4.26.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 47 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 47
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(82) 2001 Oregon - 31
(1106) 1988 Washington - 17
Oregon dismissed conference rival Washington in this second round game. Joey Harrington threw 2 touchdowns, including an 80-yard bomb to Samie Parker, and both Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith topped 100 yards on the ground against a Washington defense that was prone to giving up the big play. Chris Chandler and Cary Conklin both played quarterback for the Huskies, but neither ever got into much of a rhythm.

(594) 1996 Michigan - 16
(431) 1983 Michigan - 20
It was Bo Schembechler getting the best of Lloyd Carr in this battle of the Big Blues. '96 Michigan had the more impressive firepower (WR Tai Streets, RB Clarence Williams), but the '83 squad didn't turn the ball over and kept the chains moving with a steady running game. Defensive end Carlton Rhodes led Schembechler's defense in an excellent performance, sacking Scott Dreisbach twice. Tailback Rick Rogers was the MVP for the '83 Wolverines, running for 157 yards and both touchdowns.



(338) 1984 Oklahoma State - 20
(687) 1981 Miami, Ohio - 10
Pat Jones, in his first season as head coach at Oklahoma State, directed the Cowboys to a workman-like victory over the pesky Redhawks. Tailback Thurman Thomas ran for 84 yards and a touchdown, while defensive tackle Leslie O'Neal led the defensive charge in shutting down Miami(OH) tailback George Jones.

(850) 1981 Houston - 13
(175) 1987 Nebraska - 28
Two legendary coaches matched up in this game, with Tom Osborne's Nebraska team picking up the win against Bill Yeoman's Houston club. Keith Jones ran for 119 yards and Tyreese Knox added two touchdowns, while the Blackshirts, featuring Neil Smith and Broderick Thomas on the defensive line, contained QB Lionel Wilson and the Houston option attack.

On a side note, I ran across this footage from Lincoln's Midwest Speedway in 1987. I used to live right down the road from this track when I was a kid! There's ten parts to this video in case you want to look up how the modifieds and the rest of the sprint car races went that night.



(210) 1999 Kansas State - 27
(815) 1979 Michigan - 16
Kansas State dismissed the other Bo Schembechler-coached Michigan team in this bracket with relative ease. The Wolverines most explosive weapon, receiver Anthony Carter, was held without a catch in the first half by the Wildcats CB tandem of Jerametrius Butler and Dyshod Carter - there weren't many DBs like these two back in '79. Offensively for K-State, Jonathan Beasley hit Quincy Morgan on a 57-yard touchdown pass, and Frank Murphy ran for 84 yards and a score. The 1979 Wolverines are eliminated from The Greatest Tournament of All Time, but at least Michigan fans will always have this highlight to remember from that season:



(722) 2002 Marshall - 20
(303) 2006 Wisconsin - 28
When Byron Leftwich threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Josh Davis on the second play of the game, it looked like all the doubters that said Wisconsin's 12-1 record in 2006 was built on a very weak schedule might be proven right. But the Marshall defense couldn't slow down P.J. Hill and the Wisconsin offense. Hill carried the ball 28 times for 133 yards, while quarterback John Stocco threw a touchdown each to TE Travis Beckum and WR Luke Swan. CB Jack Ikegwuonu and the Wisconsin secondary tightened up, only allowing one more touchdown pass the rest of the day.

(466) 2002 South Florida - 26
(559) 1990 San Jose State - 27
The job Jim Leavitt has done building the South Florida program from the ground up has been remarkable. But his Bulls are finished in The Greatest Tournament of All Time. San Jose State defensive back Paul Franklin picked off two passes and returned one of them for a touchdown to build a 21-7 first half lead the Spartans never relinquished. USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell took a beating in the game and as a result turned the ball over three times.

(978) 1984 Fullerton State - 17
(47) 1989 Tennessee - 28
For those who don't know, the 1984 Cal State Fullerton squad featured Damon Allen at quarterback. Allen went on to become arguably the best quarterback to ever play in the Canadian Football League, compiling over 72,000 passing yards and nearly 12,000 rushing yards in his 23-year career. So when Tennessee took the field expecting to roll against a school that doesn't even field a football team anymore they were in for a big surprise - and a dog fight. Allen threw two touchdown passes (one to Corn Redick and one to Roy Lewis) in the first half to go into the locker room tied at 14 apiece with a team expected to advance to the Final 64 in this tournament. Tennessee finally put the Titans away in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns by way of Chuck Webb and the running game against a tiring Fullerton defense. But this is exactly the reason this tournament is so exciting - remembering college teams and players of the past that have been long forgotten.



Round of 512 Matchups:
(82) 2001 Oregon vs (431) 1983 Michigan
(175) 1987 Nebraska vs (338) 1984 Oklahoma State
(210) 1999 Kansas State vs (303) 2006 Wisconsin
(47) 1989 Tennessee vs (559) 1990 San Jose State

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 62 Results

BRACKET #62
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 62
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(62) 1999 Nebraska - 31
(963) 1997 USC - 10

(574) 1985 BYU - 23
(451) 2001 South Carolina - 17

(318) 1999 Tennessee - 34
(707) 1998 Virginia Tech - 37 (3 OT)

(830) 1993 Indiana - 14
(195) 1985 Iowa - 28

(190) 1992 Texas A&M - 27
(835) 1999 Colorado State - 20

(702) 1977 Colorado State - 18
(323) 2002 Notre Dame - 19

(446) 1990 BYU - 35
(579) 1979 Wake Forest - 20

(958) 1989 Oregon - 18
(67) 1985 Florida - 27

Round of 512 Matchups:
(62) 1999 Nebraska vs (574) 1985 BYU
(195) 1985 Iowa vs (707) 1998 Virginia Tech
(190) 1992 Texas A&M vs (323) 2002 Notre Dame
(67) 1985 Florida vs (446) 1990 BYU

4.25.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 49 Results

BRACKET #49
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 49
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(49) 1997 Florida State - 35
(976) 2008 Boston College - 16

(561) 2003 Kansas State - 28
(464) 2003 Washington State - 23

(305) 1996 North Carolina - 25
(720) 2005 Michigan - 16

(817) 1983 Central Michigan - 20
(208) 2001 Colorado - 24

(177) 1987 Oklahoma - 34
(848) 1986 Boston College - 14

(689) 1988 Houston - 20
(336) 1978 Texas - 22

(433) 1999 Florida - 27
(592) 1978 Arizona State - 24

(945) 2001 Hawaii - 21
(80) 1991 Florida - 38

Round of 512 Matchups:
(49) 1997 Florida State vs (561) 2003 Kansas State
(208) 2001 Colorado vs (305) 1996 North Carolina
(177) 1987 Oklahoma vs (336) 1978 Texas
(80) 1991 Florida vs (433) 1999 Florida

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 2 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 2
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(2) 2005 Texas - 48
(1023) 2005 Tulsa - 17
This was not even a contest. Vince Young and the Longhorns steamrolled Steve Kragthorpe's Tulsa team. Young piled up 357 yards of total offense (199 passing & 158 rushing) and the Longhorn defense commandeered Tulsa's passing game, hitting QB Paul Smith on virtually every play. CB Cedric Griffin came up with the only interception of the game, but Texas sacked Smith 6 times (Brian Robison had 2 of the 6).

(514) 1979 North Carolina State - 23
(511) 2002 Florida State - 26
QB Chris Rix threw 3 interceptions, but RB Greg Jones ran for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 12 carries to lead the 'Noles in a hard fought victory over '79 N.C. State. Wolfpack safety Woodrow Wilson seemed to be everywhere Rix threw, as he picked off 2 passes and knocked down another 3 balls. But Jones willed FSU to victory on his limited touches.



