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Associated Press
19 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
McCarthy, Vikings value Jefferson's presence and leadership in offseason practices
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings urged Justin Jefferson to fully participate in their offseason program, a commitment some established NFL stars aren't willing to make each spring. The sixth-year wide receiver was already a step ahead of the coaching staff. This is a critical offseason for Jefferson and the Vikings, breaking in a new quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, so he was planning to make his attendance a priority. 'It's definitely important to gain a little bit of a sight of what the new year is coming to look like, to build that connection with my teammates and especially with my quarterback,' Jefferson said after practice on Monday. 'It's definitely great to be out here early to kind of get into the feel.' These late spring practices, known in league parlance as organized team activities, are when the basic installation of the playbook begins, even though only the three-day minicamp next week is contractually mandated. It's also a prime opportunity to build that rhythm and trust between the quarterback and his receivers. 'He's a tremendous talent, tremendous leader, but his leadership really shows up when he's here,' said McCarthy, who accompanied Jefferson to a Timberwolves playoff game last month when they sat together in courtside seats. 'Just being able to get that chemistry building on and off the field has been invaluable.' Jefferson, whose 7,432 receiving yards are the most in league history through a player's first five seasons, said he doesn't concern himself with the style or tendencies of who's throwing. 'As long as the ball gets close to my face, I'm going to try to catch it,' he said. 'It doesn't matter how fast the ball is going, the spin of it or if it's coming from a lefty or a righty. My job is to catch the ball.' What's most important to Jefferson is the quarterback learning to adjust to his route-running preferences, with an exceptional stride length and side-to-side agility that helps set him apart. 'It's that timing, those reps,' McCarthy said. 'All of that has to be built up over time.' Which is why Jefferson being around all the time is so valuable. 'He's an energy igniter of the whole building, and I think he's come back with a purpose and a mindset,' coach Kevin O'Connell said. 'You hear his voice, you hear his interaction with teammates, and they just carry such a long way.' Not just for the quarterback. 'The guys in that locker room know, 'If this guy, one of the best in the world at what he does, is pushing himself in May and June, I sure as heck better be doing the same thing,'' O'Connell said. McCarthy, whose rookie season was spent entirely in the training room recovering from knee surgery, at least had some meaningful time in strategy meetings that helped him start to build the knowledge base in the offense even if he wasn't taking snaps on the field. 'I've been really surprised by some of the things that he does know. You're like, 'Man, we covered that in a 10-minute burst in Week 11 last year. How do you remember that?'' O'Connell said. 'And then there's some other things where you're like, 'Oh, I assumed he knew that.' So it's our job — baseline teaching and stacking days and layered learning so that we're constantly making him feel like he's growing but never comfortable.' Jefferson can see that too. 'He definitely has an arm, that's for sure. He can definitely zip it whenever he needs to,' he said, before recounting his advice to McCarthy at this stage of the offseason. 'Just let everything happen. Don't try to make the best play every single play.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
6 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy impresses in first competitive practice since torn meniscus
EAGAN, Minn. — The video probably exists somewhere. Maybe the Minnesota Vikings have it on their internal systems, or perhaps a local television reporter captured it live. Last summer, during an otherwise subdued training camp practice, J.J. McCarthy hurled a pass to tight end Nick Muse. It was a competitive rep on a side field. Following the completion, an acrobatic snag near the left sideline, McCarthy raced down the field and chest-bumped the 6-foot-5, 252-pound Muse. Advertisement The reaction felt organic. It seemed like the boyish, young quarterback got more caught up in the competition the deeper the Vikings extended into training camp. He ripped in-breakers. He offered philosophical quotes in press conferences. The more reps he received and the more times he executed plays successfully, the more comfortable he grew being himself. That throw and the eventual response are now a meaningful data point. If that's what McCarthy looked like when he began to build some momentum — in both his eyes and the minds of coaches — how does the present compare? Overreacting to one afternoon of organized team activities would be foolish. But on Wednesday, on the practice field inside the TCO Performance Center, McCarthy resembled his former self in almost every way. No, the 22-year-old was not doing any chest-bumping. This was more about his arm, his comfort and his command. 