Season 1 of FCFB has been a success. The new season starting brought in many new coaches to the league who weren’t around for some of the first season’s more notable and improbable moments. The goal of these “rewinds” are to shed new light and mark these times in the ever-growing story of FCFB.

Without further ado,

September 10th 2018, Columbus Ohio. Week 12 of Season 1, Rivalry week.

The sky was overcast, and the air was chilly. A reinvigorated Wolverine team looked to play upset and defeat the Buckeyes thereby securing bowl eligibility. The Ohio State team had looked hapless at times for most of the first half of the season and despite being on a 3 game win streak, was only sitting at 6-5 on the season. Rumors were swirling on the future of Kingkoch32 with the team as the Minnesota job looked to be open in the offseason. A loss in rivalry week would destroy any magic that had been building since the close loss to Michigan State in week 7 of the season.

It’s 2nd and 7 on the Ohio State 27. 1:14 left in the 4th.

Michigan had dominated the game, holding Ohio State to little more than 200 yards while putting up 300 themselves. The most damning stat for Ohio State was the paltry time of possession. Michigan had held it for 18:56 compared to Ohio State’s 7:37 at that point. Ohio State had timeouts and needed a stop or Michigan would seal the victory. Even if Ohio State were to force a punt, overcoming two scores in less than a minute was a death sentence.

Fumble! The ball is dropped, Ohio State recovers!

The play took 35 seconds, 0:39 left.

Ohio State wasn’t done yet it appeared, continuing a trend of a strong 4th quarter showing, outscoring opponents 38-10 in the 4th with the only points being a Michigan State field goal as time expired, and a Michigan touchdown earlier in the game. With just 39 seconds, the outcome was still all but assured.

It’s 2nd and 1 on the Ohio State 36. 0:32 left in the 4th.

After a 9 yard pass and subsequent timeout, Ohio state lined up facing their endzone 64 yards away.

It’s a pass into the endzone! Touchdown Ohio State!

The play took 12 seconds, 0:20 left

Ohio state still trailed by five with only twenty seconds left, with the likeliest path forward being a successful two point conversion and onside recovery to have a chance at a long field goal to tie it.

The two point conversion is successful

The play took 0 seconds, 0:20 left

Ohio State still trails by three though, and needs an onside kick to even have a chance. The likelihood of an onside plus a score at only 2% which assumes 3 tries to score after a successful onside.

It’s dropped! Recovered by Ohio State on the Ohio State 45

The play took 3 seconds, 0:17 left

What are the odds that they could still win?

The pass is incomplete. 2nd and 10

The play took 5 seconds, 0:12 left

Not good it appears.

The pass is incomplete. 3rd and 10

The play took 5 seconds, 0:07 left

At this point, a completed pass of only 15 yards would end the game, so there is likely one to two more plays.

Welcome to a moment in history.

…

Ohio State with a 75 yard pass into the end zone for a touchdown!

The play took 10 seconds, 0:00 left

…

Ohio State would proceed to lose their bowl game after another attempted fourth quarter comeback came up just short. Michigan, despite losing and ending the season at 5-7 would be selected as one of the 5 win bowl teams.

This was the third time this season that a time expiring touchdown won the game or forced overtime for Ohio State. In the fourth quarter, over the last six games of the season including the bowl game, Ohio State outscored opponents 67-10.

The game didn’t matter in the slightest when discussing the season, or conference as a whole, yet the improbability of 15 points in 32 seconds is what keeps Fake College Football interesting.