College Football: The 50 Greatest Plays in History
The origins of college football in America go back to November 6, 1869 at College Field in New Brunswick, New Jersey, when Rutgers hosted Princeton.
Through its 141-year history collegiate football has offered the keen sports enthusiast a plethora of memorable contests, plays and moments.
Each generation of gridiron aficionados has its own set of greatest plays: passes, catches, interceptions, returns, elusive runs, goal-line stands and trick plays that set themselves apart, ultimately becoming legendary in the minds and hearts of all that saw them unfold.
The following slideshow attempts to boldly reach out over time and select but 50 of these superior plays, some recent and some that have stood the test of time...
These (debatably) are the 50 Greatest Plays in the History of College Football.
50. The Poser: Michigan vs. Ohio State, 1991
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Call it cocky, call it obnoxious, but Desmond Howard’s Heisman pose following his breathtaking 93-yard punt return touchdown, for better or worse, is seared upon the collective memory of college football.
It was late in the second quarter, and Michigan was already up 17-3 on the Buckeyes when Howard fielded the ball and accelerated past the entire OSU coverage team, scoring and striking the Heisman pose once and then again as he was brought down by jubilant teammates.
Michigan went on to rout Ohio State 58-6 in one of the most lopsided editions of “The Game,” and Howard went on to win the Heisman a couple of weeks later, thereby further etching his end zone antics into the stuff of legends.
49. A Bullet Not Dodged: Michigan vs. Appalachian State, 2007
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Plenty of FBS schools have come close to dropping an ugly early season game vs. an FCS opponent, and subsequently some have actually failed to dodge that painful bullet and have lost to a “lesser” foe, setting off a media frenzy.
None of these stunning upsets have been more memorable than No. 5-ranked Michigan suffering an unthinkable defeat to FCS powerhouse Appalachian State.
With a mere six seconds left on the clock, the Wolverines looked like they would pull through as they set up for a field goal attempt on the Mountaineers’ 20-yard line.
But September 1, 2007 was a day when fate would have its way, and Michigan kicker Jason Gingell’s attempt was blocked by Appalachian State’s Corey Lynch, who returned the ball to the Wolverine 5-yard line as time expired.
48. Simpson’s Best 64: USC vs. UCLA, 1967
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The 1967 meeting between crosstown rivals USC and UCLA has also been referred to as “The Game of the Century.” From a contemporary standpoint the game had serious implications regarding conference and national championship crowns, as well as the Heisman Trophy.
The game came down to a 64-yard scoring scamper by the Trojans' O.J. Simpson, who, with 10 minutes left to go in the contest, provided a thrilling game-winning touchdown on what was an audible called by USC QB Toby Page.
47. Poetic Justice: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, 1935
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Bill Shakespeare is the hero in this Tale of Two Teams from November 2, 1935. The Buckeyes led Notre Dame 13-12 with less than two minutes left in the game when Shakespeare came in to relieve the injured Irish star back Andy Pilney.
What happened next was the stuff of legends when Shakespeare got the ball on a reverse on the OSU 19-yard line and threw a touchdown pass to Wayne Millner.
The Irish silenced the Buckeye faithful in Columbus, winning the game by a final mark of 18-13.
46. 5th-and-Goal: Colorado vs. Missouri, 1990
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In what certainly must be considered the most blatant official error in recent memory, Colorado’s fifth-down victory over Missouri in 1990 had implications far beyond a simple conference win.
The Buffaloes were undefeated and trailing heavily disfavored Missouri by a 31-27 margin with under three minutes to play. Colorado managed to drive the length of the field and with 40 seconds to go had the ball 1st-and-goal inside the Tiger five.
On first down the Buffs spiked the ball, and after an unsuccessful run by Eric Bieniemy on second down, Colorado took a timeout. During this timeout the officials somehow forgot to flip the down marker, so it appeared that Colorado had yet another second down opportunity after the timeout, wherein Bieniemy fell short of the end zone again.
On third down (in reality fourth down), the ball was spiked again and on fourth down (in reality the infamous fifth down) backup Buffalo QB Charles Johnson scored on a quarterback keeper (also questionable).
After an eternal delay of 20 minutes wherein the officiating crew was actually informed of its oversight on the down marker, the score was deemed valid, and Colorado won the contest 33-31.