'He's done an unbelievable job,' said coach Kevin O'Connell. 'You forget the fact (that) this is his first runway since the injury. It's a credit to the work he put in.' LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O'Connell talks to the media during OTAs — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2025 O'Connell's praise is not a declaration. The Vikings aren't naming McCarthy the starter in late May based on a 35-yard completion over the middle to superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy won't be crowned because he connected with receiver Jordan Addison on the wide side of the field from the opposite hash. Completing a slant to receiver Jalen Nailor doesn't validate anything. Checking the ball down to running back Aaron Jones does not mean the Vikings are destined for the Super Bowl. This is mostly a minuscule — albeit relevant — early observation. McCarthy's throws spiraled the same way they did last year. He absorbed the play verbiage, stepped into the huddle, spit out the calls, walked to the line of scrimmage, hollered out the cadence and urgently progressed through reads. He did all of the things you have to do, with few hiccups, to be a successful quarterback in this league. Advertisement Even when there were hiccups, the Vikings staff approved. Here's why: When it comes to optimal quarterback development, O'Connell does not see much value in making it easy on them. They must try, fail and learn. Attempting to fit the ball into tight end Bryson Nesbit over a defender and watching the throw whiz past Nesbit's fingertips is not a problem. Shuffling six steps into a drop instead of four on a particular play, throwing off the timing of the route concepts, is part of the process. 'We're constantly making it feel like he's growing,' O'Connell said, 'but it's never about him being comfortable or satisfied on any particular outcome because we're building toward something much greater than a play here or there.' O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown agreed this spring not to assume anything with McCarthy. They implemented a hefty amount of playbook inventory. McCarthy has surprised them frequently with recall from his rookie season. Other times, they've reviewed essential details. It's all part of the current phase O'Connell describes as 'learning and teaching.' They're all benefiting from the team's attendance. Players like Jefferson, who do not have to show up for these voluntary sessions, are not only present but engaged. Tight end T.J. Hockenson arrived in phenomenal shape, and Nailor morphed into a stouter receiver this offseason. Their presence works twofold. It prevents some of these practices from becoming monotonous. It also allows McCarthy to simulate realistic timing. Especially in seven-on-seven drills, McCarthy will drop back and methodically eye the route progression. He uses these reps to synchronize his footwork with the speed of the route concepts. After practice, McCarthy evaluates the film of the throws twice. First, he'll scan through them during his post-practice treatment sessions. Then later in the night, he'll dissect them more intensely. Meetings with coaches the next day reinforce the opportunity for learning. Advertisement McCarthy won't see many misses from Wednesday's practice. He dropped a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Nailor down the right sideline, and later, he effectively anticipated an out-breaking route to Addison. Once he finished a post-practice weightlifting session, McCarthy held a 10-minute news conference. 'First off, I'd just like to say that it's been a great start to the offseason,' he began. LIVE: J.J. McCarthy talks to the media during OTAs — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2025 McCarthy expressed his gratitude for being back on the field with teammates in a competitive environment. One reporter asked how he balances his eagerness and patience. McCarthy offered the type of explanation that had become customary throughout last year's introduction before he tore his meniscus. 'Everyone wants to be perfect, especially at the quarterback position,' McCarthy said. 'The more you try to be perfect, it's going to kill you more than your imperfections will.' In other words, he sounded like himself as well.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
J.J. McCarthy Put on Notice by Vikings Training Camp Announcement
