College football looked very different 25 years ago. Florida State ushered in the new millennium as national champions after defeating Virginia Tech in the BCS Sugar Bowl. Despite that, Nebraska entered the following season ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls. Here’s a look back at how the first college football season of the 2000s unfolded.
Classic Rivalry Game Winners
Ohio State vs. Michigan
Michigan went into Columbus and came out on top 38-26, marking its third straight victory over Ohio State. Quarterback Drew Henson threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Anthony Thomas added 149 total yards and a receiving score.
Notre Dame vs. USC
No. 11 Notre Dame won 38-21 in a back-and-forth battle. The Irish relied on a dominant rushing attack, with Julius Jones and Tony Fisher each rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Matt LoVecchio added 45 yards and two scores on the ground, while the defense intercepted USC quarterback Carson Palmer twice.
Oklahoma vs. Texas
Oklahoma defeated Texas 63-14 in one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the rivalry, although that record would fall three years later when Oklahoma won 65-13. The Longhorns had no answer for running back Quentin Griffin, who totaled 132 yards and six touchdowns.
Army vs. Navy
Navy earned its only win of the season, defeating Army 30-28. Even though both teams finished 1-10, the matchup still produced more than 400 rushing yards combined. Army trailed 27-7 before mounting a late comeback that fell just short.
Major Award Winners
Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, at 28 years old, became the oldest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, edging out Oklahoma’s Josh Heupel. Weinke led the nation with 4,167 passing yards and threw 33 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Heupel guided the Sooners to an undefeated record, but Weinke’s statistical edge carried the vote.
LaDainian Tomlinson won the Doak Walker Award after an incredible 2000 campaign, rushing 369 times for 2,158 yards and 22 touchdowns. He finished his college career with more than 5,000 rushing yards and 54 total scores.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Bryant captured the Biletnikoff Award with 68 receptions for 1,302 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Miami linebacker Dan Morgan swept the nation’s top defensive honors, claiming the Chuck Bednarik, Dick Butkus, and Bronko Nagurski awards. He remains the only player ever to win all three in the same season. His best game came against Florida State, when he tallied 17 tackles, a forced fumble, and a goal-line interception of Weinke.
National Championship
It all came down to the BCS Orange Bowl between undefeated Oklahoma and 11-1 Florida State. It was Heupel versus Weinke, Heisman runner-up versus Heisman winner.
Florida State was seeking back-to-back titles, but the Sooners had a chance to play spoiler. Their Big 12 Championship win secured their spot in the title game, while Florida State’s path was more controversial. The BCS computers selected the No. 3 Seminoles over No. 2 Miami, the team that had beaten Florida State earlier that year.
The championship itself was a defensive battle. Oklahoma led 3-0 at halftime after both teams traded turnovers. Quentin Griffin’s fourth-quarter touchdown extended the lead to 13-0, and Florida State never crossed into the red zone. Its only points came on a safety when the Oklahoma punter mishandled a snap and retreated into the end zone to prevent a short field.
Neither quarterback shined. Heupel threw for 214 yards and an interception, while Weinke posted 274 yards and two picks. The Sooners finished a perfect season with six wins over ranked teams, including each of the top three. It remains Oklahoma’s seventh and most recent national title.
Twenty-Five Years Later
Looking back, that 2000 season feels like a snapshot of college football in transition. It came before NIL, before the playoff, and before conference realignment. The BCS ruled the sport, dynasties felt unshakable, and a 28-year-old Heisman winner led the charge. The game has changed, but that season remains a perfect bridge between the old world and the modern one.
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