Mike Marteny’s college football bowl game power rankings. His top 25 bowl games since 2000, including the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, the 2018 Rose Bowl, and more.
There have been 878 college football bowl games played this century. Only 25 can make this list of the best bowl games of the first quarter of the 21st century. How many games was your favorite team involved in? Was your team on the right side of history? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
It would be too simple to just include every overtime game or every national championship game that was close. Here at RotoBaller, we enjoy digging a little deeper. Some of these bowls, and the teams that participated in them, are relatively obscure.
For bowls to make this list, something spectacular had to happen. Big comebacks, big controversies, and massive heartbreaks are all part of this list. My team is on here twice, both on the wrong side of history. I hope for better for your teams.
Honorable Mentions
2001 Holiday Bowl: Texas vs. Washington
Washington led by 16 points going into the fourth quarter. Texas scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter — including two in the last two minutes — to pull out the win.
2003 Hawaii Bowl: Houston vs. Hawaii
This three-overtime thriller featured 102 combined points and two touchdown passes in overtime from current Hawaii coach Timmy Chang.
2003 Insight Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. California
Cal’s Aaron Rodgers became the bowl hero after Virginia Tech’s DeAngelo Hall ran a punt back for a touchdown to tie the game with just under two minutes left.
2004 Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas
Vince Young leads the Longhorns on a final four-minute drive to win the Rose Bowl — a precursor of things to come.
2008 Orange Bowl: Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
The pinnacle of Kansas football. It has been all downhill since…but Kansas still managed to get a game on this list.
2009 Humanitarian Bowl: Idaho vs. Bowling Green
Idaho coach Robb Akey famously said, “Watch the second half, you’re gonna love it,” at the halftime interview. Idaho fans sure did. Max Komar caught his only pass of the game with four seconds left. Idaho got the two-point conversion for the win.
2011 BCS National Championship: Auburn vs. Oregon
Michael Dyer’s 37-yard run after not touching the ground while being tackled is the iconic image of Auburn’s last national title. No, I don’t care how many they now claim. This was their last one.
2012 Outback Bowl – Michigan State vs. Georgia
A Kirk Cousins interception led to a 42-yard field goal attempt for Georgia in the first overtime, which Blair Walsh missed. Walsh’s 47-yard kick at the bottom of the third overtime was blocked to give the Spartans the victory.
2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Idaho vs. Colorado State
The two teams combined for 111 points right after it was announced that Idaho would demote itself back to the FCS level.
2022 Fiesta Bowl (December): TCU vs. Michigan
Everyone remembers TCU getting blown out by Georgia and says that they didn’t deserve to be there. That has always been a disingenuous argument. TCU beat Michigan in the semifinal to get there.
(25) 2011 Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Baylor
2011 Alamo Bowl @valeroalamobowl
Final:
Washington 56
#12 Baylor 67
•Most combined yards in a bowl
•Most combined TDs in a bowl
•Second highest score in a bowl
•Most combined points in a half in a bowl pic.twitter.com/22rQwXosqy
— Autumn 11 College Football (@Autumn_Eleven) December 27, 2021
I hope you like offense. This version of the Alamo Bowl is the only game on this list that wasn’t a one-score game. It’s on here because it is the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history. The teams combined for 123 points in regulation. These teams also set bowl records for total yards (1,397) and touchdowns (17).
The 777 yards of total offense by Baylor set a school record and is the most ever allowed by Washington. Washington was so disgusted by the performance that defensive coordinator Nick Holt was fired immediately after the game, as were linebacker coach Mike Cox and defensive backs coach Jeff Mills.
The duel between Washington’s Keith Price and Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is the stuff of legends.
(24) 2014 Miami Beach Bowl: BYU vs. Memphis
This game had a lot of fireworks, with 103 total points scored at the new Marlins Park. Most people remember nothing about the points or the two overtimes. It is remembered for what happened after Memphis scored a touchdown in the bottom of the second overtime.
The Memphis players ran to the BYU sideline to celebrate with their fans. Due to this being a baseball stadium, all of the fans were behind the BYU sideline. A Memphis player was shoved by a BYU player (who was allegedly shoved into him). The Memphis player punched the BYU player in the back of the head. This is the result.
Yes, that is Puka Nakua’s older brother with the cheap shot to accelerate the brawl as it was dying down. Four BYU players were suspended for the season opener against Nebraska the next season.
(23) 2005 Alamo Bowl: Nebraska vs. Michigan
Nebraka Bowl memories: 2005 Alamo Bowl vs Michigan.
