Altering College Football's 50 Greatest Regular Season Games

I've taken the results of 50 great regular season college football games in college football history, and I'm speculating as to how history would change had they gone differently.

Here's #50: "Holy Buckeye" in 2002, where Ohio State beat Purdue 10-6. What if Craig Krenzel's pass to Michael Jenkins had been incomplete?

Purdue is able to upset Ohio State 6-3. Controversy erupts when one-loss Iowa is selected to play Miami in the national championship over 13-1 Georgia, leading to the BCS being put under review. Ohio State plays Washington State in the Rose Bowl while Oklahoma meets USC in the Orange Bowl.

Georgia loses in the Sugar Bowl anyway.

Iowa gets to play Ohio State's role, upsetting Miami 31-30 to win the national championship.

Ohio State beats Washington State, 20-7, amidst rumors that OSU could win a sliver of the national title. They don't finishing No. 3 in both polls.

All in all, Iowa wins the national title in almost all sources. Two mathematical polls name Miami champion, while one sides with Ohio State.
 
#49: Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass

Nebraska uses a trick play by Eric Crouch to beat Oklahoma 20-10 in 2001.

In this ATL, the play never happened, and Oklahoma stopped Nebraska 20-17. The Sooners would remain in the thick of the national title race all season long. Oklahoma wins the South Division and reaches the Big XII championship game, but are shut down by Colorado, 28-23, eliminating them from title contention.

Oregon slides into the Rose Bowl to meet Miami; the Orange Bowl pits Florida and Maryland; Illinois plays Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl while Nebraska plays LSU in the Sugar. The BCS scores are as follows:

Orange: Same as OTL, Florida 56, Maryland 23
Sugar: LSU 24, Nebraska 21
Fiesta: Illinois 23, Colorado 19
Rose: Miami 30, Oregon 9

And the Hurricanes STILL win the national title.
 
Hail Crabtree

I skipped a few games on my list, to the 2008 Texas-Texas Tech clash. In OTL, Graham Harrell found Michael Crabtree as time expired to give Tech the victory. In this ATL, Harrell pass was wide and Texas won 33-32.

Texas used this win to put the icing on an unbeaten season and the Longhorns played Florida in the BCS National Championship Game. Oklahoma took Texas' spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

The Sooners whip Ohio State 43-13 in the Fiesta Bowl, while Florida defeats Texas 55-53 in triple overtime to win the national championship (I feed these games into a simulator, and that's what the score came out as).
 
Toe Meets Leather

OTL: In one of the greatest games in ACC history, Georgia Tech beat Virginia 41-38 in 1990 to put them on the fast track to the UPI national title.

ATL: Virginia, not Georgia Tech, kicks the game-winning field goal to win. What happens?

Virginia snags Georgia Tech's bid to the Citrus Bowl and loses to Nebraska, 31-13. Colorado still defeats Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, and still wins the national championship, only this time, it's unanimous.
 
Wide Right III

POD: In 2000, Florida State lost to Miami after failing to tie the game on a kick that went Wide Right. What if the kick is good?

The game heads to overtime tied at 27. Florida State comes up empty on their drive, but Miami scores to win the game 33-27.

Everything else happens just as in real life. Oklahoma still wins the national title.
 
Clockgate

POD: In 2001, Michigan State upset Michigan when the Spartans scored after time had appeared to expire. What if time does expire, and Michigan wins 24-20?

Michigan's win helps them tie Illinois in the Big Ten standings, and the head-to-head sends Michigan, not Illinois, to the Sugar Bowl versus LSU. LSU wins 35-28 in overtime. Meanwhile, the Illini, taking Michigan's spot in the Citrus Bowl, losing 41-37 to Tennessee.
 
Johnny Football's big day in 2012

POD: In 2012, rather than shining in Texas A&M's win over Alabama, Johnny Manziel falls flat, losing 41-17.

Alabama reaches the national championship game as No. 1 in the nation while Notre Dame is No. 2. The Tide still destroy the Irish.

Texas A&M still wins the Cotton Bowl, but Johnny Manziel is not the Heisman Trophy winner. That honor goes to Manti Teo of Notre Dame.
 
Cam Newton's Iron Bowl comeback

POD: In 2010, Auburn can't overcome an early 24-0 Iron Bowl deficit, losing to Alabama 27-14.

Auburn still wins the SEC West and the SEC Championship but this time the Tigers are headed to the Sugar Bowl. The Horned Frogs of TCU become the first non-BCS team to play for the national title. Stanford plays Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Virginia Tech will meet Arkansas in the Orange Bowl, and Auburn and Ohio State are slated for the Sugar. The Fiesta Bowl is the same as OTL.

Stanford beats Wisconsin 24-16 in the Rose Bowl.

Arkansas blows out Virginia Tech 40-17 in the Orange Bowl.

Auburn whips Ohio State 33-9 in the Sugar Bowl.

Oregon wins the national title with a 26-24 victory over TCU.
 
LSU-Alabama, Nov 5, 2011.....

Russell Shepherd doesn't fall on his rear end after catching a pass near the end of the first half and runs into the end-zone...LSU scores a touchdown and takes a lead that they never surrender, then score a field goal and a late 4th quarter touchdown...LSU 17- Alabama 6

Alabama doesn't get into the Mulligan Bowl...
 
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