1978 NCAA Division I-A football season

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The 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first season of Division I-A football; Division I-A was created in 1978 from the splitting of Division I for football only. The season came down to a rare #1 vs. #2 post-season meeting as #1 Penn State and #2 Alabama met in the New Year's Day Sugar Bowl. The game is most remembered for Alabama's goal line stand with four minutes left in the game. On fourth down and a foot, Alabama managed to keep Penn State out of the end zone and went on to win 14-7. Keith Jackson, who did the play by play for ABC, called it the greatest game he'd ever seen. 76,824 people packed the Louisiana Superdome, which was tremendously loud.

Alabama's only loss that year was 24-14 in Birmingham to Southern California, who were selected the national champions by UPI. Both schools claim this year as a national title year. The was the first year of the Pacific-10 Conference, as the Pac 8 added Arizona schools the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

[edit] Rules changes for 1978

• Unsuccessful field goals are returned to the previous line of scrimmage. Previously they were placed at the 20-yard line.
• Balls may not be altered and new or nearly new balls are to be used.

[edit] Conference Standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, Conf. = Conference Record

[edit] Classic Games

[edit] #1 and #2 Progress

[edit] Bowl Games

[edit] Final AP Poll

1. Alabama (SEC Champ)
2. Southern California (Pac 10 Champ)
3. Oklahoma (Big 8 Champ)
4. Penn St.
5. Michigan (Big 10 Champ)
6. Clemson (ACC Champ)
7. Notre Dame
8. Nebraska
9. Texas
10. Houston (SWC Champ)
11. Arkansas
12. Michigan St.
13. Purdue
14. UCLA
15. Missouri
16. Georgia
17. Stanford
18. North Carolina St.
19. Texas A&M
20. Maryland

[edit] Final Coaches Poll

1. Southern California
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Penn St.
5. Michigan
6. Notre Dame (IN)
7. Clemson (SC)
8. Nebraska
9. Texas
10. Arkansas
11. Houston (TX)
12. UCLA
13. Purdue (IN)
14. Missouri
15. Georgia
16. Stanford (CA)
17. Navy (MD)
18. Texas A&M
19. Arizona St.
20. North Carolina St.

[edit] Heisman Trophy Voting

1. Billy Sims, Oklahoma HB
2. Chuck Fusina, Penn State QB
3. Rick Leach, Michigan QB
4. Charles White, Southern California TB
5. Charles Alexander, LSU TB

[edit] Other Major Awards

• Maxwell (outstanding player) - Chuck Fusina, Penn St. QB
• Outland (Interior Lineman) - Greg Roberts, Oklahoma G
• Camp (Running Back) - Billy Sims, Oklahoma RB
• Lombardi (Linebacker) - Bruce Clark, Penn St. D

[edit] References

• (2005) ESPN college football encyclopedia. ESPN, 1629 p.. ISBN 1401337031.