BYU Football: Top 100 Plays

Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan countdown the greatest plays in Cougar Football history.

[@DavidThe3rd]

#57 baby.. man that game was fun.. rushing the feild after was so amazing.. props to him!

[@wwlittle]

I was at the "Miracle Bowl" in 1980 as a member of the Cougar Band. An incredible experience.

[@staleydu1]

Most improbable BYU victory ever was against Miami. Detmer’s performance was second to none. That last touchdown play, I’d put higher.

[@jameslawlor3635]

Jake Oldroyd's game winner with his first kick and Kalani's first game deserves to be on the list. Other than that, fantastic!

[@beckdishman7147]

I agree. Start of a kicker dynasty

[@nathangiles7900]

That Arizona game was 🔥

[@rmichels05]

Crazy thing is he’s still a sophomore because of a mission, an injury, and covid

[@jonbitter395]

I wish I had kept track of how many cotton blow clips vs K State were on here. That was a heck of a game.

[@GenXTired]

I so love seeing these!

[@glennaclawson]

still a hole in the ceiling in my basement when jumped up and my first went through the drywall when mcmahon hit brown against SMU

[@elijahhodges4405]

I was dancing in the street the 1981 Holiday Bowl for that Hail Marry.

[@craigjorgensen5895]

I was dancing in the stadium right above the end zone where it happened!

[@elijahhodges4405]

@@craigjorgensen5895 That is great!

[@craigjorgensen5895]

@@elijahhodges4405 crazy story. My father had given up and decided we would go to the car and wait for my older brother, who was sitting elsewhere with friends. We could hear the radio broadcast while walking to the car, and I told my parents forget it and went back in. I was standing on the walkway above that end zone when it happened.

[@stevencraven4897]

I was in Cougar Band Fall 1980. When Craig James broke outside on that long run with 4:00 left, we all thought it was over. Best part for the band was, the game on 1 hour tape delay in San Diego so when we get back to the hotel to change before dinner, the 4th quarter was just starting. It's a LOT of fun to watch when you KNOW what is going to happen in that last 3:58.

[@elijahhodges4405]

@@stevencraven4897 My brother-in-law Larry Farnes and his wife were in the Cougar band then too. Carrie Irizary.

[@joelvogt4496]

Great Player & Now Preacher

[@dlake145]

If this were filmed today, the Tyler Allgier punch would be #1

[@givertayk]

#4: Nacua hugs a ref Makes me laugh every time

[@maxjoyner997]

It was Terenn Houk

[@nathangiles7900]

This will be interesting I first started watching in 2016 when I was 7

[@mugwhamp]

Love me some Cougs!

[@stevencraven4897]

I always have believed that THE most critical highlight play from the 1980 Holiday Bowl was Schoepflin's blocked punt.

[@gladec3896]

Thanks guys and crew, great show and memories, thanks all Couger players, All made them happen

[@marissajenson8398]

I remember being at some of these games. So fun!

[@elijahhodges4405]

I could watch this over and over.

[@charleybarley939]

Why have I become a BYU fan all of the sudden?

[@howardsmith9342]

You have seen the light!

[@orangecabbage7456]

46:17 LOL HE HUGGED THE REF LIKE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CALL 😂

[@nirtlocj]

Beck to Harline. Legendary. Unforgettable.

[@phav1832]

One season that gets overlooked is the 74 Cougars with Gary Sheide . . . that was Lavell's breakout year and there were some sensational plays. I would love to see highlights of the 74 game against ASU posted on KZbin!

[@nathantaylor3576]

me too

[@zone2Ironman]

Love the old Blue and White Network calls by Gary Sheide

[@marklehnardt8113]

Can you make a 4-hour saga by adding interviews with key players -- I'm sure there is post-game and talk-show footage of key players describing what happened. Maybe there are some juicy tidbits from coaches, linemen and other downfield blockers, etc., and some current-day recollections from the players in their older years reminiscing about their glory days. Because, I mean, Spencer and Jarom are pretty tight as hosts, but we want to hear it from the horses mouths!

[@rickplatts]

Harline is still open...

[@dannyfootball3608]

Andrew George is still running...

[@alexhansen7046]

@@tannerplummer1996 oops

[@joshuarichardson9369]

If only we would've scored that last second touchdown against coastal carolina, that for sure would be up here

[@bigboiblake6053]

I’m still mad about that

[@Ironrodpower]

Amen

[@howardsmith9342]

What makes it sadder was that Allguier was wide open on the sideline, with only one guy to beat, and he was facing the wrong way.

[@joshuarichardson9369]

@@howardsmith9342 I know, it makes me sad to think about it

[@stevencraven4897]

The way that game was played, on both sides, it seemed that if the Cougs had just played their regular offense and defense instead of trying to "change up" to confuse the Chanticleers, it would never have had to come down to that final drive. They looked like themselves then; but were someone else the rest of the game. And it carried over into stretched against SDSU. Ah, well,. Take care of business against UCF tomorrow night. Eat 'em up, Cougs!

[@mathislarsen4618]

This list needs to include the Riley Nelson 2-pt conversion and high five with the ref vs TCU

[@inoaw853]

Man the El-Bakri hit at #89 would for sure be a targeting call today! Even though it was only 3 years ago.

[@howardsmith9342]

Kurt Gouveia's clobber of Walter Murray as well.

[@dallaswood4117]

Very surprised I haven’t seen more of that hit in compilation videos etc that was absolutely brutal

[@clarklarsen1973]

Terrific list of plays. As an honorable mention, I would include defensive back Brian Mitchell's 97 yard Pick-6 against New Mexico back in 1989.

