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College football has provided countless unforgettable moments over the years, with some of the most memorable etched into history by the voices that called them. Here are the most iconic NCAAF broadcasting moments, capturing the excitement, shock and pure joy of the sport.
One of the most dramatic finishes in college football history came during the 2013 Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama. With the game tied and just one second left on the clock, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal. The kick fell short, and Auburn’s Chris Davis caught the ball in the end zone. What followed was an astonishing 109-yard return for a touchdown, sealing the victory for Auburn. The call, “There goes Davis! Oh my god! Auburn’s going win the football game,” perfectly captured the shock and euphoria of the moment, making the “Kick Six” one of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history.
“The Play,” during the 1982 game between Cal and Stanford is one of the most chaotic and memorable moments in sports history. With Stanford leading and just seconds left on the clock, Cal executed a series of lateral passes on the kickoff return that ended with a touchdown amidst the Stanford band, which had prematurely rushed the field. The call, “The band is out on the field,” illustrated the sheer pandemonium of the moment, making it a legendary broadcast in NCAAF history.
In 2015, a botched punt led to one of the most improbable finishes in college football. With just seconds remaining, Michigan’s punter mishandled the snap, and Michigan State’s Jaylen Watts-Jackson scooped up the loose ball, running it back for a game-winning touchdown. The call, “Woah, he has trouble with the snap, and the ball is free. It’s picked up by Michigan State’s Jaylen Watts-Jackson, and he scores on the last play of the game, unbelievable,” encapsulated the unexpected turn of events, making it an unforgettable moment in NCAAF history.
Lyell Bremser’s wordsmith call of Johnny Rodgers’ spectacular punt return against Oklahoma in 1971 remains one of the most iconic in college football history. Rodgers weaved his way through the Oklahoma defense, showcasing incredible athleticism and vision. Bremser’s exclamation, “Man, woman and child, put them in the aisle. Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers just tore ’em loose with his shoe” vividly painted a picture of the crowd’s reaction and the electrifying nature of the play, cementing it as a timeless moment in NCAAF broadcasting.
While the stakes were not as high, in a thrilling early-season 2023 matchup between Baylor and UCF, Eric Collins delivered a call that painted a picture of the drama and excitement of college football. Timmy McClain’s incredible scramble and first-down passing completion down one point on 4th down with less than a minute to play left fans and viewers on the edge of their seats, and Collins’ enthusiastic call immortalized a moment that lives on in virality with the advent of TikTok.
In 2007, Appalachian State pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by defeating Michigan. The game-winning blocked field goal and subsequent call, “The kick is blocked, Appalachian State has stunned the college football world,” chronicled the shock and awe of this monumental upset.
Boise State’s stunning victory in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma featured two unforgettable trick plays. The first play, a Hook-and-Ladder to force overtime, came under the call, “The lateral! To the corner of the endzone, can you believe that??” The second, in double overtime, a Statue of Liberty play, constituting the call, Boise State for the win, they hand it off to Johnson! Boise State has won the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl! Can you believe it?!”
The two calls captured the sheer disbelief and exhilaration of one of the greatest historical sequences of events in college football.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.