1997 College Football Season

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

SPLIT TITLE
AP CHAMPIONMichigan12–0 overall
COACHES CHAMPIONNebraska13–0 overall
HEISMANCharles WoodsonMichigan · CB
BEST QBPeyton ManningTennessee · Davey O’Brien Award
#1 PICKPeyton ManningTennessee · Indianapolis Colts, 1998 draft

MAJOR BOWL RESULTS

6 BOWL GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Jan 2, 1998Peach BowlAuburn 21, Clemson 17
Jan 2, 1998Orange BowlNebraska 42, Tennessee 17
Jan 1, 1998Sugar BowlFlorida State 31, Ohio State 14
Jan 1, 1998Cotton BowlUCLA 29, Texas A&M 23
Jan 1, 1998Rose BowlMichigan 21, Washington State 16
Dec 31, 1997Fiesta BowlKansas State 35, Syracuse 18

1997 STANDINGS

14 CONFERENCES + INDEPENDENTS

ACC

Florida State finished atop the 1997 ACC standings at 8–0 in conference play (11–1 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Florida State8–011–1FSU 31–14 OSU
North Carolina7–111–1UNC 42–3 VT
Georgia Tech5–37–5GT 35–30 WVU
Virginia5–37–4–
Clemson4–47–5AUB 21–17 CLEM
NC State3–56–5–
Wake Forest3–55–6–
Maryland1–72–9–
Duke0–82–9–

ATLANTIC 10

James Madison finished atop the 1997 Atlantic 10 standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
James Madison0–00–1

BIG 12

Nebraska finished atop the 1997 Big 12 standings at 9–0 in conference play (13–0 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Nebraska9–013–0NEB 42–17 TENN
Kansas State7–111–1KSU 35–18 SYR
Texas A&M6–39–4UCLA 29–23 TA&M
Oklahoma State5–38–4PUR 33–20 OKST
Missouri5–37–5CSU 35–24 MIZ
Texas Tech5–36–5–
Kansas3–55–6–
Colorado3–55–6–
Oklahoma2–64–8–
Texas2–64–7–
Baylor1–72–9–
Iowa State1–71–10–

BIG EAST

Syracuse finished atop the 1997 Big East standings at 6–1 in conference play (9–4 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Syracuse6–19–4KSU 35–18 SYR
Virginia Tech5–27–5UNC 42–3 VT
West Virginia4–37–5GT 35–30 WVU
Pittsburgh4–36–6USM 41–7 PITT
Miami3–45–6–
Boston College3–44–7–
Temple3–43–8–
Rutgers0–70–11–

BIG TEN

Michigan finished atop the 1997 Big Ten standings at 8–0 in conference play (12–0 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Michigan8–012–0MICH 21–16 WSU
Ohio State6–210–3FSU 31–14 OSU
Purdue6–29–3PUR 33–20 OKST
Penn State6–29–3FLA 21–6 PSU
Wisconsin5–38–5UGA 33–6 WIS
Iowa4–47–5ASU 17–7 IOWA
Michigan State4–47–5WASH 51–23 MSU
Northwestern3–55–7–
Minnesota1–73–9–
Indiana1–72–9–
Illinois0–80–11–

BIG WEST

Utah State finished atop the 1997 Big West standings at 4–1 in conference play (6–6 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Utah State4–16–6CIN 35–19 USU
Nevada4–15–6–
Boise State3–24–6–
North Texas2–34–7–
New Mexico State0–51–9–

CUSA

Southern Miss finished atop the 1997 CUSA standings at 6–0 in conference play (9–3 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Southern Miss6–09–3USM 41–7 PITT
Tulane5–17–4–
East Carolina4–25–6–
Cincinnati2–48–4CIN 35–19 USU
Memphis2–44–7–
Houston2–43–8–
Louisville0–61–10–

MAC

Marshall finished atop the 1997 MAC standings at 8–1 in conference play (10–3 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Marshall8–110–3MISS 34–31 MRSH
Toledo7–29–3MRSH 34–14 TOL
Western Michigan6–28–3–
Ohio6–28–3–
Miami (OH)6–28–3–
Ball State4–45–6–
Eastern Michigan4–54–7–
Bowling Green3–53–8–
Kent State3–53–8–
Akron2–72–9–
Central Michigan1–72–9–
Northern Illinois0–80–11–