The NFL offseason is all about what-ifs, and there's already been a heavy dose of that for the Minnesota Vikings. Following the news that Caleb Williams preferred to land with the Vikings over his Chicago Bears, J.J. McCarthy's comparison to his 2024 draft counterpart will be a main storyline of the two teams' Week 1 matchup. Advertisement And that won't even be the start of comparisons McCarthy will be subject to. The Vikings made an announcement ahead of training camp that will put McCarthy to the test of both fan and media scrutiny before the season even starts. Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up during practice at Vikings training camp in Eagan, Becker-Imagn Images On May 19, the Vikings announced that they will host the New England Patriots for joint practices, and most notably, Drake Maye, this summer. As Minnesota scouted the 2024 quarterback draft class in search of their replacement for Kirk Cousins, Maye seemed to be the Vikings' crown jewel. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the Vikings attempted to trade up to land Maye, but New England declined the offer and selected Maye. Maye was selected No. 3 overall behind Williams and Jayden Daniels. Advertisement But when the Atlanta Falcons surprised the league with the selection of Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, the Vikings scrambled to be next in line, trading up from No. 11 to No. 10 to secure McCarthy. With the announcement of joint practices, McCarthy will share the field with every quarterback taken before him in the 2024 draft. All four quarterbacks had healthy rookie seasons and became full-time starters, meanwhile, McCarthy missed last season with a meniscus injury. There will be no shortage of storylines that McCarthy must drown out if he hopes to overcome high expectations put on him this upcoming season.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
J.J. McCarthy, roster health and other ingredients key to Vikings success in 2025
Bruce Buffer voice: It's … tiiiiiiimmmmme! Next week, for the first time since last fall, quarterback J.J. McCarthy will work out in a competitive environment. The Minnesota Vikings will begin organized team activities on Wednesday. They'll continue for several weeks before three days of mandatory minicamp beginning June 10. Advertisement This will be the first opportunity to assess the roster ahead of the 2025 season. In an attempt to set the stage, here are five key ingredients for the Vikings to put together a successful season that matches fans' high hopes: Not too long ago, I asked a colleague for the top five key ingredients to a winning season in Minnesota. Their answer: 'McCarthy's knee, McCarthy's arm, McCarthy's feet, McCarthy's eyes and McCarthy's mind.' And that's not just hyperbole. Elite quarterback play remains the most important requirement in achieving sustained success. In fact, over the last three seasons, the team that posted the higher passing EPA (a metric accounting for success on a play-by-play basis) in games won 77 percent of the time, according to TruMedia. Quarterbacks have the heaviest hand in turnover margin. Quarterbacks control the pace. The position's impact on the final result is why most of the questions coach Kevin O'Connell will have to answer in the next few months will revolve around McCarthy. But there are plenty of reasons for optimism. First and foremost, McCarthy impressed the coaching staff last fall in training camp. After he showed good processing speed and accuracy, the team planned to increase his first-team reps following his preseason showing against the Las Vegas Raiders. Second, and maybe just as important, the Vikings have produced three years of stellar quarterback infrastructure. The starting quarterback has not been consistent since O'Connell arrived in 2022 — from Kirk Cousins the first two years to Sam Darnold last season — but the statistics have been. Minnesota has thrown for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. The more advanced efficiency data is nearly identical from year to year. It's hard to imagine, but McCarthy will be taking the reins with an even stronger supporting cast than Cousins or Darnold had. Minnesota overhauled all three interior offensive line spots and added a more bruising running back in Jordan Mason. Unlike last year, tight end T.J. Hockenson should begin the season healthy. McCarthy does not have to do all of the heavy lifting. Any production close to what the Vikings have gotten in the last few years will make for a fun fall ride. The way the Vikings view player health and performance might be the most underrated improvement made during O'Connell's time in Minnesota. It's not just that the players have mostly stayed healthy. It's more that the franchise cares deeply about the staff and processes for the players, expecting that will give them an advantage. Advertisement Tyler Williams, who heads the team's player health and performance staff, is constantly exploring the sports science sphere. In past years, the Vikings have plucked other staffers like Dan Ridenour and Chad Bari, both of whom have expertise in biomechanics and data-backed player tracking, from the college ranks. And there's a great deal of belief in Williams' department. 