Alabama spent time at #1 early in the 1978 college football regular season. Penn State stayed undefeated throughout and was #1 late in the season. On January 1, they were 1-2 in the polls and settled it with a great battle at the 1979 Sugar Bowl that was defined by one of the most memorable goal-line stands and tackles in college football history.
We’re down to one game for the college football national championship as Alabama meets LSU tonight in the BCS National Championship Game (8:30 PM ET, ESPN). Another year will take its place in college football history, not just who wins the national championship, but entire package of major bowl games that serves as the centerpiece of the sport. As part of the Notebook’s BCS Finale Day, historical articles with college football themes are being featured throughout. In this article I want to take a brief look back on two seasons that have particular relevance tonight