(258) 1988 Nebraska - 33
(767) 2005 Louisville - 27
Nebraska neutralized pass rush specialist Elvis Dumervil (20 sacks and 11 forced fumbles in 2005!) by running the ball right at him. QB Steve Taylor and IB Ken Clark ran downhill against the Louisville defense, leading the way in a Husker rushing attack that piled up 383 rushing yards. Nebraska LB Broderick Thomas was a key figure in making RB Michael Bush a non-factor, which meant Sophomore QB Brian Brohm had to carry the load.

(770) 1989 Michigan State - 16
(255) 1981 Nebraska - 23
Michigan State linebackers Percy Snow and Dixon Edwards did a wonderful job playing assignment football against the option, holding Nebraska's 1-2 punch of Roger Craig and Mike Rozier to just 127 combined rushing yards. But the Nebraska defense was stout too, keeping MSU RB Blake Ezor out of the end zone. So when Turner Gill found TE Jamie Williams wide open for a 44-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter it allowed the Huskers to survive and advance.



(130) 1983 BYU - 31
(895) 1979 Maryland - 17
QB Steve Young led the high powered Cougars of BYU over TB Charlie Wysocki and the Terps in this second round matchup.

(642) 2002 Auburn - 20
(383) 2006 Oklahoma - 23
With a host of injuries in their backfield, Auburn turned to third string tailback Tre Smith to carry the load on the ground against the Sooners. Smith came through in a big way, rushing for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. But a late Adrian Peterson touchdown gave Oklahoma the win. The Sooners were very happy to be a part of the Final 512.

(386) 1983 Northern Illinois - 21
(639) 1984 Rutgers - 17
Bill Mallory's Huskies outlasted Dick Anderson's Scarlet Knights in this under-the-radar second round matchup. Tailback Darryl Richardson ran for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns for NIU in the victory. If you can believe it, there's actually a highlight film for the 1983 Northern Illinois football team. How 'bout those Huskies!?



(1151) 1979 East Carolina - 23
(127) 1999 Michigan State - 31
This game actually featured a very high profile coaching matchup. Nick Saban led the Spartans against Pat Dye (future Auburn head coach) and the Pirates. Michigan State had too much offensive fire-power for ECU, and it showed here. QB Bill Burke threw for 254 yards and tailbacks Lloyd Clemons and T.J. Duckett combined for 163 rushing yards. ECU made a comeback in the second half when QB Leander Green finally broke loose on two long touchdown runs, but it was already too late at that point. Here's a clip of the 1979 ECU marching band.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(2) 2005 Texas vs (511) 2002 Florida State
(255) 1981 Nebraska vs (258) 1988 Nebraska
(130) 1983 BYU vs (383) 2006 Oklahoma
(127) 1999 Michigan State vs (386) 1983 Northern Illinois

4.23.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 28 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 28
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(101) 1993 West Virginia - 25
(924) 1983 Oklahoma State - 16

(613) 1988 Alabama - 24
(412) 2007 Tennessee - 23

(357) 1982 New Mexico - 27
(668) 2002 TCU - 24

(869) 1986 Florida - 13
(156) 1996 Nebraska - 32

(229) 1987 Texas A&M - 26
(796) 2005 Nebraska - 16

(741) 2002 Colorado State - 22
(284) 1989 Arkansas - 30

(485) 1982 Florida - 22
(540) 1979 Baylor - 28 (2 OT)

(997) 2000 Texas A&M - 16
(28) 1981 Pittsburgh - 31

Round of 512 Matchups:
(101) 1993 West Virginia vs (613) 1988 Alabama
(156) 1996 Nebraska vs (357) 1982 New Mexico
(229) 1987 Texas A&M vs (284) 1989 Arkansas
(28) 1981 Pittsburgh vs (540) 1979 Baylor

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 36 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 36
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(93) 2004 Utah - 40
(932) 1984 Miami - 24
Jimmy Johnson's first Miami team didn't play the kind of defense Johnson teams became known for, and the Hurricanes were clearly not ready for Urban Meyer's 21st century offense. Utah WR Steve Savoy set the tone early by taking a short Alex Smith pass 76-yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game. The Miami offense had some weapons of its own (QB Bernie Kosar, WRs Eddie Brown & Stanley Shakespeare, FB Alonzo Highsmith), but they couldn't keep pace with the Utes.



(605) 1984 Auburn - 26
(420) 2004 Michigan - 27
The Auburn defense (LB Greg Carr, DE Kevin Greene) did a good job slowing down an explosive Michigan offense (WR Braylon Edwards, RB Mike Hart). Auburn's running game also helped keep the Michigan offense off the field, with Bo Jackson and Brent Fullwood combining to rush for 172 yards. But with Auburn driving in the final minutes of the game, Bo Jackson went the wrong way on a Fullwood run, preventing the Tigers from scoring the go-ahead touchdown.



(349) 2003 Utah - 28
(676) 1996 Wyoming - 26
Another Urban Meyer Utah team featuring Alex Smith at quarterback advanced past WAC/Mountain West rival Wyoming. Joe Tiller, in his final season at Wyoming before moving on to take over at Purdue, decided to stick with his playmakers in this contest. QB Josh Wallwork completed a whopping 12 passes to WR Marcus Harris, but Morgan Scalley and freshman Eric Weddle managed to keep him out of the end zone.



(1188) 1983 Southern Miss - 16
(164) 1995 Colorado - 31
Rick Neuheisel's offense didn't have it easy against Richard Byrd, Bud Brown, and the rest of the Southern Miss defense. But the Buffaloes managed to pile up 31 points by converting two turnovers into 14 points, and a shanked punt into 7 more points. QB John Hessler (replacing the injured Koy Detmer) threw three touchdowns in the second half. For Southern Miss, moving the ball was difficult despite the presence of RB Sam Dejarnette and WR Louis Lipps.

(221) 2004 Georgia - 20
(804) 1978 East Carolina - 13
Georgia's defense had to carry the Bulldogs in this second round matchup because the offense made several mistakes on the day. The Georgia defensive line (David Pollack, Kedric Golston, Will Thompson) owned the line of scrimmage and held ECU to just 133 yards of offense. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, QB David Greene wasn't on target all day. He threw three interceptions, one of which was returned by ECU linebacker Zack Valentine for a touchdown. Backup quarterback D.J. Shockley actually led both of Georgia's touchdown drives.

(733) 1977 North Carolina State - 16
(292) 2003 Georgia - 22
David Greene had a much better game against N.C. State than he did in the previous matchup against East Carolina. Greene threw two touchdown passes, one to WR Fred Gibson and one to TE Ben Watson. The Georgia defense held N.C. State's powerful running game to 144 yards, well below their average. The highlight Wolfpack players was linebacker Bill Cowher, who contributed 8 tackles, a sack, and an interception on a tipped pass.

(477) 1995 Michigan - 21
(548) 2002 North Carolina State - 23
Chuck Amato's gutsy Wolfpack overcame Lloyd Carr's first Michigan team and stole the win with a late Philip Rivers touchdown pass to Jericho Cotchery. N.C. State was able to hang in there against the Wolverines because linebackers Dantonio Burnette, Freddie Aughtry Lindsay, and Pat Thomas were able to hold RB Tim Biakabutuka under 100 yards. WR Mercury Hayes had a big day for Big Blue, tallying 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. But Rivers kept the 'Pack in the game and converted in the clutch to advance.



