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

9. The Goal Line Stand (1979)

When Alabama and Penn State met in the 1979 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, the top two teams in the nation were effectively playing for the national championship. A tight defensive battle ensued between the Crimson Tide and the Nittany Lions, as both sides struggled to gain much ground against their opponent’s stout defense.

Bear Bryant was coaching for his fifth national championship. Joe Paterno was still looking to secure his elusive first crown. Leading 14-7 late in the fourth quarter, Alabama desperately needed that defense to come through in a big way to prevent Penn State from scoring a game-tying or go-ahead touchdown.

On first and goal at the Alabama 8-yard line, Penn State gained two yards on the ground. The next play yielded what looked like a sure touchdown, as Chuck Fusina found Scott Fitzkee with a pass three yards from the goal line. But Tide cornerback Don McNeal flew in to make a critical stop, forcing third down just a yard from the endzone. So close to the goal line, Penn State twice tried and failed to punch it up the gut. On fourth down, Mike Guman was met by Barry Krauss for one of the most iconic stops in college football history.

8. Watson Finds Renfrow for National Championship (2017)

During the College Football Playoff era, duels between Clemson and Alabama have become must-see affairs. As the dominant forces in the ACC and SEC respectively, the Tigers and the Crimson Tide played several down-to-the-wire national championship games in a four-year span. Perhaps the most exciting was the 2017 championship battle between the Tide and Tigers in Tampa Bay.

Alabama rolled off a 14-0 lead by early in the second quarter, and while Clemson kept reeling the Tide back in they could never quite catch them and overtake them on the scoreboard. Taking the lead for the first time with less than five minutes remaining, Clemson then watched as their defense gave up a 30-yard touchdown run to Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts with 2:07 remaining.

That left the Tigers two minutes and change to travel 68 yards. Senior quarterback Deshaun Watson coolly led his teammates downfield, putting Clemson in the shadow of the goal line with seconds remaining. On the penultimate play of the game, Watson found Hunter Renfrow for a two-yard touchdown with only one second on the clock. The last-gasp score reversed the lead and gave Clemson their first national title since 1981.

7. Ohio State Stuns Stacked Miami Squad in Fiesta Bowl (2003)

Through the first few years of the Bowl Championship Series, the nexus of power centered on the state of Florida. Either Miami or Florida State participated in the championship game each of the first five years of the BCS era, and in 2002 the Hurricanes looked like an immovable force as they sought to defend their 2001 national title. Stacked with NFL talent on both sides of the ball, Miami came to Arizona on a 34-game winning streak.

Ohio State had no intention of laying down for the presumptive dynasty, though. The 12-0 Big Ten champions took a 14-7 lead in the first half thanks to freshman running back Maurice Clarett. He would finish the game with 23 carries for only 47 yards, but he racked up two touchdowns in his final game before leaving college fighting the NFL eligibility rules.

The big story came after a Miami field goal forced overtime. In the first period, Miami got the ball first and scored. It looked like they won the game when Ohio State’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete, but a defensive pass interference call on Glenn Sharpe gave the Buckeyes new life. Forcing a second overtime period, the Buckeyes went ahead on Clarett’s second touchdown of the game. They then incurred their own pass interference call. Miami, however, could not capitalize, and Ken Dorsey’s fourth-down heave fell incomplete to conclude the stunner in the desert.