1985 NCAA Tournament
The 1985 Tournament was based on the final AP rankings. Last year's champion Florida was beat in the first round by #12 Arkansas. #13 Alabama upset #4 Tennessee in double overtime in the first round. Also in the first round #10 Iowa beat #7 UCLA.
National Semi Final #1 (Alabama Crimson Tide at Air Force Falcons)
December 28, 1985 @ Falcon Stadium, Temp 24, Clear, Wind 6 mph
Alabama scores the game winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the game to defeat Air Force 35-28 earning a spot in the championship game.
This was a wildly entertaining game that four times Alabama took the lead and four times Air Force tied the game. The Falcons just didn't have enough time left after the final Crimson Tide touchdown to come back a fifth time. Alabama opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 23 yard Mike Shula to Al Bell touchdown pass. Later in the first Air Force tied it on quarterback Bart Weiss's four yard run. It was 7-7 after one quarter of play. Craig Turner put the Tide up 14-7 with a two yard run, but the lead didn't last long as Scott Thomas returned the ensuing kick off 94 yards to tie the game at 14-14. That would be the score at halftime. In the the 3rd quarter, Gene Jelks scored on a 27 yard run on Alabama's first possession to put the Tide up 21-14. After an exchange of punts Air Force used the last five minutes of the quarter to march 82 yards and tie the game on a Weiss to Kelly Pittman 22 yard pass. Heading to the 4th quarter the game is tied at 21-21. Alabama starts the 4th quarter with the ball and the Shula to Bell connection strikes again as they connect on a 40 yard scoring play to put them up 28-21 two minutes into the quarter. Air Force got the ball back, but Johnny Smith fumbled and Alabama recovered at their own 48 yard line. The Falcon defense held and the Tide were forced to punt. Air Force went three an out and punted the ball back to Alabama and the Tide got a great return from Greg Richardson, setting them up at the Falcons 26 yard line. With just over seven minutes to play the Tide now looked to get a score and pad their lead. Bobby Humphrey broke off a run to the Falcons nine yard line, but then a personal foul penalty backed Alabama back up to the 24 yard line. On the next play Shula was intercepted by Tom Rottello, denying the Tide and keeping hope alive for Air Force. The Falcons responded by going 77 yards in just over two and half minutes and tying the game on Pat Evans four yard run. The game is tied 28-28 with 2:37 left to play. The Alabama offense took the field with a chance to win the game and that's just what they did. Humphrey got the drive started with a 36 yard run to the Falcons 40 yard line. From there Jelks and Humphrey ran the ball right at the Air Force defense and the Falcons couldn't stop them. With just over 40 seconds left in the game Jelks pounded in from a yard out to put the Tide up 35-28. Air Force got the ball back with enough time for a couple of desperation heaves by Weiss, but nothing connected. The Tide roll on to their fifth championship game appearance. MVP: Gene Jelks, Alabama. Rushing: 87 yds, 2 TD...Receiving 2 catches, 18 yds. For Alabama: Shula 15/24, 194, 2 TD, INT...Jelks 87 yds, 2 TD,... Humphrey 78 yds...Bell 5 rec, 105 yds, 2 TD...Davis 11 Tkl... For Air Force: Weiss 8/14, 118, TD, 2 INT, 65 yds rushing, TD...Pittman 101 yds...Carpenter 3 rec, 74 yds...Hennings 10 Tkl...Thomas 10 Tkl |
National Semi Final #2 (Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines)
December 28, 1985 @ Michigan Stadium, Temp 21, Clear, Wind 5 mph
The Michigan Wolverine defense shut out Penn State in the second half, allowing their offense to do just enough and rally for a tight 13-6 win. Sending the Wolverines to their first championship game.
