1978 Year Summary

Conference Summary

Sorted by SRS

			Overall					Bowls					SRS		Polls
Rk	Conference	Schs	G	W	L	T	Pct	G	W	L	T	Pct	SRS	SOS	Pre	Final	Champion
1	Southwest Conference	9	103	53	48	2	.524	4	2	1	1	.625	11.34	10.69	3	4	Houston
2	Pacific-10 Conference	10	115	63	49	3	.561	4	3	0	1	.875	11.19	8.82	3	3	Southern California
3	Big Eight Conference	8	92	50	42	0	.543	4	2	2	0	.500	9.46	8.44	3	3	Nebraska Oklahoma
4	Southeastern Conference	10	113	60	49	4	.549	3	1	2	0	.333	8.82	7.54	3	2	Alabama
5	Big Ten Conference	10	113	51	55	7	.482	3	1	2	0	.333	4.79	5.81	2	3	Michigan Michigan State
6	Atlantic Coast Conference	7	80	41	39	0	.513	3	2	1	0	.667	4.32	4.69	2	3	Clemson
7	Independent	33	370	189	176	5	.518	7	3	4	0	.429	-0.20	-0.60	4	2
8	Western Athletic Conference	7	82	39	43	0	.476	1	0	1	0	.000	-1.49	-1.32	0	0	Brigham Young
9	Southern Conference	7	77	37	39	1	.487	0	0	0	0		-6.41	-6.45	0	0	Chattanooga Furman
10	Southland Conference	6	66	30	35	1	.462	1	0	1	0	.000	-6.52	-6.04	0	0	Louisiana Tech
11	Missouri Valley Conference	7	77	36	41	0	.468	0	0	0	0		-7.88	-6.22	0	0	New Mexico State
12	Pacific Coast Athletic Association	6	69	31	38	0	.449	0	0	0	0		-9.54	-7.59	0	0	San Jose State Utah State
13	Ivy Group	8	72	33	31	8	.514	0	0	0	0		-10.08	-10.08	0	0	Dartmouth
14	Mid-American Conference	10	109	55	53	1	.509	0	0	0	0		-10.65	-10.64	0	0	Ball State

AP Poll Summary

School	Conf	Pre	9/11	9/18	9/25	10/2	10/9	10/16	10/23	10/30	11/6	11/13	11/20	11/27	12/4	Final
Alabama	SEC	1	1	1	7	8	7	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	1
Southern California	Pac-10	9	8	7	3	2	2	7	6	6	5	5	3	3	3	2
Oklahoma	Big 8	4	3	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	4	4	4	3
Penn State	Ind	3	5	3	5	5	3	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	4
Michigan	Big Ten	6	4	5	4	3	5	9	8	8	7	7	6	5	5	5
Clemson	ACC	18							20	16	15	12	10	7	7	6
Notre Dame	Ind	5	15	14				20	19	15	14	10	8	10	10	7
Nebraska	Big 8	10	12	12	12	10	8	5	4	4	4	2	7	6	6	8
Texas	SWC	8	7	6	6	6	12	8	7	7	6	9	9	14	14	9
Houston	SWC						17	11	11	10	8	6	5	9	9	10
Arkansas	SWC	2	2	2	2	4	3	3	9	17	16	13	11	8	8	11
Michigan State	Big Ten									18	17	16	14	12	12	12
Purdue	Big Ten							19	17	14	12	15	18	17	17	13
UCLA	Pac-10	12	9	8	18	16	14	10	10	9	9	14	17	15	15	14
Missouri	Big 8		11	17	14		19	13	13				19	18	18	15
Georgia	SEC				19			18	16	13	11	8	12	11	11	16
Stanford	Pac-10				20	17	18									17
North Carolina State	ACC					20										18
Texas A&M	SWC	16	10	9	8	7	6	12								19
Maryland	ACC		20	18	15	12	10	6	5	5	13	11	13	13	13	20
School	Conf	Pre	9/11	9/18	9/25	10/2	10/9	10/16	10/23	10/30	11/6	11/13	11/20	11/27	12/4	Final
Arizona State	Pac-10							14	12
Auburn	SEC					19
Colorado	Big 8			19	16	13	13
Florida State	Ind	17	16	13	10	18	15
Georgia Tech	Ind											20
Iowa State	Big 8	20	19	20	17	15	20						20	19	19
Kentucky	SEC	15	17
Louisiana State	SEC	13	13	10	11	11	11	16	14	12	10	17
Navy	Ind							17	18	11	18
North Carolina	ACC	19
Ohio State	Big Ten	7	6	16	13	14	16					19	16	20	20
Pittsburgh	Ind	14	14	11	9	9	9	15	15	19	20	18	15	16	16
Washington	Pac-10	11	18	15						20	19

