36 Years Later: Celebrating the Iconic 1987 Miami vs. Florida State Showdown

Today, October 3, 2024, marks the 36th anniversary of one of the most thrilling games in college football history—the legendary 1987 matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles. Featuring five future Hall of Famers and a dramatic, last-minute finish, this game became an instant classic, setting the stage for one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport.

The 1987 Miami-Florida State Game: A Battle for the Ages

The 1987 Miami-Florida State game was packed with thrilling scores, stellar plays, and iconic moments. The highly anticipated matchup between Jimmy Johnson’s third-ranked Hurricanes and Bobby Bowden’s fourth-ranked Seminoles lived up to every bit of its pregame hype—and then some.

Seminoles Take Control Early

From the opening whistle, Florida State seemed poised to dominate. They built a commanding 19-3 lead with just one minute left in the third quarter. But despite the scoreboard, a sense of unease hung over the sell-out crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium—the Seminoles' lead could have been much larger.

A botched field goal attempt in the first quarter foreshadowed Florida State’s kicking troubles throughout the game. Quarterback Danny McManus, looking back at kicker Derek Schmidt, saw the ball sail past him due to a premature snap. This missed field goal was just the beginning of a series of kicking errors that would haunt head coach Bobby Bowden. Schmidt managed to convert an extra point after Dayne Williams' one-yard touchdown run and later hit a 36-yard field goal, giving Florida State a 10-3 lead at halftime. However, in the second half, Schmidt missed two field goals and a crucial extra point, which would come back to haunt the Seminoles.

Miami Begins Their Comeback

After blocking a Jeff Feagles punt that was returned for a touchdown by Alphonso Williams, Florida State seemed to have taken a commanding 20-3 lead. But another missed extra point left the door open for Miami to make a comeback. The Hurricanes could now tie the game with two touchdowns and two two-point conversions—and they would do just that.

Miami quarterback Steve Walsh, making only his third career start, struggled early against Florida State’s vaunted defense, led by the electrifying Deion Sanders. But by the end of the third quarter, Walsh found his rhythm, igniting Miami's offense.

The comeback began with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Walsh to tailback Melvin Bratton, who raced untouched to the end zone to cut the Seminole lead to 19-9. Miami successfully converted the two-point attempt, narrowing the gap to 19-11 and setting the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in college football history.

The Hurricanes Strike Back

On Florida State’s next possession, McManus threw an interception to Miami defensive lineman Daniel Stubbs, giving the Hurricanes prime field position. Walsh quickly capitalized, connecting with Michael Irvin for a touchdown. The Hurricanes then converted another two-point attempt, tying the game at 19-19.

With the momentum now fully in Miami’s favor, the Seminoles drove deep into Hurricane territory. But McManus fumbled the snap, and Miami recovered with just over three minutes left. Then came the game’s defining moment: Walsh split two Florida State defenders with a perfect 74-yard touchdown pass to Michael Irvin, giving Miami a stunning 26-19 lead and silencing the Doak Campbell crowd.

Florida State's Last Gasp

McManus, however, was not done. Shaking off earlier mistakes, he led Florida State on a last-minute drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Ronald Lewis, making the score 26-25 with just 42 seconds left.

At that moment, head coach Bobby Bowden faced a critical decision: kick the extra point to tie or go for the win. Bowden initially sent Schmidt onto the field for the extra point but was convinced by a passionate McManus and his teammates to go for two. With the game on the line, McManus looked for tight end Pat Carter in the corner of the end zone, but Miami defensive back Bubba McDowell batted the pass away, sealing a 26-25 victory for the Hurricanes.

A Rivalry for the Ages

This thrilling Miami-Florida State showdown is often hailed as the greatest in the history of the rivalry, featuring future College Football Hall of Famers and setting the tone for their intensely competitive matchups throughout the 1990s. On that sun-drenched Saturday in October 1987, Miami’s victory solidified their status as a college football powerhouse and added another chapter to this storied rivalry.

Relive the Drama

Don’t miss the chance to experience every exhilarating moment of this unforgettable game. Watch the full episode in our "Greatest Moments" series now! Watch here.