25 Most Epic College Football Games of All Time

Fandom aside, all we ask for from our college football games is that they're entertaining, competitive and provide a little drama along the way.

Those that manage to do this more than others are the ones we remember forever.

More than 100 years of college football has provided plenty of epic games—so many that it might seem impossible to come up with a list of the 25 best of all time. But we're bored, knowing the 2016 season is still more than three months away, so we had a little time on our hands.

The following list was compiled and ranked based on three factors: the game's importance on a national stage, whether it came down to the final moments and the plays that decided it.

25. TCU 47, Oregon 41

When: Jan. 2, 2016

We start our list with one of the craziest results from this past season, a wild finish that helped salvage what had been a relatively unimpressive bowl slate to that point. The playoff semifinals both produced lopsided outcomes, and the 2016 Alamo Bowl was heading in the same direction when Oregon took a 31-0 lead over TCU at halftime.

Then Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson made a wardrobe change, changing from a black shirt to a purple one, and suddenly TCU came alive.

TCU scored 31 unanswered points to force overtime, and in the third extra period, quarterback Bram Kohlhausen scored on an eight-yard run. The Frogs defense held on to preserve the thrilling victory.

24. Ohio State 42, Michigan 39

When: Nov. 18, 2006

The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the best in college football, ranking fourth on our recent list of the top rivalry games. But despite its history and the regular presence of great teams when they meet, only once have the Wolverines and Buckeyes been ranked first (OSU) and second (Michigan).

And that 2006 meeting lived up to the billing that a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup normally gets, with the 11-0 teams battling down to the wire.

Ohio State led 28-14 at the half before Michigan rallied to get within 35-31 early in the fourth quarter. OSU rebuilt its lead to 11 points with 5:38 left before Michigan scored to trail 42-39 with 2:16 to go. Michigan tried an onside kick but couldn't recover, and OSU ran out the clock by getting one first down.

23. Baylor 61, TCU 58

When: Oct. 11, 2014

The Baylor-TCU rivalry is an old one that dates back to the heyday of the Southwest Conference, but when that league went away in the 1990s, so did this series.

It was rekindled when TCU joined the Big 12 in 2011, but the 2014 edition is what put it back on the national map.

Each team was unbeaten and in the Top 10 when they met in Baylor's new McLane Stadium, though the atmosphere was quite morose as TCU took a 58-37 lead on Marcus Mallet's interception return touchdown with 11:38 left.

Baylor's offense was too good to slow down, though, finishing with 782 yards, including 272 on its final four drives.

The Bears were aided by TCU going for it on fourth down near midfield with the game tied at 58, but the pass was incomplete and gave Baylor the ball with 1:11 left. Chris Callahan ended up kicking a game-winning 28-yard field goal as time expired.

22. Colorado 33, Missouri 31

When: Oct. 6, 1990

College football has plenty of hard-to-comprehend rules, but one of its simplest involves down and distance. The offense has four downs to gain 10 yards or reach the end zone. Otherwise, the ball is turned over to the other team.

For some reason, though, the officials working the Colorado-Missouri game in 1990 felt Colorado was worthy of an extra shot at scoring its winning touchdown.

And thus begot the “Fifth Down Game,” one of the biggest officiating blunders in college football history.

Colorado had a 1st-and-goal from inside Missouri's 4-yard line with 31 seconds left, and with the clock running, quarterback Charles Johnson spiked the ball. An Eric Bieniemy run got the Buffaloes inside the 1, and they called timeout.

During the break, however, the down marker on the sideline wasn't flipped from second to third down.

When Bieniemy was stuffed on the next play, Colorado spiked it again thinking it was third down when it was really fourth down. Given an extra play, Johnson scored on a keeper for the winning touchdown as Missouri fans began to run on the field in celebration of what they thought was a home victory.

Colorado would go on to share the national championship with Georgia Tech thanks to that extra down.

21. Texas 15, Arkansas 14

When: Dec. 6, 1969

The earliest game on our list is one of many over the years that has been dubbed the "Game of the Century," both because of its impact on the national title picture but also the way Texas rallied for the road victory.

It also happened to be the 100th year of college football, so the moniker was fitting for a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup of Southwest Conference foes.

The Longhorns trailed 14-0 entering the fourth quarter but scored on the first play of that final period, then opted to go for two. This gamble paid off because when Texas scored again with 3:58 remaining, its extra point proved to be the deciding play.

Texas would go on to win the national title, cementing that championship after beating Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. However, President Richard Nixon attended that Arkansas-Texas game with the intention of declaring its winner as the national champion.

Imagine if President Obama decided college football's champion nowadays...

