1984 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season was topsy-turvy from start to finish. It ended with the BYU Cougars being bestowed their first and only national championship by beating Michigan in the Holiday Bowl. While the Cougars finished with a perfect 13–0 record and were the consensus National Champions, some commentators maintain this title was undeserved citing their weak schedule (none of their conference opponents in the WAC finished with fewer than four losses, and even Michigan finished the season at 6–6 after the bowl loss) and argue that the championship should have gone to the 11–1 Washington Huskies. Despite this the Cougars were voted No. 1 in the final AP and UPI polls. The Huskies (and five other teams) declined an invitation to play BYU in the Holiday Bowl; they decided instead to play Oklahoma in the more prestigious 1985 Orange Bowl. All subsequent national champions have come from what are now known as the Power Five conferences + Notre Dame.

1984 NCAA Division I-A season
Number of teams	105
Preseason AP No. 1	Auburn[1]
Post-season
Duration	December 15, 1984 – January 1, 1985
Bowl games	18
Heisman Trophy	Doug Flutie (quarterback, Boston College)
Champion(s)	BYU
Division I-A football seasons
← 1983 1985 →

Rule changes

• Defensive pass interference will be penalized 15 yards from the previous spot if the foul occurs more than 15 yards downfield. If the foul occurred 15 yards or less downfield, the penalty will be enforced at the spot of the foul.
• Kickoffs that go through the back of the end zone or out of bounds in the end zone in the air untouched will be brought out to the 30-yard line instead of the 20.
• Clipping is limited to an area 6-10 yards from the line of scrimmage.
• Wide receivers are only permitted to block below the waist once the ball passes the line of scrimmage.
• Eliminating the PAT if the game has been decided, and if both teams agree.
• Offensive face-masking is now a foul, penalized 15 yards.

