College football’s 150th anniversary: The 150 best moments that stood the test of time
By Zach Bigalke
24. Red Grange and Illinois Topple Michigan (1924)
As they headed on their trip to Champaign to inaugurate the new Memorial Stadium in mid-October 1924, Michigan was riding a 20-game unbeaten streak and a 15-game winning streak. George Little’s first Michigan squad was following in the footsteps of the legendary Fielding Yost teams of recent vintages.
Illinois, led by star halfback Red Grange, was on its own 10-game winning streak as they prepared to host the Wolverines. The Illini had split not only the conference with Michigan the previous season but also the mythical national championship. As a result, the defending co-champions of the Big Ten had national stakes on the line once again as they prepared for the duel.
Grange made short work of the contest. In front of 67,000 partisan fans, Grange ran back the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. He also punched in three rushing touchdowns of 66, 55, and 40 yards before the end of the first quarter. Coming back into the game after sitting out the second and third quarters, Grange added a fifth touchdown and threw a touchdown pass for good measure as Illinois took down the visiting Wolverines 39-14.
23. The Point-a-Minute Offense Gets Shut Out (1905)
Fielding Yost’s first five Michigan teams from 1901 through 1905 remain some of the most dominant cohorts ever seen in college football history. Averaging just under 50 points per game over that 57-game span, Yost did not taste defeat as a coach until running into one of the finest rosters ever to come out of the University of Chicago.
Both teams came into the season finale on November 30 with perfect records. The winner would claim the Western Conference title, while the loser would suffer a blemish on their season at the final hurdle.
Michigan, despite having scored 495 points in their first 12 games, could not break through the Maroons defense. Inside of the final 10 minutes, a safety on a punt return out of the endzone doomed the Wolverines to defeat. The loss ended Michigan’s 56-game unbeaten streak and earned Chicago the national title.
22. Catholics vs. Convicts (1988)
Midway through the 1988 season, undefeated Miami and Notre Dame squared off in South Bend in a game that is remembered both for its close action and a catchy moniker bestowed upon the contest. The instant classic remains one of the most unforgettable memories in college football history.
Leading up to the showdown, Notre Dame students printed off T-shirts branding the battle as “Catholics vs. Convicts” to play off their school’s ecumenical foundation and a spate of recent arrests of Hurricanes players. The catchy phrase caught on, sticking with the matchup long after the final whistle.
In the game itself, the two teams traded punches until the end. Notre Dame took a lead in the first quarter before Miami stormed back with 21 second-quarter points to tie the game at the half. The Fighting Irish went up 31-21 after three quarters. Once again, Miami clawed back. Scoring on a controversial touchdown by Andre Brown with 45 seconds remaining, Miami coach Jimmy Johnson opted to go for two. The attempt was knocked down, and Notre Dame went on to win the national championship.