defeating Florida 24-17. The other major teams had already completed their schedules, and the final poll of the regular season featured No. 1 Colorado, No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Notre Dame, and No. 5 Florida State. As sometimes happened in the days before the NCAA had a formal process to pick the national champion, the title was affected by an early bowl game selection. Assuming that Notre Dame would defeat Miami and finish the season at the top of the poll, the Orange Bowl organizers set up what they hoped would be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game between the Fighting Irish and Colorado. When Notre Dame dropped in the polls after their loss, the Orange Bowl ended up being No. 1 vs. No. 4 with other teams still in contention for the championship. Miami, the actual No. 2 team at the end of the season, ended up playing No. 7 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The other major matchups were No. 3 Michigan against No. 12 USC in the Rose Bowl, No. 5 Florida State against No. 6 Nebraska in the Fiesta, and No. 8 Tennessee against No. 10 Arkansas in the Cotton. Conference standings No. 1 and No. 2 progress Notable rivalry games Auburn 30 Alabama 20 First Iron Bowl Played in Auburn Bowl games Orange Bowl: No. 4 Notre Dame 21, No. 1 Colorado 6 Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Miami (FL) 33, No. 7 Alabama 25 Rose Bowl: No. 12 USC 17, No. 3 Michigan 10 Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Tennessee 31, No. 10 Arkansas 27 Other Bowls: Fiesta Bowl: No. 5 Florida State 41, No. 6 Nebraska 17 Florida Citrus Bowl: No. 11 Illinois 31, No. 15 Virginia 21 Hall of Fame Bowl: No. 9 Auburn 31, No. 21 Ohio State 14 Gator Bowl: No. 14 Clemson 27, No. 17 West Virginia 7 John Hancock Bowl: No. 23 Pittsburgh 31, No. 16 Texas A&M 28 Copper Bowl: Arizona 17, NC State 10 Holiday Bowl: No. 18 Penn State 50, No. 19 BYU 39 Freedom Bowl: Washington 34, Florida 7 Peach Bowl: Syracuse 19, Georgia 18 All-American Bowl: No. 24 Texas Tech 49, No. 20 Duke 21 Liberty Bowl: Mississippi 42, Air Force 29 Aloha Bowl: No. 22 Michigan State 33, No. 25 Hawaii 13 Independence Bowl: Oregon 27, Tulsa 24 California Bowl: Fresno State 27, Ball State 6 Final AP poll Miami