The greatest bowl-game performances of the century

College football history is littered with outlandish performances. Unlike its professional counterpart, the college game still sees dramatic athletic discrepancies and matchup advantages that can result in unstoppable offensive machines. Let’s look at five of the most impressive performances that occurred in the postseason since 2000. This list is based on the statistical output, magnitude of the moment and offensive dominance displayed by the player.

5. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State – 2012 Fiesta Bowl vs. Stanford

Stat line: Eight catches, 186 receiving yards, three touchdowns; one carry, 52 rushing yards

Some might not remember Blackmon was one of the most impressive college receivers the game has ever seen, but throughout his career and in this Fiesta Bowl, he made the biggest plays, even though Stanford knew what was coming.

 

In what became a fantastically entertaining offensive shootout, Blackmon’s heroics bested star Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck’s. Blackmon had more than his share of personal problems after this game went final, but at the time he looked like one of the most dynamic and dominant wide receivers to ever play collegiate football.

4. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – 2009 Rose Bowl vs. Penn State

Stat line: 413 passing yards, four touchdowns; one rushing touchdown

The Trojans had a tremendous amount of offensive talent for Sanchez to utilize, but on their way to a 38-24 victory, the quarterback looked like he was playing a normal Pac-12 defense, not the seventh-ranked defense in the country. Penn State had given up just 168 yards per game through the air prior to the Rose Bowl, and Sanchez shredded them.