1996 College Football Season

NATIONAL CHAMPION

AP TITLE
CHAMPIONFlorida12–1 overall
HEISMANDanny WuerffelFlorida · QB
BEST QBDanny WuerffelFlorida · Davey O’Brien Award
#1 PICKOrlando PaceOhio State · St. Louis Rams, 1997 draft

MAJOR BOWL RESULTS

6 BOWL GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Jan 2, 1997Sugar BowlFlorida 52, Florida State 20
Jan 1, 1997Cotton BowlBYU 19, Kansas State 15
Jan 1, 1997Fiesta BowlPenn State 38, Texas 15
Jan 1, 1997Rose BowlOhio State 20, Arizona State 17
Dec 31, 1996Orange BowlNebraska 41, Virginia Tech 21
Dec 28, 1996Peach BowlLSU 10, Clemson 7

1996 STANDINGS

14 CONFERENCES + INDEPENDENTS

ACC

Florida State finished atop the 1996 ACC standings at 8–0 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Florida State8–011–1FLA 52–20 FSU
North Carolina6–210–2UNC 20–13 WVU
Clemson6–27–5LSU 10–7 CLEM
Virginia5–37–5MIA 31–21 UVA
Georgia Tech4–45–6–
Maryland3–55–6–
NC State3–53–8–
Wake Forest1–73–8–
Duke0–80–11–

BIG 12

Nebraska finished atop the 1996 Big 12 standings at 8–1 in conference play (11–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Nebraska8–111–2NEB 41–21 VT
Colorado7–110–2COLO 33–21 WASH
Texas7–28–5PSU 38–15 TEX
Kansas State6–29–3BYU 19–15 KSU
Texas Tech5–37–5IOWA 27–0 TTU
Texas A&M4–46–6–
Missouri3–55–6–
Oklahoma3–53–8–
Oklahoma State2–65–6–
Kansas2–64–7–
Baylor1–74–7–
Iowa State1–72–9–

BIG EAST

Virginia Tech finished atop the 1996 Big East standings at 6–1 in conference play (10–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Virginia Tech6–110–2NEB 41–21 VT
Miami6–19–3MIA 31–21 UVA
Syracuse6–19–3SYR 30–17 HOU
West Virginia4–38–4UNC 20–13 WVU
Pittsburgh3–44–7–
Boston College2–55–7–
Rutgers1–62–9–
Temple0–71–10–

BIG TEN

Ohio State finished atop the 1996 Big Ten standings at 7–1 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Ohio State7–111–1OSU 20–17 ASU
Northwestern7–19–3TENN 48–28 NU
Penn State6–211–2PSU 38–15 TEX
Iowa6–29–3IOWA 27–0 TTU
Michigan5–38–4ALA 17–14 MICH
Michigan State5–36–6STAN 38–0 MSU
Wisconsin3–58–5WIS 38–10 UTAH
Purdue2–63–8–
Minnesota1–74–7–
Indiana1–73–8–
Illinois1–72–9–

BIG WEST

Nevada finished atop the 1996 Big West standings at 4–1 in conference play (9–3 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Nevada4–19–3NEV 18–15 BALL
Utah State4–15–5–
North Texas3–25–6–
Boise State1–42–10–
New Mexico State0–51–9–

CUSA

Southern Miss finished atop the 1996 CUSA standings at 4–1 in conference play (8–3 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Southern Miss4–18–3–
Houston4–17–5SYR 30–17 HOU
Cincinnati2–36–5–
Louisville2–35–6–
Memphis2–34–7–
Tulane1–42–9–

MAC

Ball State finished atop the 1996 MAC standings at 7–1 in conference play (8–4 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Ball State7–18–4NEV 18–15 BALL
Toledo6–27–4–
Miami (OH)6–26–5–
Ohio5–36–6–
Central Michigan4–45–6–
Bowling Green3–54–7–
Akron3–54–7–
Eastern Michigan3–53–8–
Western Michigan2–62–9–
Kent State1–72–9–

