Everyone who knows me, knows that I have a strange thing for Boise State football. That's why I was extremely disappointed that the Huskers didn't win the Big XII to set up the showdown I've always wanted to see.

What Boise did do, though, is pull out one of the best bowl victories that I've ever seen. This got me to thinking about some of the greatest bowl games ever played, so here are my top 5:

Bowl Game #5: 1995 Fiesta Bowl
Nebraska 64 - Florida 28
This may be a biased pick, but I'm forever in love with this bowl for 2 reasons. 1) I was lucky enough to be there and 2) no one gave the greatest college football team of all time a shot to win it days before the game. People kept talking about this "Fun 'N Gun" offense that Spurrier brought to the desert. It just so happens that Nebraska came out and punished the Gators behind the performance of Phillips, Green, and one of the greatest plays ever. If there wasn't a quick whistle to bring back Christian Peter's touchdown and Osborne's humbleness of kneeling the ball on the Florida 10 at the end of the game, the Husker's could've scored around 80.

Bowl Game #4: 2001 GMAC Bowl
Marshall 64 - East Carolina 61 (2 OT)
Byron Leftwich showed the Heisman voters something to think about weeks before he didn't get invited with the finalists in New York. Trailing 38-8 at the half, I remember the T.V. announcers saying that Marshall should pull Leftwich out of the game to get some younger players bowl experience since the game was already over. Leftwich led, at the time, the largest bowl comeback victory. He drove 80 yards in the waining minute of the game to tie the score at 51 before both teams headed for OT. After both teams scored a rushing TD in the first OT, Marshall held the Pirates to a field goal in the 2^nd OT. Leftwich then threw his 70^th pass of the game for a touchdown giving him 4 throwing TD's, a rushing TD and 576 passing yards in one of the greatest bowl comeback victories of all time.

Bowl Game #3: 1984 Orange Bowl
Miami 31 - Nebraska 30
It really pains me to put a losing Husker game up here, but this game has been cited as the "greatest bowl game ever." Well, that was announced before we get to the final two on my list. Even though I can only comment on this game through the numerous times I've watched it on ESPN Classic, this game had everything. After spotting Miami 17 points in the first quarter, Nebraska responded by scoring on a fumblerooski play and adding another touchdown to cut the lead to 3 at half. Trailing 31-17 in the 4^th, Nebraska begins to be known for their style to wear a team down throughout a game. Nebraska cut the lead to 7 before converting a 4^th & 18 running (drum role please ...) an option to the right with :50 left on the clock. No coach in the history of college football has or will ever run an option for more than 15 yards with a national championship on the line. As we all know, the game ends with Osborne's incredible decision to win the national championship outright by going for two and having the pass knocked down.

Bowl Game #2: 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Boise State 43 - Oklahoma 42 (OT)
This is the game mentioned at the top of this blog. For those that weren't able to watch the game live, I urge you to DVR or Tivo this when it's played as an instant classic. Boise comes into the game as a massive underdog where people (other than me) gave them little to no chance at winning. They sprung out to an impressive 14-0 lead and improved that to 28-10 late in the 3^rd quarter. Oklahoma responds by scoring a touchdown, scoring a field goal, and then scoring one more touchdown with 1:26 left on the clock. It took three tries (due to penalties) for them to finally make their two point conversion. Just as Oklahoma has done the impossible and tries to take momentum of the game, you can just feel that everyone is pulling for Boise to make one final drive and score as time expires to pull of the improbable upset. On the very next play Boise has, Zabransky throws an interception that Oklahoma returns for a touchdown nearly deflating any chance for a win. Zabransky and the Broncos become determined and drive down to the 50 yard line to face a 4^th and 18 (where have I heard that distance before???). They call a hook and ladder that they score on with :07 remaining to force overtime. After Oklahoma scores first, Boise answers right back with a score of their own but decides not to kick the extra point. They wanted to end the game right there and then. Zabransky pulls off the most amazing statue of liberty plays that I've seen since McNabb was at Syracuse. He hands the ball off to Johnson behind his back for the final score of the game. Quite amazing. Maybe this isn't better in the traditional sense than the '84 Orange Bowl, but this was much more exciting to watch.

This might have been the best 2 points I've ever received in my bowl pool history as well.

I'm sure Dan Hawkins is kicking himself in Boulder tonight after watching the game.

Bowl Game #1: 2006 Rose Bowl
Texas 41 - USC 38
There may be no greater game than this with no greater individual performance. Vince Young single handedly took over the game for his 2^nd straight Rose Bowl victory. Once again the underdog came through to shine in the end. This game featured powerhouse USC that was, at the time, regarded as one of the best football teams of all time. Well, it's tough to say that you're the greatest with a loss on the final record. Back to the game: Texas took a remarkable 16-10 lead into halftime to shock most of the people watching. After a Dwayne Jarrett touchdown with under 7 minutes remaining in the 4^th many thought USC would march on to a record 3^rd consecutive national championship. Vince drove the Longhorns for a score with 4 minutes left on the clock and then the defense held USC on the biggest play of the game, a 4^th and 2 in Texas territory. If USC picks up the 1^st, they can run out the clock and win the game. Instead, Texas stuffs Lendale White, who even the cheerleaders knew was going to get the carry up the middle, and sets up one final drive for Vince. With a 4^th and 5 looming with under :30 left on the clock, Vince scrambles into the right corner of the end zone just as he did to beat Michigan. It's going to take quite a performance in a national championship game to ever top that.