This is not a list of the 10 best or highest-rated college football broadcast calls of all time. That would require a lot more parsing, evaluation, and critical observation. This is also not a list of the 10 greatest college football moments on TV — the Colorado-Michigan Hail Mary and the Nebraska-Miami 2-point conversion in the 1984 Orange Bowl are not included.
What is this list intended to do? It’s intended to give you a sample of the very best college football announcers over time. More precisely, it’s meant to feature not only the best announcers, but to showcase them at (or closer to) the height of their powers. Keith Jackson was never better than he was with Frank Broyles. Brent Musburger ruled the sports media universe in the 1980s. Verne Lundquist had not lost too much off his fastball in 2007, when you’ll get a chance to listen to one of his game calls below.
Curt Gowdy in the mid-1970s. Sean McDonough in the late 1990s. Charlie Jones of NBC on the Fiesta Bowl. Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried in the late 1990s.
Reconnect with the best when they were at their best. Younger fans might encounter some broadcast calls they weren’t aware of.
Let’s step into the time machine and enjoy 10 great calls, without an emphasis on ranking — college football has too many polls as it is.
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KEITH JACKSON AND FRANK BROYLES: ALABAMA-GEORGIA 1985, FINAL MINUTE
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RON FRANKLIN AND MIKE GOTTFRIED: UCLA-MIAMI 1998 (CONDENSED), FEATURING THE CANES’ FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY
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JACKSON AND BROYLES: 1985 IRON BOWL — FINAL DRIVE AND VAN TIFFIN’S KICK
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CURT GOWDY AND AL DEROGATIS: 1975 ROSE BOWL — USC’S TOUCHDOWN AND GAME-WINNING 2-POINT CONVERSION VS. OHIO STATE
3:20:10 for the touchdown, with the 2-point conversion to follow:
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JACKSON AND BROYLES: 1982 SUGAR BOWL — PITTSBURGH JOLTS GEORGIA ON LATE DAN MARINO PASS
At 2:29:10, but the drive starts at 2:25:05:
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BRENT MUSBURGER WITH PAT HADEN AND ARA PARSEGHIAN: HAIL FLUTIE, 1984
At 4:25:
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SEAN MCDONOUGH: “BEHIND THE DEFENSE!” — FLORIDA STATE-FLORIDA, 1997
At the 9:40 mark:
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BRENT MUSBURGER AND GARY DANIELSON: “HOLY BUCKEYE” — OHIO STATE-PURDUE, 2002
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CHARLIE JONES, JIMMY CEFALO, AND BOB GRIESE: 1987 FIESTA BOWL (CONDENSED)
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VERNE LUNDQUIST AND GARY DANIELSON: ARKANSAS-LSU 2007 — TRIPLE OVERTIME (CONDENSED)
