Bowl games 18 Coaches Poll #1 Washington Huskies Number of teams 107 | AP Poll #1 Miami Hurricanes Start date 1991 | |
Preseason AP #1 Florida State Seminoles Heisman Trophy Desmond Howard, Michigan WR-KR Winner Miami Hurricanes (AP)
Washington Huskies (Coaches) People also search for 1992 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. Under the conference-bowl selection alignments of the time, the Hurricanes and Huskies could not meet in a decisive title game because A) Washington was slotted into the Rose Bowl as the Pac-10 champions and B) the other spot in the Rose Bowl was automatically given to the Big 10 champions, in this case Michigan. The Rose Bowl's selection terms also thwarted potential title matchups of undefeated teams in 1994 and 1997; since the 1998 BCS realignment, several Pac-10 and Big 10 teams have been able to play in a BCS title game instead of being forced to play a non-title contender in the Rose Bowl; these include the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2002, 2006 and 2007, the USC Trojans in 2004 and 2005 and the Oregon Ducks in 2010.
Contents
- Conference and program changes
- Rule changes
- 1 and 2 progress
- Bowl games
- AP Poll
- Coaches Poll
- Heisman Trophy voting
- Other major awards
- References
The Hurricanes closed the 1991 season with a 22-0 shutout over #11 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, but their season was defined by a dramatic November victory over then-#1 ranked 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 official SEC title in school history (they had previously won the 1984 SEC title, but it was later vacated) 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 powered their way to a 39-28 win.
Conference and program changes
Rule changes
The NCAA adopted the following rule changes for the 1991 season:
#1 and #2 progress
In the pre-season poll, 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. 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
AP Poll
- Miami (FL)
- Washington
- Penn State
- Florida State
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Florida
- California
- East Carolina
- Iowa
- Syracuse
- Texas A&M
- Notre Dame
- Tennessee
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Georgia
- Clemson
- UCLA
- Colorado
- Tulsa
- Stanford
- Brigham Young
- North Carolina State
- Air Force
Coaches' Poll
- Washington
- Miami (FL)
- Penn State
- Florida State
- Alabama
- Michigan
- California
- Florida
- East Carolina
- Iowa
- Syracuse
- Notre Dame
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Nebraska
- Clemson
- UCLA
- Georgia
- Colorado
- Tulsa
- Stanford
- Brigham Young
- Air Force
- North Carolina State
Heisman Trophy voting
The Heisman is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year
- Desmond Howard, Michigan, Jr. - WR-KR
- Casey Weldon, Florida State, Sr. - QB
- Ty Detmer, BYU, Sr. - QB - (1990 winner)
- Steve Emtman, Washington, Jr. - DT
- Shane Matthews, Florida, Jr. - QB
- Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana, Sr. - TB
- Jeff Blake, East Carolina, Sr. - QB
- Terrell Buckley, Florida State, Jr. - DB
- Marshall Faulk, San Diego State, Fr. - RB
- Bucky Richardson, Texas A&M, Sr. - QB