orange bowl december 63rd orange bowl known orange bowl bowl alliance game played december champions came game record ranking nebraska members came game ranking high scoring affair nebraska defeated predecessor bowl championship series rules following season played december instead january later marked time played prior new year day orange calendar year january following season december following season fourth sixth selections eligible teams selected champions virginia tech nebraska large selection appeared national championship game contender loss texas inaugural big championship game weeks game filled controversy teams multiple players arrested charged crimes despite having lost game nebraska heavily favored spread favored points depending source won national championships presented imposing history compared posted important win school history end previous season defeating texas sugar bowl december weather clear warm start game light rain began fall fourth quarter scored taking lead end quarter advantage game second quarter nebraska scored times points taking lead virginia tech quarterback threw touchdown pass seconds remaining half cutting nebraska lead quarter teams alternated scores nebraska maintaining point lead end quarter nebraska lead final quarter game nebraska scored unanswered points large number backup players advantage final score nebraska team selection season member precursor modern bowl championship series formed prior college football season effort match teams conclusion regular season ensuring high ranking teams allowed participate high profile bowl games alliance included big conference atlantic coast conference agreed champions conference play games bowl big conferences separate agreement rose bowl included bowl alliance alliance bowl championship series fourth sixth selections eligible teams sugar bowl picks bowl picks received fifth picks restrictions end season played december marking time history game played january orange year end season conclusion season time year college football playoffs nebraska began season having won national championship nebraska member new conference big conference merged texas schools big widely expected nebraska repeat performance time nebraska ranked associated_press preseason poll lived ranking game season september nebraska overwhelmed week nebraska fans shocked big national season nebraska shut loss dropped nebraska rankings season wore nebraska rose ranks won seven consecutive games nebraska record point earned trip big championship game missouri texas despite nebraska early season loss chance win record setting consecutive national championship win texas earn nebraska bid sugar bowl game florida state decide national championship unfortunately nebraska upset heavily favored nebraska days losing texas nebraska awarded bid virginia tech entered season having ended victory texas sugar bowl december considered important game virginia tech history point following victory hopes high repeat performance season kicked season ohio nearly upset eventually won game tech dropped rank close finish traveled boston massachusetts play nationally televised game tech defeated eagles followed win home opening victory traveled syracuse new_york play syracuse lost recovered win final seven games regular season securing championship trip buildup nebraska heavily favored win contest point spread favored nebraska points points heading teams presented study contrasts boasted string seasons victories received straight bowl bids spent consecutive weeks ranked poll recorded straight capacity home stadium bowl streak dating years independence bowl game nebraska 16th orange bowl nebraska seven teams college football seasons prior wins seasons nebraska victories weeks matchup announced sold tickets nebraska sales reaching mark time took tech sell slow nebraska sales largely fans booked trips sugar bowl anticipation victory big championship game disappointed loss people elected trip miami december days prior game tech increased total nebraska improved sold game orange bowl played miami professional football arena pro player stadium instead stadium order secure place bowl alliance modern facility larger seating capacity field problems months weeks days prior nebraska football teams affected multiple criminal incidents months immediately prior players accumulated arrests convictions charges dropped notable arrests came december slightly weeks prior starting backup wide receiver arrested charges rape attempted players immediately suspended football team day coach announced indicating backup defensive tackle backup linebacker backup receiver participate offensive nebraska offense conclusion regular season boasted rushing offense college football averaging rushing yards game overall yards game despite figures leading hampered injury participation doubt led nebraska offense carries rushing yards seven touchdowns suffered stress fracture foot second nebraska regular season game rushing yards team high rushing touchdowns limited groin injury injuries earned yards seven touchdowns regular seasons anticipated significant playing time wide receiver suffered ankle injury practice able play quarterback nebraska transfer player stanford passing yards passing touchdowns rushing yards season team frost army fewer overall nebraska totaled yards offense points game big offense virginia tech led offense quarterback season completed pass attempts yards touchdowns career total yards touchdowns numbers considered quarterback prospects upcoming nfl draft despite success rushing game received attention averaged yards rushing attempt produced yards rushing touchdowns regular season tech yards game rushing average division schools players particular contributed rushing success