Colorado went on to go undefeated in its 1990 campaign and grabbed a share of a national title (which it shared with Georgia Tech).
45. Reich to Hill: Miami vs. Maryland, 1984
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Miami, led by Bernie Kosar, held a commanding 31-0 lead at halftime in its November 10, 1984 contest with Maryland.
What looked like a second-half sleeper turned into the biggest comeback in NCAA football history when the Terrapins, led by Frank Reich, reeled off 42 second-half points to knock off the Hurricanes.
The signature play of the game was a fourth-quarter, 68-yard Reich to Greg Hill touchdown pass that flew through the hands of Miami safety Darrell Fullington, putting the Terrapins in the lead 35-34.
The final score was 42-40 in favor of Maryland.
44. There Goes Frazier: Nebraska vs. Florida, 1996 Fiesta Bowl
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By halftime there seemed no doubt of the outcome of the 1996 Fiesta Bowl with Nebraska leading Florida by a score of 35-10.
But the drama wasn’t quite over when in the third quarter Nebraska QB Tommie Frazier kept the ball on the option from the Cornhusker 25.
Frazier made it to the Nebraska 36 before he was swarmed by a group of Florida defenders who appeared to have him wrapped up. Somehow Frazier broke free and blazed 75 yards for a touchdown, managing to break at least seven tackles in the process.
Referred to as “The Run,” Frazier’s amazing run was the highlight of the Cornhuskers’ 62-24 whipping of the Gators on their way to a second consecutive national title.
43. The Catch: Clemson vs. South Carolina, 1977
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Jerry Butler’s diving, twisting, backwards catch from Clemson QB Steve Fuller capped off a thrilling 31-27 Clemson victory over hated in-state rival South Carolina.
The must-see catch came with only 49 seconds left on the clock, and not only did it mark the final score of a great college football contest, it also lifted Clemson back into the national spotlight, earning the Tigers their first bowl berth in 17 years.
42. Tate to Holloway: Iowa Vs. LSU, 2005 Capital One Bowl
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The Iowa Hawkeyes spoiled Nick Saban’s LSU going-away party with a game-ending 56-yard Drew Tate to Warren Holloway touchdown pass as time expired in the 2005 Capital One Bowl.
The Tigers had gone ahead 25-24 only seconds earlier on a JaMarcus Russell to Skyler Green pass but ultimately were defeated by Iowa by a final score of 30-25.
41. Bush in the Fog: USC vs. Oregon State, 2004
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Oregon State had upset on its mind when it hosted undefeated USC on the evening of November 6, 2004.
But the Beavers' dreams weren’t to be realized, in large part because of Trojan RB Reggie Bush, who returned a punt 65 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a 28-20 USC victory.
Was it the fog or Bush’s athletic ability that allowed him to elude Oregon State defenders? Regardless, the play is spellbinding.
40. Tide Rising: Alabama vs. Washington, 1926 Rose Bowl
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The story of the 1926 Rose Bowl has two details that are, from a modern football perspective, simply hard to imagine.
First, the Rose Bowl offered a bid to several teams who declined an opportunity to play Washington in the New Year’s classic. Secondly, the Rose Bowl committee “settled” for Alabama, seeing Southern football as inferior.
In an outcome that is considered to mark the rise of Southern football, Washington took a 12-0 lead into halftime, after which it was lambasted by 20 consecutive, unanswered Crimson Tide third-quarter points.
The game-winning score came on a Pooley Hubert to Johnny Mack Brown 61-yard touchdown pass and propelled Alabama to a 20-19 Rose Bowl victory.
39. It Never Really Happened: Miami vs. Alabama, 1993 Sugar Bowl
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Not unlike the entire season of the TV blockbuster Dallas, where Bobby Ewing was dead (but not really), the best play of the 1993 Sugar Bowl was nullified. Yep, as thrilling as it was, it never happened (officially)...
Miami WR Lamar Thomas was streaking downfield to complete an 89-yard touchdown pass scamper when Alabama safety George Teague shot after him, ultimately catching him inside the Tide 10-yard line.
