Puneet Varma (Editor)

1988 NCAA Division I A football season

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Bowl games
  
17

Number of teams
  
104

Start date
  
1988

Preseason AP #1
  
Florida State Seminoles

Heisman Trophy
  
Barry Sanders Oklahoma State RB

Winner
  
Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Champion
  
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football

Similar
  
1932 college football s, 1910 college football s, 1982 NCAA Division I, 1878 college football s

The 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Notre Dame winning the national championship. The Fighting Irish won the title via a 34-21 defeat of previously unbeaten West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.

Contents

Notre Dame had several notable victories this season, including a 19–17 victory over #9 Michigan, won on a last drive field goal, which started off the championship season. The season's marquee game was a 31–30 victory over #1 Miami. Entering the game, Miami had a 36 game regular season winning streak, 20 straight road victories and a 16-game winning streak overall. This year was also the first time Notre Dame and USC had ever met when ranked #1 and #2. Most notable about this game is Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz's decision to leave behind two of his stars, Tony Brooks and Ricky Watters because they were late, cementing discipline as the main theme of this championship team.

This year's edition of the UCLA-USC rivalry game featured a second ranked USC and a fourth ranked UCLA. For the second year in a row the Rose Bowl berth was on the line but for USC it also had national title implications as the rivalry game with Notre Dame was the following week. USC beat UCLA but lost to Notre Dame, and then lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders ran the Wing T offense all the way to the Heisman Trophy and numerous rushing records.

Rule changes

  • Defensive teams can now return blocked PAT kicks and interceptions on two-point conversion attempts for a defensive score worth two points. Fumbles on PAT/two-point conversions cannot be recovered and advanced by the offensive team other than the fumbling player, and the defense cannot convert fumbles into two point defensive scores.
  • Teams are permitted to take consecutive time-outs, previously this was prohibited.
  • Illegal use of hands penalties are increased from 5 to 10 yards.

    • Conference and program changes

  • The Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) changed its name to the Big West Conference, its current name, prior to the season.

    • Bowl games

  • Rose Bowl: #11 Michigan 22, #5 USC 14
  • Sugar Bowl: #4 Florida State 13, #7 Auburn 7
  • Cotton Bowl Classic: #9 UCLA 17, #8 Arkansas 3
  • Fiesta Bowl: #1 Notre Dame 34, #3 West Virginia 21
  • Florida Citrus Bowl: #13 Clemson 13, #10 Oklahoma 6
  • Orange Bowl: #2 Miami (FL) 23, #6 Nebraska 3
  • Hall of Fame Bowl: #17 Syracuse 23, #16 LSU 10
  • Gator Bowl: #19 Georgia 34, Michigan State 27
  • Sun Bowl: #20 Alabama 29, Army 28
  • Holiday Bowl: #12 Oklahoma State 62, #15 Wyoming 14
  • Freedom Bowl: BYU 20, Colorado 17
  • Peach Bowl: NC State 28, Iowa 23
  • All-American Bowl: Florida 14, Illinois 10
  • Liberty Bowl: Indiana 34, South Carolina 10
  • Aloha Bowl: #18 Washington State 24, #14 Houston 22
  • Independence Bowl: Southern Miss 38, UTEP 18
  • California Bowl: Fresno State 35, Western Michigan 30

    • Final AP Poll

    1. Notre Dame
    2. Miami (FL)
    3. Florida State
    4. Michigan
    5. West Virginia
    6. UCLA
    7. Southern California
    8. Auburn
    9. Clemson
    10. Nebraska
    11. Oklahoma State
    12. Arkansas
    13. Syracuse
    14. Oklahoma
    15. Georgia
    16. Washington State
    17. Alabama
    18. Houston
    19. LSU
    20. Indiana

    Final Coaches Poll

    1. Notre Dame
    2. Miami (FL)
    3. Florida State
    4. Michigan
    5. West Virginia
    6. UCLA
    7. Auburn
    8. Clemson
    9. Southern California
    10. Nebraska
    11. Oklahoma State
    12. Syracuse
    13. Arkansas
    14. Oklahoma
    15. Georgia
    16. Washington State
    17. Alabama
    18. North Carolina State
    19. Indiana
    20. Wyoming

    Heisman Trophy

    1. Winner: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, Jr. RB
    2. Rodney Peete, Southern California, Sr. QB
    3. Troy Aikman, UCLA, Sr. QB
    4. Steve Walsh, Miami (FL), Jr. QB
    5. Major Harris, West Virginia, So. QB

    Other major awards

  • Maxwell (Player): Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State
  • Camp (Back): Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State
  • Davey O'Brien Award (QB): Troy Aikman, UCLA
  • Rockne (Lineman): N/A
  • Lombardi (Linebacker): Tracy Rocker, Auburn
  • Outland (Interior): Tracy Rocker, Auburn
  • Coach of the Year: Don Nehlen, West Virginia

    • References

    1988 NCAA Division I-A football season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA