> 1. Miami-FL: 12-0-0 -- W, Orange, 22-0
> 2. Washington: 12-0-0 -- W, Rose, 34-14
> 3. Penn State: 11-2-0 -- W, Fiesta, 42-17
> 4. Florida State: 11-2-0 -- W, Cotton, 10-2
> 5. Alabama: 11-1-0 -- W, Blockbuster, 30-25
> 6. Michigan: 10-2-0 -- L, Rose, 14-34
> 7. Florida: 10-2-0 -- L, Sugar, 28-39
> 8. California: 10-2-0 -- W, Citrus, 37-13
> 9. East Carolina: 11-1-0 -- W, Peach, 37-34
> 10. Iowa: 10-1-1 -- T, Holiday, 13-13

> Only four teams to consider here: Miami, Washington, Alabama and East
> Carolina (courtesy?). But the Tide get rolled (heh), because Florida
> won the SEC and the head-to-head matchup (35-0!).

> East Carolina had a 48% SOS rating, and their loss was to 6-6 Illinois
> on the road by a touchdown. They did beat AP #11 Syracuse (10-2) and
> AP #24 North Carolina State (9-3), however. But they can't overcome
> the loss with such a low SOS rating.

> So, obviously, we're down to two unbeaten, untied teams for the 1991
> McMNC. Let the debate begin ...

> Miami had a 54% SOS rating, with wins over AP #21 Tulsa (10-2) on the
> road by 24 points, #3 Penn State at home by six points, unranked 6-5
> West Virginia by 24 points at home, #4 Florida State on the road by
> one point (of course!), unranked 8-4-1 San Diego State at home by 27
> points, and AP #15 Nebraska (9-2-1) in the Orange Bowl. The dogs on
> their schedule? 0-10-1 Oklahoma State and 2-9 Cal State Long Beach.
> They beat four ranked teams, including #3 and #4 by a combined seven
> points. The Hurricanes beat six winning teams in 1991.

> Washington had a 52% SOS rating, with wins over AP #22 Stanford (8-4)
> by 35 points on the road, #15 Nebraska on the road by 15 points,
> unranked 7-4 Kansas State by 53 points at home, #8 California by seven
> points on the road, unranked 6-5 Arizona State by 28 points at home,
> and #6 Michigan by 20 points in the Rose Bowl. The schedule dog? 1-10
> Oregon State. The Huskies, too, beat four ranked teams, including #6
> and #8 by a combined 27 points. Washington also beat six winning teams
> in 1991.

> Common opponents? Nebraska, for starters. Washington's win over
> Nebraska in Lincoln on September 21 has to be given more significance,
> since the Huskers were at home and probably believing they had a
> chance at the national title. By the time the Orange Bowl rolled
> around, Nebraska knew they had no shot at the championship, especially
> in Miami's backyard. Another common opponent? Arizona. Miami beat the
> 4-7 Wildcats by 27 points on the road, while Washington beat them 54-0
> at home.

> Miami has the slight SOS edge, but Washington takes the common
> opponents' edge and the better wins edge (because of dominance in
> those wins). The Huskies also have a better bowl win, since Miami was
> at home in the Orange Bowl and playing a lesser team.