Conference standings

1984 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 12 Maryland $ 5 – 0 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 No. 20 Virginia 3 – 1 – 2     8 – 2 – 2 North Carolina 3 – 2 – 1     5 – 5 – 1 Wake Forest 3 – 3 – 0     6 – 5 – 0 Georgia Tech 2 – 2 – 1     6 – 4 – 1 NC State 1 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 Duke 1 – 5 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 Clemson 0 – 0 – 0*     7 – 4 – 0 $ – Conference champion * – Clemson was under NCAA and ACC probation and was ineligible for the ACC title. As a result, their ACC games did not count in the league standings.[2] Rankings from AP Poll	1984 Big Eight Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 4 Nebraska + 6 – 1 – 0     10 – 2 – 0 No. 6 Oklahoma + 6 – 1 – 0     9 – 2 – 1 No. 7 Oklahoma State 5 – 2 – 0     10 – 2 – 0 Kansas 4 – 3 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Missouri 2 – 4 – 1     3 – 7 – 1 Kansas State 2 – 4 – 1     3 – 7 – 1 Colorado 1 – 6 – 0     1 – 10 – 0 Iowa State 0 – 5 – 2     2 – 7 – 2 + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll	1984 Big Ten Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 13 Ohio State $ 7 – 2 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 Illinois 6 – 3 – 0     7 – 4 – 0 Purdue 6 – 3 – 0     7 – 5 – 0 No. 16 Iowa 5 – 3 – 1     8 – 4 – 1 Wisconsin 5 – 3 – 1     7 – 4 – 1 Michigan State 5 – 4 – 0     6 – 6 – 0 Michigan 5 – 4 – 0     6 – 6 – 0 Minnesota 3 – 6 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 Northwestern 2 – 7 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 Indiana 0 – 9 – 0     0 – 11 – 0 $ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll
1984 Mid-American Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T Toledo $ 7 – 1 – 1     8 – 3 – 1 Bowling Green 7 – 2 – 0     8 – 3 – 0 Central Michigan 6 – 2 – 1     8 – 2 – 1 Ohio 4 – 4 – 1     4 – 6 – 1 Northern Illinois 3 – 5 – 1     4 – 6 – 1 Miami 3 – 5 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 Ball State 3 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 Western Michigan 3 – 6 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Kent State 3 – 6 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 Eastern Michigan 2 – 5 – 2     2 – 7 – 2 $ – Conference champion	1984 Missouri Valley Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T Tulsa $ 5 – 0 – 0     6 – 5 – 0 No. 5 Indiana State ^ 3 – 1 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 Illinois State 3 – 2 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Wichita State 2 – 2 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 Drake 2 – 3 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 West Texas State 1 – 3 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 Southern Illinois 0 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant The conference was a hybrid of NCAA Division I-A and I-AA programs. Tulsa and Wichita State were I-A and the other teams were I-AA. Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll	1984 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T Cal State Fullerton $ 7 – 0 – 0     12 – 0 – 0 San Jose State 6 – 1 – 0     7 – 4 – 0 Fresno State 4 – 3 – 0     7 – 5 – 0 Long Beach State 4 – 3 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Pacific (CA) 3 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Utah State 2 – 4 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 New Mexico State 1 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 UNLV 0 – 7 – 0     0 – 13 – 0 $ – Conference champion Records adjusted for UNLV's forfeit of all 11 victories}
1984 Pacific-10 Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 10 USC $ 7 – 1 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 No. 2 Washington 6 – 1 – 0     11 – 1 – 0 No. 9 UCLA 5 – 2 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 Arizona 5 – 2 – 0     7 – 4 – 0 Washington State 4 – 3 – 0     6 – 5 – 0 Arizona State 3 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Oregon 3 – 5 – 0     6 – 5 – 0 Stanford 3 – 5 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Oregon State 1 – 7 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 California 1 – 8 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll	1984 Southeastern Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 3 Florida 5 – 0 – 1     9 – 1 – 1 No. 15 LSU $ 4 – 1 – 1     8 – 3 – 1 No. 14 Auburn 4 – 2 – 0     9 – 4 – 0 Georgia 4 – 2 – 0     7 – 4 – 1 No. 19 Kentucky 3 – 3 – 0     9 – 3 – 0 Tennessee 3 – 3 – 0     7 – 4 – 1 Vanderbilt 2 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Alabama 2 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Ole Miss 1 – 5 – 0     4 – 6 – 1 Mississippi State 1 – 5 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference champion Florida was assessed a postseason ban following an NCAA investigation, and the SEC subsequently vacated any championship. The Sugar Bowl automatic bid for the conference champion was awarded to LSU. Under modern rules, LSU would be credited with the conference championship. Rankings from AP Poll	1984 Southwest Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 8 SMU + 6 – 2 – 0     10 – 2 – 0 Houston + 6 – 2 – 0     7 – 5 – 0 TCU 5 – 3 – 0     8 – 4 – 0 Arkansas 5 – 3 – 0     7 – 4 – 1 Texas 5 – 3 – 0     7 – 4 – 1 Baylor 4 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0 Texas A&M 3 – 5 – 0     6 – 5 – 0 Texas Tech 2 – 6 – 0     4 – 7 – 0 Rice 0 – 8 – 0     1 – 10 – 0 + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll
1984 Western Athletic Conference football standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 1 BYU $ 8 – 0 – 0     13 – 0 – 0 Hawaii 5 – 2 – 0     7 – 4 – 0 Air Force 4 – 3 – 0     8 – 4 – 0 Utah 4 – 3 – 1     6 – 5 – 1 San Diego State 4 – 3 – 1     4 – 7 – 1 Wyoming 4 – 4 – 0     6 – 6 – 0 Colorado State 3 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0 New Mexico 1 – 7 – 0     4 – 8 – 0 UTEP 1 – 7 – 0     2 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll	1984 NCAA Division I-A independents football records Conf     Overall Team W   L   T     W   L   T No. 5 Boston College   –   –       10 – 2 – 0 No. 11 South Carolina   –   –       10 – 2 – 0 Army   –   –       8 – 3 – 1 Rutgers   –   –       7 – 3 – 0 No. 17 Florida State   –   –       7 – 3 – 2 Virginia Tech   –   –       8 – 4 – 0 West Virginia   –   –       8 – 4 – 0 No. 18 Miami (FL)   –   –       8 – 5 – 0 Notre Dame   –   –       7 – 5 – 0 Southwestern Louisiana   –   –       6 – 5 – 0 Penn State   –   –       6 – 5 – 0 Syracuse   –   –       6 – 5 – 0 Temple   –   –       6 – 5 – 0 Memphis State   –   –       5 – 5 – 1 Navy   –   –       4 – 6 – 1 Southern Miss   –   –       4 – 7 – 0 Pittsburgh   –   –       3 – 7 – 1 Tulane   –   –       3 – 8 – 0 Cincinnati   –   –       2 – 9 – 0 East Carolina   –   –       2 – 9 – 0 Louisville   –   –       2 – 9 – 0 Rankings from AP Poll