'More and more every year,' O'Connell joked in March at the NFL's annual league meetings, 'it's, like, 'Ah, Tyler and those guys, they got 'em. We're going to be just fine.' They've proven, time and time again, that they're world-class down there with what they do.' Minnesota ranked 15th in adjusted games lost from injuries in 2023 and 10th in '24, according to Aaron Schatz of For The Numbers. The Vikings defense ranked as the fourth-healthiest defensive unit in the league last season. It may not be as easy to hover in a similar spot in 2025. Not only is an already-old Vikings roster a year older, but many of the team's highest-profile additions (Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen) have also navigated serious injuries in recent years. There are concerns with almost every position group. What will left tackle Christian Darrisaw look like in his return from a torn ACL? Will receiver Jalen Nailor duplicate last season's good string of health? Can linebacker Blake Cashman stay healthy? How about running back Aaron Jones? The hopes of every team hinge on injuries, but that'll be an essential factor in the Vikings reaching their ceiling. For the purposes of this conversation, let's define 'short yardage' as 3 yards or fewer to reach a first down. NFL teams typically convert at least 60 percent of the time in these situations. Unsurprisingly, the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles were the best in these instances over the last three seasons. Advertisement The Vikings ranked below average. On fourth down, Minnesota was unsurprisingly near the bottom. And no NFL team has run the ball fewer times than the Vikings amid these downs and distances. O'Connell, a former quarterback, loves to throw the football, but he's not passing solely because it's his preference. He has called throws in these situations because he's mindful of what gives his team the best chance of getting a first down. If the interior of your offensive line cannot displace defenders from the line of scrimmage, and if your running backs aren't big enough to batter away behind them, converting via the ground game becomes a difficult task. Minnesota's staff has brainstormed different strategies. The Vikings could use fullback C.J. Ham more, or they could even position Hockenson under center. The Vikings signed block-first tight end Josh Oliver. They've toyed with run schemes involving more pullers. None of this creativity turned into a long-term fix, however, which explains this spring's most important pursuit: getting better up front. It is still going to be incumbent on O'Connell, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, offensive line coach Chris Kuper and run game coordinator Curtis Modkins to design a short-yardage rushing attack that can confound defenses. At long last, though, Minnesota possesses the necessary components to extend drives and relieve pressure on a defense that will benefit from less time on the field. How much faith do you have in Theo Jackson and Isaiah Rodgers? If you reside on the rose-colored end of the spectrum, you'll have close counterparts on the Vikings staff. Minnesota could've used its first-round pick on a safety or cornerback. It could've used any of its five picks on either position. That the Vikings didn't is a reflection of their feelings. Minnesota could still pursue a free agent at either position, so it's not as if the current depth chart is set in stone. But for now, Jackson and Rodgers have largely unimpeded paths to bigger roles than they've ever had. A vaunted pass rush should help the secondary's cause. Edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel wowed last season. Infusing the trenches with Allen and Hargrave should make for more havoc in one-on-one matchups. The less time the opposing quarterback has to throw, the less time the secondary will have to cover. Betting on this effect may be why the Vikings have so much faith in Jackson and Rodgers, but the play of those two will be integral for Brian Flores' defense to remain dominant. Advertisement This group never gets the attention it deserves. Teams rarely win because of special teams, but they certainly can lose games because of special teams. Besides, with as much parity as there is in the NFL, winning on the margins is paramount. Minnesota's special teams have ranked near the bottom of the league in DVOA, an all-encompassing efficiency metric, over the last three seasons. Kicker Greg Joseph's inconsistency in 2022 and '23 did not help the cause. Minnesota also has the NFL's lowest percentage of punts downed inside the 10-yard line since 2022, according to TruMedia. The Vikings also have averaged the fewest yards per punt return during this span. Their average starting field position after kickoffs ranks 31st. Almost every special teams category provides an opportunity for improvement. The Vikings will be relying heavily on second-year kicker Will Reichard. Undrafted free agent Silas Bolden could ignite the Vikings' return possibilities. Punter Ryan Wright should have to compete with undrafted signee Oscar Chapman to keep his spot. The Vikings' expectations are too high not to take advantage of any potential edges.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ranking the 25 best college football games of the 2000s: Where do Texas-USC, Kick Six rank?
