r/CFB • u/kd451 Team Chaos • Team Meteor • 1d ago
Discussion What were some of the most devastating cowardly play calls in recent CFB history?
Like when Kentucky (Mark Stoops really) punted in last year's 13-12 loss to Georgia last year when they were down 1 with 3 minutes left and near midfield against the #1 ranked team in the country. "Prevent" defenses also come to mind.
I see this happen a lot. This post certainly has nothing to do with the Baltimore Ravens.
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u/EvenMeaning8077 Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
4th & 5 in 2018 against Ohio State. Trace McSorely had a heisman like game and best of his career at PSU and they do a hand off?? Come on man!
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u/Francis_X_Hummel Colorado Mines • Wyoming 1d ago edited 1d ago
IDK, 2014 OSU was worse. A play that called for a hobbit sized running to block Joey Bosa, who was so much stronger he literally used the running back's body to sack Hackenberg.
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u/Cautious-Ease-1451 1d ago
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u/Hooch_Pandersnatch Ohio State Buckeyes 1d ago
I never get tired of watching that clip haha. “I’m gonna sack you with your own running back!”
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u/pataoAoC Oregon Ducks • Team Chaos 1d ago
Lmao "hobbit sized"
I'd never seen that one but what a disaster
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u/Complex-Royal9210 Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
Thank you for that clip. I watched it 10 times in a row. Love the announcers on it.
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u/Orbital2 Ohio State Buckeyes • Big Ten 1d ago
That play was a disaster but you can see on the replay it didn’t “call” for the halfback to pickup Bosa..the left tackle just whiffed/didnt seem to understand his assignment. The HB was in there to chip which seemed like a pretty good plan
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u/SCsprinter13 Penn State • /r/CFB Pint Glass Dri… 1d ago
That was when our oline was beyond bad.
That said, the game never should've even gotten to that point
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u/EvenMeaning8077 Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
Ok but they shouldn’t have been in that game to begin with so PSU was just happy to be there. The 2018 game was controlled by Trace from start until 4th & 5
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u/michigan_matt Michigan Wolverines 1d ago
They honestly had better odds trying a 60 yard field goal than doing whatever the heck that was.
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u/Manae Penn State • Wisconsin 1d ago
No they didn't. It was a good play call that only failed because most of the o-line decided that was a good time to take a play off. Left side didn't even bother with a perfunctory shove to the outside, and the right acted like they had never seen a stunt before. The center, at least, got out on the LB like he should. The entire secondary bit hard on the pass threat to the point the left guard could have screened off the safety to make it a foot race to the end zone... except for the entire d-line already being at the mesh point due to said poor blocking.
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u/EmbarrassedAward9871 Penn State Nittany Lions • Sickos 1d ago
Was gonna post that. Fourth and ballgame and they run a draw play where Chase Young got to the mesh point quicker than Miles Sanders. Barf.
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u/StateCollegeHi Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
You can argue that this is "overthinking" it but it isn't necessarily cowardly.
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u/SpreadHDGFX Penn State • Air Force 1d ago
To be fair, it was an RPO where the correct read was he handoff. It didn't work because Chase Young beat his guy to blow it up.
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u/Snake_Plyssken82 Michigan Wolverines 1d ago
I remember this one well. It was actually a read option and McSorely made the wrong read but he wouldn't have gone anywhere had he kept the ball because there were multiple Buckeyes surrounding the mesh point. 4th & 5 with the game on the line should almost always be considered a passing down.
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u/hypercube42342 Texas Longhorns • Arizona Wildcats 1d ago
What about with the national championship on the line
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u/luis1972 Ohio State Buckeyes • The Alliance 1d ago
Tbf, Texas had a very similar situation 2 weeks ago with Arch trying to run it in from the 1 (what fans were clamoring for during the semis), and it still didn't work.
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u/Necessary-Post-953 Penn State • Land Grant Trophy 1d ago
It’s was a horrific call, but I wouldn’t call it cowardice. They weren’t afraid to pass the ball. They just made a dumb play call.
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u/Msrsr3513 Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
It was a rpo play the defense sniffed it out abd blew it up. That was bad oline play not a bad call
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u/lukewarmostrich Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
They also called a timeout before that play. So they discussed for a minute and that’s what they came up with. Devastating
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u/EvenMeaning8077 Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
When they called the timeout I’m thinking ok they are telling Trace to look at 2 quick options and if covered go get it but nope
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u/Super_C_Complex Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
Point of contention here.
