Top 10 Best College Football Finishes of 2021

The 2021 college football regular season was considered to be among the best in recent history.

The Top Ten

  1. Alabama's 97-yard game-tying drive leads to 4OT win over Auburn

    Down 10-3 against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Alabama needed to drive 97 yards with no timeouts and under two minutes to go just to force overtime. In what might be his Heisman Trophy moment, Bryce Young led Alabama down the field to tie the score. Four overtimes later, the Crimson Tide would emerge victorious in a 24-22 thriller.

  2. Baylor's goal line stand in Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State

    The Baylor Bears are the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's teams are called the Bears, and several women's teams are referred to as the Lady Bears. The university competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big 12 Conference.

    Oklahoma State was in position to not only win the Big 12 championship but possibly go to the College Football Playoff. Trailing 21-16, they were facing first and goal. Three plays later, it was fourth and goal, and the Cowboys tried to run a sweep with running back Dezmon Jackson. However, Baylor's walk-on defensive back Jairon McVea would make the play of the game, stopping Jackson just one yard short of the pylon. Baylor would complete their turnaround from 2-8 to Big XII champs in one year.

  3. Kansas Jayhawks convert two-point attempt to beat Texas in Austin

    The Kansas Jayhawks, commonly referred to as KU, are the athletic teams representing the University of Kansas. They compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks are especially known for their successful men's basketball program.

    After dominating the contest early on in Austin, Kansas would let Texas back to tie the game at 49 apiece. Following a Longhorns touchdown in overtime, the Jayhawks responded. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Jayhawks elected to go for two and they pulled it off, winning 57-56 to give Texas a crushing loss.

  4. South Dakota Coyotes win on a game-ending Hail Mary

    On the FBS circuit, at midfield, number 4 South Dakota State led 20-17 and on fourth and one tried to run the clock down to zero. They threw an incomplete pass into the stands on purpose but left one second on the clock. It was enough time for number 19 South Dakota to attempt and complete a hail mary, which they did so and won 23-20.

  5. LSU caps off Coach Orgeron's career with game-winning drive over Texas A&M

  6. Oklahoma Sooners complete Red River comeback against Texas

    In a battle between two soon-to-be SEC programs, Oklahoma trailed Texas 38-20 at halftime as their starter, Spencer Rattler, struggled. Backup quarterback Caleb Williams would come in and lead the Sooners to a 48-41 lead. After Texas knotted the score at 48 with a minute to go, Sooner running back Kennedy Brooks iced the win with a 33-yard touchdown run for a 55-48 final, marking the highest scoring Red River game ever.

  7. Oklahoma State Cowboys stage comeback against Oklahoma

    Hailing from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, the Cowboys compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Big 12 Conference. The school has won multiple NCAA wrestling championships, making it one of the most successful programs in the sport's history. In addition to wrestling, Oklahoma State also... read more

    The Cowboys and Sooners were tied at 24 at the half before Oklahoma scored nine third-quarter points to lead 33-24. Yet, Oklahoma State refused to go down as they benefited from some key Sooner penalties and scored two touchdowns to lead 37-33. Oklahoma did have a big 56-yard run by Caleb Williams setting them up in the red zone. However, the Cowboys would hold on and win Bedlam, eliminating Oklahoma's Big 12 title hopes and sending them on their way to the SEC.

  8. Texas A&M Aggies upset #1 Alabama

    Texas A&M and Alabama battled to a 38-38 tie when A&M quarterback Zach Calzada was injured while throwing the game-tying touchdown pass. When the Aggies regained possession, Calzada returned and heroically led Texas A&M on the final drive, culminating in a game-winning field goal.

  9. Louisville Cardinals win on game-winning pick-six vs. Central Florida

    The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. The Cardinals compete in NCAA Division I sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are particularly known for their basketball and football programs, which have achieved... read more

    With the score tied at 35, Louisville was driving the football when Central Florida intercepted a pass and now had a chance to win. But on the Golden Knights' first play from scrimmage, they threw an interception that was returned all the way for a touchdown and a 42-35 win.

  10. Houston Cougars upset SMU with kickoff return touchdown

    Representing the University of Houston, the Cougars compete in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Known for a strong men's basketball tradition, the program has reached the Final Four multiple times, including appearances in 1982, 1983, 2021, and 2025. The team's... read more

    SMU was 19th in the nation and undefeated. They had just tied the game at 37 with a field goal. But, on the ensuing kickoff, Houston's Marcus Jones returned the ball 100 yards for the game-winning touchdown. That would end SMU's run for an undefeated year and spark the Cougars to the AAC Championship game.

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