FIRST ROUND (Right Bracket)
Here are the 8 First Round Games on the right side of the bracket of our computer simulated historical Champions Tournament. The order of games below is in order of the bracket.
1999 Florida State defeats 2004 Utah, 38-21
The #2 Overall Seed 1999 Florida State proved their high rank, in a complete destruction of Urban Meyer's BCS Busters. Heisman Winner QB Chris Weinke torched the Ute secondary, passing for 445 yards and 3 TD's. Electric WR/PR Peter Warrick took a punt to the house and added 110 yards receiving for the 'Noles. Utah QB Alex Smith actually had some success here, (17/24 220 yards, 2 TD) but the mismatch on the other side of the ball was the difference, as the Seminole Offense couldn't be stopped. 1999 Florida State moves on to the Round of 16.
2002 Miami defeats 2006 Florida, 41-34 (2 OT)
Oh, the irony. The same 2002 Miami team that lost the memorable Double-Overtime thriller to Ohio State, pulls out the 2 OT win here in the opening round. QB Ken Dorsey led the Canes down the field in the closing seconds to set up the game-tying FG by K Todd Sievers. The teams traded missed FG's in the first OT, then the 11-yard TD pass from Dorsey to Andre Johnson sealed the win for Miami, in just the second time a non-champ 'upset' a Champion team. The '06 Gators jumped out to an early lead behind a pair of Percy Harvin touchdowns, but Miami RB Willis McGahee stole the show with his 170 rush yards. The 2002 Miami team joins its '01 squad in the Round of 16...this Cane squad stays in-state to challenge the '99 Seminoles.
1997 Nebraska defeats 1997 Michigan, 40-0
Before Ann Arbor explodes in rage, we have attached the full box score (HERE) just for further evidence that this beatdown actually occured. In the battle for the shared 1997 title, this one was all Nebraska, putting the exclamation point on their '94, '95, '97 Dynasty. Tom Osborne proved why his Huskers deserved more than just a share of this title. Michigan simply had no anwser for Nebraska's option attack as THREE Huskers went over 100 yards rushing (QB Scott Frost, RB Ahman Green, RB Correll Buckhalter). The Blackshirt defense was equally as impressive, posting the first shutout of the tournament. 1997 Nebraska rides huge momentum into the next round
2011 Alabama defeats 2008 Oklahoma, 41-38
It was another 3-point loss for this 2008 Oklahoma squad, who lost in the National Championship 24-21 to Florida. Alabama QB AJ McCarron outshined Heisman Winner QB Sam Bradford here, throwing for 335 yards, 4 TD's and 0 INT. Dee Milliner's 4th Quarter INT off Bradford made the difference, giving the Crimson TIde the final possession, on which they scored the game-winning TD. Alabama also pounded the rock, as RB Trent Richardson ran for 141 yards and a score. For the Sooners, Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray also added rushing scores. 2011 Alabama moves on to take on the 1997 Nebraska Huskers in a battle of decade dynasties.
2005 Texas defeats 2009 Boise State, 21-20
Lightening almost struck twice for Boise State, who were a Vince Young miracle away from pulling the upset of the tourney. #3 overall seeded 2005 Texas needed a late scoring drive to win this thriller. The Bronco defense actually held the Longhorn offense in check all game until the final drive. Young added 40 of his 89 rush yards on the final drive, including the 11 yard TD run for the win. "4th and 5, National Championship on the line' anybody? VY did it again, with the help of his stout defense that limited QB Kellen Moore to just 189 pass yards. RB Jamaal Charles added for 110 for the Longhorns. 2005 Texas advances to the Round of 16 after their last-second win
1996 Florida State defeats 2003 LSU, 27-20
Another SEC National Champion goes down in the first round, as 1996 runner-up Florida State pulls the 'upset'. For the record, 03 LSU was the 2nd lowest champion seed, while 96 FSU was the 2nd highest non-champ seed. LSU QB Matt Mauck was keeping up with FSU QB Thad Busby, tying the game at 20 on his long TD to WR Michael Clayton. It was a Freshman Phenom that took over in the closing minutes - Florida State WR Peter Warrick. Warrick turned a routing curl route into a crazy, cross field 66 yard touchdown. RB Warrick Dunn was a workhorse for Bowden's offense, carrying the rock 24 times for 95 yards anda score. This 1996 FSU team joins the 1999 squad in the Round of 16, and will face #3 overall seed 2005 Texas.
1998 Tennessee defeats 2011 Oklahoma State, 37-30
After Oklahoma State's rout of 2005 Penn State in the play-in, they appeared to be a solid darkhorse team behind the explosive Weeden-Blackmon-Randle trio. However, this 1998 Tennessee had enough answers to slow down the Cowboy attack, and a clutch QB at the helm in Tee Martin. Justin Blackmon had 157 receiving yards and a score, while Brandon Weeden threw for 414...but it was the 3 INT that made the difference (Deon Grant (1), Derrick Edmonds (2) had the picks). Tee Martin was an efficient 14/18 254 yards and 1 TD, but it was his last second 5 yard scramble TD that clinched the win for the Vols. This resilient Vol squad avoids the scare, and moves on to the Round of 16.
2009 Texas defeats 2012 Alabama, 16-13
Talk about revenge - Colt McCoy got another shot at the Crimson Tide (albeit the '12 team and not the '09 squad) who knocked him out in the first quarter of the National Title. Here, it was McCoy's Longhorns pulling the upset over Champion 2012 Alabama. Shipley, Kirkendoll, Goodwin, Williams, and Buckner highlight a deep stable of receivers that McCoy spread the ball to. McCoy passed for just 189 yards, but his 3rd down efficiency kept drives alive and earned points in this defensive struggle. Alabama RB's Eddie Lacy and TJ Yeldon were kept in check, rushing for 37 and 34 yards respectively. QB AJ McCarron's 2 INT proved fatal in this one. 2009 Texas atones for their previous Alabama loss, and heads to the Round of 16.
THE ROUND OF 16 WILL BE RELEASED MONDAY JANUARY 28th
Tournament Schedule:
January 10th - Team Selection "Meet the Teams"
January 14th - Bracket Released
January 17th - Play-in games
January 21st - Opening Round pt. 1
January 24th - Opening Round pt. 2
January 28th - Second Round pt. 1
January 31st- Second Round pt. 2
February 7th - Elite Eight
February 14th - FINAL FOUR
February 21st - CHAMPIONSHIP
January 10th - Team Selection "Meet the Teams"
January 14th - Bracket Released
January 17th - Play-in games
January 21st - Opening Round pt. 1
January 24th - Opening Round pt. 2
January 28th - Second Round pt. 1
January 31st- Second Round pt. 2
February 7th - Elite Eight
February 14th - FINAL FOUR
February 21st - CHAMPIONSHIP
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