Somehow Teague managed to swipe and steal the ball from Thomas and turn back upfield. Alas, Teague’s unbelievable play was nullified by an Alabama offside penalty.
The Crimson Tide went on to wallop the Hurricanes 34-13, earning them a national championship crown.
The only thing missing from the script was Victoria Principal finding George Teague in the shower after the game, acting eerily as if the stunning chase and turnover had never happened.
38. Silence in the Swamp: Florida vs. Florida State, 1993
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After coming within a mere six points of knocking off No. 1 Florida State, No. 7 Florida gave up a 3rd-and-10, 79-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Ward to Warrick Dunn to spur Florida State on to a 33-21 victory and eventually a national title.
37. Nut-Crushing Pick: Ohio State vs. Michigan, 1971
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Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes were in Wolverine territory and down by only a three-point margin to No. 3 Michigan in the final seconds of the 1971 playing of “The Game.”
The drive and game ended when Michigan defender Thom Darden managed to leap midair and over Buckeye receiver Dick Wakefield for an amazing interception at the Wolverine 32-yard line.
Michigan went on to finish the season undefeated and ultimately lost to Stanford 13-12 in the 1972 Rose Bowl.
36. Another BC Miracle: Boston College vs. Notre Dame, 1993
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When you think of miracles and Boston College, Doug Flutie’s 1984 Hail Mary pass immediately comes to mind.
What may be overlooked is the 1993 No. 17 Boston College squad’s unbelievable upset of then-No. 1 Notre Dame as time expired.
Notre Dame was down 38-17 in the fourth quarter but reeled off 22 unanswered points on its way to taking a narrow 39-38 lead.
But BC wasn’t going to go away quietly into the South Bend night, and with just over a minute on the clock the Eagles marched down the field and set up a 41-yard David Gordon field goal that lifted Boston College over Notre Dame by a final score of 41-39.
35. Duke’s Last Stand: Duke vs. USC, 1939 Rose Bowl
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If you were at the 1939 Rose Bowl, you would have waited a full three quarters before seeing any movement on the scoreboard.
Yes, the first points of the game were scored in the fourth quarter when undefeated Duke kicked a 23-yard field goal and went up 3-0.
USC finally got in on the action when Trojan QB Doyle Nave connected with Al “The Antelope” Krueger for a 19-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with just minutes remaining on the clock.
The score takes on further significance considering the fact that USC’s seven points were the only points scored on the Duke Blue Devils that season.
34. Wide Right One: Miami vs. Florida State, 1991
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Other than perhaps Scott Norwood’s missed field goal kick in Buffalo’s loss to the NY Giants in Super Bowl XXV (ironically also in 1991), it would be hard to argue that there is a more infamous missed field goal than what became known as “Wide Right One.”
It was a pass interference call that gave No. 1 Florida State the ball on No. 2 Miami’s 18-yard line with just under a minute to go in the game.
FSU was down to Miami by a paper-thin 17-16 margin when, after running a play on first down, Seminole coach Bobby Bowden opted to send Gerry Thomas onto the field for the game-winning score.
Thomas’ kick became a part of college football lore when it flew right of the uprights and became the beginning of FSU’s monumental kicking woes.
33. Hatfield Breaks Free: Texas vs. Arkansas, 1964
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No. 1 Texas hosted No. 7 Arkansas in Austin on October 17, 1964 in a game that would eventually help to determine the national championship.
The only score in the first half was an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Ken Hatfield, who streaked down the sideline for the Hogs score.
If not for big Jim Lindsey’s block on Longhorn standout and All-American Tommy Nobis, Hatfield may well have been stopped, and Texas instead of Arkansas may have laid claim to a share of the 1964 national crown.
32. Tiffin Ices the Iron: Alabama vs. Auburn, 1985 Iron Bowl
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After a wild fourth quarter and the score at 23-22 in favor of Auburn, the Crimson Tide were on their own 12 with less than a minute to play and zero timeouts.
In five thrilling plays Alabama managed, under the direction of QB Mike Shula, to reach the Auburn 35-yard line, and Van Tiffin nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
Final score: Alabama 25, Auburn 22.
31. The Gutsy Gipper: Notre Dame vs. Northwestern, 1920
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We all know the storyline of “win one for the Gipper,” but what of George Gipp and his actual Notre Dame football career?
