Editor’s be aware: All week, The Athletic is wanting again at the most effective of the primary 25 years of the 2000s in faculty soccer. Learn the highest 25 groups, prime 25 gamers and coaches and verify again for the most effective packages on Friday.
Faculty soccer has modified extra within the final 25 years than at any earlier level of its historical past.
However these magical Saturdays haven’t modified. Narrowing the most effective video games in that span meant juggling three key metrics: high quality of the sport, indelible moments inside the sport and the stage that the sport was performed on. Balancing that isn’t simple, however the video games that had all three floated to the highest of this checklist.
Listed below are the 25 finest video games of the previous 25 years in faculty soccer.
25. Michigan 27, Alabama 20, OT (2023, Rose Bowl)
In Nick Saban’s last sport — although we didn’t realize it on the time — Jim Harbaugh and Michigan broke by to achieve the nationwide title sport with an exciting victory in additional time. Alabama led late, however Michigan marched 75 yards to tie the rating with 94 seconds left, highlighted by a fourth-down go from J.J. McCarthy to Blake Corum. Michigan scored in two performs — each Corum runs — in its additional time possession. Alabama then overcame some snapping points and superior the ball to the 3-yard line on a Jalen Milroe to Jermaine Burton go. However on fourth down, the Michigan defensive entrance stuffed Milroe to seal the win.
24. Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32 (2007)
The primary sport ever on Huge Ten Community offered probably the most memorable moments in faculty soccer historical past and a monumental FCS over FBS upset. The No. 5 Wolverines struggled with the nation’s No. 1 FCS workforce and its unfold offense, falling behind 28-14 within the first half. Michigan adjusted within the second half and led 32-31 with 4:36 to play after Mike Hart broke free for a 54-yard rating.
App State quarterback Armanti Edwards was picked off on the subsequent play, however Michigan was unable to capitalize and had a 43-yard subject purpose blocked. App State then drove 69 yards and went forward on a 24-yard kick with 26 seconds remaining. Michigan QB Chad Henne hit Mario Manningham for a 46-yard completion that arrange a possible 37-yard sport winner, however Corey Lynch blocked the kick to seal the win and historic upset.
23. Stanford 24, USC 23 (2007)
Faculty soccer, meet Jim Harbaugh.
Stanford’s unimaginable upset as a 41-point underdog in a convention sport was the start of the tip of the Trojan empire, too. It’s the largest FBS vs. FBS upset in historical past. USC led 23-14 within the fourth quarter, however the Cardinal rallied and scored the sport’s last 10 factors. On the go-ahead landing drive, quarterback Tavita Pritchard related with Richard Sherman, who switched to cornerback later in his profession, on fourth-and-20 from the USC 29-yard line.
22. Pitt 13, West Virginia 9 (2007)
Undefeated West Virginia was a 28-point favourite at dwelling and on the doorstep of taking part in for a nationwide title within the wildest faculty soccer season maybe ever. As a substitute, Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and head coach Dave Wannstedt grounded a prolific offensive assault, maintaining WVU scoreless within the second half, partially due to two missed Pat McAfee subject objectives.
Pitt took the lead within the third quarter and by no means gave it again. Panthers tailback LeSean McCoy ran for 148 yards on 38 carries, whereas WVU’s Steve Slaton and Pat White managed simply 52 yards on 23 carries, with White injuring his thumb late within the first half. He was barely capable of play for a lot of the second half, and Pitt handed its hated rival probably the most damaging losses in faculty soccer historical past. West Virginia native Wealthy Rodriguez left for Michigan two weeks later, and WVU hasn’t received 11 video games in a season since.
21. Texas A&M 74, LSU 72, 7OT (2018)
This sport served because the catalyst for faculty soccer to vary its additional time guidelines to the extensively reviled two-point conversion contest. The 2 groups have been by no means separated by greater than seven factors within the second half, and the Aggies pressured additional time when QB Kellen Mond discovered Quartney Davis for a contested, 19-yard rating behind the tip zone as time expired. 5 of the seven overtimes featured touchdowns, however LSU quarterback Joe Burrow couldn’t convert a two-point conversion within the seventh additional time. Mond did, discovering Kendrick Rogers for the win.