(1060) 1979 UT-Arlington - 13
(36) 2008 Florida - 41
Urban Meyer finished a highly successful bracket for himself (see two wins by Utah above) by blowing away UT-Arlington. Maverick linebacker Cliff Odom's head was spinning by all the speed Florida put on the field. The Gator offense compiled over 300 yards rushing and over 200 yards passing. Chris Rainey, Percy Harvin, and Jeff Demps all had scoring plays of over 50 yards in the game.



Round of 512 Matchups:
(93) 2004 Utah vs (420) 2004 Michigan
(164) 1995 Colorado vs (349) 2003 Utah
(221) 2004 Georgia vs (292) 2003 Georgia
(36) 2008 Florida vs (548) 2002 North Carolina State

4.22.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 25 Results

BRACKET #25
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 25
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(25) 1977 Penn State - 36
(1000) 2003 Oregon - 16

(537) 1992 Ohio State - 16
(488) 1977 Louisiana Tech - 18

(281) 2008 Boise State - 30
(744) 2003 Florida - 17

(793) 1997 Oregon - 19
(232) 1987 Michigan State - 27

(153) 1985 Alabama - 28
(872) 2003 Oklahoma State - 20

(665) 1980 Southern Miss - 17
(360) 1982 West Virginia - 19

(409) 2003 Texas - 35
(616) 1977 Stanford - 21

(1128) 2006 Clemson - 21
(104) 1996 Arizona State - 34

Round of 512 Matchups:
(25) 1977 Penn State vs (488) 1977 Louisiana Tech
(232) 1987 Michigan State vs (281) 2008 Boise State
(153) 1985 Alabama vs (360) 1982 West Virginia
(104) 1996 Arizona State vs (409) 2003 Texas

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 61 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 61
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(61) 1983 Georgia - 21
(964) 1999 Minnesota - 17
For some reason, I still remember exactly where I was the day Minnesota beat #2 ranked Penn State back in 1999 - in my college apartment on Burton Drive. But it wasn't meant to be here in the second round. Safety Terry Hoage and the Georgia defense did their part in stifling QB Billy Cockerham and the Gopher offense. Linebacker Knox Culpepper helped contain RB Thomas Hamner to 68 yards rushing.

(573) 1994 Ohio State - 17
(452) 1991 Clemson - 20
The Clemson defense came up big against an Ohio State offense featuring Eddie George and Joey Galloway. The Tiger front seven (LB Levon Kirkland and linemen Chester McGlockton, Rob Bodine & Brentson Buckner) was key in holding the Buckeyes to just 263 yards of offense. Clemson QB DeChance Cameron threw two touchdown passes to WR Terry Smith in the win.



(317) 1991 Bowling Green - 26
(708) 2008 Nebraska - 24
The mistakes caught up with Nebraska in this matchup with seemingly out-manned Bowling Green. Several breakdowns in the secondary led to Bowling Green quarterback Erik White having a day to brag about (22/24 for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns). WR Mark Szlachcic was on the receiving end of two of those touchdowns, and seemed to be open on every play. Nebraska never got their running game going, and it hurt down the stretch when Joe Ganz had to throw on nearly every play.

(1220) 2008 Rutgers - 21
(196) 2007 Missouri - 34
Chase Daniel and the Missouri offense jumped on Rutgers early and then coasted to an easy win. The Tigers were up 17-0 at the end of the first quarter on the strength of big plays by TE Martin Rucker and WR Will Franklin. The second half was a completely different story, though, as the Missouri offense went 3-and-out four times. A Jeremy Maclin punt return for touchdown provided the only points for Mizzou in the second half, and put the final nail in the coffin. For Rutgers, Kenny Britt caught 10 passes for 244 yards and had 2 long touchdown receptions.



(189) 2003 Miami, Ohio - 38
(836) 2003 Northern Illinois - 24
These two MAC teams never played in 2003, but they finally got the opportunity here in The Greatest Tournament of All Time. It was a bit more star studded affair than you might imagine too, with Big Ben Roethlisberger quarterbacking Miami(OH) and Michael Turner running the ball for Northern Illinois. Roethlisberger got the better of that matchup, but he got a little help from punt returner/receiver Ryne Robinson. Robinson returned one punt 63-yards for a touchdown and nearly returned another for six.

(701) 1978 UCLA - 17
(324) 2000 Kansas State - 28
A stacked UCLA defense featuring All Americans LB Jerry Robinson and S Kenny Easley had a hard time keeping K-State out of the end zone. QB Jonathan Beasley led four long scoring drives that chewed clock and ended in touchdowns for the Wildcats. On the other side of the ball, K-State linebackers Terry Pierce and Ben Leber were busy with UCLA RB Theotis Brown carrying the ball 32 times in the game (92 yards).

(445) 1985 Georgia Tech - 16
(580) 1984 West Virginia - 15
In a game that featured excellent defensive play and a combined 8 field goals, it was a fumble recovery by Georgia Tech's Pat Swilling that sealed the deal. Defensive end Mark Pike forced the fumble by WVU tailback Pat Randolph, who had much better luck in this 1984 game against Penn State:



(1092) 1977 East Carolina - 10
(68) 1980 Florida State - 27
Florida State coasted on the strength of a fine defensive performance. Nose guard Ron Simmons paced the 'Nole defense in holding Pat Dye's East Carolina offense to just 168 yards. QB Rick Stockstill guided the steady FSU offense.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(61) 1983 Georgia vs (452) 1991 Clemson
(196) 2007 Missouri vs (317) 1991 Bowling Green
(189) 2003 Miami, Ohio vs (324) 2000 Kansas State
(68) 1980 Florida State vs (445) 1985 Georgia Tech

4.21.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 64 Results

BRACKET #64
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 64
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(65) 1982 Georgia - 27
(960) 1984 Motor Dame - 14

(577) 2002 Virginia Tech - 23
(448) 1993 UCLA - 24

(321) 1990 Penn State - 23
(704) 1995 Texas Tech - 20

(833) 1995 Iowa - 18
(192) 1978 Clemson - 29

(193) 2004 Boise State - 38
(832) 1990 Illinois - 24

(705) 1985 Texas - 20
(320) 2005 Oklahoma - 24

(449) 1980 Mississippi State - 27
(576) 2000 Wisconsin - 30 (2 OT)

(961) 1990 Southern Mississippi - 10
(64) 1994 Florida State - 30

Round of 512 Matchups:
(65) 1982 Georgia vs (448) 1993 UCLA
(192) 1978 Clemson vs (321) 1990 Penn State
(193) 2004 Boise State vs (320) 2005 Oklahoma
(64) 1994 Florida State vs (576) 2000 Wisconsin

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 60 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 60
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(69) 1995 Tennessee - 32
(956) 1980 Arizona State - 20
Sophomore quarterback Peyton Manning hit receiver Joey Kent for an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game and the Vols never looked back from there. Safety Mike Richardson spent the majority of the game chasing the speedy Tennessee receivers (Kent, Marcus Nash, Peerless Price). Meanwhile ASU QB Mike Pagel was sacked 5 times.



(581) 1992 Mississippi - 14
(444) 1996 Kansas State - 20
The Kansas State defense, headlined by linebacker Mark Simoneau's 12 tackles, shut down Ole Miss RB Cory Philpot, and the Rebels never found another offensive weapon. K-State wideout Kevin Lockett had 6 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, and went to Varneys after the game to pick up some Wildcat apparel. TE Jarrett Grosdidier added another touchdown and Martin Gramatica kicked two field goals to advance another Bill Snyder team to the Round of 512.

