This year’s college season is unique due to the realignment (i.e. many teams joining the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC), the upsets (e.g. Vanderbilt defeating Alabama), and comebacks (e.g. Miami defeating California). There is still a lot of football to be played, so it’s yet to be seen how memorable this season will be.
But the 1994 season was perhaps one of the most memorable in college football history. Florida had been voted Number One in the pre-season polls, and would dominate its opponents with an explosive offense and an improved defense. In September, they defeated New Mexico State 70-21, Kentucky 73-7, and Tennessee 31-0. The following month, they faced Auburn in a battle of unbeaten teams, but lost 36-33. In late November, the Gators would blow a 31-3 lead over Florida State and the result was a 31-31 tie. A rematch in the Sugar Bowl (nicknamed the Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter) resulted in a 23-17 victory for the Seminoles.
Colorado was another team with an explosive that went undefeated for most of the season. In late September, the Buffaloes trailed Michigan 26-14 with a little over two minutes left in the game. The Buffaloes scored to cut the lead 26-21, and forced the Wolverines to go three-and-out. With just a few seconds left on the clock, Colorado’s quarterback Kordell Stewart threw a Hail Mary pass towards the end zone, which was then tipped and caught by the Buffaloes’ receiver Michael Westbrook, thus giving Colorado a 27-26 victory. In late October, Colorado faced Nebraska in a battle of unbeaten teams, with Nebraska winning 24-7.
Nebraska would go on to finish the regular season undefeated, despite its star quarterback Tommie Frazier being out for several games due to a blood clot in his leg.
Meanwhile, Penn State was another team with an explosive offense that managed to go undefeated through the regular season. However, their defense was less than spectacular, which was the part of the reason Nebraska jumped over them to Number One in the rankings.
Nebraska would face Miami on New Year’s Day in the Orange Bowl. The Cornhuskers found themselves trailing 17-9 in the fourth quarter. But the Huskers managed to tie the game at 17 apiece, with a touchdown run by fullback Cory Schlesinger and a two-point conversion pass by Tommie Frazier. Late in the fourth quarter, Schlesinger scored again to give the Cornhuskers a 24-17 lead over the Hurricanes. Nebraska would go on to win the game.
Meanwhile, Penn State defeated Oregon 38-20 in the Rose Bowl. Since both Nebraska and Penn State were undefeated, they both had claims to the national championship. However, Nebraska was voted number one in both the AP Poll and the Coaches’ Poll.
Despite the controversy, the 1994 College Football Season was one to remember.
