Before there was the BCS and the College Football Playoff, there was the Bowl Alliance. It was supposed to be an innovative way to determine the #1 vs #2 ranked for the National Championship. It wasn't. 1995 was the first year of the Alliance as the last two teams left standing were #1 Nebraska vs. #2 Florida. CBS, the network that will broadcast the game, made every effort to let people be sure to watch it. "YOU ARE WATCHING CBS, HOME OF THE BOWL ALLIANCE". The Bowl Alliance consisted of the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls and they would take turns hosting the championship game. 

The two teams, Nebraska and Florida, were polar opposites. Nebraska used a run-oriented offense led by Heisman hopeful quarterback Tommie Frazier and troubled but talented running back Lawrence Phillips. The offensive line was considered one of the best in the nation on the field and in the classroom. Defensively, the Cornhuskers dominated, especially in the D-Line. Jared Tomich, the Peter brothers (Christian and Jason) and Grant Wistrom wrecked havoc on the opposing offenses. Jamel Williams led a stout linebacking core. The secondary was also stout and led by corner Michael Booker.

Florida, on the other hand, used a spread-em-out offense in which speed is their ultimate weapon. Heisman-hopeful quarterback Danny Wuerffel led this potent offense flanked by speedy receivers like Chris Doering, Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. The defense was also based on speed. Ben Hanks led the linebacking unit, while Anthone Lott, Fred Weary and Lawrence Wright led a secondary that could shut down opposing offenses. Don't believe me. Watch the second half of Florida's game earlier that season vs. Tennessee and a certain legendary quarterback named Manning.

In a SI article, Florida was compared to Corvettes as Nebraska was to tractors. Both head coaches were different also. Florida's Steve Spurrier was boisterious and cocky as Nebraska's Tom Osborne was stoic and by-the-book. This matchup was set up to be a classic showcase between two top programs in what should be a close contest......it wasn't.

FIRST QUARTER

Florida opened up the scoring with a field goal. The Huskers answered with a 16-yard pass from Frazier to Phillips, but the extra point was blocked and made it 6-3 Nebraska. Wuerffel would end the scoring with a 1-yard run to give the Gators a 10-6 lead to end the quarter. So, momentum was on Florida's side heading to the second.

SECOND QUARTER

This is where everything goes bad for Florida. Phillips gallops for a 42-yard touchdown run to start the scoring in the quarter. Flashback to earlier of the season, Phillips was arrested for assualting his girlfriend and was suspended for the rest of the regular season, but was allowed to play in the title game. That infuriated many experts and college football fans who questioned Tom Osborne's morals. Nebraska continued the scoring with a safety. The sequence happened when the Huskers tackled Wuerffel in the end zone, but his forward progress marked him down at the 1. The next play, Jamel Williams sacked Wuerffel for the safety (15-10 Nebraska). After an Ahmed Green touchdown and a FG (25-10 Nebraska), Wuerffel was intercepted by Michael Booker for a 42-yard pick-six to give the Huskers a comfortable lead (32-10). They added another FG to take a 35-10 lead to halftime. 29 unanswered points in the quarter by the Cornhuskers left no doubt to anyone who was the better team.

THIRD QUARTER

Florida would try to steal momentum, but it was the same as the first half. Frazier would score on a 35-yard touchdown run (42-10 Nebraska). Florida did engineer a long drive which led to a Wuerffel to Ike Hilliard 35-yard touchdown pass plus two point conversion gave the Gators some hope. Unfortunately, the final play of the quarter might as well put the final nail in the coffin. Frazier ran to his right on an option play, towards a pile full of Gator defenders. He was able to break out of at least seven tackles to sprint down the right sideline untouched for a 75-yard touchdown run. In Lincoln, it is simply called "The Run". Many have called it one of the greatest plays in college football history. 

FOURTH QUARTER

Nebraska would pull most of their starters, but was still able to tack on two more touchdowns to give the score 62-18. Another flashback to early in the season where the Huskers played the Arizona State Sun Devils in Lincoln. Nebraska continued to score at will against ASU, despite pulling their starters, but still rolling to a 77-28 victory. At the end of the game, ASU coach Bruce Snyder was visibly upset at Tom Osborne for having his team not let up when the game was already decided and in his press conference said he was saddened for college football because of this. Florida would end the scoring on an electric 93-yard kickoff return by Reidel Anthony, but it was too little, too late. Nebraska dominated 62-24 to once again become National Champions. The Gators came in as the speedy team that could overtake a team based on an old school offense and defense. Old school won, and won big.

THE AFTERMATH

Florida would extract revenge by defeating their rival, Florida State to win the school's first National Championship the following in the Sugar Bowl. Wuerffel would win the Heisman Trophy as Hilliard and Anthony would go to the NFL. Nebraska had a down season, suffering two losses after Frazier graduated. Phillips, despite many character issues and arrests on his record, was drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Rams. The Huskers would return to the college football mountaintop after the 1997 season, becoming co-National Champions with Michigan. By the way, one of Nebraska's losses came in the 96' season came from a vengeful ASU team, but that's another story for another time. 

(References: ESPN, SI, Nebraska Football, College Football Reference, Florida Football, Wikipedia, CBS)

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