Counting down the top 15 moments from the 2016 college football regular season.
Bowl mania may already be well underway, but fans around the nation are still reflecting on another outstanding college football regular season.
Alabama and Western Michigan were the only two teams in the nation to enter bowl season unscathed. Elsewhere around the country, a number of upsets, wild finishes, and outstanding individual efforts came to define the year in college football.
Fans will never forget Week 11 of the 2016 season, which featured three undefeated teams losing to help shape the playoff race and set up a dramatic finish over the final weeks. USC crushed Washington in Seattle, Iowa took down Michigan on a last-second field goal, and Pittsburgh engineered a wild comeback against Clemson.
The best was still saved for last, as Ohio State took down the Wolverines in double overtime in the game of the year. Conference Championship week did not disappoint either with entertaining endings in the Big Ten and ACC.
All of those classic games featured a number of moments that will live forever in college football history. From Hail Marys to dramatic field goals, these 15 college football moments stand out as the best from 2016.
15. Jonathan Allen’s fumble return against Ole Miss
It’s easy to forget given how dominant Alabama was this year that the Crimson Tide were down 21 points at one point against an Ole Miss team that finished at 5-7. Allen’s fumble recovery and touchdown return all but sealed the Crimson Tide win in one of the most critical moments of Alabama’s undefeated run through the regular season.
The Rebels raced out to a 24-3 lead late in the second quarter, with quarterback Chad Kelly burning Alabama on a number of deep shots. Alabama clawed back with two touchdowns before the half, and eventually took its first lead with 16 seconds left in the third on a Bo Scarbrough run.
Down 11 midway through the fourth, the Rebels were looking to start a comeback attempt deep in Crimson Tide territory. Allen then scooped up a Kelly fumble and ran it back 75 yards for a touchdown to put Alabama up 48-30 with 5:28 to go.
At 6-3 and 265 pounds, Allen showcased the combination of size and speed that will make him a high selection in next year’s NFL draft. Ole Miss got within five points with a chance to get the ball back near the end of the game, so Allen’s touchdown was a huge part of the comeback victory.