The 1996 Fiesta Bowl was the perfect matchup. No. 1 Nebraska against No. 2 Florida. Both teams were undefeated and untied, only the fifth time in college football history that this had happened in a bowl game. It was January 2, prime time, under the lights and the entire world watching.
And with the blink of an eye, Nebraska flexed its muscles, showed its big game experience and rolled over Florida, 62-24, to claim its second consecutive national championship.
The Cornhuskers did it on both sides of the football. Offensively, they rushed for an NCAA bowl record 524 yards. Defensively, they recorded seven sacks, forced four turnovers, had a safety and returned an interception for a touchdown.
In a game with several stars, it was Nebraska's Tommie Frazier who owned the spotlight. Frazier threw for a touchdown and ran for two scores, including one of the most exciting runs in college football history, a 75-yard tackle-breaking dazzler.
He finished with 199 yards rushing, the most by any quarterback in bowl game history.
Lawrence Phillips also had a huge game, rushing for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
