1985 Gator Bowl

August 2023 December 2017 1985 Gator Bowl 1985 Florida State Seminoles Florida State University Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma State University 8–3 Independent 8–3 Big Eight Bobby Bowden Pat Jones 18 16 19 19 3 10 14 7 0 0 17 6 December 30 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, Florida Chip Ferguson (QB, Florida State) & Thurman Thomas (RB, Oklahoma State)https://www.taxslayerbowl.com/1985-2/ February 2022 Jim Kemerling (Big Ten) 79,417 ABC List of announcers of major college bowl games Al Michaels and Lee Grosscup The 1985 Gator Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida State University Seminoles and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and was played on Monday, December 30, 1985, at Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the 41st edition of the bowl game. Game summary Freshman quarterback Chip Ferguson threw for 338 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Tony Smith added 201 yards rushing as Florida State defeated Oklahoma State, 34–23, in the 41st annual Gator Bowl. FSU, which entered the game without its top three receivers, tricked Oklahoma State's defense by throwing on 15 of its first 20 plays. Derek Schmidt field goals of 23 and 39 yards, and a 39-yard touchdown catch by Herb Gainer sandwiched in between, gave FSU a 13–0 halftime lead. Oklahoma State got on the scoreboard following the intermission when a 63-yard drive ended in a 33-yard field goal by Brad Dennis. Ferguson, who was named Florida State's MVP, went back to the air, taking the Seminoles 73 yards on the next series before handing off to senior fullback Cletis Jones for a three-yard touchdown run. An interception by Deion Sanders gave the ball back to FSU, and Ferguson used just five plays before hitting Gainer with a 19-yard touchdown pass. That made the score 27–3, Florida State. Oklahoma State didn't give up with Cowboy quarterback Ronnie William passing 29 yards to All-America tailback Thurman Thomas for an Oklahoma State touchdown. Following a Ferguson fumble, Williams handed off to Thomas, who threw back to the quarterback for a 12-yard touchdown that closed the score to 27–17. Early in the fourth quarter, Ferguson scored from one yard out to give the Seminoles a 17-point cushion. The Cowboys added a late touchdown on a 31–yard pass from Williams to Hart Lee Dykes. Sophomore wide receiver Randy White, who had never caught a pass at FSU, grabbed four passes for 87 yards in the first half while Gainer, who had caught just five during the regular season, hauled in seven for 148 yards and two touchdown. Smith's 201 rushing yards came on 24 carries. The Seminole defense held Thomas in check the entire game, limiting him to 97 yards on 26 attempts. Florida State finished the season with a 9–3 record. References Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl Category:Florida State Seminoles football bowl games Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football bowl games Category:20th century in Jacksonville, Florida Category:December 1985 sports events in the United States Category:1985 in sports in Florida