1994 NCAA Division I-A football season
Encyclopedia
The 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season saw yet another controversial finish as both Nebraska
and Penn State finished undefeated, and yet Penn State finished a distant second in the final AP and UPI polls. The controversial finish, however, could have been an even worse morass if not for some end of season results. Late in the season, there were two other undefeated teams: Alabama
and Auburn
. The Auburn Tigers, who had gone undefeated the year before but was barred from post-season play, were 9-0 before tying Georgia and losing to Alabama in the Iron Bowl
. The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0, but lost a heartbreaker 24-23 on a fourth quarter touchdown pass against Florida in the 1994 SEC Championship Game
.
The Bowl Coalition
championship game featured Big Eight Conference
champion Nebraska hosting Big East Conference
champion Miami
in the Orange Bowl
, a game which Nebraska won in a come from behind victory. However, over at the Rose Bowl
, undefeated Penn State defeated Oregon
. After failing to provide a clear national champion for three years in a row, the Coalition would be dismantled in favor of a Bowl Alliance
.
The National Championship was Tom Osborne's first at Nebraska.
Ten years after Doug Flutie
's Hail Mary pass
against Miami
, history would repeat itself as Kordell Stewart
of Colorado
threw a last second, 64-yard Hail Mary
to defeat #4 Michigan
in the Big House
and is called The Miracle at Michigan
. A moral defeat was also handed to Penn State as the already defeated , who had been drubbed 35-14 until Joe Paterno took mercy on them and removed his starters from the game, scored 15 meaningless points--including a Hail Mary TD pass on the final play--to finish with a misleading 35-29 score. Voters promptly demoted Penn State from #1 in a poll and elevated Nebraska to that spot, a result that the Nittany Lions were never able to overcome (not least because, under the Rose Bowl/Orange Bowl selection rules of the time, Penn State could only play in the former contest and Nebraska only in the latter one).
Another notable game was Florida vs. Florida State. Florida led 31-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, but scored 28 points and held Florida scoreless in the fourth quarter to tie the game 31-31.
Rashaan Salaam
of Colorado would win the Heisman Trophy
, but in a very uncommon turn of events, Division I-AA quarterback Steve McNair
of finished third in the final Heisman voting.
Feb 25th, months before the season began, would be an infamous day in the history of the Southwest Conference. An all-Texas
conference could only capture a small portion of the national TV market, and with Arkansas
's flight to the SEC
, other schools began to make plans for associating themselves with other conferences. Texas and Colorado were rumored to be joining the Pac-10, Texas A&M
were thought to be joining the SEC. Ultimately, on February 25, Texas, Texas Tech
, Texas A&M, and Baylor
announced they were going to leave the Southwest Conference for the newly formed Big 12 Conference
. The Southwest Conference would still continue to play for two more years, as the remaining members looked for new homes.
The SEC Championship Game moved from Birmingham, Alabama
to the Georgia Dome
.
The John Hancock Bowl went back to its original name, the Sun Bowl
. The Gator Bowl
was played in Gainesville, Florida
during construction of ALLTEL Stadium, which was to be the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars
and future home of the Gator Bowl game.
Although Nebraska, Penn State and Alabama were still ranked in the Top 10, many of college football's legendary teams finished the regular season with their lowest rankings in years. The Ohio State Buckeyes
were ranked 13th, Michigan was 20th and the USC Trojans 21st, and Notre Dame, and were unranked.
Northeast Louisiana University, now University of Louisiana Monroe joined Division 1-A this year bringing the total number of schools to 107.
is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year
Winner:
Rashaan Salaam
, Colorado
, JR. RB (1400 votes)
1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska...
and Penn State finished undefeated, and yet Penn State finished a distant second in the final AP and UPI polls. The controversial finish, however, could have been an even worse morass if not for some end of season results. Late in the season, there were two other undefeated teams: Alabama
1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was one of a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide football teams; it represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference...
and Auburn
1994 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1994 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Terry Bowden, they continued the success of the previous season by going 9–1–1. Some of Auburn's wins came in dramatic fashion...
