▁ ▁Miami ' s ▁va unted ▁defense ▁set ▁the ▁tone ▁early , ▁forcing ▁the ▁So on ers ▁to ▁punt ▁on ▁their ▁first ▁five ▁poss essions . ▁ ▁Meanwhile , ▁Wal sh ▁settled ▁into ▁a ▁nice ▁rh ythm , ▁putting ▁Miami ▁on ▁the ▁board ▁first ▁with ▁a ▁ 3 0 - yard ▁touch down ▁pass ▁to ▁full back ▁Mel vin ▁Br at ton , ▁who ▁caught ▁ 9 ▁passes ▁for ▁ 1 0 2 ▁yards ▁for ▁the ▁game . ▁ ▁Oklahoma ▁got ▁on ▁the ▁board ▁with ▁a ▁second - qu arter ▁touch down ▁to ▁tie ▁things ▁up , ▁but ▁Miami ▁respond ed ▁with ▁ 1 0 ▁un answer ed ▁third ▁quarter ▁points , ▁coming ▁on ▁a ▁ 5 6 - yard ▁field ▁goal ▁by ▁k icker ▁Greg ▁C ox ▁and ▁a ▁ 2 3 - yard ▁touch down ▁pass ▁from ▁Wal sh ▁to ▁Ir vin . ▁ ▁Oklahoma ▁would ▁add ▁a ▁fourth - qu arter ▁touch down ▁to ▁trim ▁the ▁score ▁to ▁ 2 0 - 1 4 , ▁but ▁Miami ▁held ▁on ▁for ▁the ▁win ▁and ▁the ▁national ▁championship . ▁ ▁Johnson ▁received ▁a ▁G ator ade ▁bath , ▁which ▁mess ed ▁his ▁tra dem ark ▁im pe cc ably ▁co iff ed ▁hair , ▁and ▁was ▁carried ▁off ▁the ▁field , ▁having ▁finally ▁won ▁" the ▁big ▁one " ▁at ▁Miami . ▁ ▁The ▁H urr icane ▁defense ▁held ▁Oklahoma ▁to ▁just ▁ 2 5 5 ▁yards ▁of ▁off ense , ▁while ▁Wal sh ' s ▁efficient ▁play ▁( 1 8 ▁of