Alabama Crimson Tide School History. Seasons: 117 (1902 to 2020) Record (W-L-T): 943-305-42 Adjusted Record (W-L-T): 914-314-41 Conferences: SEC, Southern, Ind Conf. Championships: 27. 2018/19 Cotton Bowl: Clemson (-10.5) vs. Notre Dame 2015/16 Cotton Bowl: Alabama (-10) vs. Michigan State 2020/21 CFP Championship: Alabama (-8.5) vs.

The 2001 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college footballbowl game and BCS National Championship match between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida State Seminoles on January 3, 2001, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Oklahoma defeated FSU 13–2 in a defensive battle to claim the National Championship as head coach Bob Stoops completed just his second season as the coach of the Sooners. The game was part of the 2000–2001 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) of the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season and represented the concluding game of the season for both teams. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935, and the 2001 game represented the 67th edition. The contest was televised in the United States on ABC.

Game summary[edit]

The only points scored in the first half came after the two teams exchanged turnovers on consecutive plays, which both occurred on the Oklahoma side of the field. First, 'Sooners receiver Andre Woolfolk fumbled after a 22-yard reception, with Clevan Thomas recovering at the OU 47.' Then, a pass by Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke was intercepted by Torrance Marshall, which eventually led to a '27-yard field goal 7:44 into the game.'^[3]

On the Sooners' next possession, an interception by Josh Heupel — the Sooners' second and final turnover of the night — did not lead to any Florida State points.

Between the 7:45 mark of the second quarter and the 8:05 mark of the third, the closest each team came to scoring was on a missed field goal. Oklahoma kicker Tim Duncan would then be successful on his next attempt, giving the Sooners a 6–0 lead with 4:24 left in the third quarter.

Throughout the second half, Florida State sustained some drives, but never made it to Oklahoma's red zone. Early in the fourth quarter, however, the Seminoles had at least two shots at a game-tying touchdown (and go-ahead extra-point) on plays that started on the OU 35-yard line. Facing 2nd-and-10 and 4th-and-10, Weinke twice threw deep passes towards the end zone. On second down, Robert Morgan 'laid out beautifully' in the end zone, making a diving effort, but had the ball go 'through his hands.'^[4] Then, on fourth down, Weinke aimed for Anquan Bolden inside the OU 5-yard line, but the play was broken up by freshman Derrick Strait, who had also been the defender covering the aforementioned play.^[5]

Five minutes later, however, Oklahoma extended its lead, scoring the only touchdown of the game. The play was set up by the Sooners' defense recovering a fumble by Weinke, who was running for a first down at around the Seminoles' 15-yard line. Two plays later, OU running back Quentin Griffin ran the ball in to put the Sooners up 12–0 (13–0 after the extra-point) with 7:46 left to play.

Florida State's only score of the game came with 55 seconds left in the game, when, after a high snap, OU punter Jeff Ferguson alertly ran the ball into his own end zone for a safety to avoid giving Florida State the ball close to the OU goal line in a two-possession game.

After the Seminoles subsequently received the ball, 'Weinke's 29-yard pass into the end zone was intercepted by Dontei Jones with 16 seconds left.' This allowed the Oklahoma Sooners to run out the clock and celebrate 'their first national championship in 15 years.'^[6]

Scoring summary[edit]

Statistics[edit]

Source:^[7]

Aftermath[edit]

Florida State's national dominance officially ended after this night. Their ugly, sloppy performance actually foreshadowed what would follow in the near future. This game marked the ending of a 14-year stretch in which the Seminoles finished in the final AP and or Coaches top four. They would not finish in the top four of the polls again until 2013 when they won the BCS National Championship led by another Heisman winning signal-caller, Jameis Winston.

Oklahoma was just in their second season in the Bob Stoops era. Their victory over FSU would just be the beginning of an unbelievable 18-year career in which the Sooners appeared in 11 BCS Bowls, which were the second most in that timespan behind Ohio State's 12 (albeit they had three different coaches from 2000-2016). The Sooners would return to three more national championship games, but would fall short in all three under Stoops.

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References[edit]

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1. ^'Orange Bowl Odds: College football'. Vegasinsider. January 1, 2003. p. C10.
2. ^ ^ab'BCS Game Results'. Orange Bowl. September 26, 2007. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
3. ^'Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2', Associated Press, December 13, 2002. Retrieved January 30, 2021
4. ^Comments made by Brad Nessler during the game broadcast
5. ^Game broadcast
6. ^'Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2', Associated Press, December 13, 2002. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
7. ^'2001 Orange Bowl'. Orange Bowl. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

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