College Football: The 50 Most Important Moments in College Football History

The sport has been around for over a century now, and it’s only getting more popular. There is no doubt that college football plays a very significant role in our society.

But what made college football the way it is today? What are the most important moments in the wonderful game we all know and love?

Dictionary.com defines the word important as, “of much or great significance or consequence; mattering much; entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice; prominent or large.”

So in a way, these moments (some of which last for longer than a singular moment in time) are the plays, decisions and actions taken both on and off the field throughout the history of college football that we remember because of the influence they’ve had on us.

They could be impressive plays that left an indelible mark on our memories or decisions that forever changed the way the game was played. But no matter what, they are important.  

From the first game between Rutgers and Princeton to The Play to some of the most significant rivalries, read on for the 50 most important moments in the history of college football. 

But before you start, keep in mind that these are the 50 seminal moments in my opinion. Each person has a unique viewing experience and way of relating to the sport. So let the debate begin. 

(N.B. I've tried to include videos for your enjoyment when appropriate) 

50. First Radio Broadcast

On Oct. 8, 1921, Harold W. Arlin announced a college football game on live radio for the first time in history. The play-by-play account detailed the victory by the University of Pittsburgh over West Virginia University at Forbes Field.

The game aired on Westinghouse station KDKA in Pittsburgh and became the predecessor for the national broadcasts that college football has come to know and love. 

After all, when was the last time you wanted to watch a college football game and couldn’t find some sort of audio feed giving you the details of the game? 

49. Marcus Dupree Quits

“For every Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith, there's an Anthony Thompson, a Paul Palmer and a LeShon Johnson, guys who never matched their college success in the NFL. Some of the unfortunate ones were too small. Others were just a step too slow.

"But you'll also find a select few individuals who had all the tools. They're the ones who didn't achieve NFL success for reasons of circumstance. Such was the case with Marcus Dupree, a star running back who lit the college football scene on fire as a freshman in 1982.”

Those were the words of ABC Sports’ Marc Connolly, describing the confusing decision of sure-fire future-star Marcus Dupree to quit college football during his sophomore season for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Because of the decision, we missed the opportunity to witness Dupree’s chance at greatness. But more importantly, the decision demonstrated the hidden fragility of college football players.

It emphasized the human aspect of the game. 

48. Auburn’s BCS Championship

Led by Cam Newton, the Auburn Tigers beat the Oregon Ducks in the 2011 BCS National Championship and became the most recent kings of college football.

In just one year, this won’t be important, but right now, few things are more important than the most recent winner.

Let’s use this as a chance to let Auburn fans enjoy the glory for a little longer. 

47. Joe Paterno Wins 400

On Nov. 6, 2010, Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions were matched up against the Wildcats of Northwestern.

Northwestern stormed out to a 21-0 lead, but you can never count JoePa out. His team scored 35 unanswered points, tying the biggest comeback of his coaching career, and he was the first FBS to reach 400 victories.

It is a mark that may never be surpassed again.  

46. Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott

Georgia quarterback Buck Belue was in the midst of an awful game, turning the ball over multiple times and gaining only 52 yards before the Bulldogs’ final offensive play. Fortunately, Herschel Walker kept them in the 21-20 contest against the Florida Gators.

With time winding down in the 1980 edition of the rivalry, Belue threw a perfect pass to Lindsay Scott, who caught the ball at the 25-yard line and then ran all the way for a 92-yard touchdown. Game, set, match.

The win kept the Bulldogs’ hopes of a national championship alive, an opportunity upon which they capitalized.  It remains one of Georgia’s two claimed national titles.

45. Bill Walsh College Football

In 1994, Bill Walsh College Football hit the shelves in stores around the country as one of the earliest and most popular college football video games ever. It came out on Super NES, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Sega Mega-CD.

The game allowed you to play as one of 25 teams from the 1992 season or one of 25 historical teams. It also allowed you to choose whether you wanted a bowl game or a playoff at the end of the season.

