Florida State Rallies to Claim Final BCS at Rose Bowl

The Bowl Championship Series era concluded with one for the ages as the Florida State Seminoles knocked off the Auburn Tigers 34-31 at the Rose Bowl on Monday, January 6.  94,208 rabid fans witnessed the Tigers blow a 18 point second-quarter lead to lose a classic, seesaw battle that ultimately saw the Seminoles win the 16th and final BCS championship.

In the words of Brent Musburger: ” it was a perfect ending to an imperfect system.”.

Musburger was referring to the new four team semi-final format beginning next year.

Heisman trophy winner, FSU Quarterback Jameis Winston would not let his team lose; the competitive character shown by Florida State was the difference in the game. The victory snaps the South Eastern Conference’s stranglehold on the Championship game — the SEC had won the previous seven.

Winston finished 20 of 35 for two fourth quarter touchdowns, in addition to 237 yards passing and all the while celebrating his twentieth birthday.

“We didn’t come here for no reason, all the adversity we went through the first few quarters, it was ours to take,” remarked Winston.

At the half the Auburn Tigers held a commanding 21-10 lead. The crowd was loud and in favor of the Tigers by a 3-1 ratio if jersey and polo colors count for anything. But the visitors from the Sunshine State would show why they are the Number one team in the land, and still remain undefeated at 14-0.

When Auburn kicker Cody Parkey notched a 22 yard field goal with 4:31 left it gave the Tigers a 24-20 lead. Then the real fireworks began, and made this game one that will be remembered for years to come. The ensuing kickoff was returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Freshman Levonte Whitfield to give FSU it’s first lead since the first quarter at 27-24.

Auburn would not go quietly into the night. Spurred on by the crowd that seemed like they were at home, the Tigers would march down the field and score a touchdown culminating in a touchdown run featuring many broken tackles of 37 yards by Running Back Trey Mason. It seemed like victory was within reach with only 1:19 left in the contest. Florida State would get the ball and drive down the field like the champions they are.

Two key plays in this game winning drive by FSU included a fifty yard pass completion from Winston to Rashad Greene that would put the Seminoles in the “Red Zone,” within the twenty yard line of the opponent. The second key play was a pass interference call on Auburn DB Chris Davis. It appeared that the two just tangled feet, but the referees saw it differently and FSU was awarded the ball and promptly scored the winning touchdown on a 2 yard TD pass from Winston to Kelvin Benjamin with only thirteen seconds left on the clock.

There would be no miracle finish for Auburn this time. The Florida State Seminoles would be crowned the Champions of the BCS. In the last year that this Championship game would be played under the current format, this game was a great send off of the now defunct Bowl Championship Series.

FSU Coach Jumbo Fisher said after the game that “we were trying to make too many plays early, and just had to settle down and show some poise.” Winston added ” We had been there before down 17-3, and came back so we knew we could do it.” And they certainly did in one of the finest games the Rose Bowl has seen in it’s long and storied history.