This Week in College Football History - January 1, 1998 - Michigan vs. Washington State

January 1, 1998 - College Football Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Carr took his top-ranked Michigan squad to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., in search of the program's first national championship since 1948. Standing in the Wolverines' way was No. 7 Washington State, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Ryan Leaf at quarterback. Leaf came out hot, hitting wide receiver Kevin McKenzie for a 15-yard touchdown pass and driving again inside Michigan's red zone until Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson intercepted a Leaf pass inside the end zone. Michigan quarterback Brian Griese, a 1997 NFF National Scholar-Athlete, hit wide receiver Tai Streets with a 53-yard scoring heave to even the score heading into halftime. Washington State broke the tie in the third quarter on a 14-yard reverse by wide receiver Shawn Tims, but the extra point was blocked. Griese again found Streets, this time for 58 yards, to give the Wolverines their first lead. Griese's third touchdown pass of the day came early in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard play-action strike to tight end Jerame Tuman. A Rian Lindell 48-yard field goal brought Washington State's deficit to 21-16. Leaf brought the Cougars to Michigan's 26 on a last-gasp drive, but the clock expired before Washington State could run a final play. The 21-16 victory gave Michigan the AP National Championship, the program's first in over half a century.