A Review of P5 vs Ranked Teams in the 1990s

[selmaborntidefan]

Note: unlike the two previous threads of the 70s and 80s, this thread will rank the top 25 rather than just the top 20. Teams in the bottom five will be annotated with ranking to see whether the final ranking is generous or not.

NEBRASKA CORNHOLES RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS
Tom Osborne
1990 - 0-3, lost to #1 Colorado, #1 Ga Tech, #17 Oklahoma
1991 - 1-2-1, beat #16 Oklahoma; lost to #1 Washington, #1 Miami; tied #20 Colorado
1992 - 1-2, beat #13 Colorado; lost to #11 Washington and #2 Florida St
1993 - 4-1, beat Colorado (16), Oklahoma (17), UCLA (18), Kansas St (20); lost to FSU
1994 - 3-0, beat K State (19), Colorado (3), Miami (6)
1995 - 4-0, beat K State, Kansas, Colorado, and Florida (all ranked between 2 and 9)
1996 - 3-2, beat K State, Colorado, Va Tech; lost to Arizona St and Texas (23)
1997 - 4-0, beat K State, Washington, ATM, and Tennessee
Frank Solich
1998 - 1-4, beat Missouri; lost to Texas, ATM, K State, Arizona
1999 - 5-1, beat Texas (21), ATM (23), K State, Tennessee, USM; lost to Texas (reg season)

Overall: 26-15-1

Assessment:
Beginning with January 2, 1989 and ending January 1, 1993 (four years almost to the day), Nebraska compiled a record of 2-8-1 against ranked teams and lost games to four different national champions, all by double digits. Nebraska either won the title or lost to every single national champion but two between 1988-1997 (1992 Alabama and 1996 Florida; and note Nebraska DID lose to a team that probably would have won the title had they won the Rose Bowl, 1996 Arizona State).

This pretty much summarizes Nebraska - they were around the periphery of greatness for decades, but more often than not they came up short. They do deserve immense credit for the 1993-2001 run, but it's likely that with the passing of time and the fading of memories, Florida State's two titles will rank higher than Nebraska's three, although one particular Husker team (1995) is remembered as better than they probably were.

Only four of their games, however, were against teams in the "bottom 5" of the expanded rankings, so Nebraska did play a large number of games against good teams, largely due to being in bowl games every year. The Big Eight improved, and Nebraska was also part of what was supposed to be the new monster conference starting in 1996, the Big 12.




FLORIDA STATE PENITENTIARY CRIMINOLES RECORD VS YEAR-END RANKED TEAMS
1990 - 2-2, beat Florida and Penn St; lost to Miami and Auburn
1991 - 4-2, beat BYU (23), Syracuse, Michigan, ATM; lost to Miami and Florida
1992 - 4-1, beat NC State, UNC, Nebraska, Florida; lost to Miami
1993 - 5-1, beat Clemson, UNC, Miami, Florida, Nebraska (Orange); lost to N Dame
1994 - 3-0-1, beat UVA, Miami, Florida (Sugar); tied Florida (reg season)
1995 - 2-2, beat Miami and N Dame; lost to Florida and UVA
1996 - 3-1, beat UNC, Miami, Florida; lost to Florida (Sugar)
1997 - 2-1, beat UNC and Ohio St; lost to Florida
1998 - 5-1, beat ATM, Miami, Ga Tech, UVA, Florida; lost to Tenn (Fiesta)
1999 - 4-0, beat Ga Tech, Miami, Florida, Va Tech

Overall record: 29-11-1

My suspicion on first glance is that this team will be the big winner for the decade.

 

[81usaf92]

My suspicion on first glance is that this team will be the big winner for the decade.

