The All-1990s team: QB Tommie Frazier, RB Ricky Williams, RB Ron Dayne, WR Randy Moss, WR Desmond Howard, WR Peter Warrick, OL Orlando Pace, OL Aaron Taylor, OL Tony Boselli, OL Jon Ogden, DE Grant Wistrom, DT Steve Emtman, DT Warren Sapp, DE Peter Boulware, LB LaVar Arrington, LB Derrick Brooks, LB Pat Fitzgerald, DB Charles Woodson, DB Champ Bailey, DB Dre Bly, DB Chris Canty.
Best teams of the 90s: 1. '95 Nebraska, 2a. '91 Washington, 2a. '91 Miami, 3. '99 FSU, 4a. '94 Penn State, 4b. '94 Nebraska, 5a. '97 Nebraska, 5b. '97 Michigan, 6. '96 Florida, 7. '92 Bama, 8. '98 Tennessee, 9. '93 Notre Dame, 10. '93 Florida State.
Really good, long, in-depth read. Behind a paywall since it's The Athletic, but a subscription to the site is well worth your money and time.
https://theathletic.com/1076339/2019/07/16/college-football-1990s-best-players-teams-games-coaches/
LB: LaVar Arrington, Penn State. A freakish athlete, Arrington made plays all over the field: He blocked kicks, chased down quarterbacks and even leaped over the line of scrimmage to land on opposing running backs. A unanimous All-American in 1999, Arrington won the Butkus and Bednarik awards.
Best teams of the 90s: 1. '95 Nebraska, 2a. '91 Washington, 2a. '91 Miami, 3. '99 FSU, 4a. '94 Penn State, 4b. '94 Nebraska, 5a. '97 Nebraska, 5b. '97 Michigan, 6. '96 Florida, 7. '92 Bama, 8. '98 Tennessee, 9. '93 Notre Dame, 10. '93 Florida State.
4a. 1994 Penn State. Penn State has a strong argument for “best team to not be voted No. 1,” with a team that lost out in the polls to Tom Osborne’s long-awaited first national champion at Nebraska.
The Nittany Lions averaged 47.8 points per game in the regular season; they beat teams ranked No. 11, 12, 13 and 14 in the final AP poll, including a 63-14 win against Ohio State; and they had one of the greatest offenses in the history of college football, featuring the Maxwell and O’Brien Award winner at quarterback (Kerry Collins), the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft at running back (Ki-Jana Carter), the Biletnikoff Award winner at receiver (Bobby Engram), the No. 9 pick in the draft at tight end (Kyle Brady) and four NFL Draft picks on the offensive line (including Pro Bowlers Jeff Hartings and Marco Rivera).
What hurt the Nittany Lions: giving up garbage-time points to Indiana in a game in which they led by 21 with 6:09 left but won by only six, needing a dramatic comeback to beat Illinois and a forced Rose Bowl matchup — in Penn State’s second season in the Big Ten — with 9-3 Oregon that failed to pad their résumé.
The Nittany Lions averaged 47.8 points per game in the regular season; they beat teams ranked No. 11, 12, 13 and 14 in the final AP poll, including a 63-14 win against Ohio State; and they had one of the greatest offenses in the history of college football, featuring the Maxwell and O’Brien Award winner at quarterback (Kerry Collins), the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft at running back (Ki-Jana Carter), the Biletnikoff Award winner at receiver (Bobby Engram), the No. 9 pick in the draft at tight end (Kyle Brady) and four NFL Draft picks on the offensive line (including Pro Bowlers Jeff Hartings and Marco Rivera).
What hurt the Nittany Lions: giving up garbage-time points to Indiana in a game in which they led by 21 with 6:09 left but won by only six, needing a dramatic comeback to beat Illinois and a forced Rose Bowl matchup — in Penn State’s second season in the Big Ten — with 9-3 Oregon that failed to pad their résumé.
Really good, long, in-depth read. Behind a paywall since it's The Athletic, but a subscription to the site is well worth your money and time.
https://theathletic.com/1076339/2019/07/16/college-football-1990s-best-players-teams-games-coaches/
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