It was the last of Oklahoma's seven national championships but possibly the sweetest. Under Head Coach John Blake's three seasons (1996-1998) the Sooners won only 12 games and coming off an undefeated 2000 season Oklahoma's 13-2 win over Florida State was their 13th of the season and Bob Stoops' 20th victory in just his second year as Head Coach.
Led by Orange Bowl MVP Torrance Marshall the Oklahoma defense frustrated the Florida State offense all night and held them scoreless for the first time that season. The Sooners put the game away almost halfway through the fourth quarter when All-American linebacker Rocky Calmus knocked the ball from Chris Weinke's hands. Safety Roy Williams would scoop up the fumble and two plays later Quentin Griffin scored on a 10 yard run to push the lead to 13-0. Not bad for a team that was 10.5 point underdogs.
The win marked the return of the Oklahoma football program to the national scene and gave closure to the mediocre, and some down right awful, years between Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops.
"When I look at it now, I think it should have been Miami and Oklahoma. We didn't look like we belonged here." –Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden
Top 10 Sooner Moments
#10 - 1981 Orange Bowl
# 9 - 1988 Bedlam
# 8 - Sooners Put Bama to Bed
# 7 - Marshall's Return
# 6 - Thompson Leads Sooners 99 Yards Against Nebraska
# 5 - Sooners Travel to the Horseshoe
# 4 - Cotton Bowl Blowout
# 3 - Roy Williams (Superman!)
# 2 – 1986 Orange Bowl