Consensus All-America Teams

* unanimous selection

Offense
Chuck Fusina*, QB, Penn State
Charles Alexander, RB, Louisiana State
Ted Brown, RB, North Carolina State
Billy Sims*, RB, Oklahoma
Charles White*, RB, Southern California
Emanuel Tolbert, WR, Southern Methodist
Kellen Winslow, TE, Missouri
Kelvin Clark, OL, Nebraska
Keith Dorney*, OL, Penn State
Pat Howell*, OL, Southern California
Dave Huffman, OL, Notre Dame
Jim Ritcher, OL, North Carolina State
Greg Roberts*, OL, Oklahoma

Defense
Mike Bell, DL, Colorado State
Bruce Clark*, DL, Penn State
Hugh Green, DL, Pittsburgh
Al Harris*, DL, Arizona State
Marty Lyons, DL, Alabama
Tom Cousineau, LB, Ohio State
Bob Golic*, LB, Notre Dame
Jerry Robinson*, LB, UCLA
Kenny Easley, DB, UCLA
Johnnie Johnson*, DB, Texas
Jeff Nixon, DB, Richmond

Year Leaders

Read more about our data coverage. ▪ An asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates bowl stats are included.

Pass Completions

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	264
2.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	224
3.	Mark Halda (SDGST)	205
	Ed Luther (SJST)	205
5.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	175
6.	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	169
	David Spriggs (NMST)	169
	Ed Smith (MIST)	169
9.	Rich Campbell (CA)	164
10.	Dave Marler (MSST)	163

Pass Attempts

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	419
2.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	389
3.	Ed Luther (SJST)	386
4.	Mark Halda (SDGST)	358
5.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	348
6.	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	331
7.	David Spriggs (NMST)	317
8.	Bruce Parker (PAC)	310
9.	Kevin Strasser (NWEST)	307
10.	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	300

Pass Completion Percentage

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	63.0
2.	Buddy Teevens (DART)	60.3
3.	Phil Bradley (MO)	60.2
4.	David Henderson (FURM)	59.9
5.	Jordan Case (NTX)	58.7
6.	Tom Sorley* (NE)	58.5
7.	Wally Woodham (FLST)	58.0
8.	Ed Smith (MIST)	57.9
9.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	57.6
10.	Mark Halda (SDGST)	57.3

Passing Yards

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	3153
2.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	3007
3.	David Spriggs (NMST)	2558
4.	Dave Marler (MSST)	2422
5.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	2333
6.	Rich Campbell (CA)	2287
7.	Ed Luther (SJST)	2275
8.	Mark Halda (SDGST)	2262
9.	Ed Smith (MIST)	2226
10.	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	2165

Passing Yards Per Attempt

1.	David Henderson (FURM)	9.3
2.	Dave Rader (TLS)	9.1
3.	Larry Brown (HARV)	8.8
4.	Tom Sorley* (NE)	8.7
5.	Dave Marler (MSST)	8.4
6.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	8.3
7.	Steve Brown (APPST)	8.2
8.	Pat O'Brien (YALE)	8.1
9.	Steve Fuller* (CLEM)	8.1
10.	David Spriggs (NMST)	8.1

Adjusted Passing Yards Per Attempt

1.	Dave Rader (TLS)	9.2
2.	David Henderson (FURM)	9.1
3.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	8.6
4.	Steve Brown (APPST)	8.4
5.	Larry Brown (HARV)	8.2
6.	Tom Sorley* (NE)	8.1
7.	Steve Fuller* (CLEM)	7.9
8.	Ed Smith (MIST)	7.8
9.	Jordan Case (NTX)	7.5
10.	Wally Woodham (FLST)	7.0

