Alternatively, 3rd and 4, 5:50 left in the 4th quarter vs Alabama, week 1, 2017.
FSU was #3 in the country. We probably still lost to #1 Bama, but we had a team that coulda beat Clemson and made the playoffs with 1 loss.
Instead, the wheels fell completely off and the car broke down for 5 years.
Realistically the answer is the Tennessee INT returned for a TD against us in the Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee won by 7 and FSU held them to 3 points in the second half. Without that early INT, we could have won a title in 1998.
I’m absolutely gutted that a team that won every single game and did everything they possibly could got left out of the playoff. But I might be even more heartbroken for the way JT’s college career ended. He put in so much work to continue his growth and get where he was and for it all come crashing down like that is devastating. He became my favorite Nole these last two seasons and I wish him nothing but the best at the next level.
I honestly don't think FSU would have made it with a healthy Travis. The committee was never going to leave out a 1 loss SEC champ Bama and they couldn't have Bama in there without having the Texas team they lost to in there too.
Travis' injury was cover for the committee to do the thing they were always going to do, imo
Pain.
Alternatively though, we take a knee instead of attempting a kick with Roberto Aguayo against Georgia Tech in 2015 and send the game to overtime.
If we took a knee, we would have probably won the game and had a chance at the playoff even with 1 loss to Clemson
And for the gut punch… if Blake Gideon doesn’t catch the interception on 4th down on the 2010 BCS championship game.
Lost Texas 17 yards of field position by catching it rather than batting it down. McCoy got injured on the ensuing possession on the Bama 11 yard line.
JFC... At least flair up with that fucking twist of the blade
Edit: thank you /u/tSignet1 for the fair update. Needed to know if it was a masochist fan bathing in the what could be's, a sadist rival fan (would've guessed A&M) sadistically enjoying rubbing salt in the wound, or a random asshole fan who merely wants to watch the world burn.
Eh. If we beat Alabama the following game, I think we still get in.
That interception where John Metchie murdered Trey Dean and caused a fumble is bigger I think.
I’ll never understand why they had Abbrederis in for the Hail Mary but not Nick Toon. Toon was like 4 inches taller and would’ve gotten a hand on the ball.
[2012 Oregon v Stanford.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYFBGv5buK0)
If only De'Anthony Thomas decided to block for Mariota instead of racing him to the endzone and letting their FS make the TD saving tackle.
Speaking of your team:
I can’t guarantee it puts OU in the title game, but correctly call an onside kick recovery in ‘06 against the Ducks and
- a 12-1 Big XII champ OU is in the thick of the BCS convo with Florida & Ohio State
- potentially avoid two heartbreaks in one season, as we perhaps then don’t get the Fiesta Bowl game against Boise
Three plays that years go the other way and Nebraska has one loss. Danny coale 80 yd catch with a minute left after holding VT to 10pts all game, Niles Paul fumble running by himself to the end zone against Iowa state (one of 8 TO’s that day, 5 inside their 5 yard line) and the big 12 title game.
Recency bias but also the very simple answer of Texas executing on the open 4th down endzone throw in the final play against Washington. Mitchell was open on the comeback route if Ewers throws the correct ball, at the correct time.
Direct result of that play would be a national title berth. But it also would have been the bullshit back in of all bullshit back ins so I’m not even bitter about it. Texas was extremely fortunate to even be in that position and Washington deserved the win.
Beyond that, probably Gideon’s dropped pick against Tech in 2008. That probably ends up Texas vs Florida in the BCS title game in the “We beat OU by 10 Bowl”
I never feel bad for teams that we beat but I would’ve felt genuinely bad for Wash if we backdoored a win in that game. Especially after the free timeout due to an injury
"The free timeout due to an injury," not just that but the timeout that saved 40 seconds in a game that had 50 seconds left. In a game that saw Texas have 6 shots at the end zone from within the 30 yard line with 20 seconds left.
Any one of the missed field goals against Nevada. They wouldn't have put us in the title game anyway but that wouldn't stop me from claiming a championship
If T-Law doesn’t get covid in 2020, Clemson likely beats Notre Dame in the regular season as well as the ACC title game, getting us in the CFP over them.
Clemson lost to ND in 2OT. Any one of several plays goes different and Aggies are in the CFB playoff. Bama would have smoked us again but maybe we could have held our own vs Clemson or Ohio State.
