College Football’s Biggest Stage
From coast to coast across more than a century of tradition, college football’s bowl games have produced drama to rival the professionals. Played mostly on New Year’s Day to the drumbeat of marching bands, these games form a continuous strand of football history marked by daring coaching decisions, iconic plays, and performances fans still argue about decades later. We look back at college football’s greatest bowl games.
1902 Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Stanford
The first Rose Bowl at Pasadena, California left an unpleasant smell for Stanford fans as they watched Michigan skunk their squad 49–0 under legendary coach Fielding Yost. Quarterback Neil Snow scored five touchdowns, while Stanford quit early in the fourth quarter. The lopsided game established the bowl tradition and proved postseason college football could draw national attention and massive crowds.
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1929 Rose Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. California
Georgia Tech defeated California 8–7 in a bizarre Rose Bowl remembered for Roy Riegels’ infamous wrong-way run 70 yards to his own end zone. Coach William Alexander’s Yellow Jackets capitalized on the mistake for two key points, while Cal coach Nibs Price watched helplessly as a sure victory slipped through his fingers. The low score and bizarre finish turned the game into enduring folklore.
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1963 Rose Bowl: USC vs. Wisconsin
USC beat Wisconsin 42–37 in a Rose Bowl coached by John McKay for the Trojans and Milt Bruhn for the Badgers. Wisconsin rallied furiously from a massive deficit behind Ron Vander Kelen, but the comeback fell just short, cementing the game as one of the biggest near-misses in bowl history.
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1967 Rose Bowl: Purdue vs. USC
Purdue upset USC 14–13 behind coach Jack Mollenkopf and quarterback Bob Griese. USC coach John McKay watched his top-ranked Trojans fall despite a late push. The defensive struggle and narrow margin gave Purdue one of the school’s most iconic postseason victories.
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1974 Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame edged Alabama 24–23 under coach Ara Parseghian, snapping Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide dominance. Quarterback Tom Clements led the Fightin’ Irish, while Alabama missed a late field goal at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The win propelled Notre Dame to a national championship and put an end to Alabama’s long reign.
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1979 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Houston
The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas was the scene as Notre Dame stunned Houston 35–34 after trailing late in the game. Coach Dan Devine relied on Joe Montana, who famously drank copious amounts of chicken soup before orchestrating a rejuvenating comeback. Houston coach Bill Yeoman watched from the sidelines, transfixed in horror at one of the most dramatic collapses in bowl history.
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1980 Holiday Bowl: BYU vs. SMU
Brigham Young defeated SMU 46–45 after trailing by 20 points in the final minutes of the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Coach LaVell Edwards and future Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon engineered an unforgettable comeback, while SMU coach Ron Meyer endured one of the most deflating finishes in bowl history.
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1984 Orange Bowl: Miami vs. Nebraska
Miami was on its home turf in the Orange Bowl as they beat Nebraska 31–30 under head coach Howard Schnellenberger. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne famously went for two and the win on the game’s final play but failed, costing them the championship. Quarterback Bernie Kosar led Miami, while the bold coaching decision became one of the most memorable and debated moments in bowl history.
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1985 Orange Bowl: Washington vs. Oklahoma
This bowl is remembered for Oklahoma’s iconic Sooner Schooner covered horse-drawn wagon getting bogged down on the wet field after celebrating an Oklahoma field goal. The mishap cost Oklahoma a 15-yard penalty and a re-kick that failed. Coached by Barry Switzer, the Sooners never recovered, as Don James’s Washington Huskies went on to win 28–17, turning a strange afternoon into a frustrating one for Oklahoma fans.
Jory'z Shotz, Wikimedia Commons
1986 Orange Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Penn State
Oklahoma defeated Penn State 25–10 for the championship in a game defined by defense and physicality. Barry Switzer’s Sooners overwhelmed Penn State with relentless pressure, led by linebacker Brian Bosworth, who recorded 12 tackles. Oklahoma’s dominance in this game was a statement-making win on college football’s biggest stage.