20. Florida State 18, Nebraska 16

When: Jan. 1, 1994

Before the current playoff format and the BCS system, college football's first foray into trying to streamline the national championship process was the Bowl Coalition.

Formed after the 1990 and 1991 seasons produced co-champions, it only lasted three years but produced some strong title games—including the 1994 Orange Bowl.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden had built up the Seminoles since arriving in 1976, but it wasn't until they joined the ACC in 1992 that he had a real chance to win a national title. FSU finished second in 1992 and was ranked first after the 1993 season but needed to beat No. 2 Nebraska to secure the championship.

The 'Noles led 15-7 entering the fourth quarter but trailed 16-15 with 1:18 left after Nebraska kicked a go-ahead field goal. FSU drove down to the Cornhuskers' 3-yard line before Scott Bentley booted his fourth field goal of the game with 21 seconds to go.

19. USC 34, Notre Dame 31

When: Oct. 15, 2005

Notre Dame and USC have been playing since 1926, with 41 of their 87 meetings decided by nine or fewer points. But only one has been determined by a "Bush Push," the name given to USC's game-winning touchdown run in the final seconds.

USC trailed 31-28 when it got the ball deep in its own territory with less than two minutes to go. A fourth-down pass from Matt Leinart to Dwayne Jarrett got the Trojans to Notre Dame's 15-yard line, and later they had 1st-and-goal from the 2 with 19 seconds left.

Leinart tried to run it in on a rollout but was stopped just short of the goal line, and the ball was fumbled out of bounds.

Had Leinart not lost the ball, USC likely wouldn't have been able to line up for one final play. Leinart kept it on a keeper up the middle and was initially stuffed, but then running back Reggie Bush pushed Leinart over the goal line for the winning score.

18. Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31

When: Nov. 25, 1971

Old Big Eight/Big 12 rivals Nebraska and Oklahoma are set to resume their rivalry in 2021. We can only hope those future games come close to the matchups we once saw on a regular basis, including the first of two meetings pitting the top two teams in the Associated Press rankings.

Top-ranked Nebraska was 10-0, winner of 20 in a row and the defending national champion, while No. 2 Oklahoma was 9-0. The Sooners were at home, but the last time they'd hosted the Cornhuskers (in 1969), they lost by 30 points.

It was much closer this time around, with several lead changes. Nebraska was up 28-17 before Oklahoma scored 14 straight to take a 31-28 lead with 7:05 left. Jeff Kinney then scored his fourth touchdown of the game for the 'Huskers, who would go on to win a second straight national title.

17. BYU 46, SMU 45

When: Dec. 19, 1980

BYU is 13-20-1 all-time in bowl games, having lost its last three. The Cougars' first four bowl appearances—in the 1970s—also ended in defeat, and they looked headed for a fifth consecutive bowl loss when they trailed SMU 45-25 with about four minutes left.

Then the Cougars offense suddenly came alive, scoring three touchdowns in the final 2:33 behind quarterback Jim McMahon.

It was the last of those scores that stood out most, not just because it was the game-winner but because of how it came about.

It started with a blocked punt, giving BYU the ball at SMU's 41-yard line with 13 seconds to go. With six seconds left, all McMahon could do was toss a Hail Mary toward the end zone, and somehow receiver Clay Brown out-leaped several SMU defenders for the touchdown.

16. Alabama 14, Penn State 7

When: Jan. 1, 1979

In today's offensive-driven college football game, it's hard to find many low-scoring classics. Back in the 1970s, though, it was much more common to have points be at a premium—especially in big games.

The 1979 Sugar Bowl pitted unbeaten Penn State against one-loss Alabama, not to mention Hall of Fame coaches Joe Paterno and Bear Bryant. Scoring only occurred in the second and third quarters, with a 10-yard touchdown run by Alabama's Major Ogilvie late in the third quarter marking the game's final points.

But that didn't make the final period any less exciting.

If anything, the lack of points only added to the intrigue. Penn State recovered a fumble deep in Alabama territory midway through in the fourth, getting to the Crimson Tide's 8-yard line very quickly.

Then Alabama's defense took over, stopping the Nittany Lions just before the goal line on 3rd-and-goal and then stuffing them again on fourth down.

15. Auburn 43, Georgia 38

When: Nov. 16, 2013

Auburn didn't win the 2013 national title, but en route to making that final against Florida State it sure had luck on its side. Two of the Tigers' biggest wins that season made our list, starting with the game won on the play that will forever be called the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare."

A wild affair with visiting Georgia, Auburn's partner in the series known as Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, saw Auburn lead 37-17 in the fourth quarter. Georgia took a 38-37 lead with 1:49 left, but that left plenty of time for the Tigers to get into field-goal position.

