Wide Right II

The second chapter of the Wide Right saga, where a missed field goal again decided a national-title-impacting rivalry game.

Wide Right II is a colloquial name for the 1992 college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles.

Quick Facts

Season era: 1991 NCAA

Lore & Background

The game is notable in the Florida State–Miami football rivalry and derives its name from the colloquial name Wide Right I, played during the immediately preceding season. Like its predecessor, the game had decisive national championship implications and ended with a Florida State kicker missing a game-altering field goal in the waning seconds.

Reader's Guide

Miami entered the October 3, 1992, matchup of intrastate rivals as the defending national champion and second-ranked team in the country, riding a 20-game winning streak. Miami, however, appeared to be vulnerable, as Hurricane Andrew had disrupted the early portion of its schedule and Miami was unimpressive in surviving an 8-7 scare against the Arizona Wildcats the week prior. Because of Miami's lackluster performance against Arizona, the Hurricanes lost their number one ranking in the AP Poll and were dropped to number two, behind the Washington Huskies. Nevertheless, Miami featured a bevy of stars on its roster, including Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Gino Torretta, wide receiver Lamar Thomas, and linebackers Jessie Armstead and Micheal Barrow, and the team was in the midst of an NCAA-record 58-game home winning streak at the Orange Bowl. Florida State was looking to avenge its loss to Miami in Wide Right I the season before. Florida State came strong out of the gate, as Tamarick Vanover took the opening kickoff back 94 yards for a touchdown. Miami struck back in the second quarter with a 24-yard Dane Prewitt field goal and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Gino Torretta to Coleman Bell, taking the lead, 10–7. Florida State countered with a 22-yard field goal by Dan Mowrey, and the teams headed to the locker room deadlocked at 10. Mowrey added a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 41-yarder early in the fourth. Leading 16–10 with just over 9 minutes to play, the Seminoles found themselves in a position eerily similar to the season before: a 6-point lead late in the game and a field goal kicker who was 3-for-3 on the day. Miami responded as it did the season before, going on a 7-play, 58-yard drive that culminated with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Torretta to Lamar Thomas. Torretta was drilled as he released the ball, but Thomas was able to sneak behind Clifton Abraham and make a basket catch. With the extra point, Miami seized the lead, 17–16. Miami's defense held on the next possession, and the Florida State defense forced a punt on Miami's subsequent series. The ensuing punt proved disastrous for the Seminoles: punt returner Corey Sawyer was penalized for attempting an illegal forward pass from his own end zone, resulting in a safety for Miami. With Miami now leading 19–16, a field goal could only tie the game for the Seminoles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wide Right II?

Wide Right II refers to veteran kicker Phil Dawson missing a crucial overtime field goal attempt against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 23, 2012. The ball missed the target completely to the right side, immediately ending any chance for a Cleveland victory at Heinz Field.

Who was responsible for the miss?

The key player involved in this critical moment was veteran kicker Phil Dawson during the 2012 NFL season. His attempt against the divisional rival Steelers resulted in a heartbreaking outcome for the franchise.

What was the final result of the game?

The missed attempt denied the team a victory in extra time and led to an official overtime loss. This result is remembered as a significant low point within the team's recent timeline during that specific season era.