1978 College Football Playoff

The 1978 College Football Playoff would have pitted the #1 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-0-0) against the #4 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1-0) in the Rose Bowl and the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1-0) against the #3 USC Trojans (11-1-0) in the Fiesta Bowl, for a chance at National Championship in the Orange Bowl.

Games are simulated in a custom text sim, and results recreated in NCAA Football 11.

Box Scores

Rose Bowl
#1 Penn State Nittany Lions 27, #4 Oklahoma Sooners 24

#1 Penn State Nittany Lions
Chuck Fusina - 10/21, 131 Yds, TD, 2 Int
Matt Suhey - 19 Carries, 72 Yds, TD
Scott Fitzkee - 3 Receptions, 47 Yds, TD

#4 Oklahoma Sooners
Thomas Lott - 4/9, 70 Yds, TD, Int
Billy Sims - 33 Carries, 194 Yds, TD
Steve Rhodes - 1 Reception, 20 Yds, TD

Fiesta Bowl
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide 24, #3 USC Trojans 17

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Jeff Rutledge - 8/14, 111 Yds, TD, Int
Tony Nathan - 16 Carries, 80 Yds, TD
Bruce Bolton - 2 Receptions 37 Yds, TD

#3 USC Trojans
Paul McDonald - 11/17, 168 Yds, TD, Int
Charles White - 29 Carries, 124 Yds, TD
Calvin Sweeney - 3 Receptions, 63 YDs, TD

Orange Bowl (National Championship)
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide 23, #1 Penn State Nittany Lions 17

#1 Penn State Nittany Lions
Chuck Fusina - 11/22, 166 Yds, TD, Int
Matt Suhey - 22 Carries, 101 Yds, TD
Scott Fitzkee - 3 Receptions, 51 Yds, TD

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Jeff Rutledge - 8/15, 98 Yds, TD, Int
Tony Nathan - 18 Carries, 90 Yds, TD
Keith Pugh - 2 Receptions 31 Yds, TD