This game is probably known for Nebraska resilience, Michigan arrogance, bad officating…and a wild ending. pic.twitter.com/RZZVaEZ88K
— Paul Jake Jacobsen (@HuskerTapes) December 28, 2024
This was the first meeting since the split National Title of 1997 between Nebraska and Michigan. It was a back-and-forth battle the whole game, but what makes this game so memorable is the last play.
After several laterals by Michigan, time had expired when the ball hit the ground…but no player possessed the ball while it was on the ground. Players and media began filing onto the field while the play was still live.
Nebraska had the presence of mind to knock Tyler Ecker out of bounds before he could return it to the end zone and likely start a replay review that would still be going.
(22) 2010 Pinstripe Bowl: Kansas State vs. Syracuse
One of the worst snowstorms in New York City’s history affected travel for teams and fans alike. That and the cold temperatures created a sparse crowd for one of our better games.
Neither team led by more than seven points until Syracuse hit a field goal with just over three minutes left to lead 36-28. Less than two minutes later, Kansas State was in the end zone after Carson Coffman hit Adrian Hilburn for 30 yards.
13 years ago today…..The Salute! Appreciate you Adrian Hilburn!! https://t.co/ol63hymKNQ pic.twitter.com/v14ryysCJm
— The K-State Family (@thekstatefamily) December 30, 2023
This egregious gesture to Kansas State fans who made the trip to the game was called “excessive celebration,” causing Kansas State to attempt the tying two-point conversion from 17 yards out instead of two yards.
I’ll call it like I see it. Kansas State was robbed of a chance to tie this game. I hate it when horrible calls decide games.
(21) 2010 Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. North Carolina
You know that something messed up happened when a rule is changed because of the game. This game was innocent enough, with North Carolina taking its 17-14 halftime lead into the fourth quarter. Tyler Bray found Justin Hunter with just over five minutes left in the game to give Tennessee the lead.
North Carolina punted and forced a punt, but it only had 31 seconds and no timeouts to get into field goal range. Running back Shaun Draughn failed to get out of bounds with 16 seconds left with Carolina in field goal range.
As the Tar Heels were trying to get the field goal unit onto the field, quarterback T.J. Yates noticed that they were not going to make it in time. He went behind the already set-up line, got the snap, and spiked the ball while players were still shuffling off the field.
It stopped the clock with one second left, but Carolina got a penalty for too many players on the field. If that had happened now, it would have resulted in a 10-second runoff, thus ending the game.
At the time, it was one of those loopholes that Yates exploited. Carolina kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime. Bray was picked off in the top of the first overtime. Carolina kicked a field goal to win.
(20) 2024 Hawaii Bowl: South Florida vs. San Jose State
It has the distinction of being the first bowl game decided by the dumb “two-point conversions until we die” overtime rules (the 2022 Liberty Bowl only had one dueling two-point conversion-fest as it was decided in the third overtime). It took five overtimes to decide this game, a record that stood for two whole days.
A true where were you when moment…
South Florida wins the never ending 2024 Hawaii Bowl. Never forget.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 25, 2024
(19) 2024 Game Above Sports Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Toledo
One good two-point conversion slugfest deserves another. Played a whole two days after the Hawaii Bowl, Pitt and Toledo gave us this.
TOLEDO WINS A 6OT THRILLER VS. PITT 😱
ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2knXWrt58R
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2024
This bowl game took just over 4.5 hours, so those of you who didn’t watch it live likely missed the end of it. It started inconspicuously enough, with Toledo leading 6-2 after the first inning. Football broke out in the second quarter with Toledo taking a 20-12 lead by halftime.
Toledo returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Toledo WR Junior Vandeross III caught 12 passes for 194 yards. According to talking heads from this year, this game should never have been played because of safety issues. They were worried about the safety of the Pitt players, right?
(18) 2022 Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas
A wonderful game that featured 108 total points was ruined by the new overtime rules. Arkansas made its two-point conversion in the third overtime, and Kansas didn’t. That ending doesn’t do this game justice.
Arkansas scored 24 first-quarter points and had piled up a 31-7 lead in the first 25 minutes of the game. Kansas trailed 38-13 before scoring 25 unanswered points to tie the game with 41 seconds remaining.
Kansas missed the two-point conversion in the third overtime thanks to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels being knocked out by a targeting penalty in the second overtime. Backup Jason Bean threw it incomplete to lose the game.