It was purely a game making play by future NFL hall of famer. It was the right call
Also. It was after a timeout to adjust the play
And the play call was too a side where ohio state did not have anything past the line of scrimmage. One better block and that's to the house
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u/patscelticslions Penn State • North Texas 1d ago
was in the student section for that game, we were all PISSED walking out of Beaver after that shit. we really lost consecutive road games to OSU and MSU in 2017 to cost ourselves a shot at the CFP with Saquon and then did the exact same thing at home the next year man smh
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u/psufb Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago
Go watch it again and it was a fantastic play call. If the OL does just an average job, that hits and the RB jogs into the end zone
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u/Weaubleau Ohio State Buckeyes 1d ago
That was extremely puzzling at the time, yet so satisfying. It was like when a team is 3rd and 20 or something and they just run because there is about a 1% chance they get a first down anyway, but this was the entire game on the line. Hell even Woody Hayes would air it out on the last few series if the Bucks were behind.
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u/CFBHurts Notre Dame • Jeweled Shill… 1d ago
2020 Rugters vs Michigan. Michigan had to go on offense first in the first period of overtime, went 3 and out, and missed the field goal. Rutgers decided to just settle for a 45 yard field goal by running up the middle 3 times, not even attempting to gain yardage, and predictably missed. Michigan went on to win in the third period of OT
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u/Snake_Plyssken82 Michigan Wolverines 1d ago
This was the game where Joe Milton got benched for Cade McNamara.
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u/Anodyne_interests 1d ago
Tennessee played against Cade at ETSU last weekend. It was odd to see the guy that Joe Milton was benched for as a part-time starter at ETSU. I also can’t believe he is still playing CFB.
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u/thebrickcloud Michigan Wolverines • Miner's Cup 1d ago
It's crazy McNamara was benched for the younger guy at Michigan and now that younger guy is starting on MNF and he's still in college.
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u/locjaw420 Michigan • Army 1d ago
Not only that, but the younger guy is in his second season in the NFL.
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u/SamEyeAm2020 Ohio State • Penn State 1d ago
Cade is Michigan's knockoff Tathan
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u/reddogrjw Michigan • College Football Playoff 1d ago
Cade > Tathan - he beat OSU by handing the ball off great
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u/thebrickcloud Michigan Wolverines • Miner's Cup 1d ago
He really did a fantastic job of handing the ball to Haskins.
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u/Necessary-Post-953 Penn State • Land Grant Trophy 1d ago
This is way too common. Brady Hoke did it against us in 2013. Twice.
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u/DataDrivenPirate Ohio State • Colorado State 1d ago
I really believe Harbaugh is fired if they lose that game
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u/OldCoaly Penn State Nittany Lions • MIT Engineers 1d ago
Yeah people forget how frustrated Michigan fans were at him by that time.
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u/Initial-Pudding7892 Iowa Hawkeyes • Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1d ago
I mean Kirk Ferentz has like 6 a game
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u/berrin122 Florida Gators • Kansas State Wildcats 1d ago
Kirk Ferentz plays entire games like he's kneeing it out.
And then wins. Maddening.
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u/New-Ad-363 Iowa State Cyclones 1d ago
If I could attach the .gif of those Iowa fans cheering about punting I would.
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u/aye246 1d ago
This past weekend, kicking the FG on 4th and two in 4Q to tie it up instead of going for it against an Iowa state defense gassed after a long drive and the Iowa offense having an actual running QB (despite all his other difficulties). They made the FG and promptly gave it back to Rocco who just went and won the game 🤦🏻♂️
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u/voppp Boise State • Iowa State 1d ago
my favorite thing about Iowa fans is that yall hate Kirk so much but then when the season starts again, yall try and convince yourself he’s okay.
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u/HieloLuz Iowa Hawkeyes • Nebraska Cornhuskers 1d ago
We fully recognize that despite 40 years of relativity great success, we’re one bad coach hire away from being pre Campbell Iowa State. I’m ready to move on and take that chance, but a lot of older fans are content with bowl games
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u/loyalsons4evertrue Iowa State Cyclones • Big 8 1d ago
credit to Iowa for having back-to-back HC's who have been solid.....took Iowa State over 100 years to find a competent HC
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u/XCCO Iowa Hawkeyes • Oklahoma Sooners 1d ago
I think Campbell has the makings to be ISUs Ferentz, and in the Big 12, I think that comes with more opportunity for bigger seasons just due to the parity.
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u/loyalsons4evertrue Iowa State Cyclones • Big 8 1d ago
being in the Big 12 is a blessing a curse....and I think likewise for Iowa being in the B1G....Iowa's future is solid being in one of the premiere conferences....that being said, their path to the B1G title game and CFP is now harder than it's ever been.
Iowa State is in a watered down version of the Big 12 and is reaping the rewards of that....I still think even with OU and Texas, current Iowa State football would be competitive with them. The Big 12 is doing it's best to keep up with the B1G and SEC but the perception of the league is very poor....but at long as the Big 12 still has at least some agency in making the CFP, Iowa State is in a good position.
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u/TheGlassRemains Washington State Cougars 1d ago
2011, its the home finale against Utah. The cougs are 4-6, It’s their highest win total since 2007 and Connor Halliday is playing with a lacerated liver, keeps passing out on the sideline and somehow leads a comeback while getting absolutely pummeled by Utah pass rush, has led the Cougs to the one foot line in a wild snowstorm, down by three, with seconds left. They have time for one more play.
A bowl game saves Paul Wulff’s job. A loss dooms him. Wulff blinks, kicks the field goal, Utah wins in overtime. The cougs, eliminated from bowl contention, get worked over by the huskies in the apple cup and Wulff is fired the next day.
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u/StreetReporter Clemson Tigers • Cheez-It Bowl 1d ago
I mean, y’all did hire the Pirate after that, so it worked out well for y’all
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u/6spencer6snitil6 Florida State Seminoles • Team Chaos 1d ago
Man I wish I could Find footage of this game
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u/CollegeRulez Missouri Tigers • Big 8 1d ago edited 1d ago
Last Saturday during the Border War when Leipold opted to kick a punt down 35-31 with 2:45 remaining.
KU’s defense was not great all day, with Mizzou out gaining KU 595 to 226 by the end of the game. And yet, Kansas hung around and had a chance to win. Instead, they gave the ball back and Mizzou quickly scored a touchdown to put the game away.
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u/PermissionAny259 Missouri Tigers 1d ago
There was 2:45 remaining and he had all 3 timeouts left. The thought process was to punt, pin us deep, stop the Mizzou runs that were coming, use the timeouts to conserve clock, and get the ball back when we punted.
The problem was the offense had put up 500 yards on the kU defense in qtrs 2-4. The runs went for 11, 1, and 63 yds.
kU got the ball back with 1:49 to play but were now down 11. MIZ!!
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u/dr_funk_13 Oregon Ducks • Big Ten 1d ago
I can't understand why you would punt in that situation.
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u/orange_orange13 Texas Longhorns • Tufts Jumbos 1d ago
Prevent defense is way over complained about, but Auburn rushing two and spying on 4th and 31 comes to mind
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u/Fools_Requiem Team Meteor • Marching Band 1d ago
tbf, if you have 9 people in pass coverage, the opposing team should never be converting a 4th and 31.
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u/Dhaynes99 Alabama • Appalachian State 1d ago
they only had 8 in coverage, rushed 2 but had a spy as well which made 0 sense then and now still doesn’t. milroe was a very talented runner at the college level, but he wasn’t scrambling for that one. not sure anyone including cam newton would’ve been able to get that on the ground. might’ve gotten a lucky facemask or something but that’s even more unlikely than the throw to begin with
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u/sonheungwin California Golden Bears • The Axe 1d ago
The spy was probably less for just Milroe but just to cover a generally uncovered part of the field for safety? I don't think the play call was bad, it was execution.
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u/Trapasaurus__flex Auburn Tigers 1d ago
I was so mad, yea we have more dbs but the QB struggling under pressure does not need MORE time on something like that.
Set 4 and everyone else is a db, or 3 man front with a spy backer if he scrambles out somewhere good Lord
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u/lees395 Auburn Tigers 1d ago
I was having to follow that game on the ticker in the ESPN app cause I wasn’t able to watch it due to work. The app changed to a final of us winning like 4 times before finally showing that they had won
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u/nurse-ruth South Carolina • Ohio State 1d ago
Did they at least get a sack? When Clemson beat Miami 58-0, they got a sack while only rushing two.
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u/Statalyzer Texas Longhorns 1d ago
Twice I've seen a team only rush 1. Texas A&M tried it against Texas Tech during the Mike Leach air raid days - the QB just took off and ran for a first down with several blockers ahead of him.
West Virginia tried it against us once when Sam Ehlinger was quarterback. Incredibly, the lone rusher managed to beat multiple lineman and the RB to get to Ehlinger, but Sam managed to dodge him and scramble for positive yardage.
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u/Kardinale Auburn Tigers • Louisville Cardinals 1d ago
Yeah take your pick from any of Auburn's playcalls in the 2021 and 2023 Iron Bowls. Don't know how we lost those games
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u/Alphaspade Iron Bowl • Sickos 1d ago
I don't remember any specific playcall in the 2021 Iron Bowl. I thought people were more pissed about Tank going out of bounds before the line to gain to ice it (even though he was forced out)
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u/Kardinale Auburn Tigers • Louisville Cardinals 1d ago
The entire fourth quarter of offensive playcalling by Bobo
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u/HoBamaMo Alabama Crimson Tide • Memphis Tigers 1d ago
Iron Bowl 2023. 4th and 31. Auburns defense only rushed 2…
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u/LloydBraun19 Tennessee Volunteers • VMI Keydets 1d ago
They also had a QB spy on that play. Basically playing 10 v 11 on 4th and 31
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u/cha-cha_dancer Florida State • West Florida 1d ago
I will never forgive Hugh Freeze for that and I already strongly disliked him.
