ESPN Reveals the Top College Football Play of the Last 25 Years
There are some college football plays that stick around in fans' minds long after the final whistle blows.
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ESPN ranked the top-25 plays since 2000 ahead of the 2025 season, listing some of the most memorable moments of the 21st century. Not surprisingly, the top of the list includes unlikely plays that led to championships.
Ranked fourth is Alabama's improbable game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith in overtime of the 2018 national championship game against Georgia.
Texas quarterback Vince Young's game-winning touchdown run against USC in the 2005 Rose Bowl ranks third.
Boise State's "trickeration" in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma comes in at No. 2, with ESPN including both the fourth quarter "Hook and Ladder" play and the overtime "Statue of Liberty" call that helped propel the Broncos to victory.
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Each of those plays were surprisingly successful in their own way, but one play since 2000 arguably sits above the rest: Auburn's "Kick Six" in the 2013 Iron Bowl against in-state rival Alabama.
Alabama wide receiver Caleb Sims (29) grabs for Auburn cornerback Chris Davis (11) during the "Kick Six" play in 2013Amanda Sowards/Advertiser
Some fourth-quarter chaos took place inside Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium to cap off the 2013 regular season.
Coming off back-to-back national championships, head coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide found themselves tied at 28 with 15 seconds remaining against the Tigers and head coach Gus Malzahn.
Running back TJ Yeldon's 24-yard rush seemingly ran out the clock, but Alabama ultimately had a long field goal attempt after a review showed that Yeldon was pushed out of bounds with one second remaining.
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Field goal kicker Cade Foster, who had missed three attempts that game, was replaced by Adam Griffith for the 57-yard try. And Griffith came up considerably short, giving Auburn defensive back Chris Davis a chance at a return.
The rest is college football lore.
"It's a play that will live in the hearts of Auburn fans, who can still hear the school's radio play-by-play announcer, the late Rod Bramblett, screaming 'Auburn's going to win the football game!' as Davis crossed the goal line," Chris Low wrote.
Auburn fans went on to rush the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium after the No. 4 Tigers' unbelievable, last-second upset over then No. 1 Alabama.
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The 2013 Iron Bowl remains as the last top-four matchup between the hated rivals and just so happens to feature one of the greatest plays in college football history.
Auburn will host this year's Iron Bowl on Nov. 29 in an attempt to log its first win in the series since 2019.
Related: College Football Fans Emotional After College GameDay's Announcement On Week 1 Location
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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