One play that at least somewhat legitimizes the legend came on November 20, 1920 during the final moments of a road game vs. Northwestern.
Already up by a considerable margin, George Gipp entered the game with a separated shoulder but still managed to hurl a Notre Dame-record 70-yard touchdown pass to Irish receiver Norman Barry.
The final score was 33-7 in favor of Notre Dame, and sadly Gipp went on (less than a month later) to perish from pneumonia.
30. Miracle Amid Tragedy: Marshall vs. Xavier, 1971
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When considering a human tragedy such as the one that struck the Marshall University Thundering Herd family in November of 1970, the game of football hardly seems even remotely significant.
Since the 2006 release of We Are Marshall, a whole new generation of sports fans has become familiar with the heart-wrenching story of the 1970 Marshall football team, which suffered the loss of 37 players, five coaches, media, fans, administrators and aircraft crew (75 casualties in all) in a plane crash on November 14, 1970.
As the movie documents, coach Jack Lengyel wound up with the inevitable task of leading a seriously undermanned Marshall team on the emotional and overmatched journey that was the 1971 Thundering Herd football campaign.
Marshall dropped its first contest, a road game to Morehead State, 29-6 and then prepared to face Xavier in the home opener.
After a back-and-forth contest, the Thundering Herd were on their own 48 and down to Xavier 13-9 with only 1:18 on left on the clock.
Marshall’s offense eventually managed to reach the Xavier 13-yard line, and as time ran out QB Reggie Oliver (an ineligible freshman on the JV squad in 1970) connected on a pass to true freshman Terry Gardner, who, with the help of a sensational Jack Crabtree (also a 1970 JV player) block, scored the winning touchdown.
The clock read 0:00, and the final score stood at 15-13 in favor of Marshall.
It is easy to understand the significance of the play and game to Marshall from a purely emotional standpoint.
That said, it shouldn’t be overlooked that the drive, play and win are extraordinary from a purely sports approach.
Here was a team that lost its entire core and was stripped of its experience and talent (in a tragic way) and only some 10 months later banded together and found a way to win.
Amazing.
29. Jack You Up: Ohio State vs. Clemson, 1978 Gator Bowl
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It wasn’t an key interception in a tight bowl game that Clemson defender Charlie Bauman is remembered for. Instead, it is what happened after the play that will live on forever in sports lore.
Bauman made the painful error of ending his win-sealing play on the opposing Buckeye sideline, where he was met by Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, who, obviously frustrated, punched Bauman in the head.
An all-out, free for all brawl ensued, and the game ended with Clemson winning 17-15. As for Hayes, his career ended the next morning when Ohio State fired him.
28. Big Risk, No Reward: Nebraska vs. Miami, 1984 Orange Bowl
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Tom Osborne proved that the church bells are big in Nebraska when he went for a two-point conversion after a Cornhusker touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the 1984 Orange Bowl.
The Huskers were down 31-30 to the Hurricanes, meaning an extra point guaranteed a tie and at least a share of a national championship crown.
Osborne opted for attempting to win it all with a two-point conversion (with a “W” rather than a “T”), which ultimately failed when QB Turner Gill’s pass to Jeff Smith was tipped away by Hurricane safety Ken Calhoun.
27. The Hidden Ball Trick: Carlisle vs. Harvard, 1903
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The Carlisle Indian Academy was absolutely overmatched when facing the dominant Harvard Crimson in 1903 but liked nothing more than to trick opponents who were supposed to be both physically and mentally superior.
The Hidden Ball Trick was intricately planned and used on the kickoff in the second half when Carlisle held on to a narrow and unexpected 5-0 lead.
The kick was received by Jimmy Johnson, and as the Indians formed a tight arc around the ball carrier, another Carlisle player slipped the ball in the specially modified jersey back of Charlie Dillon.
As the rest of the Carlisle squad all acted like they had the ball, Dillon ran with his hands free down the length of the field and scored, putting the Indians up 11-0.
The play stood, as Carlisle’s legendary coach Pop Warner had the foresight to warn the officials of the deceptive play beforehand.
Harvard’s brute strength ultimately prevailed, and the Crimson won the contest 12-11.