MVFC

Missouri State finished atop the 1997 MVFC standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Missouri State0–00–1

PACIFIC 10

Washington State and UCLA finished atop the 1997 Pacific 10 standings at 7–1 in conference play (10–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Washington State7–110–2MICH 21–16 WSU
UCLA7–110–2UCLA 29–23 TA&M
Arizona State6–29–3ASU 17–7 IOWA
Washington5–38–4WASH 51–23 MSU
Arizona4–47–5ARIZ 20–14 UNM
USC4–46–5–
Oregon3–57–5ORE 41–13 AF
Stanford3–55–6–
California1–73–8–
Oregon State0–83–8–

SEC

Tennessee finished atop the 1997 SEC standings at 8–1 in conference play (11–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Tennessee8–111–2NEB 42–17 TENN
Florida6–210–2FLA 21–6 PSU
Georgia6–210–2UGA 33–6 WIS
Auburn6–310–3AUB 21–17 CLEM
LSU6–29–3LSU 27–9 ND
Ole Miss4–48–4MISS 34–31 MRSH
Mississippi State4–47–4–
South Carolina3–55–6–
Kentucky2–65–6–
Arkansas2–64–7–
Alabama2–64–7–
Vanderbilt0–83–8–

SOCON

App State finished atop the 1997 SoCon standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
App State0–00–1

SOUTHLAND

Jacksonville State and Sam Houston finished atop the 1997 Southland standings at 0–1.

TEAMCONFOVERALL
Jacksonville State0–00–1
Sam Houston0–00–1

WESTERN ATHLETIC

Colorado State finished atop the 1997 Western Athletic standings at 8–1 in conference play (11–2 overall).

TEAMCONFOVERALLBOWL
Colorado State8–111–2CSU 35–24 MIZ
Air Force6–210–3ORE 41–13 AF
New Mexico6–39–4ARIZ 20–14 UNM
Rice5–37–4–
SMU5–36–5–
Fresno State5–36–6–
Utah5–36–5–
Wyoming4–47–6–
BYU4–46–5–
San Diego State4–45–7–
San José State4–44–7–
UTEP3–54–7–
UNLV2–63–8–
Tulsa2–62–9–
Hawai'i1–72–9–
TCU1–71–10–

INDEPENDENTS

Louisiana Tech finished atop the 1997 independents at 9–2.

TEAMOVERALLBOWL
Louisiana Tech9–2–
Notre Dame7–6LSU 27–9 ND
Navy7–4–
UCF5–6–
UAB5–6–
UL Monroe5–7–
Army4–7–
Arkansas State2–9–
Louisiana1–10–
Western Kentucky0–1–
Buffalo0–1–

OTHER POSTSEASON RESULTS

18 GAMES
DATEBOWLRESULT
Jan 1, 1998Postseason gameFlorida 21, Penn State 6
Jan 1, 1998Postseason gameGeorgia 33, Wisconsin 6
Jan 1, 1998Postseason gameNorth Carolina 42, Virginia Tech 3
Dec 31, 1997Postseason gameSouthern Miss 41, Pittsburgh 7
Dec 31, 1997Postseason gameArizona State 17, Iowa 7
Dec 30, 1997Postseason gamePurdue 33, Oklahoma State 20
Dec 29, 1997Postseason gameCincinnati 35, Utah State 19
Dec 29, 1997Postseason gameGeorgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30
Dec 29, 1997Postseason gameColorado State 35, Missouri 24
Dec 28, 1997Postseason gameLSU 27, Notre Dame 9
Dec 27, 1997Postseason gameArizona 20, New Mexico 14
Dec 26, 1997Postseason gameOle Miss 34, Marshall 31
Dec 25, 1997Postseason gameWashington 51, Michigan State 23
Dec 20, 1997Postseason gameOregon 41, Air Force 13
Dec 6, 1997Postseason gameTennessee 30, Auburn 29
Dec 6, 1997Postseason gameNebraska 54, Texas A&M 15
Dec 6, 1997Postseason gameColorado State 41, New Mexico 13
Dec 5, 1997Postseason gameMarshall 34, Toledo 14