Fiesta Bowl : Florida State, Nebraska Play to See Who’s No. 2

Florida State and Nebraska, two teams stymied in their bid for a berth in college football’s national championship game, have set their sights on a No. 2 finish in the Fiesta Bowl.

The third-ranked Seminoles and fifth-ranked Cornhuskers each take 10-1 records into the game today (Channel 4, 10:30 a.m.)

A standing-room-only crowd at 70,491-seat Sun Devil Stadium also will watch the fifth meeting of the schools under what are expected to be ideal weather conditions, sunny skies and 60-degree temperatures.

“If we were to beat Nebraska, we’re probably as good as anyone in the country,” said Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden. “We don’t look at this as a national championship game, however. That won’t be in my pregame speech. We’re playing for No. 2. But first we have to beat Nebraska.”

The Seminoles suffered their only loss 26-25 to Miami on Oct. 3 when they missed a two-point conversion pass with 42 seconds remaining. Nebraska’s hopes for its third national title since 1970 faded with a 17-7 loss to Oklahoma in the Big Eight Conference championship game Nov. 21.

Top-ranked Oklahoma and No. 2 Miami match 11-0 records in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s night.

“Florida State outplayed Miami. They should be in the Orange Bowl,” Cornhuskers Coach Tom Osborne said. “If we beat them in the Fiesta, we can salvage a pretty good season and move up in the last poll. We could wind up second.”

The series is tied 2-2 with all four previous games played at Lincoln, Neb.

Bowden said a Fiesta win won’t compare to his Seminoles’ 18-14 victory over the Cornhuskers in their first meeting in 1980.

“Going to Nebraska and winning just doesn’t happen. Not many people have ever done it. The first time we ever went there, we did it and it was wonderful. It put Florida State in the big time. It was the greatest win I’ve ever been associated with,” said Bowden, who is 173-69-3 overall in 22 years and 100-37-3 in 12 seasons with the Seminoles.

“We beat Nebraska again (17-13 in 1985), but it didn’t mean as much as the first time. If we beat them here, it still won’t mean as much,” Bowden added. “But what it will do is give us the highest ranking in the school’s history and that’s what we want. Nebraska is one of the elite teams in the country and has been for a long time. We’re trying to get there. It might take 10 years to do it. A win here could help get us there faster.”

Osborne said the two teams match up almost evenly and the game “could be the closest and best of all the bowls.”

Florida State is averaging 487.3 yards and 40.9 points per game, fueled by senior quarterback Danny McManus (1,964 yards passing, 14 touchdowns), sophomore tailback Sammie Smith (1,230 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns) and senior placekicker Derek Schmidt, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with 393 points. Schmidt scored 116 this season on 23 field goals and 47 extra-points.

Nebraska’s option offense, which averaged 489 yards and 38.5 points per game during the regular season, is led by junior quarterback Steve Taylor and senior I-back Keith Jones.