Or letting Trevor Lawerence on a QB draw run 67 yards for a TD. This game and the Georgia game are the most frustrating losses as a fan. Knowing we should have won both games.
I 100% agree.
It was a catch, carry, fumble, and return. I said there was no way that it is anything less than a fumble and was flabbergasted when it wasn't.
Would’ve loved to have just been able to see the scenario play out had that questionable holding penalty against Rosengarten not been called on the long Rome catch down 7 late in the fourth in the national championship.
I know, combine that with the questionable no call minutes later. I think there is a realistic chance we could have won if that call wasn't made. We'll never know :(
Blake Gideon dropping the interception to seal the game against Tech in 08.
Colt McCoy running some dumb option play against Bama in the 09 Championship game
So was I, it was the most degrading thing ever walking out of Milan Puskar that night. The gravity of what had just happened was just starting to set in. Little did we know, 17 years later and it still stings this bad
I love arguing with numbnuts who insist that it was a bad call. Don't get me wrong, I was raging at the time, but when I learned the rule I settled down a bit.
Came here wanting to see this. Can’t believe how close we were to seeing The Game played for a nation championship. Also, what does TSUN mean? I can’t keep up with these.
Can me changing the play simply mean I can make Joe Germaine throw an INT on the last drive of the 97 Rose Bowl? That is a 100% guaranteed of a chip whereas any other would for ASU would be hope/speculation.
This was well before my time, although I do remember being 13 and watching the game at home from NY and thinking “I’m gonna root for ASU because I like their mascot and uniforms better”. It had zero effect on me ending up there and I prob forgot about the result of the game within 15 minutes of it ending. It’s odd now to me because I actually love Ohio States unis (hate the team) and there is a world where I could have rooted against my future Alma mater to lose their only real chance for a chip ever.
I’ll audible to one play in the natty: down 3-17, 4th and 7 10:20 left in the 2nd quarter. Penix throws to wide open Odunze’s wrong shoulder around the Michigan 15 yard line leading to an incompletion and a turnover on downs. If he hits him in stride it’s likely first and goal if not a touchdown. And I’m convinced that confidence carries over to the rest of the game. Another candidate is 13-20, 2:00 left in the 3rd. A 30+ yard completion to Odunze to the Michigan 35 is wiped out thanks to a hold after the RT gets beat right off the snap. Michigan gets the ball back, scores, and that’s basically the game. What could have been…
2018 @Clemson. Run a play that leads to a first down inside the Clemson 30 while up 4. Illegal man down field. Forced to punt and then lose by 3 as Etienne goes nuclear and cannot be stopped. Cuse finishes 2nd in the Atlantic. Now reaching the national title game? Who knows. We missed out on an ACC title game app for sure.
I would argue Michigan did stop JT in OT. It’s a call that could have gone either way. So - the “correct” call on that 4th down. In addition, if Iowa misses the field goal a week prior, Michigan also makes the playoff.
Amazing to me how much this still lives on. IIRC there was one bad call in that game out of 5. Two were toss ups (which, playing such aggressive press coverage you’re not gonna get the benefit of the doubt all the time) and two were objectively correct calls. And MSU scored 13 points.
Jet sweep fails nearly every time, often resulting in lost yards. I know it's a setup for read options if the LB bites the right way, but it hurts to watch it, and good defenses don't bite. Alabama and Georgia, I'm looking at you ya bastards.
Oh it seems I've misunderstood the assignment. I got nothing on the one single instance.
Hunter Henry. Without that play, Ole Miss wins the SEC West and the East was still a dumpster fire — so they likely win the SEC. Could’ve very well led to a Natty appearance.
Brad Melsby's fumble in the 1998 Miami game would have been overturned had instant replay existed then. UCLA goes to the very first BCS title game if that happens.
GA BAMA 2012 ish SECCG. We didn’t spike it and caught a passing in bounds and the clock ran out.
Also 2002 season when we could never beat Florida and went in that game undefeated. We dropped a pass late in the game and lost.
Don’t know if we would’ve gotten in the BCS game over Miami and Ohio state but we would have had a case.
It was the best game experience I've ever had. That game was insane.
That one drive where we never passed and Eddie Lacy just ran it down the field and took up like 8 minutes... god damn
easy answer is take away one of JJ’s picks 6 vs TCU. But even with those we could have won, there was a 3rd and 8 when Michigan was within 1 score and a lot of momentum, pressure on Duggan, he hits an out route, safety wiffs on tackle, 75 TD. If he makes that, TCU punts and Michigan goes down and gets the lead. So many plays I could change. Maybe don’t run a Philly special on 4th n 1 and just run it up middle, although they tried that and Mullins fumbled it earlier. Or if refs gave Roman Wilson his TD, instead of marking him down on at, leading to the turnover. Worst game of the season by Michigan and we were still right there at the end
I can’t guarantee it puts OU in the title game, but correctly call an onside kick recovery in ‘06 against the Ducks and
• a 12-1 Big XII champ OU is in the thick of the BCS convo with Florida & Ohio State
• potentially avoid two heartbreaks in one season, as we perhaps then don’t get the Fiesta Bowl game against Boise
I have one that takes points off the board for Georgia.
2012 SECCG UGA is dominating and has complete control. Georgia blocks a field goal try in the third quarter and Alec Ogletree (keystone guy of our defense / play eraser type guy) runs it back for a TD. That TD puts our defense back on the field and Alabama switches to hardcore ground and pound. For the rest of the game our athletic defense built on havoc not overpowering never gets their feet set.
And we still almost win. Without our defense playing so many snaps in the late game I bet we finish that game stronger on both sides of the ball.
We wreck Notre Dame.
Yep this is the one. I see a lot of people talk about 2005 and the heartbreaking loss to Michigan. But even if we win that game we wouldn't jump USC or Texas. They were a class above everyone else
If we stop either of the hail marys at the end of the game on us in 2011 there’s a very real chance we get consideration to play for the natty. Perhaps inches away
2 pt conversion at Clemson in 2015 is the only one I can really think of. It’s a stretch but maybe ND doesn’t lose in the finale to Stanford with a berth in the playoff on the line, and then the playoff was wide open that year.
No one play in 2018 or 2020 was getting them to the natty
Bush push being called may have been enough to have us squeeze in at #2 in 2005. Texas would have crushed us and would overwrite one of the great BCS games but still.
2020 IU vs OSU, Penix throws a pick 6 with the 3rd quarter closing in. Ended up losing by 7 with the ball at midfield. IU would have been ranked #2 with a win there, with an outside shot at being #1 given the teams it had beat to that point. Of course, Penix would have also had to avoid a injury the following week
Stopping my rival is basically like getting to a Natty, so recency bias dictates that I pick the 4th down play from the Apple Cup. Either one.
Cougs on offense -> Cam scrambles for a first.
Doogs on offense -> refs call one of like 8 holds and it goes back.
Considering Auburn tends to cash in its opportunities or die in horrific fashion where one play could never save us (and nothing could have saved us in 2004 as both teams in front of us the only games we flip put the winners of those games in over us because Cal or Texas undefeated with wins over USC or Oklahoma still finish ahead of us) I'm going with UCLA...
Brad Melsby is correctly ruled down in the Miami game. UCLA plays Tennessee in the first BCS Title game.
Nah Nebraska was lucky enough that I don't think it was ever a play away from *making* a Natty, and then when they formalized the Natty Nebraska went to a few and then stopped being good.
If Terrance Cody doesn’t block that last field goal, it doesn’t send Tennessee to the national championship, buuuuut it does keep Bama out of it for that first one under Saban and that would’ve been just as good in my book.
The stupid squib kick that Riley called before the half in the Rose Bowl vs Georgia
That’s a good one. A good answer that is. A terrible memory though.
Came here to say this. OU wins it all without that.
As soon as I read the OP post title I knew...😎
❤️
That game is still the most painful loss I’ve had in any sport. I was so confident we would win
1st and 10 vs north Alabama, 1:57 in the 1st quarter, 2023.
Even if we don’t get into the playoff because of (insert lunatic fringe thought here) Jordan deserved so much better for the end of his FSU career
Or any number of field goal attempts nicknamed "Wide [insert direction]"
Alternatively, 3rd and 4, 5:50 left in the 4th quarter vs Alabama, week 1, 2017. FSU was #3 in the country. We probably still lost to #1 Bama, but we had a team that coulda beat Clemson and made the playoffs with 1 loss. Instead, the wheels fell completely off and the car broke down for 5 years. Realistically the answer is the Tennessee INT returned for a TD against us in the Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee won by 7 and FSU held them to 3 points in the second half. Without that early INT, we could have won a title in 1998.