20. USC 52, Penn State 49 (2016, Rose Bowl)
USC led by two touchdowns on three separate events within the first half. Then Penn State surged within the third quarter, main by two touchdowns twice, highlighted by a 79-yard landing run from Saquon Barkley and a 72-yard tipped catch landing by Chris Godwin. Sam Darnold, Juju Smith-Schuster and the Trojans rallied, outscoring Penn State 17-0 within the fourth quarter, mounting landing drives of 83 and 80 yards.
Leon McQuay III picked off Penn State QB Hint McSorley with 27 seconds left and returned it 32 yards to arrange a game-winning 46-yard subject purpose from Matt Boermeester on the gun.
19. UCF 49, USF 42 (2017)
The Biggest Conflict on I-4 Ever Performed kicked off with UCF’s excellent season at stake. The Knights led 21-7, however USF quarterback Quinton Flowers and the Bulls answered with 27 of the sport’s subsequent 34 factors to take the lead. UCF reclaimed the lead halfway by the fourth, however the two groups mixed for 3 touchdowns within the sport’s last 2:30, highlighted by Mike Hughes taking a kick 95 yards to the home with 1:28 left to ship UCF on its option to a 13-0 season and a claimed nationwide title that’s celebrated at The Bounce Home.
18. Ohio State 42, Michigan 39 (2006)
The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Showdown is one in every of a number of video games within the final 25 years that has been coined a Recreation of the Century. The matchup lived as much as the hype. Michigan rallied from a double-digit deficit to trim the Ohio State result in 4 early within the fourth quarter after which pressured a turnover from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith on the subsequent possession. The Wolverines went three-and-out and by no means received the ball with an opportunity to take the lead once more. Michigan lower the result in three with a late landing however didn’t get better the onside kick.
Many individuals clamored for a BCS nationwide title rematch, however as a substitute the Buckeyes went on to lose to Florida.
17. Baylor 61, TCU 58 (2014)
The matchup between eventual Huge 12 co-champions and co-Faculty Soccer Playoff snubs was a traditional within the second, and it grew in significance because the season progressed. Marcus Mallet’s choose six gave TCU a 58-37 lead with 11:38 to play in a Waco monitor meet. The Bears answered with three touchdowns, two on drives longer than 90 yards, to tie the sport. The protection stiffened, forcing two punts and a turnover on downs to arrange Chris Callahan’s game-winning 28-yard kick.
16. Texas 38, Michigan 37 (2004, Rose Bowl)
Vince Younger is finest remembered for his heroics within the 2005 Rose Bowl, however individuals overlook how particular he was a 12 months earlier in the identical sport. Younger opened the second half with a 60-yard landing run, however Michigan scored the sport’s subsequent 17 factors to take a 31-21 lead. Younger added two extra landing runs within the fourth quarter and likewise arrange Dusty Mangum’s 37-yard, game-winning kick on the sport’s last play. Younger completed with 180 yards passing and a landing and 192 dashing yards with 4 scores.
15. Nevada 34, Boise State 31, OT (2010)
Boise State started the season ranked No. 3 and entered the rivalry with a 10-0 report and driving a 24-game profitable streak. A BCS bowl sport was a near-certainty and taking part in for a nationwide title was a chance. As a substitute, it was a nightmare journey to Reno in a showdown of top-20 groups led by two of the nation’s prime quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Kellen Moore (Boise State).
Boise threatened to roll, leaping to a 24-7 halftime lead. Nevada rallied to tie the sport twice, however Moore discovered Titus Younger for a 53-yard completion to the Wolf Pack 9 with two seconds left. Kyle Brotzman pushed a 26-yard try from the center of the hashes huge proper. In additional time, Brotzman pulled a 29-yard kick left from the middle of the sphere. Nevada’s Anthony Martin hit a 33-yarder within the Wolf Pack’s OT possession to crush Boise’s dream season that finally ended within the Las Vegas Bowl.
