Several college football games and plays throughout its history have been given names by the media, football fans, and as part of a team's or rivalry's lore as a result of a distinctive play associated with the game, a unique outcome of or circumstance behind the game, the rivalry or undefeated nature of both teams, or for other reasons that make the game notable.
The following is a list of games that have been given names that are widely used or recalled in reference to the game or as part of an American college team's lore. This list does not include games named only after being a bowl game or a playoff game unless they are referred to by a separate nickname.
Played on a football field where the grass had not been mowed in a week, and resulted in a Wisconsin upset dubbed by fans as "The Victory In The Tall Grass".[15][16]
Match between two undefeated and untied Southwest Conference teams, with victory necessary to secure the conference championship. The first Texas football game to be broadcast nationwide.[17][18][19]
Game marred by torrential downpour and muddy field conditions that prevented running or passing, forcing both teams to punt the ball 77 times together in hopes of a fumble recovery.[20][21][22]
Game conceded by Cornell after film confirmed that errors by the game officials had allowed an un-permitted fifth down as the last play of the game.[23][24]
Game played between No. 1 (Army) and No. 2 (Notre Dame) ranked teams, resulting in a defensive battle leading to zero points scored and allowing both teams to finish the season undefeated.[25][26][27]
Considered one of the greatest games in college football history, played between two undefeated teams resulting in a tie, with criticism levied at playcaller Ara Parseghian for running the ball on five of six plays in the last minutes.[30][31]
Widely regarded as the signature game in the UCLA–USC rivalry, having a 64-yard run by O. J. Simpson for the winning touchdown considered one of the greatest run plays in college football history.[32][33][34]
One of the most controversial games in NCAA history, due to game's tie outcome resulting in Ohio State being voted into the Rose Bowl instead of Michigan.[47][48][49]
Named after a halftime brawl between the marching bands of the two schools, resulting in several injuries and suspensions on both bands for two games.[67][68][69]
Extensive and violent brawl between both teams, resulting in both teams being suspended from participating in any bowl game for the season.[73][74][75]
Match between two rival undefeated teams, resulting in Ohio State claiming the Big Ten championship and several players on both teams receiving awards and recognition.[76][77][78][79]
Referred to as one of the greatest and most unlikely upsets, resulting in Michigan dropping from the top five to out of the top 25 of the AP Poll, and causing reforms to the poll to allow FCS teams to be part of the rankings.[80][81][82]
Ended with an egregiously elapsed second reverted by review, allowing Texas to score the game-winning field goal and advance to the BCS title game.[85][86]
First game where two teams from the BCS non-AQ (automatic qualifying) conferences, the historic predecessor to today's Group of Five conferences, earned BCS bowl berths in the same season.[87][88]
A play where nearly the entire Florida defense fell to the ground to allow Miami to score, giving Florida QB John Reaves the ball back so he could beat Jim Plunkett's NCAA record for all-time passing yardage.[109]
A last-seconds play involving the ball being kicked up twice to allow Nebraska to score a game tying touchdown, with overtime ending in their victory.[116][117]
Significant play with Nebraska quarterbackEric Crouch receiving the ball to run untouched to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown, helping Crouch win the Heisman trophy.[118][119][120]
74-yard game-winning touchdown pass with no time left on the clock after the ball was tipped by a Kentucky defender and then caught by Devery Henderson to run the ball into the endzone.[121][122][123]
Named after Brent Musburger's exclamation as Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a 37-yard pass down the left sideline caught by Michael Jenkins in the endzone to score the game-winning touchdown.[124][125]
A short 57-yard field goal attempt caught by opposing Auburn's Chris Davis to run the entire field into the end zone to win the 78th Iron Bowl.[131][132][133]
Play series involving Elijah Moore mimicking a dog urinating in the end zone to celebrate a touchdown bringing the game to 21–20, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that led to an extra-point miss by kicker Luke Logan and resulting in Ole Miss's loss in the Egg Bowl.[141][142][143][144]
A game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond on a fourth-and-goal situation from the Auburn 31-yard line with 32 seconds remaining.
^"No Christian End!"(PDF). The Journey to Camp: The Origins of American Football to 1889. Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived(PDF) from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
^Richardson, William D. (November 17, 1940). "Disputed Cornell Play Tops Dartmouth, 7-3, at Finish; Pass Halts Green". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
^Daley, Arthur J. (November 19, 1940). "Dartmouth 3, Cornell O, Official Score as Ithacans Refuse Victory". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. 31.
^Weinreb, Michael (June 18, 2013). "Tricky Dick's Trick Play". Grantland. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
^Donovan, John (November 21, 2002). "The Play lives on". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
^Jones, Todd (2007). "Michigan". In MacCambridge, Michael (ed.). ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia. p. 62. ISBN978-1-933060-49-1. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)