COLLEGE FOOTBALL - 2005 SEASON
03/09/05 - Rutgers (30) @ (33) Illinois - In the opening game of the season for both teams, Illinois staged a comeback from 27-10 deficit in the 4th quarter to force overtime and then win coach Ron Zook his first game at Illinois. Rutgers started strongly behind the passing of QB Ryan Hart (27-44-342-2) and the rushing of RB's Brian Leonard (12-128-1 inc. an 83 yard TD run) and Freshman RB Ray Rice (12-55-0), in his 1st college game. But Illinois suddenly found some Offense in the 4th quarter and scored 17 unanswered points including the tieing TD with 1:13 left. In OT, Rutgers kicked a FG but Illinois ended the game with a TD and claimed the win. Illinois were led by QB Tim Brasic (24-34-233-3), RB EB Halsey (16-50-0 + 7-60-1) and LB J.Leman (6 tackles) (10, 1 Disc, ESPN 2 - Sims/Congemi/Edwards, PAL)
05/09/05 - Miami (7) @ (10) Florida State - Florida State beat Miami for the 1st time since 1999 as Miami botched a potential tieing FG with 2 minutes to go. Miami QB Kyle Wright (16-28-230-1) and Florida State QB Drew Weatherford (7-24-67-0) each made their debuts. Wright was sacked 9 times (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
09/09/05 - Pittsburgh (10) @ (16) Ohio - In the first ever televised game at Peden Stadium, Ohio shocked Pittsburgh with an Overtime win and gave new Ohio coach Frank Solich a win in his home debut. Both teams struggled on Offense with neither team scoring an Offensive TD but Pitt used a 95 yard kick-off return TD to take a lead on the opening play of the game while Ohio countered with a 38 yard interception return to even the game up. With Ohio leading 10-7, Pitt put together a final drive to tie the game on a FG with 7 secs left to force overtime. Pitt started on Offense but QB Tyler Palko (13-25-120-0) threw an interception to DB Dion Byrum (his 2nd of the game) and he returned it 85 yards for the winning score. Ohio were led by QB Austen Everson (13-23-112-0) and RB Kalvin McRae (13-50-0). Pitt also featured RB Raymond Kirkley Jr. (15-66-0) and WR Greg Lee (4-44-0) (10, 1 Disc, ESPN 2 - Pasch/Gilmore/Matich/Dales-Schuman, PAL)
10/09/05 - Arizona State (31) @ (35) Louisiana State - #5 ranked LSU finally got their season under way with a comeback win against #15 ranked Arizona State. Even though the game was in Tempe, it was designated a home game for LSU who had to play on the road because of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina. A slow starting game exploded in the 4th quarter with 42 combined points scored. LSU got the win in dramatic fashion as QB JaMarcus Russell (16-29-232-1) threw a 39 yard TD pass to WR Early Doucet on 4th down with 1:13 remaining. The defense then forced ASU QB Sam Keller (35-56-461-4) into 4 straight incompletions at the LSU 28 yard line to end the game. The win was the first as LSU head coach for Les Miles. LSU also featured RB Joseph Addai (16-109-2). Arizona State also featured WR Derek Hagan (7-95-0) (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - McDonough/Gottfried, NTSC)
10/09/05 - Texas (25) @ (22) Ohio State - Texas QB Vince Young (18-29-270-2 + 20-76) led #2 Texas to a huge win at #4 OSU with a 24 yard TD pass in the last 2 minutes. Ohio State forced 3 turnovers but couldn't get in the end-zone (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
10/09/05 - Stanford (41) @ (38) Navy - Stanford opened the Walt Harris era with a shootout win against Navy. Led by QB Trent Edwards (21-33-235-1), the Cardinal put together a good all-around game. The Offense scored 3 TD's on the ground and also on a 93 yard kick-off return. Navy kept pace with the Cardinal, with QB Lamar Owens (12-18-193-1) and RB Karlos Whittaker (7-110-1) having big games, but in the end the Cardinal did just enough to take the win (8, 1 Disc, CSTV - McCarthty/Lucas/Amsinger, PAL)
