Behind by 11 points at halftime, Michigan took advantage of Nebraska turnovers, scored 24 points in the third quarter, and prevailed by a score of 27–23.[4][5]Running backJamie Morris and defensive tackleMark Messner, both Wolverines, were named the game's MVPs.[3][6]
This was the third matchup of top-10 teams in the Fiesta Bowl; the prior two were in January 1982 and December 1975. This was the first bowl game with a corporate title sponsor, as bowl organizers had reached agreement with Sunkist Growers in September 1985, making the game officially the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.[7][8]
The Wolverines opened with five wins and were ranked second, but lost by two points at top-ranked Iowa. Two weeks later, they tied Illinois. This was Michigan's first Fiesta Bowl appearance.
Michigan opened the game on offense and scored on a 42-yard field goal from Pat Moons with less than four minutes elapsed. In the second quarter, Nebraska scored on a five-yard pass from quarterback McCathorn Clayton to running back Doug DuBose to give Nebraska the lead. DuBose scored again on a three-yard run to give Nebraska a 14–3 advantage at the half.
Michigan dominated the third quarter, aided by Husker miscues. DuBose fumbled on the third play of the second half and the Wolverines recovered at the Husker 21. Gerald White scored four plays later from a yard out to pull Michigan to within four points. Clayton fumbled on Nebraska's ensuing possession, and Michigan quickly capitalized again, this time on Jim Harbaugh's one-yard quarterback sneak, putting Michigan ahead 17–14 just over four minutes into the third quarter. Following a blocked Nebraska punt, Moons kicked his second field goal of the game, a 19-yarder. Later in the third, Harbaugh scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, a two-yard run, to give Michigan a comfortable 27–14 advantage.
In the fourth quarter, Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne decided to spark his sputtering offense by inserting talented freshman quarterback Steve Taylor. he drove the Huskers 64 yards from their own three-yard line, driving deep into Michigan territory, but turned it over on downs. However, the Nebraska defense forced a three-and-out and was able to drive 77 yards in 12 plays, capped by Taylor's one-yard touchdown run to cut Michigan's lead to six points at 27–21, with less than three minutes remaining.[3]
Michigan found itself backed up in the shadow of its own goal post. Rather than risk disaster, they opted for an intentional safety with 1:22 remaining in the game, and punter Monte Robbins deliberately ran out of the end zone. Trailing by four points and no time outs, the Huskers set out from their own 46. The Wolverines intercepted an errant Taylor pass in the end zone to kill Nebraska's final threat.[3][4][6]
Morris was the leading rusher of the game with 156 yards on 22 carries (7.1 avg.).[6]
The attendance of 72,454 at this Fiesta Bowl was a record for a sporting event in Arizona.[3]
Scoring
First quarter
Michigan – Pat Moons 42-yard field goal
Second quarter
Nebraska – Doug DuBose 5-yard pass from McCathorn Clayton (Dale Klein kick)
The win improved head coach Bo Schembechler's bowl record to 3–10 (.231); Michigan (10–1–1) climbed to second in the final AP poll, and Nebraska (9–3) fell to eleventh. In the previous season, unranked Michigan lost the Holiday Bowl (to top-ranked BYU) and finished at 6–6.[4]
Until 2023, this was Michigan's sole appearance in the Fiesta Bowl; Nebraska's next was two years later.
References
^"The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1986. p. 36.
^ abc"Today's bowl games: Fiesta". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 1, 1986. p. 5C.
^ abcdef"Fiesta fumbles". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 2, 1986. p. 21.
^ abcd"Wolverine 'D' shucks Nebraska". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1986. p. C2.
^Woolford, Dave (January 2, 1986). "UM erupts in third period; Nebraska mistakes costly". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 22.
^ abcdeJenkins, Sally (January 2, 1986). "It's a case of turnaround for Michigan". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Washington Post). p. 3B.
^Young, Bob (September 27, 1985). "Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. G1. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
^Young, Bob (September 27, 1985). "Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl (cont'd)". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. G3. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
External links
Fiesta Bowl – January 1, 1986
Summary at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
February 02, 2023
1986, fiesta, bowl, 15th, edition, fiesta, bowl, college, football, bowl, game, played, devil, stadium, tempe, arizona, wednesday, january, part, 1985, bowl, game, season, matched, fifth, ranked, michigan, wolverines, conference, seventh, ranked, nebraska, cor. The 1986 Fiesta Bowl was the 15th edition of the Fiesta Bowl a college football bowl game played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe Arizona on Wednesday January 1 Part of the 1985 86 bowl game season it matched the fifth ranked Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference and the seventh ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Eight Conference both were runners up in their respective conferences 2 1986 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl15th editionNebraska Cornhuskers Michigan Wolverines 9 2 9 1 1 Big Eight Big Ten23 27Head coach Tom Osborne Head coach Bo SchembechlerAPCoaches76 APCoaches551234 TotalNebraska 01409 23Michigan 30240 27DateJanuary 1 1986Season1985StadiumSun Devil StadiumLocationTempe ArizonaMVPJamie Morris Michigan RB Mark Messner Michigan DT FavoriteMichigan by 3 points 1 2 3 RefereeJack Baker WAC Attendance72 454United States TV coverageNetworkNBCAnnouncersCharlie Jones Sam RutiglianoFiesta Bowl lt 1985 1987 gt Behind by 11 points at