The Fiesta Bowl made a bold step in 1982 when it moved its annual game to New Year's Day, moving a step closer to its eventual status as one of college football's elite bowl games. This achievement led to hosting two Top 10 matchups over a five-year span.

This amount of success in a short period of time would satisfy most organizations but not the Fiesta Bowl. Since its inaugural game in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl knew it wanted to be more than a college bowl game.

"The Fiesta Bowl was started by the movers and shakers in town who had a lot of vision," said Bruce Skinner, who started his career with the Fiesta Bowl in 1973 and served as Executive Director from 1980-90.  "They not only wanted to start a bowl game, but they also wanted to grow it and even back then had visions of staging a national championship game someday."

Little did anyone know the 1987 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl would be the year when the vision became a reality. 

Entering the 1986 season, the Associated Press (AP) Top 20 Poll had Oklahoma in the top spot. Sitting at No. 3 and No. 6 were Jimmy Johnson's Miami Hurricanes and Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions.

Legendary Miami gained the nation's top spot after a convincing 28-16 win over the previously #1-ranked Sooners. The Canes continued dominating, winning the last seven games to finish undefeated.

Penn State won its first six games but consistently remained outside the Top 5. A late October win at No. 2 Alabama vaulted the Nittany Lions into the number two spot, just behind Miami. A win over Pitt secured an undefeated season and the No. 2 ranking.

Both Miami and Penn State were independents in 1986 and did not have a conference-affiliated bowl game, as the other major bowl games had league tie-ins. This provided the opportunity of a history making match-up.

"In those days, you were really recruiting teams," recalled Skinner. "I was going after Penn State and Don Meyers (Fiesta Bowl Founder) was going after Miami. We regularly went to both their games.

"A week before bid day, I went to a Penn State game and their Athletic Director Jim Tarman told me Joe (Paterno) wanted to see me. I knew this was significant since it was the day before a game.

"We all met at a pizza parlor outside of State College. Joe (Paterno) said we (Penn State) really want to play this game in the Fiesta Bowl and we really want to go to the Fiesta Bowl but Miami being ranked number one is probably going to determine where the game is played."

Spending the holiday season in the Valley of the Sun was always welcomed by the Nittany Lions. They won their first three Fiesta Bowl matchups by an average of 13 points.

For the Hurricanes, this would have been its first appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. There was also speculation they could spend their holiday bowl season home in the Sunshine State.

"We were concerned that Miami might go to the Orange Bowl and stay away from playing Penn State who was #2," said Skinner. "This way they could play anybody so they could win the game and national championship. Miami to its credit, said we wanted to play Penn State who was #2."

The Fiesta Bowl seized the opportunity and with the support of NBC Sports, significantly increased its team payout and made the bid to host the two undefeated teams. A true National Championship game was born.

The previous time independent teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 faced each other occurred in 1946 when Army and Notre Dame played to a scoreless tie at Yankee Stadium.

This time, five years after the Bowl's first-ever New Year's Day contest (also featuring Penn State), the magnitude of the game shifting kickoff to an exclusive position on January 2.

"We were told that the game was going to be moved and they were going to make a big deal about it," remembers Dave Wannstedt, Fox Sports college football analyst who was Defensive Coordinator for Miami in 1986. "It was the first time a college bowl game, a national championship game, was moved from New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

"The Fiesta Bowl took the first huge step in magnifying the national championship game."

Perfect records were the only things the teams had in common.

Miami used speed and explosive plays on offense led by Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde. Penn State had a conservative offensive strategy but was tough on defense. When the teams landed in Phoenix, Penn State arrived in coats & ties while Miami wore military fatigues.

NBC's broadcast opening promoted the game as the College Football National Championship and a live interview with President Ronald Regan took place at halftime.

Miami successfully moved the ball on offense but could only produce a Melvin Bratton touchdown run to take an early lead in the second quarter. Nittany Lions QB John Shaffer, who finished with only 53 yards passing, scored on a 4-yard run to tie the game at seven before the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Mark Seelig hit a 38-yard field goal to give Miami a 10-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Penn State LB Shane Conlan intercepted Testaverde on the next Miami possession and returned it 38 yards to the Hurricanes 5-yard line. A few plays later, RB D.J. Dozier ran it in from six yards for a 14-10 lead.

"When I heard the play, I literally started smiling," recalled Dozier. "I knew 100 percent that we were going to score a touchdown because we were about to shift into a formation that no one in the world had ever seen.
"I got the ball, and it was a slant. I had the option to go outside or in. I saw the hole and went inside."

Miami had one last opportunity with approximately three minutes left in the game. Testaverde converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive and get into Penn State territory.

Five plays later, Miami advanced to the Penn State 5-yard line. A second down sack, followed by an incomplete pass on third down, gave Miami one last shot with :18 left. The Canes needed a touchdown as a field goal would not be enough.
Testaverde looked for Brett Perriman, who was on the left side of the end zone, but Penn State LB Pete Giftopoulos was waiting for the throw and secured the win.

"We dropped the back and let the play happen in front of us," remembers Giftopoulos. "We were visually observing the receivers where they were going, while checking the quarterback to get a jump on the ball.

"I knew I would catch the ball. That was not even a thought. It was when I caught the ball all that stuff is going through my head. I did not want someone to strip the ball from behind."

The final stat sheet looked unbalanced except on the scoreboard with a 14-10 Penn State victory. Miami outgained Penn State on offense 445-162. On defense, Penn State forced two fumbles and intercepted Testaverde five times.
"Points win games and not yards," said Giftopoulos. "We were always a bend-but-don't-break defense."

Defense wins championships is a common phrase often debated among football fans. On this night, defense helped Penn State win its second national championship and the Fiesta Bowl demonstrated to a record-setting television audience and the college football world it was ready to host an elite game.