1986 NCAA Tournament
The 1986 Tournament was based on the final AP rankings. Last year's champion Michigan was beat in the first round by #9 Alabama 23-10. #13 Texas A&M upset #4 Arizona St. 21-10 in the first round and #10 LSU upset #7 Ohio St. 37-34 in the first round as well.
National Semi Final #1 (Nebraska Cornhuskers at Penn St. Nittany Lions)
December 27, 1986 @ Beaver Stadium, Temp 38, Cloudy, Wind 16 mph
Nebraska's Steve Taylor scored the go ahead touchdown with just over three minutes to play in the game to propel the Cornhuskers to a hard fought 14-10 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The win sends Nebraska to an all time best sixth national championship game. The fourth in this decade of the 80's. Penn State failed to convert on an opportunity early in the game when Dana Brinson fumbled a punt at his own 39 yard line. A sack and a penalty pushed them out of scoring range. Later in the first quarter Brinson redeemed himself with a 30 yard punt return to the PSU 28 yard line. On the first play of that drive Keith Jones broke a 28 yard run for the first score of the game. Nebraska takes a 7-0 lead and that would still be the score at halftime. In the third quarter Penn State finally gets on the board with a 25 yard Massimo Manca field goal, making it a 7-3 game. That would be the score going into the final quarter. With 12:30 left in the game, PSU started a drive on their own 44 yard line. 10 plays later D.J. Dozier ran in from five yards out and the Nittany Lions had their first lead of the game 10-7. Nebraska and PSU each swapped short possesioins and then Nebraska got the ball back with 4:04 to play. On third and five from their 37 yard line, Jones again broke free on an outside run and 52 yards later was pushed out at the PSU one yard line. Taylor then scored on the very next play to make it a 14-10 game. Penn St. got as far as the Nebraska 29 yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Nebraska then took a knee to run out the rest of the clock. MVP: Leroy Etienne, Nebraska. Defense: 13 tackles, 1 stuff, 1 PD, 1 forced fumble For Nebraska: Taylor 1/3, 7...32 yds rushing, TD...Jones 99 yds rushing, TD...Etienne 13 tackles For Penn St: Shaffer 11/25, 114...Dozier 65 yds rushing...Hamilton 57 yds receiving...Johnson 1 forced fumble |
National Semi Final #2 (Oklahoma Sooners at Miami Hurricanes)
December 27, 1986 @ The Orange Bowl, Temp 78, Clear, No Wind
The Miami Hurricane defense held the Oklahoma Sooners to just 2 of 12 third down conversions and recovered four fumbles (three by Jamelle Holieway) to roll past the Sooners 31-7 and advance to their first championship game, which will happen to be played right in their home stadium of the Orange Bowl. The Sooners, still looking for their first national championship were denied what would have been their sixth trip to the title game.
The game was tight after the first quarter of play with only a 33 yard field goal by Miami's Greg Cox accounting for any scoring. On their first drive of the second quarter Vinny Testaverde tossed a 7 yard TD pass to Warren Williams making it a 10-0 Miami lead. After forcing a Sooners punt, Testaverde struck again with a 14 yard scoring pass to Brian Blades making it 17-0. That would be the halftime score. Oklahoma received the second half kick and on the first play Holieway tried to throw a pass to Derrick Shepperd but George Mira intercepted it and returned it to the Sooners 22 yard line. On the first play Testaverde threw his third TD pass of the game, this one 22 yards to Michael Irvin and it was suddenly 24-0. To the Sooners credit they got the ball back and went down and scored their first points of the game. Rodnei Anderson ran in from four yards out to make it 24-7. Before the third quarter ended Testaverde threw his fourth TD pass of the game, his second to Blades, this one a 27 yarder to make it 31-7. That would be the final. MVP: Vinny Testaverde, Miami: 136 yds, 4 TD, 187 rating, 11 yds rushing For Oklahoma: Holieway 5/11, 63, 2 INT, 5 yds rushing, 3 fumbles...Johnson 115 yds rushing...Shepherd 23 yds receiving...Jones 16 tackles For Miami: Testaverde 11/18, 136, 4 TD, INT...Bratton 48 yds rushing...Highsmith 43 yds rushing...Williams 43 yds rushing...Blades 41 yds receiving, 2 TD...Mira 13 tackles, INT |
National Championship (Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Miami Hurricanes)
January 3rd, 1987 @ The Orange Bowl, Temp 64, Clear, Wind 4 mph
Nebraska is making their fourth appearance in the championship game this decade. They were runner up in 1980 and 1981, winning it all in 1982. They are 1-1 in their two previous Orange Bowl games. For Miami, this is their first championship game appearance and what better place than their home stadium.
As for the game, there wasn't a lot of drama. The Hurricanes built up a 28-0 halftime lead and won the game going away 35-7, winning their first ever championship. Nebraska has now appeared in six championship games, winning only one. Vinny Testaverde opened the scoring with a six yard scramble run for a score. Later in the first, after Daniel Stubbs recovered a Steve Taylor fumble on the Nebraska 24 yard line, Testaverde threw a 24 yd TD pass to Brett Perriman to make it 14-0 after one quarter. In the second quarter Testaverde hooked up with Michael Irvin on a 17 yd scoring strike to make it 21-0. Later Nebraska was driving but Jeff Wheeler fumbled at the Hurricanes 18 yd line and Bill Hawkins recovered for Miami. Testaverde led the Hurricanes down the field and connected with Brian Blades for a 27 yd touchdown and a 28-0 halftime lead. In the third quarter J.C. Penney ran in from three yards out to make it 35-0 and the game was all but over. Taylor ran in from three yards out in the fourth quarter to avert the shutout, but it was the Hurricanes that dominated and came out with the tittle. MVP: Vinny Testsverde, Miami: 232 yds passing, 3 TD, 16 yds rushing, TD For Nebraska: Taylor 5/14, 59, INT, 89 yds rushing...Kelley 37 yds rushing...Smith 34 yds receiving For Miami: Testaverde 16/26, 232, 3 TD, 2 INT...Rushing TD...Williams 31 yds rushing...Ivin 108 yds receiving, TD...Shannon 15 tackles, Sck |