Editor's note: All week, The Athletic is looking back at the best of the first 25 years of the 2000s in college football. Read the top 25 teams, top 25 players and coaches and check back for the best programs on Friday. College football has changed more in the last 25 years than at any previous point of its history. Advertisement But those magical Saturdays haven't changed. Narrowing the best games in that span meant juggling three key metrics: quality of the game, indelible moments within the game and the stage that the game was played on. Balancing that isn't easy, but the games that had all three floated to the top of this list. Here are the 25 best games of the past 25 years in college football. In Nick Saban's final game — though we didn't know it at the time — Jim Harbaugh and Michigan broke through to reach the national title game with a thrilling victory in overtime. Alabama led late, but Michigan marched 75 yards to tie the score with 94 seconds left, highlighted by a fourth-down pass from J.J. McCarthy to Blake Corum. Michigan scored in two plays — both Corum runs — in its overtime possession. Alabama then overcame some snapping issues and advanced the ball to the 3-yard line on a Jalen Milroe to Jermaine Burton pass. But on fourth down, the Michigan defensive front stuffed Milroe to seal the win. The first game ever on Big Ten Network provided one of the most memorable moments in college football history and a monumental FCS over FBS upset. The No. 5 Wolverines struggled with the nation's No. 1 FCS team and its spread offense, falling behind 28-14 in the first half. Michigan adjusted in the second half and led 32-31 with 4:36 to play after Mike Hart broke loose for a 54-yard score. App State quarterback Armanti Edwards was picked off on the next play, but Michigan was unable to capitalize and had a 43-yard field goal blocked. App State then drove 69 yards and went ahead on a 24-yard kick with 26 seconds remaining. Michigan QB Chad Henne hit Mario Manningham for a 46-yard completion that set up a potential 37-yard game winner, but Corey Lynch blocked the kick to seal the win and historic upset. College football, meet Jim Harbaugh. Stanford's impossible upset as a 41-point underdog in a conference game was the beginning of the end of the Trojan empire, too. It's the biggest FBS vs. FBS upset in history. USC led 23-14 in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinal rallied and scored the game's final 10 points. On the go-ahead touchdown drive, quarterback Tavita Pritchard connected with Richard Sherman, who switched to cornerback later in his career, on fourth-and-20 from the USC 29-yard line. Advertisement Undefeated West Virginia was a 28-point favorite at home and on the doorstep of playing for a national title in the wildest college football season perhaps ever. Instead, Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and head coach Dave Wannstedt grounded a prolific offensive attack, keeping WVU scoreless in the second half, in part because of two missed Pat McAfee field goals. Pitt took the lead in the third quarter and never gave it back. Panthers tailback LeSean McCoy ran for 148 yards on 38 carries, while WVU's Steve Slaton and Pat White managed just 52 yards on 23 carries, with White injuring his thumb late in the first half. He was barely able to play for most of the second half, and Pitt handed its hated rival one of the most damaging losses in college football history. West Virginia native Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan two weeks later, and WVU hasn't won 11 games in a season since. This game served as the catalyst for college football to change its overtime rules to the widely reviled two-point conversion contest. The two teams were never separated by more than seven points in the second half, and the Aggies forced overtime when QB Kellen Mond found Quartney Davis for a contested, 19-yard score in the back of the end zone as time expired. Five of the seven overtimes featured touchdowns, but LSU quarterback Joe Burrow couldn't convert a two-point conversion in the seventh overtime. Mond did, finding Kendrick Rogers for the win. USC led by two touchdowns on three separate occasions in the first half. Then Penn State surged in the third quarter, leading by two touchdowns twice, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown run from Saquon Barkley and a 72-yard tipped catch touchdown by Chris Godwin. Sam Darnold, Juju Smith-Schuster and the Trojans rallied, outscoring Penn State 17-0 in the fourth quarter, mounting touchdown drives of 83 and 80 yards. Leon McQuay III picked off Penn State QB Trace McSorley with 27 seconds left and returned it 32 yards