. The Auburn Tigers, who had gone undefeated the year before but was barred from post-season play, were 9-0 before tying Georgia and losing to Alabama in the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
. The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0, but lost a heartbreaker 24-23 on a fourth quarter touchdown pass against Florida in the 1994 SEC Championship Game
1994 SEC Championship Game
The 1994 SEC Championship Game was won by the Florida Gators 24-23 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 3, 1994 and was televised to a national audience on ABC.-External links:*...
.
The Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
championship game featured Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
champion Nebraska hosting Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
champion Miami
1994 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1994 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The club was coached by Dennis Erickson and played in the Orange Bowl. In the regular season, the only loss the Hurricanes suffered was against the Washington Huskies The 1994 Miami...
in the Orange Bowl
1995 Orange Bowl
The 1995 Orange Bowl a 1994-1995 college football bowl game was played on January 1, 1995, for the national championship. This 61st edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Miami Hurricanes. Nebraska came into the game with a 12-0 and #1 AP ranking, whereas Miami came...
, a game which Nebraska won in a come from behind victory. However, over at the Rose Bowl
1995 Rose Bowl
The 1995 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on Monday January 2, 1995 because New Year's Day was on a Sunday. It was the 81st Rose Bowl Game. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Oregon Ducks 38–20. Ki-Jana Carter of Penn State and Danny O'Neil of Oregon both were named...
, undefeated Penn State defeated Oregon
1994 Oregon Ducks football team
-Schedule:-Washington:In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5-1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58 game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with...
. After failing to provide a clear national champion for three years in a row, the Coalition would be dismantled in favor of a Bowl Alliance
Bowl Alliance
The Bowl Alliance was an agreement among college football bowl games for the purpose of trying to match the top two teams in a national championship bowl game and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions of its member conferences...
.
The National Championship was Tom Osborne's first at Nebraska.
Ten years after Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
's Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
against Miami
Boston College v. Miami, 1984
The Hail Flutie game is a college football game that took place between the Boston College Eagles and the University of Miami Hurricanes on November 23, 1984. It has been regarded by FOX Sports writer Kevin Hench as among the most memorable moments in sports...
, history would repeat itself as Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
of Colorado
1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney....
threw a last second, 64-yard Hail Mary
Rocket Left
The Miracle at Michigan refers to the final play that occurred during the American football game played on September 24, 1994 between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game was decided on Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart's 64-yard...
to defeat #4 Michigan
1994 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
in the Big House
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
and is called The Miracle at Michigan
The Miracle at Michigan
The Miracle at Michigan refers to the final play that occurred during the American football game played on September 24, 1994 between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game was decided on Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart's 64-yard...
. A moral defeat was also handed to Penn State as the already defeated , who had been drubbed 35-14 until Joe Paterno took mercy on them and removed his starters from the game, scored 15 meaningless points--including a Hail Mary TD pass on the final play--to finish with a misleading 35-29 score. Voters promptly demoted Penn State from #1 in a poll and elevated Nebraska to that spot, a result that the Nittany Lions were never able to overcome (not least because, under the Rose Bowl/Orange Bowl selection rules of the time, Penn State could only play in the former contest and Nebraska only in the latter one).
Another notable game was Florida vs. Florida State. Florida led 31-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, but scored 28 points and held Florida scoreless in the fourth quarter to tie the game 31-31.
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
of Colorado would win the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, but in a very uncommon turn of events, Division I-AA quarterback Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
of finished third in the final Heisman voting.
Feb 25th, months before the season began, would be an infamous day in the history of the Southwest Conference. An all-Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
conference could only capture a small portion of the national TV market, and with Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
's flight to the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, other schools began to make plans for associating themselves with other conferences. Texas and Colorado were rumored to be joining the Pac-10, Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
were thought to be joining the SEC. Ultimately, on February 25, Texas, Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
, Texas A&M, and Baylor
Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
announced they were going to leave the Southwest Conference for the newly formed Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
. The Southwest Conference would still continue to play for two more years, as the remaining members looked for new homes.
The SEC Championship Game moved from Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
.
The John Hancock Bowl went back to its original name, the Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
. The Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
was played in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
during construction of ALLTEL Stadium, which was to be the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and future home of the Gator Bowl game.
