The regular-season finale game played in the Orange Bowl on December 5, 1998, between the UCLA Bruins and the Miami Hurricanes was important. Initially scheduled for September 26, however, the threat of Hurricane Georges prompted a date move. The season was on the line for the 10-0 Bruins because they guaranteed an invite to the BCS Championship game at the Fiesta Bowl with a win. The program had not had a shot at the national title since 1954. Head Coach Bob Toledo led the UCLA program, and he would match wits against the clever strategist of Coach Butch Davis for the 7-3 Hurricanes. On paper, it looked like a cakewalk for UCLA. After all, they were on a 20-game winning streak while the Canes were blown out by Syracuse 66-13 a week earlier. Miami, though, came to play and held a four-point lead at the half. The Bruins responded after some halftime adjustments to rattle off 21 unanswered points, taking a 38-21 lead into the fourth quarter. Miami rallied to get within 3 with under 4-minutes to play. UCLA began a methodical drive intended to burn the remaining time on the clock. However, this strategy got interrupted on a crucial play at the 3:34 mark. Bruins signal-caller Cade McNown, on 3rd and eighth near midfield, threw a completion to receiver Brad Melsby. The UCLA stalwart hauled in the pass and ran it to the Miami 26, where he was tackled and stripped of the ball. The Canes recovered it, or at least that was the ruling on the field. Instant replay review by officials was not in place then, and broadcast replays showed Melsby's knee was down before losing possession. The Canes took advantage of the situation and drove the field, scoring a TD with just under a minute remaining. The Miami defense diffused any attempt at UCLA to get into a scoring position to provide the victory. Miami's Edgerrin James was a workhorse, rushing for a school-record 299 yards, while QB Scott Covington went 19 of 29 for 318 yards passing in the contest. UCLA put up 670 yards of offense in the loss, with McNown setting a school record with 513 yards through the air. ESPN ranked this as the 84th Greatest College football game ever played.
