1990–91 NCAA football bowl games



The 1990–91 NCAA football bowl games featured 19 games, starting early in December 1990 and ending on New Year's Day 1991. They followed the 1990 regular season and ended in controversy. Going into the postseason, Colorado had a 10–1–1 record and was ranked #1 in both Coaches' and AP polls. After a relatively unimpressive (and controversial) 10–9 victory over #5 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and an impressive victory by the undefeated (10–0–1) #2 Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl, the Buffaloes lost their #1 ranking to the Yellow Jackets in the Coaches' Poll, creating a split championship. This controversial ending, along with the dual undefeated champions of the following year, led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition.

Bowl games

 * NOTE: Rankings used are the final regular season AP Rankings whenever noted

AP Poll
1. Colorado 2. Georgia Tech 3. Miami (FL) 4. Florida State 5. Washington 6. Notre Dame 7. Michigan 8. Tennessee 9. Clemson 10. Houston 11. Penn State 12. Texas 13. Florida 14. Louisville 15. Texas A&M 16. Michigan State 17. Oklahoma 18. Iowa 19. Auburn 20. USC 21. Ole Miss 22. BYU 23. Virginia 24. Nebraska 25. Illinois

Coaches' Poll
1. Georgia Tech 2. Colorado 3. Miami (FL) 4. Florida State 5. Washington 6. Notre Dame 7. Tennessee 8. Michigan 9. Clemson 10. Penn State 11. Texas 12. Louisville 13. Texas A&M 14. Michigan State 15. Virginia 16. Iowa 17. BYU (tie) 17. Nebraska (tie) 19. Auburn 20. San Jose State 21. Syracuse 22. USC 23. Ole Miss 24. Illinois 25. Virginia Tech


 * Florida, Houston, and Oklahoma were on probation by the NCAA during the 1990 season; they were therefore ineligible to receive votes in the Coaches' Poll