From Kick-Six to the Lamar Leap: The top 25 college football plays of the millennium

A assemblage shot crippled guarantees you definite things. You volition get the combat songs. You volition get tailgate smells. And you cognize that, nary substance what crippled you're attending -- possibly it's a storied rivalry crippled specified arsenic the Iron Bowl oregon Red River, possibly it's a Friday nighttime Louisville-Syracuse affair, and possibly it's adjacent a Division III crippled similar Trinity-Millsaps -- you mightiness spot thing you person ne'er seen, thing you couldn't person envisioned, thing you'll beryllium talking astir 25 years later.

Below are the apical 25 plays of the 2000s, arsenic voted connected by ESPN assemblage shot writers. Some decided nationalist titles, immoderate provided all-time rivalry bragging rights, and each of them are stuck successful our memories forever. This athletics puts america done a bully magnitude of nonsense sometimes, but the games, and the top plays, marque everything worthy it.

Eight ESPN writers and 2 editors nominated the apical plays since 2000. Fifty-one plays were nominated and the 8 writers ranked plays from 1 to 25, with 25 points awarded for first-place votes, 24 for 2nd spot and continuing until 1 constituent was awarded for a play voted astatine No. 25. Below is the effect of those votes.

1. Kick-six | Nov. 30, 2013

The play was stunning, 1 of the astir improbable endings successful assemblage shot history, arsenic Auburn's Chris Davis raced 109 yards for a touchdown aft Alabama kicker Adam Griffith was abbreviated connected a 57-yard tract extremity effort with 1 2nd remaining successful the 2013 Iron Bowl. Alabama manager Nick Saban argued to person 1 2nd enactment backmost connected the timepiece aft Tide moving backmost T.J. Yeldon was knocked retired of bounds. Griffith was sent successful to effort the agelong tract extremity with the people tied 28-28 aft Cade Foster had already missed 3 tract goals. After fielding the footwear heavy successful the extremity zone, Davis tiptoed down the near sideline earlier breaking into the unfastened tract and into the extremity zone, wherever helium was mobbed by teammates, cameramen and fans.

The nonaccomplishment kept Saban and the antecedently unbeaten Crimson Tide from playing for what would person been their 3rd consecutive nationalist championship. Auburn precocious to the last BCS nationalist title game, wherever the Tigers successful Gus Malzahn's archetypal play arsenic manager mislaid to Florida State successful the last seconds.

It's a play that volition unrecorded successful the hearts of Auburn fans, who tin inactive perceive the school's vigor play-by-play announcer, the precocious Rod Bramblett, screaming "Auburn's going to triumph the shot game!" arsenic Davis crossed the extremity line. -- Chris Low

---

2. Boise State trickeration | Jan. 1, 2007

Boise State's "hook and ladder" and "Statue of Liberty" plays spell unneurotic -- similar Ian Johnson and Chrissy Popadics. With Oklahoma starring 35-28 precocious successful the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State faced fourth-and-18 from midfield erstwhile Broncos manager Chris Petersen called for the "hook and ladder." Jared Zabransky completed a walk to Drisan James, who lateralled the shot to receiver Jerard Rabb and helium went 50 yards to necktie the people astatine 35 with 7 seconds remaining.

The Broncos trailed 42-41 successful overtime erstwhile they lined up for a 2-point conversion. Zabransky took the drawback and kept the shot down his back, wherever it was grabbed by Johnson, a moving back, connected the "Statue of Liberty" play. Johnson past ran uncontested to the country of the extremity portion to springiness the Broncos the stunning 43-42 win. After a chaotic celebration, Johnson got connected 1 genu and projected to Popadics, who tearfully accepted successful beforehand of a sellout assemblage and a nationalist tv audience. -- Heather Dinich

---

3. Invincibowl | Jan. 4, 2006

Vince Young didn't triumph the 2005 Heisman Trophy. In fact, USC moving backmost Reggie Bush received 705 much first-place votes. But the Texas backmost inactive produced arguably the champion idiosyncratic play this century, culminating with 1 of assemblage football's astir memorable all-time plays.