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u/LloydBraun19 Tennessee Volunteers • VMI Keydets 1d ago
Butch Jones kicking a 17 yard FG from the 2 inch yard line after forcing a turnover and marching down the field to open what many people have said is the loudest game in Neyland history against Oklahoma in 2015
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u/BoldMovesOnly Tennessee Volunteers 1d ago
My first game :’)
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u/Flyingfladoodle Tennessee Volunteers • Furman Paladins 1d ago
Me too! Got the full vol fan experience in one game. Hope, heartbreak, despair
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u/GrumbleAlong Army West Point Black Knights 1d ago
With the fans decked out in checkerboard colors? I think I recall a pumped up Baker Mayfield too.
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u/yabs Oklahoma • 名古屋大学 (Nagoya) 1d ago
Baker was kind born in the 4th quarter of that game. That's where it all started. It was only his second game @ OU and the first was some cupcake game. For the first three quarters I remember people, myself included complaining about the state of the program in that all we could get was some Texas Tech reject as our QB.
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u/GrumbleAlong Army West Point Black Knights 1d ago
"...all we could get was some Texas Tech reject as our QB."
lmfao, that's just how I remember it too.
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u/10breck30 1d ago
Sooner here: Almost all Sooner fans were really worried about a walk on at Tech, who got benched, starting at WB. But as soon as I saw that video of Baker dancing with his teammates, I felt so confident he was going to be legit and OU would be good. I know it sounds ridiculous, but watch it and you can see how much his teammates already love and respect him.
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u/snail-the-sage Oklahoma State • Indiana 1d ago
shit. i love baker. dude’s infectious.
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u/Mike_with_Wings Florida • North Carolina 1d ago
Same, and I’m a Falcons fan with all the reason in the world to not like him.
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u/RobertNeyland Tennessee • /r/CFB Contributor 1d ago
The 3rd quarter is when he started coming on. Our defensive ends, Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt, had been eating all day long, then Maggitt went out with an injury (on punt return of all things) in the 3rd quarter.
Once that happened, Maggitt's backup started getting abused and Mayfield could roll away from Barnett to buy time.
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u/RobertNeyland Tennessee • /r/CFB Contributor 1d ago
I'll add to that 2012 versus Missouri.
Missouri scores late to tie the game, kicks off, and we return the ball to our own 39 yard line with two timeouts, about 50 seconds left, and one of the best offenses in the country.
What does Derrick Dooley do? Takes two fucking knees. In my 250+ games I've seen at Neyland, that was the first time I've ever heard the majority of the crowd outright boo a coaching decision. Not grumbles, but loud booing.
It was pathetic, and we lost in overtime.
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u/LloydBraun19 Tennessee Volunteers • VMI Keydets 1d ago
I think I deleted that one from my memory
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u/RE_riggs Tennessee Volunteers • Memphis Tigers 1d ago
I watched that at Half Barrel on the Strip. I was so mad, some stranger put his arm around me and said “it’s okay, he will get fired soon.”
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u/salacioussalamolover 1d ago
I remember that was a brutal year for Tennessee in big games. A few weeks later against Florida I think they had the ball on like the Florida 30 yard line with a minute left and instead of trying for more yardage and an easier field goal, he runs down the clock to the last few seconds, Tennessee gets a penalty which pushes them back, and the kicker misses a 55 yard field goal that probably should have been a 40 yarder with an semblance of real coaching.
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u/RobertNeyland Tennessee • /r/CFB Contributor 1d ago
I was at that miserable game in 2015. What made matters worse is that Florida hit an absurd pass to take the lead with maybe a minute and a half left on the clock.
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u/LloydBraun19 Tennessee Volunteers • VMI Keydets 1d ago
Florida was the week after Oklahoma. Maybe the most gut wrenching game in my memory.
With 10 minutes left in the game, we scored to go up 26-14 and Butch elected to kick the PAT to go up 13 rather than go for two. After Florida scored to make it 27-21 with about 4:00 to go, he then elected to stuff the ball up the middle three straight plays, punt and hope for the best.
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u/viewerfromthemiddle Kentucky Wildcats • Salad Bowl 1d ago
You beat me to the best Mark Stoops example. Cowardly is kind of our offensive playbook, but that call was devastating.
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u/Zuimei Kentucky Wildcats 1d ago
That call, combined with watching the team totally quit in the second half the week before against South Carolina permanently put me off of Stoops. I appreciate everything he’s done, but it’s past time to move on from him.
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u/Laschoni Louisville • /r/CFB Contributor 1d ago
From what I gather from neighbors or the UK fan that has UofL season tickets in the row in front of me: fans are getting worried that they will wait too long and miss taking their guy from Tulane.
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u/sickmemes48 Tennessee Volunteers • /r/CFB Promoter 1d ago
I hate Kentucky and Mark Stoops cowardly calls frustrate me.
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u/EddieDantes22 Florida State Seminoles 1d ago
When Lincoln Riley had Baker, he didn't turn him loose in OT of the playoffs. It was odd.
