Yardbarker
x
The 25 best college football games this season
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

The 25 best college football games this season

There is still plenty of football left to be played in the 2019 college football season. However, the regular season for most of the country's teams has ended. There have been plenty of memorable games featuring some of the top teams in the nation but certainly not subject to just the elite.

From last-second thrillers to overtime instant classics, here's a look at 25 of the better 2019 games leading up to this weekend's conference championship contests.

 
1 of 25

Georgia State 38, Tennessee 30, Aug. 31

Georgia State 38, Tennessee 30, Aug. 31
Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Sports

Playing just its seventh season on the FBS level, Georgia State registered the biggest win in program history by upending the Volunteers on their home field to open the 2019 campaign. The Panthers, a 25-point underdog, trailed 17-14 at halftime but ran for 213 yards, forced three turnovers and scored 17 fourth quarter points to beat their first Power Five opponent.

 
2 of 25

No. 16 Auburn 27, No. 11 Oregon 21, Aug. 31

No. 16 Auburn 27, No. 11 Oregon 21, Aug. 31
Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

It was quite the collegiate debut for Auburn true freshman quarterback Bo Nix. His numbers weren't all that great (177 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions), but with the Tigers trailing 21-13 in the fourth quarter, Nix helped lead the comeback, one that was capped with a pin-point, 26-yard TD pass to Seth Williams with 9 seconds left in the game.

 
3 of 25

No. 7 Michigan 24, Army 21 (2OT), Sept. 7

No. 7 Michigan 24, Army 21 (2OT), Sept. 7
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Not the prettiest game played in 2019, but any time a service academy seriously challenges a Power Five program, it is a big deal. Army was the better team most of the day, while the Wolverines struggled with turnovers. However, when it mattered most, Michigan came through. Zach Charbonnet recorded tying-touchdown runs in the second half and first overtime before Jake Moody's 43-yard field goal provided the winning margin.

 
4 of 25

BYU 29, Tennessee 26 (2OT), Sept. 7

BYU 29, Tennessee 26 (2OT), Sept. 7
Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Sports

As we'll see, BYU was all about the upset this season. Trailing 13-3 at the half and by three late, Zach Wilson and Micah Simon hooked up for a 64-yard pass play that set up a tying, 33-yard field goal with one second left in regulation. Ty'Son Williams' 5-yard TD run in the second overtime helped BYU hand the Vols their second upset home loss in as many weeks.

 
5 of 25

No. 6 LSU 45, No. 9 Texas 38, Sept. 7

No. 6 LSU 45, No. 9 Texas 38, Sept. 7
Ronald Cortes/USA TODAY Sports

LSU led 20-7 at the half, but the Longhorns were not about to go quietly. They were able to have their way with the visiting Tigers defense, scoring 31 second-half points. However, Texas would get within two points twice, but it could not keep LSU from scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter and Joe Burrow from throwing for a breakout 471 yards and four TDs.

 
6 of 25

BYU 30, No. 24 USC 27 (OT), Sept. 14

BYU 30, No. 24 USC 27 (OT), Sept. 14
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

It's BYU again. This time the Cougars pulled off the upset at home in a tightly contested game in which USC managed to force overtime on Chase McGrath's 52-yard field goal with 1:43 left in regulation. However, BYU's Jacob Oldroyd connected from 43 yards out on the first possession of overtime, and Dayan Ghanwoloku intercepted the Trojans' Kedon Slovis to clinch the victory.

 
7 of 25

Pittsburgh 35, No. 15 UCF 34, Sept. 21

Pittsburgh 35, No. 15 UCF 34, Sept. 21
Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports

Pitt did not play like a 1-2 team when it welcomed the Knights to town. The Panthers jumped out to a 21-0 lead but allowed UCF to storm back and go up 31-21 in the third. However, Pitt had a rally of its own, as quarterback Kenny Pickett's 3-yard TD reception off the "Pitt Special" and ensuing extra point with 59 seconds left gave the hosts the victory and ended UCF's impressive 27-game regular-season winning streak.

 
8 of 25

UCLA 67, No. 19 Washington State 63, Sept. 21

UCLA 67, No. 19 Washington State 63, Sept. 21
James Snook/USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins are still without a bowl appearance under Chip Kelly, but they do have wins over two ranked opponents this season — none bigger than the one on that wild night in Pullman, Washington . UCLA overcame a 49-17 third-quarter deficit by scoring a ridiculous 50 points from the 3:48 mark of the period on. Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 507 yards with five TDs and ran for two scores. Overshadowed by the Bruins' rally were the nine touchdown passes from Cougars quarterback Anthony Gordon.