Trailing successful the Rose Bowl with a nationalist title connected the line, the Longhorns faced fourth-and-5 successful the waning seconds against the Trojans, the defending nationalist champs. But Young scrambled right, past dashed past the pylon for the game-winning touchdown, lifting the unbeaten Longhorns to their archetypal nationalist rubric successful 35 years. -- Jake Trotter

---

4. Tua's flip | Jan. 8, 2018

The nationalist rubric crippled astatine the extremity of the 2017 play came astatine you successful waves. Georgia dominated and led 13-0 astatine halftime. Alabama subbed successful freshman Tua Tagovailoa and charged backmost to necktie the score, but the Tide missed an casual tract extremity effort astatine the buzzer. Georgia moved backward successful OT but nailed a 51-yard tract goal. Tagovailoa took an atrocious sack and mislaid 16 yards. Bama had power but mislaid it, and present Georgia was astir to yet topple the Tide.

And then, without a timeout and with the gathering inactive buzzing, Tagovailoa calmly looked disconnected the safeties, past fired backmost to a chap freshman for the astir thrilling, breathless ending to a nationalist rubric crippled successful the College Football Playoff era. -- Bill Connelly

---

5. 'The Horror' | Sept. 1, 2007

There person been large upsets successful this sport, but fewer shook the world similar the time Appalachian State went into Michigan Stadium and stunned the winningest programme of each time. Michigan entered the 2007 play ranked No. 5, and though Appalachian State had won consecutive nationalist titles successful assemblage football's 2nd rung, Division I-AA (now FCS), the Vegas books didn't spot a enactment connected the game.

A Division I-AA squad had ne'er beaten a ranked Division I-A team, and Michigan had ne'er played an I-AA opponent. But manager Jerry Moore's squad led 28-17 astatine halftime earlier Michigan stormed backmost to pb 32-31 aft a 2-point conversion with 4:36 left. Then, Appalachian State drove downfield for a tract goal. Michigan amazingly reached tract extremity scope connected Chad Henne's walk to Mario Manningham, but Appalachian State's Corey Lynch stormed successful to artifact Jason Gingell's tract extremity effort and raced downfield arsenic clip expired.

The words of Appalachian State vigor broadcaster David Jackson resonate: "The Mountaineers person conscionable beaten the Michigan Wolverines!" So bash those of Michigan blogger Brian Cook, who simply referred to the crippled as, "The Horror." -- Adam Rittenberg

---

6. 'Six' | Nov. 1, 2008

No play represented the Air Raid's playground-type simplicity amended than 4 verticals, what designer Hal Mumme called "Six" due to the fact that everyone ran heavy for six points. Mike Leach, Mumme's protégé, turned Texas Tech into giant-killers moving the offense, and landed the Red Raiders' biggest upset stroke with that play aft "College GameDay's" archetypal sojourn to Lubbock.

Trailing No. 1 Texas astatine home, 33-32, with 8 seconds left, Graham Harrell threw a back-shoulder shot to Michael Crabtree astatine the Texas 6, and alternatively of stepping retired of bounds with 1 2nd left, Crabtree broke a tackle, got six and ruined Texas' nationalist rubric hopes, cementing Texas Tech's biggest triumph successful schoolhouse past connected a magical nighttime successful Lubbock. -- Dave Wilson

---

7. Prayer astatine Jordan-Hare | Nov. 16, 2013

Watch The Prayer successful Jordan-Hare close NOW connected the @SECNetwork.#WarEagle | #SECNTakeover pic.twitter.com/KNh22hZIQU

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) July 20, 2017

The Kick-Six wouldn't person been astir arsenic memorable had it not been for the Prayer astatine Jordan-Hare 2 weeks earlier. The Tigers were down to a fourth-and-18 gasp from their 27 erstwhile backmost Nick Marshall launched a heavy shot down the mediate of the field. Georgia antiaircraft backs Josh Harvey-Clemons and Tray Matthews were some successful large presumption to interruption up the Hail Mary, and Matthews looked similar helium was going to intercept the pass.

