The 1992 Sugar Bowl was the 58th edition to the annual game. It featured the third-ranked Florida Gators and the 18th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Using a come-from-behind performance, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish upset the highly favored Gators 39–28. The game is also known as "the cheerios bowl".

The Florida Gators built an early 7–0 lead when their Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

 candidate, quarterback Shane Matthews

Shane Matthews

Michael Shane Matthews is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for all or part of fourteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played...

, found All-SEC wide receiver Willie Jackson

Willie Jackson (American football)

Willie Bernard Jackson, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1990s and 2000s...

 on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Florida led 10–0 at the end of the first quarter, after Arden Czyzewski added a 26-yard field goal to cap the quarter.

Czyzewski added a 24-yard field goal, early in the second quarter, allowing the Gators to take a 13-0 lead. Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer

Rick Mirer

Richard Franklin Mirer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame, Mirer was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the second pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Mirer was traded to the Chicago Bears during...

 capped a methodical drive with a perfect 40-yard touchdown pass to wideout Lake Dawson

Lake Dawson

Lake Dawson is a former professional American football player. He graduated from Federal Way High School in 1990, where he had participated in football, basketball, and track...

, making it 13–7 Gators. The Gators led 16-7 at half, after Czyzewski's third field goal of the game. In the third quarter, Notre Dame got a 23-yard field goal from Kevin Pendergast, and a 4-yard touchdown pass form Rick Mirer to Irv Smith

Irv Smith

Irvin Martin Smith was a former American football player who was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 1st round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played high school football for Pemberton Township High School, a small public school located in South Jersey a few miles from Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force...

 to take a 17-16 lead. Czyzewski's 37-yard field goal made it 19-17 at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Czyzewski's fifth field goal of the game gave the Gators a 22-17 lead with just 13:45 remaining. Notre Dame's Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...

 then took over the game, as he rushed for touchdowns of 3 and 49 yards, as Notre Dame grabbed a 32-22 lead. Florida quickly responded with a 36-yard score from Shane Matthews to Harrison Houston with 2:28 left to make it 32-28.

Notre Dame put the game out of reach following Jerome Bettis's third rushing touchdown of the game, a 39-yarder, to make the final score 39–28. Bettis finished the game with 150 yards rushing. Florida quarterback Shane Matthews set Sugar Bowl records for passing yards (370), and completions (28). Florida lost despite outgaining Notre Dame 511–433, and having 2 turnovers, compared to Notre Dame's 3.

External links

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