The 1970 NCAA University Division football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes.
Then, on November 14, the charter for the Marshall Thundering Herd crashed on the way home from a game against East Carolina, killing all 75 persons.
At season's end, the Nebraska Cornhuskers won the AP national championship after Texas and Ohio State both lost their bowl games on New Year's Day.
During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams, later known as "Division I-A."
The NCAA Football Guide, however, did note an "unofficial national champion" based on the top ranked teams in the "wire service" (AP and UPI) polls.
Until 1974, the UPI issued its final poll before the bowls, but beginning in 1968 (also 1965), the AP Trophy was withheld until the postseason was completed.
16 Alabama 42–21 at Birmingham; the integrated Trojans' lopsided victory over the all-white Crimson Tide has often been described as a symbolic moment in the desegregation of college football in the South.
1 Ohio State opened its season at home in Columbus, beating Texas A&M 56–13.
3 Stanford won at Oregon 33–10 in a battle between Jim Plunkett and Dan Fouts.
4 Notre Dame beat Michigan State in East Lansing, 29–0.
6 Nebraska, which had tied USC earlier, rose in the poll after its 21–7 win over No.
In the next poll, Ohio State and Texas switched spots in a very close vote, with the Longhorns rising to No.
After Texas' single-touchdown victory and Notre Dame's blowout, the next poll featured another switch between the top two teams: No.
20 Kansas State 51–13 to clinch the Big 8 title and a spot in the Orange Bowl, and No.
3 Nebraska beat Oklahoma 28–21 at home to finish its season unbeaten.
Despite a first-place preseason ranking and an undefeated record, Ohio State had fallen all the way to No.
In the end, Ohio State justified their early ranking with a 20–9 win and prepared to face Pac-8 champion Stanford in Pasadena.
4 Notre Dame lost to USC in Los Angeles, 38–28, despite over 500 passing yards by quarterback Joe Theismann in a torrential downpour.
4 Arkansas matched up in Austin for the same stakes as the previous year: a SWC title, a Cotton Bowl berth, and the opportunity to stay in national championship contention.
The Longhorns had prevailed by a single point in the 1969 game, but in 1970 they would be far more dominant, winning 42–7.
With this victory, Texas closed a perfect season at 10–0, ran its winning streak to 30, and clinched the UPI national championship; their last obstacle to the AP title would be No.
5 Tennessee defeated UCLA 28−17 and prepared to play Air Force in the Sugar Bowl.
16 Ole Miss 61–17 at Baton Rouge to clinch the Southeastern Conference championship and earn a berth in the Orange Bowl against Nebraska.
Notre Dame Head coach Ara Parseghian created a "wishbone defense", positioning his linebackers to mirror the Texas running backs and the Irish held the high-powered Texas running game in check.
2 Ohio State, the Big Ten champions, were positioned to claim the national championship as they took the field as 10 1/2 point favorites against 8–3 No.
The Buckeyes overcame a 10–0 early deficit to take a 14–10 lead on two touchdowns by John Brockington.
But Stanford, led by Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett scored two fourth-quarter touchdown to stun Ohio State 27–17.
3 Nebraska of the Big 8 seized the opportunity that night in Miami in the Orange Bowl against stubborn No.
Down 12–10 after three quarters, the Huskers scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and shut down the Tigers to prevail 17–12 on the new Poly-Turf and claim the national title.
Nebraska took 39 of the 52 first place votes in the final AP Poll, while Notre Dame received eight, Texas three, and Arizona State (11–0) two.