Florida St., BYU to Play in Pigskin Classic

Florida State, ranked No. 4 in the final Associated Press football poll, and Brigham Young, led by Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, were named Tuesday to play in the second Disneyland Pigskin Classic Aug. 29 at Anaheim Stadium.

Florida State finished the season 10-2, including a 24-17 victory over Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl.

BYU finished 10-3 and was ranked 22nd. The Cougars lost to Hawaii on the day Detmer won the Heisman, and were routed, 65-14, by Texas A&M; in the Holiday Bowl.

“This is a great honor for our football team to be invited to play in this nationally recognized season opener,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said. “I have always felt that these early games were a showcase for the nation’s top programs.”

Florida State and BYU have never played each other.

“We are excited and honored to receive an invitation to play in this game,” BYU Athletic Director Glen Tuckett said. “Florida State will be a very formidable opponent and we’re looking forward to facing one of the country’s outstanding football programs. This invitation certainly keeps the BYU Cougars among the nation’s elite.”

The Pigskin Classic is sponsored by the Orange County Sports Assn., which also sponsors the Freedom Bowl. Brigham Young has played in the Freedom Bowl twice, losing to UCLA in 1986 and beating Colorado in 1988.

Colorado, which was eventually named national champion by the Associated Press media poll, and Tennessee played to a 31-31 tie in the inaugural Pigskin Classic.