The
All-Time Ranking Of BCS Bowls
Part 3 - The
Great. No. 1 to No. 14
It's been 11 years since the Big Ten and Pac 10 relented
and joined the bizarre exercise known as the BCS to form the system,
for the most part we have now. Over the last decade-plus have been
some of the greatest games in the history of college football, to go
along with a slew of major clunkers. As the 2009 BCS season kicks
in, here's part three of the CFN ranking of all 42 BCS bowl games from
1999 to 2008 with the best of the bunch.
- Part One: The
Worst BCS Bowls
- Part Two: The
Good BCS Bowls
14. 2008 Orange Bowl
No. 8 Kansas 24 ... No. 3 Virginia Tech 21
In a strange game, Kansas started off the scoring with a 60-yard
interception return for a score from Aqib Talib, and held a 17-0
first half lead after Marcus Henry caught a 13-yard touchdown pass.
And then Virginia Tech found a groove, going 68 yards in 13 plays at
the end of the half by running Branden Ore, who scored with a
one-yard touchdown run. The Hokies got rolling in the second half on
an 84-yard punt return for a score from Justin Harper on a reverse,
but a blocked field goal and an interception gave the Kansas all the
momentum as Todd Reesing scored on a two-yard run early in the
fourth for the winning touchdown. Tech came up with a 15-play,
78-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown grab from Harper, but KU
recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Player of the Game: Kansas P
Kyle Tucker punted five times for 250 yards, averaging 50 yards per
kick, putting three inside the 20
Stat Leaders: Virginia Tech - Passing: Sean
Glennon, 13-28, 160 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Branden Ore, 23-116, 1 TD. Receiving: Justin
Harper, 4-64, 1 TD
Kansas - Passing: Todd Reesing, 20-37, 227 yds,
1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon McAnderson, 15-75. Receiving:
Dexton Fields, 7-101
13. 2004 Sugar Bowl
No. 2 LSU 21 ... No. 1 Oklahoma 14
The LSU defense controlled the game holding Oklahoma to only 154
yards of total offense and got a score on a Marcus Spears
interception for a touchdown, but the Tigers couldn't breathe easy
until the very end as the Sooners had two drives to try and tie up
the game snuffed out. LSU LB Lionel Turner blew through for a sack
on fourth down to end OU's final chance. The Tigers got up early on
a 24-yard Skyler Green touchdown run, but OU answered on a Kejuan
Jones one-yard touchdown run following a blocked punt. LSU took the
lead for good on a Justin Vincent 18-yard scoring run just before
halftime. The Sooners made things interesting on a fourth-quarter
one-yard Jones touchdown run, but they couldn't capitalize late
against the swarming Tiger D.
Player of the game: LSU DEs Marquise Hill and Marcus Spears
were in the Oklahoma backfield all game long disrupting the running
game pressuring Jason White. Spears even picked off a pass for a
touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Oklahoma - Passing: Jason White,
13-37, 102 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Kejuan Jones, 20-59, 2 TD. Receiving: Mark
Clayton, 4-32
LSU - Passing: Matt Mauck, 13-22, 124 yds, 2
INT
Rushing: Justin Vincent, 16-117, 1 TD. Receiving:
Michael Clayton, 4-38
12. 1999 Fiesta Bowl … National Championship
No. 1 Tennessee 23 … No. 2 Florida State 16
In a bit of a sluggish game with 21 penalties, seven penalties, and
just 253 yards of total offense from Florida State, Tennessee got
the big plays and the Noles didn’t. Dwayne Goodrich intercepted a
Marcus Outzen pass 54 yards for a 14-0 Tennessee first half lead,
but the Seminoles came back with ten straight points on a one-yard
William McCray touchdown run and a Sebastian Janikowski field goal.
Neither team was able to get the offense going in the third quarter,
and then lightning struck for Tennessee as Tee Martin connected with
Peerless Price for a 79-yard touchdown early in the fourth. The Vols
got a bit of a cushion with a 23-yard Jeff Hall field goal, and they
needed it as Outzen ran for a seven-yard score to pull the Noles
within seven late.
