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As part of its yearlong celebration of 150 years of college football, ESPN has selected the 150 greatest college football games of all time. ESPN's stats group selected 202 games initially, which were narrowed down by a panel of 150 media members, athletic administrators and former players. Older games were well represented, including Georgia Tech's Rose Bowl win over Cal in 1928 (the wrong way Riegels run) at #89 (but not the 222-0 game). The top two teams on the list were Notre Dame with 23 games and Alabama with 22.

The top 10:

1. Nebraska-Oklahoma 1971
2. Miami-Nebraska 1984 Orange Bowl
3. Appalachian State-Michigan 2007
4. Boston College-Miami 1984 (the original Hail Mary)
5. Penn State-Miami 1987 Fiesta Bowl
6. Notre Dame-Miami 1988
7. Texas-Southern Cal 2006 Rose Bowl
8. Penn State-Georgia 1983 Sugar Bowl
9. LSU-Mississippi 1959
10. Notre Dame-Alabama 1973 Sugar Bowl

At 11 was the Harvard-Yale 1968 tie.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ar-history

2009 Humanitarian Bowl, Idaho over Bowling Green 43–42

The list is flawed. Missing from the list is....

2018: #22 Texas A&M 74, # 7 LSU 72 (7OT)

There is no discussion on this. At least 10 of the games listed were yawners compared to this game.

silverscreenselect wrote:As part of its yearlong celebration of 150 years of college football, ESPN has selected the 150 greatest college football games of all time. ESPN's stats group selected 202 games initially, which were narrowed down by a panel of 150 media members, athletic administrators and former players. Older games were well represented, including Georgia Tech's Rose Bowl win over Cal in 1928 (the wrong way Riegels run) at #89 (but not the 222-0 game). The top two teams on the list were Notre Dame with 23 games and Alabama with 22.

The top 10:

1. Nebraska-Oklahoma 1971
2. Miami-Nebraska 1984 Orange Bowl
3. Appalachian State-Michigan 2007
4. Boston College-Miami 1984 (the original Hail Mary)
5. Penn State-Miami 1987 Fiesta Bowl
6. Notre Dame-Miami 1988
7. Texas-Southern Cal 2006 Rose Bowl
8. Penn State-Georgia 1983 Sugar Bowl
9. LSU-Mississippi 1959
10. Notre Dame-Alabama 1973 Sugar Bowl

At 11 was the Harvard-Yale 1968 tie.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ar-history

I was in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (as it then was known) for #1. That game deserves the top ranking! One poor man in the stands had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly as Johnny Rodgers began his incredible, damnable run for the winning touchdown for Nebraska. If the guy was an Oklahoma fan (and I think he was), he died more happily for not knowing the final outcome.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooner fans. Not.

silvercamaro wrote:I was in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (as it then was known) for #1. That game deserves the top ranking! One poor man in the stands had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly as Johnny Rodgers began his incredible, damnable run for the winning touchdown for Nebraska. If the guy was an Oklahoma fan (and I think he was), he died more happily for not knowing the final outcome.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooner fans. Not.

At least the Sooner Schooner didn't tip over.

jarnon wrote:

At least the Sooner Schooner didn't tip over.[/quote]

A new Sooner Schooner is under construction. I was just glad that the ponies (okay, and the people, too) were not injured. I hope you noticed how well trained those beautiful little horses are. Even with the Schooner on its side and no one holding the reins, the ponies followed their normal path and ran side by side through their usual exit from the field.

Some of these games likely lose a bit of luster and have different outcomes today. For example, in #2, under current rules, Nebraska kicks the extra point, the game goes to OT, and Nebraska wins the second of Osborne's 5 national titles (see below).

In the 1982 PSU-NU game, video review shows that the receiver was 2 feet out-of-bounds when he caught the ball, and Nebraska goes on to win Osborne's first national title.

