On Saturday the Oklahoma Sooners will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Norman. This game takes place 50 years since their “Game of the Century” in 1971. That year the No. 1 Cornhuskers played the No. 1 Sooners in Oklahoma on a Thursday night in November.
This sparked a conversation about the best games of the century, in which the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams faced off in the regular season. AP writer Ralph D. Russo put together a list of the best games between top-ranked teams.
- Oklahoma-Nebraska, 1971
- Texas–Arkansas, 1969
- Miami (Fl)-Florida State, 1991
- Notre Dame-Florida State, 1993
- Notre Dame-Michigan State, 1966
This top five omits two other key matchups that should be in the top five. The 2006 classic between Michigan and Ohio State for one. The other is the LSU and Alabama throwdown in Tuscaloosa from the 2019 season. Prior to that game head coach Ed Orgeron claimed, “we’re coming and we ain’t backing down.” Boy did they ever not back down.
The Tigers raced out to a huge 33-13 advantage at halftime led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr, and Cade York. Every time the Alabama team got close to LSU, the Tigers would pull away. They were able to withstand the 21-point fourth quarter to come away victorious.
Not to say that game was more deserving than let’s say the top three, but that game is worthy of being in the top five “Game of the Century” list. The other matchup under consideration would be the 2011 defensive slugfest between Alabama and LSU. The Tigers won 9-6 in overtime. That season the Bayou Bengals marched all the way to the BCS National Championship before Alabama got the better of them in round two.
Where would you rank the LSU-Alabama 2019 slugfest?