The 1996 Carquest Bowl was the final game of the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season for the Miami Hurricanes and the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Hurricanes were co-champion (along with Virginia Tech) of the Big East Conference for the third straight season (second under Davis), but playing in a bowl game for the first time since the 1995 Orange Bowl due to a scandal that had made them ineligible the season before.
But Virginia responded :39 seconds later with an Germane Crowell touchdown catch from Aaron Brooks to narrow the lead.
Late in the quarter, Virginia was driving when Mack returned a Brooks pass 42 yards for a touchdown, giving them a commanding 24–7 lead going into halftime.
The Cavaliers tried to make it a one possession game with Rafael Garcia's field goal attempt, but Mack blocked the kick and a few plays later, Trent Jones made it 31–10 with a touchdown run.