Jan. 3, 2001, Pro Player Stadium
Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2
MIAMI -- Josh Heupel was hoisted on his teammates' shoulders, still cradling the game ball in one arm while thrusting a fist in the air and shouting to the world. The Oklahoma Sooners had proved everybody wrong.
Gathered at the 20-yard line after their startling 13-2 victory over heavily favored Florida State, the Sooners hooted and hollered about their first national championship in 15 years.
No. 1 Oklahoma used a smothering defense Wednesday night to shut down the third-ranked Seminoles and Heupel generated enough offense to lead the Sooners to a perfect season.
Finishing as the nation's only unbeaten team, the Sooners were the unanimous winners of The Associated Press media poll. And they were automatically crowned national champs in the coaches' poll under the Bowl Championship Series format.
Florida State finished fifth in the AP poll and fourth in the coaches' poll. The Seminoles were hoping to become the first team to repeat as national champion since Nebraska in 1994-95. Had the Seminoles won, No. 2 Miami (11-1) would have staked a claim to a share of the title.
Heupel more than made up for his runner-up finish to Florida State's Chris Weinke in the Heisman Trophy race by outplaying him in the biggest game of his life.
The left-hander from Aberdeen, S.D., completed 25 of 39 passes for 214 yards and kept the Seminoles off balance all night.
Tim Duncan kicked two field goals and Quentin Griffin scored the clinching touchdown on a 10-yard run up the middle with 8:30 to play. Florida State avoided its first shutout in 12 seasons when Stanford Samuels tackled Oklahoma punter Jeff Ferguson in the end zone for a safety with 55 seconds remaining.
Florida State got the ball back on the ensuing free kick, but Weinke's 29-yard pass into the end zone was intercepted by Dontei Jones with 16 seconds left and the celebration began.
After Heupel took a knee and the clock ran down, The Pride of Oklahoma Band broke out in yet another rendition of "Boomer Sooner" and the players and fans converged on the field to celebrate.
Stoops hugged players and assistants after Oklahoma clinched its seventh national title as many in the crowd of 76,835 at Pro Player Stadium cheered.
Orange Bowl MVP Torrance Marshall finished with six tackles, one interception and one batted ball.
|
Score by Quarters |
|
Oklahoma |
3 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
13 |
|
Florida State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Oklahoma |
Florida State |
|
First Downs |
12 |
14 |
|
Rushing Yards |
108 |
33 |
|
Passes Attempted |
39 |
52 |
|
Passes Completed |
25 |
25 |
|
Had Intercepted |
1 |
2 |
|
Passing Yards |
214 |
274 |
|
Punting/Avg |
8/41.1 |
10/44.7 |
|
Fumbles/Lost |
2/1 |
3/1 |
|
Penalties/Yards |
7/45 |
6/38 |
Scoring Summary:
OU: Duncan 27 yd field goal; OU: Duncan 42 yd field goal; OU: Griffin 10 yd run (Duncan kick); FSU: Safety
MOP: Torrance Marshall (OU)