Instead, Auburn's drive went nowhere, getting to its own 35 before losing eight yards on the next three plays. Facing 4th-and-18 from the 27, Nick Marshall heaved the ball downfield in hopes of hitting a deep receiver, but instead the ball found Georgia defensive back Josh Harvey-Clemons.

Harvey-Clemons tried to catch the ball instead of batting it down, causing it to get tipped in the air and into Auburn wideout Ricardo Louis' hands behind the play. Louis took it the rest of the way for a 73-yard game-winning touchdown.

14. Notre Dame 35, Houston 34

When: Jan. 2, 1979

Basketball great Michael Jordan's legacy included a lights-out performance in the NBA Finals while battling the flu, but he wasn't the first elite athlete to overcome illness to lead his team to victory. When Jordan was still in high school, Joe Montana parlayed a bowl of chicken soup into a massive comeback win.

Notre Dame trailed Houston by 22 points entering the fourth quarter, a game in which Montana was battling the flu. He stayed in the locker room at halftime, during which the Fighting Irish tried to get his strength back up by feeding him chicken soup.

Montana returned to action midway through the fourth quarter and promptly led Notre Dame to a massive comeback capped by Montana's eight-yard touchdown pass to Kris Haines as time expired.

13. Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32

When: Sept. 2, 2007

Appalachian State is one of the little guys at the FBS level, having moved up from FCS in 2014 after a very successful run that included three consecutive national titles from 2005-07. But even with consecutive FCS championships on their resume, the Mountaineers were still decided underdogs when opening the 2007 season at Michigan.

When the game was over, Appalachian State had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college history and the first by an FCS school against a ranked FBS team.

The Mountaineers used 21 straight second-quarter points to take a 28-14 lead, but a fierce Michigan comeback gave it a 32-31 lead with 4:36 left. Appalachian State went back up on a field goal with 26 seconds remaining, though Michigan managed to get to the Appalachian 20 with six seconds left.

That's when the Mountaineers sealed the upset by blocking a field goal as time expired.

12. LSU 33, Kentucky 30

When: Nov. 9, 2002

It's fair to say that Kentucky has been among the least-successful teams in the SEC in terms of football, and wins over top-tier teams in the league like LSU don't come around often. That's why losing at home to the Tigers was so much more painful in 2002, especially when the Wildcats seemed to have victory in their hands and were already celebrating when the “Bluegrass Miracle” happened.

Kentucky took a 30-27 lead with 11 seconds left on a 29-yard field goal by Taylor Begley, then LSU had to start its final drive from the 9-yard line. The Tigers got to their own 26 with two seconds left, allowing for one more play, but on Kentucky's sideline the celebration had already begun.

"On the UK sideline, quarterback Jared Lorenzen doused coach Guy Morriss with a cooler full of water," Scott Rabalais of the Advocate wrote. "A Big Blue upset seemed inevitable."

LSU quarterback Marcus Randall ended up throwing the ball from his own 18, but he could only get it to around Kentucky's 25-yard line. However, it was deflected off a Kentucky defender and right into the hands of LSU receiver Devery Henderson, who was behind the defense and raced into the end zone for a 74-yard game-winning score.

11. Florida 31, Florida State 31

When: Nov. 26, 1994

Hey kids, did you know that college football used to not have overtime? That meant that if the score was tied at the end of regulation that was it, there was no winner or loser.

Ties have been eliminated from the college game since OT was introduced in 1996, but before then it was quite common for games to end without a winner. Often, one team needed to score late just to forge that tie and avoid defeat, which is what happened when Florida and Florida State met in 1994 in what's become known as the "Choke at Doak."

But it was much bigger than that. FSU trailed 31-3 entering the fourth quarter, requiring it to score 28 points in the final 13 minutes. The tying score came with 1:45 left, and with momentum on their side the Seminoles kicked the extra point instead of going for two and the lead.

FSU got the ball back with 22 seconds left but couldn't score. But less than six weeks later the 'Noles got their win, beating Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

10. Michigan State 27, Michigan 23

When: Oct. 17, 2015

Michigan State has played little brother to in-state rival Michigan throughout their history, but under coach Mark Dantonio the Spartans had started to gain the upper hand. Then the Wolverines hired favorite son Jim Harbaugh, making the 2015 edition of this series one of the most anticipated in recent memory.

And the game lived up to the hype, though no one could have predicted its finish.

Michigan State never led when there was time on the clock, falling behind less than two minutes in and playing catch-up throughout. The Spartans' hopes seemed to be dashed when they couldn't convert on fourth down with 1:47 left, though Michigan still had to run out the clock and ultimately needed to punt the ball away in the final seconds.