17/09/05 - Mississippi (23) @ (31) Vanderbilt - The Commodores moved to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 1982 but had to survive a dramatic last minute drive by the Rebels to do so. Vandy QB Jay Cutler (24-41-314-0 + 15-58-0) had a big game, leading the 'Dores to a 17-3 lead at the half. The Rebels attempted a 2nd half comeback, led by QB Michael Spurlock (16-32-257-1), but fell short when he had to leave the game in the final minute with a badly dislocated finger. Vanderbilt also featured RB Jeff Jennings (24-103-3) (8, 1 Disc, JP Sports - Neal/Rowe/Baker, PAL)
17/09/05 - Rice (10) @ (51) Texas - #2 ranked Texas continued their hex over Rice with a big win in Austin. The star of the show was Freshman RB Jamaal Charles (16-189-3) who was making his 1st career start. Texas started fast and took a 42-0 lead in at the half and cruised home. The Defense also chipped in with 2 TD's and held the Owls to only 209 total yards. Texas also featured on Offense QB's Vince Young (8-14-101-0 + 8-77-0) and Matt Nordgren (3-4-21-0) and TE David Thomas (5-66-0) and on Defense DE Brian Robison (6 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss), LB Aaron Harris (8 tackles, 1 sack) and DB Michael Huff (12 tackles, 1 fumble recovery). Rice featured QB's Joel Armstrong (2-7-42-0) and Chase Clement (2-8-57-0 + 7-16-1), RB Quinton Smith (11-77-0) and WR Jarrett Dillard (2-70-0) (8, 1 Disc, FOX - Meyers/Lapham/Knox, PAL)
17/09/05 - Arkansas (17) @ (70) USC Trojans - USC had the ball for only 1:32 in the 1st quarter and only ran 8 plays offensively but manged 246 yards and 4 TD's to blitz the Razorbacks. USC QB Matt Leinart (18-24-381-4) and RB Reggie Bush (8-125-1 inc. 76 yard run + 3 catches, 70 yds) were sensational (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Tompkins/Papadakis/Watson, PAL)
17/09/05 - Cal-Davis (20) @ (17) Stanford - Div-1AA Cal-Davis fell behind 17-0 but fought back to score 20 unanswered points and win the game on a TD pass with 8 seconds left (10, Game film with stadium announcers, 1 Disc, NTSC)
17/09/05 - Michigan State (44) @ (41) Notre Dame - Michigan State cameback from a 21 point deficit to force overtime and eventually beat the Irish for the 5th straight time at South Bend. The Spartans amassed 488 yards of total offense with QB Drew Stanton (16-27-327-3) pulling the strings. Irish QB Brady Quinn (33-60-487-5) was immense but couldn't play defense (9, 2 Discs, NBC - Hammond/Haden/Johnson, PAL)
17/09/05 - Miami (36) @ (30) Clemson - Clemson hassled Miami QB Kyle Wright all through the game, recording 5 sacks. But the Tigers needed a tieing TD with 15 seconds left to force overtime. Both teams battled through 3 Overtimes before Miami RB Tyrone Moss (31-139-3) ended the game. Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst (31-55-288-2) led the Tigers (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Nessler/Griese/Swann, PAL)
24/09/05 - TCU (51) @ (50) BYU Cougars - TCU rallied from a 41-29 deficit behind back-up QB Jeff Ballard to take the game into overtime where they settled the game on a controversial TD by WR Cory Rodgers. BYU QB John Beck (30-51-557-5) had a sensational game in a losing effort (9, 1 Disc, BYU Network - Twitty/Shiede, PAL)
01/10/05 - Boise State (44) @ (41) Hawaii - In a game of big plays, it was Boise State that had the final word scoring the winning points on a blocked PAT returned for 2 points. Hawaii QB Colt Brennan (29-51-426-4) had a big game, leading the Warriors to a 20-7 lead at the half. But the Broncos fought back behind the play of QB Jared Zabransky (18-33-207-3) and big special teams plays. The Broncos scored on a 92 yard punt return, a blocked FG returned for a TD and the winning blocked PAT returned for 2 points with 3 minutes left in the game. Hawaii also featured RB Nate Ilaoa (10-76-1) and WR's Ryan Grice-Mullen (9-188-2 inc. 73 yard TD catch) and Davone Bess (6-106-2). Boise State also featured RB Ian Johnson (13-66-0) and WR Legedu Naanee (3-28-2) (9, 2 Discs, 7 Sports - Augusto/Scott, NTSC)