1987 Fiesta Bowl: Penn State vs. Miami
Penn State upset Miami 14–10 behind coach Joe Paterno in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. Quarterback John Shaffer and a dominant defense overwhelmed head coach Jimmy Johnson’s Hurricanes. Linebacker Pete Giftopolous intercepted the game’s final pass in the end zone. This secured Penn State’s national title and ended Miami’s yearlong reign atop college football. It was the biggest TV audience ever to watch a college football game
1993 Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Washington
Michigan defeated Washington 38–31 in an amazing Rose Bowl coached by Michigan’s Gary Moeller and Washington’s Don James. Quarterback Elvis Grbac outdueled Mark Brunell, while Desmond Howard’s explosiveness helped seal one of the Rose Bowl’s modern classics.
2001 GMAC Bowl: Marshall vs. East Carolina
Marshall stunned East Carolina 64–61 in overtime after trailing 38–8 at halftime in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Coach Bob Pruett relied on quarterback Byron Leftwich, who threw for more than 500 yards in one of the most impossible comebacks in bowl history.
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2006 Rose Bowl: Texas vs. USC
This one was regarded by many as the greatest college football game ever played, with the Longhorns defeating the Trojans 41–38 to win the national championship. Coached by Mack Brown, Texas rode quarterback Vince Young, who rushed for 200 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a fourth-and-five scramble with nineteen seconds left. Pete Carroll’s USC entered riding a 34-game winning streak, but Young’s performance ended a dynasty and etched the game permanently into college football lore.
Eric R from Scranton, PA, USA, Wikimedia Commons
2007 Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Oklahoma
Boise State shocked Oklahoma 43–42 in overtime under coach Chris Petersen. Jared Zabransky executed trick plays, including the iconic Statue of Liberty two-point conversion. Bob Stoops’ Sooners fell just short in what many football historians consider the greatest bowl game ever played.
jeremy scott (langzi) from norman, oklahoma, usa, Wikimedia Commons
2009 Sugar Bowl: Utah vs. Alabama
The surprising Utah Utes defeated Alabama 31–17 under coach Kyle Whittingham. Quarterback Brian Johnson led the way, handing Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide a rare postseason loss and overturning fan perceptions of the big conference college football superpowers.
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2013 Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Wisconsin
Stanford squeezed past Wisconsin 20–14 under coach David Shaw. Running back Stepfan Taylor powered the Cardinal, while Bret Bielema’s Badgers struggled in the late going. The physical, defensive tussle earned a well-deserved place among Rose Bowl classics.
2017 Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State
USC topped Penn State 52–49 behind coach Clay Helton. Southern Cal quarterback Sam Darnold led a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, while Saquon Barkley starred for the Nittany Lions. Penn State coach James Franklin’s team fell just short in one of the highest-scoring Rose Bowls ever.
Jack on Flickr, Wikimedia Commons
2018 Rose Bowl: Georgia vs. Oklahoma
Georgia beat Oklahoma 54–48 in a high scoring double overtime free-for-all. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Oklahoma skipper Lincoln Riley watched their teams trade points back-and-forth. Sony Michel’s overtime touchdown sealed the finale of one of the greatest bowl games ever played.
2020 Peach Bowl: LSU vs. Oklahoma
Louisiana State crushed Oklahoma 63–28 to take the national title under coach Ed Orgeron. Joe Burrow threw seven first-half touchdowns, overwhelming Lincoln Riley’s Sooners and delivering one of the most dominant bowl performances in history.
2021 Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Notre Dame
This Rose Bowl was played at AT & T Stadium in Arlington Texas in front of only 16,000 fans as the game was relocated due to the coronavirus situation in southern California. Alabama defeated Notre Dame 31–14 under coach Nick Saban. Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith controlled the game, while Brian Kelly’s Irish struggled to keep pace in the playoff semifinal.
