2000-2001 PLAYOFFS
1. Oklahoma (12-0) *aq
2. Florida State (11-1) *aq
3. Miami (10-1) *aq
4. Washington (10-1) *aq
5. Virginia Tech (10-1)
6. Oregon State (10-1)
7. Florida (10-2) *aq
8. Nebraska (9-2)
9. Kansas State (10-3)
10. Oregon (9-2)
11. Notre Dame (9-2)
12. TCU (10-1) *aq
2000-2001 FIRST ROUND
#12 TCU (10-1) at #5 Virginia Tech (10-1)
#11 Notre Dame (9-2) at #6 Oregon State (10-1)
#10 Oregon (9-1) at #7 Florida (10-2)
#9 Kansas State (10-3) at #8 Nebraska (9-2)
Virginia Tech 16 TCU 13 (VT wins 55.4%, avg. score = VT 22.7 TCU 19.8)
In spite of an inspired performance from TCU running back LaDanian Tomlinson, the Virginia Tech Hokies came away with a hard earned 16-13 win to advance to the playoff quarterfinals. Tomlinson rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Virginia Tech running back Lee Suggs also had a big day, with 154 yards on 28 carries. With the score tied 3-3 midway through the second quarter, Tomlinson broke loose on a 61 yard touchdown run to put the Horned Frogs up 10-3. TCU led 10-6 at halftime. The two teams traded field goals in the third quarter, and TCU held a 13-9 lead going into the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick scored on a 2 yard run with 6:18 left in the game, capping off an 11 play, 77 yard drive to give the Hokies their first lead of the game, 16-13.
TCU tried to get into field goal range on their final drive, but turned the ball over on downs on the Virginia Tech 42 yard line with less than a minute left in the game, securing the Virginia Tech win.
Oregon State 34 Notre Dame 7 (ORST wins 90.1%, avg. score = ORST 30.4 ND 14.3)
Ken Simonton rushed for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Oregon State Beavers to a 34-7 rout over Notre Dame. Beavers’ quarterback Jonathan Smith added 252 passing yards. The Fighting Irish’s only moment of glory came on their opening drive of the game, taking a brief 7-0 lead on a 3 yard touchdown run by Julius Jones. Oregon State led 20-7 at halftime and cruised to victory in the second half. The Beavers’ defense also was a big factor in the decisive win, holding the Irish to just 12 first downs and 238 total yards.
Florida 48 Oregon 13 (FLA wins 90.1%, avg. score = FLA 36.8 ORE 17.8)
Jesse Palmer completed 20 out of 24 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Florida Gators to a 48-13 drubbing over visiting Oregon. Robert Gillespie added 122 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, as the Gators rolled to a 27-10 halftime lead, and cruised in the second half. Oregon’s only touchdown of the game came on an 84 yard punt return by Keenan Howry late in the second quarter. Ducks’ quarterback Joey Harrington was kept in check by the Gators’ defense, completing just 22 out of 39 passes for 197 yards and an interception.
Kansas State 20 Nebraska 3 (KSU wins 51.5%, avg. score = NEB 19.9 KSU 19.5)
The Kansas State Wildcats used a suffocating defense to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 20-3, handing the Cornhuskers a rare home loss. This game was a rematch of a 29-28 Kansas State victory in Manhattan back in November. This time the stakes were higher, and the Wildcats were able to dominate the game, holding the Cornhusker offense to just 180 total yards. Josh Scobey spearheaded the Wildcats’ run game with 115 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Jonathan Beasley rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries, and completed 14 out of 22 passes for 156 yards, without turning the ball over.