Miami football five best New Year’s Day bowl victories

1992 Orange Bowl Miami 22 Nebraska 0

Miami breezed through the 1991 regular season allowing only one team to score 20 points. The November victory at Florida State is maybe the most famous in program history. A Florida State field goal attempt in the final minute was the first of a few wide rights. Number two Miami defeated number one Florida State.

The 1991 Hurricanes averaged 32.2 PPG to rank 16th nationally and allowed 8.3 which was first. Nebraska had the nation’s third-best offense in 1991 averaging 37.8 PPG but allowed 19.2 PPG to rank 36th nationally. The Cornhuskers averaged 506.5 total yards per game, 353.2 rushing. Miami outgained Nebraska 439 to 171.

The Miami defense held Nebraska to 82 yards rushing on 38 carries. Miami earned a 22-0 victory. It was the first time Nebraska was shutout in 221 games since 1973. Miami also defeated Nebraska for the third time in the Orange Bowl in eight years. Miami scored less than four minutes into the game.

Gino Torretta connected with Kevin Williams on an eight-yard TD pass. Three Carlos Huerta field goals and a Larry Jones one-yard TD run provided the final margin. Jones earned Orange Bowl MVP with 30 carries for 144 yards and the TD.  Miami split the national championship with Washington who won the Rose Bowl.

Washington was led by former Miami quarterback and athletic hall of fame Don James. Erickson was from Everett, Washington about an hour from Seattle. The Miami football team was voted the Associated Press National Champions, Washington earned the coaches’ title.