By Darin 
Imagine being down 31-0 at halftime to a top-10 team on the road. That was the impossible mountain the Maryland Terrapins faced against the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes on November 10, 1984. However, that afternoon at the Orange Bowl didn’t just feature a football game; it staged one of the greatest acts of grit and resilience the sport has ever seen, setting a record that remains a cornerstone of college football lore. This incredible turnaround was engineered by backup quarterback Frank Reich, a player whose knack for historic comebacks would become the defining feature of his legendary career.
The atmosphere in the Orange Bowl was electric as the heavily favored Hurricanes, led by quarterback Bernie Kosar, completely dominated the first half, taking a seemingly insurmountable 31-0 lead into the locker room. For all intents and purposes, the game was over. However, Maryland Head Coach Bobby Ross decided to make a dramatic change, inserting Frank Reich—who had recently recovered from a shoulder separation—under center to start the third quarter. What followed was a stunning and relentless display of offensive efficiency that no one, least of all the Miami sideline, could have predicted.
Terps Upset Canes 1984 11 Nov 1984, Sun Fort Lauderdale News (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Newspapers.com
Reich immediately ignited the Terrapins’ offense, orchestrating a series of drives that carved through the Miami defense. The Terrapins found the end zone not once, not twice, but an unbelievable six consecutive times, completely erasing the 31-point deficit. The barrage of touchdowns ultimately propelled Maryland to a shocking 42-34 lead. Miami managed a late score, but the Terrapins’ defense held firm on the critical two-point conversion attempt, securing an astonishing 42-40 victory. At the time, this 31-point rally stood as the largest comeback in NCAA history, a testament to Reich’s leadership and the team’s refusal to surrender.
This college miracle was not a one-off for Frank Reich. Eight years later, as a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, he led another one of football’s greatest rallies—known simply as “The Comeback.” In the 1992 AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Oilers, Reich entered the game for an injured Jim Kelly and led the Bills back from a 35-3 third-quarter deficit to win 41-38 in overtime, setting the record for the largest comeback in NFL history (a 32-point deficit). This unparalleled history of commanding the two biggest comebacks in college and professional football history solidified Frank Reich’s reputation as the ultimate comeback specialist, forever linking his name with miraculous victories.
Football Accolades and Accomplishments of Frank Reich:
- Led the University of Maryland to a 31-point comeback victory over the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes in 1984, which was then the largest comeback in NCAA history.
- Led the Buffalo Bills to a 32-point comeback victory over the Houston Oilers in the 1992 AFC Wild Card game, which remains the largest comeback in NFL postseason history.
- Played 14 seasons in the NFL (1985–1998) for the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions.
- Selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 3rd round (57th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft.
- Won Super Bowl LII as the Offensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Was a member of six Super Bowl teams overall (four as a Bills player, two as a coach for the Colts and Eagles).
- Maryland Terrapins single-game record for most passing touchdowns (6 vs. Miami, 1984).