Florida playing FSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee just about every year is going to make this interesting

 

[selmaborntidefan]

1990 FLORIDA GATORS RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS
1990 - 1-2; beat Auburn; lost to Tenn (45-3) and FSU (45-30)
1991 - 4-2; beat Alabama, Tenn, UGA, FSU; lost to Syracuse and N Dame
1992 - 2-4; beat NC State and UGA; lost to Tenn, MSU, Alabama, FSU
1993 - 3-2; beat Tenn, Alabama, WVA (Sugar); lost to Auburn and FSU
1994 - 2-2-1; beat Tenn (23), Alabama; lost to FSU (Sugar) and Auburn; tied FSU (reg season)
1995 - 3-1; beat Alabama (21), Auburn (22), FSU; lost to Nebraska (Fiesta)
1996 - 5-1; beat Tenn, LSU, Auburn (24), Alabama, FSU (Sugar); lost to FSU (reg season)
1997 - 5-2; beat USM, Tenn, Auburn, FSU, Penn St; lost to LSU and UGA
1998 - 2-2; beat UGA and Syracuse; lost to Tenn and FSU
1999 - 2-4; beat Tenn, UGA; lost to Alabama twice, FSU, Michigan St

Overall record: 29-22-1

Assessment:
Let's just say nobody can accuse the Gators of ducking anyone. By the same token, one can easily argue that Florida is one of the "near miss" stories of the decade. One game - the blowout loss to Nebraska in 1995 - completely changes perceptions of Florida. Win that game and they're back-to-back national champions. Their record against the good teams in 96-97 was a solid 10-3. The rest of the decade, though, was 19-19-1, which reaffirms the entire narrative of Spurrier being another Tom Osborne, a guy who can run up 70 points on Kentucky but can't win the really big game. Even the year they won the title, it took a freak series of circumstances to enable it, although Florida was probably the best team.

Keep in mind Spurrier's three years were Galen Hall recruits, and he was crippled by sanctions that preceded him.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED OPPONENTS 1990-99
1990 - 2-3; beat Tenn, Auburn; lost to Florida, Penn St, Louisville*
1991 - 3-1; beat UGA, Tenn, and Colorado (Blockbuster); lost to Florida
1992 - 5-0; beat Tenn, Ole Miss, MSU, Florida, Miami (Sugar)
1993 - 1-2-1; beat N Carolina (Gator); lost to Auburn and Florida; tied Tenn
1994 - 4-1; beat 22 Tenn, 24 MSU, Auburn, Ohio State; lost to Florida
1995 -- 0-2; lost to Tenn and 22 Auburn
1996 - 3-2; beat LSU, Auburn, Michigan; lost to Tenn and Florida
1997 - 2-3; beat USM, Ole Miss (22); lost to Tenn, LSU, Auburn
1998 - 0-4; lost to Ark, Florida, Tenn, Va Tech
1999 - 6-2; beat Ark, Florida twice, Ole Miss, MSU, USM; lost to Tenn and Michigan

Overall record: 26-20-1


It's likely to surprise some folks that Alabama's record against such teams is (.564) virtually the same as Florida (.567).

* - Tide lost to USM who was ranked 23rd and dropped out in final poll after losing bowl game.

 

[81usaf92]

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED OPPONENTS 1990-99
1990 - 2-3; beat Tenn, Auburn; lost to Florida, Penn St, Louisville*
1991 - 3-1; beat UGA, Tenn, and Colorado (Blockbuster); lost to Florida
1992 - 5-0; beat Tenn, Ole Miss, MSU, Florida, Miami (Sugar)
1993 - 1-2-1; beat N Carolina (Gator); lost to Auburn and Florida; tied Tenn
1994 - 4-1; beat 22 Tenn, 24 MSU, Auburn, Ohio State; lost to Florida
1995 -- 0-2; lost to Tenn and 22 Auburn
1996 - 3-2; beat LSU, Auburn, Michigan; lost to Tenn and Florida
1997 - 2-3; beat USM, Ole Miss (22); lost to Tenn, LSU, Auburn
1998 - 0-4; lost to Ark, Florida, Tenn, Va Tech
1999 - 6-2; beat Ark, Florida twice, Ole Miss, MSU, USM; lost to Tenn and Michigan

Overall record: 26-20-1


It's likely to surprise some folks that Alabama's record against such teams is (.564) virtually the same as Florida (.567).

