1986 Orange Bowl

The 1986 Orange Bowl was the 52nd edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1. Part of the 1985–86 bowl game season, it matched the independent and top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions and the #3 Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Eight Conference.[2] Favored Oklahoma trailed early but won 25–10.[3][4][5][6]

1986 Orange Bowl
52nd Orange Bowl
Penn State Nittany Lions Oklahoma Sooners
(11–0) (10–1)
Independent Big Eight
10 25
Head coach: 
Joe Paterno		 Head coach: 
Barry Switzer
APCoaches
11
APCoaches
32
1234 Total
Penn State 7300 10
Oklahoma 01636 25
DateJanuary 1, 1986
Season1985
StadiumOrange Bowl
LocationMiami, Florida
MVPSonny Brown (Oklahoma DB)
Tim Lashar     (Oklahoma K)
FavoriteOklahoma by 7 points[1]
Attendance74,178
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersDon Criqui (play-by-play)
Bob Trumpy (color analyst)
Bob Griese and Jimmy Cefalo (sideline)

Teams
Main article: 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season

Penn State
Main article: 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The Nittany Lions won all eleven games and were ranked first in both polls, but were an underdog in this game. This was Penn State's first Orange Bowl appearance in twelve years.

Oklahoma
Main article: 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team

The #3 Sooners' sole loss was at home to Miami in mid-October. This was Oklahoma's second straight Orange Bowl appearance and their second straight Big Eight Conference title.

Game summary

The final game of a tripleheader on NBC, the game followed the Rose Bowl and kicked off shortly after 8 p.m. EST, at the same time as the Sugar Bowl on ABC,[2] which matched second-ranked Miami and #8 Tennessee.

Tim Manoa gave Penn State an early lead on a short touchdown run and they led 7–0 after the first quarter. But Tim Lashar kicked three field goals and Keith Jackson caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Jamelle Holieway as Oklahoma scored sixteen points in the second quarter while Massimo Manca gave the Nittany Lions their only points of the quarter with a late field goal to make it 16–10 at halftime.

Penn State was shut out from there, as Oklahoma's defense took over. Brian Bosworth had twelve tackles and the defense had a total of four interceptions. In the second half, Lashar kicked his third field goal, and Lydell Carr broke for a 61-yard touchdown run to seal the championship for the Sooners.[3][4][7]

Kicker Lashar and defensive back Sonny Brown were named the game's most valuable players.

Scoring
First quarter
Second quarter
  • Oklahoma – Tim Lashar 26-yard field goal
  • Oklahoma – Keith Jackson 71-yard pass reception from Jamelle Holieway (Lashar kick)
  • Oklahoma – Lashar 31-yard field goal
  • Oklahoma – Lashar 21-yard field goal
  • Penn State – Manca 27-yard field goal
Third quarter
  • Oklahoma – Lashar 22-yard field goal
Fourth quarter
Source:[3][4]

Statistics
StatisticsPenn StateOklahoma
First Downs1412
Rushes–yards36–10352–228
Passing yards16491
Passes (C–A–I)18–34–43–6–0
Total Offense70–26758–319
Return yards14125
Punts–average6–46.35–42.6
Fumbles–lost2–15–1
Turnovers51
Penalties–yards6–497–45
Time of possession31:2328:37
Source:[3][4]

Aftermath

The Sooners' championship became unanimous following #2 Miami's 35–7 loss to Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl, which was played at the same time. If the Hurricanes had won, the split national championship was probable as Miami was outranked by Oklahoma in the coaches poll and had soundly defeated the Sooners in Norman.

Penn State was in title contention again the following season, as they finished second in the polls. This time, a matchup between the #1 and #2 teams was able to be made and the Nittany Lions were scheduled to play #1 Miami for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl, which they won.

References
  1. "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1986. p. 36.
  2. Harvey, Randy (January 1, 1986). "Latest line says Lions out of time". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1C.
  3. Widlic, Kevin (January 2, 1986). "Call 'em No.1, Sooner or later". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Denver Post). p. 1B.
  4. Finder, Chuck (January 2, 1986). "Oklahoma rips Penn State, 25-10". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20.
  5. "Volenteers lend Sooners a hand for national crown". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). wire reports. January 2, 1986. p. C1.
  6. "Oklahoma tops No. 1 Penn St". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. January 2, 1986. p. 1B.
  7. http://game.orangebowl.org/orange-bowl-history/the-history-of-the-orange-bowl/1980s/1986/
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