Back in 1986, the Miami Hurricanes lost the national title game against the Penn State Nittany Lions when former coach, Joe Paterno was at the helm. During that championship debacle, former Miami Hurricane and NFL great, and Heisman trophy winner, Vinny Testaverde, played a dreadful game.
He threw five costly interceptions, which contributed to the Hurricanes unsuccessful attempt to capture another national championship, which could have become the Miami Hurricanes sixth title.
The question regarding that 1986 team, led by coaching great Jimmy Johnson, was not the team's ability to defeat the Nittany Lions. The game was decided before both teams took the field.