Top 10 2021 College Football Finishes
The 2021 College Football Regular Season was considered to be among the best in recent history.
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.
The Baylor Bears are the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are named the Bears, and some women's teams are named the Lady Bears. 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.
The Kansas Jayhawks, commonly referred to as KU, are the teams of the athletic department at the University of Kansas. They are currently a member of the Big 12 Conference 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.
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.
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.
Hailing from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, the Cowboys compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Big 12 Conference. The school has earned numerous wrestling championships and has a well-regarded football program. The colors are orange and black. 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.
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.
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.
Representing the University of Houston, the Cougars compete in NCAA Division I sports as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Known for a strong men's basketball history, the team has made multiple Final Four appearances. The team colors are scarlet red and albino white. 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.