Seasons 1996 Bowls & playoff ← Week 16 1996: Bowls & playoff 21 games. 13 ranked teams lost, one to an unranked team. 12 games matched two ranked teams. Winners are listed first; numbers before names are AP ranks going in.
The week in review Ranked against ranked Jan 2, 1997 3 Florida 52,1 Florida State 20upset Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 4 Ohio State 20,2 Arizona State 17upset Rose Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1996 6 Nebraska 41,10 Virginia Tech 21Orange Bowl Box score Dec 7, 1996 3 Florida 45,16 Alabama 30SEC Championship Game Box score Jan 1, 1997 5 BYU 19,14 Kansas State 15Cotton Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 9 Tennessee 48,11 Northwestern 28Citrus Bowl Box score
Upsets Jan 2, 1997 3 Florida 52,1 Florida State 20upset Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 4 Ohio State 20,2 Arizona State 17upset Rose Bowl Box score Dec 7, 1996 20 Texas 37,6 Nebraska 27upset Big 12 Championship Game Box score Jan 1, 1997 16 Alabama 17,15 Michigan 14upset Outback Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1996 Auburn 32,24 Army 29upset Independence Bowl Box score
A ranked team beaten as the betting favorite, or, where no line is on file, by an unranked or lower-ranked team.
FBS vs. FBS Dec 7, 1996 5 BYU 28,22 Wyoming 25Western Athletic Championship Game Box score Dec 7, 1996 3 Florida 45,16 Alabama 30SEC Championship Game Box score Dec 7, 1996 20 Texas 37,6 Nebraska 27upset Big 12 Championship Game Box score Dec 19, 1996 Nevada 18,Ball State 15Las Vegas Bowl Box score Dec 25, 1996 Navy 42,California 38Aloha Bowl Box score Dec 27, 1996 19 Miami 31,Virginia 21Carquest Bowl Box score Dec 27, 1996 23 Syracuse 30,Houston 17Liberty Bowl Box score Dec 27, 1996 Wisconsin 38,Utah 10Copper Bowl Box score Dec 28, 1996 17 LSU 10,Clemson 7Peach Bowl Box score Dec 29, 1996 21 Iowa 27,Texas Tech 0Alamo Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1996 8 Colorado 33,13 Washington 21Holiday Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1996 Auburn 32,24 Army 29upset Independence Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1996 6 Nebraska 41,10 Virginia Tech 21Orange Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1996 Stanford 38,Michigan State 0Sun Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 16 Alabama 17,15 Michigan 14upset Outback Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 5 BYU 19,14 Kansas State 15Cotton Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 12 North Carolina 20,25 West Virginia 13Gator Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 4 Ohio State 20,2 Arizona State 17upset Rose Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 7 Penn State 38,20 Texas 15Fiesta Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1997 9 Tennessee 48,11 Northwestern 28Citrus Bowl Box score Jan 2, 1997 3 Florida 52,1 Florida State 20upset Sugar Bowl Box score