1996 NCAA Division I-A football season

1996 NCAA Division I-A season
Number of teams 111[1]
Preseason AP No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers[2]
Post-season
Bowl games 18
Heisman Trophy Danny Wuerffel, Florida QB
Bowl Alliance Championship
1997 Sugar Bowl
Site Louisiana Superdome,
New Orleans, Louisiana
Winner Florida Gators
Division I-A football seasons
← 1995
1997 →

The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped.

Florida defeated Florida State in the Sugar Bowl, which was the designated National Championship that year. Florida had faced Florida State earlier in the year, when they were ranked #1 and #2, and lost. Were it not for Texas beating Nebraska, then #3, in the first ever Big 12 Championship Game, Florida wouldn't have even been in the bowl game.

And even once they were there, it wasn't certain a victory would mean a national championship. The Rose Bowl game featured #2 Arizona State and #4 Ohio State. Florida St. and Arizona St. were the only unbeatens going into bowl season, so a Rose Bowl victory would give the Sun Devils a legitimate chance on winning the title. This scenario looked plausible as Arizona State's Jake Plummer scored with 1:40 left to play in the game, making the score 17-14. But Ohio State's backup quarterback Joe Germaine marched down the field to pull out a heart stopping 20-17 win.

On the one hand, this meant the national title game the following night would produce an incontrovertible champion. On the other hand, it left doubt to whether or not Ohio State deserved a stake in the national title, as evidenced by the team's 1½ first place votes in the final AP poll. The Pac-10 and Big Ten could no longer afford to hold on to tradition while the rest of the country wanted a clear national champion. Reading the writing on the wall, they would soon join the national championship series with the other major conferences.

The Big 12 (Big 8 + 4 SWC members in Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Baylor) would begin play as a two division conference, with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State joining the South Division, breaking up the classic Nebraska–Oklahoma rivalry, but renewing the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry, known as the Red River Shootout. The first football game in conference play was between Texas Tech and Kansas State. Kansas State won by a score of 21–14.[3]

There was a large controversy when #5 BYU was robbed of a spot in a Bowl Alliance game, as they were snubbed in favor of lower ranked teams from Bowl Alliance conferences. This would spur Congress into action, and would eventually be a reason the BCS polls were created.

The 1996 season was also notable as it marked the end of ties in college football, as an overtime system was put into place across all of Division I-A. The 1995 season had overtime rules, but only for postseason games.

Rule changes

  • The overtime system adopted in the 1995 season for bowl games was expanded for all Division I-A games.
  • On punts and field goal attempts, the defense cannot touch the center/long snapper for one second after the snap. Violators are penalized 15 yards and an automatic first down.
  • Officials were instructed to more strictly enforce intentional grounding rules.

Conference realignment

Four teams upgraded from Division I-AA prior to the season and one university dropped its football program. As such, the total number of Division I-A schools increased to 111.

Conference changes

School1995 Conference1996 Conference
Alabama–Birmingham BlazersI-AA IndependentI-A Independent
Arkansas State IndiansBig WestI-A Independent
Baylor BearsSWCBig 12
Boise State BroncosBig Sky (I-AA)Big West (I-A)
Central Florida KnightsI-AA IndependentI-A Independent
Colorado BuffaloesBig 8Big 12
Cincinnati BearcatsI-A IndependentConference USA
Houston CougarsSWCConference USA
Idaho VandalsBig Sky (I-AA)Big West (I-A)
Iowa State CyclonesBig 8Big 12
Kansas JayhawksBig 8Big 12
Kansas State WildcatsBig 8Big 12
Louisiana Tech BulldogsBig WestI-A Independent
Louisville CardinalsI-A IndependentConference USA
Memphis TigersI-A IndependentConference USA
Missouri TigersBig 8Big 12
Nebraska CornhuskersBig 8Big 12
North Texas Mean GreenI-A IndependentBig West
Northern Illinois HuskiesBig WestI-A Independent
Oklahoma SoonersBig 8Big 12
Oklahoma State CowboysBig 8Big 12
Pacific TigersBig WestDropped Program
Rice OwlsSWCWAC
San Jose State SpartansBig WestWAC
SMU MustangsSWCWAC
Southern Miss Golden EaglesI-A IndependentConference USA
Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' CajunsBig WestI-A Independent
TCU Horned FrogsSWCWAC
Texas LonghornsSWCBig 12
Texas A&M AggiesSWCBig 12
Texas Tech Red RaidersSWCBig 12
Tulane Green WaveI-A IndependentConference USA
Tulsa Golden HurricaneI-A IndependentWAC
UNLV RebelsBig WestWAC