This predecessor to modern college football video games was designed by Electronic Arts, a company that would eventually produce the incredibly popular NCAA Football series. 

44. The Bush Push

During Charlie Weis’ first game against USC as the Notre Dame head coach, he had his team wear the classic green jerseys. It wouldn’t matter, though.

On USC’s final chance to put points on the board, the Trojans decided against kicking a game-tying field goal and instead went for the win. This was after seven seconds were put back on the clock and the preemptive rush of the Irish faithful was put back in the stands.

Leinart took the snap, drove forward after calling his own number, was stopped and then pushed into the end zone by Reggie Bush. It was technically against the rules, but even Weis said he'd want his running back to do the same thing.

Because of the controversy of the play and the greatness of the teams, this will forever be remembered as one of the important moments in college football.

As a quick note, the play comes at 2:10 into the video. 

43. Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland 0

On Oct. 7, 1916, Georgia Tech and Cumberland engaged in a “game” that remains the largest blowout in the history of the sport.

Cumberland had discontinued their football program but was contractually obligated to play in this game. Georgia Tech coach John Heisman (yes, the assumption you are currently making is correct) wanted to run the score up for two reasons.

The first is that he wanted to help invalidate the current rankings system’s use of points scored as a basis for the rankings. The second is that he wanted revenge for Cumberland’s 22-0 beatdown of Georgia Tech in baseball earlier in the year.

Many myths exist about the game, including some that say Cumberland never gained a single yard, but the only thing that’s indisputably true is that Georgia Tech dominated. 

42. Colt McCoy Gets Win No. 45

Colt McCoy set countless records during his time as the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback.

Some of the more impressive ones include: highest single-season completion percentage, first quarterback to ever win 10 or more games during all four seasons as a starter and the most wins by a starting quarterback in NCAA Division I history.

The last is the most impressive because it shows just how great No. 12 was throughout his career in burnt orange. Ever since he stepped on the field as a freshman, McCoy just knew how to win. It didn’t hurt to have his roommate, wide receiver Jordan Shipley, catching his passes all four years.

McCoy got his record-setting 45th win on Dec. 5, 2009 in the Big 12 Championship against Nebraska. That number remains the gold standard and the record that every quarterback strives for when they take their first snap.

41. Marshall After Plane Crash

On Nov. 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed, killing all 75 passengers, including 37 members of the Marshall Thundering Herd football team. It remains one of the biggest tragedies the sports world has ever seen.

The NCAA granted Marshall the right to play incoming freshmen at the varsity level during the 1971 season.

Two games into the season, the Thundering Herd beat Xavier 15-13 in one of the most emotional games in college football history. Marshall scored on a 13-yard screen from Reggie Oliver to Tyler Gardner on the final play of the game.

No one in the country, with the exception of a few Xavier fans, was rooting against Marshall.

40. Conference Realignment

To be honest, I have no idea how to sum up all the various conference realignments that have happened over the years that college football has been around.

Realignments have happened throughout the history of the sport, and this past year has brought us just the latest in the series. The 2010 conference realignment in itself is difficult to explain.

So just know that this is a generic “moment” that covers any time the teams shift conferences, any time that a new conference is created and any time a conference becomes defunct.

Whenever those things happen, the landscape of college football changes, so the moment is undoubtedly important. 

39. Bobby Bowden’s 1999 BCS Championship With Florida State

The 1999 Florida State Seminoles went 12-0 and became the first team in college football history to go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the rankings.

Most of the games that the Seminoles played under Bobby Bowden weren’t even close. They beat five ranked opponents throughout the year: No. 10 Georgia Tech, No. 20 NC State, No. 19 Miami (Florida), No. 3 Florida and No. 2 Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

It’s tough to find a more dominant team in college football history than this one. 