* - Tide lost to USM who was ranked 23rd and dropped out in final poll after losing bowl game.

What is crazy is Stallings was out coached vs Spurrier practically every time they played, but Spurrier was out coached in all 3 games he went against Dubose. It’s weird, but not as weird as Peyton Manning never beating Florida but Tee could.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS 1990-99
1990 - 1-3; beat Iowa (Big 10 champ); lost to Michigan, Illinois (25), USC
1991 - 0-3; lost to Iowa, Michigan, Syracuse
1992 - 1-1-1; beat Syracuse, lost to UGA; tied Michigan
1993 - 2-1; beat Penn St, Wisky; lost to Michigan (21)
1994 - 1-2; beat Michigan; lost to Penn St and Alabama (Citrus)
1995 -3-2; beat N Dame, Penn St, Iowa; lost to Michigan and Tenn
1996 - 4-1; beat N Dame, Penn St, Iowa, Arizona St (Rose); lost to Michigan
1997 - 0-3; lost to Penn St, Michigan, FSU
1998 - 4-0; beat Missouri, Penn St, Michigan, ATM (loss to unranked Mich St cost them title shot)
1999 - 1-6; beat Minnesota; lost to Miami, Wisky, Penn St, Mich St, Illinois, Michigan

Overall record: 17-22-1

In 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1998, Ohio State was on the threshold of breaking through and validating their name and claiming a national title. Three times they lost to Michigan - including in back-to-back years when ranked #2 in the poll - and the other time they lost to Nick Saban's up and coming Michigan State team. Their record during the 90s is substantially similar to Nebraska's during the Tom Osborne era prior to his late career breakthrough (1977-1992). Of course, since Ohio was about six times the size of Nebraska population-wise, it's a much greater point of underachievement for John Cooper than it is for Osborne.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS 1990-99
1990 -2-3; lost to N Dame, Mich St, Iowa; beat Illinois (25) and Ole Miss (21)
1991 - 2-2; beat N Dame, beat Iowa; lost to FSU and Washington (Rose)
1992 -1-0-2; beat Washington (Rose); tied with N Dame and Ohio St (and unranked Illinois)
1993 - 2-2; beat Penn St, Ohio St; lost to N Dame and Wisky
1994 - 1-3; beat Colo St; lost to Colorado, Penn St, Ohio St
1995 - 2-3; beat UVA and Ohio St; lost to Penn St, Northwestern, ATM
1996 -2-2; beat Colorado, Ohio St; lost to Northwestern, Alabama (Outback)
1997 - 3-0; beat Penn St, Ohio St, Ryan Leaf St
1998 - 3-3; beat Penn St, Wisky, Arky; lost to N Dame, Syracuse, Ohio St
1999 - 3-2; beat Penn St, Wisky, Alabama (Orange); lost to Illinois, Mich St

Overall record: 21-22-2

Once again, I'm not sure there's a bigger name that CONSISTENTLY underachieves to the level of Michigan across the decades. I'm almost willing to bet Michigan is constantly the most overrated (as in "rated at the end of the season higher than they actually deserve to be") team not named Notre Dame. Ohio St had a down decade (for them) that everyone understood at the time. Same with Oklahoma, who endured a hard time probation and John Blake (which was about like being sentenced to be Bubba's lover in prison).

1970s 8-10-1
1980s 14-18
1990s: 21-22-2

Overall record 1970-99: 43-50-3 (.464)

 

[selmaborntidefan]

TENNESSEE RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS 1990-99
Johnny Majors
1990 - 3-1-2; beat UVA, Florida, Ole Miss; lost to N Dame; tied Auburn and Colorado
1991 - 2-3; beat UCLA, N Dame; lost to Alabama, Florida, Penn St
1992 - 3-1; beat UGA, Florida, Boston College; lost to Alabama
Phil Fulmer
1993 -1-2-1; beat #25 Louisville; lost to Penn St, Florida; tied Alabama
1994 - 1-3; beat #21 Wazzu; lost to Florida, MSU, Alabama
1995 - 2-1; beat #21 Alabama and Ohio St; lost to Florida
1996 - 2-1; beat Alabama and Northwestern; lost to Florida
1997 - 4-2; beat UCLA, UGA, USM, Auburn; lost to Florida and Nebraska
1998 - 5-0; beat Syracuse, Florida, UGA, Arky, FSU (first BCS title game)*
1999 - 3-2; beat UGA, Alabama, Arky; lost to Florida and Nebraska