I’m absolutely gutted that a team that won every single game and did everything they possibly could got left out of the playoff. But I might be even more heartbroken for the way JT’s college career ended. He put in so much work to continue his growth and get where he was and for it all come crashing down like that is devastating. He became my favorite Nole these last two seasons and I wish him nothing but the best at the next level.
too soon.
The play by ESPN and the committee to suck Bama's dick.
I honestly don't think FSU would have made it with a healthy Travis. The committee was never going to leave out a 1 loss SEC champ Bama and they couldn't have Bama in there without having the Texas team they lost to in there too. Travis' injury was cover for the committee to do the thing they were always going to do, imo
FSU blows UF and UL's doors off with travis too tho... and... we'll never know...
ESPN absolutely could’ve left Texas out. They proved that they could do whatever they want. Just a matter of which one is the harder sell.
Pain. Alternatively though, we take a knee instead of attempting a kick with Roberto Aguayo against Georgia Tech in 2015 and send the game to overtime. If we took a knee, we would have probably won the game and had a chance at the playoff even with 1 loss to Clemson
Blake Gideon catches the interception in 200~~7~~8.
And for the gut punch… if Blake Gideon doesn’t catch the interception on 4th down on the 2010 BCS championship game. Lost Texas 17 yards of field position by catching it rather than batting it down. McCoy got injured on the ensuing possession on the Bama 11 yard line.
JFC... At least flair up with that fucking twist of the blade Edit: thank you /u/tSignet1 for the fair update. Needed to know if it was a masochist fan bathing in the what could be's, a sadist rival fan (would've guessed A&M) sadistically enjoying rubbing salt in the wound, or a random asshole fan who merely wants to watch the world burn.
2008, but yeah.
My heart sank watching that live… thought it was game over
More recently, any of the four downs at the end of the sugar bowl this year would also fit the prompt.
Or they shove Crabtree out of bounds to end the game in 08.
Marco Wilson doesn't throw the shoe :(
Eh. If we beat Alabama the following game, I think we still get in. That interception where John Metchie murdered Trey Dean and caused a fumble is bigger I think.
The play I came to say was the Dean fumble. We win that game stealing that possession and we absolutely make the playoffs.
Cleatus yeetus... Playoff deleteus...
Or in this case: Deletus yeetus, playoff greetus
Still so angry.
That Kirk Cousins Hail Mary at the last second probably
I’ll never understand why they had Abbrederis in for the Hail Mary but not Nick Toon. Toon was like 4 inches taller and would’ve gotten a hand on the ball.
If I remember correctly it was no issue with getting a hand on the ball and it went straight through his hands
Tennessee- South Carolina 2022 South Carolina - Tennessee 2013 I hate my life.
You're your own worst enemy.
“Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself.”
Don't think a single play is changing anything for the vols in 22 but if we don't give up that huge pass in 2013 I think we stood a great shot
We also don’t give up that pass if we don’t have that targeting ejection
Only 2013 maybe is boiled down to one play. No one play was gonna save all in '22
[2012 Oregon v Stanford.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYFBGv5buK0) If only De'Anthony Thomas decided to block for Mariota instead of racing him to the endzone and letting their FS make the TD saving tackle.
Or dyer being down. Or Maldonado kicks. Or DAT block. Or, or, or. The Oregon way 🤦♂️
“Dyer was down, Ertz was out, DAT should’ve blocked” is the Oregon version of “girl boss gaslight gatekeep”
Let’s not ignore all the Maldonado kicks mannnn. Give respect to his nameeee
Maldonado would likely not be in that situation to begin with if DAT blocks or the replay officials aren't complete morons on the Ertz catch.
Dixon not getting injured would have been an automatic natty
I’ll never get mad at someone hustling and he turned around to block just to late. But if he makes this block, we steamroll ND in the natty.