38. 1902 Rose Bowl: Michigan and Stanford

With 8,000 people in attendance, the Tournament East-West football game, as it was known then, featured Michigan and Stanford, but Michigan more so thanks to a 49-0 shellacking of the opponent. It was so bad that Stanford captain Ralph Fisher requested to end the game with eight minutes remaining.

In fact, the game was so bad that the officials for the Tournament of Roses held chariot races, ostrich races and other contests instead of football at the event in 1916. Since then, the Rose Bowl has been played annually.

It is also worth nothing that the “Point-a-Minute” Wolverines used the 49-0 win to boost their seasonal points scored-points against margin to 550-0.  Obviously, they were crowned the national champions. 

37. Institution of the BCS in 1998

Roy Kramer, the so-called “father” of the BCS, reformed the Bowl Alliance into the Bowl Championship Series just before the 1998 college football season.

It’s just the latest in a long series of moves relating to postseason play in college football. But because it’s the most recent one, it’s the one that we’re left dealing with, for better or for worse.

So many people want a playoff system implemented, but a large number like it the way it is. Either way, the creation of the system that currently presides over postseason play deserves a spot here. 

36. Texas’ TV Contract

Darren Carroll/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert #8 rushes during the first half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

The Longhorns now have their own network, dedicated to the athletic and academic pursuits of the burnt-orange clad population of Austin, Texas for all 24 hours, every day. You'd be kidding yourself if you thought that football wasn't going to be the main draw.

Texas signed a 20-year, $300 million contract with ESPN that is rather unprecedented.

Besides showing just how influential college football is in the sports world and how influential Texas is in the world of college football, this moment is also incredibly important because it shows just how much money and attention the sport can generate. 

35. Archie Griffin Wins Two Heismans

In 1974, Archie Griffin carried the ball 256 times and picked up 1,695 yards while finding the end zone 12 times. The end result of his season was the Ohio State running back having the privilege of hoisting the Heisman Trophy.

But Griffin wasn’t done yet. In 1975, during his senior season, Griffin ran the ball 262 times, gaining 1,450 yards and scoring four touchdowns. The result? Another Heisman Trophy, making him the first-and-only player to lift the award up high above his head multiple times.

Griffin probably didn’t deserve the honor during his senior season, but it was bestowed upon him nonetheless. Sorry for the blasphemy, Ohio State fans, but you know as well as I do that it’s true. Chuck Muncie, a running back for California, ran for 10 more yards and nine more touchdowns on fewer carries.

In the record books, though, Archie Griffin’s name appears twice, and that’s what matters. 

34. NFL Forcing Players to Stay for Two Years

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In 1989, the NFL decided that it would no longer require players to have used up their collegiate eligibility in order to enter into the NFL Draft.

Instead, the requirement was changed so that at least two years must pass between a player’s high school graduation and their entry into the draft.

That meant that a player could either go to college and play for at least two years or that they could simply do something else and bide their time. Obviously, the former happens before the latter.

This was clearly an important moment in college football history because it enabled players to bypass their junior and senior seasons.

Just think about all the special moments we’d have been witnesses to if some of the recent college stars had stuck around longer. 

33. Notre Dame’s TV Contract

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: Michael Floyd #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to block against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Tulsa defeated Notre Dame 28-27. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/G

In 1991, Notre Dame became the first school ever to have an exclusive TV deal with a network, guaranteeing that every single one of the school’s games would be nationally broadcast.

The initial contract was signed by NBC and gave the Fighting Irish $38 million over the course of five years, or $1.2 million per game. The one catch was that the team would have to give half of the money to each opponent.

Notre Dame games continue to be broadcast by NBC.  The moment when they signed the original contract, though, remains one of the most important moments in the history of the sport. 

32. Woody Hayes Punch

The longtime Ohio State head coach is one of the best of all-time and was rightfully inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

He was named the College Football Coach of the Year three times and led his team to 13 Big Ten Conference Championships, two non-consensus national titles and three consecutive consensus national titles.

