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Off-season topic: revisiting the ‘77 season
Posted on 6/29/24 at 8:43 am
Posted on 6/29/24 at 8:43 am
In another thread, I saw an Arkansas fan and a Bama fan mention claims to a natty this year. It was a crazy season, as 6 major schools ended the year with 1 loss.
Notre Dame - finished 1st in the AP and UPI. Defeated Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and jumped from 5 to 1 after the bowls. Only loss was to Ole Miss in Jackson.
Alabama - finished 2 in both polls. Crushed Ohio State 35-6 in the Sugar. Only loss was to 9-3 Nebraska in Lincoln.
Arkansas - finished 3 in both polls. Blowout upset of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Only loss was a 13-9 setback against Texas, who won the SWC.
Texas - 4 in AP/5 in UPI. Only team undefeated in regular season play. Hammered by ND in Cotton Bowl.
Penn St - 5 in AP/4 in UPI. Defeated #15 Arizona State 42-30 in the Fiesta Bowl. Only loss was to Kentucky.
Kentucky - 6 in AP/ NR in UPI due to probation. Didn’t play in bowl game, but delivered only loss to PSU. Only loss was to 5-6 Baylor.
-I feel like strength of schedule and quality of wins and losses puts Penn St and Kentucky on the outside looking in.
-Texas and OU were 1 and 2 before the bowls, and #3 Alabama was poised to get the vote once the Horns and Sooners lost their bowl games, but ND received the bump.
-ND has the worst loss of the top 5 teams.
-Texas and Arkansas have “best” losses. Horns obviously picked the worst time to lose.
This season reminds me a lot of ‘83, as there could be great arguments made for 4 teams here. Who would your vote go to?
Notre Dame - finished 1st in the AP and UPI. Defeated Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and jumped from 5 to 1 after the bowls. Only loss was to Ole Miss in Jackson.
Alabama - finished 2 in both polls. Crushed Ohio State 35-6 in the Sugar. Only loss was to 9-3 Nebraska in Lincoln.
Arkansas - finished 3 in both polls. Blowout upset of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Only loss was a 13-9 setback against Texas, who won the SWC.
Texas - 4 in AP/5 in UPI. Only team undefeated in regular season play. Hammered by ND in Cotton Bowl.
Penn St - 5 in AP/4 in UPI. Defeated #15 Arizona State 42-30 in the Fiesta Bowl. Only loss was to Kentucky.
Kentucky - 6 in AP/ NR in UPI due to probation. Didn’t play in bowl game, but delivered only loss to PSU. Only loss was to 5-6 Baylor.
-I feel like strength of schedule and quality of wins and losses puts Penn St and Kentucky on the outside looking in.
-Texas and OU were 1 and 2 before the bowls, and #3 Alabama was poised to get the vote once the Horns and Sooners lost their bowl games, but ND received the bump.
-ND has the worst loss of the top 5 teams.
-Texas and Arkansas have “best” losses. Horns obviously picked the worst time to lose.
This season reminds me a lot of ‘83, as there could be great arguments made for 4 teams here. Who would your vote go to?
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Posted on 6/29/24 at 8:53 am to TexasTiger08
Good analysis. As a biased Arkansas fan, I believe Arkansas has as much claim to a National Championship that year as anyone.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 9:27 am to Larry Seinfeld
We should totally claim it. Hell, Alabama claims championships in years before the game of football was invented.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 9:36 am to Larry Seinfeld
Only loss..sucky Ole Miss team..eliminates
Posted on 6/29/24 at 9:48 am to Lord of the Hogs
Absolutely ark bama ND claim it
Posted on 6/29/24 at 9:50 am to rtr23242526
Co titles or are you saying Arkansas takes this one objectively?
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:07 am to JeffLebowski
Absolutely pre playoffs..many co s
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:11 am to TexasTiger08
Lou Holtz suspended both WR Danny Bobo and RB Ben Cowins which accounted for 78% of the offense. That raised the odds of an 18 point underdog to 24.
Freshman RB Roland Sales rushed for 205 yards on the ground that would be an Orange Bowl record until the 90s.
Freshman RB Roland Sales rushed for 205 yards on the ground that would be an Orange Bowl record until the 90s.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:23 am to TexasTiger08
Joe Montana was the third string QB when ND lost to Ole Miss and didn't play in the game. The following week they were trailing Purdue by 10 points in the 4th quarter and they finally put Montana in and he led one of his heroic comebacks. He was the starter from then on and ND was off to the races. At the end of the year the ugly loss to a bad Ole Miss team was erased because they were a "different team" with Montana.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:51 am to rtr23242526
Probably the only way to slice it. We’ll hang our other banner for 77’ now. 
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:53 am to AUFANATL
Joe Montana or not, Notre Dame shouldn't have lost to Ole Miss.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:54 am to TexasTiger08
Auburn too low.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 10:59 am to TexasTiger08
Just one of those insane years where several teams have an argument. I will say Arkansas but of course I have a bias. Bama has a good argument. ND has the worst loss but molested an undefeated Texas.
Say what you will about the playoff system, but it would have been a redonkoulous playoff in 77 with those teams.
Say what you will about the playoff system, but it would have been a redonkoulous playoff in 77 with those teams.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 11:49 am to Larry Seinfeld
quote:
Good analysis. As a biased Arkansas fan, I believe Arkansas has as much claim to a National Championship that year as anyone.
No, you don't.
Championships are awarded. Nobody awarded you national champions in the first place, there is nothing for you to claim.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 11:49 am to Arksulli
Interesting that nearly the same thing happened 30 years later.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 11:51 am to Lord of the Hogs
quote:
We should totally claim it. Hell, Alabama claims championships in years before the game of football was invented.
Every single national championship Alabama has was awarded to them.
In fact, there are many others that Alabama does not claim and could.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 11:58 am to 3down10
quote:
In fact, there are many others that Alabama does not claim and could.
Did you actually type this with a straight face???
Posted on 6/29/24 at 12:07 pm to TexasTiger08
I remember that '77 season well.
And all the others mentioned .... plus, especially, '84.
This is an interesting reminiscing of an era.
What was it about '75-'92 that changed CFB to, as we know it today?
And all the others mentioned .... plus, especially, '84.
This is an interesting reminiscing of an era.
What was it about '75-'92 that changed CFB to, as we know it today?
Posted on 6/29/24 at 12:09 pm to Gunga Din
quote:
Did you actually type this with a straight face???
Yes.
Alabama could claim well over 20 national championships if they used the standards other schools have adopted in recent years with the bullshite excuse of "Alabama"
I'll be happy to rake my nuts over your face on the topic if you want.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 12:10 pm to dchog
I was at that game in Jackson. It was extremely hot and humid and Notre Dame melted.
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