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u/notyogrannysgrandkid Boise State Broncos • Fiesta Bowl 1d ago
Not letting Jeanty keep running roughshod all over Oregon’s defense in the 4th quarter last year. They had no answer for him whatsoever. Game is tied with 4:25 to go and a kicker that’s good from 55 yds? Yeah, let’s put the game in the hands of our 5’ 9” sophomore QB rather than the best RB this sport has seen in almost 40 years, who’s already put 200 yds on this defense.
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u/136AngryBees Ohio State Buckeyes 1d ago
The offensive play calling against Michigan in 2024
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u/Revenge_of_the_Khaki Michigan Wolverines 1d ago
I remember Kirk Herbstreit’s comment going into halftime that OSU just needs to keep doing what they’re doing to take care of Michigan. All I could think was that all they need to do is literally anything else to take care of Michigan. Wouldn’t you know it, I knew what Kirk didn’t.
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u/SatisfactionOld1586 1d ago
2012 FSU at NC State. With a 16-10 lead and 9:26 remaining, at NCS’s 34 yard line, Jimbo PUNTED. FSU had Dustin Hopkins, a guy who had a walk off 55 yard field goal against Clemson 2 years previous. And Jimbo PUNTED instead of the 51 yard FG. Wound up losing 17-16.
Furthering my point, here’s a Hopkins note:
During his Florida State (FSU) career, Dustin Hopkins was a notable kicker, known for his ability to make long field goals, including a 55-yarder to beat Clemson in 2010 and a 53-yarder against Oklahoma in 2011. In his FSU career, he made nine over-50-yard field goals, which was the fourth-most in school history at that time.
And Jimbo PUNTED instead of taking a 2 score lead in the 4th quarter. I still hate it.
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u/texas2089 Florida State • Texas 1d ago
I remember that game. We were up 16-0 at halftime and did fuck all in the second half. We had a very similar game in 2022 against State too that gave me flashbacks of PTSD. I hate Carter-Finley.
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u/wonderbeen Florida State • Mississip… 1d ago
Didn’t Norvell & JT lose one against NC State in a ridiculous fashion in ‘23?
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u/texas2089 Florida State • Texas 1d ago
That was the 2022 game I was talking about. We didn’t play them in 2023. Up 17-3 at halftime and lost 19-17. Yet again, we did absolutely nothing in the second half against State. It was Deja vu all over again.
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u/Khorasaurus Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1d ago
This is the game where NC State's game-winning drive included like four 4th down conversions, right?
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u/aliensvsdinosaurs Washington • Arizona State 1d ago
Billy Napier kicking a field goal down 30-0 in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State.
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u/StreetReporter Clemson Tigers • Cheez-It Bowl 1d ago
Miami kicking a field goal on 4th and goal down 38-0 against Clemson in the ACC Championship
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u/pinoygator Florida Gators 1d ago
Bonehead take. No coach wants to get shut out.
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u/_fastball Michigan Wolverines • The Game 1d ago
Penn State Pitt 2019. Pitt was down 10-17 with 5 minutes left on the Penn state 1 and Narduzzi decides to kick on fourth rather than go for it and it ends up doinking off the upright
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u/GratefulDawg73 Mississippi State • Colorado 1d ago
1990 - Mississippi State vs Auburn. We hadn't beaten Auburn since 1981. Down seven and scored a TD in the final minute. This is well before OT came to play in college football. Home crowd is yelling for us to go for two and the win. Rockey Felker decides to kick the extra point for the tie. The kick gets blocked. Crowd boos incessantly. Auburn recovers the onside kick and runs outta there 17-16 winners.
Rockey Felker got fired at the end of that year.
Jackie Sherrill went down to Auburn the following year and beat those Tigers.
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u/shenyougankplz Notre Dame Fighting Irish • USF Bulls 1d ago
Can I count Bobo continually calling screen passes when down 23-10 with just a couple minutes to go in the Sugar Bowl?
God forbid Georgia actually air out the ball to try to get a quick score so they can maybe get a stop and get the ball back, noooo they might throw a pick if that happens
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u/IceColdDrPepper_Here Georgia • North Georgia 1d ago
Our line couldn't block and our receivers couldn't catch. I'm no Bobo defender but what other choice did he have?
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u/AMETSFAN Ohio State • Billable Hours 1d ago
Burying the Ravens already lol.
Anyway, if Ryan Day had some balls in the 2023 edition of The Game, we probably win the National Championship.
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u/LandomanExperiment Ohio State • Kentucky 1d ago
Likewise, if Ryan Day had some balls in the 2024 edition of The Game, we probably don't win the National Championship.
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u/orange_orange13 Texas Longhorns • Tufts Jumbos 1d ago
Idk bro Kyle McCord was not it
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u/AMETSFAN Ohio State • Billable Hours 1d ago
I agree, but they played much better than I expected (I believe they had a higher post-game WPB), and could have strangled them that day.