08/10/05 - Texas Tech (34) @ (31) Nebraska - Nebraska were looking for payback for a 70-10 beating the previous season and, despite trailing 21-0 at the half, they fought back to take the lead with 5:10 left in the 4th quarter. Texas Tech QB Cody Hodges (34-45-368-4) then guided the Red Raiders down the field but was intercepted with 1:11 left. But as the defender started to run the ball back, he fumbled and it was recovered by Tech. Hodges used the 2nd chance to throw the winning 10 yard TD pass with 10 seconds left (9, 2 Discs, TBS - Neal/Ramsey/Lewis, PAL)
08/10/05 - Oklahoma (12) v (45) Texas - #2 ranked Texas inflicted on Oklahoma their worst loss in the Red River Rivalry since 1941 with a points explosion in the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. With the win the Longhorns ended a 5-game losing streak to the Sooners and extended their own win streak to 12 games. The game was over early, as the Sooners became one-dimensional after it became clear that an ankle injury to star RB Adrian Peterson (3-10-0) would restrict the running game. Oklahoma QB Rhett Bomar (12-33-94-1) struggled against the Texas pass defense, suffering 3 sacks, 10 hits and throwing 1 interception. Texas QB Vince Young (14-27-241-3 + 17-45-0) had a huge game and was helped out by Freshman RB Jamaal Charles (9-116-1 including an 80 yard TD run). Texas also featured WR Billy Pittman (4-100-2), TE David Thomas (5-50-0), LB's Aaron Harris (9 tackles, 1 sack) and Brian Robison (8 tackles, 1 sack) and DB Cedric Griffin (14 tackles). Oklahoma also featured RB's Kejuan Jones (8-19-0) and Donta Hickson (5-22-0), WR J.J. Finley (2-21-1), DL Dusty Dvoracek (4 tackles) and LB Zach Latimer (12 tackles) (9, Longhorn Network re-broadcast, 1 hour 34 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, ABC - Jackson/Fouts/Harris, PAL)
15/10/05 - Colorado (17) @ (42) Texas - #2 ranked Texas exploded on #24 ranked Colorado, riding a big 1st half to a 6-0 record. Texas were up 35-10 at the half and coasted home to the win. The star was Texas QB Vince Young (25-29-336-2 + 10-58-3) who had a career day passing the ball, setting a personal best for yards and a Texas record for completion percentage. He threw the ball to 7 different receivers including Limas Sweed (7-88-2) and David Thomas (5-64-0). Colorado were led by QB Joel Klatt (19-39-189-2) but he wasn't helped by his running game that produced only 45 yards (10, JIP 14:22 1Q 0-0, 1 Disc, ABC - Tirico/Brant/Shuster, PAL)
15/10/05 - USC (34) @ (31) Notre Dame - In the game of the season, the #1 Trojans visited the #9 Irish. Notre Dame, in their green jerseys, played ball control offense to keep USC's offense off the field and QB Brady Quinn (19-35-264-1) ran the game-plan to perfection. When Notre Dame scored with 2:02 left in the game, the 27 game USC win-streak looked to have ended. But USC QB Matt Leinart (17-32-301-0) drove the Trojans down the field, using an audible on 4th and 9 at his own 26 to complete a 61 yard pass, and the Trojans were on the 1 yard line with 3 seconds left. Matt Leinart sneaked the ball in on the last play to win the game (10, 2 Discs, NBC - Hammond/Haden/Johnson, NTSC)
15/10/05 - Kansas State (20) @ (59) Texas Tech - #13 ranked Texas Tech kept their unbeaten start to the season with a big win over Kansas State. The star of the show was QB Cody Hodges (44-65-643-5) who posted the 4th highest passing yardage ever. He was supported by a big game from Tech RB Taurean Henderson (15-49-3 rushing + 10-118-2 receiving) who set the NCAA record for catches by a Running Back (263). 3 Tech receivers went over 100 yards including Joel Filani who set a Big 12 record with 255 yards. The Tech defense also got in on the act, forcing 3 turnovers and 2 sacks, and were led by Safety Dwayne Slay who had the hit of the game when he put down the Wildcats QB as he was scrambling. Kansas State were led by QB Allan Evridge (14-25-192-1 + 12-64-0), in his 1st career start (10, 4 Discs, ABC - Thorne/Cunningham/Morgan, NTSC)