Overall: 26-16-1

Fully half of their losses were to two of the best teams of the 90s, Florida and Nebraska

* - Vols also beat then ranked MSU in SEC title game.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

COLORADO BUFFALOES VS END OF YEAR RANKED TEAMS 1990-99
Bill McCartney
1990 - 5-1-1; beat Texas, Washington, Nebraska, Oklahoma, N Dame; lost to
1991 - 1-2-1; beat Oklahoma; lost to Stanford and Alabama (Blockbuster); tied Nebraska
1992 -1-2; beat #25 Kansas; lost to Nebraska and Syracuse
1993 - 1-2-1; beat Oklahoma; lost to Nebraska and Miami; tied K-State
1994 - 3-1; beat Michigan, #25 Texas, K-State; lost to Nebraska
Rick Neuheisel
1995 - 3-2; beat ATM, K-State, Oregon; lost to Nebraska and Kansas
1996 - 3-2; beat Texas, K-State, Washington; lost to Michigan, Nebraska
1997 - 0-5; lost to Michigan, Okie St, K-State, Nebraska, ATM
1998 - 0-3; lost to K-State, Missouri, Nebraska*
Gary Barnett
1999 -0-2; lost to Nebraska, K State

In 1998, Oregon was ranked before Colorado beat them in the bowl game. In 1999, the same thing happened with Boston College.

Overall record: 17-22-3

McCartney: 11-8-3
Neuheisel: 6-12

Colorado's last win over a ranked team in the 90s was the 1996 Holiday Bowl over Washington. After that game, the Buffs were 0-10 for the rest of the decade against decent teams. This streak continued as the Buffs went 0-5 in 2000 and lost to Texas in 2001. Colorado lost 16 consecutive games against teams ranked at the end of the year before that thundering beating the Buffs delivered Nebraska (that ultimately meant nothing).

 

[TideEngineer08]

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE RECORD VS END OF YEAR RANKED OPPONENTS 1990-99
1990 - 2-3; beat Tenn, Auburn; lost to Florida, Penn St, Louisville*
1991 - 3-1; beat UGA, Tenn, and Colorado (Blockbuster); lost to Florida
1992 - 5-0; beat Tenn, Ole Miss, MSU, Florida, Miami (Sugar)
1993 - 1-2-1; beat N Carolina (Gator); lost to Auburn and Florida; tied Tenn
1994 - 4-1; beat 22 Tenn, 24 MSU, Auburn, Ohio State; lost to Florida
1995 -- 0-2; lost to Tenn and 22 Auburn
1996 - 3-2; beat LSU, Auburn, Michigan; lost to Tenn and Florida
1997 - 2-3; beat USM, Ole Miss (22); lost to Tenn, LSU, Auburn
1998 - 0-4; lost to Ark, Florida, Tenn, Va Tech
1999 - 6-2; beat Ark, Florida twice, Ole Miss, MSU, USM; lost to Tenn and Michigan

Overall record: 26-20-1


It's likely to surprise some folks that Alabama's record against such teams is (.564) virtually the same as Florida (.567).

* - Tide lost to USM who was ranked 23rd and dropped out in final poll after losing bowl game.

The 1990s were a nice decade for us. 1997 was horrible, but you had five 10 win seasons and 9 wins in 1993. It was a pretty good decade.

 

[UAH]

What is crazy is Stallings was out coached vs Spurrier practically every time they played, but Spurrier was out coached in all 3 games he went against Dubose. It’s weird, but not as weird as Peyton Manning never beating Florida but Tee could.

