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A college football game could have as many as 150-180 plays and yet the difference of a win or a loss can come down to one play. That play can happen during the second possession in the first quarter or the final play of the game. And we react to that one play often by getting angry at our team, players and coaches or praising them because they found a way to get it done.
Just ask the Gators, Knights, Noles and Canes how one play can change a game and a season. It's happened to all of them and turned a season of expectations into a season of frustration.
Florida had eight false starts in their loss to Kentucky. Eight! Five of those false starts came on third down and two of them came on the Gators final possession inside the Kentucky 10 yard line as they were trying to tie the game. One play on that final drive when the ball was inside the 10 yard line could have been a score and maybe Florida wins in overtime. Against Alabama, Florida had an extra point blocked in the second quarter. That lost point came into play late when Florida was forced to go for two against the Crimson Tide and a missed read and assignment on that play gave Florida no chance in overtime. Could Florida be 5-0? Sure. But a play here and a play there and they are now 3-2 and suddenly the great feeling after the Alabama loss has now turned into a 1-2 conference record and the reality of no conference title game and a bowl game where fans have little to no interest.
For UCF, a season of high expectations has now become one of struggle as so many injuries may have ruined a year. UCF lost at Navy Saturday and played without their star quarterback, best running back, best wide receiver, best linebacker and a starter at defensive tackle and defensive back. Those injuries are not the only reason UCF sits at 2-2, but they are major factors and while Dillon Gabriel is likely not coming back he's not the only one who is not coming back soon. But the Knights saw a chance to win at Louisville despite many mistakes become a play where a receiver could have made a catch and possibly put UCF in position for a game winning field goal in a tied game. Instead it became a pick six for Louisville. One play. And one other play where Louisville was awarded a timeout even though it clearly showed UCF getting a snap off for what they thought was a final play. Instead the whistle blew the play dead and Louisville was awarded a timeout. The next play is where Dillon Gabriel broke his clavicle. One play. In the Navy game there were many "one play" moments. Senior Big Kat Bryant jumped offsides on a fourth and two from UCF's 9-yard line with UCF leading 30-27. Navy appeared to be trying to draw the Knights offside and maybe settle for the field goal. That would have tied the game and gave UCF a chance to march down the field-which they did- and kick a game-winning field goal. But they did jump offsides and Navy scored the go ahead touchdown. UCF did drive down the field and got to the Navy 12-yard line. An earlier extra-point was blocked and that lost point meant UCF needed a touchdown instead of a chance to tie with a field goal. Four tries from the 12 and UCF needed one play. One play.
FSU celebrated their first win with a walk-off field goal to beat Syracuse. The Noles now sit 1-4 but have to wonder what might be with one play. Against Notre Dame, FSU missed a 37-yard field goal in overtime and the Irish made their 41-yard kick. Against Jacksonville State, everything that had to happen on the final play for the Gamecocks did when all FSU needed was one stop. Could they have won both games? Sure. And if they did and lost close games to Louisville and Wake Forest they would be 3-2 today and everyone would feel a lot better.
Miami's doink of a field goal on the final play against Virginia gave the Canes a 2-3 record and more heat on Manny Diaz. It's not that the heat would have cooled on Diaz if freshman Andres Borregales had made the kick. But at 3-2 Canes fans would have been able to say their team found a way to win and make the case why they could win the Coastal division of the ACC and get to the conference title game. Instead the noise for change at Miami is deafening. One play for Miami does not solve all their problems but it would keep their fans engaged.
Now the Gators see a season of title hopes look like a three or four loss season with remaining challenges at LSU and Georgia in Jacksonville. That will make Florida's faithful bored that Dan Mullen's team would be playing in a state bowl game against a Big Ten team with three or four losses. UCF may battle to be bowl eligible with Gabriel out and others expected to miss more games and a year of high goals suddenly hurts as much as the injuries suffered. FSU may have won on Saturday but there may be 1-2 wins left on the schedule and that is nothing to look forward to. And Miami may still have three to four losses waiting. It's only early October but high expectations have turned to a feeling of doom. One play doesn't make everyone undefeated but one play in a number of these games could have turned a loss into a win. One play.
Final thought: This week's DIII game is Carthage beating Millikin 63-42. The two teams combined for 1,171 total yards. Carthage QB Bryce Lowe threw for 336 yards and six touchdowns in the win.