(17) 2025 Peach Bowl: Arizona State vs. Texas
This game looked to be a yawner early on. The Arizona State defense did solidly against Texas, but they couldn’t move the ball at all. Then Cam Skattebo barfed up breakfast and changed the game.
Last year, Arizona State was 14 point underdogs against Texas! The experts predicted the game to be 33-19! The 2 players for ASU that led the comeback were from FCS! Cam Skattebo from Sac State and Shamari Simmons from Austin Peay! pic.twitter.com/zCHZVdIKU0
— The cfb lliason (@realfbllliason) December 16, 2025
With the game tied and just over a minute remaining, the officials changed the course of the game. Texas should have been called for targeting on this play, but instead, the Arizona State drive stalled, and the game ultimately went into overtime.
My phone has been burning up all morning.
Yes, this should have been a flag for targeting in #TEXvsASU. It meets all of the criteria of targeting (Rule 9-1-4). pic.twitter.com/tv5HPIQgd0
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) January 2, 2025
Had this penalty been correctly called, Arizona State would have had a chance to win the game in regulation with a field goal attempt instead of losing in overtime.
(16) 2022 Peach Bowl: Ohio State vs. Georgia
Officially 1️⃣ year ago today⬇️
Georgia outlasted Ohio State for the National Championship in one of the best Bowl games of all time🏆 pic.twitter.com/OScQEITHl1
— College Football Report (@CFBReport) December 31, 2023
Dubbed the “real national championship” by media pundits since it included the representatives of the two chosen conferences, it turned out to be far more entertaining than the actual national championship.
Ohio State has the distinction of blowing a 38-24 lead entering the fourth quarter. Georgia rattled off 11 straight to trail by three points. Ohio State pushed the lead back to six points.
With 54 seconds left, Stetson Bennett found Adonai Mitchell to give Georgia its first lead since 7-0. Ohio State drove for a 50-yard field goal attempt as time and the 2022 year expired and missed wide left.
I still stick to the notion that the “midnight miracle” would have never been a thing if Marvin Harrison Jr. hadn’t been hurt early in this game by a cheap shot in the end zone.
(15) 2022 Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Utah
This will forever be remembered as the Jaxon Smith-Njigba Bowl.
College Football Game of the Day!
108th Rose Bowl: #11 Utah vs. #6 Ohio State (2022)
– C.J. Stroud threw for a school record 573 yards and record tying six touchdowns completing 37/46 pass attempts
– Jaxon Smith-Njigba set the record for any FBS bowl game with 347 yards… pic.twitter.com/1EVc7JPCum
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) July 22, 2023
This game started innocently enough. It was Utah’s Britain Covey that was stealing headlines with a touchdown reception and a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Then JSN took over. We knew something was up when Smith-Njigba had two touchdowns of more than 50 yards in the second quarter. The 347 receiving yards are still a bowl record and an Ohio State school record.
C.J. Stroud’s 573 passing yards are a school and Rose Bowl record. So are the six passing touchdowns. The 683 total yards for Ohio State are still a school record. This was a legendary Ohio State offense, and it has the records to prove it.
(14) 2013 Outback Bowl: Michigan vs. South Carolina
Ball don’t lie play of the decade: Clowney’s hit vs. Michigan 😤pic.twitter.com/4bCDG9qVZm
— Supplier of Sports 🏈 (@supplyingsports) August 19, 2020
A horrific call that gave Michigan a first down on a fake punt was instantly erased by “The Hit.” This put Jadeveon Clowney on the NFL map. Ace Sanders caught a touchdown pass on the next play to put South Carolina ahead.
The crazy part about that hit is that it might not even be considered targeting by today’s standards. Clowney didn’t lower his head. Vincent Smith likely didn’t have his helmet fastened very well, but whatever the case may be, that remains one of the most iconic legal hits in a bowl game.
(13) 2013 New Mexico Bowl: Washington State vs. Colorado State
At Number 25 we have…
CSU’s Comeback in the 2013 New Mexico Bowl!
The Rams scored 18 points in the final 2:52 to shock the Cougars#RankWeek pic.twitter.com/q2THXjHOqJ
— DNVR Sports (@DNVR_Sports) July 15, 2024
The New Mexico Bowl had the greatest back-to-back finishes in bowl game history. The high-flying Mike Leach offense had the Cougars up by 15 points with just 4:17 remaining in the game. Leach, thinking that three kneeldowns wouldn’t quite run out the clock, had quarterback Connor Halladay fake a handoff. He fumbled on the keeper, but it was overturned by replay.
