The Daily Nole

Most Thrilling Wins in FSU History: Final

Rick Stewart/Getty Images Sports Classic

We’ve reached the final of our series where you pick the most thrilling victory in Florida State football history and as no surprise, it’s our top two seeds.

The second-seeded 2014 BCS National Championship advanced on Wednesday by earning 98 percent of the vote over the 11th-seeded 2010 victory over Clemson. It’ll be taking our top-seed — the 1994 Orange Bowl win over Nebraska. That victory earned 83 percent of the vote to defeated the No. 4 seed — the 2003 victory at Florida.

No. 1: Florida State 18, Nebraska 16 (1994 Orange Bowl)
Jan. 1, 1994

The 1994 Orange Bowl was ultimately the contest that handed Florida State its first national championship. Against No. 2 Nebraska, Florida State was a heavy favorite and led 15-7 entering the final quarter. After a Lawrence Phillips touchdown and a Byron Bennett field goal however, FSU found itself on the short end of a 16-15 score with 1:16 remaining. With Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward at the held, FSU drove deep into Nebraska territory to set up Scott Bentley’s 22-yard go-ahead field goal with 21 seconds remaining. With FSU head coach Bobby Bowden already doused with Gatorade after watching Nebraska’s Trumane Bell reach Florida State’s 28-yard-line as time expired, officials cleared the rushed field and put one second back on the clock, giving Bennett a chance to win the game for the Cornhuskers. Fortunately for the Seminoles, his kick sailed wide and FSU escaped.

No. 2: Florida State 34, Auburn 31 (BCS National Championship)
Jan. 6, 2014

Vying for its first national championship in 14 years, No. 1 Florida State couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start as the Seminoles fell behind 21-3 in the first half in Pasadena. Sparked by a successful fake punt, FSU rallied for the next 17 points to pull within one early in the fourth quarter. After Auburn kicked a field goal to pad its lead, the Seminoles grabbed the lead on a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kermit Whitfield with under six minutes to play, 27-24. Known for living on the edge all season, the Tigers would not go quietly. After converting a long third down earlier in the drive, Tre’ Mason put Auburn ahead with 1:19 left on a 37-yard touchdown run in which he broke several FSU tackles. For Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston however, 1:19 was too much time. Starting from his own 20-yard-line, Winston marched the Seminoles 80 yards in seven plays. Winston capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown toss to Kelvin Benjamin with just 17 seconds remaining. The victory not only was gave FSU its first title in 14 years, but it snapped a string of seven straight national champions coming out of the SEC.

Make Your Pick

To pick which contest was more thrilling, click below to vote in our Twitter poll. If you do not have a Twitter account, you can vote by emailing TDN editor Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com. You can also vote in the comment section below. The winner will be announced Friday.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply