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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Sep 10, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Jesse Kroll (88) passes the ball to Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Corey Willis (8) during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Central Michigan won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Jesse Kroll (88) passes the ball to Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Corey Willis (8) during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Central Michigan won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Central Michigan’s controversial Hail Mary

It wouldn’t be a college football season without at least one huge referee mishap, and the September 10 matchup between Central Michigan and Oklahoma State stands out as the most controversial ending of the year.

Mike Gundy’s squad checked in at No. 22 prior to the game against the underdog Chippewas with the hope of rising further up the rankings before Big 12 play. Oklahoma State cruised early and opened up a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

Central Michigan would slowly work its way back and took its first lead at 24-20 with 9:40 to go. After a long Cowboys drive ended in a fumble, the Chippewas fumbled on the next play, setting up Oklahoma State with a short field to regain the lead at 27-24.

The Cowboys got the ball back and appeared to have run the clock out to seal the victory when Mason Rudolph chucked the ball out of bounds to kill off the final four seconds. However, Rudolph got called for intentional grounding, and the Chippewas received a untimed down on the change of possession.

Later on, it was determined that an intentional grounding penalty should not have resulted in an extra down according to the rule book. If that wasn’t strange enough, Cooper Rush then completed a pass to Jesse Kroll, who lateraled it to Corey Willis for a 49 yard Hail Mary touchdown and 30-27 Central Michigan win.

The blown call certainly detracts from the incredible lateral touchdown, but Central Michigan-Oklahoma State provided one of the oddest endings in college football history. It would have been a fascinating what-if had the Cowboys finished the season with only that loss.

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