College Football Greatest Plays

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 25, 2006

College Football Greatest Plays

The Run (1996)

In the Cornhuskers 62-24 Fiesta Bowl win, QB Tommie Frazier left several Gators in his tracks for an amazing 75-yard touchdown run. "How many tackles can one make break?" exclaims the announcer.

Teague Runs Down Thomas (1993)

Trailing 27-6 early in the second half, Gino Toretta hit a streaking Lamar Thomas down the sideline for an apparent Hurricanes TD. Thomas, a member of Miami's 4x400 relay team and considered one of the fastest receivers in the nation, appeared to be headed for an easy score, but DB George Teague ran Thomas down, stripped the ball and gained possession. Unfortunately for Alabama, the play was nullifed by a penalty.

Bill Newton's Blocked Kick (1972)

Alabama was up 16-3 and only five minutes away from a 11-0 start and a chance to play for the national championship. But Auburn's Bill Newton blocked a punt, which bounced to teammate David Langner who took it for a 25-yard touchdown with 5:30 remaining. Auburn held on defense and with three minutes remaining and forced Alabama to punt. Once again, Newton blocked the kick, Langner picked it up and ran for the score, giving the Tigers a 17-16 win.

Prothro's Catch (2005)

Down 21-10 with 25 seconds left in the first half, Alabama QB Brodie Croyle threw a Hail Mary in the direction of receiver Tyrone Prothro. In a "you have to see it to believe it" moment, Prothro reached around safety Jasper Faulk, grabbed the ball just before it hit the defender and held on tight as the two hit the ground and flipped into the end zone. Although Prothro's knee was ruled down at the one-yard-line, the Tide scored on the next play.

Belue's Miracle (1980)

Georgia QB Buck Belue was having an atrocious game with only 52 total passing yards and two INTs, but thanks to Hershel Walker the Dogs were only trailing 21-20 with 1:31 remaining. Facing a third-and-7 on the Georgia 7, Belue faded back and found receiver Lindsay Scott in the middle of the field for the first down. Two Gators defenders appeared to be in position for the tackle, but both fell, allowing Scott to run free down the left sideline making his way for the improbable 93-yard touchdown.

Miracle in Michigan (1994)

On the game's final play, Colorado found itself down five with the ball on its own 36-yard line. Kordell Stewart uncorked a 73-yard bomb, which is deflected by a Michigan defender into the hands of diving receiver Michael Westbrook, who clung to the ball to gave the Buffaloes an improbable 27-26 victory.

The Run II (2002)

Iowa State QB Seneca Wallace showed off his elusive ability, zig-zagging through defenders with the help of a crushing block by Michael Wagner for a ridiculously long 12-yard TD run that covered nearly 100 yards to give the Cyclones a 10-3 lead in the third quarter.

Amazin' Hawkeyes (2005)

After LSU battled back to erase a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit in the Capitol One Bowl, Iowa QB Drew Tate threaded a bomb to Warren Holloway who caught the ball in stride at the 10-yard-line and ran it in for a 56-yard touchdown as time expired to give Iowa a 30-25 win.

Immaculate Reception (1997)

Trailing 38-31 with 12 seconds left and the ball at the Missouri 12-yard line, Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost fired a pass to Shevin Wiggins in the end zone. The pass was deflected by a Missouri defender, kicked into the air and eventually caught by Nebraska receiver Matt Davison with no time left. The Huskers went on to win in overtime.

Miracle Bowl (1981)

It wasn't just Jim McMahon's incredible 60-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Clay Brown with no time remaining , but the entire final three minutes. BYU was trailing 45-25 when it scored a TD, recovered the onside kick, scored again and then failed to convert a second onside kick. But the Coughars defense held tough and forced a punt with 16 seconds left. McMahon then found Brown between three SMU defenders to cap one of the greatest comebacks in college football history.

Bluegrass Miracle (2002)

Down 30-27 amd pinned back at their own 18-yard line with two seconds remaining, LSU quarterback Marcuss Randall threw a Hail Mary that didn't even make the endzone. The Wildcats went into full celebration mode, pouring Gatorade over the head of coach Guy Morriss as Kentucky fans stormed the field. One problem, though. LSU's Devery Henderson caught the ball on the 15 yard, broke a shoestring tackle and scored the game-winning touchdown.

Vince-anity (2006)

On fourth down with the national title on the line, Vince Young, scrambled eight-yards untouched into the end zone for the last of his three rushing TD's to give Texas a 41-38 lead with 19 seconds remaining to complete an improbable comeback. Young literally put the Longhorns on his back and carried them to the title.

Flutie Magic (1984)

Down 45-41 to the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl, the Eagles had one final chance. The 5-foot-9 Flutie dropped back, scrambled to his right and heaved a 48-yard bomb with time expired. The ball sailed over the fingertips of the three Miami defenders and into the arms of Gerald Phelan giving BC a 47-45 BC victory.

The Play (1982)

You've seen it many times: John Elway leads the Cardinal down the field to take a 20-19 lead with four seconds left. But on the ensuing kickoff, Cal completed five laterals (one of which was very close to being illegal) and survived several near tackles before the Bears' Kevin Moen found himself with the ball and nobody standing between him and the final 26 yards to the endzone ... except the Stanford Marching Band. No problem for Moen, who ran through the band on his way to the endzone and a 25-20 Cal win.

The Bush Push (2005)

Trailing,31-28, USC QB Matt Leinart had a choice: spike the ball and kick a field goal or go for the win. Leinart chose the latter and after getting stopped at the goal line, he got a push (albeit an illegal one) from Reggie Bush to give the Trojans a 34-31 win and extend their winning streak to 28 games.

College Football Greatest Plays