But Harvey-Clemons tipped it to Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis, who bobbled it concisely connected his fingertips and ne'er broke stride for a 73-yard touchdown with 25 seconds remaining. Auburn's miraculous 43-38 triumph paved the mode for different occurrence 2 Saturdays aboriginal against Alabama and yet an quality successful the 2013 nationalist title game. -- Low

---

8. Surrender cobra | Oct. 17, 2015

The 2015 Michigan State-Michigan ending created a meme and popularized a phrase. The Wolverines led 23-21 with 10 seconds remaining. But punter Blake O'Neill muffed a debased drawback and Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped it up. He raced into the extremity portion arsenic clip expired, giving the Spartans the improbable comeback victory.

The ESPN broadcast instantly panned to Michigan pupil Chris Baldwin, who had his hands connected his caput successful disbelief, yet producing the astir viral surrender cobra. Watts-Jackson broke his hep arsenic helium was tackled into the extremity zone. But helium headed to the infirmary arsenic a Spartans legend. -- Trotter

---

9. Superman | Oct. 6, 2001

The "Superman" leap embodied Oklahoma's dominance implicit Texas -- and a five-game winning streak successful the bid -- done the aboriginal 2000s. With the Longhorns pinned astatine their 2-yard line, co-defensive coordinators Mike Stoops and Brent Venables (now OU's caput coach) dialed up the "Slamdogs" blitz, calling for Williams to sprout done the spread betwixt the near tackle and defender from the information position.

Williams soared implicit the spread instead, crashing into the thorax of backmost Chris Simms. The collision popped the shot into the arms of linebacker Teddy Lehman, who waltzed into the extremity portion to seal a 14-3 victory. -- Trotter

---

10. Champions* | Jan. 3, 2003

Perhaps the astir questionable walk interference telephone successful assemblage shot history, the punishment connected Miami's Glenn Sharpe successful overtime successful the 2003 Fiesta Bowl prevented the Hurricanes from repeating arsenic nationalist champions and cementing their dynasty. With 1 play near to support their play alive, Ohio State backmost Craig Krenzel dropped backmost to walk connected fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line, throwing for Chris Gamble successful the extremity zone. The walk fell incomplete, and Miami players and unit ran onto the tract successful celebration. Except ... Terry Porter, the tract judge, threw a emblem respective seconds aft the play ended, a hold that added to the wide disorder that followed and resulted successful the wide second-guessing of the telephone (for those extracurricular Columbus, Ohio, that is).

The officials huddled and called walk interference connected Sharpe. With a caller acceptable of downs, Ohio State scored to nonstop the crippled into a 2nd overtime and won the crippled 31-24. -- Andrea Adelson

---

11. Clowney 'car wreck' | Jan. 1, 2013

Jadeveon Clowney was a 6-foot-6, 274-pound, hulking antiaircraft extremity who became the look of South Carolina's renaissance nether manager Steve Spurrier. He came to South Carolina arsenic the nation's apical enlistee and would permission arsenic the No. 1 prime successful the 2014 NFL draft. But his astir memorable assemblage play came successful the 2013 Outback Bowl against Michigan, which led 22-21 midway done the 4th quarter.

Michigan had possession aft a arguable first-down telephone connected a fake punt, and gave the shot to Vincent Smith, its 5-foot-6, 175-pound moving back. Clowney rumbled done Michigan's enactment untouched and met Smith, who was conscionable receiving the ball. Smith's helmet and the shot went flying, and Clowney recovered. "It sounded similar a car wreck," South Carolina antiaircraft tackle J.T. Surratt said. South Carolina won 33-28, and Clowney earned an ESPY for the hit. -- Rittenberg

---

12. 'Oh my gracious!' | Nov. 10, 2012

In 2012, Johnny Manziel led Texas A&M into the SEC, and rolled into Tuscaloosa arsenic 14-point underdogs to No. 1 Alabama. He near arsenic Johnny Football, a Heisman favourite arsenic conscionable a redshirt freshman. Looking back, it was a star-studded affair: Coach Kevin Sumlin's first-year violative coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, outdueled Nick Saban and Kirby Smart successful a 29-24 upset, with Manziel completing 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and 2 TDs, with different 18 carries for 92 yards. Manziel's Heisman infinitesimal was cemented successful the 3rd 4th erstwhile helium avoided a sack, bounced disconnected an Alabama defender, bobbled the ball, caught it, rolled near and recovered Ryan Swope successful the backmost of the extremity zone.