Player of the game: Tennessee WR Peerless Price caught four
passes for 199 yards and a touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Florida State - Passing: Marcus
Outzen, 9-22, 145 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Travis Minor, 15-83. Receiving: Ron Dugans,
6-135
Tennessee - Passing: Tee Martin, 11-18, 278 yds,
2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Travis Stephens, 13-60. Receiving:
Peerless Price, 4-199, 1 TD
11. 2004 Fiesta Bowl
No. 5 Ohio State 35 ... No. 10 Kansas State 28
Ohio State jumped out to a 21-0 lead on a blocked punt for a score
and Craig Krenzel touchdown passes to Santonio Holmes and Michael
Jenkins, but Kansas State finally got over the malaise from the
off-the-field problems of QB Ell Roberson to make things interesting
on a six-yard scoring run from Darren Sproles and a 14-yard scoring
run from Roberson. OSU pulled away for good with Krenzel touchdown
throws of eight yards to Jenkins and a brilliant 31-yard strike to
Holmes. However, the Buckeyes had a hard time closing as two more
KSU touchdown runs didn’t allow any Ohio State celebrating. Roberson
had one final shot, but his Hail Mary was knocked down.
Player of the game: Ohio State WR Michael Jenkins caught five
passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Kansas State - Passing: Ell
Roberson, 20-51, 294 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Darren Sproles, 13-38, 1 TD Receiving: Davin
Dennis, 7-113
Ohio State - Passing: Craig Krenzel, 11-24, 189
yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Lydell Ross, 20-82 Receiving: Michael Jenkins,
5-96, 2 TD
10. 2006 Sugar Bowl
No. 11 West Virginia 38 ... No. 5. Georgia 35
West Virginia got out to a shocking 28-0 lead early in the second
quarter highlighted by Steve Slaton touchdown runs from 52 and 18
yards, along with a touchdown run and catch from Darius Reynaud, but
Georgia slowly crept back with a 34-yard touchdown run from Kregg
Lumpkin, a 52-yard scoring dash from Thomas Brown, and a four-yard
Leonard Pope touchdown catch to cut the lead to 31-21 at halftime.
Georgia got the passing game going in the second half with a 34-yard
touchdown pass to A.J. Bryant and a 43-yard scoring play to Bryan
McClendon, but a second 52-yard touchdown run from Slaton midway
through the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. The Dawg
defense apparently had West Virginia stopped with just under two
minutes to play, but a fake punt kept the final drive alive and
allowed the Mountaineers to seal the win. West Virginia outgained
Georgia 382 rushing yards to 224, and didn't commit a turnover while
the Dawgs gave away three.
Player of the game: West Virginia RB Steve Slaton ran 26
times for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: West Virginia - Passing: Pat
White, 11-14, 120 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Steve Slaton, 26-204, 3 TD Receiving: Darius
Reynaud, 6-48, 1 TD
Georgia - Passing: D.J. Shockley, 20-33, 277
yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Thomas Brown, 9-78, 1 TD Receiving: Leonard
Pope, 6-50, 1 TD
9. 2001 Orange Bowl … National Championship
No. 1 Oklahoma 13 … No. 2 Florida State 2
The high-powered Florida State offense, led by Heisman-winning
QB Chris Weinke, was shut down and shut out, with the only points
coming from a safety off an Oklahoma punting snafu. FSU gained just
301 yards of total offense, but was in the game late as the Sooner
offense only managed two Tim Duncan field goals before a ten-yard
touchdown run from Quentin Griffin in the fourth quarter. The
Sooners held on to the ball for 36:33, but only gained 270 yards of
total offense even with a good game from Heisman runner-up, QB Josh
Heuepel. OU ran for 56 yards on 36 carries, and FSU gained just 27
yards on the ground.