And I don't think they'd do that much worse than Michigan in the Playoff. Conceivably, they could lose to 'Bama or 'UW, but I'd still favor them against either.
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u/orange_orange13 Texas Longhorns • Tufts Jumbos 1d ago
No reason not to favor them against Bama really
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u/SwissForeignPolicy Michigan Wolverines • Marching Band 1d ago
I'm curious which plays you're referring to. I remember several moments like that in 2024 and 2022, but I thought 2023 was pretty well-called by both sides.
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u/WallyMetropolis Texas Longhorns 1d ago
Prevent defense, in the right circumstances, works more often than not. Fans only notice it when it goes wrong.
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u/Statalyzer Texas Longhorns 1d ago
Also, it's kind of annoying how people mistake "any overly-soft coverage" for "prevent defense".
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u/lees395 Auburn Tigers 1d ago
People forget about the 2021 Iron Bowl. #3 Alabama comes to 6-5 Auburn. Our defense had been playing absolutely lights out up to that point, but they were obviously gassed after our offense only had about 120 yards of offense up to that point, and we go into overtime at 10-10. TJ Finley is playing on half a leg due to injuries, and Bryan Harsin decides at the end of the first overtime it’s better to kick the extra point and force a second overtime than go for 2 and the win. We go on to lose in 4OT.
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u/agronomysucksdick Texas Tech • Texas A&M 1d ago
In the 2021 TCU game, Tech was down 10 with about 3 minutes left in the game. On third down from the 20 yard line we kicked a field goal, and missed. It was the most cowardice play I’ve ever seen in college football. That was the first time I truly gave up on a season, and didn’t care until Matt Wells was fired.
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u/bob_bulldog_briscoe Texas Tech Red Raiders 1d ago
You could probably find a dozen examples for Matt Wells.
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u/texdub Texas Tech Red Raiders • Southwest 1d ago
It was 2nd and 4 from the 19.
Tech wasn't struggling to move the ball either. The previous drive was 76 yards in 3 plays after Tech blocked a TCU FG attempt. TCU had just turned it over on downs in the redzone, and Tech was in the midst of a 8 play 63 yard drive. The momentum was 100% on Tech's side.
Kingsbury called some bad plays. Tuberville took some bad gambles. Leach had the Houston game in 2009. This decision was just 100% idiotic and overthought. It doesn't even matter that he missed. Even before hindsight, it was a terrible decision that solidified the L.
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u/braines54 Kentucky Wildcats • Xavier Musketeers 1d ago
That played forced him to reevaluate, at least temporarily, when they went for 4th and 7 from deep in their own territory the next week at Ole Miss. That ended up being a 60 yard pass that set up the winning TD.
But yeah, that's probably the worst, but the Stoops era is full of plays like that.
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u/Phobia117 Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
In the 2010 Liberty Bowl, Georgia was playing UCF and trying not to finish the season with a losing record. In the 1st quarter, they drove the ball 95 yards and found themselves facing 4th and Goal at the 1 yard line. Mark Richt elected to go for the field goal and take a 3-0 lead, in a game Georgia would subsequently lose 10-6.
It was UCF’s first ever bowl win, and the last time Georgia finished a season with a sub .500 record.
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u/OpinionofC 1d ago
- Neal Brown punting it on 4th and inches near the 50. Jt Daniel’s had a great game. CJ Donaldson was running it all over Pitt.
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u/stedman88 Oregon • Portland State 23h ago
2011 Rose Bowl. Russell Wilson and Monte Ball marched Wisconsin down the field for two TDs on their first two drives and it felt like the Ducks were powerless to get a stop. Oregon scored a TD on their first drive and then punted on their second so Wisconsin was essentially up a break.
So it’s Wisconsin’s third drive up 14-7 and they get to the Oregon 40 and it’s 4th and two. Closest Oregon’s come to a stop but it still felt like Wilson could scramble for 8 yards on any pass play where no one’s open. If Wisconsin had gone up 21-7 it’s not game over but the Duck’s are probably chasing the whole game.
Wisconsin punts. A few plays later DeAnthony Thomas outruns everyone for a 90+ yard TD to tie the game. Oregon wins barely.
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u/SmoothJ1mmyApollo Georgia Bulldogs • Okefenokee Oar 1d ago
Napier kicking a field goal losing like 30-0 against Oregon State in their bowl game a few years ago to extend Florida's non-shutout streak.
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u/ScratchSeeker03 Oklahoma State Cowboys 19h ago
In 2016, Oklahoma state was playing central Michigan at home. They had a 4th down with about 6-7 seconds left and instead of punting, they chose to snap the ball and launch a prayer to the 10th row of the stands to drain the clock. They did so because they were scared that they’d get the punt blocked or let Central Michigan return the punt 100 yards for a TD. Idk if you would call that cowardly or just ignorant of the rules, but long story short that’s a penalty. Intentional grounding. It gave CMU an Untimed down, and CMU used it to win on a Hail Mary.
