– 5 – 0 ). ▁The ▁victory ▁over ▁Michigan , ▁ 2 4 – 1 7 ▁in ▁the ▁Hol iday ▁Bowl , ▁marked ▁the ▁only ▁time ▁a ▁national ▁champion ▁played ▁in ▁a ▁bow l ▁game ▁before ▁New ▁Year ' s ▁Day , ▁and ▁the ▁last ▁time ▁a ▁national ▁championship ▁was ▁determined ▁by ▁a ▁team ▁from ▁a ▁non - power ▁ 5 ▁conference . ▁Cou ple d ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 1 ▁consecutive ▁wins ▁to ▁close ▁out ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁season , ▁BY U ▁concluded ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁championship ▁on ▁a ▁ 2 4 - game ▁winning ▁stre ak . ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁BY U ▁was ▁voted ▁National ▁Champion ▁after ▁being ▁number ▁one ▁in ▁all ▁four ▁NCAA ▁san ction ed ▁pol ls ▁AP , ▁Co aches , ▁N FF , ▁and ▁F W AA . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁quarter back ▁Rob bie ▁Bos co ▁finished ▁third ▁in ▁the ▁He is man ▁ball oting ; ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁def ensive ▁lin eman ▁Jason ▁Buck ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁BY U ▁player ▁ever ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Out land ▁Tro phy ; ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁off ensive ▁lin eman ▁Mo ▁Ele won ib i ▁also ▁won ▁the ▁Out land ▁Tro phy . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁the ▁C oug ars ▁achieved ▁their ▁first ▁victory ▁over ▁a ▁top - rank ed ▁team ▁when ▁they ▁defeated ▁the ▁# 1 ▁Miami ▁H urr ican