"Got him!" Verne Lundquist said arsenic the play unfolded. "No they didn't! Oh my gracious!" helium exclaimed, and a fable was born. -- Wilson

---

13. 'Orange Crush' | Jan. 9, 2017

The play everlastingly known arsenic "Orange Crush" delivered Clemson its 2nd nationalist rubric successful schoolhouse past successful the 2017 nationalist title crippled and the archetypal nether manager Dabo Swinney. In an epic back-and-forth game, Alabama had scored to spell up 31-28 with 2:07 left. Plenty of clip remaining for the Tigers offense. Quarterback Deshaun Watson marched them down the field, reaching the 2-yard enactment with six seconds left.

Watson recovered Hunter Renfrow successful the extremity portion for the winning people -- thanks, successful part, to a hitch way Artavis Scott ran to springiness Renfrow conscionable capable abstraction to get open. Clemson scored with 1 2nd near to triumph 35-31. -- Adelson

---

14. Bush Push | Oct. 15, 2005

On its own, the "Bush Push" of 2005 wasn't thing to marvel at. With top-ranked USC trailing Notre Dame 31-28 with 7 seconds near successful South Bend, Indiana, Trojans backmost Matt Leinart -- the reigning Heisman Trophy victor -- appeared to person been stopped abbreviated connected a astonishing backmost sneak attempt, lone for Reggie Bush to shove him successful the chest, propelling him crossed the extremity line.

The propulsion violated the NCAA rulebook, but was not penalized, giving USC a cardinal triumph arsenic it continued its march to the BCS National Championship game. -- Bonagura

---

15. Reggie successful the fog | Oct. 23, 2004

There could beryllium a database of Reggie Bush's champion 25 plays astatine USC, but fewer are arsenic iconic arsenic his 65-yard punt instrumentality successful the fog astatine Oregon State successful 2004. Reser Stadium was a location of horrors for the Trojans implicit the years, and arsenic the top-ranked Trojans clung to a one-point pb successful the 4th quarter, Bush delivered.

He spun distant from the archetypal tackler, traversed backmost crossed the tract earlier outrunning the OSU defenders to the extremity zone. -- Bonagura

---

16. Jump walk I | Oct. 7, 2006

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 11, 2019

Only a freshman, Tim Tebow introduced himself to the assemblage shot satellite successful 2006 arsenic Florida won the archetypal of 2 nationalist championships implicit the adjacent 3 seasons. He was chiefly a short-yardage specializer that twelvemonth astatine backmost down starter Chris Leak. Tebow's archetypal vocation touchdown walk came successful a cardinal 23-10 triumph implicit No. 9 LSU. He took the snap, started toward the enactment of scrimmage arsenic if helium was going to tally and past went airborne, pump-faking, and lobbing a 1-yard touchdown walk to choky extremity Tate Casey successful the backmost of the extremity zone.

Tebow won the Heisman Trophy the adjacent twelvemonth and past duplicated his leap walk arsenic a inferior with a game-sealing, 4-yard touchdown to David Nelson against Oklahoma to pb the Gators to the 2008 nationalist championship. -- Low

---

t17. Bluegrass Miracle | Nov. 9, 2002

"The astir shocking, improbable, unbelievable series of events." That's however announcer Dave Neal described it. Hard to get much close than that. Devery Henderson couldn't person conscionable caught Marcus Randall's Hail Mary weaponry connected the last play of LSU's shocking 33-30 triumph implicit Kentucky -- helium was inactive much than 20 yards from the extremity portion erstwhile it came down, and helium would person been tackled. Henderson needed the shot to pinball astir for a infinitesimal earlier helium yet secured it arsenic helium was racing past Kentucky's past 2 defenders.

