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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan football all-outgoing transfer portal team: Players who starred elsewhere
Michigan football all-outgoing transfer portal team: Players who starred elsewhere This is what is called being a glutton for punishment, at least if you're a Michigan football fan. With the transfer portal having changed the complexion of college football, teams have completely reloaded at times, such as Indiana did last year -- going from zero to hero. But the Wolverines have been somewhat slow to adopt the transfer portal to bolster their own roster -- though they have, being awfully selective to enhance what they've accumulated through recruiting out of high school. We came up with an all-transfer portal team for the maize and blue as it pertains to incoming portal additions. But, continuing the thought exercise, what would it look like with players who left Ann Arbor for seemingly greener pastures? With that in mind, here is our outgoing all-transfer portal team for the Michigan Wolverines. Offense QB - Joe Milton New school: Tennessee There were quite a few options on the board here, but we went with Milton, who had all the promise in the world at the outset of the 2020 season, only to lose his job by the end of the year to Cade McNamara. He transferred to Tennessee, where he started right away but lost his job again, this time to Hendon Hooker. Finally, he got his shot and thrived, and ended up with the New England Patriots, where he really started to come on. He was traded this offseason to the Dallas Cowboys. Alternate: Brandon Peters, Illinois RB - Zach Charbonnet New school: UCLA A starter as a true freshman, Charbonnet was electric as the Michigan football running back. However, after a light load due to a crowded room in 2020, a homesick Charbonnet went back to Southern California where he became a star for the Bruins. He was ultimately drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. Alternate: Derrick Green, TCU TE - Erick All New school: Iowa A back injury took the star tight end out of the season in 2022, and there appeared to be some mutual animosity between Jim Harbaugh and All as a result. He transferred to Iowa but again sustained a season-ending injury. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. Alternate: Louis Hansen, UConn TE - Matthew Hibner New school: SMU Hibner was a four-star from Virginia who never panned out in Ann Arbor, but still participated lightly and waited his turn to transfer. It paid off when he went to SMU, going from the No. 2 tight end option to No. 1 by the year's end. Alternate: Ian Bunting, Cal LT - James Hudson New school: Cincinnati Originally a defensive tackle from Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic, Hudson switched over to left tackle, but didn't crack the starting rotation. He transferred to Cincinnati, citing mental health issues, and there was something of an offseason brouhaha between him, Jim Harbaugh, and then-Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but is now with the New York Giants. Alternate: None LG - Raheem Anderson New school: Western Michigan Anderson never quite rose to expectations, despite being thought of as the second-string guard and center for much of his career. The Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech product transferred to WMU this offseason. Alternate: Amir Herring, Kansas C - Zach Carpenter New school: Indiana Thought to be Michigan's center of the future, Carpenter shocked when he transferred to Indiana. He started 20 games at center and five at guard for the Hoosiers before transferring to Miami, where he started every game last season on the nation's best offense. Alternate: Dominick Giudice, Missouri RG - Chuck Filiaga New school: Minnesota Filiaga was a former four-star from Aledo (Tx.) who was buried on the depth chart in Ann Arbor. Despite high expectations, it didn't work out with the Wolverines, but he got fresh life after transferring to the Gophers. Alternate: None RT - Andrew Gentry New school: BYU Gentry was expected to be the starter at right tackle for the Wolverines last year, but the former four-star ended up losing the job to sophomore Evan Link. He ended up getting some playing time while Link was injured but suffered a season-ending injury late in the season. He transferred to BYU this offseason. Alternate: Nolan Ulizio, Pitt WR - Tarik Black New school: Texas Black was a former four-star recruit from Cheshire Academy in Connecticut who burst onto the scene in his very first game against Florida. However, two games later, he suffered a season-ending injury and never quite returned to form, injuring himself again the following year. He ultimately transferred to Texas, where he finished out strong but ended up being an undrafted free agent and has since been an NFL journeyman, having spent time with five teams thus far. Alternate: Xavier Worthy, Texas (technically not a transfer, but he was signed to Michigan) WR - Giles Jackson New school: Washington Jackson spent two years in Ann Arbor and was the key returner on