2000-2001 QUARTERFINALS
#9 Kansas State (11-3) at #1 Oklahoma (12-0)
#7 Florida (11-2) at #2 Florida State (11-1)
#6 Oregon State (11-1) at #3 Miami (10-1)
#5 Virginia Tech (11-1) at #4 Washington (10-1)
Oklahoma 19 Kansas State 14 (OKLA wins 77.2%, avg. score = OKLA 28.7 KSU 18.3)
Quentin Griffin scored on an 8 yard touchdown run with 1:25 left in the game to lift the Oklahoma Sooners to a 19-14 win over Kansas State and a berth in the national semifinals. This was the third meeting between these two teams this season, with Oklahoma winning 41-31 at KSU back in September, and also defeating the Wildcats 27-24 just two weeks ago in the Big 12 championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. This game marked the first time in the modern era of college football that two teams played each other three times in the same season. A relieved Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops joked “I’m waiting to see if we’re advancing, or if we have to play them again for a fourth time in the parking lot.” Kansas State finished the season with a 11-4 record, with three or their four losses coming against Oklahoma. A stoic Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder lamented “We had our chances again today, but in the end, they made one more play than we did.” As with the prior two games against the Wildcats, nothing came easy for the Sooners today. Their high octane offense was held in check for most of the day. KSU took a 14-13 lead with seven minutes left in the game, and then Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel orchestrated a game winning 14 play drive to put the Sooners up 19-14, missing the two point conversion attempt. Kansas State had one last chance until Sooner defensive back J. T. Thatcher intercepted an errant pass from Beasley to secure the win:
Florida State 26 Florida 13 (FSU wins 93.1%, avg. score = FSU 41.6 FLA 17.2)
In yet another quirk of the college football playoffs, Florida State ended up playing arch rival Florida in back to back games at Doak Campbell Stadium, having just defeated the Gators 30-7 in their final regular season game. Today’s game didn’t come quite as easy for the Seminoles, but they never trailed, and Florida wasn’t able cut the lead to less than 10 after FSU took a 20-10 halftime lead. Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke completed 21 out of 30 pass attempts for 348 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Travis Minor led the Seminole ground game, rushing for 88 yards on 21 carries. Marvin “Snoop” Minnis hauled in 5 receptions for 130 yards. The Florida State defense shut down the Gators’ run game, holding them to just 46 yards on 32 carries. Without any viable rushing threat, quarterback Jesse Palmer couldn’t generate a consistent passing game, throwing for 279 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Miami 27 Oregon State 9 (MIA wins 91.1%, avg. score = MIA 39.4 ORST 19.4)
The Miami Hurricanes’ defense ruled the day in a 27-9 win over visiting Oregon State, keeping the Beavers out of the end zone for the entire game. Canes’ Quarterback Ken Dorsey played mistake free football, completing 20 out of 29 pass attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns. James Jackson led the Miami ground game, with 107 yards on 27 carries. Oregon State was able to move the ball at times, but three drives that stalled inside the 30 resulted in three Ryan Cesca field goals for their only points of the day. OSU running back Ken Simonton had 109 yards on 28 carries, while quarterback Jonathan Smith completed 17 out of 33 passes for 248 yards.
Virginia Tech 26 Washington 24 (VT wins 58.4%, avg. score = VT 24.2 WASH 21.0)
Lee Suggs rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Virginia Tech Hokies to a 26-24 upset win over Washington at Husky Stadium. The score was tied 10-10 at halftime, before Virginia Tech took a 17-10 late in the third quarter on a 1 yard touchdown run by Jarrett Ferguson. Washington tied the game 17-17 with 9:28 left in the fourth quarter on a 2 yard run by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. After Carter Warley’s 33 yard field goal put them ahead 20-17, the Hokies were able to get a bit of a cushion when Suggs broke loose on a 32 yard touchdown run. However, they missed the extra point, and the score stood at 26-17 with 2:55 remaining. Washington made a late rally, cutting the score to 26-24 on a furious 5 play, 82 yard drive, culminating in a 5 yard touchdown pass from Tuiasosopo to Todd Elstrom with just 1:38 left in the game. However, the Huskies were not able to recover the ensuing onside kick, and Virginia Tech ran out the clock to secure the victory and advance to the national semifinals.