(325) 1981 North Carolina - 24
(700) 2003 Purdue - 17
Dick Crum's North Carolina defense had the antidote to stop Joe Tiller's Purdue offense. After Kyle Orton threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Ray Williams in the first quarter, the Tar Heels turned defensive lineman William Fuller loose. Fuller ended the day with 3 sacks, but he affected several other Orton throws. For Purdue, safety Stuart Schweigert intercepted two Rod Elkins passes, but UNC gouged the Boilermakers for 255 yards on the ground.

(1212) 1982 Southern Miss - 13
(188) 1980 Nebraska - 33
The Nebraska defense took away the USM running game and the Eagles took too long to adjust. Tailback Sam Dejarnette was held to just 11 yards in the first half by the Huskers, who piled up a 20-3 halftime lead. Jarvis Redwine ran for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day, and fullback Andra Franklin added a score. USM WR Louis Lipps was open many times on the day, but quarterback Reggie Collier rarely looked his direction.

(197) 1980 Oklahoma - 30
(828) 1991 Air Force - 20
Air Force quarterback Rob Perez had the triple option attack working for a little while, but the defense couldn't contain J.C. Watts and the Sooner Wishbone. The Falcons actually took a 14-13 lead into halftime, but two Stanley Wilson touchdowns in the second half made the difference.

(709) 1986 Iowa - 18
(316) 2007 Ohio State - 25
Iowa lost to the Buckeyes 31-10 during the 1986 season, so facing an Ohio State team that played for the national title didn't give fans in Iowa City much hope. But tailback Rick Bayless ran for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the Hawkeyes nearly pulled off the upset. But when Malcolm Jenkins picked off a Mark Vlasic pass in the fourth quarter, Iowa's fate was sealed.



(453) 1981 BYU - 28
(572) 1992 Tennessee - 24
Defensive backs Tavio Hanson and Tracy Smith had a rough day for the Vols. Despite controlling the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game, Tennessee gave up four big pass plays to Jim McMahon and BYU that cost them the game. Charlie Garner had a productive day and Heath Shuler only threw 5 incomplete passes, but both paled in comparison to McMahon's day. The All American quarterback had touchdown passes of 34, 72, 54, and 63 yards, and ended the day with 411 yards passing.

(1084) 1982 Iowa - 12
(60) 2002 Georgia - 29
Georgia cruised to a relatively easy second round victory over Iowa. The Georgia defensive line (David Pollack, Jonathan Sullivan, Darius Swain) was in the backfield all day, which made freshman quarterback Chuck Long rather uncomfortable. The balanced Bulldog offense ran smoothly most of the game. Apart from an errant David Greene pass that was picked off by Iowa safety Bobby Stoops, Georgia was largely mistake-free.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(69) 1995 Tennessee vs (444) 1996 Kansas State
(188) 1980 Nebraska vs (325) 1981 North Carolina
(197) 1980 Oklahoma vs (316) 2007 Ohio State
(60) 2002 Georgia vs (453) 1981 BYU

4.19.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 19 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 19
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(110) 1995 Northwestern - 21
(915) 1981 Toledo - 14

(622) 1978 Missouri - 31
(403) 1998 Texas - 29

(366) 2000 Notre Dame - 20
(659) 1991 Oklahoma - 26

(878) 2002 Boston College - 18
(147) 2002 Oklahoma - 32

(238) 1992 Michigan - 35
(787) 1979 San Diego State - 17

(750) 1983 Virginia Tech - 21
(275) 1991 California - 23

(494) 1978 Tulsa - 16
(531) 1979 Clemson - 17

(1043) 1990 Virginia Tech - 13
(19) 2006 Florida - 30

Round of 512 Matchups:
(110) 1995 Northwestern vs (622) 1978 Missouri
(147) 2002 Oklahoma vs (659) 1991 Oklahoma
(238) 1992 Michigan vs (275) 1991 California
(19) 2006 Florida vs (531) 1979 Clemson

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 14 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 14
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(14) 2000 Oklahoma - 35
(1011) 1997 Miami, Ohio - 19
Randy Walker's Miami (OH) club gave the 2000 National Champion Sooners a game for a while, but QB Josh Heupel's consistency won it going away. Miami RB Travis Prentice ran well early, but linebackers Torrance Marshall and Rocky Calmus bottled him in the second half. Heupel was solid for OU, completing 22-of-27 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns, propelling the Sooners to the Round of 512.

(526) 2003 Mississippi - 24
(499) 1981 West Virginia - 27 (OT)
West Virginia's Oliver Luck out-dueled Mississippi's Eli Manning in this second round matchup that needed overtime to settle a winner. Luck's touchdown pass to fullback Mickey Walczak in overtime gave the Mountaineers the victory after Darryl Talley and the defense held Ole Miss to just a field goal.



(270) 2003 Florida State - 31
(755) 1998 Wyoming - 14
Florida State simply had too much talent on the field for Dana Dimel's Wyoming squad to overcome. Despite a solid performance from tailback Marques Brigham (88 yards, 1 touchdown), the Wyoming offense was held in check most of the day thanks to a fierce pass rush that sacked quarterback Jay Stoner 7 times on the day. Tackles Darnell Dockett and Travis Johnson led the charge for the 'Noles. On offense it was Greg Jones and Leon Washington leading the way on the ground, but QB Chris Rix also mixed in a touchdown pass to WR P.K. Sam.



(782) 1995 Miami - 27
(243) 1998 Tulane - 34
Can the Tommy Bowden's undefeated 1998 Tulane team play with the big boys? Well here we are in the second round of The Greatest Tournament of All Time, and the Green Wave just did a number on Butch Davis' Miami secondary. QB Shaun King threw for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns. WR P.J. Franklin was King's prime target, as he abused Miami corners James Burgess and Carols Jones with 10 receptions for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Miami offense (QB Ryan Clement, RB Danyell Ferguson, WRs Jammi German & Yatil Green) had success against a somewhat suspect Tulane defense, piling up over 400 yards, but they weren't able to keep up with King and Co.

(142) 2006 LSU - 28
(1166) 1990 North Carolina State - 13
The only highlight on the day for the offense-starved Wolfpack was this 56-yard field goal by Damon Hartman. Other than that, Les Miles' super-athletic defense owned the game. Players like Glenn Dorsey, Charles Alexander, and Tyson Jackson manhandled the N.C. State offensive line and forced coach Dick Sheridan to move athletic receiver Charles Davenport back to quarterback in the second half. The LSU offense wasn't great either, with QB JaMarcus Russell throwing an interception apiece to Snake Vinson and Sebastian Savage. But the Tigers did enough defensively to secure the win and advance.

(654) 2003 Arkansas - 33
(371) 1987 Georgia - 34 (OT)
In an exciting back-and-forth game with plenty of big plays, it was a blocked extra point in overtime that sealed the victory for Vince Dooley's 1987 Bulldogs. Arkansas QB Matt Jones was marvelous much of the game, throwing for 139 yards and a touchdown, and running circles around the Georgia defense to the tune of 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jones had touchdown runs of 60 yards and 39 yards, each time giving Arkansas a lead, and RB Cedric Cobbs added 118 yards and a touchdown. But QB James Jackson and tailback Lars Tate piled up plenty of yards on the ground too, with Tate plunging in for his 3rd touchdown of the game in the final minute to send the game to overtime.



