In the United States, college football is one of the most popular sports events among football fans. It is even bigger than the world-famous National Football League (NFL). Every year, the National College Athletic Association Football (NCAAF) encourages promising footballers to compete and ultimately make it to the NFL.
While college football thrives on the field, it’s essential for student-athletes to balance their academic commitments. Many of them seek support from professional thesis writers to manage their academic workload alongside their sports careers. With many years of delivering great action on the football field, college football has become one of the most competitive amateur sports, boasting hundreds of thousands of fans nationwide. Let’s review the top ten most surprising college football moments in NCAAF and other competitions that are known to avid spectators.
10 – Alabama vs. Auburn, 2013 Iron Bowl
Dubbed the Kick Six, the Alabama vs. Auburn match in the 2013 Iron Bowl was indeed the most unforgettable college football game in history. Alabama Crimson Tide was the two-time defending national champion and ranked no. 1 in the league. Meanwhile, the Auburn Tigers were ranked fourth. Crimson Tide dominated the NCAAF betting odds at FanDuel and was expected to crush the Tigers in the game.
The Auburn Tigers fell behind in the second and fourth quarters of the game. However, they rallied to tie the game in the last 32 seconds, 28-28. Auburn’s Chris Davis did the game-winning touchdown for his team, 28-34
09 – Oklahoma Winning Streak
Oklahoma holds the record for the most NCAA wins in history. The team has clinched 47 winning streaks, making them one of the most decorated college football teams in the United States. Their first 31 wins were secured under the direction of coach Wilkinson from 1948-1950. It was then followed by a consecutive 28 wins in 1973-1975 under coach Barry Switzer.
08 – Boise State vs. Oklahoma, 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Boise State was the undefeated winner of the Western Athletic Conference at that time. They entered the game as seven-point favorites and football royalty, needless to say. On the other side, the Broncos were uninvited to the game because they lacked quality wins.
The match between Boise State and Oklahoma happened in Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. The match ended with a 43-42 win in favor of the underdogs, Boise State.
07 – Appalachian State vs. Michigan, 2007
The 2007 game played by Appalachian State Mountaineers against Michigan Wolverines during the regular season was one of the most unforgettable matches in college football. The game was held in Michigan Stadium, Ann Harbor. It was the first confrontation between the two teams during that season.
Wolverines are expected to dominate the game, so Las Vegas sportsbooks didn’t care to issue a betting line for the match. During the first half, the Mountaineers were leading, but the Wolverines took over the lead in the fourth quarter. However, the Appalachian State successfully blocked the winning field goal attempt of the Wolverines to secure a 34-32 win.
06 – Harvard vs. Yale, 1968
Played on November 23, 1968, the Harvard Crimson and Yale Bulldogs battled in the field, ending in a tie, 29-29. It was a last-moment comeback for Harvard as they scored 16 points in the last 42 seconds of the game.
With a 16-game winning streak, Yale Bulldogs was clearly the favorite to win the game, and finishing the game to a tie was a moral victory for Harvard. The next day, the official student publication of Harvard called “The Harvard Crimson” published a story headlined “ Harvard Beats Yale, 29–29.”
05 – Appalachian State Vs. Penn State, 2018
Held at home field, Penn State opened its 2018 season with a game against Appalachian State. The matchup extended to overtime after Mountaineers scored 28 in the fourth quarter. Penn State closed its last two seasons with 11 wins. They have a solid offensive line with Heisman hopeful Trace McSorley. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have also solidified their position in the Big Ten, leveling the match. At the end of the game, Penn State survived to beat the Appalachian State 45-38 in overtime.
04 – USC vs. Texas, 2006 Rose Bowl
Played on January 4, 2006, this game featured the reigning Big 12 Conference champion and the defending Rose Bowl champion Texas Longhorns against the two-time defending AP national champions and Pacific-10 Conference titleholders USC Trojans. USC was defeated by the Longhorns in the match, making it the fourth football championship in the program’s history. The game earned the highest TV ratings for any BCS game, with 21.7% of households watching it.
03 – Hail Flutie, 1984
Also known as “Miracle in Miami,” the Hail Flutie is considered one of the greatest college football matches in history. It’s best remembered for quarterback Doug Flutie’s successful Hail Mary pass in the last second, earning Boston College the title. Miami Hurricanes entered the game with an 8-3 record, while Boston College Eagles have a 7-2 record.
Flutie also passed for 472 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first college quarterback to exceed 10,000 yards passing in a career. Besides the iconic Hail Mary pass, Hurricane’s Bernie Kosar also passed for 447 yards with two touchdowns. Additionally, Miami’s Mervin Bratton run for four touchdowns in the game.
02 – Clemson vs. Alabama, 2017 National Championship
Played in Raymond James Stadium, the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship featured Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide. The title game was college football’s first rematch between no. 1 and no. 2 in the national championship game history.
Ending at 35-31, the Tigers won the match against Crimson Tide. Clemson Tigers Deshaun Watson and Ben Boulware earned the Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players in the culminating game.
01 – Stanford Band “The Play,” 1982
Played between Stanford Cardinal and California Golden Bears, the 1982 Big Game became one of the most iconic games in college football’s history. It has also featured the phenomenal game-winning last-second kickoff return for a touchdown. The participating teams have been the greatest rivals. With four seconds left, the Cardinals prematurely rejoiced as the Golden Bears executed five lateral passes, scoring the winning touchdown in the match and ultimately earning the 20-25 victory.
Conclusion
College football is more fast-paced than the NFL. Moreover, it has a longer history than any other professional sports event in the country. Plus, you will get to see young and daring players eager to prove themselves on the field. With such dynamic participants, many exciting and surprising moments were remembered by fans!