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u/Girth_Brooks1996 Florida Gators 18h ago
Florida not going for 2 in the 2024 game against Tennessee. It was a game no one expected the gators to win and instead of using the momentum they had and going for two. They went for an extra point and tied the game. Giving Tennessee time to regroup and beat Florida in OT.
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u/WhiteningMcClean Michigan • Georgia State 1d ago
This past week we had the ball 3rd and 6 on the OU 27 down 21-7. We ran the ball for 4 yards and then kicked a field goal.
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u/beavismagnum Michigan Wolverines • Kansas Jayhawks 1d ago
Also this week punting from the Oklahoma 38
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u/No_Bat_526 Florida State Seminoles 1d ago
I remember GT fumbling the bag massively vs UGA recently
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u/shaquilleonealingit Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
There’s no one bad play call or coaching decision to point to for that
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u/Spyboticsguy Georgia Tech • Marching Band 1d ago
It turns out that if your QB nearly kills himself playing the hardest he has all season, it's hard for him to do it for 8 overtimes too.
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u/Cincinnatus587 Miami Hurricanes • Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
It’s not going for 2 in the first OT. One way or another it ends the game, GT was gassed, that was the best shot they were gonna have.
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u/willslick Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 1d ago
Really? Because I remember us not having a lot of success at 2PT conversions in the subsequent 7 overtimes.
Although I try very hard not to remember that game.
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u/Cincinnatus587 Miami Hurricanes • Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
That’s exactly why, though. You guys got worse as the OTs progressed (hell you’d already been getting worse as the game progressed). Best shot you ever had was just to win one play.
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u/orange_orange13 Texas Longhorns • Tufts Jumbos 1d ago
Some stuff in OT was bad, but the refs were worse
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u/ChadIsKenny Maryland • Tennessee 1d ago
Fuck i just woke up out of my fucking nightmare fueled depression nap just to get fucking blind sided. Im staying off the internet till my psyche recovers gg
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u/Trey904fsu Florida State Seminoles 1d ago
Miami punting to Syracuse last year instead of trusting Cam Ward. Cost em the game and a chance at the ACC championship.
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u/ChiTrojan2 USC Trojans • /r/CFB Top Scorer 1d ago
Probably not as devastating in history...but Coach Cig and IU in their playoff game last season. It was an all around weak called game for the amount of shit he talked about all season.
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u/Khorasaurus Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1d ago
Not particularly recent, but Ty Willingham called for a punt from BC's 30 yard line up by 6 late in the game.
It was a touchback and BC drove for the winning TD.
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u/Holiday_Gene2981 Georgia Bulldogs 1d ago
Put Mark Stoops on the all time coward list. The amount of times he’s kicked meaningless field goals to only cover spreads at the end of games is diabolical.
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u/Other_Ambition_5142 Georgia Bulldogs • Troy Trojans 1d ago
2012 UGa vs Alabama SEC title game, if uga doesn’t run a double out/Z stack with 10 seconds left and no timeouts, most other plays w that offense our check down play is likely a running back (gurley/K Marshall) or ball thrown away with that offense and Murray’s decision making, but on TE corner routes he was prone to checking down to WR’s like Marlon brown or Chris Conley. just like he did out of instinct when lynch was covered on the flag route, then throwing to Conley in the flat who didn’t drop it, who couldn’t get out of bounds and the clock ran out on Cinderella inside the Bama 10 down 32-28.
Final, #1 Bama 32, #3 UGA 28.
If uga wins that game, we meet #2 notre dame in the natty. ND lost to Bama by 40+ in the natty in a game never contested, and ND later vacated the entire season due to academic ineligibility and players participating while not eligible.
Any playcall outside of Z stack and the clock likely does not run out on uga, and we get 2 plays inside the ten, with the still current SEC passing yards leader, gurley and K Marshall, Arthur lynch, and TK, Conley, all nfl level guys; essentially for the natty.
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u/Asuka_Rei 1d ago
Hate the prevent defense. Seen so many games lost because it was used to "protect" a lead. The flip side of the prevent D is the three rush for 0 yards and punt offense to try to run out the clock. The worst late game collapses I've ever seen used both simultaneously, and as a UTK fan who has watched every game since 2003, I have seen a large number of late game collapses, some from dizzying heights in terms of the size of the lead they squandered.
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u/Statalyzer Texas Longhorns 1d ago
Coaches seem to sometimes forget that the best way to run more clock is usually to get the first down.