Kentucky had erased a late, 10-point shortage and deed the go-ahead tract extremity with conscionable 11 seconds remaining. Wildcat players had already deed manager Guy Morriss with the Gatorade bath. And past LSU committed expansive larceny with a 74-yard Hail Mary Plus. -- Connelly

---

t17. Eight laterals of chaos | Oct. 31, 2015

Even now, what unfolded connected Halloween nighttime successful 2015 successful Durham, North Carolina, seems unfathomable. Duke took a 27-24 pb implicit Miami connected a backmost tally with six seconds remaining. Then, chaos ensued. On the ensuing kickoff, Ross Martin squibbed the ball, and Dallas Crawford fielded it astatine the 25-yard line. From there, 8 laterals: Crawford threw backward to Corn Elder, who tossed the shot to Jaquan Johnson arsenic Duke defenders closed in. Johnson past tossed the shot to Mark Walton, who threw it to Johnson conscionable arsenic helium was being taken to the ground. Johnson past flipped it to Tyre Brady, who sent it backmost to Elder astatine the 5-yard line. Elder gave it backmost to Crawford earlier giving it backmost to Elder.

At that point, Miami had blockers retired successful beforehand and Elder had the velocity to evade would-be tacklers and people successful an improbable what-did-I-just-see moment. Officials picked up a emblem that had been thrown earlier successful the mayhem, and the touchdown stood. The ACC announced the pursuing time that the officials botched the last play and it should not person counted. -- Adelson

---

19. Reed wrestles it distant | Nov. 10, 2001

With Miami clinging to a 12-7 pb with conscionable implicit 20 seconds near successful the game, Boston College backmost Brian St. Pierre had the shot connected the Canes' 9-yard line. He tried to implicit a walk to Ryan Read adjacent the 2-yard line, but it was debased and ricocheted disconnected Miami cornerback Ed Rumph's near knee.

Defensive tackle Matt Walters grabbed it astatine the 10 and rumbled 10 much yards earlier Reed took the shot from him and outraced a BC defender 80 yards to the extremity zone. What made this play truthful memorable was Reed's imaginativeness and determination to wrestle the shot retired of his 262-pound teammate's hands to support the interception instrumentality -- and Miami's accidental astatine the nationalist rubric -- alive. -- Dinich

---

20. 'Gravedigger' | Nov. 25, 2023

The legendary plays successful the Iron Bowl are excessively galore to count, but Jalen Milroe-to-Isaiah Bond connected fourth-and-goal from the 31 ranks with immoderate of them. Auburn, suffering done a losing play successful Hugh Freeze's archetypal twelvemonth connected the Plains, seemingly had the crippled won successful what would person been a monolithic upset. With the Jordan-Hare Stadium assemblage roaring, Alabama was pushed backmost to the 31 aft initially having a first-and-goal from the 7. Only 43 seconds remained, and Auburn rushed conscionable 2 defenders. Milroe stood successful the pouch for 5 seconds earlier delivering a onslaught successful the near country of the extremity portion to a leaping Bond for the game-winning touchdown and a 27-24 triumph successful what was Nick Saban's last Iron Bowl.

"I'm not going to lie. Before I adjacent caught the ball, I knew we'd won. As soon arsenic it went successful the air, I said, 'Yeah, that's going to beryllium game,'" said Bond, revealing aft the crippled that the play was called "Gravedigger." -- Low

---

21. Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass | Oct. 27, 2001

Hard to judge it has already been 15 years... Thanks #HuskerNation for making this infinitesimal truthful special! #GBR #Black41FlashReverse pic.twitter.com/hePzCpRThX

— Eric Crouch (@croucheric) October 27, 2016

On his mode to the Heisman Trophy successful 2001, Nebraska backmost Eric Crouch delivered 1 of the top plays successful schoolhouse history. His heroics mostly came from moving the option, but connected this play against Oklahoma, Crouch handed disconnected the ball, peeled retired into the level and up the tract arsenic a receiver. The archetypal shot carrier, Thunder Collins, handed it to Mike Stuntz connected a reverse, and helium deed Crouch sprinting down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown.

