Josh Pate is running with the best ones tonight, and I thought this might be a place to discuss some of these and get widespread contribution.
What one play in CFB history IF CHANGED has the biggest so-called "butterfly effect" and changes the sport the most?
Here are a few that came to my mind:
2013 The Play That Shall Not Be Mentioned - prevented a potential 3-peat
1990 Fifth Down - I'm serious. Look at the polls, think about how it would have jiggered the bowl games...and tell me you even have any idea who wins the national championship. Sure, Colorado doesn't BUT WHO DOES? And if it's Miami...that makes them 3-peat in 1991...does Washington even get considered for a split title? And then Alabama is playing Miami going for a 4-peat. There's a lot wrapped up in that one play.
2011 OK State vs Iowa St - Pokes Quinn Sharp missed a 37-yard game-winning FG with a minute left that would have won the game, kept them undefeated, and cost Alabama the BCSNC. And it has long been rumored - and later confirmed - that it was during this time the first Texas flirtations with Saban were ongoing. If he doesn't have a dynasty in the making...does he go? Does OK State beat LSU (no, they don't)? And before anyone says it, "NO!" This doesn't prevent a four-team playoff, which was in response to Congress and despite revisionism had nothing to do with the all-SEC rematch.
1984 Orange Bowl - if Osborne either kicks the point or they make the 2-point play, they win the national title. Does the Miami dynasty even happen? Does Schnellenberger's stock rise enough for him to leave for a nonexistent USFL franchise? Does Osborne - with the pressure off - win even more titles than he did?
1993 Boston College vs Notre Dame - if the Irish win, who do they play in what game and who wins the title? Does it prevent Bowden from his first and give Holtz his second? Does it set the stage for the Nebraska dynasty?
2010 Iron Bowl - pick any single play, there are a lot of them. If Alabama wins - Ingram doesn't fumble, the McElroy INT doesn't happen, Mark Barron not hurt - TCU plays Oregon. Do the low ratings expedite a playoff?
2008 Texas vs Texas Tech - without Harrell to Crabtree, Texas finishes the year unbeaten and plays Florida. How does that change the outlook for both teams and both conferences? (Probably not that much but who knows?)
I'll add more as I think of them.
What one play in CFB history IF CHANGED has the biggest so-called "butterfly effect" and changes the sport the most?
Here are a few that came to my mind:
2013 The Play That Shall Not Be Mentioned - prevented a potential 3-peat
1990 Fifth Down - I'm serious. Look at the polls, think about how it would have jiggered the bowl games...and tell me you even have any idea who wins the national championship. Sure, Colorado doesn't BUT WHO DOES? And if it's Miami...that makes them 3-peat in 1991...does Washington even get considered for a split title? And then Alabama is playing Miami going for a 4-peat. There's a lot wrapped up in that one play.
2011 OK State vs Iowa St - Pokes Quinn Sharp missed a 37-yard game-winning FG with a minute left that would have won the game, kept them undefeated, and cost Alabama the BCSNC. And it has long been rumored - and later confirmed - that it was during this time the first Texas flirtations with Saban were ongoing. If he doesn't have a dynasty in the making...does he go? Does OK State beat LSU (no, they don't)? And before anyone says it, "NO!" This doesn't prevent a four-team playoff, which was in response to Congress and despite revisionism had nothing to do with the all-SEC rematch.
1984 Orange Bowl - if Osborne either kicks the point or they make the 2-point play, they win the national title. Does the Miami dynasty even happen? Does Schnellenberger's stock rise enough for him to leave for a nonexistent USFL franchise? Does Osborne - with the pressure off - win even more titles than he did?
1993 Boston College vs Notre Dame - if the Irish win, who do they play in what game and who wins the title? Does it prevent Bowden from his first and give Holtz his second? Does it set the stage for the Nebraska dynasty?
2010 Iron Bowl - pick any single play, there are a lot of them. If Alabama wins - Ingram doesn't fumble, the McElroy INT doesn't happen, Mark Barron not hurt - TCU plays Oregon. Do the low ratings expedite a playoff?
2008 Texas vs Texas Tech - without Harrell to Crabtree, Texas finishes the year unbeaten and plays Florida. How does that change the outlook for both teams and both conferences? (Probably not that much but who knows?)
I'll add more as I think of them.