In each of these instances I'd argue that we simply didn't get 'er done. Bad calls happen.
86 - Penn State
88 - Notre Dame
92 - Alabama
00 - Washington
02 - Ohio State
It's certainly painful but we were the beneficiaries of some lucky bounces in 1989, 1991, 2001. It all seems to even out for us when considering what occurred between 1983-2002.