22/10/05 - Texas Tech (17) @ (52) Texas - In a battle of unbeaten's, it was #2 Texas that triumphed over #10 ranked Texas Tech with a big win in Austin. Texas used 2 big special teams plays in the 1st half to open up a 31-10 lead at the half and never looked back. Texas were led by QB Vince Young (12-22-239-2 + 7-45-1), RB Selvin Young (16-77-2) and WR Billy Pittman (3-138-2). Texas Tech were led by QB Cody Hodges (42-64-369-2), RB Taurean Henderson (17-86-0) and WR's Joel Filani (9-82-1), Robert Johnson (9-76-0) and Danny Amendola (6-60-0) (8, 1 Disc, ABC - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
29/10/05 - Texas Tech (28) @ (0) Baylor - Despite a slow start, Texas Tech used a big 4th quarter to finally pull away from the Bears. The Bears defense held the high-scoring Red Raiders to only 6 points in the opening 3 quarters before Texas Tech QB Cody Hodges (22-44-264-1) and RB Taurean Henderson (18-136-2) scored 3 TD's to win the game. The Tech defense was led by DB Dwayne Slay (18 tackles, 1 sack) and LB Fred Session (12 tackles) (9, Slight Pixellation, 1 Disc, FOX - Land/Reasons/Rhadigan, NTSC)
29/10/05 - Texas (47) @ (28) Oklahoma State - #2 ranked Texas fell into a 28-12 half-time hole as Oklahoma State scored on 2 freaky TD's on a tipped pass and a 4th down TD pass. But after the break QB Vince Young (15-30-239-2 + 21-267-2) took over, scoring on an 85 yard run and an 8 yard run and the defense shut-out the Pokes (8, slight pixellation, 1 Disc, TBS - Thulin/Davis/Sager, PAL)
29/10/05 - Air Force (41) @ (62) BYU - In a shootout in Provo, the Cougars put up 684 yards of total Offense and scored the most points in a single game since 2001 to take a big MWC win. BYU took a 41-14 lead into the 4th quarter thanks to QB John Beck (31-43-383-3) and RB Curtis Brown (25-219-4), who both had big games. Falcons back-up QB Adam Fitch (13-24-265-5) played heroically to try and bring the Air Force back, with 3 TD passes in the 4th quarter, but his efforts fell just short (8, Re-Broadcast with edited huddles in the 4th quarter, 1 Disc, BYU Sports Net - Twitty/Sheide, PAL)
03/11/05 - Pittsburgh (20) @ (42) Louisville - In a strange game, Louisville scored a TD on a fumble of the opening kick-off and Pitt responded by taking the ensuing kick-off back for a TD. Louisville RB Michael Bush (16-115-2) was the star before leaving the game in the 3rd quarter. Louisville QB Brian Brohm (21-31-247-0) had a good game too (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Herbstreit/Andrews, PAL)
05/11/05 - Texas A&M (17) @ (56) Texas Tech - Texas Tech started slowly against the old enemy but exploded for 42 2nd half points to win the game and set a record for the biggest win the series. Tech RB Taurean Henderson (20-109-4) and QB Cody Hodges (29-44-408-2) both had big games and the defense, led by Safety Dwayne Slay, forced 3 key turnovers (9, 1 Disc, FOX - Goodman/Reasons/Knox, PAL)
05/11/05 - Texas (62) @ (0) Baylor - #2 ranked Texas increased their winning streak to 16 games with an easy win in Waco against the 4-4 Bears. Texas put up 645 yards of Total Offense, led by 3rd-string RB Ramonce Taylor (15-102-3) and QB Vince Young (16-27-298-2 + 8-53-0). The Longhorns raced out to a 27-0 lead at the half, pulled their starters in the 3rd quarter and coasted home. Texas also featured QB Matt Nordgren (1 TD run), RB Jamaal Charles (13-72-2) and WR Billy Pittman (3-60-0). Baylor were led by QB Terrance Parks (10-23-89-0), who was making his 2nd career start, RB Brand Whitaker (8-49-0) and WR Dominic Zeigler (4-27-0) (8, 1 Disc, FOX - Meyers/Lapham/Rhadigan, PAL)
05/11/05 - Vanderbilt (42) @ (49) Florida - Unranked Vanderbilt took #13 Florida to 2 overtimes but an interception by DB Reggie Lewis denied them the win. Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler (28-42-361-4) had a huge game but couldn't pull out the win. Florida QB Chris Leak (32-41-257-3) also had a big game (9, 2 Discs, CBS - McDonough/Gottfried, PAL)