That was the plan, at least. Instead, the snap to punter Blake O'Neill was low, causing him to struggle with it. Instead of just taking a knee, though, he attempted to get the kick off but instead was swarmed by Michigan players, resulting in the ball getting knocked away and into the hands of MSU's Jalen Watts-Jackson, who returned it 38 yards for the game-winning score.

Watts-Jackson ended up suffering a hip injury as teammates piled on him in the end zone, an injury that just adds to the craziness of this finish.

9. Miami (Florida) 17, Florida State 16

When: Nov. 16, 1991

The Florida State/Miami rivalry is one for the ages, and it was at its heyday in the 1990s when both programs were regulars near the top of the rankings. Not surprisingly, the games in the early part of that decade were all nail-biters, starting with the 1991 edition that began an unfortunate trend for FSU in late-game situations.

FSU's penchant for having strong field-goal kickers was put to the test in this one, as Gerry Thomas had converted three during the course of this No. 1 vs. No. 2 game. Miami scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but the Seminoles quickly drove into Hurricanes territory in the final minute.

Quarterback Casey Weldon got FSU to the Miami 29, but facing a 3rd-and-9 the 'Noles opted for the 46-yard field goal instead of take one more snap. A few more yards might have helped in the long run, as Thomas pushed his attempt just wide right.

That ended up being the first of three FSU/Miami games decided by a late missed FSU field goal over the course of the next decade, thus making this the start of the "Wide Right" trilogy.

8. Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42

When: Jan. 1, 2007

Boise State had already established itself as one of the top non-power programs in college football before it became one of the first so-called “BCS Buster” schools to earn a major bowl bid from outside the power leagues. The Broncos weren't going to squander that opportunity in the Fiesta Bowl, but it took some late trickery to make it happen.

Oklahoma trailed by 18 points midway through the first half before scoring 25 unanswered to go up 35-28. That included a pair of touchdowns in a 24-second span in the fourth quarter, the second coming on an interception return with 1:02 left.

That's when Boise reached into its deep bag of tricks, executing a hook-and-ladder play to tie the game with seven seconds left and force overtime. The Broncos dipped in again, after Oklahoma went up 42-35 and Boise matched the TD (on a halfback pass!!!) but opted to go for two instead of play a second OT.

Boise coach Chris Petersen called for a Statue of Liberty play, with quarterback Jared Zabransky faking the pass and then holding the ball behind his back, where Ian Johnson grabbed it and ran for the winning conversion. Johnson then proposed to his girlfriend on the sidelines, though we don't think that move was in Boise's playbook.

7. Colorado 27, Michigan 26

When: Sept. 24, 1994

Colorado and Michigan aren't classic rivals, and they've never met in a bowl game or one that had an impact on the national championship.Yet their 1994 meeting will never be forgotten thanks to the way it finished.

The Buffaloes and Wolverines were Top 10 teams when they met in a nonconference game, one that was back-and-forth throughout. Michigan led 26-14 in the fourth quarter before the Buffaloes rallied, pulling within five with 2:16 left and then getting the ball back one more time.

Colorado could only get to its own 34 with six seconds left, meaning quarterback Kordell Stewart was going to have to show off his arm just to get the ball down the field. Stewart ended up throwing the ball more than 70 yards in the air, first coming down in a crowd of players before getting tipped into the hands of diving Buffaloes wide receiver Michael Westbrook for the winning TD.

Ironically, the Buffs attempted a Hail Mary to end the first half as well...but Michigan intercepted it.

6. California 25, Stanford 20

When: Nov. 20, 1982

Sometimes a play is so hard to fathom that words can't describe it. But we'll do our best to explain "The Play," one of the oddest finishes to a college football game ever.

The annual clash between California and Stanford was another solid contest, with visiting Stanford kicking a field goal to take a 20-19 lead with four seconds left. That only left time for Cal to execute a miracle on the ensuing kickoff, and that's just what happened.

It took several laterals just to keep the play alive, with Dwight Garner nearly getting tackled before pitching the ball to teammate Richard Rodgers. It was Kevin Moen, who started the kickoff return, who eventually scored, but not before having to navigate through Stanford's band as it prematurely streamed onto the field thinking the game was over.

Moen ended up laying out a Stanford trombone player as he made it into the end zone, just adding to the unrealistic nature of that final play.

5. Boston College 47, Miami (Florida) 45

When: Nov. 23, 1984

Brent Musberger has been broadcasting football games since the 1970s, and he could create his own list of greatest contests all by himself. Odds are his call of the "Hail Flutie" play would sit at or near the top.