(398) 2001 Stanford - 26
(627) 2008 Virginia Tech - 24
Frank Beamer made the wise move to play Tyrod Taylor at quarterback throughout the game instead of turnover prone Sean Glennon (2 interceptions, 1 fumble in the first round win over 1992 UCLA). But Tyrone Willingham's underrated offense made enough plays against an inexperienced Hokie defense to come away with the victory. Senior quarterback Randy Fasani, playing in place of talented sophomore Chris Lewis so far in the tournament, threw for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both touchdowns went to 6-foot-6 WR Teyo Johnson, who was the story of the game because Virginia Tech never found an answer for his size in the secondary. Tyrod Taylos is awesome though, so check him out one last time in the tournament:



(910) 2007 Utah - 17
(115) 1997 Auburn - 23
Speaking of great quarterbacks, Dameyune Craig took on Brian Johnson in this contest featuring teams that are closer together than their seed would indicate. It was the play of the aggressive defenses that took center stage, as both quarterbacks struggled to find open receivers in the face of intense pass rushes. Utah defenders Paul Kruger and Stevenson Sylvester shut down a non-existent Auburn rushing attack, holding the Tigers to just 8 rushing yards. Auburn defenders Charles Dorsey, Takeo Spikes, and Ricky Neal also did a number on the Utah running game, holding Darrell Mack to 45 yards - well below his average. Craig came through in the clutch with a touchdown pass to Hicks Poor.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(14) 2000 Oklahoma vs (499) 1981 West Virginia
(243) 1998 Tulane vs (270) 2003 Florida State
(142) 2006 LSU vs (371) 1987 Georgia
(115) 1997 Auburn vs (398) 2001 Stanford

4.18.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 22 Results

BRACKET #22
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 22
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(22) 2004 Auburn - 27
(1003) 1987 Florida - 13

(534) 1987 Iowa - 31
(491) 2001 BYU - 32

(278) 2006 Rutgers - 28
(747) 2000 Purdue - 20

(790) 2006 Hawaii - 35
(235) 2001 LSU - 34

(150) 1980 BYU - 38
(1174) 1978 Ohio State - 20

(662) 1977 USC - 19
(363) 1982 USC - 22

(406) 2008 Ohio State - 23
(619) 1995 East Carolina - 14

(918) 1987 Texas - 20
(107) 1993 Florida - 40

Round of 512 Matchups:
(22) 2004 Auburn vs (491) 2001 BYU
(278) 2006 Rutgers vs (790) 2006 Hawaii
(150) 1980 BYU vs (363) 1982 USC
(107) 1993 Florida vs (406) 2008 Ohio State

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 51 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 51
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(78) 1986 Miami - 37
(947) 1995 UCLA - 17
UCLA didn't get off to quite the fast start they got off to against USC in 1995. Instead, the trash talkin' Hurricanes came out on fire and blew the Bruins off the field. Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Michael Irvin on the second play from scrimmage to set the tone for the game. UCLA linebacker Donnie Edwards did a good job taking versatile RB Alonzo Highsmith out of the game, but the Miami defense turned UCLA freshman QB Cade McNown into a rag doll and limited RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar to just 4 rebounds - er, 46 rushing yards.

(590) 2004 Texas Tech - 24
(435) 1979 North Carolina - 27
As opposed to many early-70s/late-80s teams against Mike Leach in this tournament, Dick Crum and North Carolina didn't have any problems slowing down the Red Raider attack. Of course, most teams don't have players like Lawrence Taylor on defense. Taylor got after Tech QB Sonny Cumbie so often that after 45 minutes of game time the Red Raider offense had yet to reach the end zone and trailed 27-10 thanks only to a Danny Amendola punt return for touchdown. Cumbie managed to mount comeback late in the fourth quarter by throwing two touchdowns (one to Jarrett Hicks, the other to Nehemiah Glover) in the span of four minutes, but the rally was too little, too late. UNC tailback Amos Lawrence had a field day against an unisnspired defense, running for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns.

(334) 1984 Nebraska - 24
(691) 2004 Virginia - 17
The Nebraska 5-2 defense took a gamble and loaded up to stop Alvin Pearman, Wali Lundy and the Virginia running game in the hopes that QB Marques Hagans couldn't beat them with his arm. The plan almost backfired because Hagans just dropped passes off over the middle to All American tight end Heath Miller time after time. Miller had 8 receptions for 121 yards in the first half alone and Virginia led 14-10 at the break. But the Nebraska running game stepped up with running backs Doug DuBose and Jeff Smith following fullback Tom Rathman's lead toward hogging 21+ minutes of the clock in the second half.

(846) 1995 Auburn - 23
(179) 2002 Texas - 32
Cedric Benson abused the Auburn defense with his hard-nosed running. Benson's stats didn't look very impressive after the game (31 carries for 101 yards), but he kept the chains moving and wore down the Tiger front. Chris Simms and the passing game ended up with the glory plays, with WR Sloan Thomas catching 2 touchdown passes and Roy Williams adding another. Sophomore linebacker Derrick Johnson paced the Texas defense with numerous big hits on Auburn RB Stephen Davis and a pick-six off QB Patrick Nix.

(206) 1988 West Virginia - 30
(819) 1982 Miami - 17
Don Nehlen brought one of the best West Virginia teams in the bracket into this contest with Howard Schnellenberger and Miami. miami wasn't quite Miami yet, but they still had some talent on the field. Mark Richt filled in at quarterback for Miami because star Jim Kelly was nursing a severely injured shoulder suffered in the first round win over 2001 Clemson. West Virginia simply turned linebacker Renaldo Turnbull loose on the inexperienced QB. Turnbull registered 3 sacks and safety Bo Orlando picked off 2 passes in the game for WVU. Offensively it was Major Harris running the show, running for a touchdown and passing for two others.

(718) 1991 Stanford - 20
(307) 1982 Auburn - 22
Al Del Grego kicked the game winning 37-yard field goal as time expired to prevent Dennis Green from advancing his 1991 Stanford team to the Round of 512. Auburn halfbacks Bo Jackson and Lionel James combined for 202 yards on the ground to pace the offense, while the defense forced Stanford QB Steve Stenstrom to turn the ball over three times (2 interceptions, 1 fumble). For Stanford, Glyn Milburn accumulated 178 all purpose yards, but "Touchdown" Tommy Vardell was held out of the end zone.

(462) 2002 Maryland - 30
(563) 1998 Purdue - 27
Despite a six sack performance by the Purdue defense, Maryland was able to advance. Boiler bookends Chike Okeafor and Rosevelt Colvin torched the Terrapin offensive tackles all day, but QB Scott McBrien was able to stay focused in the face of the pressure and take advantage of a weak secondary on a game winning touchdown drive in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter. Tailback Bruce Perry also took advantage of the Purdue pass rush by picking up big chunks on the ground on draw plays, finishing with 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Drew Brees put up big numbers for Joe Tiller's offense, but it wasn't enough.

