What Happened on January 1, 1986

• 15th Fiesta Bowl: #5 Michigan beats #7 Nebraska, 27-23
• 52nd Orange Bowl: #3 Oklahoma beats #1 Penn State, 25-10
• 52nd Sugar Bowl: #8 Tennessee beats #2 Miami, 35-7

• 72nd Rose Bowl: #13 UCLA beats #4 Iowa, 45-28; Iowa's All-American running back, Ronnie Harmon, fumbles the ball 4 times in his last game.

• Aruba becomes independent from neighbor island Curacao
• International Peace Year begins
• NYC transit fare rises from 90 cents to $1.00
• South African Government closes its borders with Lesotho, cutting off important food and fuel supplies, after Lesotho refuses to sign a non-aggression pact
• Spain & Portugal are 11th & 12th to join European Economic Community

• Colin Morgan, Northern Irish actor (Merlin; Humans; Mammals), born in Armagh, Northern Ireland
• Pablo Cuevas, Uruguayan tennis player (French Open doubles 2008 [with Luis Horna]), born in Concordia, Argentina
• Vidya Balan, Indian actress

• Bruce Norris, American Hockey Hall of Fame executive (owner Detroit Red Wings 1952-82), dies at 61
• Marty Friedman, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard & coach (tied World C'ship series, New York Whirlwinds 1921), dies at 96

Holidays: New Year's Day (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States)

• #1 Song: Say You, Say Me - Lionel Richie
• #1 Song: Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens