Miami Hurricanes-Penn State Fiesta Bowl precipice to College Football Playoff

The 1986 college football season had the unusual aspect that two major independents finished the regular season undefeated. The Penn State-Miami Hurricanes game in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl changed the course of college football.

The 1987 Fiesta Bowl featuring the Miami Hurricanes was the forerunner to the BCS Championship game and College Football Playoff. It would be 11 years back in the desert before another team from Florida played in the first Bowl Championship Series Championship Game.

Tennessee defeated Florida State 23-16 to win the first BCS Championship Game. Miami entered the 1987 Fiesta Bowl after a dominant 1986 regular season. The Hurricanes outscored opponents 430-125. Miami finished third nationally in points scored and 4th in points allowed.

Miami Hurricanes Football

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde became the first Miami Hurricanes player ever to be named the Heisman Trophy winner. Miami was a 6.5 point favorite over Penn State but it felt much bigger. Testaverde would go on to be selected as the number one pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986 NFL Draft.

Penn State was quarterbacked by John Shaffer who 114-204 for 1,510 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. The 1986 Nittany Lions were led by Hall of Fame and 25 years later disgraced coach Joe Paterno was an old school conservative offense, let the defense win the game team.

Penn State averaged 28.3 points per game which was 17th nationally and allowed 11.1 PPG which was third. The Nittany Lions relied on their ground game. Three Penn State running backs finished the season with over 500 yards rushing.

D.J. Dozier and Blair Thomas would become first-round picks in the NFL following their Penn State careers. Dozier scored 10 touchdowns in their championship season. Known as Linebacker U in that era, Penn State’s defense was led by future Buffalo Bill Shane Conlan.