This was the inaugural season of the Bowl Coalition, which was intended to ensure that the national championship would be decided on the field. Its formula worked as intended, forcing the first bowl matchup between the consensus #1 and #2 teams in the nation since the end of the 1987 season. As Big East champion, #1 Miami was not contractually obligated to a bowl. The Hurricanes were thus free to face #2 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, which the Crimson Tide hosted as SEC champion.
Miami was heavily favored and came into the game on a 29-game winning streak; the Hurricanes had not lost since a 29–20 loss to Notre Dame in 1990. Alabama's defense held the Hurricanes to just 13 points, intercepting Torretta three times, en route to a consensus national championship. Alabama rushed for 267 yards—67 more yards than the Hurricanes had allowed all season. At one point, the Tide lined up all eleven players on the line of scrimmage. The confused Torretta was picked off by George Teague, who returned it for a touchdown.[4]
A legendary play in Alabama football lore, known as "The Strip",[5] occurred when Miami wide receiver Lamar Thomas caught a deep pass from Torretta and was sprinting for what seemed like an 89-yard touchdown. However, Teague caught Thomas from behind, stripped the ball from him, and started running the other way before being tackled.[6] The play became famous following Thomas's pre-game comments regarding the SEC, the superiority of the Miami receiving corps, and the manhood of the Alabama defensive backs.[7] While the play was negated by an Alabama offside penalty, it still ultimately prevented a Miami touchdown, as Miami would have simply declined the penalty had the strip not taken place.[6]
Torretta threw three interceptions after only throwing four in the entire season. It drew parallels to Vinny Testaverde's five-interception performance in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl.[6] Following the poor performance, some reporters began to question whether Torretta deserved the Heisman.[8]
The Crimson Tide's victory meant not only their 12th national championship but also the first since legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died in 1983 less than five weeks after coaching his last game. Alabama's coach Gene Stallings was one of the Junction Boys, the group of Texas A&M players who endured Bryant's punishing 1954 summer camp. It would be the school's last national football championship until Nick Saban's first as Alabama head coach in 2009.
| Quarter
| Time
| Team
| Scoring Information[9]
| Score |
|---|
| Alabama | Miami |
| 1 | 10:56
| Alabama
| 19–yard field goal by Michael Proctor
| 3 | 0 |
| 7:49
| Miami
| 49–yard field goal by Dane Prewitt
| 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 10:48
| Alabama
| 23–yard field goal by Michael Proctor
| 6 | 3 |
| 6:09
| Alabama
| Sherman Williams 2–yard touchdown run, Michael Proctor kick good
| 13 | 3 |
| 0:00
| Miami
| 42–yard field goal by Dane Prewitt
| 13 | 6 |
| 3 | 10:12
| Alabama
| Derrick Lassic 1–yard touchdown run, Michael Proctor kick good
| 20 | 6 |
| 9:56
| Alabama
| George Teague 31–yard interception return for touchdown, Michael Proctor kick good
| 27 | 6 |
| 4 | 12:08
| Miami
| Kevin Williams 78–yard punt return for touchdown, Dane Prewitt kick good
| 27 | 13 |
| 6:46
| Alabama
| Derrick Lassic 4–yard touchdown run, Michael Proctor kick good
| 34 | 13 |
| Final Score
| 34 | 13 |