Penn State took a 6-3 lead into the locker room at half time, but in six second half possessions they turned the ball over three times, missed a field goal, punted, and then turned the ball over on downs at the end of the game. Michigan's offense wasn't much better, getting shut out in the 3rd quarter as Penn State carried their 6-3 lead into the final quarter. On the third play of the 4th quarter Jamie Morris scored on a nine yard run to put the Wolverines up 10-6. On Penn State's next possession they had kicker Massimo Manca try a long 50 yard field goal, but it was blocked. Michigan punted and Penn State got the ball back with eight minutes left in the game. Quarterback John Shaffer was intercepted by Garland Rivers at the PSU 40 yard line. This set up Michigan with great field position and they took advantage by getting a 23 yard field goal by Mike Gillette to increase their lead to 13-6 and just under three minutes left to play. Penn State manage to reach the Wolverines 44 yard line but that's where there offense stalled. Two kneel downs later the Wolverines were on their way to the Rose Bowl. MVP: Mike Hammerstein, Michigan. Defense: 14 Tkl, 3 Stf, Sack, Forced Fumble For Penn St: Shaffer 9/19, 42 yds, INT...Smith 114 yds rushing...Dozier 62 yds rushing For Michigan: Harbaugh 4/15, 34 yds, INT...Morris 54 yds rushing, TD...Hammerstein 14 Tkl...Messner 11 Tkl |
National Championship (Alabama Crimson Tide v Michigan Wolverines)
January 4th, 1986 @ The Rose Bowl, Temp 59, Clear, No wind
Alabama comes into the Rose Bowl looking for their fourth tournament championship. For Michigan, this is their first appearance in the championship game despite this being their 14th tournament. The same number that Alabama has appeared in.
Michigan received the opening kick off and grabbed an early 3-0 lead thanks to a 33 yard Mike Gillette field goal. Alabama got the ball and had no trouble moving against the Michigan defense that had just stymied Penn State. The Tide find the end zone on a Mike Shula to Al Bell 3 yd scoring pass and take a 7-3 lead in the game. That would be the score at the end of the first quarter. It stayed that score until Michigan put together a nice drive mid way through the second quarter. They go 80 yards in six minutes and regain the lead on a Jim Harbaugh to Ken Higgins 19 yard scoring pass. With just over four minutes left in the half, Michigan is on top 10-7. On Alabama's ensuing drive Shula fumbled on a run play and the ball was recovered by Michigan's Mike Reinhold at the Crimson Tide 23 yard line. Alabama's defense held and Michigan had to settle for a 43 yard field goal by Gillette. With under two minutes left in the half Michigan now leads 13-7. Alabama got the ball back and instead of kneeling and heading to the locker room, they tried to move into position for some points and it backfired on them. Shula turned the ball over again, this time being intercepted by Ivan Hicks and the Michigan 48 yard line. He returned it to the Alabama 43 yard line. With 1:24 on the clock Harbaugh moved Michigan down to the Alabama 20 yard line. Gillette kicked his third field goal of the half, this one from 37 yards and Michigan now had a 16-7 lead at halftime. Alabama received the second half kick and for the third possession in a row Shula turned the ball over to Michigan. He fumbled the ball at midfield and it was recovered by Mike Hammerstein. This time however Alabama's defense rescued him by forcing Harbaugh to fumble and Joe Goodwin recovered for the Tide to keep further damage from happening. Bolstered by the defense coming to his rescue, Shula moved Alabama to the Michigan 20 yard line. Van Tiffin kicked a 37 yard field goal and it was now a 16-10 game. Alabama forced Michigan to punt and they got an excellent return from Monte Robbins. He sped 43 yards, setting up the Tide offense at the Michigan 29 yard line. Four plays later Alabama took the lead on a Shula to Bobby Humphrey two yard pass. Halfway through the third quarter Alabama has a 17-16 lead. The defenses carried the play through the rest of the third quarter and into the fourth. Alabama had the ball with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game when the turnover bug bit them again. Murry Hill fumbled at their own 30 yard line and Mike Mallory recovered for Michigan. Three plays later Jamie Morris ran in from three yards out and Michigan was back on top 22-17. They elected to go for the two point conversion and Harbaugh found Paul Jokisch in the end zone to convert. They now had a 24-17 lead. Alabama went three and out and Michigan got the ball back with just under eight minutes remaining. Michigan managed a short drive into Alabama territory and Gillette kicked his fourth field goal of the game, this one from 41 yards out and it was now 27-17 with 6:13 remaining in the game. Alabama would have the ball two more times in the game, but each time the ended up failing to convert on 4th down plays. Michigan was able to chew up the rest of the clock and they earn their first championship. Alabama is now 3-2 in championship games. Both losses having occurred at the Rose Bowl. MVP: Mike Gillette, Michigan. Four field goals For Alabama: Shula 18/30, 158, 2 TD, INT...Jelks 61 yds rushing...Bell 62 yds receiving For Michigan: Harbaugh 11/15, 122, TD...Morris 90 yds rushing...Jokisch 53 yds receiving...Akers 10 Tkl, Sk |