26. Cam Newton Highlight Reel: Auburn vs. LSU, 2010
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LSU posed an enormous stumbling block to the Auburn Tigers and Cam Newton on their road to the 2010 national championship and Heisman Trophy.
One play that fated day in Auburn best represented the Tigers' 2010 season: a flat-out amazing 49-yard Cam Newton scoring run featuring unbelievable elusiveness, balance and athleticism.
Auburn went on to defeat LSU 24-17, ultimately winning a national crown and the Heisman Trophy for Newton.
25. Goal Line Tide: Alabama vs. Penn State, 1979 Sugar Bowl
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Penn State was down 14-7 to Alabama late in the 1979 Sugar Bowl when the Nittany Lions found themselves with a second down inside the Tide 1-yard line.
After stopping the Nittany Lions on both second and third down and inches, Tide linebacker Barry Krauss made a stunning midair stop of surging back Mike Guman, leaving Penn State just inches and seven points short of a Sugar Bowl victory.
24. Fumblerooski: Nebraska vs. Miami, 1984 Orange Bowl
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No. 1 Nebraska was indeed desperate after the second quarter of the 1984 Orange Bowl, facing a 17-0 deficit to the Miami Hurricanes.
This set the scene for Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne calling the now legendary “Fumblerooski.”
Nebraska QB Turner Gill placed the ball on the turf after the snap, and offensive guard Dean Steinkuhler subsequently scooped up the ball and scampered 19 yards for a touchdown.
Nebraska went on to lose the game 31-30, which also cost the Children of the Corn a national title.
23. Reggie Bush Push: USC vs. Notre Dame, 2005
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A field goal would have tied the game when the Trojans lined up for their final possession with just under a minute and a half left on the game clock. The Irish led 31-28, and USC was out of timeouts but managed to drive the ball inside the Notre Dame 5-yard line.
Rather than spiking the ball, stopping the clock and kicking a short field goal with seven seconds remaining, Trojan QB Matt Leinart attempted a sneak for the end zone, where he was met by several Irish defenders who pushed him backwards. USC RB Reggie Bush then literally pushed Leinart into the end zone for the game-winning USC touchdown.
The play, which occurred with only three seconds on the game clock, lifted the Trojans to a 34-31 road victory vs. Notre Dame.
22. 93-Yard Swamp Killer: Georgia vs. Florida, 1980
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No. 2 Georgia was undefeated and trailing underdog Florida 21-20 late in the game and deep in its own territory when fate stepped in to work her magic and change the course of history.
On 3rd-and-8 Bulldog QB Buck Belue scrambled around in the Georgia end zone in a play that looked destined for failure. Suddenly Belue found receiver Lindsay Scott open midfield and hurled a pass that Scott caught at the Bulldog 25.
Scott somehow, breathtakingly, managed to elude or outrun the entire Florida defense and scored the game-winning touchdown with only seconds remaining on the game clock.
Georgia’s landmark 26-21 victory over Florida spurred the Bulldogs to a No. 1 ranking and eventually the 1980 national championship.
21. Punt ‘Bama Punt: Auburn vs. Alabama, 1972 Iron Bowl
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No. 1 Alabama led Auburn 16-3 with less than 10 minutes to go when the Tide were forced to punt the ball back to a beleaguered Tiger squad.
The Alabama punt was blocked by Bill Newton and returned for a touchdown by Auburn’s David Langner, making the score 16-10.
Unbelievably, just moments later, Alabama was once again forced to punt, with Newton blocking the punt and Langner returning the ball for another Auburn touchdown.
After the extra point Auburn took the lead 17-16, which was also the final score of the game.
20. The Wallace Run: Iowa State vs. Texas Tech, 2002
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On 2nd-and-11 from the Texas Tech 12-yard line, Iowa State QB Seneca Wallace managed one of the most amazing touchdown scrambles in history.
Wallace was chased back some 18 yards before progressing forward and then laterally, eluding at least six Red Raider tacklers on his way to one of the most improbable but impressive scores on record.
It is estimated that Wallace ran for over 120 yards on this one play from scrimmage.
The Cyclones went on to lose the game 31-17.
