As the 2026 college football season approaches, the On3 podcast has unveiled a list of the fifteen most defining plays in the sport’s history, compiled by analysts Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman and River Bailey.
Staples leans heavily on the 1980s, recalling moments such as Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary that still echo in the collective memory of fans.
Wasserman, by contrast, injects a recency bias, spotlighting Tua Tagovailoa’s game‑winning pass in the 2018 National Championship as a benchmark of modern clutch performance.
A Mix of Eras
Bailey’s selections are anchored in the 2010s, featuring Vince Young’s decisive touchdown in the 2006 BCS National Championship, Jadeveon Clowney’s bone‑crushing hit in the 2012 Outback Bowl and Michael Crabtree’s legendary catch that sealed a victory.
The trio also tossed in honorable mentions like the Miracle at Michigan and the five‑lateral showdown between Cal and Stanford, underscoring how age and perspective shape the narrative of what many consider the sport’s greatest moments.