{"id":14939,"date":"2018-06-27T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=14939"},"modified":"2018-06-18T16:23:10","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T20:23:10","slug":"lwocfb-30-for-30-the-best-college-football-games-in-the-last-30-years-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2018\/06\/27\/lwocfb-30-for-30-the-best-college-football-games-in-the-last-30-years-part-one\/","title":{"rendered":"LWOCFB 30 for 30: The Best College Football Games in the Last 30 Years (Part One)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When considering the greatest games, one tends to define those quite differently. As a fan, many times what comes to the top of the mind is the greatest games involving the team we have a vested interest in. But, as a College Football enthusiast, we can’t help but broaden our searches. As we put together this list, we look at great battles between top-ranked\u00a0teams, fantastic finishes, as well as epic back and forth all-out wars. Sit back and take a stroll through memory lane as we take you back to The Best College Football Games in the Last 30 Years.<\/p>\n

1988<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>#4 Notre Dame vs #1 Miami\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Catholics vs Convicts<\/h3>\n

The “Catholics vs Convicts”<\/strong> mantra\u00a0took on a life of its own in creating the backdrop for the ultimate setting in 1988. Notre Dame<\/strong> was looking for revenge after a 24-0 loss to the hands of the Hurricanes just one year prior. Meanwhile, Miami<\/strong> was dubbed the team of the 80’s came into this contest defending National Championship as well as a 36-game winning streak.<\/p>\n

Trailing 31-24, Steve Walsh<\/a><\/strong> hit Cleveland Gary<\/a><\/strong> for an apparent touchdown only to be ruled a fumble. To this day, both fanbases argue whether it was a touchdown or a fumble. The Hurricanes would recover and score a touchdown late in the game, but the two-point conversion was not successful giving the Fighting Irish a 31-30 victory. Notre Dame would go on to win the 1988 National Championship.<\/p>\n

1989<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>#2 Miami vs #7 Alabama\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Sugar “Cane” Bowl<\/h3>\n

Miami as the most dominant team of the 80’s lands here once again as the victors of the best game of the 1989\u00a0season. Losing just once this season, with a win in the Sugar Bowl<\/strong> the Hurricanes would once again be crowned National Champions. Meanwhile, Alabama<\/strong> was just trying to play the spoiler role and ruin Miami’s chances.<\/p>\n

Through the right arm of quarterback\u00a0Craig Erickson<\/a><\/strong>, Miami broke open a close game at halftime. With Miami leading 20-17, Erickson hit\u00a0Rob Chudzinski<\/a><\/strong> and Randy Bethel<\/a><\/strong> to open a 16-point lead. Miami would win the contest 33-25 to claim their third championship in the decade.<\/p>\n

1990<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>#12 Colorado vs Missouri\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

The Fifth Down Game<\/h3>\n

Championships don’t come without fortune. Whether that fortune is through lack of injuries, fortuitous bounces, or in the case of the Colorado Buffaloes<\/strong> in 1990, a fifth down.<\/p>\n

Colorado was trailing 31-27 with under three minutes to go and the ball deep in their own territory. The Buffaloes drove the field and first and goal just outside the goal line with 40 seconds remaining. On first down, the ball was spiked. Second down, a run by Eric Bienemy<\/strong> eas stopped short of the end zone. Colorado, heading into an apparent third down, stopped the clock using their final timeout. However, the officials forgot to move the chains indicator to third down. On the next play, Bienemy was again stopped to bring up fourth down. On the ensuing play, Charles Johnson<\/a><\/strong> spiked the ball thinking it was third down which would have ended the game. However, fourth down according to the officials but fifth down, in reality, saw Johnson score from a yard out.<\/p>\n

After realizing the mistake, the officiating crew deliberated for nearly 20 minutes but ultimately allowing the score to stand. Colorado would use this to win a share of the National Championship on what many consider the biggest officiating blunder in College Football history.<\/p>\n