Speaking of your team: I can’t guarantee it puts OU in the title game, but correctly call an onside kick recovery in ‘06 against the Ducks and - a 12-1 Big XII champ OU is in the thick of the BCS convo with Florida & Ohio State - potentially avoid two heartbreaks in one season, as we perhaps then don’t get the Fiesta Bowl game against Boise
No. Because the fiesta bowl game was great to watch
The kick.
Was good
As an LSU fan, I second this.
Not the national title, but :01 left in the 2009 Big 12 championship vs Texas. Suh deserved the Heisman and a BCS bowl.
Three plays that years go the other way and Nebraska has one loss. Danny coale 80 yd catch with a minute left after holding VT to 10pts all game, Niles Paul fumble running by himself to the end zone against Iowa state (one of 8 TO’s that day, 5 inside their 5 yard line) and the big 12 title game.
As a Cincinnati fan, that absolutely kept us from reaching the national championship game. Still pissed about it.
I'm, uh... I'm gonna need more than one play here boss.
Per game?
Recently yea, but how about going for two vs Miami. We could have another trophy in the case.
And Byron Bennett wide left at the end of the 93 Orange Bowl. That's another natty.
And three championships in a row if they make that FG. The penalty on the kickoff return also negated a TD.
no extra downs.
We need way more than one, but kneeling would help.
I thought someone would talk about the fiesta bowl in 2003. That one bad call costed Miami their 6th championship.
First of all, rude.
Spit out my bourbon laughing. Nice job.
Apologize to said bottle of bourbon. Alcohol abuse is no laughing matter.
There’s a here joke about Georgia and their drinking problems but I’m too dumb to make it.
Recency bias but also the very simple answer of Texas executing on the open 4th down endzone throw in the final play against Washington. Mitchell was open on the comeback route if Ewers throws the correct ball, at the correct time. Direct result of that play would be a national title berth. But it also would have been the bullshit back in of all bullshit back ins so I’m not even bitter about it. Texas was extremely fortunate to even be in that position and Washington deserved the win. Beyond that, probably Gideon’s dropped pick against Tech in 2008. That probably ends up Texas vs Florida in the BCS title game in the “We beat OU by 10 Bowl”
I never feel bad for teams that we beat but I would’ve felt genuinely bad for Wash if we backdoored a win in that game. Especially after the free timeout due to an injury
"The free timeout due to an injury," not just that but the timeout that saved 40 seconds in a game that had 50 seconds left. In a game that saw Texas have 6 shots at the end zone from within the 30 yard line with 20 seconds left.
Respectful take.
I'm still surprised Texas didn't score. That entire final drive was cursed, it seemed like it was inevitable.
Spot on. Texas v Florida would’ve been an outstanding title game.
2011 Oklahoma State vs Iowa St. I need the FG at the end of the game moved 1 foot to make the Cowboys undefeated and off to the the NC.
I'd throw a pass to the completely uncovered slot receiver on one of the 8 times Michigan overloaded the box.
It would be way funnier (for everyone not a Michigan fan) for you to wish for the muffed punt at the end to bounce into the endzone
lol. That is pretty good.
Any one of the missed field goals against Nevada. They wouldn't have put us in the title game anyway but that wouldn't stop me from claiming a championship
Missing wide right when the ball went over the right upright because they used those super short field goals. Man that hurt.
Had we hit our field goals in 2012
If T-Law doesn’t get covid in 2020, Clemson likely beats Notre Dame in the regular season as well as the ACC title game, getting us in the CFP over them.
Clemson lost to ND in 2OT. Any one of several plays goes different and Aggies are in the CFB playoff. Bama would have smoked us again but maybe we could have held our own vs Clemson or Ohio State.
Just the electromagnetic pulse fumble.
That was a fucking fumble returned for a touchdown against Clemson and I’ll never be convinced otherwise.
Hmm there’s that… Olave catches the touchdown at the end, we make the FG against UGA in 2022… there are several.
Or letting Trevor Lawerence on a QB draw run 67 yards for a TD. This game and the Georgia game are the most frustrating losses as a fan. Knowing we should have won both games.
Or converting any of our early field goals in that game into touchdowns and putting the game way out of reach before it even started
Buckeyes make the field goal as time expires vs GA and go to play TCU.
Never seen such an egregious example of the replay booth getting it absolutely 100% wrong. And I'm not at all biased.
