1991 Florida Citrus Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl was a 1990–1991 college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 1991, for the national championship. The 45th edition of the Citrus Bowl featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers
. Georgia Tech came into the game with a 10–0–1 record and #2 AP ranking, whereas Nebraska came into the game with a 9–2 and #19 AP ranking. After the win, Georgia Tech was moved from #2 to #1 in the Coaches' Poll, enabling it to claim its fourth national championship.
over then-#1 Virginia in week 8. Their one blemish on the year was a 13-13 tie against North Carolina. A potentially-controversial situation would arise in the polls if Georgia Tech could win the Citrus Bowl and finish the year undefeated, pending the outcome of the 1991 Orange Bowl
to be played later that night between Notre Dame and Colorado.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers, meanwhile, were 9–2, and ranked #19 in the AP poll. Though they had been in the top ten of the AP poll for most of the season, and as high as #3 with three games to go, two losses in their last three games plummeted them to 19th. Regardless, Nebraska came into the Citrus Bowl as the favorite, despite their inferior record and ranking.
After blocking a Nebraska field goal on the first possession of the second half, Georgia Tech drove for a touchdown to make the score 31-14. Nebraska's final score of the game made it 31-21 going into the 4th quarter. Georgia Tech scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the win, 45-21.
1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Yellow Jackets offense scored 379 points while the defense allowed 186 points. Led by head coach Bobby Ross, the Yellow Jackets participated in the...
, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers
1990 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1990 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
. Georgia Tech came into the game with a 10–0–1 record and #2 AP ranking, whereas Nebraska came into the game with a 9–2 and #19 AP ranking. After the win, Georgia Tech was moved from #2 to #1 in the Coaches' Poll, enabling it to claim its fourth national championship.
Setup
ACC Champion Georgia Tech came into the Citrus Bowl as Division 1-A's only undefeated team at 10-0-1 and ranked #2 in both the AP and the Coaches' Polls behind 10-1-1 Colorado. They had begun the 1990 season unranked, but worked their way up the polls over the course of the year, helped greatly by a 41-38 winToe meets leather
Toe Meets Leather refers to the 1990 United States college football game between Georgia Tech and the University of Virginia, won by Georgia Tech 41-38. The game, between #1 Virginia and #16 Georgia Tech, concluded with a 37 yard field goal by Scott Sisson with 7 seconds remaining...
over then-#1 Virginia in week 8. Their one blemish on the year was a 13-13 tie against North Carolina. A potentially-controversial situation would arise in the polls if Georgia Tech could win the Citrus Bowl and finish the year undefeated, pending the outcome of the 1991 Orange Bowl
1991 Orange Bowl
The 1991 Orange Bowl was a 1990–1991 college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 1991, for the national championship. The 57th edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado came into the game with a 10–1–1 record and #1 AP...
to be played later that night between Notre Dame and Colorado.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers, meanwhile, were 9–2, and ranked #19 in the AP poll. Though they had been in the top ten of the AP poll for most of the season, and as high as #3 with three games to go, two losses in their last three games plummeted them to 19th. Regardless, Nebraska came into the Citrus Bowl as the favorite, despite their inferior record and ranking.
The game
Georgia Tech jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead, but Nebraska responded with two touchdowns, narrowing the deficit to 21-14. Georgia Tech added a field goal to make it 24-14 at half time.After blocking a Nebraska field goal on the first possession of the second half, Georgia Tech drove for a touchdown to make the score 31-14. Nebraska's final score of the game made it 31-21 going into the 4th quarter. Georgia Tech scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the win, 45-21.