BREAKING NEWS ALERT: BYU GETS INVITATION TO THE ROSE BOWL
* December 8, 1996: ABC Sports held a long pregame show on the upcoming Bowl Alliance games in the 1996 Season. The following was announced:
*3.) Florida Gators (11-1), SEC champions will face off against 1.) Florida State Seminoles (11-0), ACC champions in the Nokia Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana set for January 2, 1997. This will be for the national championship.
*20.) Texas Longhorns (8-4), Big 12 champions will be playing in the Fiesta Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona against 7.) Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) on January 1, 1997.
*4.) BYU Cougars (14-0), WAC champions will be facing off against 2.) Arizona State Sun Devils (11-0), Pac-10 champions at the Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on January 1, 1997.
*10.) Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1) will be facing off against 6.) Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-2) in the Orange Bowl at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on December 31, 1996.
*11.) Northwestern (10-1) will be facing off against 9.) Tennessee Volunteers (9-2) in the Florida Citrus Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida on January 1, 1997.