Definition
The 1993 Fiesta Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played on January 1, 1993, serving as the designated national championship contest for the 1992 NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) football season.
Overview
The game matched the University of Miami Hurricanes (ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches polls) against the University of Arizona Wildcats (ranked No. 2). Held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, the Hurricanes defeated the Wildcats by a score of 29–16, thereby securing the national championship for the 1992 season. The contest was broadcast nationally on NBC and attracted an attendance of approximately 71,000 spectators.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Fiesta Bowl” originates from the bowl game inaugurated in 1971, named to reflect the festive atmosphere associated with the event and its location in the Southwest United States. The year prefix “1993” identifies the calendar year in which the game was played, which, for bowl games, typically follows the regular season of the preceding year.
Characteristics
- Date: January 1, 1993
- Venue: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Attendance: ~71,000
- Teams:
- University of Miami Hurricanes (Coach: Dennis Erickson; Season record: 11–0)
- University of Arizona Wildcats (Coach: Dick Tomey; Season record: 10–2)
- Final Score: Miami 29, Arizona 16
- Scoring Summary: Miami led 21–7 at halftime and added two field goals in the second half; Arizona scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
- Key Players: Miami quarterback Gino Torretta (Heisman Trophy winner) and running back Frank Costa; Arizona quarterback Rob Waldrop contributed on defense.
- Significance: The victory affirmed Miami’s second consecutive national championship (following the 1991 season) and marked the first time the Fiesta Bowl hosted a designated national championship game under the then‑emerging Bowl Coalition system.
Related Topics
- Fiesta Bowl (college football)
- 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season
- College football national championships
- Miami Hurricanes football program
- Arizona Wildcats football program
- Bowl Coalition (precursor to the Bowl Championship Series)
All information presented is derived from publicly available records and contemporaneous reporting of the 1993 Fiesta Bowl.