Player of the game: Oklahoma P Jeff Ferguson averaged 44.7
yards on 10 punts, pinned FSU deep all game long, and fell on the
ball late for a safety to prevent a Seminole touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Florida State - Passing: Chris
Weinke, 25-51, 274 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Michael Vick, 23-97, 1 TD Receiving: Atrews
Bell, 7-137
Oklahoma - Passing: Josh Heupel, 25-39, 214 yds,
1 INT
Rushing: Quentin Griffin, 11-40, 1 TD Receiving: Josh
Norman, 3-49
8. 2000 Sugar Bowl … National Championship
No. 1 Florida State 46 … No. 2 Virginia Tech 29
Michael Vick put on a show in the first half, but Peter Warrick
was unstoppable throughout the game starting out with a 64-yard
touchdown catch to give Florida State the lead. Warrick also
returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown, and he put the Hokies away
with a 43-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. As good as
Warrick was, Vick was magical early on with a three-yard touchdown
run and a 49-yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis. Andre Kendrick ran
for scores from 29 and 6 yards out to give Virginia Tech a 29-24
lead going into the fourth quarter, and then it was all Florida
State. Chris Weinke finished with four touchdown passes with two to
Warrick and two to Ron Dugans, who scored early on a 63-yard play
and caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in the fourth. Virginia Tech
ended up outscoring FSU 503 yards to 359.
Player of the game: Florida State WR Peter Warrick caught six
passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, returned a punt for a
score, and caught a pass for a two-point conversion.
Stat Leaders: Virginia Tech - Passing: Michael
Vick, 15-20, 225 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Michael Vick, 23-97, 1 TD Receiving: Andre
Davis, 7-108, 1 TD
Florida State - Passing: Chris Weinke, 20-34,
329 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jeff Chaney, 4-43 Receiving: Peter Warrick,
6-163, 2 TD
7. 2006 Orange Bowl
No. 3 Penn State 26 ... No. 22 Florida State 23 3OT
After three overtimes and several missed kicks from both sides, Penn
State's Kevin Kelly finally hit one, sneaking a 29-yarder inside the
upright to end the marathon. FSU PK Gary Cismesia, who missed an
extra point in the second quarter after a 57-yard Lorenzo Booker
touchdown run, forced overtime with a 48-yard shot with 4:08 to
play. In the first overtime, both Cismesia and Kelly missed field
goal attempts. In the second overtime, Florida State answered a
one-yard touchdown run from PSU's Austin Scott with a one-yard B.J.
Dean touchdown. In the third OT, Cismesia's field goal attempt
nailed the right upright before Kelly connected. Scott had started
the scoring on a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but
FSU got back in the game in the second on a 87-yard punt return for
a touchdown from Willie Reid.
Player of the game: Penn State RB Austin Scott ran 26 times
for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Penn State - Passing: Michael
Robinson, 21-39, 253 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Austin Scott, 26-110, 2 TD. Receiving: Jordan
Norwood, 6-110
Florida State - Passing: Drew Weatherford,
24-43, 258 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Leon Washington, 6-30, Receiving: Leon
Washington 6-24
6. 2005 Rose Bowl
No. 4 Texas 38 ... No. 13 Michigan 37
In a classic Rose Bowl, Dusty Mangum hit a 37-yard field goal on the
final play of the game to give Texas the win. QB Vince Young stole
the show running for 192 yards and four touchdowns with dashes of
20, 60, 10 and 23 with each one more spectacular than the last. He
also threw for 180 and a score connecting with David Thomas from 11
yards out in the second quarter. But Michigan battled in the see-saw
game as QB Chad Henne tied a Rose Bowl record with four touchdown
passes, three of which went to Braylon Edwards who caught ten passes
for 118 yards. However, Michigan was only able to manage two Garrett
Rivas field goals in the fourth quarter while Texas got two of
Young's touchdown runs and the Mangum field goal to erase a
ten-point third quarter deficit. Michigan all-purpose star Steve
Breaston set a Rose Bowl record with 315 total yards.
