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January 1, 1980

Oklahoma24

Florida State7

Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising

J.C. Watts and Billy Sims each rushed for more than 100 yards and a stingy Oklahoma defense shut down undefeated and fourth-ranked Florida State for a 24-7 victory. Read more here

 


January 1, 1981

Oklahoma18

Florida State17

Wishbone Watts Airs Out FSU

Oklahoma wishbone quarterback J.C. Watts went to the air in the fourth quarter to defeat Florida State, 18-17, in an exciting finish. Read more here

 


January 1, 1982

Clemson22

Nebraska15

Clemson Perfect In Title Game

Top-ranked Clemson won its first national championship and finished with its third perfect season in its 88-year history with a 22-15 win over Nebraska in the 48th Orange Bowl. Read more here

 


January 1, 1983

Nebraska21

Louisiana State20

Fumblin’ Nebraska Holds On

Louisiana State’s Tigers came within one point of upsetting No. 3 Nebraska, but the Huskers held on to win 21-20. Despite four fumbles and a pair of interceptions, the Big Red Machine was able to come back from a 17-7 deficit to win. Read more here

 


January 2, 1984

Miami, Fla.31

Nebraska30

Golden Game for Hurricanes

In arguably the greatest college football bowl game ever played, Miami won its first national championship, 31-30, after Nebraska missed a two-point conversion attempt in the 50th anniversary Orange Bowl Classic. The first Husker points came on a second period Dean Steinkuhler's controversial 19-yard "fumblerooskie" play. Gill took the snap from center and dropped the ball on the ground, an intentional fumble. The offensive line went to the right except for Steinkuhler, who pulled to his left, picked up the ball and rambled around left end for the score. Read more here

 


January 1, 1985

Washington28

Oklahoma17

Huskies Beat Sooners, Finish #2

Washington, the first Pac-10 team to be invited to the Orange Bowl, rallied to beat No. 2 Oklahoma, 28-17. Read more here

 


January 1, 1986

Oklahoma25

Penn State10

Holieway Steers Sooners to Title

Oklahoma scored 16 second-quarter points and shut out top-ranked Penn State in the second half as it won its third national championship in the Orange Bowl. Read more here

 


January 1, 1987

Oklahoma42

Arkansas8

Sooners Steamroll Razorbacks

The University of Oklahoma capped its third consecutive season as Big 8 Champions with a 42-8 rout of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1987 Orange Bowl. Read more here

 


January 1, 1988

Miami, Fla.20

Oklahoma14

Miami Earns Championship Ring

For the second time in five years, Miami became the national champion in the Orange Bowl, this time knocking off Oklahoma, 20-14. Read more here

 

January 2, 1989

Miami, Fla.23

Nebraska3

‘Canes Pass Test, Finish #2

Second-ranked Miami, with no chance to repeat as national champion after undefeated Notre Dame won earlier in the day, overwhelmed Nebraska 23-3 in the 55th annual Orange Bowl. It was Head Coach Jimmy Johnson's last game at Miami before moving on to the NFL. Read more here

 


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