Whether or not it is the “Kick Six,” the “Bush Push” or “Mormons vs. Mullets,” the primary 25 years of the twenty first century have delivered a buffet of unbelievable faculty soccer video games.
Each season is slightly totally different. Each sport is a chance to expertise one thing new — a mix of runs, passes and tackles that result in marvel, astonishment and disbelief.
As faculty soccer prepares to enter a brand new quarter-century, now we have a chance to look all the way in which again to 2000 to recollect a number of the nice video games which have outlined this century thus far.
To take action, CBS Sports activities went again in time and chosen the most effective regular-season sport, together with convention championships, of each faculty soccer season from 2000-24.
Clearly, greatest is extremely subjective. A Pac-12 After Darkish banger is likely to be somebody’s favourite from a given season whereas others could desire an old style Massive Ten West rock struggle. However usually, the video games chosen function a mix of unbelievable finishes and memorable moments in video games that often had an outsized position in figuring out the course of the nationwide championship image.
One caveat earlier than trying again on the final 25 seasons: Playoff, bowl and nationwide championship video games weren’t thought-about for this piece. That is concerning the common season video games that formed every season, not the fireworks seen at its conclusion.
Date: Oct. 12, 2024 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 8
There have been extra thrilling finishes (Colorado’s Hail Mary towards Baylor or Alabama’s comeback towards Georgia) and extra thrilling upsets (Vanderbilt over Alabama!) through the 2024 season. However the most effective soccer sport occurred in Eugene between arguably the season’s two greatest groups.
It was a large matchup that lived as much as the hype, together with 5 second-half lead modifications. There was loads of drama late, too. Oregon kicked a go-ahead discipline purpose with 1:47 remaining to take a 32-31 lead. The Buckeyes rapidly superior the ball to the Oregon 28, however a penalty, poor clock administration and a rule loophole uncovered by Geese head coach Dan Lanning led to time operating out on Ohio State earlier than it might get its discipline purpose unit on the sector.
It was chaotic end and an in the end essential loss for the Buckeyes’ nationwide title path. Afterward, the Buckeyes made main modifications to their protection in response to what Oregon uncovered. Ohio State didn’t enable greater than 23 factors in a sport the remainder of the way in which.
(Btw, a fast hat tip right here: ESPN’s Invoice Connelly does an nearly annual checklist of the most effective video games of the season that was an excellent useful resource for this piece. Although, he had this sport at 13!)
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2023: No. 8 Alabama 27, Auburn 24
Date: Nov. 25, 2023 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 7
Behind each nice sport is a good nickname or play. This dramatic end featured “Gravedigger,” Alabama’s fourth-and-goal name from the 31-yard-line down 24-20 with 32 seconds remaining.
It regarded like Alabama’s playoff hopes would come to a untimely and shocking finish towards a 6-5 Auburn crew contemporary off an embarrassing loss to New Mexico State the week prior. Then Jalen Milroe discovered Isaiah Bond within the left nook of the tip zone for one of the well-known touchdowns in Iron Bowl historical past.
Alabama would go on to finish Georgia’s hopes for a three-peat within the following week’s SEC championship sport. Then, in maybe essentially the most controversial second in CFP choice historical past, the committee picked 12-1 Alabama over 13-0 Florida State for the ultimate playoff spot within the four-team discipline.
The Tide went on to endure a last-second loss to eventual nationwide champion Michigan within the CFP semifinals. Nick Saban abruptly retired a number of days later.
2022: No 6 Tennessee 52, No. 3 Alabama 49
Date: Oct. 15, 2022 | Ties of Lead Modifications: 9
For the reason that two CFP semifinals aren’t eligible for consideration — New Yr’s Eve 2022 featured back-to-back unbelievable video games — let’s flip to the Third Saturday in October. Tennessee hadn’t overwhelmed Alabama on that date in 16 years.
