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1991 NCAA Division I-A football season

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1991 NCAA Division I-A season
Number of teams106
Preseason AP No. 1Florida State
Postseason
Bowl games18
AP Poll No. 1Miami (FL)
Coaches Poll No. 1Washington
Heisman TrophyMichigan wide receiver Desmond Howard
Champion(s)Miami (FL) (AP)
Washington (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
Division I-A football seasons
← 1990
1992 →

The 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season was the main college football season sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The season began on August 28, 1991, and ended on January 1, 1992. For the second consecutive season, there was a split national championship. 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 Washington was slotted into the Rose Bowl as the Pac-10 champions, and the other spot in the Rose Bowl was automatically given to the Big Ten champions (in 1991, that was Michigan). The Rose Bowl's selection terms later thwarted potential title matchups of undefeated teams following the 1994 and 1997 seasons. Following the 1998 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) realignment, several Pac-10 and Big Ten teams were 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.

Miami closed the 1991 season with a 22–0 shutout over No. 11 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, but their season was defined by a dramatic November victory over then No. 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 Florida State–Miami football 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 No. 15 in the AP poll.

Washington posted a 15-point victory at No. 9 Nebraska in September, a seven-point win at No. 7 California in October, and repeated as Pac-10 champions. They went on to win the Rose Bowl by 20 points over No. 4 Michigan, the Big Ten champions who featured Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard; it was Washington's second consecutive Rose Bowl win. Michigan finished at 10–2, ranked at No. 6 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 with an 11–1 record, but were shutout 35–0 by the Gators. Florida's luck ran out in the Sugar Bowl, as No. 18 Notre Dame powered their way to a 39–28 win.

Conference and program changes

[edit]
  • 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 Seminoles would begin ACC football play in 1992.
  • The Big East Conference began sponsoring football during the 1991 season after adding Miami and other independent teams. Conference play, however, was not fully integrated and official standings were not kept until 1992.
School1990 Conference1991 Conference
Boston College EaglesI-A IndependentBig East
Florida State Seminoles I-A Independent ACC
Miami (FL) HurricanesI-A IndependentBig East
Pittsburgh PanthersI-A IndependentBig East
Rutgers Scarlet KnightsI-A IndependentBig East
Syracuse OrangemenI-A IndependentBig East
Temple OwlsI-A IndependentBig East
Virginia Tech HokiesI-A IndependentBig East
West Virginia MountaineersI-A IndependentBig East

Rule changes

[edit]

The NCAA adopted the following rule changes for the 1991 season:

  • Repealing a rule change from 1959, the width of the goal posts were shortened from 23 feet, 4 inches to 18 feet, 6 inches, matching the NFL width. The hashmarks did not change from their position of 53 feet, 4 inches apart, causing drastically difficult angles for field-goal attempts.
  • Offensive holding, illegal use of hands, and clipping penalties committed behind the line of scrimmage will be enforced from the spot of the foul, rescinding a 1982 rule that enforced those penalties from the previous spot.
  • When kickoffs and free kicks go out of bounds untouched in the field of play, the receivers have the option to put the ball in play 30 yards from the spot of the kick, in addition to the two other options (putting the ball in play at the out-of-bounds spot or re-kick after a five-yard penalty).
  • When a fumble occurs anywhere in the field of play on fourth down, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the fumble. If a teammate recovers the fumble, the ball is dead at the spot of the fumble, unless the recovery was made behind the spot of the fumble, in which case the ball is dead at the spot of recovery. This mirrors the NFL's "Stabler fumble rule" adopted in 1979 after the "Holy Roller" game.
  • After numerous taunting incidents in the 1991 Cotton Bowl, unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yard) penalties will be enforced for any taunting acts (such as finger-pointing, baiting an opponent verbally, etc.) and individual celebrations in the field of play.
  • Teams attempting the "fumblerooski" must inform the referee of their intentions before the play. If a team fails to do this, they are penalized five yards.