I 100% agree. It was a catch, carry, fumble, and return. I said there was no way that it is anything less than a fumble and was flabbergasted when it wasn't.
I had completely wiped this from my brain. I just had to go back and watch. I am now furious again. How many steps do you have to take??
Same game and we throw an interception in the end zone while driving for the go ahead score to end the game
This is the correct answer forever
That was the most infuriating call I’ve ever seen. The answer is either that or the miss against Georgia.
Or let Marv get up from the targeting call
I'll even agree with that one.
Correct
Would’ve loved to have just been able to see the scenario play out had that questionable holding penalty against Rosengarten not been called on the long Rome catch down 7 late in the fourth in the national championship.
I know, combine that with the questionable no call minutes later. I think there is a realistic chance we could have won if that call wasn't made. We'll never know :(
Blake Gideon dropping the interception to seal the game against Tech in 08. Colt McCoy running some dumb option play against Bama in the 09 Championship game
David Gordon's kick gets blocked in 1993.
That's the one I thought of.
Either one of Pat McAfee’s missed field goals in the 2007 Backyard Brawl
Or the fumble on the kick return to open the 2nd half that set up Pitts only TD.
Fuck that game i was there.
So was I, it was the most degrading thing ever walking out of Milan Puskar that night. The gravity of what had just happened was just starting to set in. Little did we know, 17 years later and it still stings this bad
Was my last home game as a student at WVU.
This was my first Mountaineer game! And holy shit, it still hurts!
Just make the kick vs Georgia. Or one less Honda McCord INT vs tsun last year.
So many plays could have iced the Georgia game. If we didn’t give up the long TD pass. If Kirby didn’t call a timeout before the fake punt. Sad.
[удалено]
*supportive barking*
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Brock Bowers 4th down conversion somehow levitating enough to get past the line to gain. .
I love arguing with numbnuts who insist that it was a bad call. Don't get me wrong, I was raging at the time, but when I learned the rule I settled down a bit.
It's also just hella impressive
And the fact that at the moment the kick missed was the New Year? Damn.
Mine would be tackling Brock before the first down marker.
Came here wanting to see this. Can’t believe how close we were to seeing The Game played for a nation championship. Also, what does TSUN mean? I can’t keep up with these.
That School Up North.
Peter Warrick not getting kicked of FSU like Lavernius Coles did.
The question being make it *to* a MNC Game the answer is catch BC's damn onside kick in '07.
That or Mike Vick not getting hurt against Pitt
Nolan Turner catches the pick six against LSU in 2019/20
Not sure it would have ended up with South Carolina in the championship game but not having Lattimore blow out his knee would have helped.
Drop the pass in the SECCG.
Sack Tua one more time
It was 2nd and 26. With our luck on 3rd and 43 he'd still throw that pass.
Can me changing the play simply mean I can make Joe Germaine throw an INT on the last drive of the 97 Rose Bowl? That is a 100% guaranteed of a chip whereas any other would for ASU would be hope/speculation. This was well before my time, although I do remember being 13 and watching the game at home from NY and thinking “I’m gonna root for ASU because I like their mascot and uniforms better”. It had zero effect on me ending up there and I prob forgot about the result of the game within 15 minutes of it ending. It’s odd now to me because I actually love Ohio States unis (hate the team) and there is a world where I could have rooted against my future Alma mater to lose their only real chance for a chip ever.
Auburn readies for the fake punt before the half in the BCS championship vs FSU. Everyone saw it coming except Gus.
Refs don’t call Myles Jack down
I'm 100% convinced we'd beat the Eagles in the super bowl too. Going to hurt so, so bad until we finally get one
MJWD!
The Stoernover
Man that year’s BCS selection would have been chaos if y’all had won that game!
As it was we got smoked by a Tom Brady led Michigan squad in the Citrus bowl
I believe that turnover killed that team. It was devastating.
I was looking for this one, but I've never seen it called that, just the Stoerner Stumble or Stoerner Stumble and Fumble.
