The highlight reel plays are great. But “Sportscenter’s” Top 10 nominations aren’t the only moments that make college football amazing. Some of the game’s greatest highlights come from outside the box.
Week 13, like most weeks before it, proved that adage true once again. From a bizarre punter recovering from foul trouble in Raleigh to a hero’s welcome for an orthopedic surgeon in Norman, the wacky and wild sides of college football were as prevalent as ever.
Like every week, we’re handing out a number of non-traditional superlatives to honor some of the game’s less unlikely heroes. Here are the best, weirdest and funniest from Week 13 in college football.
Most style points in a play: usc
We’ve established that highlight reel plays aren’t everything in the intro, but it’s hard not to highlight the extent of impressive things that happened in No. 15 USC’s game-tying touchdown on the first play of the second quarter with No. 7 Oregon.
First, there was the playcall: a double-pass trick play that put the ball into the wide receiver’s hands corn lemon For a throw. Then there was the ambition: Despite not being a quarterback by trade, Lemon had no problem taking the ball down the field about 30 yards into the end zone. And then came the finale: Lemon’s fellow wide receiver Tanook Hines Had no problem climbing the ladder for an impressive high-point grab. If you were looking for swagger on Saturday, USC’s score delivered it in idea and execution.
Makai threw a TD @tanxxk16 @CBSSportsCFB , #goodfor6 pic.twitter.com/smpzIX15TD
– USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) 22 November 2025
Some strange incidents often happen at Friday night games. nc state,Florida State Providing a very extreme example.
With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, holding a three-point lead, the Wolfpack were forced to punt the ball to the Seminoles and defend. Or so it seemed. North Carolina State punter Caden Nooncaster kicked the ball down the field, but the kick missed Florida State’s returner. Instead, it hit the helmet of a would-be Seminole blocker… and bounced back into Nooncaster’s diving arms to give the Wolfpack a new set of downs.
Remarkably, the Florida State defense would hold firm to force another punt, which the Seminoles would again muff. The third time proved to be the charm for North Carolina State’s offense, which found the end zone as the Wolfpack won 21–11.
Caden Nooncaster punt. Caden Nooncaster’s recovery from concussion!#1pack1target pic.twitter.com/HYrTLyb7MT
– NC State Football (@PackFootball) 22 November 2025
Last week, a bizarre incident occurred in South Carolina’s game against Texas A&M, in which Gamecocks receiver nick harbor A state trooper confronted Kyle Field as Harbor was returning to the field after a touchdown catch.
All but certainly familiar with its viral nature, louisiana Quarterback Lunch Winfield put his own spin on the conversation during Thursday night’s game against Arkansas State. After finding the end zone on a touchdown run, Winfield walked over to a field-side state trooper… and a strong handshake ensued between the two sides.
Where else would hearing students roar with joy at the appearance of an orthopedic surgeon make more sense than college football?
Such was the scene on Saturday afternoon oklahomaWhere Sooners fans were delighted to welcome Dr. Steven Shinn to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. In September, the Oklahoma quarterback john mater faced one hand injury Against Auburn. It was revealed that Shin would undergo surgery, leading to a flood of posts praising the doctor on the Internet.
Mateer has since returned and helped the Sooners move into pole position for a playoff berth, and Shinn got plenty of cheers in his appearance in Norman – even a “horns down” motion.
In the first split decision in the admittedly limited history of ESPN’s weekly non-traditional college football superlatives, Buffalo and Rice shared this week’s honor.
The approach Rice took was as simple as you’ll get: Free Stuff for StudentsFree shirt? quite normal, Free food? We’re talking now, but it’s not completely unusual, Still free beer? This is what makes a winner,
Buffalo became a little more unconventional. Have you ever heard of a meat raffle? If you attended Buffalo’s midweek game against Miami (OH), you almost certainly attended. Fans who purchased raffle tickets were admitted. 12-round gift Various types of meat occur throughout the game, including a New York strip steak during the second TV timeout of the second quarter and a whole boneless pork loin at the end of the third quarter.
Successful MACtion Meat Raffle!
Only in Buffalo, just the way we like it. #UBHornsUp @SickosCommittee @MACSports pic.twitter.com/jJC6utrzAh
– UB Athletics (@UBAthletics) 20 November 2025
