Orange Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Florida St.

M I A M I, Dec. 4 -- If not for Oklahoma, Bobby Bowden and his FloridaState Seminoles might be unbeaten in the Orange Bowl.

Florida State is headed to its sixth Orange Bowl, where the No.3 Seminoles (11-1) will play the top-ranked Sooners (12-0) on Jan.3 in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

FSU has won three in a row in the Orange Bowl after dropping itsfirst two games there — both to Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Streak

Bowden hasn’t forgotten the losses, either. The Sooners beat theSeminoles 24-7 in 1980 and 18-17 in 1981.

“They beat us every time,” he said, noting he is 0-3 againstOklahoma since joining Florida State in 1976. The Sooners also beathis squad 24-9 during his inaugural season at FSU.

In 35 years as a head coach, Oklahoma is the only team Bowdenhas faced more than once and remains winless against.

Bowden wants to have better success against the Sooners thisyear, but second-year Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops gave Bowden’s teamsome trouble while he was the defensive coordinator at Florida from1996-98.

Under Stoops, Florida’s defense held the high-scoring Seminolesto less than 25 points per game in four meetings. With a month toprepare for FSU before the 1997 Sugar Bowl, Stoops’ defense helpedthe Gators beat Florida State 52-20 and claim their only nationalchampionship.

Stoops, in a similar position now, is hoping his experienceagainst the Seminoles will pay off.

“It does give you a familiarity with them, to recognize andknow firsthand the way they play and the speed that they playwith,” Stoops said. “It hasn’t been that long ago. I certainlyknow what they like to do and the manner in which they operate onoffense and defense.

“I watched them so closely for three years and played fourgames against them, including the national championship game. Thatis an advantage as opposed to someone who hasn’t been in thatsituation.”

Third Straight Championship