14 31 10 9 4 4 | 9 10 4 4 Ohio State 3 | |
The 1998 Sugar Bowl was played on January 1, 1998. This 64th edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Florida State Seminoles. Ohio State entered the game ranked number 10 in the nation at 10-2, whereas Florida State was ranked at 4th in the nation with a 10-1 mark.
Ohio State scored the first points of the contest with a 40-yard field goal from kicker Dan Stultz, giving OSU the early 3-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, quarterback Thad Busby threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver E.G. Green, giving the Seminoles a 7-3 lead. In the second quarter, Thad Busby scored on a 9-yard touchdown run increasing the Seminole lead to 14-3.
William McCray also scored for the Seminoles, pounding it in from 1 yard out, to increase FSU's lead to 21-3 at halftime. Dan Stultz kicked his second field goal of the game, cutting the margin to 21-6. OSU later got a safety on Florida State pulling them within 21-8. Early in the fourth quarter, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 35-yard field goal, increasing FSU's lead to 24-8. Quarterback Joe Germaine threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to John Lumpkin. The ensuing 2-point conversion failed, and the score was 24-14. FSU capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run from Willie McCray, making the final margin 31-14.