▁become ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁" M i racle ▁Bowl " ▁since ▁BY U ▁was ▁trailing ▁SM U ▁ 4 5 – 2 5 ▁with ▁four ▁minutes ▁left ▁in ▁the ▁game ▁and ▁then ▁came ▁back ▁to ▁win . ▁BY U ▁would ▁win ▁its ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁ 1 9 8 3 , ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁bow l ▁games ▁as ▁well ; ▁and ▁it ▁earned ▁the ▁nick name ▁" Qu arter back ▁U " ▁for ▁consist ently ▁producing ▁All - American ▁quarter back s , ▁which ▁included ▁G iff ord ▁N iel sen , ▁Marc ▁Wilson , ▁Jim ▁Mc M ah on ▁and ▁Steve ▁Young . ▁During ▁this ▁period , ▁Young ▁finished ▁second ▁for ▁the ▁He is man ▁Tro phy ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁and ▁Mc M ah on ▁finished ▁third ▁for ▁the ▁tro phy ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 4 , ▁BY U ▁reached ▁the ▁p inn acle ▁of ▁college ▁football ▁when ▁it ▁was ▁recognized ▁as ▁college ▁football ▁national ▁champions , ▁being ▁the ▁only ▁un be aten , ▁un t ied ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁nation . ▁The ▁und efe ated ▁C oug ars ▁( 1 2 – 0 – 0 ) ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁ 2 0 – 1 4 ▁victory ▁over ▁Pitt ▁( 3 - 7 - 1 ), ▁ranked ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁in ▁the ▁nation ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁and ▁finished ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁victory ▁over ▁the ▁Michigan ▁Wol ver ines ▁( 6