This was the Vols’ greatest shot. Quarterback Hendon Hooker regarded like a Heisman Trophy candidate, fronting essentially the most explosive passing assault in faculty soccer. The Vols stormed out to a 28-10 second quarter benefit just for Alabama to erase that early within the third quarter. From there the groups would commerce the lead 5 occasions. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Younger put Alabama in place for a go-ahead discipline purpose with 15 seconds left, however Will Reichard’s 50-yard try sailed exterior the uprights. Hooker accomplished passes of 18 and 27 yards to place Tennessee in place for a game-winning 40-yard discipline purpose as time expired.
Younger completed with 455 yards and two touchdowns. However Tennessee vast receiver Jalin Hyatt stole the present with 207 yards and 5 touchdowns, together with scores of 60 and 78 yards within the second half.
The Vols obtained to smoke victory cigars on the Third Saturday in October for the primary time in 16 years. Alabama, for its half, would go on to overlook the CFP for under the third time in 9 seasons.
2021: No. 6 Oklahoma 55, No. 21 Texas 48
Date: Oct. 9, 2021 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 4
The Purple River Rivalry has produced a number of the wildest video games in latest faculty soccer historical past. However the 2021 iteration was loopy even by Purple River requirements.
Texas raced out to a 28-7 lead, which led to a essential second within the lore of Oklahoma, USC and South Carolina historical past: Sooners coach Lincon Riley benched preseason Heisman Trophy favourite quarterback Spencer Rattler in favor of five-star freshman Caleb Williams.
Williams took the sector down 35-17 halfway via the second quarter. With 7 minutes remaining within the second half, Williams had helped the Sooners storm again for a 48-41 lead. Texas tied the sport with 1:23 remaining due to a 31-yard move from Casey Thompson to Xavier Worthy. However Williams wouldn’t be denied. He hit 4 straight passes to arrange one of many wildest moments within the rivalry’s 120-year historical past — a game-winning 33-yard run by Kennedy Brooks with 10 seconds remaining.
The 103 factors the crew mixed for have been essentially the most in Purple River Rivalry historical past.
Date: Dec. 5, 2020 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 5
2020 was a bizarre yr, y’all. No sport higher represents that than “Mormons vs. Mullets,” a battle of Group of 5 unbeatens that occurred on two days’ discover after Liberty, resulting from a rash of constructive Covid-19 assessments, needed to cancel its C-USA showdown with Coastal Carolina.
Each BYU (9-0) and Coastal Carolina (9-0) have been on the lookout for a power of schedule increase throughout a season during which neither program was allowed to play a real non-conference slate, so Coastal Carolina hopped on a aircraft and agreed to play Zach Wilson on the Cougars.
The sport was manner higher than it had any proper to be, a back-and-forth affair that got here right down to the ultimate second (and yard). Wilson hit Dax Milne for 17 yards as time expired. The one drawback was the purpose line was 18 yards away.
With apologies to Florida vs. LSU — the “shoe” sport within the Swamp that will have price the Gators a CFP berth — there is no higher and extra consultant sport of the 2020 season than “Mormons vs. Mullets.”
2019: LSU 46, Alabama 42
Date: Nov. 9, 2019 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 1
It is acceptable the highest sport of the 2019 season featured LSU main wire to wire.
The 2019 Tigers are the best faculty soccer crew of the twenty first century (struggle me!). They tore via the common season and the playoff with a quarterback on an all-time heater (Joe Burrow) and essentially the most gifted roster of the fashionable period.
However the 2019 Tide even have a case for that declare; Alabama’s 2020 crew can be on the most effective crew quick checklist. Simply try the receivers who performed within the 2019 matchup for instance of the mixed expertise:
- Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
- Justin Jefferson, LSU
- Terrace Marshall, LSU
- DeVonta Smith, Alabama
- Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
- Henry Ruggs, Alabama
- Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Six of these seven have been first-round draft picks. The opposite (Marshall) went within the second spherical.