Recaps of the year

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Regular season

[edit]

August–September

[edit]

Neither of the 1990 champions, Colorado and Georgia Tech, cracked the top five in the preseason poll for 1991. The leading teams were No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Florida.

August 29–31: No. 1 Florida State defeated No. 19 Brigham Young 44–28 in the Pigskin Classic, and No. 3 Miami won 31–3 at Arkansas.[1][2] No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Florida had not yet begun their schedules, and the latter team fell out of the top five. No. 7 Penn State, who defeated No. 8 Georgia Tech 34–22 in the Kickoff Classic,[3] moved up: No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Penn State.

September 7: No. 1 Florida State defeated Tulane 38–11, and No. 2 Michigan won 35–13 at Boston College.[4][5] No. 3 Miami was idle. No. 4 Washington opened their schedule with a 42–7 win at Stanford, and No. 5 Penn State overwhelmed Cincinnati 81–0.[6][7] The next poll featured No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Penn State.

September 12–14: No. 1 Florida State blasted Western Michigan 58–0, No. 2 Miami defeated No. 10 Houston 40–10, and No. 3 Michigan won 24–14 over No. 7 Notre Dame.[8][9][10] No. 4 Washington was idle. No. 5 Penn State lost 21–10 at USC.[11] No. 6 Florida opened SEC play by shutting out No. 17 Alabama 35–0,[12] and the Gators moved back into the top five in the next poll: No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Florida.

September 21: No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, and No. 3 Michigan were all idle. No. 4 Washington visited No. 9 Nebraska for a 36–21 win, but No. 5 Florida fell 38–21 at No. 18 Syracuse.[13][14] No. 6 Tennessee won a 26–24 nailbiter against No. 23 Mississippi State[15] to move into the top five: No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Washington, and No. 5 Tennessee.

September 28: No. 1 Florida State visited No. 3 Michigan and won 51–31, the most points the Wolverines had ever allowed on their home turf.[16] No. 2 Miami won 34–10 at Tulsa.[17] No. 4 Washington overwhelmed Kansas State 56–3, No. 5 Tennessee defeated No. 13 Auburn 30–21, and No. 6 Oklahoma beat Virginia Tech 27–17.[18][19][20] The next poll featured No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Oklahoma.

October

[edit]

October 5: No. 1 Florida State posted another high-scoring win over a top-ten opponent, defeating No. 10 Syracuse 46–14.[21] No. 2 Miami won 40–3 over Oklahoma State, and No. 3 Washington shut out Arizona 54–0.[22][23] No. 4 Tennessee was idle. No. 5 Oklahoma posted a 29–8 win at Iowa State, but nevertheless fell out of the top five in the next poll.[24] No. 6 Michigan moved back up with a 43–24 victory at No. 9 Iowa:[25] No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Michigan.

October 12: No. 1 Florida State defeated Virginia Tech 33–20, and No. 2 Miami got past No. 9 Penn State 26–20.[26][27] No. 3 Washington posted a second straight lopsided shutout, 48–0 over Toledo.[28] No. 4 Tennessee visited No. 10 Florida and lost 35–18. No. 5 Michigan won 45–28 at Michigan State, and No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 12 Pittsburgh 42–7.[29] The next poll featured No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Michigan, and No. 5 Notre Dame.

October 19: No. 1 Florida State beat Middle Tennessee 39–10, and No. 2 Miami shut out Long Beach State 55–0.[30][31] After outscoring their last three opponents 158–3, No. 3 Washington struggled against No. 7 California but pulled out a 24–17 victory.[32] No. 4 Michigan defeated Indiana 24–16, and No. 5 Notre Dame won 28–15 at Air Force.[33][34] The top five remained the same in the next poll.

October 25–26: No. 1 Florida State visited LSU for a 27–16 victory, No. 2 Miami won 36–9 at Arizona, No. 3 Washington beat Oregon 29–7, No. 4 Michigan defeated Minnesota 52–6, and No. 5 Notre Dame beat USC 24–20.[35][36][37][38] The top five again remained the same in the next poll.