AP Final poll

1. BYU
2. Washington
3. Florida
4. Nebraska
5. Boston College
6. Oklahoma
7. Oklahoma State
8. SMU
9. UCLA
10. USC
11. South Carolina
12. Maryland
13. Ohio State
14. Auburn
15. LSU
16. Iowa
17. Florida State
18. Miami (FL)
19. Kentucky
20. Virginia

Coaches Final Poll

1. BYU
2. Washington
3. Nebraska
4. Boston College
5. Oklahoma State
6. Oklahoma
7. Florida
8. SMU
9. University of Southern California
10. UCLA
11. Maryland
12. Ohio State
13. South Carolina
14. Auburn
15. Iowa
16. LSU
17. Virginia
18. West Virginia
19. Kentucky
20. Florida St.

Notable rivalry games

• SMU 26, Texas Christian 17
• Alabama 17, Auburn 15
• West Virginia 28, Pitt 10
• Texas Christian 38, Baylor 28
• Arizona 16, Arizona State 10
• Florida State 38, Miami (FL) 3
• Florida 27, Florida State 17
• Florida 27, Georgia 0
• Georgia Tech 35, Georgia 18
• Iowa 59, Iowa State 21
• LSU 33, Tulane 15
• Michigan State 19, Michigan 7
• Army 28, Navy 11
• Notre Dame 19, USC 7
• Ohio State 21, Michigan 6
• Oklahoma 17, Nebraska 7
• Oklahoma 24, Oklahoma State 14
• Oregon 31, Oregon State 6
• South Carolina 22, Clemson 21
• Texas 15, Oklahoma 15
• UCLA 29, USC 10
• Washington 38, Washington State 29
• Minnesota 17, Wisconsin 14
• BYU 24, Utah 14
• Texas A&M 37, Texas 12
• Pitt 31, Penn State 11

Bowl games

• Holiday Bowl: No. 1 Brigham Young 24, Michigan 17
• Orange Bowl: No. 4 Washington 28, No. 2 Oklahoma 17
• Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Nebraska 28, No. 11 LSU 10
• Rose Bowl: No. 18 USC 20, No. 6 Ohio State 17
• Gator Bowl: No. 9 Oklahoma State 21, No. 7 South Carolina 14
• Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Boston College 45, Houston 28
• Aloha Bowl: No. 10 Southern Methodist 27, No. 17 Notre Dame 20
• Fiesta Bowl: No. 14 UCLA 39, No. 13 Miami (FL) 37
• Florida Citrus: No. 15 Florida State 17, Georgia 17
• Liberty Bowl: No. 16 Auburn 21, Arkansas 15
• Freedom Bowl: Iowa 55, No. 19 Texas 17
• Hall of Fame Bowl: Kentucky 20, No. 20 Wisconsin 19
• Peach Bowl: Virginia 27, Purdue 24
• Sun Bowl: No. 12 Maryland 28, Tennessee 27
• Independence Bowl: Air Force 23, Virginia Tech 7
• Bluebonnet Bowl: West Virginia 31, Texas Christian 14
• Cherry Bowl: Army 10, Michigan State 6
• California Bowl: UNLV 30, Toledo 13

Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is given to the Most Outstanding Player of the year.

1. Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College (2,240 points)
2. Keith Byars, RB, Ohio State (1,251)
3. Robbie Bosco, QB, Brigham Young (443)
4. Bernie Kosar, QB, Miami (FL) (320)
5. Kenneth Davis, RB, TCU (86)
6. Bill Fralic, OT, Pittsburgh (81 )
7. Greg Allen, RB, Florida State (37)
8. Chuck Long, QB, Iowa (37)
9. Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State (36)
10. Rueben Mayes, RB, Washington State (32)

Source:[3][4]

Other annual awards

• Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) – Doug Flutie, Boston College
• Walter Camp Award (Back) – Doug Flutie, Boston College
• Davey O'Brien Award (Quarterback) – Doug Flutie, Boston College
• Lombardi Award (Lineman or Linebacker) – Tony Degrate, Texas
• Outland Trophy (Interior Lineman) – Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech
• Paul "Bear" Bryant Award – LaVell Edwards, BYU

References

1. "1983 Preseason AP Football Poll - AP Poll Archive - Historical College Football and Basketball Polls and Rankings". Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
2. Williams, Larry (2012). The Danny Ford Years at Clemson.
3. "Flutie can believe it now: the Heisman is his". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 2, 1984. p. 1B.
4. "Flutie easy winner in Heisman voting". Sunday Star-News. Wilmington, North Carolina). (New York Times). December 2, 1984. p. 1D.