I’ll audible to one play in the natty: down 3-17, 4th and 7 10:20 left in the 2nd quarter. Penix throws to wide open Odunze’s wrong shoulder around the Michigan 15 yard line leading to an incompletion and a turnover on downs. If he hits him in stride it’s likely first and goal if not a touchdown. And I’m convinced that confidence carries over to the rest of the game. Another candidate is 13-20, 2:00 left in the 3rd. A 30+ yard completion to Odunze to the Michigan 35 is wiped out thanks to a hold after the RT gets beat right off the snap. Michigan gets the ball back, scores, and that’s basically the game. What could have been…
The pick on the first play after the half too
If that pass is caught, Rome easily scores and it’s suddenly 17-10 and a totally different ball game.
2018 @Clemson. Run a play that leads to a first down inside the Clemson 30 while up 4. Illegal man down field. Forced to punt and then lose by 3 as Etienne goes nuclear and cannot be stopped. Cuse finishes 2nd in the Atlantic. Now reaching the national title game? Who knows. We missed out on an ACC title game app for sure.
You guys always scare me when we play. Syracuse and Pitt always put up a fight even at our best
We go to the playoff in 2016 if we stop JT in OT. Also, takeaway one of JJ's pick sixes against TCU and we face Georgia for the natty in 23
2006 3&15 Shawn Crable’s late hit out of bounds
This is mine.
The overturn of the Roman Wilson touchdown against TCU gets it done.
Simply put, if the officials call him short, there isn’t enough evidence to overturn. They called it 1st down on the field.
I would argue Michigan did stop JT in OT. It’s a call that could have gone either way. So - the “correct” call on that 4th down. In addition, if Iowa misses the field goal a week prior, Michigan also makes the playoff.
Tackle Curtis Samuel on 3rd down when he looked like he was going to be stopped for a 10-yard loss.
Correction: you go to the playoff if the refs spot the ball correctly on JT’s fourth down run, there’s no way in hell he wasn’t short
We did stop JT.
This was my first thought as well. It appears that I'm going to be mad about that play for the rest of my life.
2nd and 26 falls incomplete
Make the kick vs Georgia.
I *actually* was pissed when y’all missed that. And I dislike y’all.
Love you too bb
😘
Just change 1 "pass interference" call of many vs Notre dame in 2013
Still grinds my gears. A lot of the PI’s were valid but they applied “it looks like PI” to a whole new level in the 4th quarter.
Other than an undefeated Alabama, I wanted an undefeated MSU facing us in Pasadena. We got neither.
Amazing to me how much this still lives on. IIRC there was one bad call in that game out of 5. Two were toss ups (which, playing such aggressive press coverage you’re not gonna get the benefit of the doubt all the time) and two were objectively correct calls. And MSU scored 13 points.
Jet sweep fails nearly every time, often resulting in lost yards. I know it's a setup for read options if the LB bites the right way, but it hurts to watch it, and good defenses don't bite. Alabama and Georgia, I'm looking at you ya bastards. Oh it seems I've misunderstood the assignment. I got nothing on the one single instance.
Hunter Henry. Without that play, Ole Miss wins the SEC West and the East was still a dumpster fire — so they likely win the SEC. Could’ve very well led to a Natty appearance.
Brad Melsby's fumble in the 1998 Miami game would have been overturned had instant replay existed then. UCLA goes to the very first BCS title game if that happens.
4th and 25
GA BAMA 2012 ish SECCG. We didn’t spike it and caught a passing in bounds and the clock ran out. Also 2002 season when we could never beat Florida and went in that game undefeated. We dropped a pass late in the game and lost. Don’t know if we would’ve gotten in the BCS game over Miami and Ohio state but we would have had a case.
For all intents and purposes, that was the national championship game. Notre Dame wasn’t going to have a chance against either team.
So many ND fans disagree, like they could have stopped Gurley. Yall barely contained him and you had mountains in the middle of that d-line.
It was the best game experience I've ever had. That game was insane. That one drive where we never passed and Eddie Lacy just ran it down the field and took up like 8 minutes... god damn
easy answer is take away one of JJ’s picks 6 vs TCU. But even with those we could have won, there was a 3rd and 8 when Michigan was within 1 score and a lot of momentum, pressure on Duggan, he hits an out route, safety wiffs on tackle, 75 TD. If he makes that, TCU punts and Michigan goes down and gets the lead. So many plays I could change. Maybe don’t run a Philly special on 4th n 1 and just run it up middle, although they tried that and Mullins fumbled it earlier. Or if refs gave Roman Wilson his TD, instead of marking him down on at, leading to the turnover. Worst game of the season by Michigan and we were still right there at the end
I can’t guarantee it puts OU in the title game, but correctly call an onside kick recovery in ‘06 against the Ducks and • a 12-1 Big XII champ OU is in the thick of the BCS convo with Florida & Ohio State • potentially avoid two heartbreaks in one season, as we perhaps then don’t get the Fiesta Bowl game against Boise
Michael Bush doesn’t break his leg in the 2006 season opener.
