FSU Football’s Best 15 Games Of The Last 40 Seasons: No. 1
By Jason Parker
Here’s a look at one of the best 15 games over the last 40 seasons of FSU football.
For the four decades, two men have led FSU football: Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. Over that span, the Seminoles have gone from a football program that seemed to be just weeks from being cancelled to one of the top teams in the country and a known brand across the country and all over the world.
There has been everything from big road wins that set the tone for FSU football’s “play anyone at anytime” attitude to rivalry wins against Florida and Miami. The 34 seasons with Bowden at the helm saw two national titles won and one of the greatest dynasty eras in the history of the sport take place. The last six seasons under Fisher have seen the ‘Noles bring another title to Tallahassee and restored FSU football’s place as one of college football’s elite teams.
Of all the games over the past four decades, which are the ones that meant the most to where FSU football is today? Let’s take a look at the best games over the past 40 seasons the ‘Noles have taken the field.
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No. 1 – Florida State 18 Nebraska 16 (January 1, 1994)
For years, Bobby Bowden and FSU football had been the bridesmaid in the world of college football. Dating back to 1987, the ‘Noles had six straight seasons of finishing in the top four of the final rankings, but would always find themselves just short of being able to get that elusive first national championship in program history (and in the legendary career of Bowden). Entering the 1993 season, missed field goals the previous two years had kept FSU from winning it all.
1993 would again be a case where things looked positive for the ‘Noles. FSU football was unbeaten and ranked number one in the country when they went to Notre Dame and lost the #1 vs. #2 battle. After a week in the second spot in the polls, FSU bounced back and took it over when the Irish lost to Boston College.
After defeating the Florida Gators to end the regular season, FSU accepted an invitation to the Orange Bowl, where they would face the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the second straight season (winning 27-14 the year before). This time, the game would be for all the marbles with both Bowden and Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne looking to get the monkey off their backs about winning a title.
FSU football entered the game at the historic Orange Bowl stadium as a 17-point favorite and ready to bring home the title. Nebraska, however, wasn’t going to be an easy foe to defeat and actual had the lead at halftime, with FSU only able to connect on two field goals in the first 30 minutes of action.
In the third quarter, William Floyd would punch in a one yard run for the ‘Noles only touchdown of the game as FSU football took a 15-7 lead into the final frame. Nebraska would score the first nine points in the fourth quarter and had a 16-15 lead with less than a minute to go in the game.
After Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward drove the ‘Noles down the field, freshman kicker Scott Bentley (recruited by FSU after the previous Wide Rights that haunted the team) connected on a 22 yard field goal giving FSU football a 18-16 lead.
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In true FSU fashion, nothing would be easy as Nebraska had a final chance to win the game, but their 45 yard field goal sailed wide to the left and Bowden could finally breath. The Florida State Seminoles had won their first national title in program history, setting the benchmark for the program in the future.