(974) 1977 Brown - 14
(51) 1995 Florida - 42
Tommie Frazier doesn't play for Brown, so the Gators didn't have any trouble in this second round matchup. QB Danny Wuerffel threw for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns while Ed Chester and the Florida defense shut down RB Seth Morris and the Brown offense.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(78) 1986 Miami vs (435) 1979 North Carolina
(179) 2002 Texas vs (334) 1984 Nebraska
(206) 1988 West Virginia vs (307) 1982 Auburn
(51) 1995 Florida vs (462) 2002 Maryland

4.17.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 26 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 26
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(26) 1997 Nebraska - 36
(999) 1991 Ohio State - 13

(538) 1984 LSU - 22
(487) 1995 USC - 24

(282) 2005 LSU - 26
(743) 1984 Ohio State - 20

(794) 1985 Arizona State - 14
(231) 1980 USC - 19

(154) 1979 BYU - 32
(871) 1978 Southern Miss - 13

(666) 1993 Michigan - 17
(359) 1980 UCLA - 20

(410) 1982 Arkansas - 20
(615) 1980 Florida - 14

(922) 1999 Georgia - 17
(103) 1992 Miami - 34

Round of 512 Matchups:
(26) 1997 Nebraska vs (487) 1995 USC
(231) 1980 USC vs (282) 2005 LSU
(154) 1979 BYU vs (359) 1980 UCLA
(103) 1992 Miami vs (410) 1982 Arkansas

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 57 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 57
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(57) 1997 Florida - 31
(968) 1994 Bowling Green - 20
Steve Spurrier's Florida team dismissed Bowling Green in an ugly game that featured a combined seven turnovers. Bowling Green turned the ball over four times and both Florida quarterbacks (Doug Johnson & Jesse Palmer) threw interceptions in the first half. But RB Fred Taylor came up big with 165 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground to keep the Gator offense rolling.

(569) 2004 Texas A&M - 24
(456) 1997 Colorado State - 34
Quarterback Reggie McNeal was dazzling in the first half, directing the balanced Aggie offense to 254 yards and 21 first half points. But the A&M defense fell apart in the second half with CSU senior quarterback Moses Moreno taking full advantage by throwing three touchdowns after halftime. Colorado State linebackers Adrian Ross, Mitch Palmer and Joey Porter ganged up to stop the Aggie running game and Dennis Franchione put it on auto-pilot, which led to a flat Reggie McNeal in the second half.



(313) 1992 Georgia - 24
(712) 1982 Ohio State - 17
In a matchup of two 1,500+ yard tailbacks, it was Georgia's Garrison Hearst that got the better of Ohio State's Tim Spencer. As a matter of fact, Hearst nearly doubled Spencer's output on the day, 138 yards to 77. But it was Bulldog wide receiver Andre Hastings who caught what wound up being the game deciding touchdown pass from Eric Zeier late in the third quarter. Mike Tomczak and the Buckeyes could never answer that score, and LB Marcus Marek and the Buckeye defense couldn't stop Hearst and backup tailback Terrell Davis from grinding the fourth quarter clock down.

(1224) 2003 Connecticut - 21
(200) 2005 West Virginia - 34
UConn running back Terry Caulley got off to a fast start with 39 yards on his first run of the ball game. He went on to pile up 98 yards in the first quarter alone before injuring his knee in the second quarter with UConn up 14-7. After Caulley left the game, the West Virginia freshmen (QB Pat White, RB Steve Slaton) took over. With no running game to rely on, UConn QB Dan Orlovsky was unable to get the offense moving on his own, and West Virginia literally ran away with the game in the second half. Slaton and White combined for 313 yards rushing and the Mountaineer fans did some singing after the game. Lame.

(185) 1996 Colorado - 28
(840) 2004 Oregon State - 20
Mike Riley brought Oregon State a long way, but his 2004 Beavers won't be advancing past the second round of the Greatest Tournament of All Time. QB Koy Detmer led the Buffaloes on a 21-0 onslaught in the first 18 minutes of the ball game and put it on cruise control the rest of the way. You could say Rae Carruth "murdered" the Oregon State secondary, but that would probably be inappropriate. He did have 100 yards and 2 touchdowns by the end of the first quarter though. For Oregon State, Mike "the Hassassinator" Hass piled up huge numbers (12 receptions for 246 yards from QB Derek Anderson) in the comeback attempt.



(1352) 1984 Illinois - 28
(328) 2008 Texas Tech - 45
The offensive fireworks came early and often in this second round matchup. Illinois QB Jack Trudeau found TE Cap Boso for a long touchdown catch and run on the opening drive to start the scoring. Of course it didn't take long for Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree to answer. In fact, the Red Raiders ran off three straight touchdowns in the bat of an eye. Illinois All American wideout David Williams played a solid game, but he was overshadowed by Crabtree's 192 yards and 3 touchdowns.



(441) 1999 Wisconsin - 24
(584) 1986 Arkansas - 17
As opposed to the Illinois/Texas Tech game, this was settled mostly on the ground. Arkansas QB Greg Thomas led Ken Hatfield's triple option attack while the Badgers turned RB Ron Dayne loose. The Hogs defense hung in there for a while, but once the number of Dayne's carries reached the high-20s and low-30s, undersized (but ferocious) nose guard Tony Cherico and defensive end Wayne Martin started to wear down. That's when Dayne busted the game winner. No more "P-I-G, Suey!" chants in Bracket 57.

(953) 1980 LSU - 13
(72) 2001 Tennessee - 27
LSU didn't have any tricks on offense that the Tennessee defense hadn't seen before. John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth (how's that for a front line?) dominated the line of scrimmage, blowing up QB Alan Risher's option plays before they even had a chance to develop. The balanced Tennessee offense wasn't always pretty, but TE Jason Witten and RB Travis Stephens scored touchdowns for the Vols.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(57) 1997 Florida vs (456) 1997 Colorado State
(200) 2005 West Virginia vs (313) 1992 Georgia
(185) 1996 Colorado vs (328) 2008 Texas Tech
(72) 2001 Tennessee vs (441) 1999 Wisconsin

4.16.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 21 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 21
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(21) 1991 Washington - 39
(1004) 1994 Notre Dame - 13

(533) 1986 Texas A&M - 24
(492) 1992 Colorado - 22

(277) 1988 Auburn - 23
(748) 1997 Southern Miss - 13

(789) 2003 Southern Miss - 17
(236) 1991 Syracuse - 24

(149) 1990 Texas - 30
(1173) 1980 UNLV - 21

(661) 1987 Penn State - 16
(364) 1991 Texas A&M - 29

(405) 2003 Iowa - 34
(620) 2002 Texas Tech - 28

(917) 2000 Southern Miss - 24
(108) 2008 Oklahoma - 45

Round of 512 Matchups:
(21) 1991 Washington vs (533) 1986 Texas A&M
(236) 1991 Syracuse vs (277) 1988 Auburn
(149) 1990 Texas vs (364) 1991 Texas A&M
(108) 2008 Oklahoma vs (405) 2003 Iowa

4.15.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 63 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 63
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(66) 1978 Penn State - 28
(959) 2007 Wisconsin - 13
Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan spent much of the game on the run because Penn State defensive tackle Bruce Clark spent much of the game in the backfield. P.J. Hill never got going either, leaving only tight end Travis Beckum to make plays. Beckum finished with 9 catches for 140 yards in the loss. For Penn State, quarterback Chuck Fusina threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns.

(578) 2007 Auburn - 20
(447) 1992 Bowling Green - 16
Auburn looked to be on cruise control in this second round matchup with Bowling Green, but they were obviously good enough to roll right by the Falcons. The defensive line (Antonio Coleman, Sen'Derrick Marks, Pat Sims) stifled QB Erik White, keeping Bowling Green out of the end zone for the first 57 minutes of the game.

(322) 1989 Virginia - 26
(703) 1984 UCLA - 20
The Moores (QB Shawn and WR Herman) rolled another Virginia team into the second round by beating Steve Bono (now there's a blast from the past) and UCLA. Shawn Moore kept Ken Norton Jr. and the UCLA defense guessing by hitting the Bruins with play action bombs to Herman Moore on three separate occasions. Tailbacks Marcus Wilson (98 yards) and Terry Kirby (68 yards) made that play action work by keeping the chains moving on the ground.

