100 Days, 100 Reasons G6 Football Matters

College football history is filled with big plays, memorable comebacks, thrilling finishes. The best one belongs to Boise State.

Oklahoma is the sixth-winningest program in the history of college football. Under Bob Stoops, the Sooners had won the 2000 national championship and finished in the AP top 6 five times in seven years. They were 7.5-point favorites. This was not a mid-major upsetting a mediocre power conference team in a consolation bowl. This was Oklahoma in a BCS game.

Boise State came in 12-0 out of the WAC. Chris Petersen was in his first year as head coach. The Broncos were not just representing themselves. They were representing every outsider program segregated by the system.

The Sooners scored 25 unanswered points and took their first lead 35-28 on a Zabransky interception returned for a touchdown with 1:02 left. It was over.

Fourth-and-18. Eighteen seconds left. Zabransky threw to Drisan James. James lateraled to Jerard Rabb. Rabb scored untouched. The play was called "Circus." Tied at 35. Overtime.

Adrian Peterson — the last carry of his college career — ran 25 yards for a touchdown on Oklahoma’s first play. Oklahoma 42, Boise State 35. Boise State answered on fourth down when Vinny Perretta, a wide receiver, took the snap and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Derek Schouman. "He just threw the ball like a quarterback," Stoops said.

Oklahoma 42, Boise State 41. Petersen went for two.

Zabransky faked a pass to his right. Behind his back, with his left hand, he handed the ball to Ian Johnson. Johnson ran left. Nobody touched him. Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42. The play was called "Statue Left."

"We had this mantra the whole season, ‘Let’s party in the end zone,’" Johnson said. "When they called that play, it’s perfect because you know what ‘fiesta’ means — it means party."

Johnson ran to the sideline, dropped to one knee and proposed to Chrissy Popadics — the Boise State head cheerleader — on national television. She said yes. They married that July. They hired security for the wedding after receiving threats. They’re still married. Eighteen years and a daughter named Johannah.

Boise State finished 13-0, No. 5 in the final AP poll, the only undefeated team in the country. Three trick plays in the final minute and overtime against the sixth-winningest program in college football history. Every outsider program in America watched that night and saw what was possible.

They told you it didn’t matter. Here are 100 reasons it does.