But his coaching career ended in rather ignominious fashion. During the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hayes’ Buckeyes trailed Clemson 17-15 with just more than two minutes remaining in the game.

After intercepting a pass from Art Schlichter, Tigers defensive lineman Charlie Bauman ran out of bounds on the Ohio State sideline and was punched through the facemask by Hayes.

This moment resulted in the almost-immediate termination of the legendary coach, 28 years after he first came to Columbus. 

31. Tim Tebow Becomes First Sophomore to Win Heisman

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 08: Quarterback Tim Tebow (L) of the University of Florida and head coach Urban Meyer pose with the Heisman trophy after winning the 73rd Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Award on December 8, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trot

On Dec. 8, 2007, Tim Tebow beat out Colt Brennan, Chase Daniel and Darren McFadden to become the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy.

He threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns that season while rushing for an additional 895 yards and 23 touchdowns. There was no better player in college football, and it wasn’t even close.

So why is this important while other Heisman winners don’t find their names on this list? Well, Tebow was the first sophomore to win the award and paved the way for future winners.

The next two winners, Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram, were both sophomores as well, and I’m sure there will be more underclassmen selected in the near future. 

30. Vince Young and the Pylon

In the 2006 Rose Bowl with the national championship against the line, Vince Young lined up his Texas Longhorns against the USC Trojans with just 26 seconds remaining.

Down 38-33 and facing a 4th-and-5 from the 9-yard line, Young had to find a way to get his team into the end zone very quickly.

After dropping back to pass and finding every receiver blanketed by a defender, Young used his legs to rush forwards towards the right pylon. He made it and secured his place in history.

29. First SEC Championship

In 1991, the SEC expanded to 12 teams after adding Arkansas and South Carolina and became the first conference to hold a conference championship game.

Since then, many other conferences have adopted the system. The first to do so was the Big 12 in 1996.

The first SEC Championship Game was played in 1992 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. No. 2 Alabama represented the Western Division and took down No. 12 Florida 28-21.

Since then, the game has been played every year. 

28. First Instant Replay

On Dec. 7, 1963, instant replay was used for the first time. CBS was broadcasting the Army vs. Navy game and director Tony Verna decided that it was time to unveil his new creation.

The only play that was shown multiple times was the game-winning score by Rollie Stichweh. Commentator Lindsey Nelson was sure to tell viewers: "Ladies and gentlemen, Army did not score again!"

We are so reliant on instant replay now that sometimes it’s hard to remember that television broadcasts once didn’t involve the wonderful feature. Thanks to this moment, they do now. 

27. Boise State Vs. Oklahoma

As Neil Everett said: “If Rocky Balboa were a football team, he is the Broncos and Sooner football is Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago combined.” Nobody expected for Boise State to be able to play with the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Three plays stand out above the others from this game. The first was the hook-and-ladder from Jared Zabransky to Drisan James, who then lateraled the ball to Jerard Rabb, who ran it in for 35 yards and a touchdown with just 0:07 left in the fourth quarter. The ensuing extra point tied the game up.

Then in overtime, Boise State scored on a 4th-and-2 pass from running back Vinny Perretta to Derek Schouman and elected to go for two points rather than kick the game-tying PAT.

The famed Statue of Liberty play was called and executed to perfection, giving Boise State a shocking 43-42 victory. 

26. Reggie Bush Gives Back The Heisman Trophy

Having to give the Heisman back had to be completely earth-shattering for the former USC Trojan.

Never before had a player lost their grasp on the top award in college football after being awarded the right to have their name mentioned among the all-time greats who have held it up.

But there’s a first time for everything.

It is important to note that the Trophy was never technically revoked. Bush voluntarily returned the award. But had he not, it probably would have been revoked. 

This decision is one of the most important moments because it showed just how seriously the NCAA takes the integrity of the award.

There were both huge ramifications in the past (no 2005 winner) and there will be extra care taken in the future to prevent this from happening again. 

25. Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside

Playing for Army in the 1940s, the duo of Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis was completely unstoppable. Blanchard was Mr. Inside, known as the fullback who could run over anyone. Mr. Outside was the name bestowed upon Davis, who outran everyone.

Blanchard won the Heisman Trophy in 1945 and then Davis won the prestigious award the following year. The only game they failed to win together was a 0-0 tie against Notre Dame.

President Truman came to watch the Army team that rostered both players and the duo was even featured on the cover of Time.

It’s safe to say that there’s never been a better backfield pair than Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside, whose 27-0-1 record, two Heisman Trophies and two national titles is awfully hard to surpass.

24. Appalachian State Beats Michigan

The announcer got it right when he called this game one of the greatest upsets in sports history. There is no way that Appalachian State was even supposed to let this game be close.

But thanks to a blocked field goal on the last play of the game, the underdog hung on for a 34-32 win, proving once and for all that the little guys can indeed hang with the big boys.

How many small schools do you think have watched game film from this contest with hopes of inspiring their players to do bigger and better things? 

23. First Televised Game

Nowadays, we have the pleasure of watching literally any college football game we want on the tube. Just flip the channel around enough (and sometimes pay extra for special networks) and you will be able to find the game you’re looking for.

It’s hard to believe that this hasn’t been true for all of college football history, but sad as it is, previous generations couldn’t watch games unless they attended them.

The first television broadcast of a college football game came on Sept. 30, 1939, when the Fordham Rams beat the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 34-7.

We’ve come a long way since then. 

22. Charles Woodson Winning the Heisman

After leading the Michigan Wolverines to the national championship in 1997, Charles Woodson barely beat out Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning for the most prestigious award in college football.

What made this remarkable was the fact that Woodson was primarily a defensive player, making him the first to play on that side of the ball and win the Heisman.

Woodson also returned punts and played some wide receiver for the Wolverines. In fact, his punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State that sealed the unbeaten regular season was his true Heisman moment. But he remains the first primarily defensive player to win the award. 

Not only was he the first, but he remains the only one to do so.

Woodson helped his team go undefeated and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that season as the nation’s top defensive player. But the crowning achievement remains the Heisman.

21. The Death Penalty

SMU was absolutely unstoppable during the early 1980s, but why? Well, as an investigation discovered, a whole lot of NCAA violations led to the success.

The slush fund was the primary violation as it was an account maintained to provide players with money. However, this was nowhere near to being the only problem with the program.

As a result, SMU received the first ever “death penalty” as the entire 1987 season was cancelled and the Mustangs couldn’t field a team in 1988. The program still has yet to completely recover. 

20. Beginning of Notre Dame Vs. USC

One of the most famous and most contentious rivalries in the sport, the Notre Dame-USC rivalry began in 1926 and has been played 81 times now, with the Jeweled Shillelagh serving as a prize.

In an article I wrote about the top 10 games in the rivalry’s history, here is what was said about the first game:

“It's only fitting that the first game in the classic rivalry may have also been the best. 

In fact, Notre Dame's head coach, Knute Rockne, said it was the greatest game he ever saw. 

The game only happened because Rockne's wife talked to USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson's wife. After Wilson and his wife traveled to Lincoln and watched Nebraska beat Notre Dame 17-0, the wives spoke. Shortly after, the game became a mainstay on the schools' respective schedules. 

As fans hoped, the first game came down to the wire.

Notre Dame's quarterback, Ara Parisien, threw a touchdown pass to Johnny Niemiec with just two minutes left to take a 13-12 lead. The score would hold up and Notre Dame would start the series off with a victory. 

Was it the greatest football game that the rivalry has seen? No, probably not. But because of the historical significance, it finds itself at No. 1 on the list.“

19. Tim Tebow Speech

“To the fans and everybody in Gator Nation, I’m sorry. I’m extremely sorry. We were hoping for an undefeated season. That was my goal, something Florida has never done here. I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this.

