Best College Football Teams of the Decade: 1990s
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College football is back! The start of the season is just days away and college football fans are ecstatic! Besides the start of a new season, this is also the start of a new decade in college football. This decade begins with some traditional college football powers still on top (Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Texas), others looking to get back to elite status (Miami, Notre Dame, Florida State) and a few young programs trying to make room for their own spot in the discussion (Boise State, Connecticut). Before we look forward the new season, here is a look back at the top five teams of the 1990s.
#5 1991 Washington Huskies
The 1991 Washington Huskies often get overlooked in the discussion of great teams. With a 12-0 record and led by a dominant defense, the Washington Huskies shared the national championship with Miami in 1991. The offense averaged over 41 points per game, while the defense held opponents to less than 10 points per game. During the season, Washington beat #9 Nebraska, #7 California and finished with a strong victory over #4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Eleven players off the team were selected in the 1992 NFL Draft including the top pick in the draft defensive lineman Steve Emtman.
#4 1999 Florida State Seminoles
The 1999 Florida State Seminoles were Bobby Bowden’s second national championship team. Florida State dominated football in the 1990s winning its first title in 1993. Losses to Florida and Tennessee in championship games got Florida State close to another title, but it wasn’t until 1999 that they achieved that goal. In 1999, FloridaState became the first college football team to ever be ranked #1 from the preseason through the bowl games at the end of the year. The offense, led by Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick and Anquan Boldin, averaged 37.5 points per game. The defense, which was one of the best in football throughout the entire decade, allowed just over 15 points per game. The season was capped off with a 46-29 victory of Virginia Tech (led by freshman Michael Vick) in the Sugar Bowl.
#3 1994 Penn State Nittany Lions
Like Auburn ten years later, the 1994 Penn State Nittany Lions did everything right on the field, but were still denied a shot at a national title. Penn State rolled to a 12-0 record with a roster filled with talent at every position. Quarterback Kerry Collins thrived behind an offensive line that allowed only 4 sacks all year. Ki-Jana Carter, Kyle Brady and Bobby Engram rounded out an offense that went undefeated through a tough Big Ten schedule. Penn State defeated four ranked teams including a 38-20 victory over #12 Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Many Penn State football fans felt cheated out of a title as the championship was given to Nebraska and its coach Tom Osborne. Many viewed this as a ‘sympathy title’ for Osborne since he had been close many times with Nebraska over the previous 20 years but could never quite win it all. Even with an undefeated record, the Nittany Lions could finish no higher than #2 in the final rankings.
#2 1996 Florida Gators
Steve Spurrier changed the way football was played in the SEC. He brought an up-tempo, high scoring offense to the league and none of his teams executed it as well as the 1996 Gators. After getting embarrassed the year before by Nebraska for the championship, Florida came back stronger than ever before. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, the Gators averaged 46.6 points per game on their way to a 12-1 record. Their only loss came against #2 FloridaState 24-21. Luckily for the Gators a win over Alabama in the SEC Championship game and upsets in other conference title games gave Florida the opportunity it was looking for, a rematch against Florida State for the national championship. The Gators dominated the Seminoles 52-20 on their way to winning the national championship.
#1 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Only a few teams have a legitimate case as being called the greatest college football team of all time and almost none have a better case than the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska won the national championship in 1994, but the team they brought back was truly dominating. The Cornhuskers rolled to a 12-0 record, averaging 53 points per game. The lowest point total they scored all season was 35 points against Washington State. They were an offensive machine. Led by quarterback Tommie Frazier, the Cornhuskers scored 40+ points ten times, 50+ points six times, 60+ points four times and 70+ points two times. The final display was a great all around performance as Nebraska crushed Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl. During the game Nebraska racked up 629 yards of total offense including an amazing 524 rushing yards. Not to be outdone, the defense completely shut down the Florida offense in a way most people thought was impossible. Nebraska’s defense recorded a safety, seven sacks, and three interceptions and held Florida to -28 yards rushing in one of the great team performances of all time.
Which team was the greatest of the 1990s?
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readytoescape 21 months ago
By far, of the teams listed, the 1999 Seminoles were the best. They were the only team in NCAA history to go wire to wire as Number 1 since rankings began in 1936.
The Seminoles also by any comparison were the best team throughout the decade of the 1990’s with an 89% winning percentage. From 1987 through 2000 they were ranked in the top 5 of the country, an NCAA record 14 times in consecutive years, (and only once as number 5 in 2000). Their record during those was 152-19-1, with 11 of the 19 losses decided by 7 points or less.
In the same period they won 11 of 14 Bowl games, the first loss coming in 1996 Sugar Bowl National Championship game, billed as the “Fifth Quarter In the French Quarter” which was a replay of the final game of the regular season where the Undefeated Seminoles ranked #2, played the undefeated #1 Gators, the Seminoles won 24-21, also known as the "First Game of te Century". This game, even though the Gators lost, also sealed the Hiesman Trophy for Gator QB Danny Wuerffel for his heroic performance against arguably the best collegiate defensive line ever to set foot on the grid iron.
The Seminoles played in 5 National Championship games from 1993 to 2001, winning 2 national championships in 93 and 99 and they boast 2 Hiesman trophy winners Charlie Ward,1993 and Chris Weinke,1999.
Arguably two of the losses in championship games can be attributed to: an FSU team Flu epidemic in 1996. the replay of the Gators (above), and 1998 vs Tennessee. injury loss at quarterback (future Hiesman winner Chris Weinke) otherwise FSU may have had four National Championships during the period.
I’m not sure there can be any doubt about which was the best team during the 1990”s. Thanks for letting me reminisce. Damn Sure Miss Bobby.