1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team

1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football
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	Gary Howard (22nd season);
Home stadium	Wantland Stadium
	Seasons ← 1997 1999 →

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]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Source
September 5	at Northwestern Oklahoma State*	No. 13	Ranger Field Alva, OK	W 3–0
September 12	No. 6 Texas A&M–Kingsville	No. 13	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 38–9
September 19	Abilene Christian	No. 13	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 30–0
September 26	at Tarleton State	No. T–5	Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX	W 31–17
October 3	Langston*	No. 3	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 29–13
October 10	East Central	No. 3	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 14–13 ^OT	^[6]
October 17	at Harding	No. 2	Searcy, AR	W 31–3	^[7]
October 24	Ouachita Baptist	No. 2	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 48–7
October 31	at Southwestern Oklahoma State	No. 1	Milam Stadium Weatherford, OK	W 20–6
November 7	at Southeastern Oklahoma State	No. 1	Paul Laird Field Durant, OK	W 48–7
November 14	at Northeastern State	No. 1	Gable Field Tahlequah, OK (rivalry)	W 36–10	^[8]
November 21	No. 19 Chadron State	No. 1	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK (NCAA Division II First Round)	W 21–19
November 21	No. 11 Texas A&M–Kingsville	No. 1	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK (NCAA Division II Second Round)	L 21–24* ^OT
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

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
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Final
NCAA	13	5	3	3	2	2	1 (4)	1 (4)	1 (4)

References

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