November

[edit]

November 2: No. 1 Florida State won 40–15 at Louisville.[39] No. 2 Miami was idle. No. 3 Washington defeated Arizona State 44–16, No. 4 Michigan shut out Purdue 42–0, and No. 5 Notre Dame blanked Navy 38–0.[40][41][42] In the next poll, Washington moved up to tie Miami at No. 2, with all of the other top teams remaining the same.

November 9: No. 1 Florida State defeated South Carolina 38–10.[43] No. 2 Miami beat West Virginia 27–3 while fellow No. 2 Washington won 14–3 at USC.[44][45] No. 4 Michigan was a 59–14 victor over Northwestern.[46] No. 5 Notre Dame blew a 31–7 second-quarter lead and lost 35–34 to No. 13 Tennessee on a blocked field goal attempt as time expired.[47] No. 6 Florida won 45–13 over No. 23 Georgia to clinch the SEC title and a Sugar Bowl berth.[48] The next poll featured No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Michigan, and No. 5 Florida.

November 16 featured a highly-anticipated showdown between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Miami, the first time that the two rivals had met while ranked in the top two spots of the AP Poll. The Seminoles held a 16–7 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Hurricanes responded with a field goal and a touchdown to take a one-point lead with three minutes left. Florida State drove down the field, and coach Bobby Bowden elected to kick a field goal on third down with 29 seconds left. Kicker Gerry Thomas’s 34-yard attempt went wide right, delivering a 17–16 victory to Miami—the first of several FSU-Miami games in the 1990s and early 2000s which featured late-game kicking miscues by the Seminoles.[49] No. 3 Washington won 58–6 at Oregon State[50] and No. 4 Michigan shut out No. 25 Illinois 20–0;[51] by clinching their respective conference titles, the Huskies and Wolverines ensured that they would meet each other in the Rose Bowl. No. 5 Florida finished their SEC schedule by beating Kentucky 35–26.[52] The next poll featured No. 1 Miami, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Florida State, No. 4 Michigan, and No. 5 Florida.

November 23: No. 1 Miami won 19–14 at Boston College.[53] No. 2 Washington finished their season by defeating Washington State 56–21, and No. 4 Michigan dominated No. 18 Ohio State 31–3.[54][55] No. 3 Florida State and No. 5 Florida were idle as they prepared to play each other the following week. The top five remained the same in the next poll.

November 30: No. 1 Miami beat San Diego State 39–12.[56] No. 2 Washington and No. 4 Michigan had finished their schedules. No. 3 Florida State suffered their second straight loss to an in-state rival, falling 14–9 to No. 5 Florida.[57] The top five in the final AP Poll of the regular season were No. 1 Miami, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Michigan, and No. 5 Florida State, but the Coaches’ Poll elevated Washington to No. 1 by a narrow margin.

Postseason

[edit]

Bowl games

[edit]

With Washington contractually bound to the Rose Bowl and no opportunity for a de facto national championship matchup, No. 1 Miami opted for the hometown Orange Bowl as their postseason game. No. 11 Nebraska and No. 15 Colorado had finished in a tie both in their game against each other and at the top of the Big 8 standings; the Cornhuskers, with a higher ranking and better overall record, would face the Hurricanes. No. 2 Washington and No. 4 Michigan would meet in the Rose Bowl’s annual Pac-10 vs. Big Ten showdown. No. 3 Florida, the SEC champion, would face No. 18 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl; No. 5 Florida State would go up against No. 9 Texas A&M, the SWC winner, in the Cotton Bowl; and the Fiesta Bowl would feature No. 6 Penn State against No. 10 Tennessee.

