1990 - 1999 Stretching The Field
What’s new? A lot.
Grunge was all the rage. Rap was in its heyday. And the Peach Bowl was taking off. Airing long-standing rivalries on a new network, the game became more popular than ever. Adding to the surge was another new home and a beloved Atlanta brand becoming the Bowl’s only title partner.
Natrone Means, UNC RB Peach Bowl MVP 1992
December 29,1990 Auburn 27
Indiana 23
For the fourth time in the last five Peach Bowls, the game was decided within the last minute of play. A one-yard bootleg by Auburn QB Stan White sealed the deal.
After years of close games and quality matchups, the Peach Bowl signed up for cable and inked a deal with ESPN. East Carolina stole the show during primetime, overcoming a 17-point fourth quarter deficit.
The Grudge
Match Begins
With a new selection process,
the Peach Bowl capitalized on
the long-brewed bad blood between
the SEC and ACC. The revised setup
made the game an annual Hatfield
& McCoy style clash of the
Southeast’s biggest conferences.
26th AnnualDecember 31, 1993 #24 Clemson 14
Kentucky 13
The game was over when Kentucky intercepted a Clemson pass late in the 4th–until they fumbled it right back to the Tigers on the return. Clemson QB Patrick Sapp capped the comeback with a touchdown pass to Emory Smith, brother of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, with only 20 seconds remaining.
27th AnnualJanuary 1, 1995 #23 NC State 28
#16 Mississippi 24
NC State won its fourth Peach Bowl in this back-and-forth contest. Wolfpack RB Carlos King broke a fourth-quarter tie with an 11-yard rushing touchdown.
28th AnnualDecember 30, 1995 #18 Virginia 34
Georgia 27
The Bulldogs tied the game with 1:09 remaining after a fumble recovery for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff—Virginia’s Demetrius Allen went 83 yards for the longest return touchdown in Peach Bowl history.
Future NFL star Hines Ward threw for over 400 yards for UGA.
30th AnnualJanuary 2, 1998 #13 Auburn 21
Clemson 17
The second consecutive matchup of Tigers saw Auburn block three Clemson punts en route to a win.
31st AnnualDecember 31, 1998 #19 Georgia 35
#13 Virginia 33
In a rematch of the 1995 Peach Bowl, the Bulldogs avenged their loss with a come-from-behind win in front of a record 72,876 fans.
32nd AnnualDecember 30, 1999 #15 Mississippi State 17
Clemson 7
For the second year in a row, an attendance record was set. 73,315 fans packed the stands to see Mississippi State party like it was 1999 and overcome a scoreless first half to beat the Tigers.
