Top 5 Greatest Games this decade (the '00's)

[EvilVodka]

Purely subjective and arbitrary, here are my opinionated top 5 games of the decade

1. 2006 Rose Bowl: USC vs. Texas
Definately one of the greatest games of all time...titan vs. titan, loaded with heisman talent and star players

2. 2007 Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Oklahoma
The ultimate David vs. Goliath game, loaded with a great ending full of trick plays, and the wedding proposal

3. The Bluegrass Miracle: LSU vs. Kentucky '02
The top hail mary game of the decade

4. The Bush Push: USC vs. Notre Dame '05
The tall grass, the green jerseys, and ND almost ruining a National Championship run for USC

5. Rutgers vs. Louisville '06
This game in my opinion embodies the true spirit of college football...Rutgers wins one of the biggest games in the history of Scarlet Knight football from a field goal kick by Ito, and fans storm the field

[GatorGrad]

Hard to argue with that list.

[FLORIDA HERD FAN]

Being totally impartial --

I would have the 2001 GMAC Bowl on the list. Marshall, down 38-8 to ECU at the half, rallied to a 64-61 win behind Leftwich's 576 passing yards.

[buckeyejim]

The USC-Fresno State game from 2005 was very exciting as well.

[Doc]

The 2003 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State beats Miami in double OT) for obvious reasons.

There was a game several years ago where WVU was playing Miami. Quincy Wilson scored on an amazing TD late in the game to give the Mountaineers the lead but Miami rallied to win...a great, great game.

The 2006 OSU/Michigan game didn't suck...42-39, Buckeyes.

[Okole]

2005 Rose Bowl -- Michigan/Texas was pretty good.

I think the glaring omission, though, was mentioned by Doc - the 03 tOSU/Miami national championship game.

[jeff4bucks]

EV's list is good except the Bluegrass Miracle. It was a great hail mary play-best of the decade so far-but the game itself wasn't that special.
i would add OSU/Miami 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Also, the 2004 Michigan/MSU 3OT game was a classic.

[Doc]

The 25-22 loss to Texas in 2005. The atmosphere at that games was absolutely incredible. The stars played phenomenally and Vince Young willed his team to a win. Awesome football game.

[EvilVodka]

The 2003 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State beats Miami in double OT) for obvious reasons.

The 2006 OSU/Michigan game didn't suck...42-39, Buckeyes.

Ya, both those games could definately be in the top 5

A couple others that might make a top 10 were FSU/Miami 2000, Nebraska/OU '01

[PSUFan]

2005 Orange Bowl - Penn State -vs- Florida State

and

2005 Penn State -vs- Michigan games could eaasily make this list as well.

[TommyTrojan]

It's hard to choose a better #1 game.

As painful as that loss was for me as a fan, the game had everything you could ask for. #1 vs #2. One team on a huge winning streak, 3 of college football's biggest stars ever, two offenses avg over 50 ppg (1st time thats ever happened ina bowl), and oh yeah, the game came down to wire.

[JamesHowell]

How about Michigan - Penn State 2005. PSU's only loss of the season. They are winning with one second on the clock. On that last play, Henne throws to Super Mario Manningham (a true freshmen) for a TD to win by two.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

LSU - Tenn and Florida - Tenn have played some exciting games in prime time over the past few seasons as well. Rutgers - West Virginia 2006 was a pretty good game as well. The Mich-PSU and Mich-MSU games of 2005 had great finishes but after watching every play in those 2 games, I never thought that the games were well played by either team.

[EvilVodka]

It's hard to choose a better #1 game.

As painful as that loss was for me as a fan, the game had everything you could ask for. #1 vs #2. One team on a huge winning streak, 3 of college football's biggest stars ever, two offenses avg over 50 ppg (1st time thats ever happened ina bowl), and oh yeah, the game came down to wire.

yep

it could make an all-time top 5 list

[EvilVodka]

2005 Orange Bowl - Penn State -vs- Florida State


I don't know...all the missed field goals were pretty pathetic...how many were there at the end? 4 or 5 missed field goals??

[TexasAgMan]

I agree with the texas-michigan rose bowl and the fsu-miami game in 2000. Also, if you like defense, you could add the 2001 red river shootout to a shortlist, as much as I hate either team in that rivalry. Here's a synopsis I found on it, remember?:

2001
Oklahoma 14 - Texas 3

Roy Williams and The Play

The 2001 game was a classic defensive struggle that will be forever remembered for one incredible play late in the 4th quarter.

Both the Sooners' and the Longhorns' defenses were outstanding, holding their counterparts to less than 100 yards rushing for the entire game. When either offense could muster any momentum, they were often let down by their kicker-OU's Tim Duncan missed two field goals and UT's Dusty Mangum had one blocked.

OU led 7-3 at the half on a Quentin Griffin 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. That score held until late in the fourth quarter.

The Sooners got the ball with just over eight minutes to play on their own 20-yard line, and put together a 12-play, 53-yard drive that took them all the way to the Texas 27-yard line. Facing a 4th & 16, OU sent out Tim Duncan for what appeared to be a 44-yard FG attempt. Instead, Duncan sent a pooch punt deep into the Texas zone, which caught UT's Nathan Vasher off guard. Confused, Vasher caught the ball at his own 3-yard line and was immediately downed.

Down 7-3, Texas had 2:06 to drive 97 yards on the stiff Sooner defense. On first down, Texas quarterback Chris Simms' pass was deflected by OU safety Roy Williams, who had blitzed and literally lept over a blocker to collide with Simms at the moment he released the ball. The ball landed right in OU linebacker Teddy Lehman's hands, who walked into the endzone for a touchdown. The play happened so fast, many fans did not know exactly what had happened. Duncan's extra point sealed the 14-3 OU victory.

