College Football Schedules: The 20 Greatest Week 1 Games Ever

When the evening of Thursday, September 1 finally arrives and the 2011 season of college football at long last kicks off, our fortitude will be handsomely rewarded with,  at the very least, a couple of blockbuster gridiron contests.

Week 1 of this coming season feature’s the obvious match-ups of Oregon vs. LSU in Arlington and Georgia vs. Boise State in Atlanta (both Saturday, September 3 games that have us collectively foaming at the mouth). Friday night’s TCU at Baylor clash and Saturday’s USF at Notre Dame, Minnesota at USC, BYU at Ole Miss and ECU at South Carolina and Sunday/Monday games that include SMU at Texas A&M and Miami FL at Maryland are not to be forgotten either.

The truth is that even this somewhat comprehensive listing doesn’t include the contests that will ultimately be burned in to our memories by the time the weekend is over; yes, there will be the unthinkable upset, the triple overtime thriller or the shocking one sided trouncing that nobody predicted.

And that’s the beautiful thing about college football.

The following slideshow looks backward and plucks 20 of the best games ever played in the opening weekend of higher education pigskin competition. Though the recent past is well represented, contests from the “days of yore” are also included.

The list ultimately reminds us that even though all teams ride into Week 1 unblemished and untested and in many cases participate in games that seem on the surface to be lopsided, college football remains the most unscripted and difficult to predict team sport in these great United States.

Beautiful.

Rutgers vs. Princeton, 1869

When:  November 6, 1869

Where: New Brunswick, NJ (on the site of today’s Rutgers gym)

Score: Rutgers 6, Princeton 4

To start the list out right let’s begin, in Frauline Maria’s own words, “at the very beginning,” which takes us back to the very first college football game ever played.

The play itself was more like rugby than what we know today as modern American football, but it marked the opening contest (the first Week 1 game ever if you will) in what was to become the greatest of all American team sports.

A rollicking account of the game can be accessed via the Rutgers athletic site and is worth reading. http://www.scarletknights.com/football/history/first-game.asp. One of my own personal favorite contemporary quotes describes the planning of the initial series between the two schools and its impact:

“A challenge for the game was issued by Rutgers.  Three games were to be played that year. The first played at New Brunswick and won by Rutgers.  Princeton won the second game, but cries of “over emphasis” prevented the third game in football’s first year when faculties of both institutions protested on the grounds that “the games were interfering with student studies.””

The Aftermath

Princeton went 1-1 in 1869 as did Rutgers (remember, they were the only two teams playing) and somehow Princeton ended up being crowned the first ever college football National Champions.

Though it sounds like some sort of BCS type scheme, in reality the Tigers may have been awarded the title due to the fact that they beat Rutgers 8-0 in the second contest which gave them the widest margin of victory.

LSU vs. Oregon State, 2004

When:  September 4, 2004

Where: Baton Rouge, LA

Score: LSU 22, Oregon State 21

The defending champion LSU Tigers were a 12-point favorite coming into the opener against Oregon State and were lucky to escape with a victory.

Oregon State (who were coming off an 8-4 finish in 2003 which was Mike Riley’s first season in Corvallis) led 9-0 at halftime and held on to a 15-7 lead with less than two minutes in the game.

With just a minute left on the clock LSU QB JaMarcus Russell threw a 38-yard TD pass to Dwayne Bowe to cut the lead to 15-13. Following a successful two-point conversion—a run by Russell—the score was all tied up at the end of regulation.

In overtime LSU struck first with a touchdown and successful extra point which Oregon State partially covered with a Derek Anderson to Joe Newton TD toss.

In the conversion attempt, Oregon State’s kicker Alex Serna’s (who had missed two extra points earlier in the same game) kick went wide right and the game ended in an improbable (though heavily predicted) LSU victory.

The Aftermath

Oregon State finished the 2004 season at 7-5 which included a 50-21 drubbing of Oregon in the closer and a 38-21 victory over Notre Dame in the Insight Bowl.

LSU went 9-3 in what was Nick Saban’s final campaign in Baton Rouge and capped off the regular season with losses to Auburn (9-10) and Georgia (16-45) and ultimately lost to Iowa (25-30) in the Capital One Bowl.