19. Stomp, Stumble and Fumble: Tennessee vs. Arkansas, 1998
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Better suited for fiction, Tennessee’s 1998 undefeated season (and eventual national title) was almost derailed by Arkansas on November 14, 1998.
The No. 1 Volunteers found themselves down 24-22 to the No. 10 (and also undefeated) Arkansas Razorbacks with less than two minutes left on the game clock.
Somehow, while trying to run the clock out and preserve a monumental victory, Razorback guard Brandon Burlsworth ran into QB Clint Stoener, who, after Burlsworth stepped on his foot, stumbled and fumbled the ball.
The unthinkable, the impossible happened when the Vols recovered the drop at the Razorback 43, setting up the drive for a game-winning score with just under 30 seconds on the game clock.
The final score was 28-24 Tennessee, and the Volunteers went on to capture the BCS national championship by besting Florida State 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl.
18. Moss Hurdles Army: Marshall vs. Army, 1997
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Randy Moss' college career lasted only two short years, but in this time he managed 174 receptions for 3,529 yards and 54 touchdowns. The longest of these scores was a spine-tingling 90-yard touchdown catch and run vs. Army.
The play came on a third down screen pass from QB Chad Pennington, which Moss caught on the Marshall 8-yard line. He then exploded downfield past three defenders at the 15, hurdled (very literally) over two defenders at the 25, blew past a final Cadet defender at midfield and then burned down the left sideline for an electrifying score.
This is one of the plays you simply have to see to believe.
17. Puntrooskie: Clemson vs. Florida State, 1988
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With only 1:33 left in the game and the score locked up at 21 points, the Seminoles were facing a fourth down from their own 21-yard line.
Rather than punt the ball and hope his defense could stop Clemson, FSU coach Bobby Bowden infamously called a faked muff punt in which the snap went to upback Dayne Williams, who sneaked the ball (between his legs) to LeRoy Butler, who ran for 78 yards to the Clemson 1-yard line.
The trick play set up a Florida State touchdown that put the Seminoles ahead for good 28-21.
Not only was the play ingenious, it was also about as gutsy a call as college football has ever seen.
16. Streak Ender: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma, 1957
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The two-time consecutive national champion 1957 Oklahoma Sooners had won 47 straight games and scored in their last 123 games when they hosted a struggling Fighting Irish squad in Norman on November 16, 1957.
In a game that shocked the nation, both streaks ended on that November day with the Irish defense holding the Sooner offense scoreless and finally with Notre Dame (after being denied twice inside the Sooner 10-yard line) winning the game on a Dick Lynch touchdown run.
The winning play (a lateral from Irish QB Bob Williams) came on fourth down and goal from the Sooner three with just under four minutes to play.
The final score was 7-0 Notre Dame.
15. Texas Classic: SMU vs. TCU, 1935
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Crosstown rivals SMU and TCU (led by Slinging Sammy Baugh) met on November 30, 1925 with a trip to the Rose Bowl in the balance.
It was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest that ended when, late in the game with TCU up 14-13, the Mustangs on a 4th-and-4 from the Horned Frog 37 ran a pass play out of a punt formation.
Bob Finley hurled the ball almost 40 yards to Mustang receiver Bobby Wilson, sealing a thrilling 20-14 SMU victory.
SMU went on to lose 7-0 to Stanford in the 1936 Rose Bowl.
14. Prothro Goes Behind His Back: Alabama vs. Southern Miss, 2005
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The Crimson Tide were down 21-10 with less than 30 seconds left in the first half when, on 4th-and-12, Alabama QB Brodie Croyle threw up a prayer from the Southern Miss 45-yard line.
Heavily covered Tide receiver Tyrone Prothro grabbed the ball around the neck and then behind the back of safety Jasper Faulk and held on as the two fell into the end zone.
Prothro’s grab has got to be considered one of the most unbelievable catches in the great history of football.
The play was ruled down at the 1-yard line, and the Crimson Tide went on to score on the next play. Alabama ultimately won the game 30-21.
13. Clipless Return: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma, 1971
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No. 1 Nebraska traveled to Norman, Oklahoma to face the No. 2 Sooners on Thursday, November 25, 1971 for what was eventually dubbed “the Game of the Century.”
