Every now and then the College football world is blessed with an overhyped classic referred to as the "Game of the Century." Here is my list of top 5 "Games of the Century"
5. Oklahoma 17 Nebraska 7: The Big 12 destroyed what was arguably college football's greatest rivalry. This 1 vs 2 decided who got to go to the Orange Bowl to be Miami's whipping boy. Also, lets not forget that Ohio State was not the first school to loose a football and basketball national championship game in the same academic year. In 87-88, Oklahoma lost to Miami in the Orange Bowl and then lost Kansas in the basketball national championship game. To their credit, the Sooners played two defacto road games: Miami in the OrangeBowl and Kansas in Kansas City.
3. (tied) Michigan 39 Ohio State 42 2006: No Comment.
3. (tied) Florida 21 Florida State 24 1996: A week after this game all hell broke loose(Nebraska-Texas) and the two schools met five weeks later in the sugar bowl. The hype was all for not as the rematch yielded a 52-20 gator victory. Thank you Ohio State, Texas and Michigan for making Florida's first national title a reality. More importantly, thank you Georgia for making Florida look so fast and athletic the last 17 years.
2. Miami 17 Florida State 16 1991: Wide Right I. Bowden ran on the field thinking Gerry Thomas hit the game-winning FG only to realize a minute later it sailed wide right. Maybe he should have noticed Sebastien the IBIS running on the field, taunting his players, before attempting to congratulate his kicker. 91 was the first year of the Big East football conference who somehow took credit for this national championship despite the fact that Miami only played two big east schools. But hey, if Delaney and his posse of academically superior universities want to take credit for Penn State's 82 and 86 championships, then the Big East can do whatever it wants.
1. Florida State 24 Notre Dame 31 1993: This game was so big that ESPN College Gameday left its studio in Bristol for the first time to broadcast from a college campus. The storylines were unbelievable: O.J. Simpson as a sideline reporter, Blue Blood football vs. speedy Nouveau Riche football and midwestern Irish Catholics vs. southern baptist rednecks from Florida. What's the best way to celebrate a "game of the century" victory--a loss to Boston College seven days later.
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Iowa State 30 - Minnesota 20, September 16, 1989. This much-anticipated game in Ames served as the catalyst for the Cyclones' memorable 6-5 season, as well as the beginning of Minnesota's slide to a disappointing 6-5 season. Those of us who were lucky enough to catch this game on the Raycom Sports Network will never forget the tradition, energy, and failed third-down conversions on display that day. This, in my book, was truly the Game of the Century.
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