Although Nebraska, Penn State and Alabama were still ranked in the Top 10, many of college football's legendary teams finished the regular season with their lowest rankings in years. The Ohio State Buckeyes
1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1994-1995. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–4 record, including the in Orlando, Florida, where they lost 24–17 to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team one point away from playing in...
were ranked 13th, Michigan was 20th and the USC Trojans 21st, and Notre Dame, and were unranked.
Northeast Louisiana University, now University of Louisiana Monroe joined Division 1-A this year bringing the total number of schools to 107.
Conference standings
Bowl Coalition #1 and #2
The Bowl Coalition did not include the Big 10 and Pacific 10 conferences, whose champions played in the Rose Bowl. Penn State, which was ranked #1 in the Oct 18 and Oct 25 polls, and #2 for the remainder of the season, finished the regular season 11-0-0 and played in the Rose Bowl as the champion of the Big Ten.| WEEKS | First | Conference | Second | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRE | Florida | SEC Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama... |
Notre Dame | Independent |
| 1 | Florida | SEC | Nebraska 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska... |
Big 8 Big Eight Conference The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University... |
| 2 | Nebraska | Big 8 | Florida | SEC |
| 3-7 | Florida | SEC | Nebraska | Big 8 |
| 8-9 | #2 Colorado 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team The 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney.... |
Big 8 | #3 Nebraska | Big 8 |
| 10-11 | Nebraska | Big 8 | #3 Auburn 1994 Auburn Tigers football team The 1994 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Terry Bowden, they continued the success of the previous season by going 9–1–1. Some of Auburn's wins came in dramatic fashion... |
SEC |
| 12 | Nebraska | Big 8 | #3 Florida | SEC |
| 13-14 | Nebraska | Big 8 | #3 Alabama 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was one of a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide football teams; it represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference... |
SEC |
| 15 | Nebraska | Big 8 | #3 Miami 1994 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1994 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The club was coached by Dennis Erickson and played in the Orange Bowl. In the regular season, the only loss the Hurricanes suffered was against the Washington Huskies The 1994 Miami... |
Big East Big East Conference The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports... |
Bowl games
- Orange Bowl1995 Orange BowlThe 1995 Orange Bowl a 1994-1995 college football bowl game was played on January 1, 1995, for the national championship. This 61st edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Miami Hurricanes. Nebraska came into the game with a 12-0 and #1 AP ranking, whereas Miami came...
: #1 Nebraska1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football teamThe 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska...
24, #3 Miami1994 Miami Hurricanes football teamThe 1994 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The club was coached by Dennis Erickson and played in the Orange Bowl. In the regular season, the only loss the Hurricanes suffered was against the Washington Huskies The 1994 Miami...
17 - Rose Bowl1995 Rose BowlThe 1995 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on Monday January 2, 1995 because New Year's Day was on a Sunday. It was the 81st Rose Bowl Game. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Oregon Ducks 38–20. Ki-Jana Carter of Penn State and Danny O'Neil of Oregon both were named...
: #2 Penn State 38, #12 Oregon1994 Oregon Ducks football team-Schedule:-Washington:In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5-1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58 game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with...
20: #7 23, #5 Florida 17: #21 USC 55, Texas Tech 14 - Fiesta Bowl1995 Fiesta BowlThe 1995 IBM OS/2 Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 1995, was the 24th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game featured the Colorado Buffaloes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-1st half:...
: #4 Colorado1994 Colorado Buffaloes football teamThe 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney....
41, Notre Dame 24: #23 28, #16 24: #6 Alabama1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was one of a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide football teams; it represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference...
24, #13 Ohio State1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football teamThe 1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1994-1995. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–4 record, including the in Orlando, Florida, where they lost 24–17 to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team one point away from playing in...
17 - Hall of Fame Bowl1995 Hall of Fame BowlThe 1995 edition to the Hall of Fame Bowl featured the , and the Wisconsin Badgers.Wisconsin scored first on a 19 yard interception returned from a touchdown by Jeff Messenger, as Wisconsin opened a 7-0 lead. Wisconsin's John Hall kicked two field goals of 48 and 43 yards as Wisconsin increased its...
: Wisconsin1994 Wisconsin Badgers football teamThe 1994 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule and results:...