Oklahoma, despite coming back from two 11-point deficits, would ultimately lose this Turkey Day classic 35-31, but the most memorable play of the game came in the first quarter, when Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers took a punt return 72 yards for a touchdown.
The play, arguably the difference in a close back and forth game, was controversial due to what the Sooners claimed was a clip that should have nullified the score.
12. An Immaculate Reception: Nebraska vs. Missouri, 1997
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Of all the freaky catches in the history of college football, Nebraska’s Matt Davison’s diving grab of a deflected Scott Frost pass forcing overtime has to be among the top 10.
Frost’s 12-yard pass, which came with 12 seconds left to play, was knocked away from Nebraska’s Shevin Wiggins and looked destined to be intercepted by Missouri defender Harold Piersey.
Strangely, the outcome changed when the ball came off Wiggins’ foot and ultimately found a home in the outstretched hands of Matt Davison.
The score forced overtime when Scott Frost scored, this time on a run, and No. 1 Nebraska remained undefeated with a 45-38 win over Missouri.
11. The Pass: Purdue vs. Ohio State, 2000
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It took 21 points in the fourth quarter vs. No. 13 Ohio State for the No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers to end their 34-year Rose Bowl drought.
Most memorable among these scores was a 64-yard Drew Brees to Seth Morales pass that resulted in the winning touchdown with just less than two minutes left to go in the game.
Somehow Morales got behind the entire Buckeye secondary and caught the ball on the fly, ultimately propelling Purdue to a 31-27 victory and a Rose Bowl berth.
Purdue would go on to lose to Washington 34-24 in the 2001 Rose Bowl.
10. Buckeye Goal-Line Stand: Ohio State vs. Miami, 2003 National Championship
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It’s hard to generate more drama than a double overtime goal-line stand to win the national championship, but proving again that reality is often better than fiction in college football, that is exactly what happened when Ohio State beat Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
After a game chock-full of excitement, Miami needed a touchdown in the second overtime to force a third extra period. After two key penalties the Hurricanes found themselves with a first down and goal to go from the Ohio State 2-yard line.
The four downs that followed have to be considered among the most impressive string of defensive plays ever, combining to make a championship-winning goal-line stand.
In three plays the Hurricanes managed only one yard, and suddenly the entire game came down to a fourth down and goal from the one that resulted in a well-covered incomplete pass and a Buckeye title crown.
9. Sheer Athletic Ability: Texas vs. USC, 2006 BCS Championship
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The play that made the difference in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game was one of the most amazing individual performances in college football history.
Vince Young’s fourth-down scamper from the Trojans' 8-yard line with only 19 ticks remaining on the game clock propelled the Longhorns to an unforgettable 41-38 win and a BCS national championship crown.
8. Sudden Victory: Texas vs. Texas Tech, 2008
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No. 1 Texas visited Lubbock on November 1, 2008 to face No. 7 Texas Tech in a game that eventually more than lived up to its huge billing.
The first half was all Texas Tech, but after a late Longhorn touchdown the Red Raiders held on to a tempestuous 22-6 lead at the half.
The Longhorns took over in the second half, reeling off 27 points, resulting in a 33-32 Texas lead with 1:29 remaining in the game.
After the ensuing kickoff the Red Raiders took over on their own 38 and under the leadership of QB Graham Harrell managed to move the ball to the Texas 28. The next play featured a deflected pass that seemed a sure game-ending interception by Texas defender Blake Gideon, who in reality did not manage to hold on to the ball.
With only eight seconds to go Harrell tossed the ball down the right-hand sideline, where Tech WR Michael Crabtree magically caught the ball, spun away from two defenders and ran six yards for one of the most dramatic touchdowns in college football history.
Texas Tech ultimately won the contest by a 39-33 mark and rose to No. 2 in the national rankings.
7. Liberty for All: Boise State vs. Oklahoma, 2007 Fiesta Bowl
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Two plays stand out in most fans’ minds when they think back to the 2007 Fiesta Bowl triumph that lifted upstart Boise State over perennial powerhouse Oklahoma.
But what sealed the deal was the Statue of Liberty handoff for a two-point conversion featuring Ian Johnson. The play secured an improbable and absolutely unforgettable 43-42 overtime victory for a Boise State team that heretofore did not belong in the BCS.