Conference standings

1996 ACC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 3 Florida State $  8 –0     11 –1  
No. 10 North Carolina  6 –2     10 –2  
Clemson  6 –2     7 –5  
Virginia  5 –3     7 –5  
Georgia Tech  4 –4     5 –6  
Maryland  3 –5     5 –6  
NC State  3 –5     3 –8  
Wake Forest  1 –7     3 –8  
Duke  0 –8     0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Big East football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 13 Virginia Tech +  6 –1     10 –2  
No. 14 Miami (FL) +  6 –1     9 –3  
No. 21 Syracuse +  6 –1     9 –3  
West Virginia  4 –3     8 –4  
Pittsburgh  3 –4     4 –7  
Boston College  2 –5     5 –7  
Rutgers  1 –6     2 –9  
Temple  0 –7     1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Big Ten football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 2 Ohio State +  7 –1     11 –1  
No. 15 Northwestern +  7 –1     9 –3  
No. 7 Penn State  6 –2     11 –2  
No. 18 Iowa  6 –2     9 –3  
No. 20 Michigan  5 –3     8 –4  
Michigan State  5 –3     6 –6  
Wisconsin  3 –5     8 –5  
Purdue  2 –6     3 –8  
Minnesota  1 –7     4 –7  
Indiana  1 –7     3 –8  
Illinois  1 –7     2 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Big 12 football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Northern Division
No. 6 Nebraska x%  8 –0     11 –2  
No. 8 Colorado  7 –1     10 –2  
No. 17 Kansas State  6 –2     9 –3  
Missouri  3 –5     5 –6  
Kansas  2 –6     4 –7  
Iowa State  1 –7     2 –9  
Southern Division
No. 23 Texas x$  6 –2     8 –5  
Texas Tech  5 –3     7 –5  
Texas A&M  4 –4     6 –6  
Oklahoma  3 –5     3 –8  
Oklahoma State  2 –6     5 –6  
Baylor  1 –7     4 –7  
Championship: Texas 37, Nebraska 27
  • † – Bowl Alliance representative as champion
    ‡ – Bowl Alliance at-large representative
    x – Division champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Big West Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Nevada +  4 –1     9 –3  
Utah State +  4 –1     6 –5  
Idaho  3 –2     6 –5  
North Texas  3 –2     5 –6  
Boise State  1 –4     2 –10  
New Mexico State  0 –5     1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Southern Miss +  4 –1     8 –3  
Houston +  4 –1     7 –5  
Cincinnati  2 –3     6 –5  
Louisville  2 –3     5 –6  
Memphis  2 –3     4 –7  
Tulane  1 –4     2 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Ball State $  7 –1     8 –4  
Toledo  6 –2     7 –4  
Miami  6 –2     6 –5  
Ohio  5 –3     6 –6  
Central Michigan  4 –4     5 –6  
Akron  3 –5     4 –7  
Bowling Green  3 –5     4 –7  
Eastern Michigan  3 –5     3 –8  
Western Michigan  2 –6     2 –9  
Kent State  1 –7     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Pacific-10 football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 4 Arizona State $  8 –0     11 –1  
No. 16 Washington  7 –1     9 –3  
Stanford  5 –3     7 –5  
UCLA  4 –4     5 –6  
Oregon  3 –5     6 –5  
California  3 –5     6 –6  
USC  3 –5     6 –6  
Arizona  3 –5     5 –6  
Washington State  3 –5     5 –6  
Oregon State  1 –7     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 SEC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$  8 –0     12 –1  
No. 9 Tennessee  7 –1     10 –2  
South Carolina  4 –4     6 –5  
Kentucky  3 –5     4 –7  
Georgia  3 –5     5 –6  
Vanderbilt  0 –8     2 –9  
Western Division
No. 11 Alabama xy  6 –2     10 –3  
No. 12 LSU x  6 –2     10 –2  
No. 24 Auburn  4 –4     8 –4  
Mississippi State  3 –5     5 –6  
Ole Miss  2 –6     5 –6  
Arkansas  2 –6     4 –7  
Championship: Florida 45, Alabama 30
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 WAC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Mountain Division
No. 5 BYU x$  9 –0     14 –1  
Utah  6 –2     8 –4  
Rice  6 –2     7 –4  
SMU  4 –4     5 –6  
New Mexico  3 –5     6 –5  
TCU  3 –5     4 –7  
Tulsa  2 –6     4 –7  
UTEP  0 –8     2 –9  
Pacific Division
No. 22 Wyoming x  7 –1     10 –2  
San Diego State  6 –2     8 –3  
Colorado State  6 –2     7 –5  
Air Force  5 –3     6 –5  
Fresno State  3 –5     4 –7  
San Jose State  3 –5     3 –9  
Hawaii  1 –7     2 –10  
UNLV  1 –8     1 –11  
Championship: BYU 28, Wyoming 25 OT
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1996 Division I-A independents football records
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 25 Army   –     10 –2  
Navy   –     9 –3  
No. 19 Notre Dame   –     9 –3  
East Carolina   –     8 –3  
Louisiana Tech   –     6 –5  
UAB   –     5 –6  
UCF   –     5 –6  
Southwestern Louisiana   –     5 –6  
Northeast Louisiana   –     5 –6  
Arkansas State   –     4 –7  
Northern Illinois   –     1 –10  
Rankings from AP Poll