With the clock now stopped, Jeremiah Laufasa fumbled on the next play, giving Colorado State the ball back with just under two minutes left. Two fourth-quarter fumbles ruined the game for Washington State.
(12) 2012 New Mexico Bowl: Nevada vs. Arizona
Nevada had two long touchdown drives of over 80 yards to chew up the third quarter and leave Arizona trailing by 17 entering the final frame. Austin Hill caught a 63-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter to pull Arizona within 10 points. After another long Nevada scoring drive, Arizona was down by 13 points with just 1:44 remaining in the game and no timeouts.
12/15/12 – Behind 48-35 to Nevada w/1:48 left, UA drove 75yds and scored w/:42sec left. After recovering an onside kick, WR Tyler Slavin scored w/:19sec and the Wildcats pulled out a miracle 49-48 win in the NM Bowl. @KadeemCarey: 28-172-3. Scott: 28-47-382, 3TDs, 2INT. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/7pqVKpoIhP
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) December 15, 2025
What happened next was the stuff of legends. Matt Scott was forever crowned an Arizona hero, as was Marquis Flowers, the guy who recovered the onside kick.
(11) 2000 Independence Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M
2000 Snow Bowl pic.twitter.com/xH97xPbS8D
— Uncle Rico (@uncle_rico__) June 16, 2025
It was a simpler time when these two teams were in different conferences. An unusual December snowstorm dumped around six inches of snow in the Shreveport area. Most of the time, we had no idea where the yard lines were.
It didn’t matter. It was still glorious. The two offenses combined for 84 points, and it featured one of the wilder finishes in bowl history. Mario Minor intercepted a Mark Farris pass to give the ball to the Bulldogs with three minutes remaining. The Bulldogs punched it in to tie it at 35.
In overtime, Texas A&M scored on the first play on a 25-yard touchdown run by Ja’Mar Toombs. The extra point was blocked and recovered by Eugene Clinton, who lateraled the ball back to Julius Griffith to get the two points for Mississippi State instead. A touchdown by Wayne Madkin ended the game.
(10) 2001 GMAC Bowl: Marshall vs. East Carolina
This game was a laugher with the Pirates up 24-0 20 minutes into the game. Then Byron Leftwich showed up.
College Football Classic: Byron Leftwich rallies the Marshall Thundering Herd down 23 in the third to beat future NFL teammate David Garrard and ECU in the 2001 GMAC Bowl. pic.twitter.com/OGZoUB4fro
— The Get Back Coach (@TheGBCoach) July 22, 2022
Marshall trailed by 30 points at halftime. The Herd got two interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter to close the gap. Marshall closed to within six points with 1:53 left, but couldn’t recover the onside kick.
Marshall called all three timeouts during the forced three-and-out for the Pirates before scoring on a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with seven seconds left. Curtis Head missed his seventh point-after of the season to send this game into overtime.
That made this game even more legendary. Instead of just being a high-scoring game with a great comeback, it became the highest-scoring bowl game ever. Marshall got the fourth touchdown pass from Leftwich in the second overtime to cap the 125 total points scored that day.
(9) 2014 Bahamas Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky
This is the best game that never was. A miracle that never happened. Western Kentucky built a 42-14 lead by halftime and was up 49-14 midway through the third quarter.
Central Michigan scored four unanswered touchdowns in 10 minutes in the fourth quarter to set up this play with the Chippewas down 49-42 with one second remaining.
Po December 24, 2014: Down 7 to Western Kentucky in the Bahamas Bowl, Central Michigan scores miracle hail mary/lateral filled TD as time expires only to miss the 2-pt conversion and lose. pic.twitter.com/LaXeTl7b8X
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) December 24, 2021
Central Michigan went for the two-point conversion and the win, but instead fell short of the greatest comeback in bowl game history. We salute you, the best that never was.
(8) 2006 Insight Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Minnesota
Tech went for a fourth down on its opening drive and missed. The next drive resulted in an interception. The next drive featured a fumble in the red zone. Minnesota scored touchdowns on all three drives.
Minnesota led 35-7 at the half and kicked a field goal in the first drive of the second half. Then Graham Harrell and the Red Raiders stopped turning the ball over. Trailing by 31 with 23 minutes left in the game, the comeback was on.
