Big 12 Football: 10 Greatest Games in Conference History

The Big 12 has a ton of history in college football despite the fact that the conference has changed many times over the years.

With all of the history this sport has seen and all of the great players that have come and gone, this conference has produced many fantastic games. There have been shocking upsets, last second finishes and games that you must see to believe.

We're going to try our best to break down the top 10 games in Big 12 history. We may cheat a bit by throwing in a couple of games from the Big Eight as well.

Here are the top 10 games in Big 12 history.

10. Colorado vs. Nebraska 2001

If you happen to be a Cornhusker fan, turn the page.

This wasn't a game that included an incredible finish or last second comeback, it was just an old-fashioned beat down by a heavy underdog, which in this case was Colorado. 

Buffalo running back Chris Brown ran for six touchdowns, as they had a 19-point lead going into the half. They scored a ridiculous 42 points in the first 30 minutes of play.

Nebraska tried to make a comeback in the second half, as they cut the lead down to 12 at one point but ended up losing the game by a score of 62-36.

This was one of the biggest upsets in recent memory and stunned the entire college football world.

9. Baylor vs. Oklahoma 2011

In this game Baylor and Robert Griffin showed college football that they were "for real."

The Sooners had won the last 19 matchups with Baylor going into this game.

Superman put on a monster performance against a very talented Oklahoma team. He totaled over 500 yards and threw for four touchdowns.

The Sooners didn't go down without a fight, as they tied the game up at 38 apiece with only 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

That's when Griffin led the Bears down the field in under a minute and hooked up with Terrance Williams for a 34-yard touchdown pass to win the game.

It was a monumental win for the Baylor program and left no doubt that Griffin deserved the 2011 Heisman.

8. Colorado vs. Texas 2001

This was one of the greatest Big 12 title games ever.

Colorado looked like they were going to cruise to victory, as they intercepted Chris Simms four times in the first half and jumped out to a 29-10 lead.

That's when quarterback Major Applewhite stepped in and helped the Longhorns to 17 unanswered points before the half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Texas was flagged for roughing the punter, and it cost them. Colorado extended their lead with a field goal to 39-30.

Applewhite hooked up with B.J. Johnson for another touchdown, but it was too little too late. Colorado recovered the onside kick and ran the final 30 seconds out.

7. Texas vs. Oklahoma 2008

This Red River Rivalry game is known as the Red River Shootout, as it included 80 total points and over 800 total yards. The game also included a fake punt and a kickoff returned for a touchdown.

Texas trailed for most of the game until quarterback Colt McCoy and company put the Longhorns up 10 and never looked back.

"It was a game when every time somebody made a play, the other team would get more excited," Texas head coach Mack Brown said. "It was one of the greatest football games I've ever seen."

6. Texas Tech vs. Texas 2008

Texas Tech looked like they were going to blow the doors off of Texas, as they jumped out to a 22-6 halftime lead. They still ended up winning the game, but it was a lot more difficult than it probably should have been.

Texas somehow was able to take a 33-32 lead late in the fourth quarter behind a couple of Colt McCoy TD passes to Malcolm Williams and a four-yard touchdown run by Vondrell McGee.

The Red Raiders were still in great shape, as quarterback Graham Harrell had his team inside the 30-yard line to set up a potential game winning field goal with eight seconds left.

But instead of relying on the kicker, they went for it.

Harrell threw a bomb to wide receiver Michael Crabtree who miraculously caught the ball, shook a defender and stayed in bounds to walk into the end zone.

Texas Tech won in an instant classic.

5. Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State 1988

If you love offense, this was absolutely the game for you.

In this matchup, the teams combined for 1,000 yards of offense and 59 total points.

Oklahoma State was loaded on the offensive side of the ball. It helped that they had Barry Sanders at running back.

Oklahoma State looked like they were going to win the game when QB Mike Gundy (the current head coach) threw the ball deep on fourth down and hit receiver Brent Parker right in the chest in the end zone—but Parker dropped the ball.

Oklahoma escaped with a three-point victory, and it was one of the last games Barry Switzer ever coached.

4. Oklahoma vs. Texas 1984

The teams entered this game ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country. Oklahoma was trailing 10-0 at the intermission but rallied back in the second half.

Sooners head coach Barry Switzer decided to give up a safety, thinking his defense would be able to hold the Texas offense and escape with a victory.

He was right. Oklahoma intercepted Texas quarterback Todd Dodge in the final seconds. But officials eventually called the pass incomplete.

Texas made the most of their second chance and kicked a field goal to escape with a 15-15 tie game.

3. Nebraska vs. Missouri 1997

“Frost to the middle…Juggled, diving…Touchdown, Nebraska! Davison on the deflection! Nebraska’s a point away from tying the game! We could be headed to overtime!”—ABC’s Brent Musburger.

I don't think I can explain the play much better than that. This was a wild game between a dominant Nebraska team and a gutsy Missouri team.

In the final seconds, Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost threw a pass across the middle in the end zone to Shevin Wiggins. Wiggins was separated from the football and somehow managed to keep the ball in the air with his foot, and Matt Davison dove and caught the ball for the touchdown, and that was enough to send it into overtime.

The fans had to clear the field, and the Cornhuskers finished the job and won the game by a score of 45-38.

2. Oklahoma vs. Nebraska 1971

Both teams came into this game undefeated—ranked No. 1 and No. 2. Nebraska was on a 20-game winning streak. The game was for the Big Eight title, and it would be a game that many would never forget.

The game was not without controversy: Early in the first quarter Oklahoma punted the ball away to return man Johnny Rogers, he ended up taking it the distance, 72 yards for the first score. Many Sooner fans argue to this day that Nebraska cornerback Joe Blahak was clipped by Sooner receiver Jon Harrison.

You be the judge.

By the way, Nebraska did end up winning this game 35-31. Quarterback Jerry Tagge led his team down the field in the final minutes to give the Cornhuskers the title.

1. Texas A&M vs. Kansas State 1998

This was the Big 12 championship, and Kansas State was likely heading to the national championship game with a victory. Everything looked good as the Wildcats were up by a score of 27-12 heading into the fourth quarter.

That's when Aggies quarterback Branndon Stewart cut the lead down to eight. He hooked up with Leroy Hodge to give his team a slim chance.

Although Texas A&M was still down a touchdown and a two point conversation, a fumble by Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop helped the Aggies tie the game and send it into overtime.

In the second overtime, Kansas State made a field goal, but the Aggies went for the win, as Sirr Parker caught a pass on third-and-17 and dove into the end zone to pull off the upset and seal the most exciting game in Big 12 history.