1989 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its third National Championship during the 1980s, cementing its claim as the decade's top team, winning more titles than any other program.
Notre Dame signed a six-year, $30 million deal with NBC, granting the network the exclusive rights to broadcast Notre Dame football, however the deal would not start until 1991.
Florida State begins 0–2, but finishes the season 10–2, having beaten the National Champions Miami earlier in the season and beating Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.
Two big names retired from the coaching ranks, Michigan's Bo Schembechler and Oklahoma's Barry Switzer, while Steve Spurrier was hired by Florida away from Duke in an effort to clean up after a decade of NCAA sanctions.
Houston quarterback Andre Ware ran the run and shoot offense all the way to the Heisman Trophy and numerous records.
Rule changes
- Use of a kicking tee for field goals and extra points is prohibited.[2]
- Five-yard delay of game penalties will be enforced on home teams when crowd noise is too loud for opponents to hear signals.
Conference and program changes
One team upgraded from Division I-AA and one resumed play after being suspended for two seasons, thus increasing the number of Division I-A teams from 104 to 106.
Conference standings
#1 and #2 progress
WEEKS |
#1 |
#2 |
Event |
|
PRE |
Michigan |
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame 36, Virginia 13 |
Aug 31 |
1–2 |
Notre Dame |
Michigan |
Notre Dame 24, Michigan 19 |
Sep 16 |
3–7 |
Notre Dame |
Miami |
Florida State 24, Miami 10 |
Oct 28 |
8–11 |
Notre Dame |
Colorado |
Miami 27, Notre Dame 10 |
Nov 25 |
12 |
Colorado |
Alabama |
Auburn 30, Alabama 20 |
Dec 2 |
13 |
Colorado |
Miami |
Notre Dame 21, Colorado 6 |
Jan 1 |
Notable rivalry games
Auburn 30 Alabama 20 First Iron Bowl Played in Auburn
Bowl games
- Rose Bowl: #12 USC 17, #3 Michigan 10
- Sugar Bowl: #2 Miami(FL) 33, #7 Alabama 25
- Cotton Bowl Classic: #8 Tennessee 31, #10 Arkansas 27
- Fiesta Bowl: #5 Florida State 41, #6 Nebraska 17
- Florida Citrus Bowl: #11 Illinois 31, #15 Virginia 21
- Orange Bowl: #4 Notre Dame 21, #1 Colorado 6
- Hall of Fame Bowl: #9 Auburn 31, #21 Ohio State 14
- Gator Bowl: #14 Clemson 27, #17 West Virginia 7
- John Hancock Bowl: #24 Pittsburgh 31, #16 Texas A&M 28
- Copper Bowl: Arizona 17, NC State 10
- Holiday Bowl: #18 Penn State 50, #19 BYU 39
- Freedom Bowl: Washington 34, Florida 7
- Peach Bowl: Syracuse 19, Georgia 18
- All-American Bowl: #25 Texas Tech 49, #20 Duke 21
- Liberty Bowl: Mississippi 42, Air Force 29
- Aloha Bowl: #22 Michigan State 33, #23 Hawaii 13
- Independence Bowl: Oregon 27, Tulsa 24
- California Bowl: Fresno State 27, Ball State 6
Final AP poll
- Miami (FL)
- Notre Dame
- Florida State
- Colorado
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- Michigan
- Southern California
- Alabama
- Illinois
- Nebraska
- Clemson
- Arkansas
- Houston
- Penn State
- Michigan State
- Pittsburgh
- Virginia
- Texas Tech
- Texas A&M
- West Virginia
- BYU
- Washington
- Ohio State
- Arizona
Final Coaches poll
- Miami (FL)
- Florida St.
- Notre Dame
- Colorado
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Southern California
- Illinois
- Clemson
- Nebraska
- Arkansas
- Penn St.
- Virginia
- Texas Tech
- Michigan St.
- Brigham Young
- Pittsburgh
- Washington
Heisman Trophy
- Winner: Andre Ware, Houston, Jr. QB
- Anthony Thompson, Indiana, Sr. RB
- Major Harris, West Virginia, Jr. QB
- Tony Rice, Notre Dame, Sr. QB
- Darian Hagan, Colorado, So. QB
Other major awards
- Maxwell (Player): Anthony Thompson, Indiana
- Camp (Back): Anthony Thompson, Indiana
- O'Brien Award (QB): Andre Ware, Houston
- Rockne (Lineman): Chris Zorich, Notre Dame, NT
- Lombardi (Linebacker): Percy Snow, Michigan St.
- Outland (Interior): Mohammed Elewonibi, BYU
- Coach of the Year: Bill McCartney, Colorado
References