The 1997 Sugar Bowl was the 63rd edition to the annual Sugar Bowl game and served as the Bowl Alliance's designated national championship game. It featured the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles, and their heated rivals, the third ranked Florida Gators, whom the Seminoles had already defeated 24–21 in the final game of the regular season. Florida defeated Florida State in their Sugar Bowl rematch in convincing fashion, with a final score of 52–20, and with the victory, earned its first-ever consensus national championship.
The Gators were led by their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel who threw three touchdown passes to Ike Hilliard and ran for another score. Wuerffel became the second Heisman Trophy-winner in four years to win a national championship, following Charlie Ward of Florida State in 1993.
Third-ranked Florida was invited to the Bowl Alliance's designated national championship game for the 1996-97 season because the Pac-10 Conference was contractually obligated to play in the Rose Bowl, and unavailable to participate in the Bowl Alliance. As a result, the second-ranked Pac-10 champion, Arizona State, played the fourth-ranked Big Ten champion, Ohio State, in the Rose Bowl. With the Sugar Bowl win over Florida State, Florida was assured of winning the consensus national championship when Ohio State defeated second-ranked Arizona State in the Rose Bowl.
Score by quarter
First quarter
UF-Hilliard 9 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-FG Bentley 43
UF-FG Edmiston 32
Second quarter
UF-Taylor 2 run (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Eg Green 29 pass from Busby (Bentley kick)
UF-Hilliard 31 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
FSU-Dunn 12 run (Bentley kick)
Third quarter
FSU-FG Bentley 45
UF-Hilliard 7 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick)
UF-Wuerffel 16 run (Edmiston kick)
Fourth quarter
UF-T Jackson 42 run (Edmiston kick)
UF-T Jackson 1 run (Edmiston kick)
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Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game. |
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Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game. |
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