1997 Sugar Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Sugar Bowl was the 63rd edition to the annual game. It featured the top ranked , and their heated rivals, the third ranked Florida Gators
. It was the designated National Championship Game for the 1996-97 season by the Bowl Alliance
. The match up was supposed to feature the top two teams in the nation. However, number two ranked Pac-10 Champions, Arizona State
, were contractually obligated to play the number four Big Ten Champions Ohio State
, in the Rose Bowl
. Florida overcame a loss to Florida State 24-21 in late November of the season, to win 52-20. This, along with a win by Texas over Nebraska in the Big 12 title game and Ohio State’s come from behind victory over Arizona State, helped give the Gators the National Championship.
Florida was led by their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel
who threw three touchdown passes, one in each of the first three quarters, to Ike Hilliard
and ran for another score.
With the victory, Florida claimed its first-ever national championship and Florida State was denied their second national title in four years and gave up the most points since a 59-27 loss against Auburn
in 1985.
The victory marked Spurrier’s third win against Bowden in nine tries.
The victory helped erase the memory of the previous season's 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the National Championship Game in the Fiesta Bowl
.
Wuerffel became the second Heisman Trophy winner in four years to win a national championship, following Charlie Ward
of Florida State in 1993.
UF-Hilliard 9 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-FG Bentley 43
UF-FG Edmiston 32
Second Quarter
UF-Taylor 2 run (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Eg Green 29 pass from Busby (Bentley kick)
UF-Hilliard 31 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Dunn 12 run (Bentley kick)
Third Quarter
FSU-FG Bentley 45
UF-Hilliard 7 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
UF-Wuerffel 16 run (Edmiston kick)
Fourth Quarter
UF-T Jackson 42 run (Edmiston kick)
UF-T Jackson 1 run (Edmiston kick)
1996 Florida Gators football team
The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...
. It was the designated National Championship Game for the 1996-97 season by the Bowl Alliance
Bowl Alliance
The Bowl Alliance was an agreement among college football bowl games for the purpose of trying to match the top two teams in a national championship bowl game and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions of its member conferences...
. The match up was supposed to feature the top two teams in the nation. However, number two ranked Pac-10 Champions, Arizona State
1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented the Arizona State University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A college football season.-Regular season:...
, were contractually obligated to play the number four Big Ten Champions Ohio State
1996 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1996 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1996-1997. The team's head football coach was John Cooper. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11 and 1, and...
, in the Rose Bowl
1997 Rose Bowl
The 1997 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the Arizona State Sun Devils of the Pacific-10 Conference and the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game resulted in a dramatic 20–17...
. Florida overcame a loss to Florida State 24-21 in late November of the season, to win 52-20. This, along with a win by Texas over Nebraska in the Big 12 title game and Ohio State’s come from behind victory over Arizona State, helped give the Gators the National Championship.
Florida was led by their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel
Danny Wuerffel
Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
who threw three touchdown passes, one in each of the first three quarters, to Ike Hilliard
Ike Hilliard
Isaac Jason "Ike" Hilliard is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver for twelve seasons in the National Football League during the 1990s and 2000s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
and ran for another score.
With the victory, Florida claimed its first-ever national championship and Florida State was denied their second national title in four years and gave up the most points since a 59-27 loss against Auburn
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
in 1985.
The victory marked Spurrier’s third win against Bowden in nine tries.
The victory helped erase the memory of the previous season's 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the National Championship Game in the Fiesta Bowl
1996 Fiesta Bowl
The 1996 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game in which the Nebraska Cornhuskers won the national championship for the 1995 college football season by defeating the Florida Gators, 62-24. Played on January 2, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, the game...
.
Wuerffel became the second Heisman Trophy winner in four years to win a national championship, following Charlie Ward
Charlie Ward
Charlie Ward, Jr. is a retired American professional NBA basketball player, college football Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O'Brien Award winner and a Major League Baseball draftee. Ward is considered one of the best all-around athletes in the last quarter century...
of Florida State in 1993.
Score by Quarter
First QuarterUF-Hilliard 9 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-FG Bentley 43
UF-FG Edmiston 32
Second Quarter
UF-Taylor 2 run (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Eg Green 29 pass from Busby (Bentley kick)
UF-Hilliard 31 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Dunn 12 run (Bentley kick)
Third Quarter
FSU-FG Bentley 45
UF-Hilliard 7 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
UF-Wuerffel 16 run (Edmiston kick)
Fourth Quarter
UF-T Jackson 42 run (Edmiston kick)
UF-T Jackson 1 run (Edmiston kick)