[Hubbs]

Whatever happened to defense?

LSU vs Auburn 2004 - The missed PAT only to be flagged only to be re-kicked. Memories!!!:D

[Rupturedduck]

How can anyone possibly leave off the 02 win by OSU over Miami, a NO brainer.

[Ma_Gric]

1) Ohio State 31 Miami 24 (2002)
From an objective standpoint, it was probably the best played football game that I have seen at the collegiate level. Just take a look at the NFL rosters of both teams and see how many players from these two teams are on there. I remember thinking to myself the entire game, "The Buckeyes will somehow find a way to pull this one out". Clarett stripping the ball out of a Miami defender (Sean Taylor??) stands out in my mind. Who can forget the phantom pass interference call on Glen Sharpe which lengthened the game, and we then witnessed the classic Buckeye victory.

2) Texas 41 USC 38 (2005)
As others have stated, this was the blueprint for a national championship game. These teams were head and shoulders above all others in college football, trouncing opponents and displaying their offensive prowess each week. As expected, the two teams exchanged leads and moved the ball at will on each other throughout the entire game. Pete Carroll's decision to attempt a short-yardage fourth down conversion at midfield set the stage for the climactic finish. Vince Young completed what was likely the greatest individual performance in a national title game that we may ever witness by scampering into the endzone in the game's waning moments.

3) Penn State 29 Ohio State 27 (2001)
As a PSU fan, this may be a slightly biased ranking on my behalf, but being in the stands to witness this incredible feat was truly unbelievable. This was an exemplary game for which Paterno would pass the legendary Bear Bryant. Trailing 27-9 in the third quarter, freshman QB Zack Mills engineered a comeback with the poise of a fifth-year senior, highlighted by an incredible option run for a TD down the right sideline to ignite the team. DT Jimmy Kennedy blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter as this game would go down in college football lore.

4) Tennessee 51 Alabama 43 (2003)
This football game was a defensive slugfest until the two teams went into overtime. After 5 overtime periods, the game finally culminated when the Crimson Tide could not reach the end zone. The game was rife with close calls and near misses. Down by a touchdown in OT, UT converted a 4th down and long to extend the game. Claussen courageously led the team to victory, exhibiting his senior leadership and poise. This game may have passed many of your minds, but I recall it being an entertaining battle between two SEC rivals that was likely the most thrilling game of the season.

5) Northwestern 54 Michigan 51 (2000)
These Big Ten schools put up over 1000 yards of offense on this brisk day in Evanston. Zak Kustok was on fire, as he had an answer for every Wolverine score. Running out the clock, Michigan fumbled in Wildcat territory late in the game, giving NW one last chance for a comeback. With only seconds remaining, Sam Simmons caught the game-winning touchdown pass to upset a quality Michigan team.

There are obviously many other epic matches that have transpired within the past 7 years (Oklahoma/Boise St., USC/ND '05). However, these games stand out in my mind as some of the more memorable of the decade.

[TommyTrojan]

1) Ohio State 31 Miami 24 (2002)
From an objective standpoint, it was probably the best played football game that I have seen at the collegiate level. Just take a look at the NFL rosters of both teams and see how many players from these two teams are on there. I remember thinking to myself the entire game, "The Buckeyes will somehow find a way to pull this one out". Clarett stripping the ball out of a Miami defender (Sean Taylor??) stands out in my mind. Who can forget the phantom pass interference call on Glen Sharpe which lengthened the game, and we then witnessed the classic Buckeye victory.

2) Texas 41 USC 38 (2005)
As others have stated, this was the blueprint for a national championship game. These teams were head and shoulders above all others in college football, trouncing opponents and displaying their offensive prowess each week. As expected, the two teams exchanged leads and moved the ball at will on each other throughout the entire game. Pete Carroll's decision to attempt a short-yardage fourth down conversion at midfield set the stage for the climactic finish. Vince Young completed what was likely the greatest individual performance in a national title game that we may ever witness by scampering into the endzone in the game's waning moments.

3) Penn State 29 Ohio State 27 (2001)
As a PSU fan, this may be a slightly biased ranking on my behalf, but being in the stands to witness this incredible feat was truly unbelievable. This was an exemplary game for which Paterno would pass the legendary Bear Bryant. Trailing 27-9 in the third quarter, freshman QB Zack Mills engineered a comeback with the poise of a fifth-year senior, highlighted by an incredible option run for a TD down the right sideline to ignite the team. DT Jimmy Kennedy blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter as this game would go down in college football lore.

4) Tennessee 51 Alabama 43 (2003)
This football game was a defensive slugfest until the two teams went into overtime. After 5 overtime periods, the game finally culminated when the Crimson Tide could not reach the end zone. The game was rife with close calls and near misses. Down by a touchdown in OT, UT converted a 4th down and long to extend the game. Claussen courageously led the team to victory, exhibiting his senior leadership and poise. This game may have passed many of your minds, but I recall it being an entertaining battle between two SEC rivals that was likely the most thrilling game of the season.

5) Northwestern 54 Michigan 51 (2000)
These Big Ten schools put up over 1000 yards of offense on this brisk day in Evanston. Zak Kustok was on fire, as he had an answer for every Wolverine score. Running out the clock, Michigan fumbled in Wildcat territory late in the game, giving NW one last chance for a comeback. With only seconds remaining, Sam Simmons caught the game-winning touchdown pass to upset a quality Michigan team.

There are obviously many other epic matches that have transpired within the past 7 years (Oklahoma/Boise St., USC/ND '05). However, these games stand out in my mind as some of the more memorable of the decade.

Great call on N'Western-Michigan!! Man, I almost cried when Damian Anderson dropped that sure TD, thought it was over at that point. That was the greatest game in Wildcat history.