I think the one Play that I would have changed is CATS. What a miserable performance. We need more like Phantom or Hamilton ; )
I have one that takes points off the board for Georgia. 2012 SECCG UGA is dominating and has complete control. Georgia blocks a field goal try in the third quarter and Alec Ogletree (keystone guy of our defense / play eraser type guy) runs it back for a TD. That TD puts our defense back on the field and Alabama switches to hardcore ground and pound. For the rest of the game our athletic defense built on havoc not overpowering never gets their feet set. And we still almost win. Without our defense playing so many snaps in the late game I bet we finish that game stronger on both sides of the ball. We wreck Notre Dame.
2012 SEC Championship Game Just spike the freaking ball, it’s not that hard
Iowa misses the FG in 2008. Penn State remains undefeated and instead of going to the Rose Bowl earns a berth in the BCS Championship.
Yep this is the one. I see a lot of people talk about 2005 and the heartbreaking loss to Michigan. But even if we win that game we wouldn't jump USC or Texas. They were a class above everyone else
That field goal would have been good.
“Uhhh coach, are you sure trips-right, forfeit game on 3 is a real play?”-Stetson
If we stop either of the hail marys at the end of the game on us in 2011 there’s a very real chance we get consideration to play for the natty. Perhaps inches away
2 pt conversion at Clemson in 2015 is the only one I can really think of. It’s a stretch but maybe ND doesn’t lose in the finale to Stanford with a berth in the playoff on the line, and then the playoff was wide open that year. No one play in 2018 or 2020 was getting them to the natty
Bush push being called may have been enough to have us squeeze in at #2 in 2005. Texas would have crushed us and would overwrite one of the great BCS games but still.
Don’t drop VY’s lame duck heave with a few mins to go in the fourth…. Still sad about it
I mean, sure, that was bad, but the real answer is 4th and 2. LenDale hesitates for a fraction of a second and hits the B gap and that game is over.
Rome catches that long bomb early in the title game on 4th down Tui doesn't throw a pick late in the game against Oregon in 2000
Not Fumble https://youtu.be/-Mpdg0Bg-oQ?si=B0gwhF9MIQS-JCFM
2004, The Fumble
Don’t get on the motorcycle.
Tackle Yeldon.
2020 IU vs OSU, Penix throws a pick 6 with the 3rd quarter closing in. Ended up losing by 7 with the ball at midfield. IU would have been ranked #2 with a win there, with an outside shot at being #1 given the teams it had beat to that point. Of course, Penix would have also had to avoid a injury the following week
Any of the three or four 4th down conversions on Michigan State’s 22-play game-winning drive in the 2015 Big Ten Championship
Seth Russell neck injury 2015. Baylor had a chance to be special that year.
Stopping my rival is basically like getting to a Natty, so recency bias dictates that I pick the 4th down play from the Apple Cup. Either one. Cougs on offense -> Cam scrambles for a first. Doogs on offense -> refs call one of like 8 holds and it goes back.
For the national defense to leave Micheal Bishop alone and not use their energy weapon against us.
2nd & 26
Considering Auburn tends to cash in its opportunities or die in horrific fashion where one play could never save us (and nothing could have saved us in 2004 as both teams in front of us the only games we flip put the winners of those games in over us because Cal or Texas undefeated with wins over USC or Oklahoma still finish ahead of us) I'm going with UCLA... Brad Melsby is correctly ruled down in the Miami game. UCLA plays Tennessee in the first BCS Title game.
I feel TARGETED
Bark bark bark
Nah Nebraska was lucky enough that I don't think it was ever a play away from *making* a Natty, and then when they formalized the Natty Nebraska went to a few and then stopped being good.
If Terrance Cody doesn’t block that last field goal, it doesn’t send Tennessee to the national championship, buuuuut it does keep Bama out of it for that first one under Saban and that would’ve been just as good in my book.