What a difference a year makes.

Only 12 months before, the 1994 FedEx Orange Bowl game came down to a few feet as Byron Bennett's 45-yard field goal try faded left, leaving Tom Osborne and his Cornhuskers three points shy of a national crown.

"Unfinished Business" became their motto. This time, they were not denied.

Three hundred and sixty-five days later, two fourth-quarter touchdowns helped the Nebraska Cornhuskers overcome a 17-9 deficit to defeat the University of Miami in the '95 FedEx Orange Bowl, 24-17, and secure its first-ever Osborne-era national cham pionship.

"It's a great way to close it out," said Osborne still dripping with Gatorade after the last seconds had ticked away. "To play Miami in Miami and finally beat them.... we've had a terrible time with these folks."

It began like most Nebraska Orange Bowl experiences. Miami scored quickly on a Dane Prewitt 44-yard field goal after a 10-play, 32-yard drive. The Huskers then drove from their own 10 to the Miami 41-yard line in nine plays, but on first down, qua rterback Tommie Frazier was intercepted at the goal line.

The Canes struck again; three long Frank Costa passes were all it took for Miami to jump out to a 10-0 lead. First, Costa hit Jammi German for 17 yards, then A.C. Tellison for 43. Two plays later Trent Jones was on the receiving end of a 35-yar d scoring strike.

Brook Berringer, who had started at quarterback for an injured Frazier for most of the season, took over at the beginning of the second quarter. He could fare no better -- it was four plays and out for the Huskers.

Nebraska's "Black Shirt Defense" then stepped up to stop Miami at its own 22. After a punt return put the ball at the UM 40, Berringer hit tight end Mark Gilman with a 19-yard scoring strike that made the score 10-7.

Neither team would threaten again in the first half.

It took Miami only five plays after the second half kickoff to extend its lead to 14-7. Following a 13-yard run by James Stewart and a 14-yard Costa-to-Jermaine Chambers toss, Jonathan Harris caught a 44-yard Costa pass and eluded three Nebraska ta cklers for the touchdown.

A Miami penalty gave the Cornhuskers excellent field position near midfield but it could not capitalize. After punting it back to Miami deep in its own territory, OLB Dwayne Harris sacked Costa in the endzone for a safety. Three possessions later , Nebraska marched 62 yards in 11 plays but Berringer fumbled at the Miami 31. The third quarter ended with Miami clinging to a 14-9 lead.

Nebraska seemed to have the early momentum in the fourth quarter when a costly Miami special teams mistake turned the ball over deep in its own territory. The Hurricanes lined up for a punt on fourth-and-three from its own 43 but the snap sailed ov er punter Dane Prewitt's head and gave the Huskers the ball at the Miami 4. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne opted to bypass his No. 1-ranked rushing attack and called a pass play, but the strategy backfired as Miami defensive back Earl Little intercepted Berr inger's pass in the endzone.

The turnover seemed to ignite Miami but the "Black Shirts" refused to bend. The nation's No. 2-ranked defense gave up only two completions and did not allow the Hurricanes a first down in the final period.

Offensively, Osborne called on a well-rested Frazier to give his team a spark. On his second series back in the game, Frazier pitched to sophomore I-back Lawrence Phillips who galloped 25 yards to the UM 15. On the next play, fullback Cory Schlesi nger bolted up the middle on a trap play for a 15-yard touchdown. When Frazier hit tight end Eric Alford with the two-point conversion, the game was suddenly tied, 17-17.

Miami was forced to punt on its next possession and the Huskers took over at their own 42. Facing a third-and-four, Frazier scrambled down to the Miami 27. Three plays later, Schlesinger took the handoff and ran 14 yards for the winning touchdown with 2:46 remaining.

Nebraska's defense sealed the victory by sacking Costa twice and intercepting his fourth-down desperation pass.

"We knew their defensive front was very tired," said Frazier, who was named Nebraska's Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. "We knew all we had to do was pound the ball inside and drive them off the ball. When I signed here, I knew I wanted to win the national championship. Last year we didn't do it, but we did this time."