halftime Michigan took advantage of Nebraska turnovers scored 24 points in the third quarter and prevailed by a score of 27 23 4 5 Running back Jamie Morris and defensive tackle Mark Messner both Wolverines were named the game s MVPs 3 6 This was the third matchup of top 10 teams in the Fiesta Bowl the prior two were in January 1982 and December 1975 This was the first bowl game with a corporate title sponsor as bowl organizers had reached agreement with Sunkist Growers in September 1985 making the game officially the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl 7 8 Contents 1 Teams 1 1 Nebraska 1 2 Michigan 2 Game summary 2 1 Scoring 3 Statistics 4 Aftermath 5 References 6 External linksTeams EditMain article 1985 NCAA Division I A football season Nebraska Edit See also 1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The Cornhuskers opened the season with a home loss to Florida State won nine straight then lost at rival Oklahoma This was their second appearance in the Fiesta Bowl returning after a decade Michigan Edit Main article 1984 Michigan Wolverines football team The Wolverines opened with five wins and were ranked second but lost by two points at top ranked Iowa Two weeks later they tied Illinois This was Michigan s first Fiesta Bowl appearance Game summary EditThe opener of a bowl tripleheader on NBC Rose Orange the game kicked off shortly after 11 30 a m MST as did the Cotton Bowl on CBS which matched the 16 Auburn Tigers with the 11 Texas A amp M Aggies 2 Michigan opened the game on offense and scored on a 42 yard field goal from Pat Moons with less than four minutes elapsed In the second quarter Nebraska scored on a five yard pass from quarterback McCathorn Clayton to running back Doug DuBose to give Nebraska the lead DuBose scored again on a three yard run to give Nebraska a 14 3 advantage at the half Michigan dominated the third quarter aided by Husker miscues DuBose fumbled on the third play of the second half and the Wolverines recovered at the Husker 21 Gerald White scored four plays later from a yard out to pull Michigan to within four points Clayton fumbled on Nebraska s ensuing possession and Michigan quickly capitalized again this time on Jim Harbaugh s one yard quarterback sneak putting Michigan ahead 17 14 just over four minutes into the third quarter Following a blocked Nebraska punt Moons kicked his second field goal of the game a 19 yarder Later in the third Harbaugh scored his second rushing touchdown of the game a two yard run to give Michigan a comfortable 27 14 advantage In the fourth quarter Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne decided to spark his sputtering offense by inserting talented freshman quarterback Steve Taylor he drove the Huskers 64 yards from their own three yard line driving deep into Michigan territory but turned it over on downs However the Nebraska defense forced a three and out and was able to drive 77 yards in 12 plays capped by Taylor s one yard touchdown run to cut Michigan s lead to six points at 27 21 with less than three minutes remaining 3 Michigan found itself backed up in the shadow of its own goal post Rather than risk disaster they opted for an intentional safety with 1 22 remaining in the game and punter Monte Robbins deliberately ran out of the end zone Trailing by four points and no time outs the Huskers set out from their own 46 The Wolverines intercepted an errant Taylor pass in the end zone to kill Nebraska s final threat 3 4 6 Morris was the leading rusher of the game with 156 yards on 22 carries 7 1 avg 6 The attendance of 72 454 at this Fiesta Bowl was a record for a sporting event in Arizona 3 Scoring Edit First quarter Michigan Pat Moons 42 yard field goalSecond quarter Nebraska Doug DuBose 5 yard pass from McCathorn Clayton Dale Klein kick Nebraska DuBose 3 yard run Klein kick Third quarter Michigan Gerald White 1 yard run Moons kick Michigan Jim Harbaugh 1 yard run Moons kick Michigan Moons 19 yard field goal Michigan Harbaugh 2 yard run Moons kick Fourth quarter Nebraska Steve Taylor 1 yard run Klein kick Nebraska Safety Michigan punter Monte Robbins purposely ran out of end zoneSource 6 Statistics EditStatistics Nebraska Michigan First Downs 20 16Rushes yards 60 304 49 171Passing yards 66 63Passes 6 15 1 6 16 0Total Offense 75 370 65 234Punts average 3 40 5 44Fumbles lost 6 3 2 0Turnovers 4 0Penalties yards 7 46 8 43Time of possession 32 01 27 59Source 3 4 6 Aftermath EditThe win improved head coach Bo Schembechler s bowl record to 3 10 231 Michigan 10 1 1 climbed to second in the final AP poll and Nebraska 9 3 fell to eleventh In the previous season unranked Michigan lost the Holiday Bowl to top ranked BYU and finished at 6 6 4 Until 2023 this was Michigan s sole appearance in the Fiesta Bowl Nebraska s next was two years later References Edit The latest line Pittsburgh Post Gazette January 1 1986 p 36 a b c Today s bowl games Fiesta Eugene Register Guard Oregon Associated Press January 1 1986 p 5C a b c d e f Fiesta fumbles Pittsburgh Post Gazette January 2 1986 p 21 a b c d Wolverine D shucks Nebraska Spokane Chronicle Washington Associated Press January 2 1986 p C2 Woolford Dave January 2 1986 UM erupts in third period Nebraska mistakes costly Toledo Blade Ohio p 22 a b c d e Jenkins Sally January 2 1986 It s a case of turnaround for Michigan Eugene Register Guard Oregon Washington Post p 3B Young Bob September 27 1985 Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl The Arizona Republic Phoenix Arizona p G1 Retrieved December 24 2020 via newspapers com Young Bob September 27 1985 Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl cont d The Arizona Republic Phoenix Arizona p G3 Retrieved December 24 2020 via newspapers com External links EditFiesta Bowl January 1 1986 Summary at Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan Athletics History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1986 Fiesta Bowl amp oldid 1129905892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
