They were thrust into the AP poll at #25 soon after, and they responded with a win over conference opponent #23 Colorado State, which rose them to #17.
In the first season of the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars finished as co-champions with Colorado State and Utah.
Marshall's offense was led by future NFL quarterback Chad Pennington and running back Doug Chapman.
Though the Thundering Herd lost five games the following year, they managed to win the MAC once again and qualify for another Motor City Bowl, which they won.
BYU won their next Mountain West Conference title in 2001, which gave them the right to play in the Liberty Bowl.