Conference standings

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1991 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 18 Clemson $6–0–19–2–1
No. 24 NC State5–2–09–3–0
Georgia Tech5–2–08–5–0
Virginia4–2–18–3–1
North Carolina3–4–07–4–0
Maryland2–5–02–9–0
Duke1–6–04–6–1
Wake Forest1–6–03–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Big East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 11 Syracuse5–0–010–2–0
No. 1 Miami (FL)2–0–012–0–0
Virginia Tech1–0–05–6–0
Pittsburgh3–2–06–5–0
West Virginia3–4–06–5–0
Rutgers2–3–06–5–0
Boston College2–4–04–7–0
Temple0–5–02–9–0
  • The Big East did not crown an official champion until 1993 when full league play began.
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Nebraska +6–0–19–2–1
No. 20 Colorado +6–0–18–3–1
No. 16 Oklahoma5–2–09–3–0
Kansas State4–3–07–4–0
Kansas3–4–06–5–0
Iowa State1–5–13–7–1
Missouri1–6–03–7–1
Oklahoma State0–6–10–10–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 6 Michigan $8–0–010–2–0
No. 10 Iowa7–1–010–1–1
Ohio State5–3–08–4–0
Indiana5–3–07–4–1
Illinois4–4–06–6–0
Purdue3–5–04–7–0
Michigan State3–5–03–8–0
Wisconsin2–6–05–6–0
Northwestern2–6–03–8–0
Minnesota1–7–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Big West Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Fresno State +6–1–010–2–0
San Jose State +6–1–06–4–1
Utah State5–2–05–6–0
Pacific (CA)4–3–05–7–0
UNLV2–5–04–7–0
Long Beach State2–5–02–9–0
New Mexico State2–5–02–9–0
Cal State Fullerton1–6–02–9–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1991 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Bowling Green $8–0–011–1–0
Central Michigan3–1–46–1–4
Miami (OH)4–3–16–4–1
Toledo4–3–15–5–1
Ball State4–4–06–5–0
Western Michigan4–4–06–5–0
Eastern Michigan3–4–13–7–1
Ohio1–6–12–8–1
Kent State1–7–01–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1991 Pacific-10 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Washington $8–0–012–0–0
No. 7 California6–2–010–2–0
No. 18 UCLA6–2–09–3–0
No. 22 Stanford6–2–08–4–0
Arizona State4–4–06–5–0
Arizona3–5–04–7–0
Washington State3–5–04–7–0
USC2–6–03–8–0
Oregon1–7–03–8–0
Oregon State1–7–01–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Coaches Poll
1991 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Florida $7–0–010–2–0
No. 5 Alabama6–1–011–1–0
No. 14 Tennessee5–2–09–3–0
No. 17 Georgia4–3–09–3–0
Mississippi State4–3–07–5–0
LSU3–4–05–6–0
Vanderbilt3–4–05–6–0
Auburn2–5–05–6–0
Ole Miss1–6–05–6–0
Kentucky0–7–03–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 12 Texas A&M $8–0–010–2–0
Baylor5–3–08–4–0
Texas Tech5–3–06–5–0
Arkansas5–3–06–6–0
TCU4–4–07–4–0
Texas4–4–05–6–0
Houston3–5–04–7–0
Rice2–6–04–7–0
SMU0–8–01–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 23 BYU $7–0–18–3–2
San Diego State6–1–18–4–1
No. 25 Air Force6–2–010–3–0
Utah4–4–07–5–0
Hawaii3–5–04–7–1
Wyoming2–5–14–6–1
UTEP2–5–14–7–1
Colorado State2–6–03–8–0
New Mexico2–6–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1991 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 9 East Carolina – 11–1–0
No. 4 Florida State – 11–2–0
No. 3 Penn State – 11–2–0
No. 21 Tulsa – 10–2–0
Louisiana Tech – 8–1–2
No. 13 Notre Dame – 10–3–0
Akron – 5–6–0
Memphis State – 5–6–0
Army – 4–7–0
Cincinnati – 4–7–0
Southern Miss – 4–7–0
South Carolina – 3–6–2
Southwestern Louisiana – 2–8–1
Louisville – 2–9–0
Northern Illinois – 2–9–0
Tulane – 1–10–0
Navy – 1–10–0
Rankings from AP Poll

I-AA team wins over I-A teams

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Italics denotes I-AA teams.

