The Seminoles victory gives the ACC a BCS win for just the third time in 16 opportunities MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida State has been a maddening program for most of the past decade, rarely living up to its pedigreed reputation and too often playing down to its level of competition.
And though it seemed that way again at times in Tuesday night's Orange Bowl, the No. 12-ranked Seminoles dominated defensively and ultimately pulled away to a 31-10 victory over BCS-busting Northern Illinois.
BOX SCORE: Florida State 31, Northern Illinois 10
In its first BCS appearance since the 2005 season, Florida State (12-2) rolled up huge advantages in yardage and time of possession but couldn't create a safe distance on the scoreboard until the first play of the fourth quarter, when quarterback E.J. Manuel ran for a 9-yard touchdown and a 24-10 lead.
For the No. 16th-ranked Huskies (12-2), who earned the Mid-American Conference's first BCS bid, it was a credible performance but hardly one that will vault them to Cinderella status.
BOWL SCHEDULE: Dates, times and results for every matchup
Northern Illinois didn't come out intimidated or overwhelmed; it simply couldn't move the ball with enough regularity against the Seminoles' fast and physical defense. If not for a brilliantly-executed fake punt that went for 35 yards late in the first quarter, setting up a 25-yard field goal, Northern Illinois would have gone three-and-out on its first six possessions.
The Huskies seemed to break through that wall with 9:55 left in the third quarter when quarterback Jordan Lynch — who was limited to 24 yards on his first 12 carries in the option-style offense — engineered a touchdown march to pull within 17-10 on Martel Moore's 11-yard reception. 
Northern Illinois wide receiver Martel Moore (1) leaps into the end zone after escaping from the grasp of Florida State defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (20) during the second half of the Orange Bowl on Monday in MIami Gardens, Fla. (Photo: Alan Diaz, Associated Press) Northern Illinois immediately came back for more trickery, executing an onsides kick to grab momentum for the first time all night and put them in position to tie the Seminoles, who were favored by two touchdowns. But after Lynch led the Huskies to a pair of first downs, safety Terrence Brooks intercepted him down the right sideline, marking the last time Northern Illinois would get within shouting distance of the end zone.
By that point, Northern Illinois was fortunate to have any chance at all.
The Seminoles spent much of the first half breaking off big chunks of yardage but having very little to show for it, thanks to a missed 50-yard field goal, a fumble by receiver Nick O'Leary after a long completion and uninspired play-calling that didn't take advantage of their speed. Despite rolling up a 328-110 halftime advantage in yards, Florida State needed receiver Rashad Greene to make a difficult, leaping touchdown catch with 11 seconds remaining to take a 14-3 lead.
In the end, though, senior Lonnie Pryor ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns and Seminoles' defense did its job well enough to secure just the third BCS bowl victory for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 16 tries since the system was created in 1998.
PHOTOS: All the action from the 2012-13 bowl games 
Stanford teammates celebrate as linebacker Alex Debniak (42) gives head coach David Shaw a Gatorade bath after the Cardinal dispatched the Wisconsin Badgers 20-14 in the Rose Bowl.
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Stanford defensive ends Ben Gardner (49) and Josh Mauro (90) tackle Wisconsin running back Montee Ball (28) during the second half. The Cardinal held the All-America Ball to 100 yards rushing, 30 below his season average.
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Georgia's Alexander Ogletree celebrates with the Capital One Bowl trophy after the win over Nebraska.
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Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead attempts to break the tackle of Georgia linebacker Michael Gilliard during the second quarter of the Capital One Bowl.
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South Carolina players salute the fans after the 33-28 win in the Outback Bowl.
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South Carolina linebacker DeVonte Holloman tackles Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner during the first quarter of the Outback Bowl.
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Northwestern's Brian Arnfelt hosts the Gator Bowl trophy after the 34-20 win over Mississippi State.
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Northwestern's Dan Vitale is tripped up by Mississippi State cornerback Quinn Evans during the first half of the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field.
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Oklahoma State players hoist the winner's trophy while celebrating a 58-14 defeat of Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
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Oklahoma State receiver Blake Jackson catches a touchdown pass against the defense of Purdue safety Landon Feichter during the first half of the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney speaks to the crowd after the Tigers defeated LSU 25-24 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome.
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Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins catches a touchdown pass against the defense of LSU safety Eric Reid in the second half of the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome.
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Tulsa Golden Hurricane players hold up the Liberty Bowl trophy and ring the bell after the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Tulsa won 31-17.
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Tulsa Golden Hurricane running back Trey Watts advances the ball against Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jansen Watson in the Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Tulsa won 31-17.
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Georgia Tech players pose with the Sun Bowl trophy after beating North Carolina State 38-24.
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Georgia Tech cornerback Rod Sweeting breaks up a pass intended for USC's Robert Woods in the Yellow Jackets' 38-24 Sun Bowl win.
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Vanderbilt players celebrate after beating North Carolina State 38-24 in the Music City Bowl.
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Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy gets ready to stiff arm a North Carolina State linebacker in the second quarter of the 38-24 win in the Music City Bowl.
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates winning the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl game against TCU at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Spartans defeated TCU, 17-16.
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Michigan State Spartans safety Isaiah Lewis intercepts a pass intended for TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Josh Boyce during the first half during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Michigan State won, 17-16.
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From right to left, Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown, running back D.J. Monroe and safety Kenny Vaccaro react after defeating the Oregon State Beavers in the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome. Texas won 31-27.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Marquise Goodwin carries the ball against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half of the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome. Texas beat Oregon State 31-27.
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Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jamal Miles celebrates with teammates after the Sun Devils defeated the Navy Midshipmen 62-28 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park.
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Arizona State Sun Devils running back Marion Grice runs for a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen in the first quarter of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park. Arizona State won, 62-28.
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Syracuse Orange head coach Doug Marrone lifts the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl Championship trophy following a 38-14 victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers at Yankee Stadium.
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Syracuse Orange running back Prince-Tyson Gulley leaps over a teammate as he runs the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the third quarter of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
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Rice's Paul Porras (24), Taylor Cook (3) and linebacker Cameron Nwosu (57) carry the trophy off the field after beating Air Force 33-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Rice wide receiver Jordan Taylor lands after catching a touchdown pass in the Owls' 33-14 win over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