34, #25 20: 24, 21 - Sun Bowl1994 Sun BowlThe 1994 Sun Bowl was a post-season college football game played on December 29, 1994. The game pitted the unranked against the #20 North Carolina Tar Heels and eventual Texas head coach Mack Brown. The game was a seesaw offensive battle...
: 35, #18 North Carolina1994 North Carolina Tar Heels football team-Schedule:...
31 - Gator Bowl1994 Gator BowlThe 1994 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the and the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on December 30, 1994...
: Tennessee1994 Tennessee Volunteers football teamThe 1994 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Phillip Fulmer was the head coach.-Season:...
45, #17 23 - Copper Bowl1994 Copper BowlThe 1994 edition to the Copper Bowl featured the , and the .BYU quarterback John Walsh threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Bryce Doman as the BYU Cougars led 7-0 after the 1st quarter. In the second quarter David Lauder hit a 22 yard field goal bringing the lead to 10-0...
: #22 31, 6 - Alamo Bowl1994 Alamo BowlThe 1994 edition to the Alamo Bowl featured the , and the .Washington State had the nation's second ranked defense, and they held Baylor to 151 yards of total offense. Washington State scored in the 1st quarter, on a one yard touchdown run from halfback Kevin Hicks to take a 7-0 lead...
: #24 10, 3 - Holiday Bowl1994 Holiday BowlThe 1994 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1994 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the tenth ranked , and the Michigan Wolverines...
: #20 Michigan1994 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
24, 14: #14 Utah1994 Utah Utes football teamThe 1994 season was the most successful under McBride's tenure at Utah, with the team going 10–2, beating three ranked teams including a 16–13 win over 15th ranked at the , finishing the season ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 8th in the Coaches Poll....
16, #15 13: 30, East Carolina 0 - Aloha Bowl1994 Aloha BowlThe 1994 Aloha Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 25, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was part of the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season...
: 12, #11 Kansas State1994 Kansas State Wildcats football teamThe 1994 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 1994. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. 1994 saw the wildcats finish with a record of 9-3, and a 5-2 record in Big...
7: #18 20, 10: 52, 24
Final AP Poll
- Nebraska1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football teamThe 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska...
- Penn St.
- Colorado1994 Colorado Buffaloes football teamThe 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney....
- Alabama1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was one of a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide football teams; it represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference...
- Miami (FL)1994 Miami Hurricanes football teamThe 1994 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The club was coached by Dennis Erickson and played in the Orange Bowl. In the regular season, the only loss the Hurricanes suffered was against the Washington Huskies The 1994 Miami...
- Florida
- Texas A&M1994 Texas A&M Aggies football teamThe 1994 Texas A&M Aggies football team completed the season with a 10-0-1 record. The Aggies had a regular season Southwest Conference record of 6-0-1...
- Auburn1994 Auburn Tigers football teamThe 1994 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Terry Bowden, they continued the success of the previous season by going 9–1–1. Some of Auburn's wins came in dramatic fashion...
- Utah1994 Utah Utes football teamThe 1994 season was the most successful under McBride's tenure at Utah, with the team going 10–2, beating three ranked teams including a 16–13 win over 15th ranked at the , finishing the season ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 8th in the Coaches Poll....
- Oregon1994 Oregon Ducks football team-Schedule:-Washington:In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5-1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58 game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with...
- Michigan1994 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
- USC
- Ohio St.1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football teamThe 1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1994-1995. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–4 record, including the in Orlando, Florida, where they lost 24–17 to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team one point away from playing in...
- Kansas St.1994 Kansas State Wildcats football teamThe 1994 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 1994. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. 1994 saw the wildcats finish with a record of 9-3, and a 5-2 record in Big...
- Tennessee1994 Tennessee Volunteers football teamThe 1994 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Phillip Fulmer was the head coach.-Season:...
Final Coaches Poll
- Nebraska1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football teamThe 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska...
- Penn St.
- Colorado1994 Colorado Buffaloes football teamThe 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney....
- Alabama1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was one of a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide football teams; it represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference...
