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SPORTSWednesday 13 January 2016
Alabama-Clemson joins the list of epic title games
Continued from page 17 Miami built an early lead Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow catches a touchdown pass in front of Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick
and the hometown crowd and Eddie Jackson during the first half of the NCAA college football playoff championship
The game featured Terry rocked the Orange Bowl.
Hanratty getting knocked The potent Cornhuskers game Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. Alabama beat
out of the game after a needed a trick play — a Clemson 45-40.
sack by Michigan State’s “fumblerooski” TD by line-
Bubba Smith. The Irish had man Dean Steinkuhler — (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
the ball with 1:01 left after to stay in the game. They
rallying to tie the score, pulled within a point with
and needed about 40 less than a minute left, but
yards to get into Joe Az- instead of kicking the ex-
zaro’s field goal range. tra point that would have
Parseghian chose to run assured a championship,
out the clock. Alabama coach Tom Osborne de-
finished the same season cided to go for the win with
11-0-0. a 2-point try. Turner Gill’s
pass was swatted away
MIAMI 31, NEBRASKA 30 by Ken Calhoun, and Mi-
(1984 ORANGE BOWL) ami benefited when higher
Miami, which considered ranked teams lost in earlier
shutting down its program bowl games and rose from
due to lack of interest sev- fifth to No. 1 in the final AP
eral years earlier, pulled off poll.
one of the greatest upsets
to win its first national title. OHIO STATE 31, MIAMI 24, 2
Led by gawky yet efficient OT (2003 FIESTA BOWL)
quarterback Bernie Kosar, Miami was poised for an-
other perfect season. They This game was like Ala-
were a unanimous No. 1 bama-Clemson for excite-
choice riding a 34-game ment, but had an even
winning streak. Ohio State wilder finish. It was a No. 1
also was unbeaten, ranked vs. No. 2 game, and USC
No. 2, but appeared to be was loaded — with two
no match for the speedy Heisman winners in running
‘Canes. Led by freshman back Reggie Bush and
running back Maurice quarterback Matt Leinart.
Clarett, though, Ohio State Like Clemson’s Deshaun
outplayed Miami for much Watson, Texas QB Vince
of the game. But it was a Young piled up over 400 to-
still debated pass interfer- tal yards, but his Longhorns
ence call in overtime that came out a winner when
gave the Buckeyes anoth- he scored on fourth down
er chance, and they won in the closing seconds.
31-24 in double OT. With
his team down 24-17 and FLORIDA STATE 34, AUBURN
facing fourth down in OT, 31 (2014 ROSE BOWL)
Craig Krenzel’s pass into The Tigers stormed to a 21-3
the end zone was called lead before Heisman win-
incomplete by one official, ner Jameis Winston led the
but another ruled interfer- Seminoles back. The lead
ence against Miami. Ohio went back and forth with
State then tied it, and won the Tigers going ahead 31-
it in the second OT for its first 27 with 1:19 left. But Winston
national crown in 34 years. led them to victory — and
the national title — with a
TEXAS 41, SOUTHERN CALI- short TD pass to Kelvin Ben-
FORNIA 38 (2006 ROSE jamin with 13 seconds to
BOWL) go.q
