’Canes whip Huskers, take national title
The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes capped off a perfect season with a 37-14 win over fourth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Rose Bowl, giving college football the undisputed national champion it desperately wanted.
Fears that a strange season would end in controversy and a split championship proved unfounded as the Rose Bowl turned into a blowout with 12-0 Miami collecting its fifth national title.
Ken Dorsey turned in a clinical performance, throwing for three touchdowns, but it was Miami’s top-rated defense that took credit for the victory, shutting down the Cornhuskers’ Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Eric Crouch and Nebraska’s vaunted running game.
A fumble by Crouch in the first quarter led to Miami’s opening score, Dorsey hitting Andre Johnson with a 49-yard touchdown strike on the first snap after the turnover.
Clinton Portis capped off a five-play drive with a 39-yard run to open the second quarter before the Canes’ defense went back to work, James Lewis picking off Crouch and returning the ball 42 yards for a touchdown.
In control, the Hurricanes refused to let up, Dorsey adding to his record-setting night with touchdown strikes to Jeremy Shockey and Johnson again to send Miami into halftime with a commanding 34-0 lead.
Late touchdowns from Judd Davies and DeJuan Groce on a 71-yard punt return helped keep the score respectable for the Cornhuskers, who finished the season with their first back-to-back losses since 1990.
Recap source: Huskers.com
Colonel Mustard