Michigan vs. Virginia, 1995

When:  August 26, 1995

Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Score: Michigan 18, Virginia 17

It was No. 14 Michigan hosting No. 17 Virginia in the playing of the sixth annual Pigskin Classic (a late August game that was played from 1990-2002).

The Cavaliers had a commanding 17-0 fourth quarter lead over the Wolverines (six of these points came via an 81-yard Tiki Barber touchdown dash) when Michigan finally got on the board with a short TD rush by Ed Davis.

After a missed extra point and a stalled Virginia possession Michigan’s Mercury Hayes scored on a 31-yard pass play. After an unsuccessful conversion attempt the score stood 17-12 with approximately seven minutes left on the game clock.

After a sustained Virginia drive that produced zero points, the Wolverines got the ball back with just over two minutes on the clock and sputtered until they finally got to Virginia’s 15 yard line with 12 seconds left in the game.

After two incompletions it was third down. With only six seconds left on the clock Michigan QB Scott Dreisbach threw a pass (way short of the end zone) to Tyrone Butterfield who mercifully missed the grab.

If the pass were completed short of the end zone, it would have been the end of the game and a Virginia victory. The incompletion set-up the final play of the game which was a thrilling Dreisbach to Mercury Hayes toss in the corner of the end zone to ice the game for Michigan.

The Aftermath

Michigan went on to a 9-4 record in 1995 (which was Lloyd Carr’s first year) and lost to Texas A&M, 20-22, in the Alamo Bowl.

Virginia also went 9-4 in 1995 which included a thrilling win over Florida State (the Seminoles first ACC loss); a co-ACC championship and a 34-27 win over Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

Miami FL vs. Florida, 1984

When:  September 1, 1984

Where: Tampa Bay, Florida

Score: Miami FL 32, Florida 20

This was actually the second game of the season for the Hurricanes. They had knocked off No. 1 Auburn 20-18 in the Kickoff Classic a week earlier but their historic game against Florida makes the list by virtue of technically being a Week 1 affair.

The Hurricanes were defending national champs and in their first year under Jimmy Johnson when they met No. 17 Florida in Tampa. After an early Gator lead Miami finally got it going and enjoyed a narrow 19-13 advantage in the fourth quarter.

With under a minute left to go Florida took the lead back on a short TD pass from freshman QB Kerwin Bell to Frankie Neal (which came after a dramatic fourth down conversion).

With the Gators holding on to a narrow 20-19 lead Miami QB Bernie Kosar took the field and drove the Hurricanes inside the Florida 20 and ultimately took the lead with a TD pass to Eddie Brown with only seven seconds left on the game clock.

The last score came off a Miami interception return as Florida attempted a last ditch effort to salvage a victory.

The Aftermath

Miami FL finished the 1984 season 8-5 which included a 40-42 loss to Maryland in what is dubbed as the biggest comeback in the history of college football (the Hurricanes blew a 31-0 halftime lead) and the historic 45-47 loss to Doug Flutie and Boston College in the “Hail Mary” game (the two losses were back-to-back).

The Hurricanes season ultimately ended with a 37-39 loss to UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl.

The scandal ridden Gators (coach Charley Pell resigned after three games) went on to a 9-1-1 record (they tied LSU 21-21 in Week 2) but didn’t participate in the post season due to NCAA sanctions.

 

 

Mississippi vs. Jacksonville State, 2010

When:  September 4, 2010

Where: Oxford, MS

Score: Jacksonville State 49, Ole Miss 48

The 2010 season opener pitting Jacksonville State vs. Ole Miss isn’t memorable simply because it was an upset of historic proportions, (Ole Miss had never lost to an FCS team) it was also one heck of a football game.

Ole Miss had a commanding 31-10 lead at halftime but after 21 fourth quarter Gamecock points (and only three by the Rebels) the score was a shocking 34-34 at the end of regulation.

After the first overtime period ended in a dead heat (both squads scored touchdowns and kicked successful extra points) Jacksonville State managed to convert a two-point try at the end of the second extra period to shockingly win the game.

The Aftermath 

Ole Miss never fully recovered from the loss (plus they played in a stacked SEC West) and ended 2010 at 4-8.

Jacksonville State went on to enjoy a 9-3 season in 2010 and ended their campaign with a narrow 14-17 loss to Wofford in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

USC vs. Alabama, 1970

When:  September 12, 1970

Where:  Birmingham, Alabama

Score:  USC 42, Alabama 21

The 1970 season opened with the much anticipated clash of No. 3 USC on the road against No. 16 Alabama in Birmingham.

