The 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its third National Championship during the 1980s, cementing its claim as the decade's top team, winning more titles than any other program.
Notre Dame signed a six-year, $30 million deal with NBC, granting the network the exclusive rights to broadcast Notre Dame football.
Florida State begins 0–2, but finishes the season 10–2, having beaten the National Champions Miami earlier in the season and beating Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.
Two big names retired from the coaching ranks, Michigan's Bo Schembechler and Oklahoma's Barry Switzer, while Steve Spurrier was hired by Florida away from Duke in an effort to clean up after a decade of NCAA sanctions.
The number of schools increased by 2 to 106 with the addition of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as an independent, and the SMU Mustangs of the Southwest Conference resuming play in the wake of the so-called "death penalty".
Houston quarterback Andre Ware ran the run and shoot offense all the way to the Heisman Trophy and numerous records.
A new rule went into effect for the 1989 season prohibiting the use of a kicking tee for field goals and extra points.
Read more about 1989 NCAA Division I-A Football Season: Conference Standings, #1 and #2 Progress, Notable Rivalry Games, Bowl Games, Final AP Poll, Final Coaches Poll, Heisman Trophy, Other Major Awards
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