Albuquerque Journal

The 2013 New Mexico Bowl makes a list of the Top 25 bowl games ever.

2013 New Mexico Bowl is tied for 25th; Boise State’s upset in Fiesta Bowl is No. 2

- JOURNAL STAFF REPORT

Vince Young’s fourth-down rushing touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl to deliver Texas to a 41-38 victory over USC.

Boise State’s “hook and ladder” play in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl for the 2-point play by the daring, fun underdogs who defeated Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime.

Joe Montana leading Notre Dame over Houston in the 1979 Cotton Bowl. Tua Tagovailoa rallying Alabama from a 13-0 halftime deficit with an epic second-and-26 41-yard touchdown pass to stun Georgia two years ago in the national championsh­ip game.

And also, Colorado State’s epic rally past Washington State in the 2013 New Mexico Bowl.

Yes, the New Mexico Bowl, despite its relative youth (13 games heading into Saturday) and generally lowerprofi­le combatants, made the Football Bowl Associatio­n’s list of the top 25 games in bowl history.

Actually, that game is 25th — or tied for 25th with the 2014 Bahamas Bowl — per the FBA.

At then-University Stadium, coach Jim McElwain’s Rams rallied from a 35-13 deficit and scored twice in the final minute, both times after forcing Washington State fumbles. The first score tied the game at 45, and Jared Roberts’ 41-yard field goal at the horn delivered improbable victory.

That was the second of two consecutiv­e years the game’s winner pulled it out with two scores in the final minute. Arizona scored two TDs in the final 46 seconds to beat Nevada 49-48 in 2012 in, arguably, as thrilling a finish.

McElwain, meanwhile, is back in the bowl, coaching Central Michigan against San Diego State on Saturday.

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