Alabama discovered itself down 33-13 at halftime solely to attain 4 straight second-half touchdowns and minimize the result in 4. It wasn’t sufficient. LSU ensured there can be no dramatic conclusion with a pair of clutch fourth quarter landing drives with it mattered most.
However rattling it was enjoyable. It was additionally essentially the most consequential sport of the 2019 season.
LSU gained the battle of unbeatens — its first win over Alabama since 2011 — and wouldn’t play a sport nearer than 17 factors the remainder of the way in which.
2018: No. 22 Texas A&M 74, LSU 72
Date: Nov. 24, 2018 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 7 previous to OT | 14 in OT
Jalen Hurts’ redemption within the SEC Championship Recreation towards Georgia would get the nod nearly every other yr. However Texas A&M’s seven-overtime win over LSU is an all-timer that modified the faculty soccer rulebook.
This sport had all the pieces: A record-breaking seven overtimes, a untimely Gatorade dump and a reported struggle between Jimbo Fisher’s nephew and LSU analyst Steve Kragthorpe, who claimed he was punched in his pacemaker.
So, yeah … all the pieces.
This sport appeared like it will finish in regulation, which led to Orgeron’s untimely Gatorade bathtub. However the officers put a second again on the clock. The Aggies took benefit of the second likelihood with a 19-yard landing move from Kellen Mond to Quartney Davis to tie the sport at 31.
Then got here seven overtimes and 84 extra factors.
The sport went on so lengthy the NCAA modified how additional time works in faculty soccer. Not do applications play a limiteless variety of possessions ranging from the 25-yard line till a tie is damaged. As a substitute, groups commerce 2-point performs following the conclusion of the second additional time interval.
2017: No. 15 UCF 49, USF 42
Date: Nov. 24, 2017 | Ties of Lead Modifications: 5
Frankly, you possibly can decide any of UCF’s last three video games from the 2017 season. They have been all bangers. However the Knights’ common season finale stands out due to the stakes and the sheer insanity of the ultimate minutes.
UCF — simply two seasons faraway from an 0-12 marketing campaign — wanted another win to complete the common season at 12-0. The Knights had CFP hopes, too. All that stood of their manner was rival South Florida, which entered the week at 9-1 and hoping to earn an AAC title sport berth.
The ultimate minutes have been loopy. McKenzie Milton gave UCF an eight-point lead with 2:21 remaining. Then South Florida hit an 82-yard bomb and transformed a 2-point attempt to tie the sport. That is when Mike Hughes, with 88 seconds left on the clock, returned the following kickoff 95 yards for the game-winning rating.
UCF would go on to complete 13-0 and capped the season off with a 34-27 Peach Bowl win over Auburn. The Knights, the one unbeaten crew within the FBS, proclaimed themselves nationwide champions at season finish after getting overlooked of the CFP.
Date: Oct. 2, 2016 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 5
With apologies to a really well-known rendition of The Recreation between Michigan and Ohio State — the Buckeyes gained in additional time due to a controversial 4th-and-1 conversion — the conflict between the Tigers and Cardinals was just too electrical to go away off this checklist.
It helps that it featured two of the most effective quarterbacks of the CFP period in Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson. The duo mixed for 601 yards passing and 253 yards speeding. However the sport itself lived as much as each little bit of the hype. Clemson led 28-10 at half just for Louisville to storm again and take a 36-28 lead with 7:52 remaining. That is when Watson — with assist from a 77-yard kickoff return from Artavis Scott — led back-to-back landing drives to grab the lead again. Louisville reached Clemson’s 12-yard line with 1:19 remaining. However the Tigers held agency, stopping Louisville one-yard wanting a conversion on fourth-and-12 with 33 seconds remaining.
Jackson would go on to win the Heisman Trophy. Clemson went on to win the nationwide championship. Flip the results of this sport and the Tigers, who misplaced to Pittsburgh later within the common season, could by no means have reached the CFP.
