College Football Rewind: Most important games from 2003 season

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 4: Head coach Nick Saban of the Loiusiana State Tigers holds up the Bowl Championship Series Trophy after his team defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Nokia Sugar Bowl National Championship on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Sooners 21-14 to win the National Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI – NOVEMBER 8: Quarterback Casey Clausen #7 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers hands off against the University of Miami Hurricanes November 8, 2003 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images) /

5. (18) Tennessee 10, (6) Miami 6

Although Miami had lost just a week ago to Virginia Tech, they were still ranked sixth in the BCS standings and if they could win out, they could at least have an argument to play for the national championship due to no team finishing the regular season undefeated.

Those hopes were dashed by a putrid offensive performance by quarterback Brock Berlin, who threw two interceptions and fumbled once to ensure the Volunteers escaped the Orange Bowl with a victory.

Tennessee managed to muster only 170 yards of total offense, but a big decision propelled the Vols to victory. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard-line, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer decided to go for it and the Vols ran an end around and scored the go-ahead touchdown and that was enough to ensure victory over the Hurricanes, snapping a 26-game home winning streak for Miami and putting it out of the national championship picture for the first time since 1999.

With so many one-loss teams at the end of the season, nothing would be guaranteed but Miami may have cost itself a third straight national championship appearance by not showing up on this Saturday.

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