1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team
College football season
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The 1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team represented the University of Central Oklahoma during the 1998 NCAA Division II football season as members of the Lone Star Conference. This was the 93rd season of Broncho football. The Bronchos played their home games at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma, which has been Central's home stadium since 1965.[1] The team was headed by coach Gary Howard in his 22nd season as head coach. The Bronchos finished the regular season with an undefeated 11–0 record and the Lone Star Conference Championship.[2] The Bronchos also made the program's second appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Entering the playoffs the Bronchos were the number one ranked team in the country.[3] The Bronchos they won their first-round NCAA Division II playoff game over Chadron State, but lost their second-round game against Texas A&M–Kingsville. In 2000, the NCAA forced Texas A&M–Kingsville to forfeit their entire 1998 season due to use of ineligible players.[4] As a result, the University of Central Oklahoma officially recognizes this season as an undefeated 13–0.[5]
| 1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football | |
|---|---|
LSC champion LSC North division champion | |
NCAA Division II Second Round, L* 21–24 OT vs. Texas A&M–Kingsville | |
| Conference | Lone Star Conference |
| North Division | |
| Record | 12–1* (9–0 LSC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Home stadium | Wantland Stadium |
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | at Northwestern Oklahoma State* | No. 13 |
| W 3–0 | |
| September 12 | No. 6 Texas A&M–Kingsville | No. 13 | W 38–9 | ||
| September 19 | Abilene Christian | No. 13 |
| W 30–0 | |
| September 26 | at Tarleton State | No. T–5 | W 31–17 | ||
| October 3 | Langston* | No. 3 |
| W 29–13 | |
| October 10 | East Central | No. 3 |
| W 14–13 OT | [6] |
| October 17 | at Harding | No. 2 | Searcy, AR | W 31–3 | [7] |
| October 24 | Ouachita Baptist | No. 2 |
| W 48–7 | |
| October 31 | at Southwestern Oklahoma State | No. 1 | W 20–6 | ||
| November 7 | at Southeastern Oklahoma State | No. 1 |
| W 48–7 | |
| November 14 | at Northeastern State | No. 1 | W 36–10 | [8] | |
| November 21 | No. 19 Chadron State | No. 1 |
| W 21–19 | |
| November 28 | No. 11 Texas A&M–Kingsville | No. 1 |
| L 21–24* OT | |
| |||||
Rankings
The Bronchos began the 1998 season ranked 13th in the Division II Committee poll. They rose to a tie for 5th by the end of the month.[9][10][11][12] The Bronchos would rise to No. 2 by mid October.[13][14] The Bronchos would gain the number one ranking after the Ouachita Baptist game and hold the top spot until the playoffs.[15][16][17]
| Week | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Final |
| NCAA | 13 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 (4) | 1 (4) | 1 (4) |
