FIRST ROUND - Bracket 26 Results

BRACKET #26
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RESULTS
Round 1
(seed) year school - score

(26) 1997 Nebraska - 43
(2023) 1999 San Diego State - 14
Scott Frost executed the option to perfection and the Blackshirts shut down the Aztecs. QB Jack Hawley and RB Larry Ned could find no holes in the Nebraska defense because Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter blew everything up before it started.

(999) 1991 Ohio State - 24
(1050) 1984 TCU - 22
TCU RB Kenneth Davis had success against Alonzo Spellman and the Ohio State defense, but the TCU defense couldn't hold up at the end of the game when it counted. The Buckeye running game (RBs Carlos Snow and Butler By'not'e) got kicker Tim Williams in position to kick a game winning 32-yard field goal as time expired. Check out Kirk Herbstreit, the backup QB for Ohio State, in action:

(538) 1984 LSU - 30

(1511) 1989 Colorado State - 23
Dalton Hilliard rushed for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns for LSU against Earle Bruce (fresh off his coaching stint at Ohio State) and the Rams. LSU linebackers Shawn Burks, Ricky Chatman, and Michael Brooks did a good job containing CSU RB Tony Alford.

(487) 1995 USC - 26
(1562) 2005 Tennessee - 16
Tennessee fumbled the game away against Keyshawn Johnson and the Trojans. RB Delon Washington didn't find much running room against Kevin Simon and the Vol defense, but it didn't matter because Casey Clausen and the Vol offense couldn't put the ball in the end zone.

(282) 2005 LSU - 28
(1767) 1986 Georgia Tech - 14
The LSU defense was all over QB Rick Strom from the opening snap, including this LaRon Landry sack. JaMarcus Russell didn't get much opportunity to show off his arm, but he threw one touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe. Afterward, the Georgia Tech faithful were so disappointed they tore down the stadium.

(743) 1984 Ohio State - 31
(1306) 1997 South Carolina - 19
Check out this loaded Ohio State team. Keith Byars led the way with 110 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half, then the backups got plenty of work. On defense, Pepper Johnson and company bottled up RB Troy Hambrick without much trouble.



(794) 1985 Arizona State - 26
(1255) 2002 Fresno State - 17
Arizona State's defense led the way in this matchup with Pat Hill and Fresno State. Dan Saleaumua plugged up the middle, making it hard for Rodney Davis to find running room. All American safety David Fulcher had a pick six, and CB Eric Allen picked up another interception off QB Paul Pinegar, who looked shell-shocked most of the afternoon.

(231) 1980 USC - 27
(1818) 2003 UCLA - 10
In a highly anticipated matchup between All American OT Keith Van Horne and All American DE Dave Ball, Van Horne came out on top. He completely neutralized Ball's presence and RB Marcus Allen took full advantage, running for 142 yards on just 13 carries. The USC secondary (Ronnie Lott, Joey Browner) got the best of UCLA QB Drew Olson too.

(154) 1979 BYU - 39
(1895) 1992 Louisville - 12
BYU had no trouble dismissing Howard Schnellenberger and the Louisville Cardinals in this first round blowout. The Cougar defense had QB Jeff Brohm out of rhythm all game. Offensively, QB Marc Wilson and a stable of running backs (Homer Jones, Scott Phillips, Eric Lane) found plenty of room both on the ground and through the air.

(871) 1978 Southern Miss - 22
(1178) 1993 Michigan State - 19
Southern Miss advances yet another team to the second round, their 12th of the tournament. RBs Tico Beal and Sammy Winder (just a freshman) controlled the clock most of the way for the Golden Eagles, but Stephen "Batman" Holman had a solid day for the Spartans in a losing effort.



(666) 1993 Michigan - 28
(1383) 2004 Connecticut - 17
In a fairly uneventful game, Gary Moeller's Michigan Wolverines cruised past Randy Edsall and UConn. RB Cornell Brockington ran into Michigan linebackers Trevor Pryce and Jarrett Irons at every turn, but Dan Orlovsky had some success moving the chains with short throws.

(359) 1980 UCLA - 29
(1690) 2002 Air Force - 18
Chance Harridge went over 100 yards both rushing and passing, but the Air Force defense couldn't contain Freeman McNeil.

(410) 1982 Arkansas - 21
(1639) 1978 Western Michigan - 12
Arkansas had a decided advantage in the trenches, a hallmark of Lou Holtz teams. Billy Ray Smith made 11 tackles, three behind the line of scrimmage, and helped the Razorbacks shut down WMU RB Jerome Persell. Offensive guard Steve Korte paved the way for Daryl Bowles and Gary Anderson.

(615) 1980 Florida - 24
(1434) 2001 Troy - 16
QB Wayne Peace found WR Cris Collinsworth for two touchdowns, while LB David Little and the defense controlled Larry Blakeney's running game (RBs LeBarron Black & DeWhitt Betterson).

(922) 1999 Georgia - 25
(1127) 1977 Florida - 24
Jim Donnan's Bulldogs held on tight and fought off a furious comeback attempt by Doug Dickey's Gators. Once Florida adjusted to Georgia's speedy linebackers (Kendrell Bell, Orantes Grant, Boss Bailey) they were already in an 18-0 hole. Quincy Carter paced a steady, but unspectacular Georgia offense.

(103) 1992 Miami - 35
(1946) 1980 Arizona - 10
Gino Torretta threw the ball all over the yard, including two touchdowns to Lamar Thomas, and routed Larry Smith's Arizona club.

Round 2 Matchups:
(26) 1997 Nebraska vs (999) 1991 Ohio State
(487) 1995 USC vs (538) 1984 LSU
(282) 2005 LSU vs (743) 1984 Ohio State
(231) 1980 USC vs (794) 1985 Arizona State
(154) 1979 BYU vs (871) 1978 Southern Miss
(359) 1980 UCLA vs (666) 1993 Michigan
(410) 1982 Arkansas vs (615) 1980 Florida
(103) 1992 Miami vs (922) 1999 Georgia