losses for the Mustangs in their first year back from a NCAA-imposed “death penalty” (they had allowed a record-setting 1,021 yards of offense in a 95-21 loss to Houston three weeks earlier). No. 2 Colorado won 41-17 at Oklahoma State to clinch the Big 8 title and a spot in the Orange Bowl; this was the first time since 1961 that a team other than Oklahoma or Nebraska had won an outright Big 8 championship. No. 3 Michigan visited No. 8 Illinois for a 24-10 victory, No. 4 Alabama defeated LSU 32-16, and No. 5 Florida State was idle. The top five remained the same in the next poll. November 18: No. 1 Notre Dame won 34-23 at No. 17 Penn State. No. 2 Colorado finished an undefeated regular season with a 59-11 victory at Kansas State. No. 3 Michigan beat Minnesota 49-15, No. 4 Alabama defeated Southern Mississippi 37-14, and No. 5 Florida State won 57-20 over Memphis. The Pac-10 race was decided this weekend, as No. 9 USC topped No. 25 Arizona 24-3 to clinch a Rose Bowl berth. The top five again remained the same in the next poll. November 25: Notre Dame’s most famous victory in their 1988 championship season was their upset of then-No. 1 Miami in the “Catholics vs. Convicts” game. This year’s rematch had the opposite result, as the No. 7-ranked Hurricanes upset the top-rated Fighting Irish 27-10. No. 2 Colorado had finished their schedule. No. 3 Michigan wrapped up the Big Ten championship and earned a Rose Bowl bid with a 28-18 defeat of No. 20 Ohio State, while No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Florida State were idle. No. 9 Arkansas held off No. 14 Texas A&M 23-22 to win the SWC title and a spot in the Cotton Bowl. The next poll featured No. 1 Colorado, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Miami, and No. 5 Notre Dame. December 2: No. 2 Alabama was undefeated going into the last game of the season, but a 30-20 loss to No. 11 Auburn in the Iron Bowl spoiled their perfect record and caused the two rivals to finish in a three-way tie for the SEC title with No. 8 Tennessee. Despite their loss, Alabama was picked to represent the conference in the Sugar Bowl. No. 6 Florida State finished their season with a ninth consecutive win after an 0-2 start,