6. Marino Tops Walker: Pittsburgh vs. Georgia, 1982 Sugar Bowl
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The 48th annual Sugar Bowl featured the arm of Dan Marino vs. the legs of Herschel Walker in a battle of college football heavyweights.
The lead in the gripping contest changed hands five times, and with only 42 seconds left and down by three points, Pitt was faced with a 4th-and-5 from the Bulldog 33.
Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill was thinking field goal, but QB Dan Marino convinced him to try to convert. The Bulldogs ran a blitz play and left TE John Brown in single coverage. Marino threw a bullet to Brown, who scored the game-winning 33-yard touchdown.
The victory catapulted Pitt to an impressive three-year record of 33-3, including three consecutive bowl victories.
5. The Bluegrass Miracle: LSU vs. Kentucky, 2002
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Proving that premature Gatorade bathing can ultimately result in nothing more than a long, painful, cold walk back to the locker room, the 2002 Bluegrass Miracle game had it all.
After staging a formidable fourth-quarter comeback, underdog Kentucky kicked a field goal to go up on defending SEC champion LSU 30-27 with only 11 seconds remaining on the clock.
After fielding and advancing the ensuing kickoff no further than its own 9-yard line LSU, managed to move the ball to its own 26-yard line before calling a timeout with only two seconds remaining.
What happened next was one of those “you have to see it to believe it” moments. From his own 18-yard line, LSU QB Marcus Randall (not known for his arm strength) threw up a prayer, which was deflected off the hands of Tiger Michael Clayton, bounced through a number of Kentucky defenders and into the hands of another LSU receiver, Devery Henderson.
Henderson caught the deflected ball at the Kentucky 15 and broke a tackle to score the winning touchdown.
Pandemonium reigned supreme in the stadium and across the airwaves as jubilant Kentucky fans stormed the field believing they had won. Even the broadcast crews were confused, and the wrong score (30-27 in favor of Kentucky) was posted on television.
Heartache was all that remained for Wildcat fans to celebrate when they finally digested that what looked like a monumental upset had suddenly morphed into an unbelievable 33-30 LSU victory.
4. The Miracle Bowl: BYU vs. SMU, 1981 Holiday Bowl
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When you think of the greatest Hail Mary plays in college football lore, “The Play,” Doug Flutie’s miracle and Kordell Stewart’s bomb vs. Michigan immediately come to mind.
Mildly overlooked might be BYU QB Jim McMahon’s Hail Mary into quadruple coverage as time expired vs. SMU in the 1981 Holiday Bowl.
The pass resulted in a Clay Brown touchdown, which capped off a two-minute, 33-second 21-point scoring frenzy by the Cougars, resulting in a stupendous fourth quarter comeback.
After a Kurt Gunther extra point with no time left on the clock, BYU had posted a 46-45 win over the Pony Express. One has to wonder if destiny temporarily caught up with an SMU program where cash reigned supreme.
3. Stewart Bombs Michigan: Colorado vs. Michigan, 1994
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Proving that reality is often better than fiction, Kordell Stewart’s 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook provided an unreal, unscripted and unbelievable touchdown to spur the Buffaloes to a 27-26 victory over Michigan.
One of the many lasting images of the dazzling finish was the sudden silencing of 100,000 strong in the Big House, as the Wolverine faithful were stunned by one of the most unforgettable defeats in college football.
2. Hail Flutie: Boston College vs. Miami, 1984
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Arguably among the top three “Hail Mary” plays in college football history, Boston College’s undersized QB Doug Flutie’s 48-yard toss to Gerard Phelan lifted BC to a breathtaking 47-45 victory over Miami.
Besides the stunning finish, the game was notable for Hurricanes QB Bernie Kosar throwing for a school-record 447 yards and Flutie passing for 472 yards and four touchdowns.
1. The Play: Cal vs. Stanford, 1982
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Arguably the greatest play in college football history, “The Play” occurred on November 20, 1982.
The stage was set with just four seconds left on the game clock when Stanford went ahead of Cal 20-19 with a field goal.
Following the score, Stanford squib-kicked the ball to the Golden Bears, who used five lateral passes and a run through the Stanford band to score, ultimately winning the 85th, “Big Game” 25-20.
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