- Miami (FL)1994 Miami Hurricanes football teamThe 1994 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The club was coached by Dennis Erickson and played in the Orange Bowl. In the regular season, the only loss the Hurricanes suffered was against the Washington Huskies The 1994 Miami...
- Florida
- Utah1994 Utah Utes football teamThe 1994 season was the most successful under McBride's tenure at Utah, with the team going 10–2, beating three ranked teams including a 16–13 win over 15th ranked at the , finishing the season ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 8th in the Coaches Poll....
- Ohio St.1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football teamThe 1994 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1994-1995. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–4 record, including the in Orlando, Florida, where they lost 24–17 to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team one point away from playing in...
- Oregon1994 Oregon Ducks football team-Schedule:-Washington:In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5-1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58 game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with...
- Michigan1994 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
- Southern California
- Kansas St.1994 Kansas State Wildcats football teamThe 1994 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 1994. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. 1994 saw the wildcats finish with a record of 9-3, and a 5-2 record in Big...
- Tennessee1994 Tennessee Volunteers football teamThe 1994 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. Phillip Fulmer was the head coach.-Season:...
- North Carolina1994 North Carolina Tar Heels football team-Schedule:...
Heisman Trophy voting
The Heisman Memorial Trophy AwardHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year
Winner:
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
, Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, JR. RB (1400 votes)
- 2. Ki-Jana CarterKi-Jana CarterKenneth Leonard "Ki-Jana" Carter is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and later the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. His nickname, "Ki-Jana", is from a character in the movie Shaft in Africa and Carter has...
, Penn St., Jr. RB (1080 votes) - 3. Steve McNairSteve McNairStephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
, Alcorn St., Sr. QB (982 votes) - 4. Kerry CollinsKerry CollinsKerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, Penn St., Sr. QB (392 votes) - 5. Jay BarkerJay BarkerJay Barker is a former professional American football quarterback, and a current Birmingham radio personality.- Football career :...
, Alabama, Sr. QB (294 votes)
Other major awards
- Maxwell AwardMaxwell AwardThe Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
(College Player of the Year) - Kerry CollinsKerry CollinsKerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, Penn StatePennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service... - Walter Camp AwardWalter Camp AwardThe Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
(Back) - Rashaan SalaamRashaan SalaamRashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
, ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... - Davey O'Brien AwardDavey O'Brien AwardThe Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
(Quarterback) - Kerry CollinsKerry CollinsKerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, Penn StatePennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service... - Doak Walker AwardDoak Walker AwardThe Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
(Running Back) - Rashaan SalaamRashaan SalaamRashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
, ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... - Dick Butkus AwardDick Butkus AwardThe Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
(Linebacker) - Dana HowardDana Howard (American football)Dana Howard is a former American football player.In high school, Howard played for the East St. Louis Flyers, where he was coached by Bob Shannon. At the University of Illinois, Howard won the 1994 Dick Butkus Award, presented annually to the best linebacker in college football...
, IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system... - Lombardi AwardLombardi AwardThe Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
(Lineman or Linebacker) - Warren SappWarren SappWarren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
, MiamiUniversity of MiamiThe University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12... - Outland TrophyOutland TrophyThe Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
(Interior Lineman) - Zach WiegertZach WiegertZach Wiegert was an American football offensive tackle. He started 37 consecutive games at right tackle for the Cornhuskers, helping the University of Nebraska to a national championship as a senior.- College career :...
, OT, Nebraska - Jim Thorpe AwardJim Thorpe AwardThe Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
(Defensive Back) - Chris HudsonChris HudsonChristopher Reshard Hudson is a former professional American football safety who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons between 1995 and 2001. Hudson was the winner of the 1994 Jim Thorpe Award as a member of the Colorado Buffaloes.-References:...
, ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... - AFCAAmerican Football Coaches AssociationThe American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
Coach of the Year - Tom Osborne, Nebraska - FWAAFootball Writers Association of AmericaThe Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
Coach of the Year - Joe Paterno, Penn State - Paul "Bear" Bryant Award - Rich BrooksRich BrooksRich Brooks is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Oregon from 1977 to 1994 and at the University of Kentucky from 2003 to 2009, compiling a career college football record of 128–154–4. Brooks was also the head coach of the...
, OregonUniversity of Oregon-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...