. California
9. East Carolina
10. Iowa
11. Syracuse
12. Texas A&M
13. Notre Dame
14. Tennessee
15. Nebraska
16. Oklahoma
17. Georgia
18. Clemson
19. UCLA
20. Colorado

Final Coaches Poll

1. Washington
2. Miami (FL)
3. Penn St.
4. Florida St.
5. Alabama
6. Michigan
7. California
8. Florida
9. East Carolina (NC)
10. Iowa
11. Syracuse (NY)
12. Notre Dame (IN)
13. Texas A&M
14. Oklahoma
15. Tennessee
16. Nebraska
17. Clemson (SC)
18. UCLA
19. Georgia
20. Colorado
21. Tulsa (OK)
22. Stanford (CA)
23. Brigham Young (UT)
24. Air Force (CO)
25. North Carolina St.

Heisman Trophy Voting

The Heisman is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year

1. Desmond Howard, Michigan, Jr. - WR-KR
2. Casey Weldon, Florida St., Sr. - QB
3. Ty Detmer, BYU, Sr. - QB - (1990 winner)
4. Steve Emtman, Washington, Jr. - DT
5. Shane Matthews, Florida, Jr. - QB
6. Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana, Sr. - TB
7. Jeff Blake, East Carolina, Sr. - QB
8. Terrell Buckley, Florida St., Jr. - DB
9. Marshall Faulk, San Diego St., Fr. - RB
10. Bucky Richardson, Texas A&M, Sr. - QB

Other Major Awards

• Maxwell (MVP) - Desmond Howard, Michigan
• Camp (Back) - Desmond Howard, Michigan
• Butkus (Linebacker) - Erick Anderson, Michigan
• Lombardi (Lineman) - Steve Emtman, Washington
• Outland (Interior lineman) - Steve Emtman, Washington
• AFCA Coach of the Year - Bill Lewis, East Carolina
• FWAA Coach of the Year - Don James, Washington

References