05/11/05 - Wisconsin (14) @ (35) Penn State - # 10 Penn State raced out to a 21-0 4th quarter lead behind the dual threat of QB Michael Robinson (13-28-238-2 + 16-125-0) and a dominant defense which forced 9 sacks, 4 from DE Tamba Hali (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
12/11/05 - Florida (22) @ (30) South Carolina - South Carolina, coached by Steve Spurrier, beat the #12 Gators, Spurrier's old team. SC RB's Mike Davis and Daccus Turman each scored 2 TD's as the Gamecocks beat the Gators for the 1st time in 66 years. SC WR Sidney Rice (5-112-0) had a huge game (9, 2 Discs, JP Sports - Neal/Rowe/Baker, PAL)
12/11/05 - Auburn (31) @ (30) Georgia - In a wild finish, Auburn completed a miracle play to upset #9 ranked Georgia. With 2 minutes remaining, Auburn faced 4th-and-10 at their own 34 and QB Brandon Cox (16-28-279-0) found WR Devin Aromashodu (4-135-0) for a 62 yard pass play. The catch set up a 20 yard FG by John Vaughn with 6 seconds left that won the game. Auburn also featured RB Kenny Irons (37-179-2). The Bulldogs were led by QB DJ.Shockley (20-36-304-2), who had a great game on his return from injury, RB Thomas Brown (13-74-1) and 2 receivers over 100 yards ; TE Leonard Pope (8-102-1) and WR Mohammed Massaquoi (6-108-1) (10, 1 Disc, ESPN - Franklin/Davie/Rowe, PAL)
12/11/05 - Oregon (34) @ (31) Washington State - Oregon used the dual QB threat of Dennis Dixon (16-22-197-1) and Brady Leaf (12-17-9-1) to take on Wazzou RB Jerome Harrison (28-143-1). The game ebbed and flowed as both teams gained and lost the initiative and when WSU scored 10 unanswered points, Oregon needed a 19 yard FG with 1 second left to keep their #11 ranking. RB Jerome Harrison broke the PAC-10 record for consecutive 100 yards games and also the school record for rushing yards in a season (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Tompkins/Papadakis/Watson, PAL)
12/11/05 - Arizona State (35) @ (45) UCLA - In a wild shootout, ASU QB Rudy Carpenter (27-37-334-3) and UCLA QB Drew Olson (22-27-510-5) went head to head. UCLA built a 21-7 1st quarter lead but ASU forced a 28-28 tie at the half before Drew Olson pulled the Bruins away with 2 more TD passes (9, 1 Disc, ABC - Gannon/Anderson/Gray, PAL)
19/11/05 - Oklahoma (21) @ (23) Texas Tech - Tech beat Oklahoma for the first time in 6 years as Texas Tech RB Taurean Henderson (16-109-1) scored on a 2 yard run on the last play of the game. Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson (29-108-2) and Tech QB Cody Hodges (24-37-232-2) also had big games (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Goodman/Lapham/Knox, NTSC)
19/11/05 - Fresno State (42) @ (50) USC - In a high scoring shootout, underdog Fresno State ran the #1 ranked Trojans close with QB Paul Pinegar (27-45-317-4) having a big game. But the biggest player was USC RB Reggie Bush who had 513 all purpose yards, a PAC-10 record. Bush rushed for 294 yards and caught 3 passes for 68 yards. The performance sealed his Heisman Trophy bid (9, JIP 14:52 1st quarter, 2 Discs, FOX - Tompkins/Papadakis/Watson, PAL)
19/11/05 - Harvard (30) @ (24) Yale - In the 1st ever overtime game in the 122 game series history, Harvard cameback from a 21-3 deficit and took Yale to 3 overtimes before winning the game. Yale stadium was almost in darkness as the game ended as it didn't have floodlights (10, 1 Disc, WGN - Steiner/Jiggetts/Dowling/Krueger, PAL)
19/11/05 - Vanderbilt (28) @ (24) Tennessee - Vandy finally ended their 30 year losing streak to Tennessee at Neyland Stadium as QB Jay Cutler (27-39-315-3), in his final game, threw the winning 5 yard TD pass with 1:11 to go in the game. The win overshadowed a big game from Tennessee RB Arian Foster (40-223-2) but he got no support from the passing game as QB Rick Clausen (11-25-125-1) struggled in his final home game (2 versions ; 9, Slight pixellation, 1 Disc, JP Sports - Rosinski/Rowe/ Hildreth, PAL / 10, 2 Discs, JP Sports - Rosinski/Rowe/Hildreth, PAL)