Boston College and Miami were two of the top offenses in the country in 1984, and that showed on the scoreboard with a back-and-forth game that saw both quarterbacks (Miami's Bernie Kosar and BC's Doug Flutie) throw for more than 400 yards. Flutie finished with 472, with 48 of that coming on the final play of the game.

Flutie was flushed from the pocket, causing the tiny passer in the oversized shoulder pads to scramble for room to throw. He put his entire body into the heave, which somehow fell into Gerard Phelan's arms in the end zone.

Not surprisingly, Flutie would go on to win the Heisman Trophy that season.

4. Auburn 34, Alabama 28

When: Nov. 30, 2013

If not for the "Kick Six," Alabama might have won three consecutive national titles and Nick Saban's already assured spot in college football heaven would have been a stone cold lock. Instead, one of the most unreal final plays ever is what will be remembered most from the greatest Iron Bowl in a long line of storied matchups between these in-state rivals.

Alabama led 21-7 in the first half but couldn't put host Auburn away, even after Amari Cooper caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from A.J. McCarron midway through the fourth quarter to go up 28-21. The Tigers tied it with 32 seconds left when Nick Marshall faked the run and threw a 39-yard pop pass to Sammy Coates for the game-tying TD.

The Crimson Tide got into Auburn territory but appeared to have run out the clock, only to have one second added by the officials. This allowed for a 57-yard field-goal attempt by backup kicker Adam Griffith.

Auburn sent Chris Davis into the end zone just in case the kick fell short, and it landed in his hands to start history. He managed to elude defenders all over the field, scoring from 109 yards away and sending Auburn to the SEC title game (and eventually the 2014 BCS title game against Florida State).

3. Ohio State 31, Miami (Florida) 24

When: Jan. 3, 2003

The 2003 Fiesta Bowl is the only national championship game to ever need overtime, and Miami and Ohio State were so evenly matched they needed two extra sessions.

Miami was the defending champions, holding a 34-game win streak with only four victories decided by single digits. Ohio State was in its second year under coach Jim Tressel, who had four won national titles at the FCS level but was still unproven in major college football. That would change after this game, as he would end up with 106 wins in 10 seasons with the Buckeyes.

Tied at 17 at the end of regulation, it would come down to OT to decide the winner. Miami would score first, putting pressure on OSU to keep the game alive, and after defending a 4th-and-3 pass in the end zone, the Hurricanes appeared to have won another title.

Then a mysteriously late flag fell, and Miami was called for pass interference. OSU would benefit, forcing the second OT, then after going up a TD would stuff the 'Canes to clinch the win.

2. Miami (Florida) 31, Nebraska 30

When: Jan. 1, 1984

Miami makes quite a few appearances on our list, a testament to just how great the Hurricanes were during their heyday. The 1983-84 season was the start of Miami's run, but to claim its first title it had to go through one of college football's most storied programs led by Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne.

Nebraska was making its third consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl, a regular destination for the Big 8 champs, and this year it would serve as the unofficial national championship game between the top-ranked Cornhuskers and No. 1 Miami. The Hurricanes' only loss came against Florida to open the season.

The Huskers' option run game had been unstoppable all season yet they trailed for most of this one, causing them to have to pull out some tricks. This is where the famed "Fumblerooski" play emerged, with quarterback Turner Gill placing the ball on the ground before faking an option run, only to have lineman Dean Steinkuhler pick it up and run 19 yards for a score.

Nebraska was down 14 points in the fourth quarter before the final rally started, culminating in a touchdown on 4th-and-8 from the 24 in the final minute to pull within one. Osborne then opted to go for two instead of force a tie, a decision that remains up for debate to this day after Gill's two-point pass fell incomplete.

1. Texas 41, USC 38

When: Jan. 4, 2006

After years of clamoring for a playoff, we final got one two years ago. This has made the national champion a more definitive title to bestow, since the champ has to win two games instead of one, but we're still waiting for a championship game that is so great it stands the test of time.

This past year's Alabama/Clemson final was a great one, but it doesn't hold a candle to the greatest championship tilt in college football history.

Texas and USC spent all year on a collision course to face each other, a pair of 12-0 teams that routinely blew out their opponents. USC was riding a 34-game win streak and was the defending national champions, while Texas had won 19 in a row.

It was the first game to feature a pair of Heisman Trophy winners—though USC's Reggie Bush would be stripped of his title in the future—and it was no surprise that it came down to the wire. Texas trailed by 12 midway through the fourth quarter but scored two touchdowns in the final 3:58, the last on Vince Young's nine-yard TD run with 19 seconds left to give the Longhorns the win.

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.