10: LSU @ 'Bama 2011
9: The U @ Notre Dame 1988
8: Hail Flutie 1984
7: Nebraska @ Oklahoma 1971
6: Clemson v. 'Bama 2017
5: Notre Dame @ Michigan State 1966
4: Kick Six: 2013
3: Boise State v. OU 2007
2: The U v. Nebraska 1984
1: Vince Young v. USC 2006
It’s hard to compare different eras and everyone has their personal favorites, but there’s no way you rank 66 ND-Mich St over 71 Neb-OU. Same era, both 1 vs. 2, one with lots of action, the other where one team played for a tie.
Submitted for your approval:
The Play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfebpLfAt8g
Stanford hosting the California Golden Bears 11/12/82.
John Elway’s final game at Stanford (his father was the football coach).
If ti was not for 50+ members of the Stanford Band being ON the field his last game at Stanford would have been a victory — he bitched about it like Fredo Cuomo...
What Crap, many other games that are not mentioned here that were far better, SI and ESPN bias yet again
Cal v. Stanford, the “Big Game” 1982.
The last play of the game, with seconds to go, Cal returned a squib kickoff using rugby laterals and ran the ball all the way into the end zone and won the game.
The managed to run over the Stanford Band in the process, which was already coming on the field thinking the game was over. A big bonus (if you’ve ever seen how obnoxious the Stanford Band is).
The Cal football players also were on the rugby team, so knew the drill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfebpLfAt8g
The Greatest game in college history was the 1968 THE GAME, where Havard ‘beat’ Yale 28-28. Think about the people who were on the team...
Alabama’s Barry Krause’s, linebacker, epic stop of the Notre Dame runner at the goal line on fourth and a foot, for the win.
Texas A&M vs. LSU 2018
A&M 74
LSU 72
SEVEN overtimes. The NCAA changed the rules on overtimes because of this game. When the fans stormed the field, the NCAA hit A&M with a healthy fine. A couple of alums (Ole AGS) paid the fine. No school money was used to pay it.
When I was young, people talked a lot about the 1934 Rose Bowl Game won by Columbia over Stanford. (I didn't start watching these games until about 20 years after that one.)
ML/NJ
I was obviously not there but from what I have read the 1926 Rose Bowl was a great one.
Washington was heavily favored and had a lead at half time. Alabama took the lead in the third quarter and held on to win.
MVP was Johnny Mack Brown thr Dothan Panther.
Nobody has anything to say about #3?
Man, Boise State don’t get no respect.
My memory of college football games goes back to 1964, when I was 9 years old. I’ve been a Notre Dame fan since then (I am also an ND alum), and I’ve read significant amounts of history about the Irish. Here are ND games that are legendary:
1909 — Notre Dame 11 Michigan 3. This was the first victory by ND over the scum in 9 tries dating back to 1888. Fielding “Hurry Up” Yost cancelled the 1910 rematch while the ND team was on the train from South Bend to Ann Arbor.
1913— Notre Dame 35 Army 13. Knute Rockne played end, and Gus Dorais was his quarterback. Although the forward pass had been legal for a few seasons, this was the game that brought passing plays to the fore, and put Notre Dame in the national consciousness. It was played on All Saints’ Day (November 1) at West Point.
1924—Notre Dame 13 Army 7. This game was on October 18 and I believe it took place at the Polo Grounds. Sports writer Grantland Rice immortalized the “Four Horsemen” ( Don Miller, Elmer Layden, Jim Crowley and Harry Stuhldreher) “outlined against a Blue Gray October Sky”).
1925—Notre Dame 27 Stanford 10. The only time ND was ever invited to play in the Rose Bowl. ND won its first national championship against a Stanford squad led by the great Ernie Nevers.
1928—Notre Dame 12 Army 7. This one was at Yankee Stadium, and involved Knute Rockne’s immortal “Win One for the Gipper” speech.
1935—Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13. This was the original “Game of the Century”. ND, lead by quarterback Bill Shakespeare, scored 3 touchdowns late in the game to stun the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.
1946—Notre Dame 0, Army 0. This was at Yankee Stadium, and involved the two top teams in America. Johnny Lujack, ND’s Heisman winning QB, made the most famous play in this game as a defensive player by tacking Doc Blanchard short of the goal line.
As for games involving other teams, I would rank the 1969 Texas Arkansas game (Texas overcame a 14-0 deficit to win 15-14) easily in the top 10 games ever played.
Cal vs Stanford. The impossible ending
The Snow Bowl. OSU v idon’tknow
People couldn’t see well
AZ State vs Nebraska in 1975 Fiesta Bowl
Nice list, but 1988 was Notre Dame’s 11th national title, not it’s 8th (some would even say 13th). But, while I have no quarrel with the top game being USC vs. Texas, the author is forgetting one of the greatest games ever played: the 1973 Sugar Bowl, the last played in old Tulane Stadium, the first ever meeting between two of the most renowned programs in college football history, with 7 lead changes and some storybook late-game heroics, all for the national title. Bear Bryant vs. Ara Parseghian. Better yet, I was there! Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23.
I have to void my retraction and list the specifics.
From Wiki (I know but):
In 1999 Northwest defeated Carson-Newman College 58–52 in four overtimes to defend the title. The game was the longest in NCAA football playoff history in number of extra periods, surpassing six contests that were extended by three overtimes. The broadcast analyst on ESPN called it the best college football game he’d ever seen. The game solidified ESPN’s interest in Division II football, prompting ESPN to cover the semi-final games.
I was looking in the early 2000 era and skipped looking at 99.
So I repeat, N W. Missouri State vs Carson-Newman College
1992 Sugar Bowl: One sportswriter in the entire country had Bama to win over the might Hurricanes of Miami. The bad boys had the swagger and the Heisman winner in Gino Torretta. Bama’s defense was nearly unbeatable, with George Teague actually running down a receiver who was supposedly faster than him an stripping the ball away. Greatest play in the greatest game. (even though a defensive penalty (offsides) nullified it) 34-13.
That's the one I remember. 1984. Was watching the game at a fellow Marine's house on Thanksgiving weekend. Stationed on Camp Pendleton at the time.
I thought he was going to be an NFL superstar but they never really gave him a chance. Raw deal. He did set records up in Canada however.