More 1977 College Football Teams for SOM CFB

Chris Stewart did a fair number of 1977 College Football teams that are not affiliated to a Bowl Game, or they are unmatched with a Bowl Opponent. These are still great teams to add to the top Bowl teams that have been posted before:

Strat-O-Matic College Football Posts on this Blog:

Below are a few of his brilliant efforts: 

1977 NC State

1977-NC-STATE-FINAL-SOM-Cards.zip

The 1977 NC State Wolfpack football team, coached by Bo Rein, finished with an 8-4 record (4-2 in ACC), culminating in a 24-14 victory over Iowa State in the 1977 Peach Bowl.  Led by quarterback Johnny Evans and running back Ted Brown, the team ranked 19th in the final Coaches Poll. 

1977 Texas Tech

1977 TEXAS TECH FINAL-SOM-Cards.zip

The 1977 Texas Tech football team, led by coach Steve Sloan, finished fourth in the SWC with a 7-4 record and played in the 1977 Tangerine Bowl, losing 40-17 to Florida State. A key moment included star quarterback Rodney Allison breaking his leg in the third game of the season, which hindered the team's high expectations after a strong 1976 campaign. 

1977 Kentucky

1977-Kentucky-Final-SOM-Cards.zip 

One of Chris’s favorite teams in the set.  The 1977 Kentucky team under Fran Curci was one of the best, clearly, and had some iconic moments throughout. A 10-1 record reflects just how good the team was, but it doesn’t just stop with the record. One of the most stand-out moments of the season was the Border Battle game against Tennessee when the Cats defeated the Volunteers 21-17. Kentucky was ineligible to play in a bowl game due to being on NCAA probation, so with a rival game like Tennessee for their last game of the schedule, the Cats wanted to go out in style.

Derrick Ramsey, UK Quarterback

Kentucky entered the game with seven injured starters who were unable to play, and Tennessee had lost five of its six prior games.  With starting quarterback Derrick Ramsey out, backup Mike Deaton completed a 36-yard pass to Felix Wilson before the injured Ramsey made a comeback and let the Cats to a score.  All-American defensive end Art Still forced a fumble, which was recovered by Kelly Kirchbaum to seal the win for the Wildcats.  

Kentucky defeated two ranked teams that season in no. 4 ranked Penn State and no. 16 ranked LSU. In their first game of the season, the Cats were unranked, but by their third game against West Virginia, they sat at no. 17. By the time the season was all said and done, the 1977 team finished no. 6 in the country with one loss and an unblemished SEC record. Their only loss was to Baylor in Waco, Texas.

1977 Ole Miss

1977-Ole-Miss-Final-SOM-Cards.zip

In 1977, the Ole Miss Rebels football team, led by coach Ken Cooper, famously  upset top-ranked Notre Dame 20-13 on September 17 in Jackson, MS, handing the eventual national champions their only loss. The Rebels finished with a 6-5 record that season. 

1977 Syracuse 

1977-SYRACUSE-FINAL-SOM-Cards.zip

In 1977, fourth year Syracuse University football coach Frank Maloney was looking for improvement from 1976's disappointing 3-8 record.  The solution was to turn Archbold, which hosted its first game in 1907, into a fortress.

"It's come to the point where Archbold Stadium can be a great strategical advantage for us," said Maloney, who spent the summer sending a variety of inspirational literature to his players.

It might have worked both on and off the field.

Following a 38-0 loss to N.C. State to begin the home schedule, the Orange upset Washington 22-20 on a cold, wet afternoon at Archbold after Dave Jacobs 31-yard field goal with 23 seconds left. (the Huskies were quarterbacked by future Hall of Famer Warren Moon, and would beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl.)

Syracuse went 3-1 at home the rest of the season, losing only to No. 10 Penn State. In the final three games they held Virginia, Boston College and West Virginia to a combined 15 points.  The Orange finished the season 6-5.

Published with Permission 

Fred Bobberts 4-19-2026