(Bowling Green State University Library)įour of the six Bowl Alliance bids would go to the conference champions, which were Florida State (ACC), Virginia Tech (Big East), Texas (Big 12) and Florida (SEC).
Press release laying out the schedule for the 1996 Selection Show. EST the following day, the selection show would announce all the bowl matchups, concluding with the three Alliance bowls: the Nokia Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and FedEx Orange Bowl. Having taken care of business on the field against Wyoming, BYU’s fate was left in the hands of the Bowl Alliance decision makers off the field. If BYU wins, they’re a lock for the Fiesta Bowl.” That was the promotion of the WAC championship game. “Everyone expected that if they beat Wyoming, they would certainly be into the game (Fiesta Bowl). It was an easy case, they were 12-1 and ranked number six in the country going into the WAC championship game,” WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. “I don’t think anybody had to make a case. Quarterback Steve Sarkisian stiff arms a Wyoming defender in the WAC Championship game on December 7, 1996. 13 Texas A&M to open the season, the Cougars’ only blemish was a 12-point loss at Washington in week 3. Winners of 11-straight games, WAC champions and with an impressive win over then No. 5 AP ranking and 13-1 record, BYU certainly looked like it was in a good place heading into Sunday. BYU’s exclusion sparked a debate between those who believed they deserved a shot and those who knew they’d never be given that chance. 5 in the AP Poll the next day but were ultimately denied the opportunity to play in a Bowl Alliance bowl game, the 1996 equivalent of a New Year’s Six bowl game. On a national stage and with representatives from each of the major bowls in attendance, BYU took a 13-0 lead into the half and would eventually win in overtime, 28-25, improving to 13-1 on the season. All three conferences held championship games that Saturday, giving BYU and the WAC the nation’s undivided attention. 20 (10-1) Wyoming squared off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship game.īoth the WAC and the Big 12 debuted conference championship games that season, joining the SEC, whose championship game had begun four seasons prior.
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