The long-term effects of this contest have far more impact than the simple truth that the Trojans toppled the Crimson Tide in a blockbuster Week 1 match-up. This has to do with USC’s Sam “Bam” Cunningham who ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns (two in the first half) in the victory.

You see, Alabama’s football team was not integrated in 1970 and when Sam Cunningham, an African American, led the Trojans to glory the Crimson Tide got more out of the experience than a mere loss.

Later in his career Alabama Coach Bear Bryant was quoted as saying “Cunningham did more for integration in Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King Jr.” Though that might be a huge exaggeration and a bit disrespectful to Dr. King, the Crimson Tide integrated their football program in 1971.

It is important to note that this quote was also credited to an assistant of Bryan and a number of other people, so it may be more myth than legend,

The Aftermath

Alabama went only 6-5-1 in 1970, a season that ended with a 24-24 tie with Oklahoma in the now defunct Bluebonnet Bowl. 

Of interest, the 1971 Crimson Tide went 11-1, captured an SEC crown and suffered their only loss (which cost them the national championship) to Nebraska (6-38) in the Orange Bowl.

USC went a similar 6-4-1 in 1970 and though they didn’t go bowling the Trojans bested Notre Dame 38-28 to close out the season.

TCU vs. Oklahoma, 2005

When:  September 3, 2005

Where: Norman, Oklahoma

Score: TCU 17, Oklahoma 10

No. 7 Oklahoma was favored by a whopping 21 points over TCU when the Toads came calling for the opener of the 2005 season. TCU was coming off a 5-6 finish in 2004, the lowest point in the Gary Patterson era.

The Horned Frogs stifled Sooner back Adrian Peterson (who had only 63 yards) and enjoyed a 10-0 lead at halftime and despite giving up 10 unanswered points in the third quarter scored a game winning touchdown in the fourth to seal the deal.

The win marked the biggest upset for the Horned Frogs in 45 years and was the first Sooner home loss since they were defeated 13-16 by Oklahoma State in 2001.

Oklahoma hasn’t suffered a loss in Norman since falling to the Horned Frogs in 2005.

The Aftermath

TCU went on to lose it’s only game of the season in a Week 2 emotional hangover defeat at SMU (10-21) and then reeled off 10 straight wins capturing a MWC crown, an 11-1 finish, and a bowl victory over Iowa State in the Houston Bowl.

The Sooners went on to an 8-4 finish but ended the season by beating Oregon 17-14 in the Holiday Bowl.

Tennessee vs. Georgia, 1980

When:  September 6, 1980

Where: Knoxville, Tennessee

Score: Georgia 16, Tennessee 15

The blockbuster match-up pitting the Bulldogs against the Volunteers in a Week 1 conference game has historic meaning that eclipses its thrilling 16-15 finish.

Georgia’s legendary coach Vince Dooley wasn’t prone to starting freshmen but due to a 13-point Bulldog deficit he opted to succumb to the wishes of the Georgia faithful and put a young Herschel Walker into the game.

This set up the now infamous play that involved Walker running over Tennessee defensive back Bill Bates at the five yard line on his way to 16-yard score.

The Bulldogs won the contest 16-15 and Hershel Walker went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1982. He is still the only player in history to finish in the top three of the Heisman vote for every season of his collegiate career.

The Aftermath

Tennessee struggled to a 5-6 finish in 1980 (under Johnny Majors) while Georgia used their narrow victory over the Vols as a catapult, launching them to 12-0 finish that ended with an SEC title, a 17-0 defeat of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, and the Bulldogs second national championship.

Iowa State vs. Toledo, 2006

When:  August 31, 2006

Where:  Ames, Iowa

Score: Iowa State 45, Toledo 43

In a game that hardly sounds like an instant classic (Cyclones vs. Rockets, come on man) the 2006 opener in Ames was actually one for the ages.

The contest featured three thrilling overtime periods which become more significant when you realize that the Cyclones had never won an overtime game in school history; a fact made even more painful when you remember (which I didn’t) that overtime games had cost Iowa State opportunities to go to the Big 12 title game in both 2004 and 2005.

