Miami 37 Nebraska 14

The 88th Rose Bowl Game was set to host the national championship on January 3, 2002, as a result of its alliance with the BCS. The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes swept into Pasadena, defeating No. 2 Nebraska, 37-14, capping an undefeated season and establishing Hurricane coach Larry Coker's place in sports history books. With the win, Coker became the second college football coach to capture the national title in his rookie season. The first was Michigan's Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948, the year Coker was born.

Miami QB Ken Dorsey threw three touchdown passes; two -- for 49 and 8 yards -- to receiver Andre Johnson and a 21 yard throw to tight end Jeremy Shockey, completing 22 of 35 passes for a career high 362 yards. Johnson caught a total of seven for 199 yards. Dorsey and Johnson were later named co-Players of the Game. Additional touchdowns were scored by running back Clinton Portis on a 39-yard run, and safety James Lewis returned an interception for 47 yards. Miami lead 34-0 at halftime.

The Huskers, lead by Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, fared better in the second half, scoring with 2:39 left in the third quarter on a Judd Davies 16-yard run and adding another touchdown on a 71-yard punt return by DeJuan Groce early in the fourth. In the end, Nebraska could only muster 259 total yards, 200 under average. The Canes only second half points came on a field goal by Todd Sievers.

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