ESPN ranks top 25 college football plays since 2000

ESPN took a look back over the last 25 years of college football and ranked the top 25 plays of the last quarter century. There were so many plays to choose from and so many iconic moments took place throughout the sport.

Getting it down to just 25 seemed to be quite a difficult task. But nonetheless, ESPN did so and we’re here to break it down.

Let’s start at the top, rewinding 12 years ago for this play. A certain kick went just in the right direction for one team.

1. Auburn Kick-Six – Nov. 30, 2013

You just knew this was going to be the top play of the last quarter century right? There’s not a play that encapsulates college football quite like this one, courtesy of Chris Davis.

One of the biggest rivalries in sports, a nearly impossible kick and a nearly impossible play all happened at once. This will live on forever in terms of the greatest plays in college football history.

2. Boise State Statue of Liberty – Jan. 1, 2007

The biggest win in program history happened on New Year’s Day for Boise State. Ian Johnson pulled off the Statue of Liberty play, faking out the stadium and Oklahoma.

Heck, he proposed to his girlfriend right after so safe to say, it was an all-time day for everyone involved. Even leading up to this, the Broncos pulled off a hook and ladder to even set up for this iconic moment.

3. Vince Young beats USC – Jan. 4, 2006

Vince Young is a Texas legend and beating perennial champion USC was probably the best moment of his football career. Hard to argue right?

On 4th and 5 with 26 seconds left, Texas trailed USC 38-33, but it was Young’s vision that took over. He saw a lane and took it for the winning score in Pasadena. 

4. Tua Tagovailoa OT touchdown – Jan. 8, 2018

The legend of Tua Tagovailoa was born over seven years ago when the freshman came off the bench in the second half of the national championship. With the Crimson Tide offense struggling against Georgia, Tagovailoa steadied the unit.

In overtime, after taking a bad sack knocking them out of field goal range, Tagovailoa heaved a pass down the left sideline to DeVonta Smith, who cruised in for the walk-off touchdown. Georgia was stunned, Alabama celebrated and Nick Saban didn’t know where to run like Jim Valvano.

5. Appalachian State beats Michigan – Sept. 1, 2007

Remember when FCS teams, then 1-AA teams had no chance to beat Division 1 squads in the FBS? Yup, Appalachian State threw it out the window.

Nearly 18 years ago, Appalachia State went into Ann Arbor and stunned the Wolverines. The latter had a chance to win it in the end anyway, but of course the kick was blocked. College football man.

6. Michael Crabtree stays in bounds – Nov. 1, 2008

No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Texas Tech. What a matchup and game in Lubbock. Crabtree’s winning touchdown with just one second left on the clock remains immortal in Texas Tech lore.

He caught the game-winning touchdown on the six yard line behind two defenders, inches away from the sideline. How he stayed in bounds and went down the sideline for the score is anyone’s guess.

7. Prayer at Jordan-Hare – Nov. 16, 2013

That’s right, just two weeks before the kick-six, Auburn had a different miracle in mind. QB Nick Marshall tossed up a, well, prayer on 4th and 18 with 36 seconds left.

No. 7 Auburn was on the verge of losing to No. 25 Georgia before a tipped pass landed in the hands of Ricardo Louis. Louis caught it inside the 15-yard-line and raced to the end zone, stunning the Bulldogs in epic fashion.

8. Michigan State stuns Michigan on punt gaffe – Oct. 17, 2015

It was Jim Harbaugh’s first season and No. 12 Michigan had a chance to knock off an undefeated No. 7 Michigan State team. On 4th and 2 from the MSU 47-yard-line, all the Wolverines had to do was punt and pin the Spartans.

It wasn’t meant to be. The snap sailed high and Jaylen Watts-Jackson ended up with the football, raced down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown as time expired. Michigan State ended up winning the Big Ten in 2015 and then fell in the CFP semifinal to Alabama.

9. Roy Williams Superman Leap – Oct. 6, 2001

Williams forced the game-clinching pick six as Texas was backed up to its own goal line. Chris Simms couldn’t do anything about Williams here as the latter leaped into the air like the aforementioned superhero, knocking the ball loose in the air and into the arms of Teddy Lehman.

The linebacker grabbed the ball and walked into the end zone, given the Sooners a 14-3 win over Texas. This embodied OU’s dominance over the Longhorns at the time.

10. Ohio State wins title after PI – Jan. 3, 2003

With Miami up 24-17 in overtime, Ohio State was down to a 4th and 3 at the five yard line. Initially an incomplete pass, there ended up being a pass interference called on the play, extending the national championship.

The play lives in infamy for Miami fans as Ohio State ended up tying the game and then won 31-24 following the second overtime period. A Hurricanes championship that wasn’t meant to be, or was it?

ESPN ranks top 25 college football plays since 2000

11. Jadeveon Clowney hit – Jan. 1, 2013
12. Johnny Manziel dazzles vs. Alabama – Nov. 10, 2012
13. Hunter Renfrow catches winning TD vs. Alabama – Jan. 9, 2017
14. “Bush Push” – Oct. 15, 2005
15. Reggie Bush punt return TD vs. Oregon State – Oct. 23, 2004
16. Tim Tebow jump pass – Oct. 7, 2006
T17. Kentucky Bluegrass Miracle – Nov. 9, 2002
T17. Miami uses eight laterals – Oct. 31, 2015
19. Ed Reed wrestles pick-six from teammate – Nov. 10, 2001
20. Jalen Milroe miracle TD throw to Isaiah Bond in Iron Bowl – Nov. 25, 2023
21. Eric Crouch Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass – Oct. 27, 2001
22. Trinity’s Riley Curry after 11 laterals, 61 seconds – Oct. 27, 2007
23. Hunter Henry miracle backwards lob vs. Ole Miss – Nov. 7, 2015
24. Cam Newton Heisman moment on TD run vs. LSU – Oct. 23, 2010
25. Lamar Jackson casual leap for TD vs. Syracuse – Sept. 9, 2016