NFL legends who made their mark in college bowl history

Brady finished off a great Wolverines career by throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Alabama in the Orange Bowl. Trailing 28-14 with less than six minutes remaining in regulation, Brady hit David Terrell for a 20-yard touchdown to get within seven. The game went into overtime after an Anthony Thomas TD. In overtime, Brady connected with Shawn Thompson for a 25-yard touchdown. Alabama would also score a TD but missed the extra point.

Brees set all kinds of records in the 2000 Outback Bowl. He threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns as Purdue would go out to a 25-0 lead. That wouldn't last, though, as the Boilermakers would cough it all up by the time the game ended — only the second overtime game in bowl history, Purdue missed a field goal to take the lead. Georgia hit its attempt and left with an improbable 28-25 victory. 

Carter had better stats in the previous year's Rose Bowl. But his catch in the 1985 Citrus Bowl is one of the best in college football history. Ohio State quarterback Jim Karsatos was throwing the ball away when Carter reached out for the acrobatic grab. The one-handed catch stunned the BYU sideline (and refs and anyone in attendance).

Jackson always showed up in bowl games, but his 1986 effort, even in a loss, was his best. He rushed 31 times for 129 yards and a touchdown and also caught two passes...including a 73 yard touchdown grab...as he was named a Cotton Bowl Classic Most Outstanding Player. 

Lynch had a huge game, rushing 24 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns. After punching it in from a yard in the first quarter, Lynch had touchdown runs of 23 and 35 yards to build a 35-14 lead over BYU. California had to hang on after a furious Cougars rally and won, 35-28.

Manning wasn't the luckiest guy at Tennessee (no Heisman and the Vols won a national championship the year after he graduated), but he did have one of his best games in the 1997 Florida Citrus Bowl. He was 27-of-39 for 408 yards and four touchdowns in the 48-28 win over Northwestern. 

Not only did Marino have an impressive statistical game in the 1982 Cotton Bowl Classic, but he also came up big when it mattered most. He threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the 24-20 win over Georgia, but it was his poise at the end of the game that was the story. On a fourth-and-5 on the Bulldogs' 33-yard line with 45 seconds left in the game, he threw a deep pass to John Brown for the game-winning touchdown. 

This game was dubbed "The Chicken Soup Game" due to Notre Dame's Joe Montana suffering from the flu yet leading a comeback win after eating a bowl of chicken soup at halftime. Down 34-12 to Houston in the fourth quarter, Montana returned to the game and the Irish quickly scored 16 points (two touchdowns and successful two-point conversions). As time expired, Montana tossed a pass to Kris Haines for a touchdown. The ensuing extra point won the game, and Montana's legend began. 

Moon introduced himself to the nation with his Rose Bowl performance. He threw a touchdown and rushed for two scores, and while his passing stats weren't jaw dropping (188 passing yards), his two goal-line touchdowns vaulted the Huskies to a 27-20 win.

In Moss' lone bowl appearance, he would catch just six passes but they went for 173 yards. On the Thundering Herd's first play from scrimmage, he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass. Marshall would go on to lose the game to Ole Miss, 34-31.

The 2003 Insight Bowl was a shootout for the ages, as Cal came back and toppled Virginia Tech, 52-49. California's Aaron Rodgers completed 27-of-35 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns as well as run for two more scores. 

Sanders capped off arguably the greatest individual season in college football history with one of the greatest performances in a bowl game. In the 1988 Holiday Bowl, Sanders rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in Oklahoma State's 62-14 win over Wyoming. 

Simpson carried the ball 25 times for 128 yards and the only two touchdowns of the game. USC beat Indiana, 14-3, with Simpson winning the game's MVP award. The following year (in which he won the Heisman), he would rush for 171 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Ohio State.

Thomas simply went off in the 1987 Sun Bowl. On a snowy Christmas Day in El Paso, Thomas carried the ball 33 times for 157 yards and four touchdowns in Oklahoma State's 35-33 win over West Virginia. His carries, touchdowns and points scored are still Sun Bowl records. Interesting note: Current Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy was the Cowboys quarterback that day.

Walker had one of the best careers of any college player and one of his finest moments was in the 1981 Sugar Bowl. He rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns in Georgia's 17-10 win over Notre Dame. 

Williams capped off his Heisman season by rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the Longhorns' 38-11 Cotton Bowl win over Mississippi State. Williams, who was named the game's MVP, also caught five passes for 45 yards. 

In the early days of the Holiday Bowl, BYU was a staple in the game. (The Cougars appeared in it in the first seven years.) Young's performance in the 1983 edition was one of the best of his collegiate career. He pulled off the rare trifecta by throwing a touchdown, rushing for a touchdown and catching a touchdown pass in this game. Young also would throw three picks in this game to go with his 314 yards passing and 42 yards rushing.