Though you have to give an overmatched Toledo squad credit for coming back from a 12 point margin in the second half, the game ended when Rocket’s receiver Chris Hopkins couldn’t hang on to a two-point conversion toss that would have pushed the game to a fourth overtime.

The Aftermath

Toledo finished 2006 with at a disappointing mark of 5-7 and Iowa State suffered an even more gutting 4-8 finish in Dan McCarney’s final season in Ames (Gene Chizik took over in 2007).

Washington vs. Arizona State, 1998

When:  September 5, 1998

Where:  Tempe, Arizona

Score: Washington 42, Arizona State 38

In a contest that perhaps didn’t jump out on paper before it was played but certainly delivered when it counted, the Huskies and Sun Devils squared off in a rollicking conference and season opener in Tempe, Arizona.

Washington led the Sun Devils 35-28 at the end of three offensively charged quarters. After an ASU field goal and TD pass, the Devils led 38-35 with only two minutes on the clock.

In what appeared to be a situation of desperation, Washington had the ball at their own 37 and faced a menacing fourth and 17 with less than a minute to go in the game. Washington QB Brock Huard heaved a pass to TE Reggie Davis who was caught by the Sun Devil's standout defender Mitchell Freedmen at the ASU 10-yard line.

Freedman went for the ball rather than the tackle and Davis scored, earning Washington a thrilling 42-38 victory.

The Aftermath

The Sun Devils lost the next week to BYU (6-26) in Provo and finished the 1998 season a disappointing 5-6 while the Huskies took the next week off and then beat BYU (20-10) in Seattle, ultimately going on to a 6-6 finish that included a 25-45 loss to Air Force in the Oahu Classic on Christmas Day.

Boston College vs. Centre College, 1940

When:  September 21, 1940

Where: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Score: Boston College 40, Centre College 0

Though the 1940 season opener offered no heroics, no comeback finish and no record setting performances, it did mark the beginning of one of the greatest single season team performances in the history of college football.

Boston College’s “team of destiny” went 11-0-0, unbeaten and untied (significant in those days) to capture the school’s only claim to a national title.

Really, the best game of the 1940 season for BC was a 19-18 upset win over powerhouse Georgetown. But the road to perfection began in earnest with Centre College. The Centre College Praying Colonels were an early football powerhouse who claimed the 1912 national title but now play DIII ball.

The entire affair is even more worth mentioning when you realize that Boston College’s “destiny” season of perfection is not officially recognized as a national championship team (Minnesota who finished 8-0 and did not appear in a bowl game is “recognized” as the official champion).

The Aftermath

Boston College went on to earn an 11-0-0 finish including a 19-13 victory over Tennessee (19-13) in the Sugar Bowl.

 

Ohio State vs. Navy, 2009

When:  September 5, 2009

Where:  Columbus, Ohio

Score: Ohio State 31, Navy 27

The No. 6 Buckeyes were a whopping 22-point favorite coming into their season opening contest with the Midshipmen of Navy.

After holding a commanding 20-7 lead at the half Ohio State allowed Navy back into the game. The Midshipmen came within two-points of the lead (27-29) by virtue of a 24-yard rush by QB Ricky Dobbs with just over three minutes left in the game.

What happened next was one of the most bizarre reverses of fortune in the great history of “near misses.” The Buckeye’s Brian Rolle picked off a two-point conversion attempt (that would have tied the game) and returned it the other way for two Ohio State points.

Ohio State ultimately ran the clock out and sealed an unreal 31-27 victory.

The Aftermath

The Midshipmen finished 2009 at 10-4 (only their third double-digit win total in school history, the other two came in 1905 and 2004) which included a 35-13 drubbing of Missouri in the Texas Bowl.

Ohio State went on to lose their next game (to USC at home, 15-18) and ultimately went 11-2 (the other loss was a shocker at Purdue) winning both a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl (26-17 over Oregon).

Southern Miss vs. Florida State, 1989

When: September 2, 1989

Where:  Jacksonville, Florida

Score: Southern Miss 30, Florida State 26

Florida State was No. 6 in the nation coming into their “not so scary” opener against Southern Miss in Jacksonville.

The Golden Eagles were led by QB Brett Favre who, after FSU took a commanding 10-3 lead in the first quarter, led Southern Miss to 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to make the score 17-10 at the half.