2015: No. 7 Michigan State 27, No. 12 Michigan 23
Date: Oct. 18, 2015 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 2
There have been some incredible video games in 2015: a Trevone Boykin and Patrick Mahomes shootout in Lubbock, Clemson halting a Notre Dame rally within the last moments in a high 12 showdown and Chad Kelly’s heroics in an upset 25 years within the making for Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa.
However let’s discuss concerning the punt. You understand the one. A bungled snap, a determined spinning right-footed flail and a would-be kick that landed within the fingers of Jalen Watts-Jackson for the game-winning landing.
The Wolverines led 23-21 with 10 seconds remaining at their very own 45-yard line. The Spartans had no timeouts. All Michigan needed to do was punt the ball away they usually’d win the sport. It might have been an announcement victory for Jim Harbaugh in Yr 1, launching the Wolverines into the CFP combine.
However the snap went painfully — or gloriously(?) relying in your perspective — awry. Michigan State gained and went on to achieve the CFP after a 12-1 common season. Flip this consequence and possibly it is the Wolverines who attain the playoff as an alternative.
2014: No. 5 Baylor 61, No. 9 TCU 58
Date: Oct. 12, 2014 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 5
Baylor started the fourth quarter with a pick-six and fell right into a 58-37 gap. Then issues obtained bizarre in Waco. The Bears scored three touchdowns on drives that spanned lower than a minute every. TCU punted twice and failed a fourth-and-3 try with 1:11 remaining to present Baylor the ball at its 45-yard line.
It took benefit with a 28-yard discipline purpose to win the sport.
Bears QB Bryce Petty threw for 510 yards and 6 touchdowns. Three Baylor receivers — Antwan Goodley (158 yards, two TDs), Corey Coleman (144 yards, two TDs), KD Cannon (124 yards, one TD) — cleared the 125-yard barrier in a sport during which the 2 groups mixed for 119 factors and 1,267 yards.
This Bears win created a large ripple impact. TCU and Baylor completed the common season 11-1, tying atop the Massive 12 standings in a league that didn’t maintain a convention championship sport. Ohio State, additionally 11-1, did have one other likelihood to play. The Buckeyes bludgeoned Wisconsin 59-0 within the Massive Ten title sport, an announcement victory the committee very a lot observed. The Buckeyes jumped from fifth to fourth within the CFP Rankings after their win. In the meantime, the committee dropped idle TCU from third to SIXTH behind each the Buckeyes and Bears, who had entered the week ranked fifth.
Ohio State went on to win the nationwide championship. The Massive 12 rapidly added a convention championship sport. Two main occasions in faculty soccer historical past that possible do not happen if TCU simply holds onto a three-touchdown lead towards Baylor.
2013: No. 4 Auburn 34, No. 1 Alabama 28
Date: Dec. 1, 2013 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 7
It is the Kick Six. That is actually all it’s worthwhile to know. That play is so memorable you’ll be able to hear it:
“There goes Davis!”
“Davis goes to run all of it the way in which again!”
“Auburn goes to win the soccer sport! Auburn goes to win the soccer sport!”
That decision from Auburn play-by-play announcer Rod Bramblett lined 109 yards of Chris Davis’ unbelievable, unimaginable, discipline purpose return (!!!) that swung the 2013 season. Auburn gained the Iron Bowl, went to the SEC championship and performed Florida State for a nationwide title. The highest-ranked Tide? They went house, any likelihood at a three-peat crumbling as Davis crossed into the tip zone.
It took a really particular set of circumstances for the Kick Six to happen. Alabama operating again TJ Yeldon stepped of bounds with one second remaining, which gave Nick Saban the chance to strive a 57-yard discipline purpose. That call is baffling on reflection when you think about he benched beginning kicker Cade Foster — after three missed discipline targets — and as an alternative pivoted to freshman Adam Griffith for a very powerful kick of the season. Auburn had the wherewithal to position Davis deep, giving him the chance to make one of the well-known performs in faculty soccer historical past.
