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1. 2001 Miami Hurricanes (12-0, 7-0 Big East)
The season: The Hurricanes finished 12-0 and beat their opponents by an average of 33.2 points, including a 37-14 rout of Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. Miami opened the season by winning at Penn State 33-7. The Canes beat No. 14 Florida State 49-27, ending the Seminoles' 54-game winning streak in Tallahassee. They blasted No. 14 Syracuse 59-0 and No. 12 Washington 65-7, the most lopsided blowouts of ranked opponents in consecutive games in modern NCAA history.
Signature moment: Miami finished the regular season with a 26-24 victory at No. 14 Virginia Tech, its closest game of the season. The Hurricanes led 24-7 in the fourth quarter, but the Hokies nearly came back after blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. Virginia Tech's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and Miami's defense held up on two late possessions.
The championship game: For the first time in 56 years, teams from outside the Pac-10 and Big Ten played in the Rose Bowl when Miami met Nebraska for the national championship. Miami dominated the Cornhuskers from start to finish, taking a 34-0 lead at the half. Ken Dorsey and Andre Johnson connected for two touchdowns, and Clinton Portis scored on a 39-yard run. Miami's defense held Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and Nebraska's vaunted running game to only 259 total yards.
The stars: The Miami roster was littered with future NFL players such as Portis, Johnson, tight end Jeremy Shockey, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Phillip Buchanon. McKinnie won the Outland Trophy as college football's best interior lineman, and Reed was named a consensus All-American. Five Hurricanes were selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. Portis, who ran for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, was a second-round pick. Dorsey completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 2,652 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Why they're No. 1: Perhaps no team in college football history had as much talent as the 2001 Hurricanes. Ten players who started for Miami during the 2001 season were first-round selections in the next three NFL drafts. In fact, Miami had 16 NFL first-rounders from 2002 to 2005.
1. 2001 Miami Hurricanes (12-0, 7-0 Big East)
The season: The Hurricanes finished 12-0 and beat their opponents by an average of 33.2 points, including a 37-14 rout of Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. Miami opened the season by winning at Penn State 33-7. The Canes beat No. 14 Florida State 49-27, ending the Seminoles' 54-game winning streak in Tallahassee. They blasted No. 14 Syracuse 59-0 and No. 12 Washington 65-7, the most lopsided blowouts of ranked opponents in consecutive games in modern NCAA history.
Signature moment: Miami finished the regular season with a 26-24 victory at No. 14 Virginia Tech, its closest game of the season. The Hurricanes led 24-7 in the fourth quarter, but the Hokies nearly came back after blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. Virginia Tech's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and Miami's defense held up on two late possessions.
The championship game: For the first time in 56 years, teams from outside the Pac-10 and Big Ten played in the Rose Bowl when Miami met Nebraska for the national championship. Miami dominated the Cornhuskers from start to finish, taking a 34-0 lead at the half. Ken Dorsey and Andre Johnson connected for two touchdowns, and Clinton Portis scored on a 39-yard run. Miami's defense held Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and Nebraska's vaunted running game to only 259 total yards.
The stars: The Miami roster was littered with future NFL players such as Portis, Johnson, tight end Jeremy Shockey, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Phillip Buchanon. McKinnie won the Outland Trophy as college football's best interior lineman, and Reed was named a consensus All-American. Five Hurricanes were selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. Portis, who ran for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, was a second-round pick. Dorsey completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 2,652 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Why they're No. 1: Perhaps no team in college football history had as much talent as the 2001 Hurricanes. Ten players who started for Miami during the 2001 season were first-round selections in the next three NFL drafts. In fact, Miami had 16 NFL first-rounders from 2002 to 2005.