to set up a game-winning 46-yard field goal from Matt Boermeester at the gun. Advertisement The Greatest War on I-4 Ever Played kicked off with UCF's perfect season at stake. The Knights led 21-7, but USF quarterback Quinton Flowers and the Bulls answered with 27 of the game's next 34 points to take the lead. UCF reclaimed the lead midway through the fourth, but the two teams combined for three touchdowns in the game's final 2:30, highlighted by Mike Hughes taking a kick 95 yards to the house with 1:28 left to send UCF on its way to a 13-0 season and a claimed national title that is celebrated at The Bounce House. The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Showdown is one of several games in the last 25 years that has been coined a Game of the Century. The matchup lived up to the hype. Michigan rallied from a double-digit deficit to trim the Ohio State lead to four early in the fourth quarter and then forced a turnover from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith on the next possession. The Wolverines went three-and-out and never got the ball with a chance to take the lead again. Michigan cut the lead to three with a late touchdown but failed to recover the onside kick. Many people clamored for a BCS national title rematch, but instead the Buckeyes went on to lose to Florida. The matchup between eventual Big 12 co-champions and co-College Football Playoff snubs was a classic in the moment, and it grew in significance as the season progressed. Marcus Mallet's pick six gave TCU a 58-37 lead with 11:38 to play in a Waco track meet. The Bears answered with three touchdowns, two on drives longer than 90 yards, to tie the game. The defense stiffened, forcing two punts and a turnover on downs to set up Chris Callahan's game-winning 28-yard kick. Vince Young is best remembered for his heroics in the 2005 Rose Bowl, but people forget how special he was a year earlier in the same game. Young opened the second half with a 60-yard touchdown run, but Michigan scored the game's next 17 points to take a 31-21 lead. Young added two more touchdown runs in the fourth quarter and also set up Dusty Mangum's 37-yard, game-winning kick on the game's final play. Young finished with 180 yards passing and a touchdown and 192 rushing yards with four scores. Boise State began the season ranked No. 3 and entered the rivalry with a 10-0 record and riding a 24-game winning streak. A BCS bowl game was a near-certainty and playing for a national title was a possibility. Instead, it was a nightmare trip to Reno in a showdown of top-20 teams led by two of the nation's top quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Kellen Moore (Boise State). Boise threatened to roll, jumping to a 24-7 halftime lead. Nevada rallied to tie the game twice, but Moore found Titus Young for a 53-yard completion to the Wolf Pack 9 with two seconds left. Kyle Brotzman pushed a 26-yard attempt from the middle of the hashes wide right. In overtime, Brotzman pulled a 29-yard kick left from the center of the field. Nevada's Anthony Martin hit a 33-yarder in the Wolf Pack's OT possession to crush Boise's dream season that eventually ended in the Las Vegas Bowl. Advertisement Top-ranked Texas went to Lubbock to face Mike Leach's top-10 team that featured a pair of Heisman contenders in QB Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The Red Raiders scored the game's first 19 points and led 29-13 late in the third quarter after Colt McCoy threw a pick six. But McCoy hit Malcolm Williams for touchdown passes of 37 and 91 yards to help the Longhorns take a 33-32 lead with 1:29 left. With eight seconds left, Horns safety Blake Gideon appeared to intercept a tipped pass in the red zone, but replay showed he dropped the easy pick. Harrell found Crabtree deep down the right sideline on the next play, but instead of going out of bounds, he wrestled out of Chykie Brown's grasp and scored to give Texas Tech one of its biggest wins in school history. Heavily favored Texas led 17-3 at halftime and 24-8 midway through the fourth quarter. ASU's first trip into the end zone didn't come until running back Cam Skattebo launched a halfback pass downfield for a 42-yard score to Malik McClain. Ninety-one seconds later, ASU struck again, sparked by an interception and a 62-yard catch and run from Skattebo. The game went to overtime after some late controversy when Texas was not flagged for an apparent targeting penalty that would have extended an Arizona State possession. Another Skattebo score put ASU on the board in the first overtime. Facing a fourth-and-13, Texas QB Quinn Ewers launched a 28-yard TD pass to Matthew Golden in the back of the end zone