College Football Regular Season Classics To Watch While “In Covid-19 Lockdown”

FILE – Lawrence Cager (15) catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 at Sanford Stadium. )Photo by: Associated Press – FILE)

DAN MATHEWS
680 THE FAN ATLANTA, GA –
College football regular season classics… I’ve got those too!

It is looking more evident that college football could be played this season. Even better, it looks like we could be getting it this fall!

We are in a world where our major sports are still in a waiting game. So, I will build off what I posted last week, about classic postseason games that could fill your college football needs. Now, I will look at the regular season classics that I have been going back to watch.

I have been lucky enough to be in the building for some of those games. Others, I watched them on TV.

My classic favorite regular season games: 

  • 2019 LSU at Texas: Me and Frank Duffy were lucky enough to be in the building that night in Austin. It was also the game that let people know that this was a completely different LSU team. The legend of Joe Burrow grew that night, when he would throw for 471 yards and four touchdowns. His 3rd and 17 strike to Justin Jefferson is the highlight that started Burrow’s Heisman Trophy campaign.
  • 2019 Notre Dame at Georgia: This was the lone primetime game that CBS would have in the 2019 college football season. The atmosphere in Athens was absolutely electric that night. The crowd, the new LED lights and the play on the field are enough to remember this game for years. It was a hard fought win for the Bulldogs. Few believed that this game could be better than the 2017 trip to South Bend. Jake Fromm and company were able to at least match the excitement of that game.
  • 2019 LSU at Alabama: The streak of eight straight wins for Alabama over their SEC West rivals had finally come to an end. The Tigers were able to go into Bryant-Denny Stadium to pull off the impressive win. They also further showed the college football world that they should be taken seriously as a national title contender. Joe Burrow threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns. LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was also a huge difference maker, with his 103 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Tua Tagovailoa was no slouch, with his 418 yards passing and four touchdowns.
  • 2008 Texas at Texas Tech: It was Mack Brown vs. Mike Leach. Colt McCoy on one sideline and Michael Crabtree on the other one. The atmosphere in Lubbock was electric that night. ABC made this their primetime game. Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell found Crabtree from 28 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown with just one second left on the clock. The following kickoff would not be returned by the Longhorns. Fans rushed the field and Texas was held out of the BCS National Championship Game at the end of the season.
  • 2008 Texas vs. Oklahoma (In Dallas): This annual matchup has usually provided classic performances that shaped the path towards a national title. In 2008, it was Colt McCoy against Sam Bradford. The Sooners jumped out to an early 14-3 lead. It wasn’t until Jordan Shipley returned an Oklahoma kickoff 66 yards for a touchdown, where the Longhorns looked like they could be in for another disappointing day at the Texas State Fairgrounds. They would go on to beat Oklahoma 45-35 that day. It would not be the end of the Sooners quest to win a second national title under then head coach Bob Stoops.
  • 2012 Georgia vs. Florida: Georgia needed this win badly! Just three weeks prior, the Dawgs went to South Carolina and got thrashed 35-7 by the Gamecocks. Mark Richt and company needed this win over the Gators in the worst way. UGA’s defense force six Gator turnovers in the win. The most costliest of Florida offensive miscues, came as tight end Jordan Reed was making his way towards the Georgia end zone and had the ball knocked out of his hands by Jarvis Jones. The fumble was recovered by Sanders Commings. The Bulldogs also needed some offensive heroics that day. That came from a third down 45 yard touchdown pass from Aaron Murray to Malcolm Mitchell. UGA went on to take the game 17-9 and would eventually go on to represent the SEC East in the conference championship game.

Honorable Mention Games: 2018 Texas vs. Oklahoma, 2014 Alabama at Ole Miss, 2013 Iron Bowl- Alabama at Auburn and 2016 Michigan at Ohio State.

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