running backs combined yards tech total missed games injury accumulated career highs rushing yards touchdowns parker missed games discipline related suspension earned yards touchdowns yards touchdowns helping block way center named american playing school record 48th straight game defensive defense led defense america defensive end selection accumulated sacks tackles loss quarterback total tackles regular season named team big east selection signifying status best player position conference followed named year end previous season tech leading linebacker accumulated season free safety significant presence defense gray ranked team solo tackles total tackles started game tech seasons immediately prior second team big east pick gray supported defensive secondary caught tech best regular season december practice linebacker suffered ankle injury threatened force sit starter regular season eventually recovered participate game injury point media interest days prior defenders injured practice prior game suffered minor leg injury defensive end broke nose nebraska defense nebraska defense ranked country rushing defense scoring defense allowing averages rushing yards points game nebraska ranked total defense permitting yards game defense nebraska american defensive ends recorded sacks tackles loss team best quarterback regular season recognition performance named second team american finalist award led nebraska sacks tackles loss named consensus american indicating selection team american major selection panels man nebraska leading honor went defensive tackle named team big selection defensive secondary defensive led catching returning touchdown regular season pass game summary orange bowl kicked december est game attendance announced giving lowest attendance poor attendance despite fact tickets sold game unused tickets purchased corporations failed use game televised cbs broadcasters approximately million people tuned watch game television earning broadcast nielsen rating temperature degrees weather clear percent humidity wind east mph referee umpire quarter virginia tech won traditional pre game coin toss elected kick nebraska begin game returned nebraska yard line ran play game play frost completed yard pass followed rushes picked yards process crossed half field yard rush frost threw incomplete pass unable pick gaining yards pass frost nebraska came field punt kick sailed end zone began possession yard line tech drive began threw incomplete pass tech play sacked yard loss facing evaded sack connected yard pass picked pushed tech nebraska field despite gain unable gain ran yard threw successive incomplete passes kicked ball nebraska returned yard line nebraska offense returned field remaining quarter nebraska second possession game mirrored picked throw unable gain stopped loss play punt following kick took yard line performed better possession picking quick rushes completed throw pushed nebraska territory second time rushed yards play ran option saw players combine yards nebraska yard line ran yard pushing red zone play inside nebraska red zone completed yard pass touchdown game points kicked extra point took lead remaining quarter drive covered yards taken plays game time following post touchdown short return nebraska offense began work yard line rushes different players resulted yards run tech committed yard personal foul penalty pushed nebraska nebraska yard line frost threw incomplete pass ran twice yards crossing half field process tech yard line frost completed yard throw picked tech yard line time running quarter executed quick yard rush tech yard line end quarter led nebraska scoring position second quarter second quarter began nebraska possession ball yard line facing second needing yards play quarter nebraska tackled yard loss failed trick play pushing nebraska yard line rushed yards failed pick nebraska sent game brown yard field goal successful nebraska cut lead remaining halftime post score rolled end zone began yard line play nebraska committed yard penalty parker ran combined yards plays picking shortened provided penalty tech yard line threw consecutive passes incomplete second gained yard gained yards gain tech lost rush threw incomplete pass sacked loss yards play nebraska began tech yard line kick returned yards took quick advantage good field position ran yards frost passed yards pushing nebraska inside red zone play punt frost ran remaining yards crossing goal line touchdown extra point good remaining nebraska took lead subsequent committed yard personal foul penalty allowing nebraska kick yard line instead regulation yard line kick resulted tech started yard line picked yards rush parker earned seven yards tech ran consecutive times yards parker stopped gain ran ball seven yard gain nebraska yard line gained yard carry left play sacked yard loss minor gain completed yard pass play holding penalty effectively resulting loss yards pushing yard line play holding penalty football nebraska defender loose ball picked ran yards defensive touchdown score gave nebraska lead remaining half following offense began work cut nebraska lead halftime started yard line completed yard throw stopped gain carry left tech yard line carried ball yards deep inside nebraska half field nebraska committed yard penalty stopped short gains plays following penalty forced use order stop clock moving allow time plan play seconds remaining half parker ran remaining yards nebraska yard line completed yard pass white unable bounds cross goal line tech forced stop clock seconds remaining play completed yard pass tech second touchdown game score came seconds remaining half extra point good cutting nebraska lead seconds remaining half appeared little chance nebraska chance score nebraska received