Set Number: X164200 TK1

B/R CFB Community: What Were the Best Moments of the College Football Season?

Adam Kramer

We have, sadly, run out of college football games.

The dreaded offseason is upon us, which isn't easy to accept. A year full of some tremendous highs finally reached its conclusion.

Before we dive headfirst into the 2023 NFL draft, spring football and another run at the transfer portal, we're reliving some of the greatest moments of the 2022 season.

To help us do this, we asked B/R readers to give us their favorite moments from the past year. From upsets to playoff drama on New Year's Eve, there was no shortage of games and outcomes to pick from.

Here are some of the highlights, with commentary attached.

Farewell, 2022 college football season. You will be missed.

The Orange Crush

Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt Set Number: X164200 TK1

User: @daqbbraden08

Response: Tennessee beating 'Bama

Simply put, no football game outside the College Football Playoff felt bigger than Alabama-Tennessee.

Neither team ultimately made the College Football Playoff, although this game (and result) felt larger than life in the moment. In fact, despite knowing what we know now, this result still feels seismic in nature.

Tennessee had not beaten Alabama since 2006, and it took a superb environment, a tremendous quarterback and an arsenal of weapons for the Vols to conquer the Crimson Tide this time around.

Beyond the magnitude of the result, the game was exceptional. Alabama fell behind early only to come back in the second half. The two teams traded touchdowns, and the end result was a 52-49 upset that seemed to pause the CFB world altogether.

Bryce Young was brilliant for Alabama in a losing effort, which only adds to the mystique. This game had star power, drama and some immense stakes attached.

If you're a Tennessee fan, you're going to be thinking about this one for quite some time. If you're a fan of the sport, you'll be thinking about this one for a while, too.

New Year's Eve Mania

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart AP Photo/John Bazemore

User: @hperry

Response: Ohio State kicker missing wide left at midnight was awesome. #GODAWGS

If you're a Georgia fan, as @hperry clearly is, the final play of the semifinal matchup against Ohio State will go down as one of the most important in program history.

If you're an Ohio State fan, well, you're going to be playing the "what if" game for much longer than you would ever want to admit.

We'll talk about the kick, which looked like one of my tee shots, in a moment. The timing of this play in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl was nothing short of extraordinary.

The game ended almost precisely at midnight on New Year's Eve on the East Coast, which created an odd yet exciting atmosphere as the game was decided. As 2022 came to an end, so did Ohio State's season. The two moments were essentially seconds apart.

Noah Ruggles' 50-yard field goal missed by plenty. With only three seconds remaining, Georgia held onto a 42-41 win.

Could Ohio State have gotten closer for an easier kick? How did the Buckeyes blow that lead? Would OSU have cruised in the national championship over TCU?

We'll never know, but we'll always remember the night football and midnight collided.

Rest Easy, Pirate

Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

User: @haydenpatterson

Response: Mississippi State winning its bowl game for Mike Leach

The loss of Mike Leach, one of the sport's greatest innovators and personalities, was one of the worst parts of this year. However, Mississippi State winning its bowl game against Illinois was a moving response.

Before that game, we saw coaches around college football wearing T-shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing to show their respect for Leach. He wasn't just a unique personality; he was a spark for many coaches who have found prolonged success in the profession.

As for the ReliaQuest Bowl, it wasn't pretty for Mississippi State for much of the game. The offense struggled against a good Illinois defense, although the team found life late in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs ultimately kicked a go-ahead field goal with four seconds left. They also added a wild touchdown on Illinois' final play that gave them a cover, for those who care about such outcomes.

At that point, the emotion poured out onto the field. Quarterback Will Rogers, like many of his teammates, struggled to grasp the win and the journey.

There's no question that this was one of season's most powerful moments. It's still heartbreaking that it had to be so.

Gargantuan Green Wave

AP Photo/Sam Hodde

User: @gavinschade

Response: Tulane's comeback vs. USC

Like many of the submissions, the definition of this suggestion is a matter of allegiance.

If you root for USC, a team that has struggled to find itself over the past decade, the loss to Tulane after such a magical year was a massive change of course. But if you're a Tulane fan, it doesn't get much better than that.

With less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, USC led the Cotton Bowl 45-30. The game felt over, if we're being honest.

Then the Green Wave scored a touchdown in 23 seconds. Then USC mangled the kickoff, which led to a Tulane safety. Then, with nine seconds left, quarterback Michael Pratt completed a 12-play drive with a touchdown pass to Alex Bauman.

Tulane went ahead 46-45, winning a game it had no business winning. Despite Caleb Williams' miraculous effort, it was not enough.

What a football game. And even bigger, what a season for Tulane.

The Ultimate Walk-Off

TCU kicker Griffin Kell AP Photo/LM Otero

User: @lerotfoss43

Response: Last-second scramble when TCU ran its kicker on and nailed the field goal to beat Baylor and remain unbeaten.

Before TCU's emphatic run came to an abrupt end, it enjoyed a roller-coaster ride of a regular season.

The Horned Frogs normalized coming from behind to win games over the course of the year, although their work against Baylor was the finest acrobat moment of them all.

With a spot in the playoff likely hanging in the balance, TCU drove 45 yards down two points to Baylor. The offense ultimately gave kicker Griffin Kell a chance at a 40-yard field goal, although the ritual was turned into a chaotic mess with the Horned Frogs out of timeouts.

As players shuffled on and off the field, Kell rushed into his kicking routine. Without question, given the importance of the kick and the sheer magnitude of the circumstances, it ended up being one of the most suspenseful moments of the year.

Unbothered by any of the madness, Kell booted the 40-yarder through the uprights, making the entire sequence look normal.

Sure, the season ended badly for TCU. But to reach the national championship, which was a massive accomplishment, the Horned Frogs had to have this kick. What a kick it was.

   

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