By Darin January 2, 1984 – The stage was set in the Orange Bowl for a coronation. The undefeated, top-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers arrived in Miami as 11-point favorites, ready to claim their national championship trophy. But college football rarely follows the script, and on that electric night, the fifth-ranked, raucous hometown Hurricanes had other plans that would shock the world, forging one of the most defining moments in the sport’s history.
The contest immediately took on a dramatic tone, with Miami seizing the lead early and refusing to relinquish it. The Hurricanes built formidable deficits of 17 points and, later, a significant 14-point margin that threatened to bury the favored Huskers. Yet, Nebraska’s vaunted offensive machine was too potent to quit. They fought valiantly, chipping away at Miami’s lead, setting the stage for one of the most memorable final minutes in bowl history.
Article from Jan 3, 1984 The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey)
With time ticking down, Nebraska tailback Jeff Smith broke free for a spectacular 34-yard touchdown run, shrinking the gap to 31-30 with only 48 seconds left on the clock. This score precipitated the moment of truth. Head Coach Tom Osborne faced an agonizing choice: kick the extra point to likely secure a tie and finish the season as the nation’s only undefeated team, or go for the win and the outright national title. Osborne, refusing to accept a share of the crown, chose the latter.
Quarterback Turner Gill rolled out, aiming for Smith on the two-point conversion attempt, but Miami defensive back Ken Calhoun stretched out, tipping the pass just enough. The conversion failed, the game ended 31-30, and Nebraska’s gamble fell agonizingly short.
While heartbreaking for the Huskers, Osborne’s gutsy call cemented the game’s legendary status. For Miami, the thrilling victory was more than just a win—it was the defining moment the dynasty truly began, launching an era of Hurricanes dominance and leaving the 1984 Orange Bowl forever enshrined as one of the greatest national championship showdowns ever played.
