CFB flashback: 1990 season

We’ve recently discussed 1998, 1996, and 1984. 1990 may be one of the most bizarre seasons yet...and rivals 2007 IMO.

Notable events:

- Preseason #1 and defending champ Miami loses their opener to BYU. The Cougars would finish 10-3, giving up a then bowl record of 65 points to Texas A&M.

- BYU’s rich qb tradition continued as South Texan native Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy.

- Gene Stallings takes over the Alabama program, and promptly drops a game to Southern Miss and Brett Favre.

- In one of the worst officiating mistakes of all time, referees give Colorado five downs to punch it in against Missouri in the game’s final moments. CU wins 33-31. Inexplicably, the game stands and not much of an uproar is made on the sidelines.

- ND beats Miami in South Bend in a matchup of national powers. This ends Miami’s hopes of repeating, although they still finished with an AP vote for #1, thanks in part to their thrashing of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, 46-3. The Canes racked up over 200 yards in penalties.

- a Scott Sisson field goal gives Georgia Tech a last second win over #1 Virginia, coached by the great George Welsh.

- Auburn matches Alabama’s loss to Southern Miss, losing 13-12 to the Golden Eagles and nearly falling out of the rankings after being #2 two weeks prior.

- David Klingler lit up scoreboards after the departure of Heisman Winner Andre Ware. Cougs’ probation prevented them from bowls despite a 10-1 record. They finished the year with a 62-45 win over Arizona State in Tokyo.

- Florida, at 6-1, was ineligible for the SEC crown. One would argue Tennessee was more deserving at 5-1-1 because they smashed the Gators 45-3 in Knoxville.

- Colorado, who rallied to #1 despite a tie against Tennessee in the opener, and a loss @Illinois, and the controversial Missouri win, knocked off the Irish in the Orange Bowl on a questionable call negating Rocket Ismail’s potential game-winning TD. This cements the AP title for the Buffs.

- Georgia Tech started the season unranked, but entered the Citrus Bowl with a single blemish, a tie against Mack Brown’s UNC squad. The Jackets throttled Nebraska 45-21. This prompted Tom Osborne to vote GT #1, giving the Jackets a Coach’s Poll title by a single vote. This remains the last D1-A/FBS title by a Georgia school.