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Start your day with BYU football: Cougars beat No. 1 Miami in 1990

By Nathan Cunningham

Nov 6, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; The Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo performs during the game against San Jose State Spartans in the 2nd quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports.
Nov 6, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; The Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo performs during the game against San Jose State Spartans in the 2nd quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports. /
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Thanks to a legendary coach-quarterback duo, BYU football defeated the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes in 1990 at then-Cougar Stadium.

For BYU football fans, 1990 was a bittersweet year. On one hand, the Cougars stumbled to and through the finish line, dropping their final two games to Hawaii and Texas A&M.

At the same time, BYU football collected perhaps the best win in program history and its quarterback – Ty Detmer – captured the Heisman Trophy.

No. 16 BYU defeated UTEP 30-10 in Week One. The next week, the Cougars returned to Provo to host No. 1 Miami. It was a massive ordeal that featured a sellout crowd and more than 300 credentialed media members.

The Hurrianes were the defending National Champions, after going 11-1 in 1989. Miami was the favorite to win – but the Cougars protected their house.

Led by LaVell Edwards and Detmer, BYU football knocked off Miami 28-21. The Cougars held the Hurricanes scoreless in the fourth quarter.

With more than 66,000 people in the stands sporting “Heisman Tys,” Detmer completed 38 of 54 passes for 406 yards and three touchdown. He had an efficiency rating of 148.16. It solidified the Heisman hype that was surrounding him.

“I’ve never been in anything like that before,” Detmer told the Deseret News about the post-game celebration. “I was just trying to high-five everybody. I took more hits going in (the locker room) than I did the whole game.”

Matt Bellini led the Cougars in receiving, catching 10 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Andy Boyce caught nine balls for 96 yards and a touchdown. Mike Salido added four catches for 33 yards and a score.

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No Cougar did much on the ground, as BYU football amassed just 68 yards on 28 carries (2.4 yards per carry).

Miami didn’t end up having a great season in 1990, but there’s no denying the talent the Hurricanes had on the roster. Eleven Miami players were drafted in the 1991 NFL Draft.

Edwards summed it up best, telling the Deseret News:

“It, obviously, has to be one of the biggest nights we’ve ever had – the biggest regular-season night we’ve had.”

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