(834) 1981 Wyoming - 17
(191) 2006 Auburn - 21
Charles Barkley nailed the final score before the game when he picked his Tigers to win 21-17. Wyoming didn't have any luck moving the ball against one of the better Auburn defenses of recent memory. Freshman linebacker Tray Blackmon even scored a defensive touchdown for the Tigers. Auburn's offense wasn't as good, as quarterback Brandon Cox struggled most of the game, and a running game with plenty of talent (Kenny Irons, Brad Lester, Ben Tate) didn't have much success against a defense that regularly moved eight men into the box.

(194) 1989 USC - 32
(831) 2007 Kentucky - 21
In keeping with a developing tournament tradition, Kentucky safety Marcus McClinton led the Kentucky team in a sweet rap video before the game, but unfortunately the Cats were up against a beast of a USC team. One of Larry Smith's best teams in the tournament featured defensive studs DE Tim Ryan, LB Junior Seau, and S Mark Carrier. That trio did a marvelous job slowing down a potent Kentucky attack triggered by underrated QB Andre' Woodson.



(706) 1995 Alabama - 14
(319) 1977 Michigan - 24
The Alabama defense (S Kevin Jackson, LB Dwayne Rudd, CB DeShea Townsend) was good, but not good enough against the balanced option attack of the Wolverines. QB Rick Leach - yes THAT Rick Leach - triggered the attack, with FB Russell Davis and TB Harlan "H-Bomb" Huckleby as the other two options. For Alabama, tailback Dennis Riddle never got going, and quarterback Brian Burgdorf was eventually benched in favor of the youngster Freddie Kitchens late in the game.



(450) 1996 Southern Miss - 18
(575) 1983 Pittsburgh - 22
Foge Fazio took over the head coaching duties from Jackie Sherrill in the 1982 season, and he kept that trademark Pitt defense in tact. Southern Miss quarterback Lee Roberts, just a sophomore, was clearly shaken by the constant pressure provided by DL Bill Maas and LB Chris Doleman. The Southern Miss defense was almost as good, though. Defensive end Adalius Thomas pressured Pitt quarterback John Congemi into two interceptions, one by Patrick Surtain. But running back Joe McCall provided Congemi with a safety valve out of the backfield, and scored the winning touchdown on a 23-yard touchdown reception.

(962) 1994 Washington - 13
(63) 1985 Oklahoma - 31
There were no landmark upsets today. Washington simply got run off the field by Oklahoma's wishbone attack. OU played both quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Jamelle Holieway in preparation for later in the tournament when both may be needed. Defensively Brian Bosworth was stone cold in shutting down the Huskies. In fact, Washington tailback Napoleon Kaufman ended up with 62 yards rushing in the game - and 75 yards after contact!

Round of 512 Matchups:
(66) 1978 Penn State vs (578) 2007 Auburn
(191) 2006 Auburn vs (322) 1989 Virginia
(194) 1989 USC vs (319) 1977 Michigan
(63) 1985 Oklahoma vs (575) 1983 Pittsburgh

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 45 Results

BRACKET #45
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 45
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(45) 1990 Georgia Tech - 28
(980) 1978 Utah - 16

(557) 2006 Virginia Tech - 21
(468) 2006 Tennessee - 17

(301) 2007 USC - 30
(724) 2002 Virginia - 20

(813) 2006 South Carolina - 17
(212) 1998 Texas A&M - 22

(173) 1985 Miami - 38
(852) 2000 West Virginia - 20

(685) 2004 Wisconsin - 18
(340) 1996 Washington - 23

(429) 1978 North Texas - 24
(596) 1995 Oregon - 20

(941) 2000 Boise State - 24
(84) 1982 Nebraska - 41

Round of 512 Matchups:
(45) 1990 Georgia Tech vs (557) 2006 Virginia Tech
(212) 1998 Texas A&M vs (301) 2007 USC
(173) 1985 Miami vs (340) 1996 Washington
(84) 1982 Nebraska vs (429) 1978 North Texas

4.14.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 33 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 33
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(33) 2000 Miami - 42
(992) 1997 Texas A&M - 17
The Aggies were simply out matched in this contest. Butch Davis' last Miami team was loaded to the gills with talent and it was on display today. On six easy touchdown drives, Miami punished Dat Nguyen and the Wrecking Crew on the ground and through the air. Five different players scored touchdowns for the Hurricanes (RBs James Jackson, Clinton Portis, FB D.J. Williams, and WRs Reggie Wayne & Santana Moss) as Miami piled up 545 yards of offense. The A&M offense didn't stand much of a chance either. Aggie quarterbacks Branndon Stewart and Randy McCown threw two interceptions apiece, but Dante Hall managed to pick up 88 yards rushing and a kick return for touchdown.

(545) 1977 Ohio State - 21
(480) 1993 Oklahoma - 17
There was no recapturing of glory for the Sooners. Oklahoma's high octane offense, triggered by QB Cale Gundy, was held largely in check by Woody Hayes' hard nosed defense. Linebacker Tom Cousineau led the way in shutting down OU's freshmen tailbacks. "Thunder and Lightning", James Allen and Jerald Moore were held to just 67 yards rushing combined. Quarterback Rod Gerald led the way for Ohio State with 123 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.



(289) 1998 Kansas State - 35
(736) 1977 Colorado - 17
It's clear that Laval Short and the Colorado defense from 1977 had never seen an athlete like Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop. Bishop was on fire all day, piling up yards left and right, with his feet and his arm. Bishop became the first player of the tournament to top 200 yards passing and rushing in the same game with 232 yards and 2 touchdowns passing and 201 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing. David Allen also tacked on a nice punt return for touchdown to put the Buffs away for good.

(1248) 1979 Toledo - 20
(224) 1997 Washington State - 37
Toledo knocked off a Pac-10 team in EIGHT OVERTIMES in the first round. But between exhaustion and the Washington State offense, the Rockets didn't last long in the second round. Ryan Leaf threw for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns and the Cougar defensive line (Dorian Boose, Leon Bender) bottled up Toledo RB Mike Alston.

(161) 1995 Ohio State - 30
(864) 2005 Clemson - 17
The Tiger fans were loud, but John Cooper's Ohio State team was good enough to overcome that noise. Heisman Trophy thief Eddie George made the difference in the game with his consistent hard-nosed running. Clemson defensive ends Gaines Adams and Charles Bennett put constant pressure on Buckeye quarterback Bobby Hoying, so George's running between the tackles offset that speed enough for Ohio State to put away Clemson going away.



(673) 1986 Baylor - 19
(352) 1983 West Virginia - 23
A few of West Virginia fan's favorite things: Wide Receiver Rich Hollins collecting 5 receptions for 122 yards; Quarterback Jeff Hostetler out-dueling Baylor QB Cody Carlson; and a double-digit fourth quarter comeback to beat Baylor. Grant Teaff's Baylor club allowed the Mountaineers to do just that, giving up 13 unanswered points in the final five minutes.

(417) 1997 Mississippi - 20
(608) 1999 Southern Miss - 23
Tempers ran high in this in-state rivalry game, where Southern Miss upset Ole Miss thanks to a solid defensive effort. Tommy Tuberville's Rebels had a hard time moving the ball against a Golden Eagle defense that featured standout performances by DE Adalius Thomas and LB T.J. Slaughter. Southern Miss started out with a healthy dose of running back Derrick Nix. Nix carried the ball 10 times in the first quarter alone and piled up 74 yards by halftime. Then Jeff Bower opened up the offense in the second half, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Kelly to Sherrod Gideon with 2:39 remaining that ended up being the game winner.

