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 80s, 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.

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 a soon-to-be legendary coach Steve Spurrier was hired by Florida away from Duke in an effort to clean up after a decade of NCAA sanctions.

The number of schools increased by 2 to 106 with the addition of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as an independent, and the SMU Mustangs of the Southwest Conference resuming play in the wake of the so-called "Death Penalty".

Houston quarterback Andre Ware ran the run and shoot offense all the way to the Heisman Trophy and numerous records.

Notable Rivalry Games
Auburn 30 Alabama 20 First Iron Bowl Played in Auburn

Bowl games

 * Rose Bowl: #12 USC 17, #3 Michigan 10
 * #2 Miami(FL) 33, #7 Alabama 25
 * #8 Tennessee 31, #10 Arkansas 27
 * Fiesta Bowl: #5 41, #6 Nebraska 17
 * #11 Illinois 31, #15 21
 * #4 Notre Dame 21, #1 6
 * Hall of Fame Bowl: #9 Auburn 31, #21 Ohio State 14
 * #14 Clemson 27, #17 West Virginia 7
 * #24 Pittsburgh 31, #16 28
 * Copper Bowl: Arizona 17, 10
 * Holiday Bowl: #18 Penn State 50, #19 39
 * Washington 34, Florida 7
 * 19, Georgia 18
 * All-American Bowl: #25 Texas Tech 49, #20 21
 * 42, Air Force 29
 * Aloha Bowl: #22 Michigan State 33, #23 13
 * Oregon 27, 24
 * 27, 6

Final AP Poll

 * 1) Miami (FL)
 * 2) Notre Dame
 * 3) Tennessee
 * 4) Auburn
 * 5) Michigan
 * 6) Southern California
 * 7) Alabama
 * 8) Illinois
 * 9) Nebraska
 * 10) Clemson
 * 11) Arkansas
 * 12) Houston
 * 13) Penn State
 * 14) Michigan State
 * 15) Pittsburgh
 * 16) Texas Tech
 * 17) West Virginia
 * 18) Washington
 * 19) Ohio State
 * 20) Arizona
 * 1) West Virginia
 * 2) Washington
 * 3) Ohio State
 * 4) Arizona
 * 1) Arizona

Final Coaches Poll

 * 1) Miami (FL)
 * 2) Notre Dame
 * 3) Tennessee
 * 4) Auburn
 * 5) Alabama
 * 6) Michigan
 * 7) Southern California
 * 8) Illinois
 * 9) Clemson
 * 10) Nebraska
 * 11) Arkansas
 * 12) Penn St.
 * 13) Texas Tech
 * 14) Michigan St.
 * 15) Pittsburgh
 * 16) Washington
 * 1) Michigan St.
 * 2) Pittsburgh
 * 3) Washington
 * 1) Washington

Heisman Trophy

 * 1) Winner: Andre Ware, Houston, Jr. QB
 * 2) Anthony Thompson, Indiana, Sr. RB
 * 3) Major Harris, West Virginia, Jr. QB
 * 4) Tony Rice, Notre Dame, Sr. QB
 * 5) 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