On this day 14 years ago, @TexasTechFB staged an insane comeback to beat Minnesota, 44-41 in OT, in the Insight Bowl. The Red Raiders were down 38-7 w/ a quarter and a half to play. Graham Harrell went wild, and K Alex Trlica connected on a 52-yard FG as time expired to force OT. pic.twitter.com/ylX4In7Rjl
— Dave Miller (@Miller_Dave) December 29, 2020
Glen Mason, in a move that would ultimately get him fired, elected to go for it on fourth-and-seven instead of attempting a 47-yard field goal. Tech stopped the drive and pulled to within 10 points.
Texas Tech pulled to within three and forced a three-and-out, but used up all timeouts in doing so. A false start penalty pushed the Red Raiders back to their own 7-yard line to begin a drive to try to tie the game.
This was the largest come-from-behind victory in bowl game history, matched 10 years later by…
(7) 2016 Alamo Bowl: TCU vs. Oregon
The 15th-ranked Ducks dominated in the first half, leading TCU 31-0 at the break. TCU was without leading receiver Josh Doctson, who was out with a wrist injury. They also lost starting quarterback Trevone Boykin, who was arrested in San Antonio a couple of days before the game for getting in a bar fight and punching a police officer in the melee.
Bram Kohlhausen made his first and only FBS start in this game. He had one of the worst halves in history, only to have fortune shine on him after Oregon lost quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to injury just before halftime.
TCU Carter Boys’ 12 Days of Christmas🎄
Each day leading up to Christmas I will post one of my favorite TCU plays.
Day 10:
Bram Kohlhausen completes the largest comeback in bowl game history in 2OT. TCU was down 31-0 at the half. Some credit Gary Patterson for switching shirts pic.twitter.com/Ppi9RtXlpS
— TCU Carter Boys (@TCUCarterBoys) December 22, 2023
Oregon didn’t score for the rest of regulation, and Kohlhausen led a comeback so impressive that it has been turned into a movie called “Remember The Alamo Bowl.”
(6) 2015 Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Pittsburgh
Nothing went right for Houston in this game after a blocked extra point put them behind Pitt 7-6 with six minutes left in the first half. By the time Houston got the ball back with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game, they were down by 25 points. All hope was lost.
OTD 5 years ago, UH beat Pitt in the Armed Forces Bowl, 35-34, after trailing by 21 with just over 6 minutes to play.
Greg Ward threw 3 TDs in less than 3 minutes as well as a game-clinching two-point conversion. Cougar special teams grabbed two onside kicks as well. #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/6ohUWEX9Gr
— GoCoogs.com (@gocoogs1) January 2, 2020
Greg Ward Jr. led Houston to 29 fourth-quarter points. He had just 34 passing yards entering the fourth quarter and finished with 274. Houston plucked not one, but TWO onside kicks.
The 25-point comeback in 14 minutes was the largest fourth-quarter comeback in bowl game history.
(5) 2023 Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane
USC led the game by 15 points with only 4:30 left in the game. Michael Pratt led a touchdown drive that took just 23 seconds, and the defense recorded a safety on the next USC drive. Tulane chewed up the next three minutes and change before this.
When Tulane shocked USC and Caleb Williams in the 2023 Cotton Bowl 😳 pic.twitter.com/e6kwBNcM43
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2025
The catch by Alex Bauman was part divine intervention, part concentration. Tulane went from 2-10 in the previous season to 12-2 with this win. It altered the trajectory of both programs for the next few years.
(4) 2018 Rose Bowl: Georgia vs. Oklahoma
Officially 6️⃣ years ago today, the best College Football Playoff Game OAT 🔥. One of the greatest CFB games ever⚡️ pic.twitter.com/gg4ZFUJP9V
— College Football Report (@CFBReport) January 1, 2024
This one still hurts. I was driving back from a New Year’s trip to Chicago to see my favorite band on New Year’s Eve. I started listening to this game on the radio. I was feeling pretty good at halftime after CeeDee Lamb’s touchdown put the Sooners up 31-14.
The stolen field goal at the end of the half in six seconds would loom large. By the time the third quarter was over, I pulled over and made my sister drive so I could watch the game on my phone.
I had gone back to my post as the driver by the time Steven Parker returned the fumble for a touchdown. I had to pull the car over completely so that I could watch the overtime. We were in the hills of northern Missouri, and I couldn’t deal with the feed quitting.
I still haven’t watched this game in full. It is still tucked away on my DVR, just in case I ever feel at my lowest and need to prove that things can always get worse.
Oklahoma’s inability to stop Sony Michel and Nick Chubb will haunt me. It also makes me incredibly grateful that we finally have a defense that keeps the team in every game again. We never did under Lincoln Riley.