14. Texas Tech 39, Texas 33 (2008)
Prime-ranked Texas went to Lubbock to face Mike Leach’s top-10 workforce that featured a pair of Heisman contenders in QB Graham Harrell and huge receiver Michael Crabtree. The Crimson Raiders scored the sport’s first 19 factors and led 29-13 late within the third quarter after Colt McCoy threw a choose six. However McCoy hit Malcolm Williams for landing passes of 37 and 91 yards to assist the Longhorns take a 33-32 lead with 1:29 left.
With eight seconds left, Horns security Blake Gideon appeared to intercept a tipped go within the purple zone, however replay confirmed he dropped the simple choose. Harrell discovered Crabtree deep down the fitting sideline on the subsequent play, however as a substitute of going out of bounds, he wrestled out of Chykie Brown’s grasp and scored to provide Texas Tech one in every of its greatest wins at school historical past.
13. Texas 39, Arizona State 31, 2OT (2024, Peach Bowl)
Closely favored Texas led 17-3 at halftime and 24-8 halfway by the fourth quarter. ASU’s first journey into the tip zone didn’t come till working again Cam Skattebo launched a halfback go downfield for a 42-yard rating to Malik McClain. Ninety-one seconds later, ASU struck once more, sparked by an interception and a 62-yard catch and run from Skattebo. The sport went to additional time after some late controversy when Texas was not flagged for an obvious focusing on penalty that might have prolonged an Arizona State possession. One other Skattebo rating put ASU on the board within the first additional time.
Dealing with a fourth-and-13, Texas QB Quinn Ewers launched a 28-yard TD go to Matthew Golden behind the tip zone to maintain Texas’ season alive. The Horns scored within the second additional time, and Andrew Mukuba picked off Sam Leavitt to clinch the win for Texas.
12. Tennessee 52, Alabama 49 (2022)
Tennessee jumped to a 28-10 lead over the Crimson Tide in a top-10 showdown at Neyland Stadium. Alabama rallied to tie the sport at 28 early within the third quarter. The groups traded scores and have been tied at 42 when Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner scooped up a mishandled alternate and returned it 11 yards to place the Tide up seven halfway by the fourth quarter. Tennessee answered with a 75-yard drive capped by Jalin Hyatt’s fifth landing catch of the evening.
Alabama reached Tennessee’s 32 with 34 seconds left, however after three incomplete passes, Will Reichard missed a 50-yard subject purpose try. Tennessee didn’t accept additional time, and Hendon Hooker threw a pair of lengthy completions to arrange a tipped, wobbly, 40-yard game-winning kick from Chase McGrath to set off a celebration on Rocky Prime celebrating the tip of Alabama’s 15-game profitable streak within the collection.
11. Alabama 26, Georgia 23, OT (2017, CFP title sport)
With Alabama trailing 13-0 at halftime, Nick Saban did the unthinkable: He benched starter and future Tremendous Bowl champion Jalen Hurts for Tua Tagovailoa, a five-star freshman whose solely expertise was in rubbish time. It labored. Tagovailoa ignited the offense for 4 scoring drives in opposition to Georgia’s elite protection to pressure additional time. Rodrigo Blankenship drilled a 51-yard subject purpose to place Georgia on prime, after which Tagovailoa took a horrific 16-yard sack on the primary play of Alabama’s OT possession. That arrange one of many best moments in program historical past: a 41-yard rainbow toss on second-and-26 from Tagovailoa to future Heisman winner DeVonta Smith to win Saban’s fifth nationwide title at Alabama.