Player of the game: Texas QB Vince Young completed 16 of 28
passes for 180 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He ran 21
times for 193 yards and four scores.
Stat Leaders: Michigan - Passing: Chad Henne,
20-36, 245 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Mike Hart, 21-82. Receiving: Braylon Edwards,
10-118, 3 TD
Texas - Passing: Vince Young, 16-28, 180 yds, 1
TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Vince Young, 21-192, 4 TD. Receiving: Bo Sciafe,
5-68
5. 1999 Rose Bowl
No. 9 Wisconsin 38 … No. 5 UCLA 31
Ron Dayne ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns, but it was the
Wisconsin defense that came up with the big plays when needed. With
UCLA down 31-28 late, Cade McNown got picked off by Jamar Fletcher,
who took the interceptions 46 yards for a Badger touchdown. The
Bruins got within seven on a field goal and had one final shot, but
a fourth down play was snuffed out on a sack by Wendell Bryant. The
shootout was the running game of the Badgers vs. the passing game of
UCLA, with Wisconsin running for 343 yards and the Bruins throwing
for 418. UCLA rolled through the air with WR Freddie Mitchell
connecting with Durrell Price for a 61-yard touchdown and McNown
throwing scoring passes from 38 and 41 yards out. But it was Dayne
who controlled the action, especially early, with scoring runs from
54, 7, 10 and 22 yards out for all the Badger touchdowns. The two
teams finished with a combined 1,035 yards of total offense.
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne ran 27 times for
246 yards and four touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: UCLA - Passing: Cade McNown,
19-34, 340 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jermaine Lewis, 10-50, 1 TD. Receiving: Danny
Farmer, 7-142, 1 TD
Wisconsin - Passing: Mike Samuel, 9-17, 154 yds
Rushing: Ron Dayne, 27-246, 4 TD. Receiving: Nick Davis,
3-57
4. 2000 Orange Bowl
No. 8 Michigan 35 … No. 4 Alabama 34 OT
In a wild ending, Michigan got a 25-yard touchdown catch from
Shawn Thompson in overtime, and Alabama appeared to answer on a
21-yard Antonio Carter catch, but Ryan Pflugner missed the extra
point to give the Wolverines the win. Michigan, who twice came back
from 14-point deficits, had chances to win in regulation, but lost a
fumble on the Alabama one yard line and later, with time running
out, got a 36-yard field goal attempt blocked. The Tide got three
touchdown runs, coming from five, six, and 50 yards out, from Shaun
Alexander, with the first two scores giving Bama a 14-0 lead, but
Michigan always had an answer. Tom Brady threw for 369 yards with
David Terrell catching touchdown passes from 27, 57 and 20 yards
out. Amidst all the fireworks and all the drama were penalties, lots
of them, with Alabama committing 18 for 132 yards and Michigan
getting flagged 10 times for 115 yards.
Player of the game: Michigan WR David Terrell caught 10
passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Alabama - Passing: Andrew Zow,
7-14, 86 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Shaun Alexander, 25-161, 3 TD. Receiving:
Antonio Carter, 4-38, 1 TD
Michigan - Passing: Tom Brady, 34-46, 369 yds,
4 TD
Rushing: Anthony Thomas, 18-40, 1 TD. Receiving: David
Terrell, 10-150, 3 TD
3. 2007 Fiesta Bowl
No. 8 Boise State 43 ... No. 10 Oklahoma 42 OT
In one of the wildest, most exciting finishes in college
football history, Boise State ran a trick play in overtime with
backup wide receiver Vinny Parretta connecting with Derek Schouman
for a five-yard score on fourth down, and then won it on a Statue of
Liberty play with Ian Johnson taking the ball from Jared Zabransky
for the two-point conversion. Oklahoma had to fight back to tie the
game getting a five-yard Quentin Chaney touchdown catch with 1:26 to
play. After penalties forced a third two-point conversion try, Paul
Thompson found Juaquin Iglesias for the tie. On the next play from
scrimmage, Zabransky was picked off by Marcus Walker for a 33-yard
interception return for a score. With under a minute to go, Boise
State went 78 yards in five plays converting on 4th and 18 for a
35-yard score on a hook-and-lateral with Drisan James catching the
ball and pitching it to Jerard Rabb, who took it for the score with
seven seconds in regulation. Boise State dominated the first 57
minutes thanks to four OU turnovers with a 27-yard Marty Tadman
interception for a score and two first half touchdown grabs from
James. OU fought back with 18 straight points including an
eight-yard Adrian Peterson touchdown run. Peterson scores in
overtime on OU's first play on 25-yard run.