special teams, but never reached the level expected at wide receiver. He transferred to Washington before the 2021 season and finally reached expectations this past season, where he amassed nearly 900 yards receiving for the Huskies. He went undrafted but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Alternate: Andrel Anthony, Oklahoma WR - AJ Henning New school: Northwestern One of the most explosive players on the team in 2021, Henning had big play after big play. However, in 2022, after the Wolverines boasted that he was something of a Deebo Samuel clone, Michigan didn't utilize him outside of a handful of jet sweeps. He transferred to Northwestern and showcased his abilities before becoming undrafted. Alternate: Oliver Martin, Iowa Defense EDGE - Eyabi Okie-Anoma New school: Charlotte A second-team incoming transfer, Okie-Anoma also departed the program after one year, following Biff Poggi to Charlotte. Never quite reaching his recruiting status of five-stars, he was something of a journeyman across college football, having played for five schools in his career. Alternate: Luiji Vilain, Wake Forest DT - Aubrey Solomon New school: Tennessee Another former five-star, Solomon was one of the big gets for the Wolverines in the 2017 recruiting class. He was on campus for two years before he made the shocking decision to transfer. He had a solid 2019 season with the Vols but never quite reached his five-star status in college. Alternate: Julius Welschof, Charlotte DT - Michael Dwumfour New school: Rutgers A former starter for the Wolverines, after suffering an injury at the tail-end of the 2019 season, Dwumfour used his grad year to return home to his native New Jersey. He went undrafted and has played for six NFL teams in eight different stints. Alternate: George Rooks, Boston College EDGE - Taylor Upshaw New school: Colorado Upshaw was a reserve for multiple years before finally earning a starting spot in 2022 -- which he ended up losing to the aforementioned Okie-Anoma. He transferred to Colorado in the offseason but ended up with Arizona after spring ball, where he shined. Alternate: Aaron Lewis, Rutgers LB - Nikhai Hill-Green New school: Charlotte A former starter for the Wolverines as a freshman, Hill-Green missed the entire 2022 season with an injury and ended up transferring to Charlotte, following Biff Poggi, his former high school coach. After a year there, he transferred to Colorado and is now at Alabama. Alternate: Anthony Solomon, Arizona LB - Drew Singleton New school: Rutgers Singleton never quite took hold while in Ann Arbor, but after transferring to his home state school, Rutgers, he became a multi-year starter. He petitioned the NCAA for another year, but was denied. Alternate: Semaj Bridgeman, MSU LB - Ben VanSumeren New school: Michigan State A rare rivalry transfer, VanSumeren went from linebacker to running back to fullback, back to linebacker. When the defense changed under Mike Macdonald, VanSumeren went barely West to play for MSU, where he was a multi-year starter. He went undrafted but has been on the active roster with the Philadelphia Eagles. Alternate: William Mohan, Tennessee CB - Benjamin St-Juste New school: Minnesota A camp find by Jim Harbaugh and staff, St-Juste was waiting his turn, but ended up being plagued by injuries. Michigan then deemed him as medically retired in the spring of 2019, but St-Juste transferred to Minnesota, where he became a starting cornerback, and ended up being a starring player in Minneapolis. He was chosen in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft by Washington, where he played his entire career. Ironically, he signed this offseason with Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. Alternate: DJ Waller, Kentucky S - Keon Sabb New school: Alabama A late flip in the 2022 recruiting cycle from Clemson, Sabb wasn't just a key reserve; he moonlighted as a starter when Rod Moore was injured at the start of the 2023 season. He looked to be the star safety of the future for the Wolverines, but ended up making the surprise transfer to Alabama just before spring ball in 2024, but spent much of the year injured. Alternate: J'Marick Woods, Duke S - RJ Moten New school: Florida A former starter for Michigan, Moten was another who made the surprising choice to transfer from the crowded safety room last offseason. He had a solid year playing for the Gators. Alternate: Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Akron CB - Cam Calhoun Former school: Utah Calhoun never caught on in his one year in Ann Arbor, but the Ohio native made the legendary choice to commit just after the Ohio State game in 2022, while on a visit to Columbus. He transferred to Utah after the 2023 season where he played in 11 games. He transferred again this offseason, this time to Alabama. Alternate: Myles Sims, Georgia Tech Special teams K - Cole Hussung New school: North Carolina Michigan doesn't have a lot of kickers who have transferred out and had any luck, so we're going with Hussung, who never saw time in Ann Arbor but ended up at James Turner's former school, Louisville. Alternate: Adam Samaha, North Carolina P - Tommy Doman Jr. New school: Florida Doman was a local product from Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's and came aboard as both the punter as well as handling kickoffs. When he was on, he was on, but he was very inconsistent during his time in Ann Arbor. He transferred to Florida during the offseason. Alternate: Will Hart, San Jose State