(929) 2001 Boston College - 10
(96) 1986 Oklahoma - 38
William Green was a fantastic running back for Boston College during the 2001 season, but if he was driving a scooter the Oklahoma defense was driving Ferraris. Brian Bosworth led a Sooner charge that completely shut down Tom O'Brien's BC offense. The Sooners held Green to 31 yards rushing on 17 carries, and hammered QB Brian St. Pierre repeatedly. Darrell Reed finished with three sacks and Bosworth led the way with 17 tackles. Sophomore quarterback Jamelle Holieway paced the wishbone attack for OU, but tight end Keith Jackson provided the highlight of the day with an 88-yard touchdown run on a reverse. Wow, the big guy can really move.



Round of 512 Matchups:
(33) 2000 Miami vs (545) 1977 Ohio State
(224) 1997 Washington State vs (289) 1998 Kansas State
(161) 1995 Ohio State vs (352) 1983 West Virginia
(96) 1986 Oklahoma vs (608) 1999 Southern Miss

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 31 Results

BRACKET #31
Click HERE for first round results.

RESULTS - BRACKET 31
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(98) 1999 Michigan - 24
(1122) 1990 Alabama - 16

(610) 1983 Alabama - 20
(415) 1978 Arkansas - 24

(354) 1994 Utah - 34
(671) 1989 BYU - 27

(866) 1997 Arizona - 18
(159) 1978 Notre Dame - 30

(226) 1986 Michigan - 24
(799) 1982 BYU - 20

(738) 1989 Arizona - 20
(287) 1991 Notre Dame - 27

(482) 2001 Louisville - 37
(543) 2001 Fresno State - 40 (2OT)

(1055) 2006 Central Michigan - 17
(31) 2008 Texas - 39

Round of 512 Matchups:
(98) 1999 Michigan vs (415) 1978 Arkansas
(159) 1978 Notre Dame vs (354) 1994 Utah
(226) 1986 Michigan vs (287) 1991 Notre Dame
(31) 2008 Texas vs (543) 2001 Fresno State

4.13.2009

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 24 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 24
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(105) 1994 Alabama - 23
(920) 2006 Nebraska - 17

(617) 1980 McNeese State - 19
(408) 2005 Boston College - 26

(361) 1994 Michigan - 24
(664) 1979 Notre Dame - 21

(873) 1980 Missouri - 17
(152) 1979 Oklahoma - 25

(233) 1987 UCLA - 30
(792) 2007 Penn State - 20

(745) 1990 Michigan State - 14
(280) 2005 Alabama - 20

(489) 1979 Temple - 22
(536) 1988 Oklahoma - 20

(1001) 2006 Georgia Tech - 16
(24) 1996 Florida - 41

Round of 512 Matchups:
(105) 1994 Alabama vs (408) 2005 Boston College
(152) 1979 Oklahoma vs (361) 1994 Michigan
(233) 1987 UCLA vs (280) 2005 Alabama
(24) 1996 Florida vs (489) 1979 Temple

SECOND ROUND - Bracket 54 Results

Click HERE for first round results and bracket.

RESULTS - BRACKET 54
Round 2
(seed) year school - score

(54) 2005 Penn State - 31
(971) 1999 Mississippi - 17
The Ole Miss defense (LB Eddie Strong, DE Derrick Burgess, S Syniker Taylor) couldn't come up with the big stops in this contest against Joe Paterno's 2005 Penn State squad. Michael Robinson's mobility negated the pass rush, and the senior quarterback accumulated 78 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. On the other side of the ball, Penn State linebackers Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor led the charge in shutting down Rebel running backs Joe Gunn and Deuce McAllister.

(566) 2003 TCU - 31
(459) 1988 Oklahoma State - 40
TCU had some talented defenders in 2003, but they were no match for Barry Sanders. Players like DE Bo Schobel, LB Martin Patterson, and DT Chad Pugh were left out of breath as Sanders ran for 243 yards and 4 touchdowns against the Frogs. Not to be forgotten was QB Mike Gundy's near-perfect performance, completing 13-of-15 passes for 189 yards. TCU was able to put points on the board as well, but the Oklahoma State offense answered every single score.



(310) 1990 Tennessee - 29
(715) 2003 Clemson - 20
The Clemson offense struggled against Tennessee this afternoon, with Dale Carter picking off Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst twice, returning one for a touchdown. Along with Carter, cornerback Jeremy Lincoln and the rest of the secondary did a good job blanketing the tall Clemson receivers (Derrick Hamilton & Kevin Youngblood), but Whitehurst was just off target all game. For Tennessee, tailback Tony Thompson ran for 135 yards and receiver Carl Pickens added a touchdown.

(822) 1985 Oklahoma State - 13
(203) 1997 North Carolina - 22
In a dramatic change from the previous Oklahoma State team in this bracket, this game was all about defense. Mack Brown's North Carolina defense was awesome in the game, holding Cowboy star tailback Thurman Thomas to 32 yards on 17 carries. Greg Ellis and Vonnie Holliday made it impossible for QB Ronnie Williams to throw the ball too, combining for 3 sacks. Dre' Bly picked off two passes in the game, but one was a bit controversial.

(182) 1996 BYU - 28
(843) 1997 Air Force - 16
BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars as they cruised past Fisher DeBerry's Falcons. Thanks to the special teams play of Dennis Turner, though, Air Force was able to pick up a safety when Bryce Fisher sacked Sarkisian in the end zone.

(694) 1989 West Virginia - 16
(331) 2005 Georgia - 21
In a matchup featuring two excellent multi-dimensional quarterbacks, it was the defenses that took center stage. Mountaineer quarterback Major Harris couldn't break loose with his legs because athletic linebackers Tony Taylor and Brandon Miller spied him the entire game. On the flip side, Mountaineer defenders Renaldo Turnbull and Mike Fox plugged Georgia QB D.J. Shockley's running lanes. The difference in the game was that Shockley was able to make plays with his arm. Tight end Leonard Pope caught two touchdown passes, including the game winner early in the fourth quarter.



(438) 1995 Virginia Tech - 23
(587) 2000 Georgia Tech - 22
In one of the best games of the tournament so far, George Godsey found Kerry Watkins in the end zone for an incredible one-handed touchdown catch with just 1:09 to play, giving Georgia Tech a seemingly insurmountable 22-14 lead with the extra point pending. But Virginia Tech blocked the extra point attempt and Torrian Gray returned it for 2 points for the Hokies. Then Jim Druckenmiller led a 71-yard, 32 second touchdown drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Jermaine Holmes that stole the victory for Virginia Tech.



(1099) 2001 Georgia Tech - 14
(75) 1989 Miami - 34
Georgia Tech ran up against the Legion of Doom Miami defense and had very little luck. A loaded defensive line consisting of All American Greg Mark, Russell Maryland, and Cortez Kennedy took Yellow Jacket running back Joe Burns (31 yards, fumble) completely out of the game. QB George Godsey threw two touchdown passes to WR Kelly Campbell, but one came in garbage time. The highlight of the game for the Miami offense pretty much summed it all up. With the Canes facing 3rd and 43 inside their own 10, QB Craig Erickson wound up and hit WR Randal Hill for 44 yards and a first down. Watch out for this Miami team.

Round of 512 Matchups:
(54) 2005 Penn State vs (459) 1988 Oklahoma State
(203) 1997 North Carolina vs (310) 1990 Tennessee
(182) 1996 BYU vs (331) 2005 Georgia
(75) 1989 Miami vs (438) 1995 Virginia Tech