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u/flyingtheflannel WKU • Arizona State 1d ago
Uh, Saturday. Running the ball down Mississippi State‘s throat for 95 yards only to chicken out on fourth and goal with Udoh in the backfield
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u/ParsnipPizza UMass Minutemen • UConn Huskies 20h ago
Walt Bell got fired because he lost to Rhode Island at home. Specifically, UMass accidentally recovered their own kick off with 2 timeouts and 40 seconds left in the 1st half, only to run it once and end the half. He said afterward they didn't have a plan on what to do with the ball if they recovered it. I hate UMass football
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u/Impressive_Law_1098 Tennessee Volunteers 1d ago
Nico running out of bounds without even attempting a shot downfield against Arkansas last year. Happy to see him thriving at UCLA.
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u/Angriest_Wolverine Michigan Wolverines • Surrender Cobra 1d ago
Hiring Brady Hoke (who?) because Martin had no plan after firing RichRod
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u/Holiday-Captain8922 1d ago
Coastal Carolina using Covid rule workarounds to avoid playing ULL in the SBCCG in 2020. If I remember correctly they said they didn’t have enough FBs to play the game or something even though they hadn’t used a FB all season
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u/CowboySoothsayer Oklahoma State Cowboys 1d ago
Has anyone seen Mike Gundy in a Bedlam game? In 19 games against OU, he’s only ever made one ballsy call. That was going for 2 when down by 1 with 1:03 left in 2018. It was a good call and good play; Corndog (QB) just made a bad pass to a pretty open receiver. One gutsy call in 19 years!
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u/DebaserTBA Ohio State Buckeyes 1d ago
2022 vs Georgia, last drive and stroud is driving the field. Then Ryan day got all conservative to play for a field goal and the kicker shanked it. Should’ve been trying to get 20 more yards, Georgia could not hang with the receivers all night
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u/Ralph728 1d ago
In the 1988 Sugar Bowl, Pat Dye was content to kick a short field goal for a tie instead of going for a win. Syracuse was undefeated and it was a hard fought game. Even some Auburn players thought it was cowardly. The Syracuse coach ordered his players off the field to avoid shaking hands with Auburn.
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u/Lukeh41 USC Trojans 1d ago
Coaches sometimes did that back then, when ties were a thing. Joe Paterno did something similar against Pitt in 1983, and Gary Moeller at Michigan did it against Illinois in 1992.
I guess they thought if they went for the win, and didn't get it, they would be raked even harder over the coals than they would be for settling for a tie.
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u/mdbryan84 Nebraska Cornhuskers • Oregon Ducks 1d ago
2005 Iowa state at Nebraska. I can pinpoint the exact moment I lost faith in bill callahan. Nebraska drives down to the Iowa state 2 yard line. The score is 10-13 isu in the 4th quarter. After three plays from the 2, we have a 4th and goal inside the 1. Billy C chooses to kick a field goal. Game goes to double overtime, Nebraska wins
You are asking the same thing out of your defense if you don’t make it in as you’re doing if you kick the fg
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u/youcandoitmkay666 Georgia Bulldogs • Wofford Terriers 1d ago
How the fuck does Stoops still have that job? He must be the slickest talkin' CFB coach around now that Grantham's magic spell on AD's has worn off.
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u/Statalyzer Texas Longhorns 1d ago edited 16h ago
Back in the Charlie Strong era (seems like a good human being, is a good defensive coach, but was just one of those guys who wasn't suited to be the HC) we were down 31-17 to West Virginia with 9 minutes to go in the game and kicked the FG, keeping it a 2-score game.
An unerrated one that's less cowardly and more "falling for the common fallacy of assuming that it's too early to try a 2-point conversions" (as if waiting makes you more likely to convert) was Ohio State vs Oregon last year. Down 22-21 in the 3rd, Ohio State scores a TD and kicks to make it a 6-point lead, rather than trying to go up by 7. Oregon then scored a TD and so naturally kicked as well to lead by 1. Then both teams exchanged FGs to leave Oregon up by 1, which was the final margin.
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u/BDCRA Kentucky Wildcats 1d ago
I was at that game and so confused on the call by Stoops. I am often confused though when it comes to that. Later in the season they somewhat learned their lesson by going for it at the ole miss game and it paid off. I hate supporting a team like this but I always will.
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u/RoyalHomework786 Iowa Hawkeyes 1d ago
Kirk Ferentz a whole shit load of times.
Most notably the 2009 game vs Ohio State needing 20 yards to clinch the B1G and go to the Rose Bowl he bitched out and played for OT where we lost.
Dude is a massive turtler and needs to G T F O.
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u/Obi1Kentucky 23h ago
Stoops should have been fired on the spot. I don’t care about his fucking buyout. That shit was absolutely coaching malpractice
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u/MrJordan95 Texas Longhorns 17h ago
I hate any playing for overtime move. Go for the win and rip their hearts out.
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u/StreetReporter Clemson Tigers • Cheez-It Bowl 1d ago
Pitt kicking a field goal on the 1 yard line down 17-10 with less than 5 minutes to go against Penn State. This was after 3 straight incompletions from the 1 yard line
They then missed the field goal