Michigan, Nebraska Take Separate Shares Of Title Ap Voters Favor Michigan, But Coaches Shift Gears For Nebraska

Michigan was right, partially. There wasn’t anything left to prove.

The Wolverines won their first national championship in a half century by a margin more convincing than their Rose Bowl win over Washington State.

Michigan (12-0) was officially declared No. 1 in the final Associated Press college football poll, easily beating out Nebraska (13-0) despite the Cornhuskers’ impressive 42-17 win over Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

That victory, however, impressed enough voters in the coaches’ poll. They voted Nebraska No. 1, creating a split title for the third time in the 1990s.

Washington State was voted No. 9 in both polls, giving the Cougars their highest final ranking.

In 1991, Miami was the AP champion; Washington was No. 1 in the coaches’ poll, and in ‘90, it was Colorado in the AP poll, and Georgia Tech in the other.

In winning its first AP national title since 1948, Michigan received 51-1/2 first-place votes and 1,731-1/2 points from a national panel of 70 sports writers and broadcasters late Friday.

The Cornhuskers closed the gap but still fell well short, collecting 18-1/2 first-place votes and 1,698-1/2 points.

Going into the bowl games, Michigan led Nebraska by 68 first-place votes and 68 points. In the final poll, Michigan came out ahead by 33 first-place votes and 33 points. Seven voters, including Mike Sando of The Spokesman-Review, split their ballot.

In the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll, Nebraska had 32 first-place votes and 1,520 points; Michigan 30 first-place votes and 1,516 points. Before the bowl games, Michigan led the Huskers by 45 first-place votes and 47 points.

Both polls on Stat sheet, C5