College football’s 150th anniversary: The 150 best moments that stood the test of time
By Zach Bigalke
90. Stanford and Illinois Play First Nationally Televised Game (1952)
Just over 12 years after a limited audience in the New York City area watched Waynesburg and Fordham play in the first college football game to hit the television airwaves, technology had advanced and TV was a major commercial hit. As 1951 gave way to 1952, Stanford and Illinois took the field at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on New Year’s Day to play in the first nationally-televised contest.
Stanford took an early 7-6 lead and held that margin tight through most of the first three quarters. But Big Ten champion Illinois exploded late, scoring in the third quarter to take the lead before putting 27 on the scoreboard in the final frame.
What looked to be a tense struggle due to come down to the final possession instead turned into a blowout as Illinois ran away with a 40-7 lead. In the process, fans across the country learned right out of the gate that even the biggest televised games of the year can ultimately become duds.
89. UCLA and Minnesota in Living Color (1962)
Ten years after the Rose Bowl provided the backdrop for the first nationally-televised football game, the venerable venue tucked in the Arroyo Seco and nestled in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains once again served as host for another landmark event. This time, UCLA and Minnesota participated in the first nationally-televised game broadcast in full color.
For the first time, fans could see the pop of the gold UCLA helmets against their powder-blue jerseys. They could distinguish the deep maroon of Minnesota’s base color against the white pants they opted to wear for the special trip to Pasadena.
Once the game kicked off, UCLA took an early lead on a 28-yard Bobby Smith field goal. It proved the only points the Bruins would score in the game, as Minnesota’s defense clamped down and quarterback Sandy Stephens scored two of the three Golden Gophers touchdowns en route to a 21-3 victory. With the advent of color, football on television became a lot more accessible even for casual fans.
88. Wolf Pack Crushes Boise State BCS Dreams (2010)
In eight seasons under Chris Petersen between 2006 and 2013, Boise State went to two Fiesta Bowls. What might be even more memorable in some ways, though, are the near misses that prevented the Broncos from going to two or three more BCS bowl games.
Perhaps the most memorable of the losses came in 2010 when Petersen and the No. 4 Broncos headed to Reno to face a high-powered Nevada squad that sat at No. 19 in the BCS standings. Chris Ault’s team, led by phenom quarterback Colin Kaepernick, struggled early as Boise State racked up a 24-7 lead in the first half.
But the Wolf Pack charged back, as Kaepernick and running back Rishard Matthews gashed the Broncos defense. A touchdown connection between the two tied up the game with 13 seconds remaining. Boise State had a chance to win, but Kyle Brotzman missed a field goal with two seconds remaining. In the extra frame, Brotzman missed again and Nevada’s Anthony Martinez put his attempt through the uprights as the hosts killed Boise State’s BCS Buster dream.