26/11/05 - Fresno State (35) @ (38) Nevada - Nevada upset #16 ranked Fresno State and ended the Bulldogs 12 game WAC win streak with a big victory in Reno. Nevada held a 24-16 lead at the half but the Bulldogs mounted a rally in the 2nd half behind the play of QB Paul Pinegar (30-45-405-4) to pull within 1 point. Nevada, led by QB Jeff Rowe (15-22-189-1 + 10-15-1), managed 2 more scores and recovered an on-side kick with 54 seconds left to seal the win. Nevada also featured RB Robert Hubbard (16-146-3). Fresno State also featured WR Joe Fernandez (9-150-1) (10, 1 Disc, ESPN 2 - McDonough/Gottfried/Flanagan, PAL)
01/12/05 - MAC Championship - Akron (31) V (30) Northern Illinois - Both teams matched blow for blow with NIU RB Garrett Wolfe rushing for a championship game record 270 yards. In the 4th quarter, Akron were on the ropes but QB Luke Getsy threw a 36 yard TD pass to Domenik Hixon with 10 secs left for the win (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Herbstreit/Andrews, PAL)
03/12/05 - UCLA (19) @ (66) USC - High-Powered UCLA were expected to give USC their biggest test but the Trojans put all their efforts into a dominating ground game that saw Reggie Bush (24-260-2) and LenDale White (14-154-2) control the clock and the game. USC QB Matt Leinart (21-40-233-3) played his last home game (9, LIP 3 mins remaining in the 4th quarter, missing last UCLA TD, 2 Discs, ABC - Jackson/Fouts/Harris, PAL)
09/12/05 - Div-1AA Semi-Final - Northern Iowa (40) @ (37) Texas State - UNI raced out to a 14-0 lead but the Bobcats fought back to take a 7 point lead into the final 5 minutes. But UNI scored with 1:27 left and completed a 2 point conversion to force overtime. UNI scored 1st on a 25 yard FG and then stopped the Bobcats on 4th down to clinch a place in the final. UNI QB Eric Sanders (24-31-417-4) had a huge game (9, Missing most of the 1st quarter due to transmission failure, 2 Discs, ESPN2 - Pasch/Gilmore/Matich/Dales-Schuman, PAL)
21/12/05 - GMAC Bowl - Toledo (45) v (13) UTEP - Toledo scored 21 2nd quarter points to pull away from UTEP and shut out the Miners in the 2nd half. Toledo QB Bruce Gradkowski (18-30-298-5) had a big game in his last college game (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Franklin/Davie/Rowe, PAL)
22/12/05 - Poinsettia Bowl - Navy (50) v (31) Colorado State - Navy RB Reggie Campbell (290 all purpose yards) set an NCAA bowl record with 5 TD's. Navy rushed for 467 yards and both teams combined for 1,183 yards of total offense. CSU QB Justin Holland (26-33-381-3) had a big game in his last college game (9, 2 Discs, ESPN2 - Bender/Curry/Ryan, PAL)
24/12/05 - Hawaii Bowl - Nevada (49) v (48) Central Florida - Both teams amassed 1,178 yards of total offense. UCF cameback from a 10 point deficit in the last 1:32 to force Overtime but lost the game on a missed PAT (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Barnett/James/Shuster, PAL)
27/12/05 - Insight Bowl - Arizona State (45) v (40) Rutgers - In a wild offensive shoot-out, both teams combined for 1211 yds of Offense. Rutgers held a brief 24-10 lead before ASU QB Rudy Carpenter (23-35-467-4) turned the game around (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
29/12/05 - Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma (17) v (14) Oregon - Oklahoma upset #6 ranked Oregon with an interception in the last minute when the Ducks were already in FG range to force Overtime. Oklahoma QB Brett Rhomar (17-30-229-1) and RB Adrian Peterson (23 rushes for 84 yds) had big games (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Jackson/Fouts/Harris, PAL)
30/12/05 - Peach Bowl - LSU (40) v (3) Miami - In a stunning upset, #10 LSU dominated #9 Miami behind QB Matt Flynn (13-22-196-2) who was making his 1st career start. Miami only gained 153 yards of total offense as the Tigers out-rushed the Canes 272-53 (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Nessler/Griese/Swann, PAL)