to keep Texas' season alive. The Horns scored in the second overtime, and Andrew Mukuba picked off Sam Leavitt to clinch the win for Texas. Tennessee jumped to a 28-10 lead over the Crimson Tide in a top-10 showdown at Neyland Stadium. Alabama rallied to tie the game at 28 early in the third quarter. The teams traded scores and were tied at 42 when Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner scooped up a mishandled exchange and returned it 11 yards to put the Tide up seven midway through the fourth quarter. Tennessee answered with a 75-yard drive capped by Jalin Hyatt's fifth touchdown catch of the night. Alabama reached Tennessee's 32 with 34 seconds left, but after three incomplete passes, Will Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal attempt. Tennessee didn't settle for overtime, and Hendon Hooker threw a pair of long completions to set up a tipped, wobbly, 40-yard game-winning kick from Chase McGrath to set off a party on Rocky Top celebrating the end of Alabama's 15-game winning streak in the series. With Alabama trailing 13-0 at halftime, Nick Saban did the unthinkable: He benched starter and future Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts for Tua Tagovailoa, a five-star freshman whose only experience was in garbage time. It worked. Tagovailoa ignited the offense for four scoring drives against Georgia's elite defense to force overtime. Rodrigo Blankenship drilled a 51-yard field goal to put Georgia on top, and then Tagovailoa took a horrific 16-yard sack on the first play of Alabama's OT possession. That set up one of the greatest moments in program history: a 41-yard rainbow toss on second-and-26 from Tagovailoa to future Heisman winner DeVonta Smith to win Saban's fifth national title at Alabama. Advertisement Ohio State reached the College Football Playoff despite a rivalry loss to Michigan, and the Buckeyes — a touchdown underdog — led Georgia 21-7 early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs tied the game in less than five minutes and later added a field goal to grab the lead, but Ohio State surged ahead and led 38-24 entering the fourth quarter. Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett hit Arian Smith for a 76-yard touchdown and found AD Mitchell for a 10-yard score to give the Bulldogs a 42-41 lead with 54 seconds to play. Justin Fields quickly got OSU to midfield, but the drive stalled at Georgia's 31, and Noah Ruggles' 50-yard attempt went wide left as the clock struck midnight. Undefeated Auburn found itself trailing rival Alabama 24-0 in Tuscaloosa midway through the second quarter. Then, Cam Newton happened. Touchdown passes of 36 and 70 yards got the Tigers back in the game. Then scoring drives of 75 and 67 yards put the Tigers up for good in the fourth quarter, capped by a 7-yard pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen. The CamBack was the crown jewel of one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history. Newton won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the SEC title and national championship. First-year coach Gus Malzahn and his Tigers led quarterback Jameis Winston and undefeated FSU 21-3 midway through the second quarter of the final BCS game. FSU scored the next 17 points and took its first lead when Kermit Whitfield returned a kick 100 yards for a go-ahead score with 4:31 to play. Auburn's Tre Mason broke loose for a 37-yard score to wrestle the lead back with 1:19 left. Winston marched the Seminoles 80 yards in seven plays (highlighted by a 49-yard completion to Rashad Greene) and found Kelvin Benjamin in the back of the end zone for a 2-yard TD with 13 seconds left that gave Florida State its first national title since 1999. Alabama, the defending national champion and a team that eventually had 19 of 22 starters drafted, led 24-14 entering the fourth quarter of a rematch of the previous year's title game. But Clemson rallied and an 88-yard drive that ended with a Wayne Gallman 1-yard run with 4:38 put the Tigers in front for the first time. Alabama answered, with Jalen Hurts skating through Clemson's elite defense for a 30-yard touchdown to recapture the lead with 2:07 to play. Deshaun Watson led Clemson back and found Hunter Renfrow on a goal-line rub route to win the program's first national title since 1981. Miami entered the clash undefeated and riding a 34-game winning streak. Thirty-seven of the players who started the game became NFL Draft picks, including 18 first-rounders. Ohio State led 17-7 in the third quarter, but Miami rallied and forced overtime on a 40-yard field goal from Todd Sievers on the final play of regulation. Miami scored to open overtime, and then OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel converted a fourth-and-14 with a 17-yard pass to Malcolm Jenkins to keep the Buckeyes' OT drive alive. A few plays later, OSU needed to convert a fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line. Krenzel's pass bounced off Chris Gamble's hands, and Miami rushed the field to celebrate a national title. However, field judge Terry Porter threw a late, controversial pass interference flag on Miami's Glenn Sharpe. Ohio State capitalized and scored, and Maurice Clarett scored in double overtime to give the Buckeyes the lead. Miami, on its next possession, had a first-and-goal at the 2, but OSU repeatedly stuffed the Hurricanes at the goal line, and Ken Dorsey's pass on fourth down at the 1-yard line fell incomplete to give the Buckeyes the victory. Georgia, the SEC champs, trailed Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and first-year coach Lincoln Riley 31-14 late in the second quarter. Georgia scored the game's next 24 points, but the Sooners rallied, tying the game at 38 and taking the lead on a 46-yard scoop and score off a Sony Michel fumble with 6:52 left. Bulldogs tailback Nick Chubb tied the game with 55 seconds remaining, and Riley controversially elected to settle for overtime. After the teams traded field goals in the first OT, Oklahoma's Austin Seibert missed a 27-yard attempt, and Michel sent Georgia to the title game with a 27-yard scamper on Georgia's second offensive snap of double overtime. Advertisement Two-time national champions brought a 27-game winning streak to Notre Dame Stadium for a top-10 showdown that lived up to the hype. Notre Dame took a 31-28 lead on a Brady Quinn 5-yard run with 2:04 to play that capped an 87-yard drive. USC responded, and QB Matt Leinart floated a perfect ball over the top to single-covered Dwayne Jarrett for a 61-yard gain on fourth-and-9 to get the Trojans into the red zone. USC had no timeouts, and on first-and-goal from the 3-yard line with eight seconds left, Leinart dived for the pylon, but a helmet on the ball forced it out of bounds at the 4. The clock ran out, and fans rushed the field to celebrate the win. But the officials huddled and correctly put seven seconds back on the clock, spotting the ball at the 1-yard line. Leinart decided to sneak it, an attempt that was initially stoned before he spun to his left and Reggie Bush pushed him over the goal line. The play should have been illegal, but it gave the Trojans a massive rivalry win in a game that will forever be remembered by the Bush Push. More than 10 million people watched it, the largest audience for a regular-season game in almost a decade. Two words define the most famous chapter of one of college football's most intense rivalries: Kick Six. Auburn rallied from a 21-7 deficit to tie the game, and then tied it again at 28 with 32 seconds left on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Nick Marshall to Sammie Coates. On the ensuing possession, Nick Saban turned to freshman Adam Griffith to attempt a 57-yard field goal. The kick was well short, and Chris Davis caught it in the back of the end zone and returned it 109 yards mostly untouched. The play ended Alabama's campaign for a three-peat, put Auburn into the SEC title game and, after an Ohio State loss a week later, propelled the Tigers into the final BCS National Championship Game, where they lost to Florida State. Adrian Peterson and the Sooners fell behind 14-0 and 28-10 but rallied and took a touchdown lead with a pick six with just over a minute left. Boise answered, converting a hook-and-ladder on fourth-and-18 for a game-tying, 50-yard score with seven seconds left. The Broncos used a halfback pass to score in overtime and provided a signature moment by converting a two-point conversion with a Statue of Liberty play to Ian Johnson for the win. Johnson capped his night by proposing to his girlfriend. USC had two Heisman winners in its backfield and was riding a 34-game winning streak, eyeing a three-peat as a touchdown favorite. The back-and-forth battle ended with Vince Young skating inside the pylon on fourth-and-5 to put the Longhorns up with 19 seconds left. Young finished with 267 yards passing and 200 yards rushing and a trio of touchdowns. Advertisement USC coach Pete Carroll called it the greatest individual performance he'd ever seen. It was also the highest-rated BCS game ever and was Keith Jackson's final game in the ABC booth. It is the standard by which all other games in this century are judged. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Sean M. Haffey, Robert Beck / Sports Illustrated, Kevin C. Cox, Steve Grayson / WireImage / Getty Images)
