Top 10 Greatest Finishes in College Football History

College football has produced countless unforgettable games, but some endings become bigger than the final score. These are the plays that fans remember decades later—the impossible laterals, controversial officiating decisions, desperate Hail Mary passes and last-second returns that changed seasons and created legends. Here are the ten greatest finishes in college football history.

10) Trinity at Millsaps, Oct. 27, 2007

Division III football produced one of the wildest walk-off touchdowns the sport has ever witnessed. Millsaps led Trinity 24–22 after stopping a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter. The Majors then failed to run out the clock, giving Trinity possession at its own 40-yard line with only two seconds remaining. Because a traditional Hail Mary was unlikely to travel far enough, Trinity coach Steve Mohr called for a shorter completion and hoped his players could keep the ball alive.

Quarterback Blake Barmore completed the pass to Shawn Thompson, beginning a 61-yard journey involving seven Trinity players and 15 laterals. The play lasted more than a minute in real time. The final backward pass bounced off the turf but remained live, allowing Riley Curry to recover it and race into the end zone. The “Mississippi Miracle” gave Trinity an unbelievable victory and became one of college football’s greatest viral moments.

Final score: Trinity 28, Millsaps 24

Trinity University Miracle Lateral Play

9) Colorado at Missouri, Oct. 6, 1990

No great-finish list would be complete without the most infamous officiating mistake in college football history. Missouri led Colorado 31–27 when the Buffaloes drove inside the Tigers’ five-yard line during the final minute. Colorado spiked the ball to stop the clock, but the down marker was not changed correctly. The officials and chain crew subsequently lost track of the downs, allowing Colorado to run five plays instead of four.

On what should have been Missouri’s football, Colorado quarterback Charles Johnson attempted a sneak as time expired. Johnson was credited with the winning touchdown, although replays created additional controversy over whether he crossed the goal line. The Big Eight acknowledged the officiating error but ruled that the result could not be changed after the game. Colorado eventually finished 11–1–1 and received the AP national championship, while Georgia Tech won the coaches’ poll. Missouri fans have never forgotten the game that was taken from them by an extra down.

Final score: Colorado 33, Missouri 31

ESPN on 5th Down MU v CU 90.mov

8) USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 15, 2005

USC carried a 27-game winning streak into Notre Dame Stadium, where the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish nearly ended the Trojans’ championship run. Trailing 31–28 on fourth-and-nine, Matt Leinart connected with Dwayne Jarrett for a spectacular 61-yard completion that moved USC to the Notre Dame 13. The Trojans eventually reached the goal line, but Leinart was stopped short and fumbled out of bounds. The stadium clock mistakenly reached zero, sending Notre Dame students onto the field before officials restored seven seconds.

With USC facing second-and-goal, Pete Carroll appeared to signal for Leinart to spike the ball. Instead, the quarterback kept it and attempted to sneak into the end zone. When Notre Dame’s defense stopped his initial surge, Reggie Bush pushed Leinart from behind and helped propel him across the goal line. Assisting a runner in that manner was technically prohibited at the time, but no penalty was called. The controversial “Bush Push” preserved USC’s undefeated season.

Final score: USC 34, Notre Dame 31

USC vs. Notre Dame 2005 The Final Drive

7) Georgia vs. Florida, Nov. 8, 1980

Top-ranked Georgia entered Jacksonville undefeated and appeared to be controlling its rivalry game against Florida after building a 20–10 advantage. The Gators stormed back, however, scoring 11 unanswered points to take a 21–20 lead. When Georgia regained possession at its own seven-yard line with approximately 90 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs’ perfect season and national championship hopes were in serious danger.

After gaining nothing on the first two plays, quarterback Buck Belue dropped back on third-and-11 from his own end zone. Belue escaped pressure, scrambled toward the right sideline and found Lindsay Scott near the Georgia 25. Scott turned upfield, accelerated past Florida’s defenders and raced 93 yards for the winning touchdown as legendary radio announcer Larry Munson delivered his unforgettable “Run, Lindsay!” call. Georgia missed the two-point conversion but stopped Florida’s final possession. The Bulldogs remained undefeated and eventually defeated Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to capture the national championship.

Final score: Georgia 26, Florida 21

RUN, LINDSAY RUN

6) SMU vs. BYU, Dec. 19, 1980

SMU’s “Pony Express” backfield of Craig James and Eric Dickerson overwhelmed BYU for most of the 1980 Holiday Bowl. James rushed for 225 yards, Dickerson added 110, and the Mustangs led 45–25 with only four minutes remaining. Some BYU supporters began leaving the stadium, but quarterback Jim McMahon refused to surrender.

McMahon threw a touchdown pass to Matt Braga before BYU recovered an onside kick. Scott Phillips then scored on a one-yard run and caught the two-point conversion, reducing the deficit to 45–39. After BYU’s defense forced a punt, Bill Schoepflin broke through and blocked the kick, giving the Cougars possession at the SMU 41. Two incompletions left time for one final play. McMahon launched the ball into the end zone, where tight end Clay Brown rose among several defenders and made the tying catch. Kurt Gunther converted the extra point, completing a 21-point comeback over the final 2:33 and giving BYU its first bowl victory.

