1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team

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 game over NAIA Football National Championship with a win 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 inelgible 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
ConferenceLone Star Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record12–1* (9–0 LSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumWantland Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultSource
September 5at Northwestern Oklahoma State*No. 13
W 3–0
September 12No. 6 Texas A&M–KingsvilleNo. 13
W 38–9
September 19Abilene ChristianNo. 13
W 30–0
September 26at Tarleton StateNo. T–5
W 31–17
October 3Langston*No. 3
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 29–13
October 10East CentralNo. 3
W 14–13 OT[6]
October 17at HardingNo. 2Searcy, ARW 31–3[7]
October 24Ouachita BaptistNo. 2
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 48–7
October 31at Southwestern Oklahoma StateNo. 1
W 20–6
November 7at Southeastern Oklahoma StateNo. 1
W 48–7
November 14at Northeastern StateNo. 1
W 36–10[8]
November 21No. 19 Chadron StateNo. 1
W 21–19
November 21No. 11 Texas A&M–KingsvilleNo. 1
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK (NCAA Division II Second Round)
L 21–24* OT

Rankings
See also: 1998 NCAA Division II football 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]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567Final
NCAA13533221 (4)1 (4)1 (4)

References
  1. "Chad Richison Stadium". University of Central Oklahoma athletics. July 19, 2023.
  2. "LSC Championship History". Lone Star Conference. April 3, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  3. "NCAA Division II football record book" (PDF). NCAA. p. 63. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  4. "NCAA Penalizes Texas School". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  5. "1998 Football Schedule". Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  6. McKenzie, Wes (October 12, 1998). "Central Oklahoma is undefeated but not unconcerned". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  7. McKenzie, Wes (October 19, 1998). "State Shows a little Northern Composure". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  8. McKenzie, Wes (November 15, 1998). "Immaculate Perfection-UCO Rolls". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. "NCAA Division II Football". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. August 25, 1998. p. C6. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  10. "Division II poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 23, 1998. p. 2C. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  11. "Division II Poll". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. September 29, 1998. p. 2D. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  12. "NCAA Division II". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. October 6, 1998. p. C5. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  13. "NCAA Division II Poll". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. October 13, 1998. p. B4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  14. "NCAA Division II Poll". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. October 20, 1998. p. 2S. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  15. "NCAA Division II poll". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. October 27, 1998. p. D4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  16. "NCAA Division II Poll". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. November 3, 1998. p. B3. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  17. "NCAA Division II Poll". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 10, 1998. p. C4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
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