Passing Touchdowns

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	25
2.	Ed Smith (MIST)	20
3.	Randy Gomez (UT)	19
	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	19
5.	Bruce Parker (PAC)	17
	Mike Ford (SMETH)	17
	David Spriggs (NMST)	17
	Jack Thompson (WAST)	17
	Rick Leach* (MI)	17
10.	Mark Halda (SDGST)	14
	Mark Herrmann (PUR)	14
	Jeff Duva (HI)	14
	Rich Campbell (CA)	14
	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	14
	Jimmy Jordan (FLST)	14
	Dave Rader (TLS)	14
	Tom Sorley* (NE)	14
	Mike Wright (BGSU)	14

Passing Interceptions

1.	David Spriggs (NMST)	25
2.	Ed Luther (SJST)	24
3.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	23
	Oscar Ramirez (TXEP)	23
5.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	21
	Dutch Hoffman (WV)	21
7.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	20
8.	Steve Bayuk (TXX)	19
	Rich Campbell (CA)	19
	Peter Colombo (HC)	19

Passing Efficiency Rating

1.	David Henderson (FURM)	152.5
2.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	150.6
3.	Tom Sorley* (NE)	145.7
4.	Dave Rader (TLS)	144.3
5.	Larry Brown (HARV)	144.3
6.	Steve Brown (APPST)	141.3
7.	Ed Smith (MIST)	139.0
8.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	138.3
9.	Phil Bradley (MO)	135.0
10.	Wally Woodham (FLST)	133.0

Rush Attempts

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	374
2.	Willie McClendon* (GA)	317
3.	Jerome Persell (WMI)	309
4.	Ted Brown (NCST)	302
5.	Steve Atkins (MD)	283
6.	Charles Alexander (LAST)	281
7.	Obie Graves (CASTFU)	275
8.	Joe Holland (CORN)	273
9.	Bernard Jackson (NTX)	269
10.	Eddie Lee Ivery (GATECH)	267

Rushing Yards

1.	Billy Sims* (OK)	1896
2.	Charles White* (SCA)	1859
3.	Obie Graves (CASTFU)	1789
4.	Eddie Lee Ivery (GATECH)	1562
5.	Bernard Jackson (NTX)	1453
6.	Willie McClendon* (GA)	1427
7.	Joe Holland (CORN)	1396
8.	Nathan Poole (LOU)	1394
9.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	1369
10.	Ted Brown (NCST)	1350

Rushing Yards Per Attempt

1.	Kenny King* (OK)	7.7
2.	Billy Sims* (OK)	7.4
3.	Leon Walker (NVLV)	7.1
4.	Tony Nathan (AL)	6.9
5.	Steve Smith (MIST)	6.7
6.	Nathan Poole (LOU)	6.6
7.	Eddie Estes (APPST)	6.5
8.	Obie Graves (CASTFU)	6.5
9.	Major Ogilvie (AL)	6.5
10.	Gwain Durden (CHAT)	6.4

Rushing Touchdowns

1.	Billy Sims* (OK)	22
2.	Lester Brown* (CLEM)	17
3.	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	16
	Joe Holland (CORN)	16
5.	Nathan Poole (LOU)	15
6.	Charles Alexander (LAST)	14
7.	James Mayberry (CO)	13
	Willie Todd (CMI)	13
	Charles White* (SCA)	13
	Willie McClendon* (GA)	13
	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	13

Receptions

1.	Dave Petzke (NIL)	91
2.	Emanuel Tolbert (SMETH)	62
	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	62
4.	Rick Beasley (APPST)	60
	Vernon Henry (LBS)	60
6.	Jerry Butler* (CLEM)	58
	Ken Margerum* (STAN)	58
8.	Cormac Carney (AF)	57
9.	Jeff Groth (BGSU)	56
10.	Phil Francis* (STAN)	54

Receiving Yards

1.	Dave Petzke (NIL)	1215
2.	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	1145
3.	Emanuel Tolbert (SMETH)	1041
4.	Mardye McDole (MSST)	1035
5.	Ken Margerum* (STAN)	1029
6.	Vernon Henry (LBS)	985
7.	Rick Beasley (APPST)	971
8.	Jeff Evans (NMST)	926
9.	Jerry Butler* (CLEM)	908
10.	Jeff Groth (BGSU)	874

Receiving Yards Per Reception

1.	Joe Burke (CHAT)	28.1
2.	Holden Smith (CA)	24.7
3.	Phil McConkey (NAVY)	24.2
4.	Kevin House (SIL)	23.7
5.	Spider Gaines (WA)	22.5
6.	John Floyd (LAMON)	22.4
7.	Godfrey Turner (TXTECH)	22.0
8.	Kris Haines (NDAME)	21.8
9.	Ralph Clayton* (MI)	21.8
10.	Mardye McDole (MSST)	21.6