[@elijahhodges4405]

Kyle Van Noy caught the punt in the End Zone for touch down! Could anything ever be better than that?!?!

[@tbarron1631]

On #35 Nacua pick 6, I wish you would have included the audio from Wrubel. Brings a tear of joy to my eye every time.

[@howardsmith9342]

As sucky as the mtn. network was, I loved listening to James Bates on the call. His enthusiasm on those great plays was fun to listen to.

[@JoshStott21]

Fred Warner pick six with all the broken tackles needs to be higher. Also the Payne trains successive hits as a punter should move up a few.

[@BrianBerthold]

This was just what I needed to see on the day after Christmas and with BYU’s bowl season already over. Even though they had a satisfying “Boca Bowl” win, I already miss watching them play. Kudos for everyone involved in putting this “Top 100 Plays” together. I think most universities would be hard-pressed to produce something like this and with this many memorable plays. BYU Football should really lay claim to the name: “The Cardiac Cougars.”

[@Skrimshady]

I'm surprised only 1 play had Steve Young

[@bobdude9905]

Go Cougars

[@wbball15]

I like the top 5.

[@dfausti66]

I saw the "Miracle Bowl" live and it was a great experience. I was also at the Miami game when they were preseason ranked #1 when BYU finished them off.

[@jpkimoana9556]

Play #37 was my nephew!! haha

[@spencerhiginbotham7538]

Moroni Laulu-Pututau or Aleva Hifo?

[@jpkimoana9556]

@@spencerhiginbotham7538 Pututau.. that's my nephew!

[@caseyc9658]

Great highlight reel. And you definitely got the #1 play right with McMahon to Brown. I’ll never forget that game.

[@lylesmith3506]

For me #2 is Kyle Morral going over the top in Hawaii. 1984 dies without that amazing play.

[@vegascougar]

Bosco sure threw some ducks.

[@quasidiem99]

The 1997 Cotton Bowl team was probably the most talented in BYU history. They should've been nat'l champions that year.

[@rmichels05]

We got beat by 12 against Washington, Florida avenged their loss to Florida State in the championship game

[@bryanbaird4646]

3 & 4 should've been switched, imho. :)

[@spencerteames4987]

on play #4 the guy hugging the refs makes me laugh

[@nirtlocj]

#4 Cosmo is the first man into the end zone to congratulate Mitch Matthews. LOL

[@mikeholmstrom1899]

Was Tom Holmoe's pick 6 of Georgia's John Lastinger in 1982 in this?

[@stevencraven4897]

One play which never makes it into these rankings and deserves a "look-see:". In 1974: North Texas at BYU, NTS has been having success drawing in the o-line and then killing with screen passed. Then one of those linemen recognized the "tells" and times a leap, tipping the ball to himself and a rumbling run with North Texas players all over him. I don't remember if it was Glen Redd or Nick Eyre or someone else. But you need to find the tape of that game and see if you can find that play.

[@Byler39]

BYU hasn’t really ever gotten the recognition they deserved. They play some amazing football

[@elijahhodges4405]

1984 was the greatest season.

[@elijahhodges4405]

Steve Young in BYU 1982 against Wyoming at BYU. Wyoming was winning. Minutes left. Steve talked to the Couch, Edwards gave in. Then Steve won.

[@larrybaxter6881]

In 1986 against Air Force, Jensen scrambles out of the pocket, breaks a tackle, gets a huge block clearing the last defender, then falls on his face at the 5 yard line. That play needs to be in this just for the entertainment value. And get the edited version with the Caddyshack gopher doing the tripping.

[@gkp76]

TV was black and white in 1982?

[@GenXTired]

Tyler Allgeier’s punch out and Hall’s recovery should be closer to the top in my opinion but all of those plays were fun to watch and re-live. Most of those plays I watched live or on tv live, thanks to a father and grandfather who instilled a love of BYU football in me since I was young enough to remember. Thanks for the memories.

[@kevinl1299]

They've said they would have put that play in the top 20 had that happened before this list was made, but it hadn't happened yet when they made it

[@thekylester]

This list was released in 2020. Allgeier’s punch fumble was in 2021

[@jasonkeuma1986]

Where’s the play from ASU 2021? Superman, hulk punch, forced fumble recovery Tyler Allgeier. Kidding. It just happened Next edition

[@MasterEgo]

There’s a lot of great plays against Ohio State 1982. Too bad we lost 17-47

[@nirtlocj]

Not sure the list should include 3 plays from the 1982 Holiday Bowl vs Ohio St that we lost 47-17.

[@howardsmith9342]

Those plays were great. It's the other ones not shown that sucked.

[@thohangst]

So basically you have plays in the following categories, sometimes overlapping: - amazing catches - plays that won games - unlikely plays - hospital hits - plays that ruin a Ute's day Probably a few more categories I haven't included.

[@ian-j]

11:10 he got dropped

[@michaeltaylors2456]

I think , hope we are seeing the end of the tight fitting suit craze right now

[@chungweiwang3718]

The impolite galley especially harass because flood understandably clap amid a tangible iran. neighborly, slow chair

[@jameslawlor3635]

This is great! Please release a version without the annoying music and maybe without (sorry guys) Spencer and jarom?

[@daveb3904]

Come on James, this is well done. I'll take Spencer and Jarom erring on the campy side every day over the national network talking heads and their hyperbole.

[@jameslawlor3635]

@@daveb3904 I don't disagree, but I still would prefer a highlight video without breaks

[@RedBird77]

Is it true the coaching staff develops plays by throwing stones into a hat and rattles them off to a scribe?

[@williamdiemert9866]

BYU will lose in the Big XII conference