2012: No. 15 Texas A&M 29, No. 1 Alabama 24
Date: Nov. 11, 2012 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 1
Apart from maybe Tim Tebow, there isn’t any greater faculty soccer crossover star this century than Johnny Manziel. The Aggies’ party-hard, scramble-out-of-anything QB burst onto the nationwide scene in November of 2012 when he led a wire-to-wire street upset of No. 1 Alabama.
The Tide have been the reigning nationwide champs. They’d gained 13 straight. Texas A&M was simply coming into the SEC for the primary time. It did not matter. Manziel could not be stopped. There is no one second from this sport that stands out above all. Texas A&M by no means wanted an epic comeback or last-second drive. As a substitute, it was Manziel’s capacity to increase nearly each play and get out of any would-be sack. He was virtually Houdini that Saturday, solely he had a cannon strapped his proper arm.
Manziel completed the day 24-for-31 with 253 yards passing and two touchdowns to associate with 92 yards speeding.
It is a win that spurred Manziel to the Heisman and created a legend.
Date: Nov. 18, 2011 | Ties or lead modifications: 3
Oklahoma State entered the week at 10-0 and managed its future to make the BCS Nationwide Championship sport. Led by eventual first-round quarterback Brandon Weeden the Cowboys have been averaging greater than 50 factors per sport.
However the sport felt secondary as a result of Oklahoma State’s girls’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda died in a tragic aircraft crash the day previous to kickoff. A number of years later Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy mentioned of the matchup: “Actually, the very last thing that anyone desires to do, actually, is play a sport.”
The Cowboys raced out to a 24-7 lead early within the third quarter however couldn’t maintain the momentum. Oklahoma State had a chance to win the sport late, however Quinn Sharp missed a 37-yard discipline purpose, pushing the sport into additional time. Each groups scored rapidly to push the sport to a second additional time, however Weeden threw an interception on the primary move of the second additional interval. The Cyclones gained three performs later.
Oklahoma State rebounded the following week with a 34-point win over No. 14 Oklahoma, however the BCS components selected Alabama-LSU rematch in controversial style; a number of coaches, together with Saban, voted Oklahoma State 4th within the last coaches’ ballot, which was a part of the BCS components.
The nationwide title sport — gained by the Tide — was so contentious it helped spark the CFP system we all know at this time with discussions a few playoff components starting shortly afterward.
2010: No. 2 Auburn 28, No. 11 Alabama 27
Date: Nov. 26, 2010 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 2
Nothing stopped Cam Newton through the 2010 season, together with a 24-point first half deficit towards reigning nationwide champion Alabama.
The Tigers fell behind 24-0 halfway via the second quarter. From that time on Newton accomplished 11 of 14 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally ran for 54 sack-adjusted yards and a landing.
It was hardly essentially the most dominant efficiency of Newton’s Heisman season. However given the swaths of NFL gamers on the opposite sideline and the stakes — Auburn possible would not make the nationwide championship sport with a loss — the comeback Newton led towards the Tide is without doubt one of the most consequential in faculty soccer historical past.
Shoutout to the No. 19 Nevada vs. No. 4 Boise State showdown that very same day, nevertheless. Led by Kellen Moore, the Broncos noticed their 24-game win streak snapped by Colin Kaepernick and the Wolf Pack in a 34-31 additional time loss. Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman missed a 26-yard discipline purpose on the buzzer in regulation.
2009: No. 3 Texas 13, No. 22 Nebraska 12
Date: Dec. 5, 2009 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 4
You will keep in mind this because the day single-handedly Ndamukong Suh wrecked Texas’ offense and practically price the Longhorns a spot within the BCS title sport.
Texas got here into the week averaging 43 factors per sport. Suh ensured the Longhorns obtained nowhere near that complete. He logged 4.5 sacks and helped restrict Texas to 18 speeding yards on 38 makes an attempt.
