National Experts proclaim 2001 Miami football best of last 21 years
Clemson went on the win the 2016 National Championship. That Tigers team was ranked 12th on ESPN’s list. Another stat that shows how truly dominant the Hurricanes were was how they played against ranked teams. Aschoff said:
"“On the season, Miami outscored its opponents 512-117, including 236-72 against five teams that were ranked at the time they played.”"
The 2001 Miami football team didn’t just have talent, they had top end talent. Aschoff discussed how deep the Miami roster was that season.
"“Of the 22 starters in that Nebraska shellacking, 11 of the 18 who were drafted went in the first round. There were a handful of All-Americans on this team and six national awards finalists. The size, speed, strength and athleticism that this team showed was rivaled by just about no one that season. Its swagger and style paid homage to 1980s Canes teams, but this team brought its own sort of dominating edge that made it a true force.”"
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Aschoff discussed the 2001 Hurricanes success against ranked teams to finish the season.
"“(Miami) closed the season with four straight wins over ranked opponents (only one was within 23 points)…The average rank for total offense by Miami’s opponents was 65, while the average total defense rank for its opponents was 48. The Canes also played five defenses and three offenses that ranked in the top 30 nationally."
Miami’s only game against a ranked team not on their schedule was in the National Championship against number four Nebraska. The stats do not do tell the entire story of Miami’s resounding win in the Rose Bowl.
They absolutely crushed Nebraska in the first half of that game. The Hurricanes led 34-0 at halftime and basically were on cruise control in the final 30 minutes. The ended the game with a resounding 37-14 victory.
That concluded a 12-0 season, the unanimous number one team of 2001 and the consensus top team in college football history.
Next. Multiple reasons Miami is favored against Florida State. dark
Miami followed up their 2001 National Championship season by going 12-1. If it wasn’t for the questionable interference call at the end of the first overtime the Hurricanes would have had back to back undefeated National Championships.