College football’s 150th anniversary: The 150 best moments that stood the test of time

114. Las Vegas Bowl Inaugurates Overtime (1995)

For more than a century, a college football game was guaranteed to last for 60 minutes of clock time. If two teams reached the end of the final quarter deadlocked, they split a tie and left it at that. But a rule change forever changed not just the way we think of regulation time but also the accounting of wins and losses.

A method started in Kansas high schools for breaking ties was initiated on a test basis for the 1995 bowl season in advance of full implementation in 1996. As a result, the Las Vegas Bowl between Toledo and Nevada afforded college football fans the chance to see the new overtime system in effect.

At the end of regulation, both teams started with the ball from their opponent’s 25-yard line. Nevada, unable to punch the ball into the endzone, settled for a 22-yard field goal by Damon Shea. Toledo responded with a Wasean Tait touchdown from two yards out to lock up the first overtime victory in college football history.

113. Dale Klein’s Perfect Kicking Game (1985)

Entering their 1985 showdown against Big Eight rival Missouri, Nebraska was a heavy favorite as they arrived in Columbia with a 4-1 record. Their only blemish, a 17-13 loss to Florida State in the season opener, had been forgiven by pollsters. By the time of the matchup against the Tigers, the Cornhuskers had climbed as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll.

Missouri, meanwhile, was 0-5 as they prepared to host the highly-ranked Cornhuskers. The season had started roughly under new head coach Woody Widenhofer, but the Tigers defense was fired up to hold the high-powered Nebraska offense in check. Unable to get much going, the Huskers relied heavily on a walk-on who responded with the greatest perfect game for a kicker in NCAA history.

Dale Klein, a junior who finished his college career with a 66-percent connection rate on field goal attempts, was in a zone in Columbia. In the first half, he connected on field goals from 32, 22, 43, 44, and 29 yards. After the halftime break, Klein added a pair of 43-yard kicks through the uprights. Nebraska needed every one as they prevailed 28-20 against the spirited Tigers.

112. Texas A&M and LSU Break Records in OT (2018)

Just a year after Western Michigan and Buffalo tied the record for most overtimes played and broke the mark for most points scored in an overtime contest, Texas A&M and LSU one-upped their MAC counterparts. Squaring off at Kyle Field in College Station, the Aggies and the Tigers traded punches long into the Texas night.

The lead changed hands several times in regulation, as Texas A&M grabbed the momentum in the first half and LSU responded in turn after the intermission. Falling behind 31-24 midway through the fourth quarter, the Aggies needed a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Mond to Quartney Davis on the final play of regulation just to force overtime.

Once in overtime, both teams kept lighting up the scoreboard. Texas A&M kicker Seth Small and LSU counterpart Cole Tracy each kicked two field goals during the overtime frame, and they each got one chance to kick extra points before the third overtime when teams must go for two. In the seventh overtime, quarterback Joe Burrow ran in a 10-yard touchdown, but LSU’s two-point attempt failed. That finally opened the door for A&M, who scored on their ensuing possession and then converted the two-pointer for the winning 74-72 margin.