How Miami football 1983 National Championship stunted FSU’s rise
A year later Miami defeated Oklahoma to win the 1987 National Championship. Johnson stayed one more season. A controversial regular-season loss at Notre Dame prevented a national championship for the Hurricanes in 1988. Johnson was hired by his Arkansas teammate Jerry Jones to coach the Dallas Cowboys after the season.
Florida State did not return to the national elite until an 11-1 1987 season and berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Seminoles went from 1982-95 with a 13-0-1 bowl game record and won 11 in a row from 1985-95. Florida State could win its postseason games but not defeat Miami.
Miami dominated the rivalry winning seven out of eight games between 1985-1992. The only win for Florida State during that span came in 1989.
It was the only loss Miami had that season. Florida State started 0-2, won their last 10, but it was not enough to claim a national championship.
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G | Date | Day | School | Opponent | Conf | Pts | Opp | Diff | W | L | T | Streak | Notes | ||
34 | 1992-10-03 | Sat | Miami (FL) (2) | Florida State (3) | ACC | W | 19 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 0 | W 3 | ||
33 | 1991-11-16 | Sat | Miami (FL) (2) | @ | Florida State (1) | Ind | W | 17 | 16 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 0 | W 2 | |
32 | 1990-10-06 | Sat | Miami (FL) (9) | Florida State (2) | Ind | W | 31 | 22 | 9 | 18 | 14 | 0 | W 1 | ||
31 | 1989-10-28 | Sat | Miami (FL) (2) | @ | Florida State (9) | Ind | L | 10 | 24 | -14 | 17 | 14 | 0 | L 1 | |
30 | 1988-09-03 | Sat | Miami (FL) (6) | Florida State (1) | Ind | W | 31 | 0 | 31 | 17 | 13 | 0 | W 4 | ||
29 | 1987-10-03 | Sat | Miami (FL) (3) | @ | Florida State (4) | Ind | W | 26 | 25 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 0 | W 3 | |
28 | 1986-11-01 | Sat | Miami (FL) (1) | Florida State (20) | Ind | W | 41 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 0 | W 2 | ||
27 | 1985-11-02 | Sat | Miami (FL) (11) | @ | Florida State (10) | Ind | W | 35 | 27 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 0 | W 1 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2020.
Miami owned the rivalry and won three national titles (1987, 1989, 1991) during those eight seasons. The Hurricanes dynasty was in full effect.
Dennis Erickson took over for Johnson and led Miami to National titles in 1989 and 1991, two of his first three seasons. Erickson was 63-9 in six seasons at Miami.
Only probation from a Pell Grant scandal set Miami back. Florida State won their first National Championship in 1993 and claimed a second under Bowden in 1999.
Jimbo Fisher later led FSU to the 2013 National Championship. Miami won a fifth in 2001 with what is widely considered the best team in college football history.
Florida asserted its own place on the national stage with titles in 1996, 2006 and 2008. It was the Miami football Program with the State of Miami, surrounding Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in recruiting that set the foundation for the Florida schools to own college football. Miami showed FSU and Florida how to win.