The sport got here right down to the ultimate second. Actually. McCoy, chased by Suh (after all), threw a move out of bounds because the clock expired, main to an enormous Huskers celebration. However the officers put one second again on the clock after a evaluate.
Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence then hit a 46-yarder to safe a a Massive 12 championship and nationwide title bid.
2008: No. 7 Texas Tech 39, No. 1 Texas 33
Date: Nov. 1, 2008 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 3
With apologies to Tim Tebow’s post-Ole Miss promise, that is THE Michael Crabtree catch — one of the well-known moments in faculty soccer historical past. There was a lot at stake, too, with each groups coming into the week at 8-0 with nationwide title aspirations.
Scoring opened with a security as Texas Tech stuffed Texas on its purpose line. Led by quarterback Graham Harrell, the Purple Raiders raced out to 22-3 lead. Texas would storm again, scoring a go-ahead landing with 89 seconds left.
Texas Tech made it to Texas’ 28-yard line with 21 seconds remaining. Then Harrell’s move bounced off receiver Edward Britton and into the fingers of Texas freshman security Blake Gideon.
“Deflected. Interception, Texas!” mentioned ABC announcer Brent Musburger.
However …
Gideon dropped it, leaving eight seconds left on the clock.
Harrell threw deep, discovering Crabtree alongside the correct sideline at across the 5-yard line. Crabtree turned, spun out of a would-be deal with and walked in for the largest landing in Purple Raiders historical past.
One play that fully modified the 2008 nationwide championship race. Texas had the pole place however was jumped by Oklahoma within the BCS standings — regardless of the Longhorns’ 45-35 head-to-head win earlier within the yr — for the correct to play Florida within the nationwide title sport. Florida beat the Sooners 24-14, giving Tebow a second nationwide championship and guaranteeing his standing as a school soccer legend.
Date: Sept. 1, 2007 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 7
It is essentially the most well-known upset in faculty soccer historical past.
Effectively, I assume it is an upset? Can an upset actually be the case if Vegas did not even trouble to set a betting line? We’ll nonetheless go together with it. The Wolverines, contemporary off an 11-2 season, have been a preseason top-five crew. The Mountaineers weren’t even a member of the FBS on the time.
However one thing usually misplaced within the lore of this sport is App State’s resume. The Mountaineers have been the top-ranked FCS crew within the nation coming into the 2007 season and coming off back-to-back nationwide championships underneath head coach Jerry Moore.
There have been two lead modifications within the last minutes of this basic. The Wolverines have been down 11 late within the third quarter however retook the lead with 4:31 remaining. From there, the Mountaineers threw an interception, Michigan missed a 43-yard discipline purpose, App State went 69 yards in 1:11 to kick a go-ahead discipline purpose and the Mountaineers capped it off by blocking a 37-yard discipline purpose try as time expired to safe the upset.
App State went on to win its third-straight FCS nationwide championship.
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2006: No. 1 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Michigan 39
Date: Nov. 18, 2006 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 3
The primary regular-season “Recreation of the Century” of the twenty first century — the phrase is at all times amusing given how usually these video games happen — this matchup pitted the 2 top-ranked groups within the nation in a daily season finale that will decide not less than one spot within the BCS nationwide title sport.
The Recreation additionally took on extra which means because it was performed a day after legendary Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler died.
Troy Smith’s monster efficiency basically ended all Heisman Trophy debate. He completed with 316 yards and 4 touchdowns via the air and led the Buckeyes on a essential 83-yard fourth quarter landing drive that put them up 42-31 with 5:27 remaining. Michigan responded with a landing, however Ohio State iced the sport three performs later with a game-winning third-down conversion.
This sport was so massive that ABC moved it off its conventional midday beginning time to three:30 p.m. ET. Almost 22 million tuned in to look at, making it the most-viewed common season faculty soccer sport in 16 years.
Michigan argued, even with a loss, it ought to make the BCS nationwide title sport. As a substitute, the Buckeyes went on to play Florida, dropping in a 41-14 rout.