Final score: BYU 46, SMU 45

1980-Holiday Bowl Comeback

5) Colorado at Michigan, Sept. 24, 1994

Seventh-ranked Colorado and fourth-ranked Michigan entered the Big House with identical 2–0 records and legitimate national championship aspirations. Michigan appeared to take control by building a 26–14 lead, but Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart directed a late comeback. Stewart’s touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook cut the deficit to 26–21 with 2:16 remaining, and Colorado’s defense forced Michigan to return the ball.

The Buffaloes reached their own 36-yard line with six seconds remaining. Colorado coach Bill McCartney called “Rocket Left,” a desperation play designed for Blake Anderson to tip the ball toward Westbrook. Stewart retreated, stepped forward and unleashed a pass that traveled more than 70 yards through the air. Anderson elevated and redirected the football before Westbrook secured it in the end zone as time expired. The 64-yard touchdown silenced more than 106,000 people inside Michigan Stadium. Forever remembered as the “Miracle at Michigan,” it remains one of the greatest throws and catches in college football history.

Final score: Colorado 27, Michigan 26

1994 | Colorado vs Michigan | Stewart to Westbrook TD Pass | Miracle at Michigan | NCAA Football

4) Boise State vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 1, 2007

Boise State entered the Fiesta Bowl undefeated but was still treated as an outsider against Big 12 champion Oklahoma. The Broncos built a 28–10 lead before the Sooners scored 25 consecutive points. Oklahoma tied the game with 1:26 remaining and then returned a Jared Zabransky interception for a touchdown, taking a 35–28 lead with only 62 seconds left.

Facing fourth-and-18, Boise State executed a hook-and-lateral. Zabransky completed a pass to Drisan James, who lateraled to Jerard Rabb for the tying touchdown with seven seconds remaining. Adrian Peterson scored on Oklahoma’s first overtime play, but Boise State answered when receiver Vinny Perretta threw a touchdown pass to Derek Schouman on fourth down. Coach Chris Petersen then chose to attempt a two-point conversion for the victory. Zabransky faked a throw and secretly handed the ball behind his back to Ian Johnson, who scored untouched on the Statue of Liberty play. Johnson then proposed to his girlfriend on national television.

Final score: Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 in overtime

3 Plays That Shocked The World, 2007 Fiesta Bowl

3) Boston College at Miami, Nov. 23, 1984

Boston College and defending national champion Miami staged an extraordinary Thanksgiving weekend shootout at the Orange Bowl. Doug Flutie passed for 472 yards, while Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 447. The teams combined for 1,282 yards of offense, and Miami moved ahead 45–41 with 28 seconds remaining.

Boston College started its final possession deep in its own territory. Flutie completed two passes before an incompletion left the Eagles at Miami’s 48-yard line with six seconds remaining. On the final play, Flutie escaped pressure, moved to his right and launched the ball from his own 37-yard line into a strong wind. Miami defenders converged in the end zone but misjudged the flight, allowing Gerard Phelan to make the catch after the football sailed over the defensive backs. The 48-yard touchdown completion gave Boston College the victory and created the defining image of Flutie’s Heisman Trophy season. The play became known simply as “Hail Flutie.”

Final score: Boston College 47, Miami 45

The story behind Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary in Boston College’s win vs. Miami | ESPN Archives

2) Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 30, 2013

Top-ranked Alabama entered the Iron Bowl pursuing a third consecutive national championship, but fourth-ranked Auburn matched the Crimson Tide throughout a remarkable rivalry game. Alabama led 28–21 until Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall found Sammie Coates for a 39-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining. The game appeared headed to overtime after Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon stepped out of bounds near Auburn’s 39-yard line as the clock expired.

Nick Saban requested a replay review, and officials restored one second. Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal with backup kicker Adam Griffith, but the kick fell short. Auburn returner Chris Davis caught the ball near the back of the end zone and sprinted toward the left sideline. Alabama’s field-goal unit, filled primarily with linemen, could not catch him. Davis raced the length of the field for the winning touchdown as time expired. The “Kick Six” ended Alabama’s three-peat bid and sent Auburn to the SEC championship and national championship game.

Final score: Auburn 34, Alabama 28

2013 Iron Bowl ending HIGH DEFINITION Auburn beats Alabama

1) Stanford at California, Nov. 20, 1982

Stanford quarterback John Elway appeared to have delivered the perfect conclusion to his final regular-season college game. Elway moved the Cardinal into position for Mark Harmon’s 35-yard field goal, which gave Stanford a 20–19 lead with four seconds remaining. Stanford received a celebration penalty, forcing the Cardinal to kick off from farther back, but nearly everyone still believed the game was over.

California’s Kevin Moen fielded the kickoff and began a desperate return involving five laterals. The ball moved from Moen to Richard Rodgers, then to Dwight Garner, back to Rodgers, on to Mariet Ford and finally back to Moen. Meanwhile, members of the Stanford band had entered the field prematurely, believing the Cardinal had won. Moen raced through the scattered musicians and crossed the goal line before crashing into trombone player Gary Tyrrell. After a lengthy discussion, officials ruled the laterals legal and assessed Stanford’s penalty during the return. “The Play” gave California the victory and remains college football’s most chaotic and improbable finish.

Final score: California 25, Stanford 20

The Play from the Cal vs. Stanford 1982 Big Game #GoBears