The Battle That Was Never Fought: Could Miami '01 Beat the '95 Cornhuskers?

When discussing the all-time legends of college football, two teams often stand out: the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. While both teams were dominant in their respective years, one team's style of play would have made short work of the other and that's the Miami Hurricanes. Let's dive into the details on why Miami '01 would have stomped Nebraska '95.

On-Field Dominance: A Push Between the Two

Both teams frequently crushed their opponents, showcasing their capabilities to be the top team in the country. However, they did so in distinctly different ways.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: The Option Attack

The Cornhuskers were famous for their famous option attack with Tommy Frazier under center. This unique offensive style relied on offensive line play, deception, and quarterback read options, which made them very difficult to defend.

Miami Hurricanes: Loaded with NFL Talent

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes, on the other hand, boasted a roster filled with future NFL stars. The team had three phenomenal running backs in Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, and Frank Gore. They also had renowned wide receivers like Andre Johnson and tight end Jeremy Shockey. Let's delve into their positional standout players:

Offensive Powerhouses: Miami's Key Players

Backfield Dominance: Miami's running game was led by Portis, McGahee, and Gore, who would have easily found holes in the Nebraska defense. Their explosive running would have quickly worn out the Cornhuskers.

Receivers: Andre Johnson and Jeremy Shockey would have provided the passing game with a tremendous arsenal. Johnson, in particular, was one of the most feared receivers in the nation.

Defensive Excellence

The Miami defense was just as impressive, with standout players including Vince Wilfork, Jon Vilma, DJ Williams, and Sean Taylor. Wilfork and Taylor would have provided a formidable front seven, while Ed Reed and Sean Taylor's cover skills would have made the Cornhuskers' option attack less effective.

Comparing the Career Impact of Players

Some of the key players on both teams went on to have outstanding careers in the NFL. Portis, Gore, and Johnson all had Hall of Fame-worthy careers, while Reed and Gore also made significant contributions to their teams.

Overall, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes produced a level of NFL talent that is unmatched by the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Miami wins this comparison by a wide margin.

Style of Play: Speed vs. Option

While both teams were dominant, the critical factors that would determine the outcome would be their style of play on the field. To understand which team would likely come out on top, we need to consider how each would strategize against the other.

Nebraska: Grind and Slow Down the Clock

Nebraska's teams were known for their ability to wear down opponents. Their grind-it-out approach would have allowed them to eat up the clock and wear down the Miami defense, hoping to pull off a victory in the later stages of the game.

Miami: Quick Scoring and Keeping It Tight

Miami's quick-scoring offense with speed would have been much more conducive to a win against the Cornhuskers. Miami could have jumped out to an early lead, and with their explosive offense, they would have kept the Cornhuskers in a constant catch-up mode, leading to a one-sided track meet in the Rose Bowl.

Consider the 2001 Rose Bowl where Miami defeated Nebraska, and you can see the potential score outcome Miami would have exploited the Cornhuskers' option attack with their own speed and dynamism.

Conclusion

While the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers were an outstanding team that set the foundation for modern college football, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes would have stomped them. This was due to Miami's combination of speed and talent on both sides of the ball, which would have overwhelmed Nebraska's option-styled team.

Ultimately, the 2001 Miami team's style of quick scoring and relentless attack would have made the 1995 Cornhuskers' game plan and style of play obsolete. Miami "01" was arguably one of the greatest teams in modern college football history, and they would have picked apart the Cornhuskers' defense to secure a win.