Orange Bowl Countdown: #3

2000: Miami versus Florida State

As our #4 selection described, Florida State turned the tables on Miami in the mid to late 1990s, dominating the rivalry and also arguably playing the best football anywhere in America. While the talent gap between Miami and Florida State had clearly narrowed in 1999 when the Hurricanes gave the #1 Noles a game in Tallahassee.

2000 was the year Miami had to beat Florida State. Butch Davis came into the game 0-10 against FSU and Virginia Tech. The Canes behind a rare Orange Bowl sellout raced out to a 17-0 2nd quarter lead behind TDs from DJ Williams and Najeh Davenport. Right before halftime Chris Weinke, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner drove Florida State down the field but Dan Morgan picked him off in the end zone.

But in the second half FSU stormed back and after Najeh Davenport had gotten a potential game clinching first down, the ball was stripped and two plays later Weinke hit Atrews Bell to give the Noles a 24-20 lead inside of two minutes to go. Then Miami ripped off an epic drive, spearheaded largely by Santana Moss and Ken Dorsey. Jeremy Shockey caught a TD to give Miami a 27-24 lead, but Weinke rallied FSU again bringing them into FG range before Matt Munyon missed the potential tying FG wide right. Weinke finished the game throwing for 496 yards a record for any opponent.

Florida State was the better team on that day and the better team that season. Lots of controversy ensued at the end of the season when FSU jumped Miami in the BCS poll to play in the National Title game. Florida State was the better team, no doubt but this loss thanks to to wild OB atmosphere should have given Miami or perhaps Washington (who beat Miami) the spot alongside Oklahoma in the BCS title game.