The astonishing playcall came with No. 2 Nebraska starring No. 3 Oklahoma successful the 4th fourth and clinched the win. -- Bonagura

---

22. 61-second spectacle | Oct. 27, 2007

Happy day to the top assemblage shot play successful history! Trinity University Miracle Lateral Play: https://t.co/JhFMMnLcmW @ESPNCFB @espn @PTI @TUFootballTX pic.twitter.com/UhuAs8TRZ0

— Trinity University (@Trinity_U) October 27, 2021

Fifteen laterals, 61 yards, 61 seconds. This was the longest play connected this list. Starting astatine the Trinity 39, the shot got to the Millsaps 42, past retreated to the Trinity 45, past moved backmost to the Millsaps 41, past retreated again to the Trinity 41, past moved from close to left, backmost and forth.

After much than 45 seconds, things got sloppy. The shot deed the crushed a mates of times, the laterals grew little close ... and Riley Curry, who had besides caught the first, seventh and 11th laterals, picked up a bouncing shot and raced 34 yards for possibly the slightest apt touchdown of the 2000s. When we spot teams attempting laterals that we cognize person nary accidental of moving connected the past play of a game, they're doing it because, hey, it worked once, didn't it? -- Connelly

---

23. Nonsense masterpiece | Nov. 7, 2015

The crippled had already been a nonsense masterpiece earlier we got to overtime. We had already seen much than 1,100 yards of offense, 90 points and 7 tying scores. Neither squad had led by much than 7 points. But Ole Miss yet had things nether control: Chad Kelly's touchdown tally gave the Rebels the pb successful overtime, and Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25. Ole Miss was astir to triumph the crippled and, consequently, the SEC West.

Hunter Henry caught a walk good down the enactment of scrimmage and, rapidly hemmed in, had nary prime but to lob it down him. Somehow, aft a deflection, it took precisely the bounce it needed to take, and Alex Collins caught the shot astatine the Ole Miss 42 with country to tally and strolled for the archetypal down. It was stunning. And the result was preordained from there: Drew Morgan scored, Brandon Allen converted the 2-pointer, and Bret Bielema's Hogs had prevailed. -- Connelly

---

24. Cam tin | Oct. 23, 2010

His Heisman 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.#tbt to this @CameronNewton tally against LSU 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zZZ2Y1Qp78

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) October 12, 2023

Newton's 49-yard touchdown tally successful the 3rd 4th against LSU was deemed his Heisman infinitesimal the 2nd helium crossed the extremity line, dragging All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson with him for the past 8 yards. Five LSU defenders failed to tackle Newton, including antiaircraft backmost Tyrann Mathieu, arsenic Newton ran down the close broadside of the tract and done Mathieu's knee-high tackle attempt.

Newton, 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, someway steadied himself adjacent the close hash mark, and successful 2 much strides, chopped sharply backmost to the mediate of the field. This was 1 of the champion tally defenses successful the SEC, and Newton blew close by it -- and into assemblage shot history. -- Dinich

---

25. Lamar Leap | Sept. 9, 2016

Storylines often get acceptable aboriginal successful assemblage shot seasons, and connected a Friday nighttime successful Week 2 of the 2016 campaign, Louisville backmost Lamar Jackson ensured that helium would beryllium the apical communicative each fall. After an awesome freshman play successful 2015, Jackson began the pursuing twelvemonth by mounting ACC records for touchdowns accounted for (eight) and full discourtesy (610 yards) successful the opener against Charlotte. He past went to the Carrier Dome and rushed for 4 touchdowns, 3 successful the archetypal quarter.

But his astir iconic play was the past scoring run, a 13-yarder successful the 2nd quarter. Jackson faked a handoff, sprinted to his near and hurdled implicit Syracuse defender Cordell Hudson, who lunged astatine him. The leap went viral and propelled Jackson toward winning the Heisman Trophy that fall. -- Rittenberg