Bowl Alliance first and seconds

The Bowl Alliance did not include the Pacific-10 and Big 10 conferences, whose champions played in the Rose Bowl. Thus, Arizona State and Ohio State (who met in the Rose Bowl) were excluded from the Bowl Alliance championship.

WEEKS First Conf. Second Conf. Event Date
PRE-4 Nebraska Big 12 Tennessee SEC Arizona St. 19, Nebraska 0 September 21
5-6 Florida SEC Florida State ACC Ohio State 38, Penn State 7 October 5
7-14 Florida SEC #3 Florida State ACC Florida St. 24, Florida 21 November 30
15 Florida State ACC #3 Nebraska Big 12 Texas 37, Nebraska 27 December 7
16 Florida State ACC #3 Florida SEC Florida 52, Florida State 20 January 1

Bowl games

Sugar Bowl #3 Florida 52 #1 Florida St. 20 1/2/97
Rose Bowl: #4 Ohio St. 20 #2 Arizona St. 17 1/1/97
Cotton Bowl Classic: #5 Brigham Young 19 #14 Kansas St. 15 1/1/97
Fiesta Bowl: #7 Penn State 38 #20 Texas 15 1/1/97
Florida Citrus Bowl: #9 Tennessee 48 #11 Northwestern 28 1/1/97
Gator Bowl: #12 North Carolina 20 #25 West Virginia 13 1/1/97
Outback Bowl: #16 Alabama 17 #15 Michigan 14 1/1/97
Peach Bowl #17 LSU 10 Clemson 7 1/1/97
Orange Bowl: #6 Nebraska 41 #10 Virginia Tech 21 12/31/96
Sun Bowl: Stanford 38 Michigan State 0 12/31/96
Independence Bowl Auburn 32 Army 29 12/31/96
Holiday Bowl: #8 Colorado 33 #13 Washington 21 12/30/96
Alamo Bowl: #21 Iowa 27 Texas Tech 0 12/29/96
Carquest Bowl #19 Miami (FL) 31 Virginia 21 12/27/96
Liberty Bowl #23 Syracuse 30 Houston 17 12/27/96
Copper Bowl: Wisconsin 38 Utah 10 12/27/96
Aloha Bowl Navy 42 California 38 12/25/96
Las Vegas Bowl Nevada 18 Ball State 15 12/18/96

Final AP Poll

  1. Florida
  2. Ohio St.
  3. Florida St.
  4. Arizona St.
  5. BYU
  6. Nebraska
  7. Penn St.
  8. Colorado
  9. Tennessee
  10. North Carolina
  11. Alabama
  12. LSU
  13. Virginia Tech
  14. Miami (FL)
  15. Northwestern
  16. Washington
  17. Kansas St.
  18. Iowa
  19. Notre Dame
  20. Michigan
  21. Syracuse
  22. Wyoming
  23. Texas
  24. Auburn
  25. Army

Others receiving votes: 26. West Virginia; 27. East Carolina; 28. Southern Mississippi; 29. Stanford; 30. Wisconsin; 31. San Diego St.; 32. Virginia; 33. Clemson

Final Coaches Poll

  1. Florida
  2. Ohio St.
  3. Florida St.
  4. Arizona St.
  5. Brigham Young
  6. Nebraska
  7. Penn St.
  8. Colorado
  9. Tennessee
  10. North Carolina
  11. Alabama
  12. Virginia Tech
  13. LSU
  14. Miami (FL)
  15. Washington
  16. Northwestern
  17. Kansas St.
  18. Iowa
  19. Syracuse
  20. Michigan
  21. Notre Dame
  22. Wyoming
  23. Texas
  24. Army
  25. Auburn

Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year
Winner: Danny Wuerffel, Florida, Quarterback (1363 points)

Other major awards

References

  1. ↑ "1996 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". www.jhowell.net. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  3. ↑ DeLassus, David. "Kansas State University football records--1996". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
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