"You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season. God bless.”

The most famous speech in recent college football history belongs to Tim Tebow after a loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 27, 2008. It’s now immortalized on the walls of the University of Florida after it was fulfilled when the Gators won the national championship later that season by beating Oklahoma 24-14.

This moment showed exactly what college football is all about: the passion, the heartbreak after a loss and the willingness to work hard and move forward. 

18. 1995 Las Vegas Bowl: Toledo Vs. Nevada

With a late charge in the fourth-annual Las Vegas Bowl, the Nevada Wolf Pack scored 10 unanswered points to tie up the score at 34. By the previous college football rules, the game was over and would end in a tie. But not so fast.

The NCAA had decided that overtime would be instituted during the 1995 bowl season, making this the first-ever overtime contest in college football history.

Damon Shea kicked his third field goal of the game to give Nevada their first lead, but it wasn’t enough. Wasean Tait ran in from two yards out for the touchdown, his fourth of the game. The run gave Toledo a 40-37 win in the first college football game decided by extra periods of play. 

17. William Henry Lewis Is Voted an All-American

William Henry Lewis played for three seasons at Amherst and then another two at Harvard. In doing so, he became the first African-American to compete in collegiate football.

Playing center for Amherst, Lewis was unbelievably successful and was even voted team captain during his senior season in 1891. After graduating from Amherst, Lewis moved on to go to law school at Harvard and continued playing football.

While lining up on the Crimson’s offensive line, Lewis was voted to the All-American team both years he was there, making it the first time an African-American player had received such an honor.

He went on to have an incredibly successful legal career, but that’s a story for another time. 

16. Beginning of Ohio State Vs. Michigan

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Jordan Hall #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes returns a kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

In 1897, the two schools started engaging in what ESPN called the best rivalry in sports, when the network published a set of rankings back in 2000.

Michigan won the first game by a lopsided score of 34-0 and didn’t lose a single rivalry game until 1912. One-hundred-and-seven games have been played now and, although the Wolverines hold the overall series 57-44-6, the Buckeyes have won the last seven contests.

Some have suggested that this rivalry became so fierce because of leftover tension from the Toledo War in 1835, but that’s just a theory. The fierceness of the rivalry isn’t.

In fact, a lot of Ohio State fans would rather beat Michigan and lose the national championship than win the national championship in a season in which they lost to Michigan. The same is true if you flip the names of the two schools.  

15. Ernie Davis Wins the Heisman

Jim Brown couldn’t do it before him, but wearing the same No. 44 jersey, Ernie Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

At a time when college football was not quite as much under the national spotlight as it is now, President John F. Kennedy still sent the following message to the Syracuse running back: “Seldom has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field, reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship.

"The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It's a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute you.”

Davis’ career was documented in a 2008 movie entitled The Express. 

14. Glenn Sharpe Pass Interference

On Jan. 3, 2003, the Miami Hurricanes were engaged in a Fiesta Bowl contest with the Ohio State Buckeyes and trying to win the game to complete back-to-back undefeated, championship-winning seasons.

On 4th-and-3 in the first overtime, the Buckeyes needed a touchdown and extra point to level the game back up. Craig Krenzel lofted the ball to Chris Gamble but the pass fell incomplete and the Hurricanes rushed the field to celebrate.

But a late pass-interference call on Glenn Sharpe gave Ohio State an automatic first down and nothing good happened from then on for the Miami team.

The Buckeyes won the game in the second overtime. But if you ask any Miami fan about this game, they’ll still be bitter of The Call.  This play defined controversy as it relates to college football.

The National Association of Sports Officials later affirmed the call and it’s now considered by Referee Magazine to be one of the best calls of all-time. It doesn’t hurt that the game was incredible as well.    

13. Desmond Howard Heisman Pose

It’s only cockiness if you can’t back it up. Desmond Howard could.

