When it comes to ridiculous finishes, the 2015 college football season has been the gift that keeps on giving. It seems like every week fans are treated to an ending they feel like they won’t see again for 20 years, only to witness something even more ridiculous the very next week. It’s been a steady game of one-upsmanship that we must not take for granted, since we don’t know when the ridiculous-finish well will finally run dry. Assuming it has (or even if it hasn’t), here are the five craziest finishes in college football so far this season.
5. Montana-Idaho State (November 7th)
Clocking in at No. 5 is the lone FCS matchup on this list. Montana and Idaho State were knotted at 27 as the latter lined up for a game-winning 34-yard field goal attempt in overtime. Idaho State never got the kick off as the snap sailed over the holder’s head. The holder had a clear chance to fall on the ball, but the kicker failed to put a decent block on Montana’s JR Nelson, who swooped in and flung the ball up (officially, but arguably, before he was down) to his teammate Eric Johnson, who took it back for the walk-off return touchdown.
WATCH: #GrizFootball game winning play vs ISU in OT. Gotta see it to believe it! #GoGriz #BigSkyFB #SCTopTen pic.twitter.com/QaJIMPY0JX
— UMGRIZZLIES (@UMGRIZZLIES) November 8, 2015
4. Florida State-Georgia Tech (October 24th)
Florida State trotted out sure-footed Roberto Aguayo for a 56-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left and the score tied at 16. What’s the worst that could happen? Either win the game in regulation or go to overtime, right? Well, Florida State’s worst fears were realized as Aguayo’s kick was tipped and bounced back to the Georgia Tech 22-yard-line. The Yellow Jackets’ Lance Austin picked it up, swept toward the sideline, got a few key blocks, and took it 78 yards to the house. Heavy underdog Georgia Tech handed FSU its first loss of the season in dramatic enough fashion to earn the nickname “Miracle on Techwood.”
UNBELIEVABLE!!! Georgia Tech defeats Florida State at the buzzer on a blocked field goal TD return ![😦]()
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pic.twitter.com/emTZqrg12i
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) October 25, 2015
3. Arkansas-Ole Miss (November 7th)
Arkansas-Ole Miss was the SEC’s undercard for LSU-Alabama last Saturday, but it was the matinee that shined. The whole game was a spectacularly tight shootout, with the score tied after each quarter and knotted at 45 at the end of regulation. Ole Miss opened overtime with a quick three-play touchdown drive and had Arkansas on the ropes on the ensuing drive, putting them in a 4th and 25 from the 40.
QB Brandon Allen hit Hunter Henry for 14 yards and Henry appeared to be tied up. However, before hitting the ground he heaved a prayer of a lateral, which was tipped and bounced into the lap of RB Alex Collins, who stormed up the far sideline for an improbable first down. Arkansas eventually scored, but missed a two-point attempt. But a facemask was called and Allen ran in for the game-winning two-point conversion on the gift play.
#BielWithIt RT @SiriusXMCollege 4th & 25….and…what the WHAT?!? #ARKvsMISS pic.twitter.com/hGHWRrAQqX
— Lost Lettermen (@LostLettermen) November 8, 2015
2. Michigan State-Michigan (October 17th)
Jim Harbaugh was 10 seconds away from truly announcing his Michigan regime to the world, establishing the Wolverines as a legitimate College Football Playoff threat with a monumental win over undefeated in-state rival Michigan State. Up 23-21 on fourth down and with just 10 ticks on the clock, Harbaugh called a punt. And while nothing is a sure thing on special teams in college football, it would take a miracle — or at least something very improbable — for Michigan State to win.
You know what happened next. Punter Blake O’Neill muffed the snap, but instead of falling on the ball, he tried picking it up and punting again. It was knocked out of his hands and returned for a touchdown by Jalen Watts-Jackson that still has to be seen to be believed.
This really just happened. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/59ut12F1W7
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) October 17, 2015
1. Miami (FL)-Duke (November 1st)
Say what you will about Miami’s controversial eight-lateral kickoff return that helped them defeat Duke, 30-27, and stun the college football world. And plenty has been said already, with the ACC suspended the officiating crew from the game. Even with blown calls on a block in the back and a Miami player’s knee being down before he got off a lateral, it’s hard not to appreciate this play’s splendor that is reminiscent of the 1982 Stanford-Cal game. The only thing missing was the band on the field.
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