 
9 of 25

No. 1 Clemson 21, North Carolina 20, Sept. 28

No. 1 Clemson 21, North Carolina 20, Sept. 28
Nell Redmond/USA TODAY Sports

The closest call the defending national champs experienced during the regular season came in Chapel Hill. Paced by a solid effort from freshman quarterback Sam Howell and a stingy defense, the Tar Heels gave Clemson all it could handle. In a bold move, Mack Brown told his squad to go for two and the lead with 1:17 left in the game. But Howell was stopped well short of the end zone, and the Tigers survived.

 
10 of 25

Cincinnati 27, No. 18 UCF 24, Oct. 4

Cincinnati 27, No. 18 UCF 24, Oct. 4
Bob Meyer/USA TODAY Sports

Less than a month after UCF's 27-game, regular-season winning streak ended against Pitt, it was upset again, this time, with host Cincinnati snapping the Knights' 19-game unbeaten run within the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats trailed 16-10 at the half before scoring 17 straight points to take the lead and ultimately hold on for the upset and a wild celebration.

 
11 of 25

No. 24 SMU 43, Tulsa 37 (3OT), Oct. 5

No. 24 SMU 43, Tulsa 37 (3OT), Oct. 5
Timothy Flores/USA TODAY Sports

SMU won its first eight games during this special 2019 season for the program. Accomplishing that run wasn't easy, as the Mustangs needed to fight back from a 30-9 fourth quarter hole. SMU scored 21 points in the fourth to force overtime and than capped the comeback with James Proche's 25-yard TD catch in the second overtime.

 
12 of 25

South Carolina 20, No. 3 Georgia 17 (2OT), Oct. 12

South Carolina 20, No. 3 Georgia 17 (2OT), Oct. 12
Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

Not much went well for South Carolina (4-8) in 2019, but the highlight was certainly its upset between the hedges . The Gamecocks were a 24.5 point underdog but picked off Jake Fromm three times and forced the quarterback to also lose a fumble. In the end, Parker White's 24-field goal was the difference, as usually dependable Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed from 42 yards out in the second overtime.

 
13 of 25

No. 22 Baylor 33, Texas Tech 30 (2OT), Oct. 12

No. 22 Baylor 33, Texas Tech 30 (2OT), Oct. 12
Ray Carlin/USA TODAY Sports

Baylor has played its share of close games during the 2019 season, but one of the more entertaining contests came against the high-potent Red Raiders. Texas Tech led 6-3 at the half and then the dam broke open. The Bears marched 99 yards, following a sack on the first play of their final regulation drive, to force overtime with a short field goal. They won it on JaMycal Hasty's 5-yard TD run in the second OT to remain undefeated.

 
14 of 25

Illinois 24, No. 6 Wisconsin 23, Oct. 19

Illinois 24, No. 6 Wisconsin 23, Oct. 19
Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports

Mired in a four-game losing streak and closing as a 30.5-point underdog, Illinois had no business pulling off the biggest upset of the season. The Badgers were undefeated and allowed just 29 points over the first six games. However, the host Illini hung around and overcame a 13-point hole by forcing two fourth-quarter turnovers and scoring the game's final 10 points — capped by James McCourt's 39-yard field goal as time expired.

 
15 of 25

Virginia Tech 43, North Carolina 41 (6OT), Oct. 19

Virginia Tech 43, North Carolina 41 (6OT), Oct. 19
Lee Luther Jr./USA TODAY Sports

In a game that took more than four hours to finish, the Hokies managed to outlast the Tar Heels while making a little history in the process. This contest featured the debut of the NCAA's new rule of going only for a two-point conversion on each possession after the fourth overtime. Quincy Patterson's two-point conversion run in the seventh overtime finally ended a wildly entertaining contest.

 
16 of 25

No. 12 Oregon 35, No. 25 Washington 31, Oct. 19

No. 12 Oregon 35, No. 25 Washington 31, Oct. 19
Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports

Oregon trailed by 14 early in the second half, but that could not keep Justin Herbert and running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio from pulling out the victory in Seattle. Habibi-Likio ran for a third-quarter score, and Herbert threw two second-half TDs, highlighted by the go-ahead and eventual-winning 5-yard pass to Jaylon Redd with 5:10 left in the game.

 
17 of 25

Kansas State 48, No. 5 Oklahoma 41, Oct. 26

Kansas State 48, No. 5 Oklahoma 41, Oct. 26
Scott Sewell/USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts might be the Heisman Trophy contender, but Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson played like a star in handing the Sooners their only loss to date. Thompson ran for four touchdowns, but Hurts (three rushing TDs, one passing TD) led Oklahoma back with 18 fourth-quarter points before having a successful onside kick overturned near the end of the game. 