Receiving Touchdowns

1.	Dave Petzke (NIL)	11
	Emanuel Tolbert (SMETH)	11
	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	11
	Ken Margerum* (STAN)	11
5.	Kevin Williams* (SCA)	10
6.	Cris Collinsworth (FL)	9
	Charlie Murray (NTX)	9
	Ernest Gray (MEM)	9
9.	Joe Burke (CHAT)	8
	Jeff Groth (BGSU)	8
	Cormac Carney (AF)	8
	Ralph Clayton* (MI)	8

Plays From Scrimmage

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	396
2.	Willie McClendon* (GA)	321
3.	Ted Brown (NCST)	319
4.	Jerome Persell (WMI)	316
5.	Charles Alexander (LAST)	309
6.	Steve Atkins (MD)	289
7.	Eddie Lee Ivery (GATECH)	287
8.	Obie Graves (CASTFU)	285
9.	Joe Holland (CORN)	283
10.	Bernard Jackson (NTX)	276

Yards From Scrimmage

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	2052
2.	Billy Sims* (OK)	1931
3.	Obie Graves (CASTFU)	1892
4.	Eddie Lee Ivery (GATECH)	1800
5.	Darrin Nelson* (STAN)	1631
6.	Ted Brown (NCST)	1547
7.	Bernard Jackson (NTX)	1529
8.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	1521
9.	Willie McClendon* (GA)	1454
10.	Jerome Persell (WMI)	1437

Touchdowns From Scrimmage

1.	Billy Sims* (OK)	22
2.	Lester Brown* (CLEM)	17
3.	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	16
	Joe Holland (CORN)	16
	Charles Alexander (LAST)	16
	Nathan Poole (LOU)	16
7.	Charles White* (SCA)	14
	Scott McConnell (APPST)	14
9.	Willie Todd (CMI)	13
	James Mayberry (CO)	13
	Dexter Green* (IAST)	13
	James Jones (MSST)	13
	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	13
	Willie McClendon* (GA)	13
	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	13

Total Plays

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	515
2.	David Spriggs (NMST)	465
3.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	459
4.	Rick Trocano* (PITT)	458
5.	Oscar Ramirez (TXEP)	447
6.	Mike Wright (BGSU)	440
7.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	432
8.	Brad Wright (NM)	423
9.	Ed Luther (SJST)	419
10.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	400

Total Yards

1.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	3033
2.	Mike Ford (SMETH)	2957
3.	David Spriggs (NMST)	2802
4.	Brad Wright (NM)	2403
5.	Dave Marler (MSST)	2391
6.	Mike Wright (BGSU)	2382
7.	Jack Thompson (WAST)	2264
8.	Ed Smith (MIST)	2247
9.	Rich Campbell (CA)	2207
10.	Ed Luther (SJST)	2174

Total Yards Per Play

Steve Dils* (STAN)

5.9

Total Touchdowns

1.	Rick Leach* (MI)	29
2.	Steve Dils* (STAN)	26
3.	Mike Wright (BGSU)	24
4.	Tony Merendino (CHAT)	23
5.	Billy Sims* (OK)	22
6.	Dave Rader (TLS)	21
	Ed Smith (MIST)	21
	Mike Ford (SMETH)	21
9.	David Spriggs (NMST)	20
	Mark Malone (AZST)	20
	Jack Thompson (WAST)	20
	Tom Sorley* (NE)	20

Heisman Memorial Trophy:	Billy Sims (Oklahoma)
John Outland Trophy:	Greg Roberts (Oklahoma)
Maxwell Award:	Chuck Fusina (Penn State)
Sammy Baugh Trophy:	Steve Dils (Stanford)
Vince Lombardi Award:	Bruce Clark (Penn State)
Walter Camp Player of the Year Award:	Billy Sims (Oklahoma)

AFCA Coach of the Year Award:	Joe Paterno (Penn State)
FWAA Coach of the Year Award:	Joe Paterno (Penn State)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award:	Warren Powers (Missouri)

Conference Summary

AP Poll Summary

Award Winners

Consensus All-America Teams

Year Leaders