1992 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1992 Orange Bowl was a 1991–1992 college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 1992, for the national championship. The 58th edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Miami Hurricanes
, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers
. Miami came into the game with a 11–0 record and #1 AP ranking, whereas Nebraska came into the game with a 9–1–1 and #11 AP ranking. The game was a rematch of the 1984
and 1989 Orange Bowl
s, both of which Miami had defeated Nebraska in. The shutout
win gave the Hurricanes their fourth National Championship (having earned their first in 1983
), capping the school's "decade of dominance" in the 1980s and early 1990s.
threw an 8-yard touchdown to Kevin Williams
, followed by two field goals. After a scoreless second quarter, Miami dominated the second half with another touchdown run in by fullback Larry Jones and a third field goal by Carlos Huerta
. The defense then successfully held off Nebraska for the remainder of the game.
had achieved an identical 12-0 record, complete with a win in the Rose Bowl
. As a result, the 1991 college football season finished with Miami and Washington sharing a split co-championship, which led the major athletic conferences to form the Bowl Coalition
in the following year to help better decide an undisputed national champion in future seasons.
Nebraska and Miami would face off in yet another Orange Bowl rematch just three years later
, during which Nebraska would finally win their first match against Miami in the bowl game.
1991 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1991 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season, as determined by the AP Poll. 1991 was a split championship year, though, as the Washington Huskies finished #1 in the Coaches' Poll...
, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers
1991 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1991 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1991 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:...
. Miami came into the game with a 11–0 record and #1 AP ranking, whereas Nebraska came into the game with a 9–1–1 and #11 AP ranking. The game was a rematch of the 1984
1984 Orange Bowl
The 1984 Orange Bowl was the 50th annual Orange Bowl Classic, played on January 2, 1984, between the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers and the once-beaten Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. After leading 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami held on for a 31-30 victory...
and 1989 Orange Bowl
1989 Orange Bowl
The 1989 Orange Bowl was a 1988–1989 college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 1989. The 55th edition of the game was the first that had an official corporate sponsor, FedEx . The second-ranked Miami Hurricanes defeated the sixth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers...
s, both of which Miami had defeated Nebraska in. The shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
win gave the Hurricanes their fourth National Championship (having earned their first in 1983
1983 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1983 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the first of five won by the University of Miami.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Coaching staff:-Schedule:...
), capping the school's "decade of dominance" in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Game summary
The Hurricanes raced to a quick start in the first quarter when quarterback Gino TorrettaGino Torretta
Gino Louis Torretta is a Heisman Trophy winner who played quarterback for several teams in the National Football League from 1993 to 1997....
threw an 8-yard touchdown to Kevin Williams
Kevin Williams (wide receiver)
Kevin Ray Williams is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys, the Arizona Cardinals, the Buffalo Bills, and the San Francisco 49ers....
, followed by two field goals. After a scoreless second quarter, Miami dominated the second half with another touchdown run in by fullback Larry Jones and a third field goal by Carlos Huerta
Carlos Huerta
Carlos Huerta was a gridiron football kicker in three professional leagues.After playing his college football at the University of Miami, Huerta joined the Las Vegas Posse, a Canadian Football League expansion franchise...
. The defense then successfully held off Nebraska for the remainder of the game.
Aftermath
The win completed a perfect season for the Hurricanes, maintaining their #1 ranking in the AP Poll. However, Miami did not receive the #1 Coaches' Poll ranking as the Washington Huskies1991 Washington Huskies football team
The 1991 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1991 college football season. Head coach Don James was assisted by coordinators Keith Gilbertson and Jim Lambright , both head coaches themselves within two years.The 1991 team was arguably the finest team in...
had achieved an identical 12-0 record, complete with a win in the Rose Bowl
1992 Rose Bowl
The 1992 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1992, the 78th Rose Bowl game. Before 103,566 in attendance in Pasadena and a national television audience, the #2 Washington Huskies defeated the #4 Michigan Wolverines 34-14. Washington DT Steve Emtman and QB Billy Joe...
. As a result, the 1991 college football season finished with Miami and Washington sharing a split co-championship, which led the major athletic conferences to form the Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
in the following year to help better decide an undisputed national champion in future seasons.
Nebraska and Miami would face off in yet another Orange Bowl rematch just three years later
1995 Orange Bowl
The 1995 Orange Bowl a 1994-1995 college football bowl game was played on January 1, 1995, for the national championship. This 61st edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Miami Hurricanes. Nebraska came into the game with a 12-0 and #1 AP ranking, whereas Miami came...
, during which Nebraska would finally win their first match against Miami in the bowl game.
External links
- Orange Shutout Gives 'Canes Third Title OrangeBowl.org November 24, 1992. Retrieved December 23, 2010.