At the end of the Ohio State versus Michigan rivalry game in 1991, Howard took a punt to the house and struck the now-infamous Heisman pose. He was 100-percent sure that he had just locked up the award, and he had.

As NCAA football blogger Mark Hasty wrote: “I remember seeing this moment on live TV. At the instant Howard struck his pose I had never admired nor loathed an athlete so much. He was arrogant, and he was right.

"Howard didn't just win the 1991 Heisman, he claimed it. Howard scored 138 points for Michigan that season, becoming the first receiver ever to lead the conference in scoring.”

The pose lives on now and will live on forever. 

12. Bluegrass Miracle

It happened on Nov. 9, 2002. Nothing I can say will do this play justice.

Just watch the video.

Not only is this play important because it was incredible and memorable, but also because it proved that anything can happen at any time. 

11. J.J. Quill and Hooks Burr

On Nov. 25, 1905, Yale’s J.J. Quill broke the nose of Harvard’s Hooks Burr with an open-fisted punch. At the time, football was still not quite popular enough to overcome this and people wanted to ban the sport, citing excessive violence.

President Theodore Roosevelt was one of these people and decided to call in the presidents of the two schools to have a conference.

The result was the formation of the NCAA and a completely new rule book, with which Yale’s Walter Camp helped significantly.

The formation of the NCAA is at least slightly important, don’t you think?

10. Michigan State 10, Notre Dame 10

Going into this version of the Game of the Century, which took place on Nov. 19, 1966, Michigan State was 9-0 and ranked No. 2 while Notre Dame was 8-0 and No. 1.

Michigan State led the game 10-7 going into the final quarter but watched as Notre Dame made a field goal on the fourth quarter’s first play to tie it up. The Fighting Irish got the ball back on their own 30-yard line with 1:10 to go, needing just about 40 yards to have a realistic shot at a game-winning field goal.

But instead, head coach Ara Parseghian chose to run out the clock and accept a tie as the outcome. Obviously, not many people liked that decision and controversy ensues to the present day.

As a result, both schools had claims to the national championship. Although Michigan State finished ahead in the AP Poll, the MacArthur Trophy was shared by the two schools, leaving 11-0 Alabama out in the cold.  

9. Miami Hurricanes in 2001

Considered by many to be the greatest college football team in the history of the sport, Miami simply could not be stopped during 2001.

On Jan. 3, 2002, the Hurricanes completed their undefeated season by destroying Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl. With the 23-point victory, Miami actually dropped its average margin of victory to 32.9 points per game.

Led by Ken Dorsey, Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Andre Johnson, Bryant McKinnie, Jonathan Vilma and Ed Reed, the squad produced an astounding 17 first-round draft picks in the next three NFL Drafts. That’s unprecedented and will never be matched.

But Miami didn’t just bring talent to the field. The Hurricanes brought swagger. 

8. Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary

In the final game of the regular season in which Doug Flutie earned his Heisman Trophy, his Boston College Eagles trailed Miami 45-41 with just 28 seconds left to play. After driving a little ways down the field, there was time for one last play.

The play 55 Flood Tip was called, where the wide receivers would run straight to the end zone and hope to tip the ball to each other. Flutie dropped back, barely avoided a sack, threw from his own 37-yard line and launched the ball 63 yards into a 30-mile-per-hour headwind.

It was his 46th throw of the game and when it fell into the arms of Gerard Phelan, the Hail Flutie became the greatest play in the history of college football, at least according to ESPN. 

7. Michigan Upsets Ohio State in 1969

The Ohio State Buckeyes went into this rivalry game riding a 22-game winning streak under Woody Hayes. Bo Schembechler was just starting his tenure as the head coach at Michigan.

Ohio State had beaten the Wolverines 50-14 in 1968, even going for the two-point conversion in the game’s final minutes because, as Hayes said: “I couldn't go for three.” The Buckeyes were being crowned as the greatest college football team of all-time.