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma vs. Michigan is one of CFB's best nonconference games of 2025
Oklahoma vs. Michigan is one of CFB's best nonconference games of 2025 The Oklahoma Sooners have very little time to get settled into their 2025 schedule. After a tune-up game against FCS Illinois State in Week 1 at home, OU has a gigantic test in Week 2 when they host the Michigan Wolverines. Oklahoma and Michigan are two of the greatest programs in the history of college football. The Wolverines have the most wins all-time and are the only team with more than 1,000 total victories. The Sooners have the sixth-most all-time wins but lead the way in wins during the modern era of college football (1946—present). This year's contest features a pair of programs looking to bounce back after subpar seasons. After Michigan went undefeated and won the national championship in 2023, it fell back to earth after losing head coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and many key players to the NFL. Oklahoma enjoyed a 10-win regular season in 2023 but plummeted to six victories in 2024 amid a bevy of injuries. Year 1 in the SEC was a master class from the Sooners on how not to make a first impression. Pete Nakos, who covers college football for On3 Sports, believes that OU-Michigan is a very important matchup this year. He ranked the Top 10 nonconference games in college football in 2025 and put the Sooners vs. the Wolverines at No. 5. With head coaches Brent Venables and Sherrone Moore both needing an early-season statement, Norman will be the place to be on September 6. The Sooners haven't had a high-profile nonconference game in a couple of seasons, as they've faced SMU and Houston in nonconference play over the last two years. But over the last decade Oklahoma had home-and-home matchups with Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ohio State, UCLA, and Nebraska. In the future they'll face Nebraska and Clemson. OU has typically played another power conference team in nonleague action in addition to their conference slate. Both teams will be breaking in new quarterbacks as Oklahoma turns to John Mateer to right the ship on offense. Michigan, meanwhile, turns to true freshman and former five-star prospect Bryce Underwood. He was one of the top prospects in the 2025 class and will have to deal with a Venables-led defense on the road in what will be only his second career start. As both programs look to return to the College Football Playoff, it can't be understated how important this matchup will be to both sides. A statement-making win could propel a memorable season for the Sooners or for the Wolverines. However, a loss puts either program behind the eight ball before the rigors of the SEC or the Big Ten even begin. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh named ‘ most delusional coach' in AFC West
Jim Harbaugh is entering his second season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He led them to a record of 11-6, giving him a 55-25-1 mark in five seasons as an NFL head coach. Harbaugh has also gone 5-4 in the postseason, making it to the Super Bowl while with the San Francisco 49ers. MORE: Chargers will face stiff competition with recent strength of schedule ranking In addition to his success in the NFL, Harbaugh has been excellent in the NCAA as well, even winning a national championship in his final season with Michigan. The reason for his success isn't Xs and Os, however. At least not according Donte Whitner. The former safety says Harbaugh is successful because he's "the most delusional coach in the AFC West." "The reason Jim Harbaugh has success wherever he goes is, he's very delusional. He gets the players and the coaches to buy into whatever he says, and then it comes to fruition on the field," Whitner said on Up & Adams. "It's not even really about Xs and Os with these guys. It's about making the players believe they can do something extraordinary." Whitner's assessment of Harbaugh is not only hilarious, but it's wildly accurate. Harbaugh has always been known for being a little "different," but players absolutely love him - and it shows in his record. - Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI - Proposed Chargers signing adds 137-tackle machine as insurance for Junior Colson ESPN stat prediction tabs star Chargers rookie with over 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2025 Los Angeles Chargers breakout star named to NFL All-Underrated team Chargers WR Ladd McConkey's production predicted to dip in 2025 Chargers speak out after sale of stake in franchise to firm involved with Bills, too This article was originally published on as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh named ' most delusional coach' in AFC West. Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Who is most important to the Chargers' success in 2025? Counting down the top 10