2005: No. 1 USC 34, No. 9 Notre Dame 31
Date: Oct. 15, 2005 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 10
That is the place I remind you that postseason video games aren’t eligible, thus the 2005 nationwide championship basic between USC and Texas can’t be chosen.
So, we flip to the “Bush Push.”
The play would look very regular by at this time’s “Brotherly Shove” requirements. However again then it was an unlawful maneuver when Reggie Bush pushed Matt Leinart into the tip zone for a game-winning landing as time expired. The penalty wasn’t referred to as, resulting in one of the controversial performs in faculty soccer historical past and USC’s twenty eighth consecutive win.
This sport had a lot going for it exterior of the ending. Leinart and Brady Quinn have been two of the highest quarterbacks within the nation and the fourth quarter included 4 lead modifications.
Notre Dame completed the common season at 10-2 whereas USC went 12-0 and reached the nationwide title sport. Flip the consequence and the Irish, who completed No. 6 within the last BCS ballot, possible play Texas for the nationwide title as an alternative of USC.
2004: No. 2 Oklahoma 42, No. 22 Texas A&M 35
Date: Nov. 6, 2004 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 5
Week 11 was essentially the most dramatic of the 2004 season. Vince Younger helped No. 6 Texas storm again from 28 right down to beat No. 19 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Cal wanted a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Oregon and even top-ranked USC wanted a comeback, erasing a 13-point Oregon State lead for a 28-20 win.
However arguably the most effective sport of the day (and season) occurred at Kyle Area the place the No. 2 Sooners twice confronted a 14-point deficit. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jason White tied a Sooners college report with 5 passing touchdowns whereas freshman famous person operating again Adrian Peterson cleared the 100-yard barrier for the ninth straight sport. Aggies followers marvel “what if” on this one provided that A&M beginning QB Reggie McNeal was compelled out of the sport with an damage halfway via the third quarter. The Aggies would put collectively a 50-yard drive to tie the sport late within the fourth quarter, nevertheless it stalled at OU’s 38-yard line.
There have been different entertaining video games from the 2004 season that would have match. However given the controversy that got here with Oklahoma’s choice to the BCS nationwide title sport over fellow unbeaten Auburn, this sport will get the nod resulting from its total significance.
That is the yr the BCS actually started to bust. Not solely did Auburn get overlooked at 12-0, however so did Utah and Boise State.
2003: Cal 34, USC 31 in 3OT
Date: Sept. 27, 2003 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 9
USC’s 34-game win streak from 2003-05 is without doubt one of the most spectacular in faculty soccer historical past. However that streak can be significantly longer (46 video games!) if not for Cal’s 2003 upset.
For a JUCO QB making his simply his second profession begin, Cal’s Aaron Rodgers had a fairly good day. He accomplished 17 of 21 passes for 203 yards and two scores within the first half earlier than exiting with a knee damage early within the third quarter. Rodgers led Cal to a 21-7 halftime lead, however his final move of the sport — a tipped INT that become a pick-six — made it 21-21 with 7:26 left within the third quarter. There would not be a ton of scoring from there. Cal hit a 51-yard-field purpose early within the fourth quarter. Then the Bears tried one other with 5 minutes remaining just for it to be blocked. USC would kick a 33-yarder to ship it to additional time.
Issues obtained bizarre from there. USC fumbled on the purpose line throughout its first possession. Cal had an opportunity to win it with a 29-yarder, which was once more blocked. The following additional time noticed each groups scored touchdowns. USC opened the third additional time with a missed 39-yard discipline purpose. Then Bears kicker Tyler Fredrickson gained it — after two straight misses — with a 38-yarder.
USC’s loss mattered fairly a bit to the nationwide championship race.
At season’s finish Oklahoma (which had simply misplaced 35-7 within the Massive 12 championship sport), LSU and USC every completed with a single loss. Whereas USC completed No. 1 within the AP and Coaches Ballot, it ranked behind LSU and Oklahoma within the BCS components. Thus, the Sooners performed the Tigers for a nationwide title.