2022 Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame
Oklahoma State rallied to beat Notre Dame 37–35 after trailing 28–7. Coach Mike Gundy relied on quarterback Spencer Sanders, while Notre Dame interim coach Marcus Freeman a painful collapse. The dramatic comeback and late field goal cemented the game’s place among modern classics.
2023 Cotton Bowl: Tulane vs. USC
Tulane shocked USC 46–45 under coach Willie Fritz. Quarterback Michael Pratt led a last-minute touchdown drive, stunning Lincoln Riley’s Trojans and Heisman winner Caleb Williams. The upset became one of the most memorable New Year’s Day finishes of the bowl era.
2023 Orange Bowl: Georgia vs. Florida State
Georgia demolished Florida State 63–3 under coach Kirby Smart. Quarterback Carson Beck and a dominant Bulldog defense overwhelmed a depleted Seminoles team coached by Mike Norvell. The record-setting margin made the game historically notable, even if competitive drama was non-existent.
2024 Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama
Michigan turned the tables on their Alabama tormentors 27–20 in overtime under coach Jim Harbaugh, ending Alabama coach Nick Saban’s playoff reign of supremacy. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy and a relentless Wolverines defense signed, sealed, and delivered a momentous win, marking one of the most consequential Rose Bowls in the College Football Playoff era.
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2025 Orange Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Penn State
Notre Dame edged Penn State 27–24 on a late field goal. Coach Marcus Freeman earned a defining postseason win, while quarterback Sam Hartman guided the Irish. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions fought right to the final whistle in a tense, evenly matched playoff-era bowl classic.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wikimedia Commons
Fiesta Bowl Legacy Across Decades
The Fiesta Bowl in the Phoenix area has delivered numerous classics beyond over the years, including high-scoring and tightly contested matchups that have shaped its legacy as one of college football’s premier postseason stages where unexpected heroes often emerge.
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Orange Bowl Through The Ages
Across its rich history, Miami's Orange Bowl has featured many memorable games outside those listed, serving as a New Year’s staple and stage for dramatic finishes, legendary performances, and defining moments in college football lore.
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Rose Bowl’s Enduring Tradition
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is affectionately called “The Granddaddy of Them All." Its historic lineage of great games from early 20th-century contests to modern playoff showdowns cements its status as a premier bowl game that rarely fails to deliver unforgettable football.
Eric R from Scranton, PA, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Other Bowls
Beyond the headline-grabbing New Year’s Day bowls, college football has long been sustained by a vast ecosystem of smaller, regional bowl games like the Sun Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl, Independence Bowl, Liberty Bowl, and many more. While they rarely decide championships, these games reward winning seasons, give players meaningful postseason exposure, and tie programs to host cities through tradition, tourism, and local pride.
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Bowl Celebrations And Cultural Impact
Beyond individual games, bowl season has become a major cultural phenomenon. From fan travel traditions to New Year’s Day rituals, these games unify fans across generations, making them an enormous part of college football’s identity.
Bowl Games And Player Legacies
Many bowl classics serve as the launching points for extraordinary careers in the National Football League or the Canadian Football League. Performances on these grand stages often sweep players into national prominence, putting them first in line for the pro draft.
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Unexpected Clutch Performers
Bowls often create moments that define careers, from late-game moves to defensive standouts. These unexpected impacts make bowl football unpredictable and memorable, contributing to enduring fan admiration.
Upsets That Reshaped Programs
Some bowl victories did more than entertain; they reshaped programs. Upsets like Tulane’s 2023 Cotton Bowl win demonstrate how a single bowl can redefine expectations and energize entire fanbases for years. Miami’s upset win over Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl is another great example of one game that changed the course of college ball history.
Offensive Shootouts And Defensive Wars
Great bowls come in many forms: wild offensive turkey shoots and gritty defensive struggles. Whether high-scoring or low-scoring, the most memorable games are those that keep fans guessing until the final whistle.
Fans And Memories That Last
Ultimately, the greatest bowl games stay with fans long after the final score. Shared memories, iconic plays, and emotional peaks from these contests make them beloved chapters in the grand saga of college football.
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