The Gators first experienced success in the 1980s under Charley Pell and briefly became a national power until probation set in. Steve Spurrier revitalized the program. By the second game of year one, they were nationally ranked, and have essentially remained so throughout the 90s. They've finished first in the nation's toughest conference 6 times in 10 years, and played in 6 out of 8 SEC Championsip games. They have won a national title and played for another. In 1994, they were preseason #1. Consistently, they have been a force in the decade.

Bobby Bowden came to FSU in 1978, and by 1979 had his first undefeated regular season. People began taking the Seminoles seriously in the mid-1980s, but their inability to beat Miami and the lack of a conference affiliation slowed their rise to prominence. After a 2-loss season was out of the way in 1990, the Noles ripped off an incredible run of success leading to two national titles, a string of top 4 finishes, and just 13 losses and 1 tie in 10 years. No longer struggling for recognition, the Noles are routinely number one in the polls; other teams now have to knock them off.

Occasionally with good teams, the Buckeyes nonetheless have always been also-rans in the tough Big Ten. Under John Cooper, their fortunes have changed, and now they are a threat to win the conference every year. In 1996, fans even thought they had a shot at the national title with an 11-1 record, and in 1998, the team had a memorable ride at number one until a shocking upset loss to Michigan State. But the Buckeyes have one more transformation level to go to become an elite program.

A program with occasional success separated by long stretches of mediocrity, the Vols hit the 90s and suddenly became consistently good. Phil Fulmer is an outstanding recruiter, with a fleet of good quarterbacks, running backs, and defensive players charging through the decade. The Vols (after losing yearly to Florida) are routinely annointed "The Best Team At The End Of The Year", a monniker they finally deserved in 1998 when they won the national championship. With outstanding recruiting classes in the last couple of years, the Vols look to challenge Florida and Alabama for supremecy in the SEC in the next decade as well.

One of the great rags to riches stories of any decade, the Badgers under Barry Alvarez went from completely hopeless to consistently good. Alvarez turns out NFL draft choices from recruiting classes that barely sneak into the top 25. After a 1-10 start to the decade, the Badgers became the best in the Big Ten by not only going to three Rose Bowls, but winning all of them. For a state that loves football as much as Wisconsin, the string of success couldn't happen to a nicer part of the country.

The Wildcats, under Bill Snyder, have completely transformed. Historically one of the absolute worst teams in NCAA football, Snyder in the late 90s has guided dominant teams that had legitimate national championship aspirations. This from a program that has rarely had legitimiate bowl aspirations. Although denied a Big Twelve title and so far shut out of the major bowls, Snyder's troops have earned national respect and could continue to harass Nebraska for the Big Twelve North for some time to come.

Marshall is a sleepy college in a sleepy town in West Virginia. In the 90s, though, the football has woken up. In the early part of the decade, the Herd challenged for and even won a Division I-AA championship. In 1997, they joined Division I-A's Mid-American Conference, and skipped over the obligatory adjustment period. Instead, the Herd immediately put a stranglehold on the conference, winning its championship each and every year. In the final year of the decade, they added another undefeated season to their list. While not yet a national I-A power, coach Bob Pruett has the program heading in the right direction.

Despite the occasional 10-win season, North Carolina's football history has been an unbearably ugly one. Heading into the 90s it didn't look to improve any, with back to back 1-10 campaigns in 88 and 89. Enter Mack Brown. The 90s became the most successful decade in Tar Heel football history. Still denied an ACC title, Carolina has consistently been bowl-bound and occasionally figured in the national picture. In contrast to other teams on this list though, the 1999 season may portend a return to form.

Head coach Frank Beamer has brought Virginia Tech its most successful football decade. A charter member of the Big East, Tech quickly became one of the league's powerhouses. Since 1993, Tech has won 9 or more games 5 times, with 7-5 being its worst record. In 1995, Beamer brought the school its most important win ever: a 28-10 beating of Texas in the Sugar Bowl. That performance helped bring the program respectability, so much so that it was a legitimate participant in the 1999 national championship game.

For most of its history, the Oregon Ducks have been about as fearsome as their mascot. But the 90s has been the Ducks most successful decade, and every year they seem to be the surprise team of the Pac Ten. Like Kansas State, Oregon has benefitted from judicious junior college tranfer signings, and has also benefitted from an uneven conference. Through a tumultuous decade for the conference, Oregon has posted just one losing record and 5 seasons of 8 or more wins.