Though the Seminoles charged back by scoring 13 unanswered points in the third, Southern Miss held FSU to a field goal in the fourth and managed to score a late touchdown to ice the upset 30-26.

The Aftermath

Despite the stirring upset, Southern Miss sputtered to a 5-6 finish in 1989 while the Seminoles went on to lose their next game to Clemson (23-34) and then reel off 10 straight victories that ended with a 41-17 spanking of Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.

Texas A&M vs. BYU, 1996

When:  August 24, 1996

Where:  East Rutherford, New Jersey

Score: BYU 41, Texas A&M 37

The Aggies were ranked No. 13 coming into the seventh edition of the Pigskin Classic (which ran from 1990-2002) to face a BYU team that finished the 1995 season with a 7-4 record.

Predictably, Texas A&M took an early two touchdown lead which was lost by halftime when BYU had managed to even the score 20-20.  The offensive explosion continued into the second half when the two teams combined for 38 points. The game was finally decided on a 46-yard BYU touchdown pass with just over a minute on the clock.

The Cougar’s QB that late August day was Steve Sarkisian (now the head coach at Washington) who went 33-41 for 536 yards and six TD passes in BYU’s upset victory over the Aggies.

The Aftermath

Texas A&M struggled to a 6-6 finish while BYU lost only one game in 1996 (ironically a 17-29 road loss to Sarkisian’s future employer Washington). When the dust settled they earned a 14-1 record, won the WAC and beat Kansas State 19-15 in the Cotton Bowl.

Florida State vs. Clemson, 2007

When: September 3, 2007

Where: Clemson, South Carolina

Score: Clemson 24, Florida State 18

The Seminoles came into the 2007 Bowden Bowl ranked No. 19 and had they have showed up for the first half they might have managed better than a 7-6 finish when the season finally ended.

It was Jimbo Fisher’s first game as the offensive coordinator at FSU and the Seminoles only managed three first half points, a total that was even more alarming given the fact that Clemson scored 24.

Florida State stormed back in the second half but their 15 unanswered points weren’t enough to top Clemson.

The Aftermath

Florida State went on to a 7-6 record that included a loss to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl (28-35) but all of their wins from 2007 season were eventually vacated due to infractions.

Clemson finished their 2007 season 9-4 and lost to Auburn (20-23) in the Peach Bowl.

Texas Tech vs. Penn State, 1995

When:  September 9, 1995

Where:  State College, Pennsylvania

Score: Penn State 24, Texas Tech 23

Penn State was ranked No. 4 when they welcomed the 21 point underdog Red Raiders to Happy Valley for what was supposed to be a stomping.

The Nittany Lions were straight off a 12-0 finish in 1994 which earned them a Big Ten crown (Nebraska was awarded the national title). Texas Tech went 6-6 in 1994 and got pummeled by USC 55-14 in the Cotton Bowl.

The Red Raiders scored their three first half TDs after Penn State fumbles. After a missed extra point Tech led the Nittany Lions 20-7

Penn State charged backed in the second half and finally took the lead back in the fourth quarter (21-20) on a fourth-and-goal TD pass. After a couple of stalled possessions, Tech marched the ball down the field and kicked a 42 yard field goal with only minutes remaining on the game clock (making the score 23-21).

The Nittany Lions converted yet another fourth down in their next drive to set-up PSU kicker Brett Conway with an opportunity for a 38-yard game winning with only eight seconds left on the clock. Conway had missed two earlier field goal attempts but nailed the last one to put the upset minded Red Raiders on ice.

The Aftermath

Penn State went on to a 9-3 finish in 1995 which included a 43-14 beat down of Auburn in the Outback Bowl.

The mighty Red Raiders also scored a 9-3 record in ’95 and beat Air Force 55-41 in an offensive showdown in the Copper Bowl.

Boise State vs. Virginia Tech, 2010

When:  September 6, 2010

Where:  Landover Maryland

Score: Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30

No. 10 Virginia Tech met No. 3 Boise State in the opening weekend last season in a contest that lived up to all the hype.

After Boise State took a commanding 17-point lead in the first quarter, Virginia Tech battled back and the game was ultimately decided with just over a minute left on the game clock when BSU QB Kellen Moore connected with Austin Pettis for a 13-yard TD pass that iced a 33-30 Bronco victory.

What I remember most about this particular game is the sheer level of intensity that it was played at; not unlike golf’s Ryder Cup every down, every possession, every hit seemed to be critical.