MVFC

Missouri State finished atop the 1996 MVFC standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Missouri State0–00–1

OVC

Middle Tennessee finished atop the 1996 OVC standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Middle Tennessee0–00–1

PACIFIC 10

Arizona State finished atop the 1996 Pacific 10 standings at 8–0 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Arizona State8–011–1OSU 20–17 ASU
Washington7–19–3COLO 33–21 WASH
Stanford5–37–5STAN 38–0 MSU
UCLA4–45–6–
California3–56–6NAVY 42–38 CAL
Oregon3–56–5–
USC3–56–6–
Arizona3–55–6–
Washington State3–55–6–
Oregon State1–72–9–

SEC

Florida finished atop the 1996 SEC standings at 9–0 in conference play (12–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Florida9–012–1FLA 52–20 FSU
Tennessee7–110–2TENN 48–28 NU
Alabama6–310–3ALA 17–14 MICH
LSU6–210–2LSU 10–7 CLEM
Auburn4–48–4AUB 32–29 ARMY
South Carolina4–46–5–
Georgia3–55–6–
Mississippi State3–55–6–
Kentucky3–54–7–
Ole Miss2–65–6–
Arkansas2–64–7–
Vanderbilt0–82–9–

SOCON

Georgia Southern and App State finished atop the 1996 SoCon standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Georgia Southern0–00–1
App State0–00–1

SOUTHLAND

Texas State finished atop the 1996 Southland standings at 1–0.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Texas State0–01–0
Jacksonville State0–00–2
Sam Houston0–00–2

WESTERN ATHLETIC

BYU finished atop the 1996 Western Athletic standings at 10–0 in conference play (14–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
BYU10–014–1BYU 19–15 KSU
Wyoming7–210–2BYU 28–25 WYO
San Diego State6–28–3–
Utah6–28–4WIS 38–10 UTAH
Rice6–27–4–
Colorado State6–27–5–
Air Force5–36–5–
SMU4–45–6–
New Mexico3–56–5–
Fresno State3–54–7–
TCU3–54–7–
San José State3–53–9–
Tulsa2–64–7–
Hawai'i1–72–10–
UNLV1–81–11–
UTEP0–82–9–

INDEPENDENTS

Army finished atop the 1996 independents at 10–2.

TEAMOVERALLBOWL
Army10–2AUB 32–29 ARMY
Navy9–3NAVY 42–38 CAL
Notre Dame8–3–
East Carolina8–3–
Louisiana Tech6–5–
UCF5–6–
UAB5–6–
UL Monroe5–6–
Louisiana5–6–
Arkansas State4–7–
Northern Illinois1–10–
Western Kentucky0–1–
Delaware0–1–

OTHER POSTSEASON RESULTS

15 GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Jan 1, 1997Postseason gameTennessee 48, Northwestern 28
Jan 1, 1997Postseason gameNorth Carolina 20, West Virginia 13
Jan 1, 1997Postseason gameAlabama 17, Michigan 14
Dec 31, 1996Postseason gameStanford 38, Michigan State 0
Dec 31, 1996Postseason gameAuburn 32, Army 29
Dec 30, 1996Postseason gameColorado 33, Washington 21
Dec 29, 1996Postseason gameIowa 27, Texas Tech 0
Dec 27, 1996Postseason gameMiami 31, Virginia 21
Dec 27, 1996Postseason gameWisconsin 38, Utah 10
Dec 27, 1996Postseason gameSyracuse 30, Houston 17
Dec 25, 1996Postseason gameNavy 42, California 38
Dec 19, 1996Postseason gameNevada 18, Ball State 15
Dec 7, 1996Postseason gameTexas 37, Nebraska 27
Dec 7, 1996Postseason gameFlorida 45, Alabama 30
Dec 7, 1996Postseason gameBYU 28, Wyoming 25