yard line returned nebraska frost attempted long pass nebraska position field goal attempt throw fell incomplete instead trying long pass nebraska proceeded run clock went halftime lead quarter nebraska received ball begin game received ball begin second half following return began yard line play second half broke loose yard run nebraska yard line despite strong opening play tech unable gain forced punt gaining additional yards tech punt rolled bounds nebraska yard line subsequent drive initial offensive explosion tech drive end successful rushed yards caught yard pass nebraska yard line frost threw incomplete passes yard toss facing fourth needing yard nebraska head coach elected attempt gain punt ball rushed yards nebraska able convert fourth followed success breaking loose yard run touchdown second half extra point good nebraska extended lead remaining quarter following nebraska tech tried answer score started yard line parker caught yard pass ran yards tech yard line threw incomplete pass followed yard run yard completion time tech yard line picked yards short runs advanced nebraska field yard pass stopped gain threw connected white yard gain tech touchdown second half extra point good trimmed nebraska lead points tech drive covered yards plays game time offense returned field remaining quarter nebraska began yard line returned yards frost ran yards earned yards rushes giving nebraska tech yard line frost pass drive fell incomplete ran seven yards frost completed second pass drive yards time tech yard line rushes created yards bigger loss came tech defense brown injured nebraska offense pressed onward aided yard pass interference penalty nebraska capitalized yard rush giving nebraska touchdown seconds remaining quarter extra point good nebraska returned point lead nebraska returned tech yard line ran yard play quarter quarter remaining game possession ball trailed fourth quarter fourth quarter began virginia tech possession ball facing second yard line play quarter completed yard pass tech yard line parker ran yards tech forced play light rain began fall remainder game coming threw incomplete pass play rushing yards picking yard line nebraska followed rush time yards gains play committed penalty pushed yard line threw incomplete passes tech forced punt nebraska began possession yard line tackled yard loss assessed yards penalties return frost threw incomplete pass ran yards frost completed yard pass nebraska yard line frost continued drive earning yards option picked yards followed gaining yards downs plays frost completed yard throw tech yard line outside tech red zone drive stopped short loss frost ran yards threw incomplete pass causing fourth kicked second field goal game time yard kick successful remaining game nebraska lead time running offense returned field needing score nebraska downed end zone started yard line need quick points injury left game throwing incomplete pass play drive backup quarterback unable gain returned game tech nebraska returned kick yard line started nebraska games regular season entered game ran straight plays yards play green ball recovered nebraska player frost completed yard pass tech yard line stopped losses consecutive running plays frost broke free yard touchdown run score subsequent extra point gave lead remaining game limited time left game meant little chance good point deficit tech hopes nebraska returned yards nebraska yard line providing chance quick score completed yard pass long return giving tech yard line unable advance ball ran yards threw incomplete passes turning ball downs firm lead nebraska proceeded run short rushes running clock bringing game end nebraska won 63rd orange bowl statistical summary organizers recognized valuable players following 63rd orange bowl running nebraska running awarded honor carried ball times game total rushing yards average yards carry caught passes yards making game leading receiver leading carried ball times yards touchdowns caught pass yards returned yards accounted majority total rushing yards nebraska players run ball accounted nebraska yard rushing total carried ball times yards touchdowns despite hampered injured foot managed seven carries yards told seven nebraska players managed carry ball hand saw players carry ball carries yards rushing game tech passing offense finished ahead nebraska quarterback completed pass attempts earning passing yards touchdowns opposite ball nebraska quarterback earned passing yards completed passes attempts combining rushing passing totals results similar total offensive performance teams finished game net yards offensive plays nebraska net yards offensive plays slight advantage time possession real statistical difference comes penalties tech committed yards nebraska yards sole turnover game returned touchdown quarterback threw interception rushing yards tech fifth highest total history point touchdown passes came notre dame quarterback touchdown passes previous season orange bowl virginia tech center set record making 48th consecutive start game defense gray led defenders total tackles second nebraska tackles pass breakup nebraska players tackles apiece players recorded tackles loss nebraska recorded sacks defense unable sack manage seven tackles loss compared nebraska effects nebraska win pushed final record loss dropped season final associated_press poll season finished 13th nationally thanks appearance revenue sharing agreement schools earned million playing orange bowl million total came directly bowl remaining came revenue sharing pool generated teams participated bowl games million football team wealthiest schools participated bowl games season multiple players team selected nfl draft took place april nebraska players selected
1996 Orange Bowl (December)