2002-2003 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Miami (14-0) vs #3 Georgia (14-1)
Miami 34 Georgia 22 (MIA wins 60.4%, avg. score = MIA 30.0 UGA 25.6)
Behind a strong rushing performance from Willis McGahee, the Miami Hurricanes rallied from a 19-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs 34-22 in the national championship game. McGahee rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. His 32 yard touchdown run late in the third quarter put the Hurricanes ahead for good, 24-19. He scored again on a 2 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give Miami a little breathing room with a 31-19 lead. Georgia quarterback David Greene had a fine game, completing 24 out of 32 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Hurricane quarterback Ken Dorsey also had a fine outing, completing 23 out of 33 passes for 370 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Even though the season ended with a loss for Coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs, it could not diminish their great run in winning the SEC championship and making it to the national title game. Georgia finished the season at 14-2, while Larry Coker’s Miami Hurricanes finished with a perfect 15-0 record.
Comparison of the Actual 2003 BCS Championship to the Simulated 12-team playoff
Miami and Ohio State were the only two undefeated teams in Division I, so there was no controversy with their selection to play in the BCS Championship game. The controversy came after Miami appeared to have won the game 24-17 in overtime, when on 4th down and 3, Craig Krenzel’s pass attempt bounced off of the hands of intended receiver Chris Gamble in the end zone and was ruled incomplete by the line judge. The Miami fans and team, believing the game was over, began to rush the field. However, the field judge had thrown a very late flag for pass interference in the end zone. The replay showed that Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe had great coverage on Gamble, and there did not appear to be any interference. ABC color commentator Dan Fouts summed it up succinctly, “Bad call! BAD CALL!” The ball was placed first and goal on the one yard line, and Ohio State tied the game 24-24 on a Krenzel quarterback sneak and subsequent extra point to send it to double overtime, where the Buckeyes won it 31-24. To this day, Miami fans and many neutral fans think the Hurricanes were robbed of a national championship by the officials.
In our 12-team playoff, Miami defeated Georgia to win the national championship, winning 60.4% of the simulations. Ohio State was eliminated by Georgia in the semifinals, with the Bulldogs winning an impressive 66.3% of the simulations.
That 2002 Georgia team was very good, finishing the season with a 13-1 record, including a 30-3 blowout win over Arkansas in the SEC Championship game and subsequent win over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. They finished the season ranked #3 in both polls. Their lone loss of the season came against Florida, 20-13, in early November. If not for that one slipup, the Bulldogs would have certainly been in the mix for one of the two BCS slots.