Luckily, I do not think that replay would looked at the Rodgers' punt return in 1971. (I have no recollection of the game, but I have seen replays of the game. Johnny the Jet Rodgers put the Nebraska fans "in the aisles" and tore 'em loose from their shoes. I had a chance to get to know Jerry Tagge (the Huskers' QB) in recent years.)

silvercamaro wrote:

silverscreenselect wrote:As part of its yearlong celebration of 150 years of college football, ESPN has selected the 150 greatest college football games of all time. ESPN's stats group selected 202 games initially, which were narrowed down by a panel of 150 media members, athletic administrators and former players. Older games were well represented, including Georgia Tech's Rose Bowl win over Cal in 1928 (the wrong way Riegels run) at #89 (but not the 222-0 game). The top two teams on the list were Notre Dame with 23 games and Alabama with 22.

The top 10:

1. Nebraska-Oklahoma 1971
2. Miami-Nebraska 1984 Orange Bowl
3. Appalachian State-Michigan 2007
4. Boston College-Miami 1984 (the original Hail Mary)
5. Penn State-Miami 1987 Fiesta Bowl
6. Notre Dame-Miami 1988
7. Texas-Southern Cal 2006 Rose Bowl
8. Penn State-Georgia 1983 Sugar Bowl
9. LSU-Mississippi 1959
10. Notre Dame-Alabama 1973 Sugar Bowl

At 11 was the Harvard-Yale 1968 tie.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ar-history

I was in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (as it then was known) for #1. That game deserves the top ranking! One poor man in the stands had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly as Johnny Rodgers began his incredible, damnable run for the winning touchdown for Nebraska. If the guy was an Oklahoma fan (and I think he was), he died more happily for not knowing the final outcome.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooner fans. Not.

The urban legend around here is that no one went to the bathroom the entire 1st half, and then everyone did at halftime, causing a historic surge in water use in Omaha.

Appa23 wrote:Some of these games likely lose a bit of luster and have different outcomes today.

Funny you should mention that:

87. No. 12 Colorado 33, at Missouri 31

This is the 1990 game that Colorado scored on fifth down to beat Missouri. With today's replays that probably doesn't happen, Missouri wins the game and Colorado doesn't get to share a national championship with Georgia Tech.

And, lest we forget, this game from the same season didn't make the top 150 but will live forever in Nebraska lore:

The Stanford Marching Band on the field game is not in the top 10?

silvercamaro wrote:I was in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (as it then was known) for #1. That game deserves the top ranking! One poor man in the stands had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly as Johnny Rodgers began his incredible, damnable run for the winning touchdown for Nebraska. If the guy was an Oklahoma fan (and I think he was), he died more happily for not knowing the final outcome.

Actually, according to the article, Rodgers's TD run was not the winning score. It occurred after OU's first possession. It was Jeff Kinney's run with 1:38 to play that was the difference.

earendel wrote:

silvercamaro wrote:I was in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (as it then was known) for #1. That game deserves the top ranking! One poor man in the stands had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly as Johnny Rodgers began his incredible, damnable run for the winning touchdown for Nebraska. If the guy was an Oklahoma fan (and I think he was), he died more happily for not knowing the final outcome.

Actually, according to the article, Rodgers's TD run was not the winning score. It occurred after OU's first possession. It was Jeff Kinney's run with 1:38 to play that was the difference.

After nearly 48 years, my memory may be just a wee bit off kilter. Sorry about that. Would you believe me if I told you I was only five months old at the time?

kroxquo wrote:The Stanford Marching Band on the field game is not in the top 10?

My scoutmaster and family friend took that photo.

Appa23 wrote:
In the 1982 PSU-NU game, video review shows that the receiver was 2 feet out-of-bounds when he caught the ball, and Nebraska goes on to win Osborne's first national title.

I was at Penn State then. A nicer bunch of opposing fans you would be hard to find. Even though everyone thought he was out of bounds that is not the way the call went. And they were still saying good game as they passed us.

I do not believe I have seen that much red at Beaver Stadium. We saw some many HUGE RVs, it was amazing. They drove all that way? I was impressed by the fans for sure.