 
18 of 25

No. 16 Notre Dame 21, Virginia Tech 20, Nov. 2

No. 16 Notre Dame 21, Virginia Tech 20, Nov. 2
Matt Cashore/USA TODAY Sports

The Irish last lost at home in September 2017; however, that run almost came to an end against the Hokies in early November. This tight, competitive game came down to the final seconds, which was fitting considering the path it took. With Virginia Tech up 20-14, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book tied the game on a 7-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left, and the extra point put the hosts up for good and kept the home winning streak intact.

 
19 of 25

No. 13 Minnesota 31, No. 5 Penn State 26, Nov. 9

No. 13 Minnesota 31, No. 5 Penn State 26, Nov. 9
Jesse Johnson/USA TODAY Sports

Since the start of the 1996 season, Minnesota has two wins in 13 tries against top-five teams. Both have come against Penn State, and this November triumph was the biggest of a special season that pushed them to 9-0. Tanner Morgan (339 passing yards, three TDs) and the Gophers never trailed, but the Nittany Lions never gave up. That's until Sean Clifford was intercepted in the end zone while going for it all with 1:09 left in the game.

 
20 of 25

No. 1 LSU 46, No. 2 Alabama 41, Nov. 9

No. 1 LSU 46, No. 2 Alabama 41, Nov. 9
John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

This 1 vs. 2 wasn't the best game of the 2019 season, but it was entertaining and close enough to make this list. LSU never trailed, but Alabama made things interesting by scoring 28 second-half points to get close after trailing 33-13 in halftime. In the end, it was just too much Joe Burrow (393 yards, three TDs) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (three rushing TDs, one receiving TD) for the Tide to handle.

 
21 of 25

Iowa State 23, No. 22 Texas 21, Nov. 16

Iowa State 23, No. 22 Texas 21, Nov. 16
Reese Strickland/USA TODAY Sports

It can be argued that Iowa State and Texas were two of the most overvalued teams in the preseason. They'll each enter the bowl season 7-5 but played one of the better games of 2019. Iowa State led 20-7 entering the fourth quarter, but the visiting Longhorns went ahead 21-20 before Connor Assalley's 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Cyclones just their third win in the last 16 games over this series.

 
22 of 25

No. 10 Oklahoma 34, No. 12 Baylor 31, Nov. 16

No. 10 Oklahoma 34, No. 12 Baylor 31, Nov. 16
Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

Following a dominant first half in which Baylor led by as many as 25 points, it looked like the Bears were headed to 10-0. However, Jalen Hurts and Co. had a different idea. While the Sooners defense clamped down, Hurts threw three touchdown passes as the visitors scored the only 24 points of the second half to stun Baylor on its home field and end the Bears' quest for a perfect season.

 
23 of 25

Navy 35, No. 21 SMU 28, Nov. 23

Navy 35, No. 21 SMU 28, Nov. 23
Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

Navy has enjoyed an impressive bounce back from last season's three-win disappointment. The highlight of the run came against an SMU team that has also made big strides in 2019. Down 21-10 at halftime, Malcolm Perry (195 rushing yards, two rushing TDs, one passing TD) and Co. scored 25 points over the final two quarters to pull off the comeback.

 
24 of 25

Indiana 44, Purdue 41 (2OT), Nov. 30

Indiana 44, Purdue 41 (2OT), Nov. 30
Thomas J. Russo/USA TODAY Sports

This season's installment in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket won't soon be forgotten. It's truly one rivalry game where records don't seem to matter. The Hoosiers led 21-10 at half, but the banged-up, four-win Boilermakers tied it at 31 to force overtime. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey's 1-yard touchdown run in the second overtime ultimately gave the Hoosiers the victory and their first eight-win season since 1993.

 
25 of 25

No. 16 Auburn 48, No. 5 Alabama 45, Nov. 30

No. 16 Auburn 48, No. 5 Alabama 45, Nov. 30
John Reed/USA TODAY Sports

It was the day Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes ended. Even with four total touchdowns from the electrifying Jaylen Waddle, too many mistakes did in the Crimson Tide. Mac Jones threw a pair of pick-sixes, Joseph Bulovas hit the upright on a potential tying-30-yard field with 2:04 left in the game and the Tide punt-return unit had too many men on the field on a fourth-and-4 with 1:06 to go that allowed Auburn to keep the ball and pull off the upset. 

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.