I certainly am not qualified to judge coaches decisions in any particular game or over their career. Thinking back to the Stallings years, however, it does seem that Spurrier had more players than Coach Stallings had. Those SEC championship games were heart breakers. It seemed practically impossible to defend the inside slant from the ten yard line in and Spurrier had the players to pressure just about any defense. I have always given Spurrier credit for going down with guns blazing as he did in 1992 when Langham closed out a tight ball game in B'ham with a pick six.

I had a lot going on in 1999 but will say that Shaun Alexander made a lot of coaches look great over his career and Freddy Milons made a run for the ages. Ah! Bama memories.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I certainly am not qualified to judge coaches decisions in any particular game or over their career. Thinking back to the Stallings years, however, it does seem that Spurrier had more players than Coach Stallings had. Those SEC championship games were heart breakers. It seemed practically impossible to defend the inside slant from the ten yard line in and Spurrier had the players to pressure just about any defense. I have always given Spurrier credit for going down with guns blazing as he did in 1992 when Langham closed out a tight ball game in B'ham with a pick six.

I had a lot going on in 1999 but will say that Shaun Alexander made a lot of coaches look great over his career and Freddy Milons made a run for the ages. Ah! Bama memories.

DuBose was fortunate to catch Spurrier on an off year for his Florida teams. Neither Jesse Palmer nor Doug Johnson were great QBs and he was rotating them back and forth. The WR talent was a bit off too, compared to his earlier 90s teams, and what he would have a couple years later.

Spurrier's best teams were probably the ones that Coach Stallings had to face, especially the ones he lost to from 1993-1996. While our defense was usually up to par against those teams, I think the ironic thing was that it was our offense which wasn't, and which ultimately sunk us. Florida actually had good defenses under Spurrier for the most part. And that 1996 team was his best, and Freddie Kitchens and company simply wasn't enough to keep up. But they did give it a good effort.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

The 1990s were a nice decade for us. 1997 was horrible, but you had five 10 win seasons and 9 wins in 1993. It was a pretty good decade.

But the reason folks don't remember us as good as we were stems largely from us winning a lot of games with final scores like 17-13. At the same time, FSU and Nebraska were hanging 50 ppg on overmatched foes. And because sportswriters don't understand the first thing about football, they are easily impressed by these back yard touch football offenses, which is why they delude themselves every single year that Oklahoma's modern attack is somehow unstoppable.

Keep in mind that in 1997, we blew three games late: Arky, Kentucky, and (forgive me) Auburn.

Three wins right there makes us a bowl team and who knows? Depending on the draw, Dubious might well have won 8 games that first year and changed perceptions from "all negative" to only "partially negative."

 

[selmaborntidefan]

What is crazy is Stallings was out coached vs Spurrier practically every time they played, but Spurrier was out coached in all 3 games he went against Dubose. It’s weird, but not as weird as Peyton Manning never beating Florida but Tee could.

I don't know if I'll concur with the assessment Spurrier out-coached Stallings, I'd have to think about it.

Spurrier had the better players in 1991, 1993 (when Barker didn't even play), and 1996.
Stallings had the better players without question in 1992.

That leaves 1990 and 1994. I've read that in the 94 game - where Stallings for some reason didn't go for two - that he asked Oliver if we could keep Florida from a TD and Bill said yes. (I don't know if this is true, but it sounds like it could be).

In 1990 - IIRC because I didn't see the game - we had an anemic offense, injuries, and plain old bad luck.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I don't know if I'll concur with the assessment Spurrier out-coached Stallings, I'd have to think about it.

Spurrier had the better players in 1991, 1993 (when Barker didn't even play), and 1996.
Stallings had the better players without question in 1992.

That leaves 1990 and 1994. I've read that in the 94 game - where Stallings for some reason didn't go for two - that he asked Oliver if we could keep Florida from a TD and Bill said yes. (I don't know if this is true, but it sounds like it could be).

In 1990 - IIRC because I didn't see the game - we had an anemic offense, injuries, and plain old bad luck.

We were very evenly matched in 1994. It was basically a tie game for a reason. But the defense was a step off the pace of the 1992 team, and that was the difference in the game. I've never gotten all the angst over the 2 pt conversion decision. Yes... it would have made a difference had we gotten it. However, we could have tried it and failed (a fairly likely result) and lost 24-22.