LSU gained. However USC beat Michigan within the Rose Bowl and the AP voters left the Trojans at No. 1 of their ballot, which resulted in the one break up nationwide championship of the BCS and CFP period.
2002: No. 16 LSU 33, Kentucky 30
Date: Nov. 9, 2002 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 6
We love a untimely Gatorade bathtub round these elements, and Kentucky gave coach Man Morriss one of the well-known in historical past. The Wildcats have been down 10 factors early within the fourth quarter however rallied to hit a go-ahead discipline purpose with 11 seconds remaining.
That is when Morriss obtained soaked in celebration.
However LSU had time for 2 performs. The primary was a 17-yard move from Tigers QB Marcus Randall to receiver Michael Clayton. That gave the Tigers two seconds to go 74 yards. Head coach Nick Saban helped dial up “Dah Proper 93 Berlin.” Randall scrambled to his proper and heaved the ball some 60 yards. A number of Kentucky gamers had an opportunity to bat the ball down. As a substitute, it deflected off a Wildcats defender and located its manner into the fingers of LSU vast receiver Devery Henderson simply shy of the 15-yard line. Henderson broke via an tried deal with and accomplished what’s now generally known as the “Bluegrass Miracle.”
2001: Stanford 49, No. 5 Oregon 42
Date: Oct. 20, 2001 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 8
Joey Harrington and Oregon regarded like a legit nationwide title risk via six weeks of the common season. The Geese raced out to 6-0, together with early season wins over Wisconsin and USC.
The Geese have been nicely on their option to 7-0 coming into the fourth quarter. They led 42-28 then, within the phrases of an AP story from that day, “the Geese got here again to Earth with a spectacular thud.”
And the collapse, which snapped Oregon’s FBS-best 23-game house win streak, was spectacular. Stanford outscored Oregon 21-0 within the fourth quarter due to a pair of blocked punts and a Harrington interception, all of which become touchdowns.
The QB generally known as “Captain Comeback” had a chance to present Oregon the lead again down 49-42 with 1:05 remaining. However the Geese’ drive halted at Stanford’s 37-yard line after 4 straight incompletions.
Oregon completed the season at 10-1. Nebraska, at 11-1, obtained a nationwide title bid as an alternative.
2000: No. 7 Miami 27, No. 1 Florida State 24
Date: Oct. 7, 2000 | Ties or Lead Modifications: 3
Huge Proper III.
That is how this conflict between two late-90s and early-2000s juggernauts will at all times be remembered. The highest-ranked Seminoles have been unbeaten and coming off a nationwide title. Miami, additionally unbeaten, was simply hitting its stride forward of a dominant 2001 nationwide championship run.
Outdoors of Norman, Oklahoma, these have been the 2 greatest groups within the nation with a mixed 26 eventual NFL draft picks of their beginning lineups, per The Athletic.
Miami raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead. However Florida State clawed again due to the play of eventual 2000 Heisman winner Chris Weinke, who completed the day with a career-high 496 yards passing and three scores. His last landing throw got here with 1:37 remaining, giving FSU a 24-21 lead. Miami and QB Ken Dorsey responded rapidly, going 6-for-7 on the following drive, dropping dimes to eventual NFL stars Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne and Jeremy Shockey, who caught the go-ahead landing with 46 seconds remaining.
That left simply sufficient time for an additional Bobby Bowden field-goal-caused heartbreak. Florida State pushed the ball into place for a possible game-winning 49-yard try. However the ball sailed vast proper off Matt Munyon’s leg, snapping FSU’s 26-game common season win streak.
As followers filed out of the Orange Bowl the phrases “WIDE RIGHT III” flashed throughout the display screen, a reminder of earlier kicking-related heartbreaks for Bowden towards Miami from the 1991 and 1992 seasons that possible price the Seminoles a pair of nationwide titles.
