Miami is tied for second all-time with Notre Dame with nine victories against the top-ranked team nationally per ESPN. Alabama is first with 11 wins all-time against the top-ranked team in the country. The first two Miami national championships were won at home against the number one team.
Miami earned its first win over the top-ranked team nationally with a 17-14 victory over number one Penn State in 1981. The Hurricanes held on after taking a 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Jim Kelly of Miami and Todd Blackledge of Penn State were the quarterbacks and would become first-round picks in the 1983 NFL Draft.
In the most iconic win in program history, number five Miami upset top-ranked and heavily favored Nebraska 31-30 in the 1984 Orange Bowl. Miami won its first national championship by defeating Nebraska, which entered the Orange Bowl with many writers proclaiming they were the best team in college football history.
In their next game in the 1984 season opener, Miami upset Auburn and future Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson 20-18 at the Kickoff Classic that was played at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Miami entered the 1984 season ranked 10th in the Associated Press Top 25.
Date | Opponent | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
10/31/1981 | Penn State | 17-14 | Orange Bowl |
1/2/1984 | Nebraska | 31-30 | Orange Bowl |
8/27/1984 | Auburn | 18-16 | Giants Stadium |
9/27/1986 | Oklahoma | 28-16 | Orange Bowl |
1/1/1988 | Oklahoma | 20-14 | Orange Bowl |
9/3/1988 | Florida State | 31-0 | Orange Bowl |
11/25/1989 | Notre Dame | 27-10 | Orange Bowl |
11/16/1991 | Florida State | 17-16 | Tallahassee, Florida |
107/2000 | Florida State | 27-24 | Orange Bowl |
Beginning of a three-year rivalry
Miami next defeated a number one team when the second-ranked Hurricanes defeated Oklahoma 28-16 in the Orange Bowl in 1986. Miami ascended to number one and stayed there until losing 14-7 to Penn State in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl.
Despite Jimmy Johnson leading Miami to a 41-7 record entering the 1988 Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes had yet to win a national championship during his tenure. As they had in 1986, Miami entered the game against Oklahoma second nationally, and the Sooners were first in the AP Top 25.
Miami beat Oklahoma to cap a 12-0 season and became the first undefeated National Champions in program history. It was the third consecutive season Miami beat Oklahoma. The Sooners were 33-3 from 1985 through 1987, with all three losses to Miami.
Miami opened the 1988 season against number one Florida State. The sixth-ranked Hurricanes beat the Seminoles 31-0 at the Orange Bowl. Florida State finished the 1988 season with 11 consecutive wins. Miami finished 11-1 with a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame, which cost the Hurricanes a National Championship.
Miami entered its game against Notre Dame seventh in the AP Top 25 in 1989. Notre Dame had already been selected to play Colorado in the 1990 Orange Bowl. Miami dominated Notre Dame in a 27-10 win. The only touchdown for Notre Dame was on an interception return.
The 1991 game between number two Miami and top-ranked Florida State could essentially be viewed as a National Semifinal. Miami won 17-16 at Florida State in the first wide right. Miami finished the season with a 22-0 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to earn the fourth National Championship in program history.
Miami entered its 2000 game against Florida State with five consecutive losses to the Seminoles. Ken Dorsey led Miami on a late-game winning drive that culminated with a TD pass to Jeremy Shockey. Florida State went wide right for the third time to end a game against Miami and the Hurricanes earned the win.