Unless you spent last weekend in a coma, you know that Michigan lost its rivalry game to Michigan State in one of the most bizarre, soul-crushing ways possible when punter Blake O’Neill botched a punt and it was returned for a game-winning touchdown as time expired.
With that in mind, we take a look at the five craziest endings in college football history.
[Editor’s Note: You’ll notice that no Hail Mary’s are included on this list, such as “The Bluegrass Miracle,” “Miracle in Michigan” and “Hail Flutie.” While they were all wild finishes, the abundance of victories on Hail Mary’s shows that while rare, they are still a plausible way to lose.]
5. 2013 Alabama-Auburn (“Kick Six”)
When Alabama lined up for a 57-yard goal field goal with one second left on the clock and the score tied 28-28, Tide fans assumed the worst that could happen was the game would head to overtime. Instead, Adam Griffith’s kick fell short enough for Auburn’s Chris Davis to field it and return it 109 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Making it even worse? Nick Saban was the person who fought to put one second back on the clock for the kick.
4. 2015 Michigan State-Michigan
All Michigan had to do with 10 seconds remaining and leading the in-state Spartans, 23-20, was get away a clean punt and the game was all but over. But instead, punter Blake O’Neill bobbled the ball and tried to punt it instead of just falling on it (which probably still would have resulted in a win), allowing MSU’s Jalen Watts-Jackson to pick up the ball and take it to the house as time expired for the 27-23 win.
This really just happened. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/59ut12F1W7
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) October 17, 2015
3. 1990 Colorado-Missouri (“The Fifth Down”)
The final play of the Colorado-Missouri game was crazy enough because many still believe QB Charles Johnson didn’t cross the goal line, as Tiger fans stormed the field in celebration. Then throw in the fact that the Buffaloes scored that play on a fifth down because the game crew failed to flip the down marker after second down, and you have the biggest officiating blunder in college football history.
2. 1982 Stanford-Cal (“The Play”)
It’s the most famous play in college football history for a reason. Having just kicked what appeared to be the game-winning field goal with four seconds left, all Stanford needed to do was stop Cal from returning the kickoff for a touchdown. But the Bears used five laterals (plus got away with a player being down and possibly two forward laterals) and even trucked a Stanford band member errantly on the field for the controversial 25-20 win.
1. 1999 UNLV-Baylor
Thankfully for Baylor fans, this game is oft-forgotten because of the irrelevance of both programs at the time. But then-head coach Kevin Steele made the most boneheaded decision in college football history, trying to score a touchdown while up 24-21 and the ball at the UNLV 8-yard line with under 20 seconds left and no Rebels timeouts. All Baylor had to do was take a knee and leave with a victory. Instead, the ball was fumbled at the 1-yard line and returned 99 yards the other way to lose the game. Sixteen years later, just mentioning this loss is capable of giving Baylor fans a nervous breakdown.
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