Player of the game ... Boise State QB Jared Zabransky
completed 19 of 29 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns with an
interception
Stat Leaders: Oklahoma - Passing: Paul
Thompson, 19-32, 233 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Adrian Peterson, 20-77, 2 TD Receiving:
Juaquin Iglesias, 6-120
Boise State - Passing: Jared Zabransky, 19-29,
262 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Ian Johnson, 23-101, 1 TD Receiving: Derek
Schouman, 8-72, 1 TD
2. 2006 Rose Bowl
No. 2 Texas 41 ... No. 1 USC 38
In one of the greatest games of all-time, Texas came back from down
12 in the final 6:42 as Vince Young ran for a 17-yard score with
4:03 to play, the defense held USC's LenDale White on fourth down,
and then Young led the offense on a ten-play, 56-yard drive
culminating in an eight-yard touchdown run on fourth down for the
win. Young ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns, but the Trojan
rushing attack was equal to the task with 209 yards led by White's
124 yards and three scores. The Trojans appeared to have it won
after Reggie Bush dove for a 26-yard touchdown and Dwayne Jarrett
caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but Young
proved to be too much to stop. USC cranked out 574 yards of total
offense, Texas 556.
Player of the game: Texas QB Vince Young completed 30–of-40
passes for 267 yards and ran 19 times for 200 yards and three
touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Texas - Passing: Vince Young,
30-40, 267 yds
Rushing: Vince Young, 19-200, 3 TD. Receiving: David
Thomas, 10-88
USC - Passing: Matt Leinart, 29-40, 365 yds, 1
TD, 1 INT
Rushing: LenDale White, 20-124, 3 TD. Receiving: Dwayne
Jarrett, 10-121, 1 TD
1. 2003 Fiesta Bowl … National Championship
No. 2 Ohio State 31 ... No. 1 Miami 24 2OT
In what can only be described as one of the greatest college
football games of all-time, Ken Dorsey's fourth and goal pass in the
second overtime fell short, and Ohio State won the national title.
In regulation, a punt return by Roscoe Parrish gave Miami great
field position for Todd Sievers to hit a 40-yard field goal with :02
to play to put the game into overtime. The Canes scored on a
seven-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow on its first OT
possession. Following a broken up pass in the end zone by Glenn
Sharpe that would've given Miami the national title, the official
called pass interference to give the Buckeyes new life. Craig
Krenzel capitalized with a one-yard TD run. Maurice Clarett scored
on a five-yard touchdown run on its possession in the second
overtime for what would be the winning points. For the game, Krenzel
and Clarett each ran for two touchdowns.
Player of the game: Ohio State CB/WR Chris Gamble was on the
field for over 100 plays and caught two passes for 69 yards. He also
helped hold Miami WR Andre Johnson to four catches for 54 yards.
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Ken Dorsey,
28-43, 296 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Willis McGahee, 20-67, 1 TD. Receiving:
Kellen Winslow, 11-122, 1 TD
Ohio State - Passing: Craig Krenzel, 7-21, 122
yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Craig Krenzel, 19-81, 2 TD. Receiving: Michael
Jenkins, 4-45
- Part One: The
Worst BCS Bowls
- Part Two: The
Good BCS Bowls
|