(3) 2003 Fiesta Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. Ohio State
Talk about a game that changed the trajectory of both schools. It wasn’t necessarily the game, but one singular play. One play that catapulted Ohio State into seven playoff appearances since this game, including two National Championships. One play that sent the Miami program into a spiral that they still haven’t come out of.
The Hurricanes entered this game on a 34-game winning streak. 37 of the 43 starters (Chris Gamble of Ohio State started on both offense and defense) in this game were drafted into the NFL.
The two teams played to a 17-17 draw to send the game into overtime. Miami scored a touchdown in the first overtime and pushed Ohio State to a fourth and goal when this happened.
17 years ago, a controversial call kept championship hopes alive.
Relive the 2003 @Fiesta_Bowl between Ohio State and Miami tonight 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ZaYQ5ovp20
— ESPN (@espn) May 28, 2020
A delayed flag resulted in Miami storming the field, thinking they had won back-to-back National Championships. It took several minutes to clear the field and keep the game going.
Many media personalities and former officials have called this one of the worst calls in history, especially considering what was riding on this call.
(2) 2007 Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Oklahoma
As with the 2018 Rose Bowl, I remember exactly where I was when I watched this game. I was at a friend’s house having a few beers and watching football all day.
It didn’t start well for the Sooners. Boise controlled the first half of this game. By the time of Adrian Peterson’s third-quarter touchdown, I had called for my ride home.
I tuned in just in time for Marcus Walker’s interception return that gave Oklahoma its first lead of the game with just over a minute left. What happened over the next hour is one of the most iconic moments in college football history.
Oklahoma had all the momentum, but none of that mattered. Chris Petersen and Boise State had nothing to lose, and they played like it. Am I upset we lost the game? Sure, but at the same time, I never let it get to me.
What happened in that hour changed the course of college football. Boise State had finally arrived. The “lesser” conferences were going to be included from now on, just in case something like this happened again.
It has only recently gone back the other way, where highly-paid shills for the SEC and Big Ten are trying to convince everyone that their conferences are the only ones that matter. They’re not. Boise State is living proof of that.
17 years ago today, The 2007 Fiesta Bowl between @BroncoSportsFB and Oklahoma had one of the wildest endings in college football history! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uvPgaDVijC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 1, 2024
I remember sitting on my couch in stunned disbelief. I wasn’t even mad because I knew this was something special for Boise. It would have been just another hard-fought win for Oklahoma.
I still remember Ian Johnson after the game. He parlayed the best moment of his life into another unforgettable event: asking his girlfriend to marry him. I remember being happy for him and Boise as a whole.
I still hold that sentiment. As a fan, I never want to see my team lose a game. However, losing a game like this that EVERYONE remembers, somehow makes it more tolerable. The unadulterated joy of the Boise players and fans was worth sacrificing an Oklahoma win for.
(1) 2006 Rose Bowl: USC vs. Texas
Around this time, I had just started writing sports columns. It was on the old Sporting News site where you could start a free blog. I kept this little piece, but it was lost about two hard drives ago.
I remember exactly what it said. I was calling for other Oklahoma fans to join me in doing something we vowed never to do: cheer for Texas. Why? Oklahoma’s most sacred record of 47 consecutive victories would have been broken if USC had won this game.
A win in this game would have been USC’s 35th consecutive win. With USC’s 2006 schedule looking incredibly easy and much of the talent coming back, Oklahoma’s record was under attack.
On a side note, it wasn’t. Had USC won this game, it still lost at Oregon State in the seventh game of the 2006 season. The record would have been safe. I had no way of knowing! Cheering for Texas was for the greater good.
What we got was a game better than most imagined. By the time there was only 6:42 left in the game, USC had opened up a 12-point lead, despite a spirited effort from Texas.
What happened next proved why Vince Young should have won the 2005 Heisman Trophy. It’s nothing against Reggie Bush, but Vince had a better year.
Never forget Vince Young’s legendary performance at the 2006 Rose Bowl against USC
pic.twitter.com/rFzquCTA5U
— Football 🏈 (@TheFBReels) March 30, 2024
Young accounted for all 69 yards of a Texas scoring drive to pull the Longhorns within five points. Texas then held USC on a fourth down near midfield to give Young the ball back.
Young cemented his legacy with an eight-yard touchdown run to give Texas its first lead since halftime, and one that would give Texas its first national championship since 1970.
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