I think injuries were the biggest factor in 1990.

 

[Tubafore]

Fun combo memory from band in '99:

At the SEC championship game, we were doing an on-field rehearsal probably 4 hours before kickoff. Right as we were finishing up, a Florida qb/receiver combo came out to run routes. They kept running routes closer and closer to us. Eventually the QB accidentally threw a little too far to the left, right into the band where we were grouped up. Oops.

The receiver came into the band looking for it. Miraculously, he never could find it. Turns out, you can offend 300+ people all at once. None of us would reveal where that ball went. In the Georgia dome, off the tunnel leading from the field, was a huge storage room for end zone turf; two or three shelves high, 10 yards deep and probably 5 yards high. That ball went on the top shelf.

I like to imagine that ball stayed up there until they tore down the stadium.

A little later in the day we got that lovely Freddie Millons run toward our end zone, en route to the 35-7 beat down. What a great trip.

 

[81usaf92]

I don't know if I'll concur with the assessment Spurrier out-coached Stallings, I'd have to think about it.

Spurrier had the better players in 1991, 1993 (when Barker didn't even play), and 1996.
Stallings had the better players without question in 1992.

That leaves 1990 and 1994. I've read that in the 94 game - where Stallings for some reason didn't go for two - that he asked Oliver if we could keep Florida from a TD and Bill said yes. (I don't know if this is true, but it sounds like it could be).

In 1990 - IIRC because I didn't see the game - we had an anemic offense, injuries, and plain old bad luck.

I’ll never forgive stallings for handcuffing Jay for the 94 game, and not going for 2 knowing damn well you were playing with Fire against Spurrier. There were Alabama receivers running wide open all night.

But in every single game to include the 92 one it looked like Spurrier was light years ahead of Stallings in terms coaching. In 92 we fought for dear life to just tie that game. Thank god for Antonio or else we were probably looking at college football’s first overtime.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

We were very evenly matched in 1994. It was basically a tie game for a reason. But the defense was a step off the pace of the 1992 team, and that was the difference in the game. I've never gotten all the angst over the 2 pt conversion decision. Yes... it would have made a difference had we gotten it. However, we could have tried it and failed (a fairly likely result) and lost 24-22.

I think injuries were the biggest factor in 1990.

The big thing in the 94 game is that if the game is tied then:
a) our offensive strategy is different (theoretically)
b) there WAS an overtime provision so...who knows?

There's no difference between trailing by 1 or 2, but there's a huge difference between being tied and not.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

We were very evenly matched in 1994. It was basically a tie game for a reason. But the defense was a step off the pace of the 1992 team, and that was the difference in the game. I've never gotten all the angst over the 2 pt conversion decision. Yes... it would have made a difference had we gotten it. However, we could have tried it and failed (a fairly likely result) and lost 24-22.

I think injuries were the biggest factor in 1990.

Spurrier would have gone for 2 if we tried it and didn't get it. The score would have been 23-22 or 25-22. Nitpicking, I know.

 

[TideEngineer08]

The big thing in the 94 game is that if the game is tied then:
a) our offensive strategy is different (theoretically)
b) there WAS an overtime provision so...who knows?

There's no difference between trailing by 1 or 2, but there's a huge difference between being tied and not.

the logic of going for 2, I do understand. He should have gone for two. I’m just making the point that those often fail. which I understand goes back to the point you just made.
I’ve always really been more upset about the game strategy that 81 refers to. Handcuffing Homer Smith was a tragic mistake.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Funny memory about that 1994 Florida game; when Reidel Anthony scored Florida's first TD, which was a really nice Weurffel pass over great coverage, Anthony turned around in the endzone, ripped his helmet off and threw it down and then pulled a fake shotgun off his back and "shot" every Alabama DB on the field.

Imagine that happening today. He'd be thrown out of the game and banned from football for life. I don't even think it drew a flag for excessive celebration or unsportsmanlike conduct.