ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL)

In the heart of the Big Easy, New Orleans, the Allstate Sugar Bowl offers an exciting experience to everyone involved. The bowl organization has impacted the economy of New Orleans and Louisiana by generating more than $2 billion in the last decade. Combine the nightlife and adventure of New Orleans with the positive impact of the events surrounding the Allstate Sugar Bowl and you have something BIGGER THAN THE GAME.

HISTORY

YEAR	TEAM	SCORE	TEAM	SCORE
2017	Oklahoma	35	Auburn	19
2016	Ole Miss	48	Oklahoma State	20
2015 (CFP Semifinal)	Ohio State	42	Alabama	35
2014	Oklahoma	44	Alabama	31
2013	Lousiville	33	Florida	23
2012	Michigan	23	Virginia Tech	20
2011	Ohio State	31	Arkansas	26
2010	Florida	51	Cincinnati	24
2009	Utah	31	Alabama	17
2008	Georgia	41	Hawai’i	10
2007	LSU	41	Notre Dame	14
2006	West Virgina	38	Georgia	35
2005	Auburn	16	Virginia Tech	13
2004	LSU	21	Oklahoma	14
2003	Georgia	26	Florida State	13
2002	LSU	47	Illinois	34
2001	Miami	37	Florida	20
2000	Florida State	46	Virginia Tech	29
1999	Ohio State	24	Texas A&M	14
1998	Florida State	31	Ohio State	14
1997	Florida	52	Florida State	20
1995	Virginia Tech	28	Texas	10
1995	Florida State	23	Florida	17

MEMORABLE GAMES

2006:

Underdog West Virginia started firing early going up 21-0 in the first quarter. After a hard fought climb in the second quarter, the Georgia Bulldogs were able to close the gap and go into halftime down 31-21. Georgia wouldn’t stop there. Despite fumbling four times and losing three of those to the Mountaineers, the SEC Champion Bulldogs kept fighting. The difference in total offense — one yard. The difference in first downs — zero. It was a brutal and physical fight but in the end the Mountaineers of West Virginia were able to hold on to beat the Bulldogs 38-35.

2000:

In the first BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick was a showstopper, but Peter Warrick’s performance lifted Bobby Bowden’s Florida State squad to a 46-29 win and the national title.

1981:

Georgia running back Herschel Walker separated his shoulder early in the game, but still managed to rush for 150 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Bulldogs to a 17-10 win over Notre Dame to cap an undefeated national championship season.

1979:

Two heavyweights. Two legends on the sideline — Paul W. “Bear” Bryant and Joe Paterno. As one would have predicted, this matchup proved to be a true heavyweight bout. Alabama managed to emerge victorious with a 14-7 victory and cemented the famous “Goal Line Stand” in Alabama football history.

1973:

As would later be seen in the 1979 Sugar Bowl between Alabama and Penn State, the 1973 Sugar Bowl also pitted two historic programs against each other. Notre Dame and Alabama. Ara Parseghian and Paul W. “Bear” Bryant. The two teams battled until the very end when Notre Dame was able to squeeze out the 24-23 victory over the Crimson Tide.

STANDOUT PLAYERS

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida, 2010

Closed his career with a record-setting performance, throwing for a Sugar Bowl record 482 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-24 blowout of Cincinnati.

Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State, 2000

Had 160 receiving yards and two big returns, but the biggest play was a 43-yard reception from Chris Weinke in the fourth quarter that iced the a Seminoles’ 46-29 win over Virginia Tech and the national title. He had a 64-yard touchdown grab earlier.

Dan Marino, QB, Pittsburgh, 1982

Threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Brown on a fourth-and five with 0:42 left, giving the Panthers a 24-20 win over Georgia.

Monk Simons, RB, Tulane, 1935

In the inaugural Sugar Bowl game, returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to ignite hometown Tulane to a 20-14 victory over Temple after the Green Wave trailed 14-0 earlier.

MORE

The Sugar Bowl has featured a Heisman Trophy winner 15 times in its history, as well as 132 College Football Hall of Famers — 86 players and 46 coaches. The bowl has also hosted 22 national champions in its history.

The 1951 Sugar Bowl featured a face-off of two legendary coaches, one just beginning his career. A dominant and undefeated Oklahoma team of coach Bud Wilkinson came to New Orleans heavily favored over Kentucky, but the Wildcats and young head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant pulled off an upset with a 13-7 victory.

The person who has been in the most different roles in Sugar Bowl history is also a coaching legend. Frank Broyles played in the Sugar Bowl with Georgia Tech in 1944, returned as a Georgia Tech assistant coach in 1953, coached the Arkansas Razorbacks in Sugar Bowls in 1962, ‘63 and ‘70, was ABC’s color analyst for a string of Sugar Bowls in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and was Arkansas’ AD when the Razorbacks played in the 1980 game.

While the 2006 Sugar Bowl was a thrilling one — West Virginia topping Georgia 38-35– the more significant fact was that the game was played at all. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which decimated the Superdome, the game was moved to the Georgia Dome and was a tremendous success. The game moved back to the rebuilt Superdome the following year.

CONFERENCE AFFILIATION