Great plays tend to make great games.
Just as Vince Young's 4
th down rushing touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl and Boise State's 'hook and ladder' play in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl were ranked the top two moments of all time, something similar is found in a look at the 25 best games in bowl history.
While Texas's 41-38 win over USC and Boise State's 43-42 victory over Oklahoma top the list, they are but two.
Victories of all decades, shapes, sizes and bowls large and small provide a riveting 'look back' at many of the greatest bowl games in history.
Take, for example, a Notre Dame QB whose 1979 exploits led the Fighting Irish to a 35-34 come-from-behind win over Houston in the Cotton Bowl. His name? Joe Montana.
Or the 2003 Hawai'I Bowl, when the hometown Rainbows needed three overtimes to subdue Houston.
The 1963 Rose Bowl certainly lived up to its billing as the 'granddaddy of them all" when Wisconsin QB Ron Vander Kelen led a furious Badgers 2
nd half comeback, only to fall just short against USC, 42-37.
The 150
th anniversary of college football has already revealed the top coaches, plays and now, games. Next up will be the 150 greatest bowl players of all time. Stay tuned !!!!
The Top 25 games of all time are found below.
Top 25 Games in Bowl History
1. 2006 Rose Bowl – Texas defeats USC 41-38
2. 2007 Fiesta Bowl – Boise State defeats Oklahoma 43-42 OT
3. 2016 Alamo Bowl – TCU defeats Oregon 47-41 3OT
4. 1973 Sugar Bowl – Notre Dame defeats Alabama 24-23
5. 1984 Orange Bowl – Miami defeats Nebraska 31-30
6. 1987 Fiesta Bowl – Penn State defeats Miami 14-10
7. 1980 Holiday Bowl – BYU defeats SMU 46-45
8. 1963 Rose Bowl – USC defeats Wisconsin 42-37
9. 2000 Orange Bowl – Michigan defeats Alabama 35-34 OT
10. 1994 Orange Bowl – Florida State defeats Nebraska 18-16
11. 1979 Cotton Bowl – Notre Dame defeats Houston 35-34
12. 2005 Rose Bowl – Texas defeats Michigan 38-37
13. 1980 Rose Bowl – USC defeats Ohio State 17-16
14. 2018 CFP National Championship – Alabama defeats Georgia 26-23 OT
15. 2012 Outback Bowl – Michigan State defeats Georgia 33-30 3OT
16. 2017 Belk Bowl – Wake Forest defeats Texas A&M 55-52
17. 2014 Music City Bowl – Notre Dame defeats LSU 31-28
18. 2014 Pinstripe Bowl – Penn State defeats Boston College 31-30 OT
19. 2000 Independence Bowl – Mississippi State defeats Texas A&M 43-41 OT
20. 2001 Holiday Bowl – Texas defeats Washington 47-43
21. 2003 Hawaii Bowl – Hawai'i defeats Houston 54-48 3OT
22. 2015 Cotton Bowl – Michigan State defeats Baylor 42-41
23. 1987 Sun Bowl – Oklahoma State defeats West Virginia 35-33
24. 2008 New Orleans Bowl – Southern Miss defeats Troy 30-27 OT
25. (tie)2013 New Mexico Bowl – Colorado State defeats Washington State 48-45
25.(tie) 2014 Bahamas Bowl - Western Kentucky defeats Central Michigan 49-48