The game became the start of the Ten Year War as Michigan came away with a 24-12 win. ABC TV play-by-play announcer Bill Flemming yelled during the closing seconds of the game: "There it is! What has to be the upset of the century!”

It remains one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the great rivalry. 

6. Walter Camp Rule Changes

Following the orders of President Theodore Roosevelt, the “Father of American Football” helped to reinvent the sport of football to make it far less violent.

A Yale man for life, Camp is said to have come up with the concept of the snap, the four-down system, the scoring system (which was subsequently altered a bit), the safety and the offensive system that is now commonplace (seven men on the line, four in the backfield).

Without the important extended moment during which Camp made these changes as part of various rules committees, the game would likely now be defunct. 

5. Nebraska Vs. Oklahoma in 1971

One of the “Games of the Century,” this clash between college football titans inspired ESPN’s Beano Cook to write: “They can quit playing now, they have played the perfect game."

The Cornhuskers were the defending champions and had a 20-game win streak, the nation’s best defense and the No. 1 ranking. The Sooners on the other hand were ranked No. 2 and had the most prolific running game that college football has ever seen.

Fifty-five million viewers tuned in on Nov. 25 to see the two teams play and none of them were disappointed. Nebraska ended up winning 35-31 in a game that went back and forth too many times to count.

There are simply too many great plays to mention them all here. I would highly recommend reading a summary of the game. 

4. First Forward Pass

In his book, They Made the Bell Tower Chime, Bob Quincy wrote: "John Heisman, a noted historian, wrote 30 years later that, indeed, the Tar Heels had given birth to the forward pass against the Bulldogs (UGA). It was conceived to break a scoreless deadlock and give UNC a 6–0 win.

"The Carolinians were in a punting situation and a Georgia rush seemed destined to block the ball. The punter, with an impromptu dash to his right, tossed the ball and it was caught by George Stephens, who ran 70 yards for a touchdown.”

I’m pretty sure the forward pass is used quite often now, so yeah, the moment when the first one was thrown is quite important. 

3. Oklahoma Winning Streak

This one is a rather extended moment, but it’s a moment nonetheless.

From 1953 to 1957, the Sooners piled up 47 straight victories (no, ties do not count), a streak longer than any other FBS team in the history of college football. Only Miami and USC in recent times have provided serious threats.

Coached by Bud Wilkinson, the Sooners provided plenty of memorable moments during the streak, which I believe is unparalleled by any streak in any sport.

My personal favorite story, and keep in mind that this is coming from a Texas fan so you know it has to be special, came before a contest with the Texas Longhorns after a week full of less-than-stellar preparation.

Wilkinson said: "Gentlemen, I think that you know that you didn't practice well this week. But it is no disgrace to lose to a team such as Texas. Even so, when they beat you, just remember that you are still Oklahoma and keep your head held high." The Longhorns fell 45-0 to the Sooners.

The streak only ended when Notre Dame’s Dick Lynch scored the winning touchdown with under four minutes to play on Nov. 16, 1957. Fans sat in the stands for 30 minutes after the game, hoping it was just a nightmare.

As for Wilkinson, he just said: “Men, the only people who never lose are the ones who never play the game."

Supposedly, it rained on the head coach that night for the first time since the streak started. 

2. “The Play”

California versus Stanford. The band is on the field. The laterals.

It’s the most famous play in the history of college football and arguably one of the greatest. There’s no way to watch the progression of laterals then the confusion afterwards, finally culminating in the jubilant jumps of the California team after the referees' decision, without getting goosebumps. Unless of course you’re a Stanford fan.

The fame alone makes this one of the most important plays in college football history. 

1. First Game

On Nov. 6, 1869, the College of New Jersey (which would later become Princeton) took on Rutgers in an away game and lost 6-4 in the first-ever game of college football.

A week later they won a home game against the same Rutgers squad.

Obviously, this moment in the history of college football is ridiculously important. It was, after all, the first time that the sport was played.

It is also said that tailgating originated at this first contest.