Fansided

15 best college football moments of 2016

By Nathaniel Reeves

Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans celebrate their teams victory on the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio State 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans celebrate their teams victory on the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio State 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions stop the Wisconsin Badgers short of a first down late in the 4th quarter during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Penn State defeats Wisconsin 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions stop the Wisconsin Badgers short of a first down late in the 4th quarter during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Penn State defeats Wisconsin 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Wisconsin gets stuffed in the Big Ten Championship Game

Penn State’s dramatic turnaround season culminated with a defensive stand against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, one of the most exciting contests of the year.

While neither team would end up in the College Football Playoff, there was still a small hope for both heading into conference championship week. The No. 5 Nittany Lions entered championship weekend on an eight-game win streak that included an upset over Ohio State, while Wisconsin was ranked sixth after only dropping close games to the Buckeyes and Michigan.

Wisconsin was dominant in the first half on both sides of the ball, opening up a 28-7 lead with five minutes left in the second. While Penn State managed to get a touchdown just before the half, its offensive line looked too overwhelmed to mount a comeback.

Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley led a thrilling comeback by torching the Badgers on a number of long passes. Just a minute into the fourth quarter, McSorley’s touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley gave Penn State its first lead, and the Nittany Lions eventually pushed the advantage to 38-31 on a field goal with 5:14 left.

Needing a touchdown, the Badgers responded with a long and methodical drive that took them all the way to the Penn State 24. Wisconsin went to the ground to try to convert a fourth and one, but Corey Clement got shut down on an impressive open field tackle by Grant Haley to seal the conference title for Penn State in one of the most entertaining games of the year.

The wild comeback gave Penn State a berth in the Rose Bowl, with Haley’s tackle standing out as one of the top individual plays of the year.

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