30/12/05 - Sun Bowl - Northwestern (38) v (50) UCLA - In a wild game, both teams combined for 1,037 yards of offense, 2 interception return TD's and 2 on-side kick return TD's. Northwestern built a 22-0 1st quarter lead but UCLA scored 29 unanswered points to take the lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Northwestern QB Brett Basanez (38-70-416-2) and UCLA QB Drew Olson (10-24-143-3), both in their last college games, were huge but the player of the game may have been UCLA WR Brandon Breazell who returned 2 onside kicks for 4th quarter TD's. The game was also the last ever game for Northwestern coach Randy Walker, who died of a heart attack in June 2006 (9, 2 Discs, CBS - Lundquist/Blackledge/Wolfson, PAL)
02/01/06 - Cotton Bowl - Alabama (13) v (10) Texas Tech - The #1 Defense (Alabama) faced off against the #1 Offense (Texas Tech). Alabama scored on a 76 yard TD pass and Texas Tech levelled the game in the last 3 minutes with a 12 yard TD pass. Alabama won the game with a last play 45 yard FG that just cleared the cross-bar (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Brennaman/Donahue/Zelasko, PAL)
02/01/06 - Sugar Bowl - West Virginia (38) v (35) Georgia - West Virginia upset #8 Georgia behind a stunning ground attack that generated a 28-0 lead. Georgia fought back to within a TD but the Mountaineers executed a fake punt in the last 2 minutes to keep the ball and run out the clock. West Virginia Freshman RB Steve Slaton (26-204-3) had a huge day (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Nessler/Griese/Swann, PAL)
02/01/06 - Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State (34) v (20) Notre Dame - OSU QB Troy Smith (19-28-342-2 + 13-66) put on an MVP performance to beat #5 ranked Notre Dame. In a game of big plays, Ohio State had TD runs of 68 and 60 yards and a TD pass of 85 yards (10, 2 Discs, ABC - Musberger/Danielson/Arute, PAL)
03/01/06 - Orange Bowl - Penn State (26) v (23) Florida State - In a vicious defensive game, both teams failed to generate consistent offense. Florida State forced the 1st of 3 Overtimes. Both teams missed FG's in the 1st OT. Both teams scored TD's in the 2nd OT and in the 3rd OT the Florida State kicker hit the upright before the Penn State kicker ended the 4 hour marathon (9, 3 Discs, ABC - Tirico/Herbstreit/Andrews, PAL)
04/01/06 - Rose Bowl - Texas (41) v (38) USC - In one of the greatest ever games, #2 Texas upset #1 USC with a TD in the last 5 minutes and stopped USC's last drive on a 4th and 1. USC QB Matt Leinart (29-40-365-1), RB Reggie Bush (13-82-1 + 6 catches, 95 yds) and Lendale White (20-124-3) all had big games but the biggest was by Texas QB Vince Young (30-40-267-0 + 19-200-3), in his last college game (10, 3 Discs, ABC - Jackson/Fouts/Harris, PAL)
21/01/06 - Shrine Bowl - West (35) v (31) East - West QB Reggie McNeal (211 yds + 2 TD passes) threw a 23 yard TD pass to WR Mike Hass with 2 minutes remaining to take the lead then let the Defense hold from the 1 yard line on the last play. The West team featured Texas Tech RB Taurean Henderson, UCLA QB Drew Olson, Fresno State QB Paul Pinegar and Texas Tech Safety Dwayne Slay. The East team featured Toldeo QB Bruce Gradkowski, Northwestern QB Brett Basanez and Arkansas RB De'Arrius Howard (9, Missing last seconds of the 2nd quarter, 2 Discs, ESPN2 - Wischusen/Curry/McShay/Ryan, PAL)
28/01/06 - Senior Bowl - North (31) v (14) South - Despite the MVP performance of South and Miami WR Sinorice Moss (3 catches, 45 yds), the North used the passing skills of Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst (7-9-90-1) and the running skills of Penn State QB Michael Robinson (9 rushes for 63 yds) to hold off the South. The South featured Alabama QB Brodie Croyle, Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams and UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis. The North also featured Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler and Colorado TE Joe Klopfenstein (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Barnett/James/Spielman, PAL)