From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
2021 Orange Bowl (January)
The 2021 Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2021, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. It was the 87th edition of the Orange Bowl, and was one of the 2020–21 bowl games concluding the 2020 FBS football season. Sponsored by bank holding company Capital One, the game was officially known as the Capital One Orange Bowl.
As one of the New Year's Six bowl games, the participants of the game were determined by the College Football Playoff selection committee. The committee matched No. 5 Texas A&M of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) against No. 13 North Carolina of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The programs had not previously met.
Texas A&M entered the bowl with an 8–1 record, all in SEC games. Their only loss of the season was to Alabama, a 52–24 defeat. The Aggies defeated one ranked team during the season, Florida, by a score of 41–38. Texas A&M had appeared in one previous Orange Bowl, the 1944 edition.
North Carolina entered the bowl with an 8–3 record, 7–3 in ACC play. The Tar Heels' losses were to Florida State, Virginia, and ranked Notre Dame. North Carolina defeated three ranked teams during the season: Virginia Tech, NC State, and Miami (FL). This was the first appearance by the Tar Heels in an Orange Bowl.
| Statistics | TAMU | UNC |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Plays–yards | 61–457 | 65–324 |
| Rushes–yards | 35–225 | 34–90 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 234 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 16–26–0 | 18–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:13 | 27:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing | Kellen Mond | 16-for-26, 232 yards | |
| Rushing | De’Von Achane | 140 yards on 12 carries, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Ainias Smith | 125 yards on 6 receptions | |
| Passing | Sam Howell | 18-for-31, 234 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT | |
| Rushing | British Brooks | 53 yards on 15 carries | |
| Receiving | Josh Downs | 91 yards on 4 receptions, 2 TD |
-
2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, played at the same venue nine days later
-
Game statistics at statbroadcast.com
Ask Mako anything about 2021 Orange Bowl (January) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report