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceRef.
August 31 Northeast Louisiana Southwestern Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana (Battle on the Bayou)  21–10  23,486[58]
September 7 UNLV No. 5 (I-AA) Nevada Mackay Stadium • Reno, Nevada (Battle for Nevada)  8–50  24,123[59]
September 14 Illinois State Akron Rubber Bowl • Akron, Ohio  25–3  20,680[60]
September 14 Long Beach State No. 11 (I-AA) Boise State Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho  14–48  20,824[61]
October 5 No. 11 (I-AA) William & Mary Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland  26–21  23,697[62]
October 5 Appalachian State Wake Forest Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina  17–3  28,234[63]
October 12 The Citadel Army Michie Stadium • West Point, New York  20–14  40,459[64]
October 26 No. 11 (I-AA) Delaware Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland  29–25  30,490[65]
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

No. 1 and No. 2 progress

[edit]

In the pre-season poll, Florida State was ranked No. 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 No. 1 and Miami reached No. 2. Those two Sunshine State teams would continue to be 1 and 2 as their November 16 meeting approached. On November 16 in Tallahassee, the long-awaited No. 1 & No. 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 23 and finished the regular season at 11–0; the Huskies took over the No. 2 spot in the final two polls of the regular season.

In the coaches poll, Florida State and Miami opened up the season 1–2 and remained that way until Miami's win on November 16 put the Hurricanes No. 1 and allowed the Huskies to move to No. 2. After the end of the regular season, the coaches moved the Washington Huskies to the No. 1 ranking. They would keep the top spot after their Rose Bowl win over Michigan to split the National Title.

Bowl games

[edit]

New Year's Day Bowls

[edit]
Bowl GameWinning teamLosing teamScoreSource
Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)No. 1 Miami (FL)No. 11 Nebraska22–0[66]
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)No. 2 WashingtonNo. 4 Michigan34–14[67]
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana)No. 18 Notre DameNo. 3 Florida39–28[68]
Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)No. 5 Florida StateNo. 9 Texas A&M10–2[69]
Fiesta Bowl (Tempe, Arizona)No. 6 Penn StateNo. 10 Tennessee42–17[70]
Peach Bowl (Atlanta, Georgia)No. 12 East CarolinaNo. 21 NC State37–34[71]
Florida Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida)No. 14 CaliforniaNo. 13 Clemson37–13[72]
Hall of Fame Bowl (Tampa, Florida)No. 16 SyracuseNo. 25 Ohio State24–17[73]

Other Bowls

[edit]
Bowl GameDateWinning teamLosing teamScoreSource
California Bowl (Fresno, California)December 14, 1991Bowling GreenFresno State28–21[74]
Aloha Bowl (Hālawa, Hawaii)December 25, 1991Georgia TechNo. 17 Stanford18–17[75]
Blockbuster Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida)December 28, 1991No. 8 AlabamaNo. 15 Colorado30–25[76]
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida)December 29, 1991No. 20 OklahomaNo. 19 Virginia48–14[77]
Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana)December 29, 1991No. 24 GeorgiaArkansas24–15[78]
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee)December 29, 1991Air ForceMississippi State38–15[79]
Holiday Bowl (San Diego, California)December 30, 1991BYUNo. 7 Iowa13–13[80]
Freedom Bowl (Anaheim, California)December 30, 1991No. 22 TulsaSan Diego State28–17[81]
John Hancock Bowl (El Paso, Texas)December 31, 1991No. 22 UCLAIllinois6–3[82]
Copper Bowl (Tucson, Arizona)December 31, 1991IndianaBaylor24–0[83]

Final rankings

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AP Poll

[edit]
  1. Miami (FL) (32)
  2. Washington (28)
  3. Penn State
  4. Florida State
  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
  21. Tulsa
  22. Stanford
  23. Brigham Young
  24. North Carolina State
  25. Air Force