This game transcended its own jacked up “we belong” hype; it was a tough, hard fought and memorable football contest.

The Aftermath

Virginia Tech went into Week 2 to suffer one of the biggest “emotional hangover” losses in history by losing 16-21 to FCS team James Madison.

The Hokies rebounded splendidly, reeled off 11 consecutive victories including a 44-33 win over Florida State in the ACC title game and were ultimately brought down in the Orange Bowl by streaking Stanford (40-12).

Boise State experienced an almost completely opposite fate by virtue of winning the next nine straight games only to lose to a very good Nevada team (31-34) in a wild game played during Thanksgiving weekend. By the time the dust settled the Broncos were WAC co-champs and settled for a 12-1 finish that included a 26-3 win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Tennessee vs. Iowa, 1987

When:  August 30, 1987

Where:  East Rutherford, New Jersey

Score: Tennessee 23, Iowa 22

In the fifth annual Kickoff Classic (a season-opening affair that ran from 1983-2002) the Volunteers and Hawkeyes squared off in New Jersey for what was one of the more memorable episodes in the “kickoff” series.

After three exciting quarters, (which included a second period interception return for a touchdown by Tennessee’s Darrin Miller) Iowa finally grabbed the lead 22-17 at around the halfway point of the fourth quarter to set up a dramatic finish.

Tennessee managed two final scoring drives (both for field goals) and sealed the deal on an accurate Phil Reich boot with only eight seconds remaining.

The Aftermath

The Hawkeyes rebounded from the last minute loss with a 10-3-0 record including a 20-19 victory over Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl.

Tennessee went 10-2-1 in 1987 and finished the season with a 27-22 victory over Indiana in the Peach Bowl.

Tennessee vs. Syracuse, 1998

When:  September 5, 1998

Where:  Syracuse, New York

Score: Tennessee 34, Syracuse 33

Really it was Syracuse, rather than Tennessee, who seemed to be surging coming into the 1998 season opener betwixt the two.

Syracuse had  gone 9-4 in 1997, won the Big East and lost to Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl (bringing back Donovan McNabb in company in 1998) while Tennessee had just said farewell to Peyton Manning after a thrilling 11-2 campaign that included an SEC title and a beat down at the hands of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

This Week 1 contest went back and forth until Syracuse took a late 33-31 lead with a field goal. The Orange score was followed by an improbable Vol drive led by newcomer QB Tee Martin. He moved Tennessee downfield until Jeff Hall booted a 27-yard field goal to win the game as time expired.

The victory would be clouded by the fact that Tennessee received a fortuitous and questionable fourth down pass interference call during that final drive.

The Aftermath

Syracuse rebounded from the devastating loss by beating Michigan in Ann Arbor the following weekend and ultimately went 8-4 which included a third consecutive Big East title and a loss to Florida (10-31) in the Orange Bowl.

Tennessee stormed into the rest of the season, reeling off 12 straight victories which included a 24-14 win over Florida in the SEC championship and then a thrilling 23-16 win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl which earned the Vols their fourth national championship.

 

Michigan vs. Appalachian State, 2007

When:  September 1, 2007

Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Score: Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32

In what has to be considered among the biggest upsets in the history of college football, No. 5 Michigan, via their opening loss to Appalachian State, became the first ranked FBS (or Division I-A) team to ever fall to a FCS (or Division I-AA) team since the sub division designations were made in 1978.

In a game that had more twists and turns than a roller coaster, Appalachian State took a 34-32 lead over Michigan via a 24-yard field goal with only 27 seconds left to go on the clock.

The Wolverines subsequently took over and managed to reach the Mountaineer 20 with only six ticks left on the clock. The game unfathomably ended when Corey Lynch blocked Jason Gingall’s winning field goal and returned the ball to the Michigan five yard line as time expired.

The Aftermath

Michigan went on to a 9-4 record in 2007 (they lost both the first two games, to Appalachian State and Oregon and the last two, to Wisconsin and Ohio State) including a win over Florida in the Capital One Bowl.

2007 marked the end of the Lloyd Carr era at Michigan where he amassed a 122-40 record over 13 seasons.

Appalachian State went 13-2 in 2007 and beat Delaware 49-21 to capture the DI-AA (FCS) National Championship, which was their third consecutive national title.