2001-2002 QUARTERFINALS
#8 Texas (11-2) at #1 Miami (11-0)
#7 Tennessee (11-2) at #2 Colorado (10-2)
#6 Florida (10-2) at #3 Oregon (10-1)
#5 Nebraska (12-1) at #4 Illinois (10-1)
Miami 24 Texas 19 (MIA wins 84.2%, avg. score = MIA 34.2 TEX 20.1)
An inspired effort from Texas running back Cedric Benson wasn’t enough today, as the Miami Hurricanes held off an upset bid from the pesky Longhorns in a narrow 24-19 victory. Benson rushed for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Miami scored the only touchdown of the first half to take a 7-3 lead late in the second quarter when Ethenic Sands caught a 16 yard touchdown pass from Ken Dorsey. The Hurricanes came out in the third quarter and appeared to be in control of the game after 17 unanswered points, including two short rushing touchdowns from Clinton Portis, to take a 24-3 lead. Benson’s 45 yard touchdown run late in the third quarter cut the Hurricane lead to 24-12. The game tightened up in the fourth quarter when Benson scored on a 6 yard run to trim the lead down to 24-19. Miami was unable to move the ball on their next possession, and then the Hurricane defense rose up and made a valiant goal line stand late in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory:
Colorado 23 Tennessee 17 (COLO wins 66.3%, avg. score = COLO 30.1 TENN 23.3)
Bobby Purify rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown to help the Colorado Buffaloes secure a close win against the visiting Tennessee Volunteers and advance to the national semifinals next week. The Buffaloes led 10-7 at halftime, and then scored on the opening drive of the second half on a 66 yard Purify touchdown run to go up 17-7. Later in the quarter, Chris Brown scored from four yards out to put the Buffaloes up 23-7. Tennessee finally got back on the board with a 42 yard Alex Walls field goal to cut the lead to 23-10. Midway through the fourth quarter, Colorado was driving and appeared to be on the verge of putting the game away until Tennessee defensive back Alex Walls intercepted an errant pass from CU quarterback Bobby Pesavento, returning it for a 72 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 23-17. However, the Volunteers were never able to mount another scoring threat, and Colorado held on for the win.
Florida 33 Oregon 24 (FLA wins 71.3%, avg. score = FLA 38.9 ORE 31.1)
Rex Grossman passed for 316 yards and a touchdown, and Florida kicker Jeff Chandler was a perfect 4 for 4 on field goal attempts, as the visiting Gators pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 33-24 win at Autzen Stadium. Florida took a 17-7 lead late in the second quarter on a 39 yard Chandler field goal. The Ducks answered with an impressive 8 play 65 yard drive, cutting the lead to 17-14 on an 11 yard touchdown pass from Joey Harrington to Onterrio Smith with 1:14 left in the half. On the ensuing possession, Grossman threw an interception that was returned by Steve Smith to the Florida 17 yard line. Jared Siegel then booted a 28 yard field goal to tie the game 17-17 at halftime. Oregon took a 24-17 lead on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Harrington to Samie Parker with 7:32 left in the third quarter, but that would turn out to be the last score of the game for the Ducks. Florida dominated the remainder of the game, scoring the final 16 points to advance to the semifinals.
Illinois 30 Nebraska 6 (ILL wins 52.5%, avg. score = NEB 25.5 ILL 25.4)
Kurt Kittner passed for 423 yards and three touchdowns, and a suffocating Fighting Illini defense kept Nebraska out of the end zone, as the Fighting Illini rolled to surprisingly easy 30-6 home victory over the Cornhuskers. Nebraska did have some success on the ground, with Dahrran Diedrick rushing for 138 yards on 28 carries. Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch also rushed for 81 yards, but when Nebraska started to fall behind, he proved to be totally ineffective in the passing game, completing just 3 passes for 20 yards and throwing two costly interceptions. Nebraska’s only points of the game came on two Josh Brown field goals.