[5] The game is remembered for its last-second Hail Mary pass from quarterback Doug Flutie to wide receiver Gerard Phelan to give Boston College the win with a walk-off touchdown.
Boston College was ranked tenth with a record of 7–2 and had already accepted an invitation to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day.
The game was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, and televised nationally by CBS, with Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, and Pat Haden commentating.
Records and achievements of the game included: Played on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, it kicked off shortly after 2:30 p.m. EST;[7] Miami was favored by six points.
[1] Boston College jumped out to an early 14–0 lead in the first quarter before quarterback Bernie Kosar and Miami stormed back to tie.
The Miami defensive backs doubted his ability to throw the ball into the end zone, and paid no attention to Phelan as he ran behind them.
[2][4] Flutie won the Heisman Trophy shortly afterward, the first quarterback chosen in 13 years.
We would have gone to the same bowl game, the Heisman voting was already in, and the direction [of his career], everything would have been the same, except that pass put this label on me as 'It's never over 'til it's over' guy.
CBS TV announcer Brent Musburger: Three wide receivers out to the right...Flutie flushed...throws it down...CAUGHT BY BOSTON COLLEGE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT!
Jack Bicknell is the only person over there on the sidelines, he couldn't get the headset off fast enough!Boston College radio announcer Dan Davis: Here we go...here's your ballgame, folks, as Flutie takes the snap.
He drops straight back...has some time, now scrambles away from one hit...looks...uncorks a deep one to the end zone, Phelan is down there...(Statistician Dick Tarpey: OH, HE GOT IT!)