Florida State and Miami, 20 years after Wide Right II

Florida State wanted revenge for the previous year's loss – Wide Right I. Due to Hurricane Andrew, which upset the Hurricanes' early-season schedule, Miami (Fla.) looked beatable through the year's opening month.

But you knew how the two rivals' 1992 meeting would end: FSU would drive late, down by three points, line up for the game-tying field goal… and push it wide. To the right.

It's been 20 years since Wide Right II, when a one-time fluke became a trend, and history hasn't dulled one question:

Did Dan Mowrey's kick really go wide, or did he sneak it within the right upright?

"What I thought I saw was that ball go inside of that goalpost, because it was over the goalpost," former FSU running back Clyde Allen told the Tallahassee Democrat's Natalie Pierre.

"I thought it was good," said Corey Fuller, a former FSU cornerback.

The Seminoles hoped it was good, seeing that Mowrey's kick came less than a year after Gerry Thomas' miss on a 34-yard attempt gave Miami a 17-16 win. (And cost FSU a shot at the 1991 national championship.)

Over the ensuing two decades, the Seminoles and Hurricanes have only occasionally recaptured the all-meaning, do-or-die, title-in-the-balance feel of Wide Right II. Only once, in 2000, have the two rivals met with a potential national championship berth on the line.

Of course, you might know the 2000 meeting by its more informal title: Wide Right III.

Florida State has seemingly recaptured its vintage form, a 17-16 loss to North Carolina State on Oct. 6 notwithstanding. Despite the one loss, the Seminoles still have designs on playing for the BCS championship.

Miami lags behind, due to poor recruiting, a youthful roster and continued off-field distractions. On paper, FSU should have little difficulty winning its third in a row over Miami. (FSU hasn't won more than two in a row in the series since 1995-99.)

Yes, the Seminoles should be fine. Unless they're down by two and driving late – history shows that such drives don't end in FSU's favor. And wouldn't it be fitting if the 20th anniversary of Wide Right II ended wide right?