The 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-A level, began in late summer 1997 and culminated with the major bowl games in early January 1998.

The Michigan Wolverines finished the season atop the AP Poll after completing a 12–0 campaign with a Big Ten Conference championship and a victory in the Rose Bowl over Washington State, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers garnered the top ranking in the Coaches' Poll with a 13–0 record, a Big 12 Conference championship, and a win over Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

Michigan and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson were given the AP Sports Writers National Championship.

Michigan's Charles Woodson, who played primarily at cornerback, but also saw time on offense as a wide receiver and on special teams as a punt returner, won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first primarily defensive player to win the award.

The Michigan Wolverines finished the season atop the AP Poll after completing a 12–0 campaign with a Big Ten Conference championship and a victory in the Rose Bowl over Washington State.

3 ranking in both polls, as voters weren't impressed by the way the Cornhuskers won their game against an unranked Missouri team (a controversial kicked ball was caught for the game-tying TD as time expired in regulation, leading to a 45-38 overtime win).

Florida State went into their final regular season game undefeated and still ranked No.

Unusually for the low-key Osborne and his straight-ahead team, after the game he campaigned openly for Nebraska to be named the consensus national champion (Grant Wistrom stated that if "they wanted to give it to Michigan because they haven't won one in 50 years, we don't want it anyway.").

This also marked the last time that a Big 10 (or Pac-10) team would be bound to play in the Rose Bowl instead of heading to a No.

The Broncos with their blue turf had just made the jump to Division I-A a year earlier.

The Big West champion had formerly gone to the Las Vegas Bowl, but the now only 6 team conference wasn't much of a seat filler.

In a scenario similar to the Big West in 1992, this up-and-comer from I-AA was able to win its division and the inaugural conference championship game in its first year.

The Thundering Herd had gone unbeaten and won the I-AA national title the previous season, and had future NFL stars Randy Moss and Chad Pennington.

The preseason AP Poll listed Penn State as the top team, followed by No.

Foreshadowing a year with a lack of consensus at the top, the Coaches Poll selected Florida rather than Penn State as their No.

4 Tennessee squared off in Gainesville, where the defending champs prevailed 33–20; Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning finished his career winless against the Gators in four tries.

With their second straight win over a ranked opponent, the Wolverines moved up in the next poll: No.

Cornhuskers quarterback Scott Frost launched a pass which bounced off the receiver's chest, off a Missouri defender's foot, off a Nebraska player's leg, and finally into the arms of Nebraska's Matt Davison for a game-tying touchdown.

After Nebraska's struggles and Michigan and Florida State's triumphs, both polls elevated new teams to the top.

5 Tennessee, while the Coaches Poll ranked Florida State in the top spot.

2 Florida State blew out Wake Forest 58–7 to clinch the outright ACC title, No.

3 Nebraska destroyed Iowa State 77–14 to earn a spot in the Big 12 championship game, No.

4 Ohio State with the opportunity to clinch the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth.

Three times in the past four years, Ohio State had entered their rivalry game undefeated only to be tripped up by the Wolverines.

This time Michigan was the one with a perfect record, and they continued their winning streak over the Buckeyes with a 20–14 victory.

In a back-and-forth contest with seven lead changes, Doug Johnson's 63-yard pass set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Fred Taylor for a 32–29 Gators victory.

5 Tennessee won 59–31 at Kentucky to lock up the SEC Eastern Division title.

6 Penn State, whose Rose Bowl hopes were dashed by Michigan's win, beat No.

14 Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship Game, leading 47–3 in the fourth quarter and coming away with a 54–15 victory to enter bowl season undefeated.

11 Auburn, but Peyton Manning threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns, including a 73-yard pass in the fourth quarter which made the difference in the Volunteers' 30–29 win.