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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver James Washington (28) makes a catch as Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Avonte Maddox (14) defends during the first half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver James Washington (28) makes a catch as Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Avonte Maddox (14) defends during the first half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Oklahoma State Knocks Off Pitt 45-38 (Sept. 17)

When people think of Oklahoma State’s 2016 season, they will probably first draw attention to the Sept. 10 loss to Central Michigan on a play that technically went against the rulebook as written. But the game that came a week later was far more significant for their long-term positioning in the Top 25. The Cowboys managed to do something that top-five schools Clemson and Penn State were unable to do — won against Pittsburgh.

The two teams traded points all game long. Pitt held the lead for less than a minute and a half, going up 10-7 in the first quarter on a 48-yard Chris Blewitt field goal. Oklahoma State responded with Ben Grogan’s 45-yard kick on the next drive. Once James Washington scored on a 29-yard TD pass from Mason Rudolph early in the second quarter to go up 17-10 the Cowboys would not trail again in the contest. The Panthers pulled level twice more in the third quarter, first on a fumble return and then on a 50-yard Quadree Henderson TD run. The defenses had their day in the fourth quarter, and the deciding points came following an 86-yard passing play from Rudolph to Jhajuan Seales that took OSU to the 1.

Rennie Childs punched in his fourth score of the day, and Nathan Peterman was picked off on Pitt’s next drive to seal the win. While the Cowboys would not yet climb into the Top 25 polls after this win, the takedown of the Panthers opened the door for Oklahoma State to stay highly ranked even after falling to Oklahoma in the Bedlam game to end the year.

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