Coaches Poll

[edit]
1991 Coaches Poll national championship trophy on display inside Husky Stadium
  1. Washington (33 1⁄2)
  2. Miami (FL) (25 1⁄2)
  3. Penn State
  4. Florida State
  5. Alabama
  6. Michigan
  7. California
  8. Florida
  9. East Carolina
  10. Iowa
  11. Syracuse
  12. Notre Dame
  13. Texas A&M
  14. Oklahoma
  15. Tennessee
  16. Nebraska
  17. Clemson
  18. UCLA
  19. Georgia
  20. Colorado
  21. Tulsa
  22. Stanford
  23. Brigham Young
  24. Air Force
  25. North Carolina State

Heisman Trophy voting

[edit]

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player

PlayerSchoolPosition1st2nd3rdTotal
Desmond HowardMichiganWR64068212,077
Casey WeldonFlorida StateQB1917596503
Ty DetmerBYUQB19129130445
Steve EmtmanWashingtonDT2910070357
Shane MatthewsFloridaQB117269246
Vaughn DunbarIndianaRB65153173
Jeff BlakeEast CarolinaQB72935114
Terrell BuckleyFlorida StateCB12451102
Marshall FaulkSan Diego StateRB0103252
Bucky RichardsonTexas A&MQB69943

Other major awards

[edit]

Attendances

[edit]

Average home attendance top 3:

RankTeamAverage
1Michigan Wolverines105,337
2Tennessee Volunteers96,398
3Penn State Nittany Lions95,846

