The number of teams participating in the Academic Bowl dramatically jumped from 12 to 40 teams from 1997 to 1998. EDCO @ Newton North HS was the first team to participate in the National competition twice.
Number of Regional teams: 40
Number of National teams: 5
1998 National Competition Teams:
| Alabama School for the Deaf (Southeast) |
| California School for the Deaf, Fremont (West) |
| EDCO @ Newton North High School (Northeast) |
| Maryland School for the Deaf (Mid-Atlantic) |
| Missouri School for the Deaf (Midwest) |
National Championship Match:
CSD Fremont defeated Maryland SD
CSD Fremont Championship Team Roster:
Melissa Malzkuhn
Jerry Pua
Jesse Saunders
Shoshannah Stern