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

132. Spartan Fake Field Goal Fools Notre Dame (2010)

Trick plays are far more commonplace in college football than in the pros, given the sheer number of teams playing a wider variety of styles. From the Fumblerooski to the Statue of Liberty, these plays dazzle fans and pundits alike when they work — and leave partisans grumbling when their team tries and fails to execute a trick on the opposition.

In 2010, Michigan State utilized a fake field goal that Mark Dantonio called “Little Giants” to steal victory in overtime from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish went first in the overtime frame after reaching the end of regulation deadlocked at 28-28, and kicker David Ruffer punched through a 33-yard field goal.

That put pressure on the Spartans to score. After stalling offensively, they were looking at a 46-yard field goal try to extend the game to a second overtime. Dantonio dialed up the fake, and the team executed it perfectly. Aaron Bates, the holder on placekicks and the punter, took the snap and stood straight up. Charlie Gantt ran behind the rushing Notre Dame defense, and Bates hit him with a 29-yard strike to steal victory.

131. The FIU-Miami Brawl (2006)

Because football involves a ballet of collisions on every down, it is inevitable that things get chippy from time to time. That is especially true when an upstart program is trying to pick off a more established power that plays in close geographic proximity. When those factors coalesce, it can lead to some volatile situations.

In 2006, FBS neophyte FIU traveled nine miles across Miami to play the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl. The Golden Panthers played their blueblood opponent close through the first half, going into the locker room down only 7-0. They talked trash and committed a half-dozen penalties through the first two quarters, building up swagger. After the break, though, Miami scored a touchdown with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter to double their lead to 14-0.

That is when all hell broke loose. On the extra-point attempt, FIU safety Chris Smith swarmed in and wrestled Hurricanes holder Matt Perelli to the ground. Perelli was kicked while on the turf, his Miami teammates jumped to defend him, and both benches cleared. Anthony Reddick swung his gleaming U helmet as a bludgeoning tool, and several players on both sides delivered sucker punches from behind. In the end, 18 FIU players and 13 Miami players were suspended one game for initiating one of the most gruesome brawls in college football history.

130. Randy Moss Torches Army (1997)

Sometimes players come along that look like men playing among boys. Randy Moss fit that bill perfectly. After a fight led Notre Dame to rescind his original college commitment, Moss went first to Florida State before landing at Marshall. With the Thundering Herd, first at the I-AA and then at the I-A level, Moss proved himself to be a dominant force on the gridiron.

In his sophomore campaign, the Thundering Herd made the transition to the top tier of college football. Coming off a perfect 15-0 national championship in their final I-AA season, expectations were high for Marshall heading into their first year as a member of the MAC. After losing a tight contest against state rival West Virginia in the season opener, Marshall headed to West Point to face Army.

Moss dominated the Black Knights, ripping off five catches for 186 yards and a pair of scores. One went for 79 yards as Moss elevated over a defender to pluck Chad Pennington’s pass out of the air. The other score came on a screen play that Moss turned into a 90-yard touchdown. Breaking past three defenders in the middle of the field, Moss then hurdled two more at his own 25 before jetting down the left sideline to one of college football’s most memorable scoring plays.