The 2001 tournament was based on the final BCS rankings. Defending champion Florida State did not make the tournament. #13 LSU beat #4 Oregon & #15 Washington beat #2 Nebraska in the first round.
National Semi Final - The Sugar Bowl (Texas Longhorns vs Tennessee Volunteers) December 29th, 2001 @ The Louisiana Superdome, Dome
The scoring began with a 45-yard field goal by Texas kicker Dusty Mangum, taking the score to 3-0. However, Tennessee quickly responded with a touchdown by Cedric Houstonwith a 6-yard run, bringing the score to 7-3 in favor of Tennessee.
In the second quarter, Texas took the lead with a touchdown by Sloan Thomas on a 16-yard pass from Chris Simms with just 24 seconds remaining in the half. At the half it's 10-7.
In the third quarter, Texas increased their lead with a touchdown by Roy Williams on a 43-yard pass from Simms, bringing the score to 17-7.
In the fourth quarter, Texas continued to dominate with two more Simms to Williams touchdowns to up their lead to 31-7. Tennessee managed to score a final touchdown with a 9-yard pass from backup QB Joey Mathews to Donte Stallworth, bringing the final score to 31-14 in favor of Texas.
Chris Simms was named the MVP of the game, passing for 269 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a rating of 162, along with 12 yards rushing.
Neither team could run the ball effectively (Tex-77, Ten-88). The Vols turned it over twice to none for Texas. Roy Williams had 6 catches for 92 yards and 3 TDs. Donte Stallworth caught 8 passes for 87 yards and a score for the Vols.
Casey Clausen
Chris Simms
Roy Williams
National Semi Final - The Fiesta Bowl (Florida Gators vs Miami,FL Hurricanes) December 29th, 2001 @ Sun Devil Stadium, Temp 46, Partly Cloudy, 5 mph wind
The first quarter was dominated by the Gators, with Rex Grossman throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney and Earnest Graham scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown to put Florida up 14-0. Miami responded with a 32-yard field goal by Todd Sievers, making the score 14-3 at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, Florida's Jeff Chandler kicked a 55-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-3, but Miami's Sievers kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 17-6. The two teams then exchanged turnovers (a Grossman interception and a Clinton Portis fumble) leading into halftime.
The Gators pulled away in the third quarter, with Grossman throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gaffney and Chandler kicking a 25-yard field goal to put Florida up 27-6. Miami then started to rally. Sievers kicked a 37-yard field goal and Ken Dorsey threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson, followed by a successful two-point conversion to make the score 27-17.
In the fourth quarter, Grossman tried his best to give the lead to Miami. He threw interceptions on consecutive possessions. However Sievers missed a field goal and then he kicked a 45-yard field goal to bring the score to 27-20. Miami had the ball with 6:44 to play and drove to Gators 16-yard line but the Gators defense again got a stop with an interception by Lito Sheppard. Miami would get one more chance and again they drove into Florida territory. Dorsey's heave into the end zone fell incomplete and the game was over.
Florida's Jabar Gaffney was named the game's MVP, with 7 catches for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Grossman (18/28-252-2-3) was again good, but his turnovers could have cost the Gators the game. Dorsey (20/40-226-1-2) was only so-so. Portis (18-99) had a nice day on the ground for the Hurricanes. Florida turned the ball over four times, but Miami turned it over 3 times.
Ken Dorsey
Rex Grossman
Jabar Gaffney
BCS Championship Game - The Rose Bowl (Texas Longhorns vs Florida Gators) January 5th, 2002 @ The Rose Bowl, Temp 43, Cloudy, 7 mph wind
Florida comes in looking for their second championship ('84). They were runner up in '95. Texas is making their first trip to the championship game. It's the first ever meeting between the two schools.
In the first quarter, Nathan Vasher's interception of Rex Grossman set up Texas first score of the game. It came via a 20-yard pass from Chris Simms to Roy Williams. The extra point was good, and Texas took an early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Florida responded with a 41-yard field goal by kicker Jeff Chandler to make it 7-3. Later in the quarter, Florida quarterback Rex Grossman threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Taylor Jacobs, and with the extra point, Florida took a 10-7 lead. Still in the third, Reche Caldwell fumbled and Ahmad Brooks recovered for Texas. That leads to a game tying 21-yard field goal by Dusty Mangum just before halftime.
In the third quarter, Mangum kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Texas a 13-10 lead, but Florida quickly responded with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Grossman to Kirk Wells, and with the extra point, Florida took a 17-13 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Chris Simms scored a 1-yard touchdown run to give Texas a 20-17 lead. However, Florida tied the game with a 37-yard field goal by Chandler to make it 20-20. Texas got the ball back with 6:45 to play. Simms led the Longhorns into Gator territory. On 3rd and 5 from the 25, he threw an incomplete pass but Florida was called for roughing the passer. Texas was able to then move to the 13 yard line and with just over two minutes left in the game, Mangum kicked a 30-yard field goal to give Texas a 23-20 lead. Then the kickoff happened. Mangum's kick off went out of bounds. That's a 5-yard penalty and Texas kicks again. This time Robert Gillespie has a nice 32-yard return, but he fumbles. Ahmad Brooks falls on it for the Longhorns. Florid has one last chance to get a stop but on 3rd and seven. Simms hits Williams for a 30-yard pass. Four kneels later, Texas is the champion. A very tough loss for Gator fans.
Despite the loss, the game's MVP was Florida quarterback Rex Grossman, who threw for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns with a passer rating of 146.
A quick note about the kick out of bounds. By today's rules, Florida would have been able to take possession at their 35-yard line. (I believe)
The game was a bit chippy (19 total penalties, 12 on Florida). Florida also had three turnovers to none for Texas. Chris Simms was ok. (20/33-169-1) Ivan Williams was the leading rusher for Texas with only 42 yards. The Gators also had a tough time running the ball as Earnest Graham was their leader with just 37 yards. Caldwell (4-77) was the Gators top receiver, but he had a crucial fumble that allowed Texas to tie the game just before halftime.