Welcome to Part 2 of my rankings of the 20 players most important to the Los Angeles Chargers' success in 2025. Part 1 ran earlier this week, counting down players 20 to 11. Below is the top 10. A quick reminder: These are not necessarily the 20 best players on the Chargers roster. Instead, these are the 20 players I think will have the biggest impact on how the Chargers perform this season. It is an exercise more geared toward finding the pressure points of the roster. Where do the Chargers need to see improvement? Who are they relying on? Where can they least afford injuries or performance regression? Earlier this month, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Johnson will be starting at one of two positions in 2025 — left guard or center. During Tuesday's on-field work, Johnson was snapping to Justin Herbert as the center in drills. He has started at left guard the past two seasons. He was the Chargers' starting right guard as a rookie in 2022. Johnson has not played center in the NFL. He did not play center in college. He did work at center in the Senior Bowl during the 2022 pre-draft process. Advertisement Despite Johnson's lack of experience, the Chargers believe the 2022 first-round pick has potential upside as a center. The range of outcomes here are pretty wide, and that is a big reason Johnson cracks the top 10. He could move to center, play at a really high level and solve the Chargers' hole at the position for a decade. He could fail in the move, stay at left guard and remain the functional yet frustratingly inconsistent player he has been so far in his NFL career. Those are two very different worlds and could mean very different things for how the Chargers offensive line comes together. The Chargers did not pick up Johnson's fifth-year option for 2026, so he is on the final year of his contract. Cam Hart and Still both make our list. Both cornerbacks were fifth-round picks in 2024. Still gets a higher ranking because he is more versatile than Hart, who came in at No. 16. While Hart is an outside-only corner, Still showed as a rookie that he can play inside and outside. That flexibility is integral to the Chargers defense. When Derwin James Jr. plays in the slot, Still can play on the outside. When James is at safety, Still can take over in the slot and provide playmaking. Still has tremendous instincts in zone coverage, and that made him an ideal fit in coordinator Jesse Minter's defense, as evidenced by his 10 passes defended, including four interceptions. The Chargers will need Still's versatility and ball production to replicate their defensive output from 2024. The Chargers drafted Alt with the No. 5 pick last year and he lived up to his draft position as a rookie. He quickly established himself as one of the best young linemen in football. He was remarkably consistent for a player of his age. He did not turn 22 until February. And the question now is: How good can Alt become? He had welcome-to-the-NFL moments against T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, two the league's best edge rushers. That is expected of any rookie. Alt also played one of his worst games of the season in the playoff loss at the Houston Texans. I am convinced that will only fuel Alt to even greater heights. 'Always things to improve in the run and the pass,' Alt said the day after that loss. 'I take those things, along with all my notes from other games, and those are things I'm really going to hone in on as I go into this offseason. Making sure I try to minimize those things by going back to work, taking it a day at a time and just improving those things so you don't have this feeling in your mouth anymore.' Alt was already really good as a rookie. He has a chance to etch his name firmly among the best right tackles in the game. This mentality is a big part of that. Slater and Alt form one of the best tackle duos in the league, and tackle play is always going to be a big driver in team success. These two are pretty much interchangeable in our rankings, but Slater protects Justin Herbert's blindside. Slater battled injuries in 2023, and that affected his play. He bounced back to put together a stellar season in 2024, especially in pass protection. Slater has proved himself as one of the elite left tackles in football. Four years into his career, he has earned a top-of-the-market extension. That extension is not done yet, though. Slater is under contract for this season on his fifth-year option. I still expect a deal to get done before the end of training camp. The Chargers have historically operated this way with big second contracts. Herbert signed his long-term extension on July 25, 2023. James signed his long-term extension on Aug. 17, 2022. Joey Bosa signed his long-term extension on July 28, 2020. Advertisement Henley had a breakout season in 2024 and is clearly the Chargers' best linebacker. He is a three-down player. He can impact the run game. He is a natural in coverage, both in