10. Georgia 42, Ohio State 41 (2022, Peach Bowl)
Ohio State reached the Faculty Soccer Playoff regardless of a rivalry loss to Michigan, and the Buckeyes — a landing underdog — led Georgia 21-7 early within the second quarter. The Bulldogs tied the sport in lower than 5 minutes and later added a subject purpose to seize the lead, however Ohio State surged forward and led 38-24 coming into the fourth quarter. Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett hit Arian Smith for a 76-yard landing and located AD Mitchell for a 10-yard rating to provide the Bulldogs a 42-41 lead with 54 seconds to play. C.J. Stroud rapidly received OSU to midfield, however the drive stalled at Georgia’s 31, and Noah Ruggles’ 50-yard try went huge left because the clock struck midnight.
9. Auburn 28, Alabama 27 (2010)
Undefeated Auburn discovered itself trailing rival Alabama 24-0 in Tuscaloosa halfway by the second quarter. Then, Cam Newton occurred. Landing passes of 36 and 70 yards received the Tigers again within the sport. Then scoring drives of 75 and 67 yards put the Tigers up for good within the fourth quarter, capped by a 7-yard go to Philip Lutzenkirchen. The CamBack was the crown jewel of one of many best particular person seasons in faculty soccer historical past. Newton received the Heisman Trophy and led his workforce to the SEC title and nationwide championship.
8. Florida State 34, Auburn 31 (2013, BCS title sport)
First-year coach Gus Malzahn and his Tigers led quarterback Jameis Winston and undefeated FSU 21-3 halfway by the second quarter of the ultimate BCS sport. FSU scored the subsequent 17 factors and took its first lead when Kermit Whitfield returned a kick 100 yards for a go-ahead rating with 4:31 to play. Auburn’s Tre Mason broke free for a 37-yard rating to wrestle the lead again with 1:19 left. Winston marched the Seminoles 80 yards in seven performs (highlighted by a 49-yard completion to Rashad Greene) and located Kelvin Benjamin behind the tip zone for a 2-yard TD with 13 seconds left that gave Florida State its first nationwide title since 1999.
7. Clemson 35, Alabama 31 (2016, CFP title sport)
Alabama, the defending nationwide champion and a workforce that finally had 19 of twenty-two starters drafted, led 24-14 coming into the fourth quarter of a rematch of the earlier 12 months’s title sport. However Clemson rallied and an 88-yard drive that ended with a Wayne Gallman 1-yard run with 4:38 put the Tigers in entrance for the primary time. Alabama answered, with Jalen Hurts skating by Clemson’s elite protection for a 30-yard landing to recapture the lead with 2:07 to play. Deshaun Watson led Clemson again and located Hunter Renfrow on a goal-line rub path to win this system’s first nationwide title since 1981.
6. Ohio State 31, Miami 24, 2OT (2002, Fiesta Bowl)
Miami entered the conflict undefeated and driving a 34-game profitable streak. Thirty-seven of the gamers who began the sport turned NFL Draft picks, together with 18 first-rounders. Ohio State led 17-7 within the third quarter, however Miami rallied and compelled additional time on a 40-yard subject purpose from Todd Sievers on the ultimate play of regulation. Miami scored to open additional time, after which OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel transformed a fourth-and-14 with a 17-yard go to Michael Jenkins to maintain the Buckeyes’ OT drive alive.
Just a few performs later, OSU wanted to transform a fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line. Krenzel’s go bounced off Chris Gamble’s fingers, and Miami rushed the sphere to rejoice a nationwide title. Nonetheless, subject choose Terry Porter threw a late, controversial go interference flag on Miami’s Glenn Sharpe. Ohio State capitalized and scored, and Maurice Clarett scored in double additional time to provide the Buckeyes the lead. Miami, on its subsequent possession, had a first-and-goal on the 2, however OSU repeatedly stuffed the Hurricanes on the purpose line, and Ken Dorsey’s go on fourth down on the 1-yard line fell incomplete to provide the Buckeyes the victory.
