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.
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 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.
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 [ ]