Source:[84]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Top-rated Florida State bops No. 19 BYU, 44–28". The Des Moines Register. August 30, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Miami contains emotion, Arkansas in 31–3 rout". Anchorage Daily News. September 1, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Penn State proves too much for Georgia Tech". Asbury Park Press. August 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Seminoles ride past Green Wave". The Tampa Tribune. September 8, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Michigan slugs Boston College 35–13". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. September 8, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Washington lays waste to Stanford, 42–7". Anchorage Daily News. September 8, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "State chalks up 81". The Patriot-News. September 8, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "58–0: Now FSU can point to Michigan". Sun-Sentinel. September 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Hurricanes roar to 40–10 win over Houston". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Michigan finally tops Notre Dame, 24–14". Democrat and Chronicle. September 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Southern California upsets No. 5 Penn State". The Kansas City Star. September 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Gators pummel Tide 35–0". The Tampa Tribune. September 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Washington handles NU". The Daily Nonpareil. September 22, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Dame, Mike (September 22, 1991). "Orange crush Gators, 38–21". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 31. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Tennessee escapes Mississippi State". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 22, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "106,145 see Michigan get overwhelmed by Florida State". The Plain Dealer. September 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Hurricanes dominate Tulsa 34–10". The Florida Times-Union. September 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Hobert, No. 4 Washington romp past Kansas State". Omaha World-Herald. September 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Big-play Vols humble Auburn in 'goodbye'". The Commercial Appeal. September 29, 1991. Retrieved November 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Victory comes to pass for OU". The Daily Oklahoman. September 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Florida State has its way". Newsday. October 6, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Hurricane defense corrals Cowboys". Florida Today. October 3, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Dawgs romp on Cats". Kitsap Sun. October 6, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "No magic this time, Cyclones fall, 29–8". Waterloo Courier Cedar Falls. October 6, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Wolverines tear up Iowa defense". The Sioux City Journal. October 6, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Ugly win for No. 1 Seminoles". Fort Myers News-Press. October 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Miami sparkle nips Penn State". The Sunday Oregonian. October 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Third-ranked Huskies crush Toledo 48–0". Tri-City Herald. October 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Florida's revenge, Tennessee falls 35–18". The Tennessean. October 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "A sluggish FSU wins by 'only' 29". The Miami Herald. October 20, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Miami 55 Long Beach St. 0". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. October 20, 1991. p. B-7. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Washington foils California's bid". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. October 20, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Michigan's magic burns IU, 24–16". The Herald-Times. October 20, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Air Force proves pesky but Notre Dame prevails". The Indianapolis Star. October 20, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Seminoles' rally buries LSU, 27–16". The Tampa Tribune. October 27, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Miami pins a 36–9 loss on Arizona". The Register-Guard. October 27, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Despite penalties, UW doesn't play fool to Oregon". The Spokesman-Review. October 27, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Records, Gophers fall to U-M". The Times Herald. October 26, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "FSU stays hot, blows Louisville away 40–15". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 3, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Huskies rev it up vs. ASU". The Register-Guard. November 3, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Purdue no match for Michigan in 42–0 romp". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 3, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Notre Dame again sinks Navy on football field, 38–0". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 3, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "FSU beats S. Carolina unimpressively 38–10". The Palm Beach Post. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ "Miami wakes up, tops West Virginia 27–3". The Palm Beach Post. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Washington finally wins at Coliseum". The Signal and Saugus Enterprise. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ↑ "It's quick, easy for UM". The Flint Journal. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ↑ "Vols dance an Irisg jig 35–34". Bristol Herald Courier. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ↑ "Gators win 45–13, clinch tie for SEC". The Palm Beach Post. November 10, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ↑ "Miami nips Florida State". Greensboro News and Record. November 17, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ↑ "Washington gains berth in Rose Bowl". The Wichita Eagle. November 17, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ↑ "Michigan of old tops Illini, 20–0". The Pantagraph. November 17, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ↑ "How sweet! Gators rule SEC". The Miami Herald. November 17, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ↑ "No. 1 Miami survives BC scare". The Wichita Eagle. November 24, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ↑ "UW's dream creams Cougs". Morning News Tribune. November 24, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ↑ "No contest: Wolverines whip Buckeyes". Springfield News-Sun. November 24, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ↑ "Miami makes it look easy in beating San Diego State". The Houston Chronicle. December 1, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ↑ "Florida finally solves slumping Florida State". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 1, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ↑ "NLU Indians rip USL". The Daily Advertiser. September 1, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ↑ "Rivalry? Pack routs Rebels". Reno Gazette-Journal. September 8, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ↑ "Zips are left singing blues after 25–3 loss". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ↑ "Boise St. 48, CS Long Beach 14". The Los Angeles Times. September 16, 1991. p. C-20. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ↑ "Division I-AA William & Mary takes step up at Navy's expense, 26–21". The Baltimore Sun. September 22, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ↑ "Appalachian rolls by sluggish Deacs". The News and Observer. October 6, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ↑ "Citadel stuns Army". The Journal News. October 13, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ↑ "Hens stun Navy 29–25". The News Journal. October 27, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ↑ "No. 1 Miami stuffs Nebraska". The News-Journal. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ↑ "Huskies make their case". The Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ↑ "Irish thwart Florida". Wisconsin State Journal. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ↑ "Florida State overcomes turnovers to beat A&M". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ↑ "Lions 5 for 5". Arizona Republic. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ↑ "Blake, Pirates come back on Wolfpack". The Charlotte Observer. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ↑ "Crafty Cal fools Clemson". The Orlando Sentinel. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ↑ "Sixty-yard TD toss propels Syracuse by Ohio State, 24–17". The Ledger. January 2, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ↑ "Bowling Green fights off Fresno State to win California Bowl, 28–21". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 15, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ↑ "Tech climbs off the deck to win by 1". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. December 26, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  76. ↑ "Tide offense ends slumber to beat Buffs". The Montgomery Advertiser. December 29, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ↑ "Oklahoma captures Gator". The Commercial Appeal. December 30, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ↑ "Hog-wild crowd livens bowl". The Shreveport Times. December 30, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ↑ "Air Force overwhelms Mississippi State 38–15". The Sacramento Bee. December 30, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. ↑ "Hawks, BYU fit to be tied, 13–13". The Daily Nonpareil. December 31, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  81. ↑ "Jackson leads Tulsa". Arizona Daily Sun. December 31, 1991. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ↑ "Call it 'Yawn' Hancock". El Paso Herald-Post. January 1, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  83. ↑ "Indiana zips by Baylor". Tucson Citizen. January 1, 1992. Retrieved July 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  84. ↑ "ATTENDANCE RECORDS" (PDF).
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