5. Georgia 54, Oklahoma 48, 2OT (2017, Rose Bowl)
Georgia, the SEC champs, trailed Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and first-year coach Lincoln Riley 31-14 late within the second quarter. Georgia scored the sport’s subsequent 24 factors, however the Sooners rallied, tying the sport at 38 and taking the lead on a 46-yard scoop and rating off a Sony Michel fumble with 6:52 left. Bulldogs tailback Nick Chubb tied the sport with 55 seconds remaining, and Riley controversially elected to accept additional time. After the groups traded subject objectives within the first OT, Oklahoma’s Austin Seibert missed a 27-yard try, and Michel despatched Georgia to the title sport with a 27-yard scamper on Georgia’s second offensive snap of double additional time.
4. USC 34, Notre Dame 31 (2005)
Two-time nationwide champions introduced a 27-game profitable streak to Notre Dame Stadium for a top-10 showdown that lived as much as the hype. Notre Dame took a 31-28 lead on a Brady Quinn 5-yard run with 2:04 to play that capped an 87-yard drive. USC responded, and QB Matt Leinart floated an ideal ball excessive to single-covered Dwayne Jarrett for a 61-yard acquire on fourth-and-9 to get the Trojans into the purple zone.
USC had no timeouts, and on first-and-goal from the 3-yard line with eight seconds left, Leinart dived for the pylon, however a helmet on the ball pressured it out of bounds on the 4. The clock ran out, and followers rushed the sphere to rejoice the win. However the officers huddled and appropriately put seven seconds again on the clock, recognizing the ball on the 1-yard line.
Leinart determined to sneak it, an try that was initially stoned earlier than he spun to his left and Reggie Bush pushed him over the purpose line. The play ought to have been unlawful, but it surely gave the Trojans a large rivalry win in a sport that may eternally be remembered by the Bush Push. Greater than 10 million individuals watched it, the biggest viewers for a regular-season sport in virtually a decade.
3. Auburn 34, Alabama 28 (2013)
Two phrases outline probably the most well-known chapter of one in every of faculty soccer’s most intense rivalries: Kick Six. Auburn rallied from a 21-7 deficit to tie the sport, after which tied it once more at 28 with 32 seconds left on a 39-yard landing go from Nick Marshall to Sammie Coates. On the following possession, Nick Saban turned to freshman Adam Griffith to try a 57-yard subject purpose.
The kick was nicely brief, and Chris Davis caught it behind the tip zone and returned it 109 yards principally untouched. The play ended Alabama’s marketing campaign for a three-peat, put Auburn into the SEC title sport and, after an Ohio State loss per week later, propelled the Tigers into the ultimate BCS Nationwide Championship Recreation, the place they misplaced to Florida State.
2. Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 (2006, Fiesta Bowl)
Adrian Peterson and the Sooners fell behind 14-0 and 28-10 however rallied and took a landing lead with a choose six with simply over a minute left. Boise answered, changing a hook-and-ladder on fourth-and-18 for a game-tying, 50-yard rating with seven seconds left. The Broncos used a halfback go to attain in additional time and offered a signature second by changing a two-point conversion with a Statue of Liberty play to Ian Johnson for the win. Johnson capped his evening by proposing to his girlfriend.
1. Texas 41, USC 38 (2005, Rose Bowl)
USC had two Heisman winners in its backfield and was driving a 34-game profitable streak, eyeing a three-peat as a landing favourite. The back-and-forth battle ended with Vince Younger skating contained in the pylon on fourth-and-5 to place the Longhorns up with 19 seconds left. Younger completed with 267 yards passing and 200 yards dashing and a trio of touchdowns.
USC coach Pete Carroll referred to as it the best particular person efficiency he’d ever seen. It was additionally the highest-rated BCS sport ever and was Keith Jackson’s last sport within the ABC sales space. It’s the usual by which all different video games on this century are judged.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Sean M. Haffey, Robert Beck / Sports activities Illustrated, Kevin C. Cox, Steve Grayson / WireImage / Getty Photographs)
