All are impressive, but none finished the season in a top 4 bowl and ranked in the Top Ten. Still, I enjoy seeing teams that win games when they play "up."
1997 Marshall won the MAC and went 10-3 (7-1). Lost Motor City Bowl to Ole Miss 34-31. Previous season had finished 15-0 (8-0 Southern) and defeated Montana for the I-AA championship.
1992 Nevada won the Big West and finished 7-5 (5-1) losing the Las Vegas Bowl to Bowling Green 35-34. Previous season went 12-1 (8-0 Big Sky) ending the season with a 30-28 I-AA quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Youngstown State who defeated Marshall in the title game. Nevada would win the first I-A overtime game over Toledo in 1995’s Las Vegas Bowl.
1975 Arkansas State moved to Division I and finished 11-0 (5-0 Southland). Unbeaten, untied, and uninvited, only the Tangerine Bowl sent scouts to a game but invited 7-4 South Carolina to face MAC champion Miami (OH). Previous year 7-3 (3-2 SLC).
Louisiana Tech in 1990 was a year short of being a first season wonder going 8-3-1 tying Maryland in the Independence Bowl in their second year in I-A.
All are impressive, but none finished the season in a top 4 bowl and ranked in the Top Ten. Still, I enjoy seeing teams that win games when they play "up."
1997 Marshall won the MAC and went 10-3 (7-1). Lost Motor City Bowl to Ole Miss 34-31. Previous season had finished 15-0 (8-0 Southern) and defeated Montana for the I-AA championship.
1992 Nevada won the Big West and finished 7-5 (5-1) losing the Las Vegas Bowl to Bowling Green 35-34. Previous season went 12-1 (8-0 Big Sky) ending the season with a 30-28 I-AA quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Youngstown State who defeated Marshall in the title game. Nevada would win the first I-A overtime game over Toledo in 1995’s Las Vegas Bowl.
1975 Arkansas State moved to Division I and finished 11-0 (5-0 Southland). Unbeaten, untied, and uninvited, only the Tangerine Bowl sent scouts to a game but invited 7-4 South Carolina to face MAC champion Miami (OH). Previous year 7-3 (3-2 SLC).
Louisiana Tech in 1990 was a year short of being a first season wonder going 8-3-1 tying Maryland in the Independence Bowl in their second year in I-A.