man and zone. He can blitz and get after the quarterback. And Henley really came into his own as the signal caller of the defense, wearing the green dot while relaying the play calls to his teammates. He still has room to grow. He was a difference-making starter last season. This year, if he continues on the same trajectory, he could earn Pro Bowl or even All-Pro honors. I think we will see a considerable uptick in Henley's counting-stats production, which should help his cause in getting more national attention. He had one sack and one interception last season. He had chances for more in both categories that he just missed. The Chargers offensive line will go as Becton goes. I believe that is more so the case for Becton than any other player in the room. The Chargers signed Becton in free agency to be their clearly defined upgrade on the interior offensive line. If he plays at the level he did for the Philadelphia Eagles last season en route to a Super Bowl, Becton should elevate the interior as a whole, even if they have two holdover starters in Johnson, Bradley Bozeman or Trey Pipkins III. How many games will Becton play? And how will he perform when he is no longer playing for Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland? Those are the questions I keep coming back to. He has a checkered injury history with his right knee. He played 18 games for the Eagles last season between the regular season and playoffs, his first year starting at guard. Was that the aberration? Or will the Chargers get similar availability from Becton? Becton has been tabbed as the solution to one of the biggest weaknesses on the team last year. That puts him into our top five. McConkey set multiple rookie receiving records last season, and he will enter 2025 as Herbert's primary target. The Chargers added passing-game threats across the roster this offseason: Tre Harris, Mike Williams and KeAndre Lambert-Smith on the outside; Oronde Gadsden II and Tyler Conklin at tight end; Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris out of the backfield. They got more explosive and deeper with these additions. They also ensured that some defensive attention would be forced away from McConkey, who operates most often and effectively out of the slot. McConkey set rookie records while being Herbert's only reliable option. What will he accomplish when there are other players on the field who can stress defenses in the passing game, particularly down the field? James had a resurgent season in 2024 under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He rediscovered his love for the game and the physical, downhill, relentless play style that made him one of the league's rising stars early in his career. Minter devised an ideal role for James. He got more snaps closer to the line of scrimmage, where he could impact the game as a blitzer, make plays in the run game and match up in press coverage on opposing tight ends. The result was James playing like James again, and the Chargers were a top 10 defense. James has to continue playing this way for the Chargers to be that level of defense in 2025. One thing I will be watching: Safeties coach Chris O'Leary departed this offseason to return to the college ranks. He was replaced by Adam Fuller. O'Leary was instrumental in James' rebound, and Fuller has big shoes to fill. Mack re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year deal at the start of free agency. He has one goal and one goal only: winning a Super Bowl. Mack turned 34 in February. He will be even more important to this defense now that Bosa is gone. The Chargers cut Bosa in March, and he signed with the Buffalo Bills. At the combine in February, GM Joe Hortiz said, 'Khalil's got more than one year left in his body if he wants to do it.' Mack did battled multiple groin strains last season that affected his play. He was still an elite run defender. He was not quite as good as a pass rusher compared to 2023, when he had 17 sacks. The room is not the same without Bosa, and if edge rusher is going to continue being a strength of the team, Mack has to remain a dominant player. I would never doubt him. Advertisement Despite all his accomplishments in the NFL so far, Herbert still does not have a playoff win. And that will inevitably hang over his head until he gets back there and gets another chance. His two playoff appearances include a blown 27-0 lead and a four-interception performance that amounted to the worst game of his career given the stakes. First and foremost this season, Herbert has to stay healthy. He missed virtually all of training camp in 2024 with a plantar fascia injury. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2. He had a thigh contusion and another ankle sprain later in the season. If the Chargers are going to contend this year with a much tougher schedule, they need Herbert on the field. It starts there. No player is more important to the Chargers' success than their QB1. (Top photos of Justin Herbert and Khalil Mack: Tim Warner and Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
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)
