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ESPN Ranks College Football's No. 1 Play Since 2000

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 1:28 PM ET

College football has produced numerous unforgettable moments over the years. ESPN picked the best one of the 21st century.

On Tuesday, ESPN shared its top-25 college football plays since 2000. Ten writers and editors nominated 51 plays, and they formed a consensus on individual writer rankings.

Auburn fans will certainly approve of ESPN's top choice.

The No. 1 spot went to the famous "Kick Six." On Nov. 30, 2013, Auburn pulled off an improbable Iron Bowl win over Alabama when Chris Davis caught a Crimson Tide field-goal try that missed short of the final play and returned it for a 109-yard touchdown.

Alabama's first loss of the season thwarted the SEC squad's chances of pursuing a three-peat. On the other hand, Auburn played for the national title.

"It's a play that will live in the hearts of Auburn fans, who can still hear the school's radio play-by-play announcer, the late Rod Bramblett, screaming, 'Auburn's going to win the football game!' as Davis crossed the goal line," ESPN's Chris Low wrote.

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 30: Chris Davis #11 of the Auburn Tigers returns a missed field goal for the winning touchdown in their 34 to 28 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 30, 2013 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Getty

Wildly enough, Auburn benefited from another top-10 play the same month.

Two weeks earlier, the Tigers defeated Georgia after a fourth-and-18 pass deflected off the hands of a Bulldogs defender into the arms of Auburn's receiver Ricardo Louis, who scored a 73-yard touchdown with 25 seconds remaining.

ESPN placed the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare" seventh among this century's top plays.

"Auburn's miraculous 43-38 win paved the way for another miracle two Saturdays later against Alabama and ultimately an appearance in the 2013 national championship game," Low wrote.

The Kick Six had formidable competition for the top spot. Boise State's "hook and ladder" to defeat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007, placed second. Vince Young's game-winning touchdown pass to secure the 2005 national championship for Texas finished third.

Crimson Tide fans won't appreciate the unpleasant Kick Six reminder, but they can at least take consolation in the No. 4 choice. On Jan. 8, 2018, Tua Tagovailoa threw a walk-off touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime of Alabama's National Championship Game victory over Georgia.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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