As Week 2 of the college football season delivered blowouts and high scores, many fans found themselves wondering about the highest-scoring games in the sport’s history.
With teams like No. 14 Florida State and Minnesota putting up around 70 each against FCS opponents, it brings to mind the truly legendary shootouts of the past. While some scores seem unbelievable, they pale in comparison to the wildest games ever played.
What Are the Highest-Scoring Games in College Football History?
While the all-time record for most points scored belongs to Georgia Tech for its 222-0 win over Cumberland in 1916, this list focuses on the most explosive matchups between two FBS teams. Here’s a look at the games where defenses seemed optional and scoreboards worked overtime.
Texas A&M vs. LSU (2018), 146 Points
This was the game that prompted the NCAA to change its overtime rules, and it’s a contest that will be remembered for its insane finish. At the end of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 31. The LSU Tigers even gave head coach Ed Orgeron a premature Gatorade bath, but a replay review reversed a call on the field and kept the Texas A&M Aggies’ final drive in regulation alive.
From there, the game went into an epic seven-overtime battle. Both teams scored in all seven periods, but the Aggies converted a crucial two-point conversion in the final overtime to secure the win. The teams combined for 1,017 yards and 64 first downs. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow accounted for six total touchdowns, while Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond finished with seven.
SMU vs. Houston (2022), 140 Points
Houston Cougars fans likely still have nightmares about this one. In a game where all the points were scored in regulation, the halftime score was a stunning 56-35 in favor of the SMU Mustangs.
The contest felt simultaneously over and completely up for grabs, as neither team seemed interested in playing defense. At times, scoring looked almost too easy for both offenses.
In a losing effort, Houston’s Clayton Tune threw for 527 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for 111 yards and another score. His three interceptions, however, might have been the difference.
On the other side, SMU’s Tanner Mordecai shredded the Cougars’ defense for 379 yards and a school-record nine touchdowns. The Mustangs also averaged 10.7 yards per rush, and the two teams combined for 1,165 total yards in SMU’s 77-63 victory.
Western Michigan vs. Buffalo (2017), 139 Points
Even after P.J. Fleck’s departure to Minnesota, the Western Michigan Broncos had no problem putting up points under their new regime. This matchup was another seven-overtime thriller where both teams scored more in overtime than they did through the first three quarters. After being tied at 31 at the end of regulation, the offensive fireworks began.
The Broncos’ running back tandem of Jarvion Franklin and LeVante Bellamy combined for 307 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile, Buffalo Bulls quarterback Drew Anderson threw for an incredible 597 yards and seven scores. The two teams combined for an astounding 1,328 yards of total offense, with Western Michigan ultimately pulling out a 71-68 win.
Pitt vs. Syracuse (2016), 137 Points
If you were looking for an unexpected thriller during the 2016 college football season, you found it when the Pitt Panthers hosted the Syracuse Orange. Pitt scored 20 or more points in three different quarters, and the two teams exploded for a combined 47 points in the fourth quarter alone.
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Syracuse’s Amba Etta-Tawo was the star of the day, catching 13 passes for 178 yards and five touchdowns. The offenses together generated over 1,300 yards and 58 first downs. In the end, Pitt managed to hang on for a 76-61 victory.
Navy vs. North Texas (2007), 136 Points
That’s right, the Navy Midshipmen can put up points. The service academy pulled out a 74-62 thriller over the North Texas Mean Green in a classic battle of clashing offensive styles.
The first half provided most of the fireworks, with the Mean Green holding a slim 49-45 lead at halftime. However, Navy’s defense tightened in the second half, holding North Texas to just 13 points while its own offense added 29 to secure the win.
As you might expect from Navy, the team rushed for 572 yards and eight touchdowns. Shun White led all Midshipmen rushers with 131 yards, while Zerbin Singleton averaged an explosive 12.9 yards per carry and scored three times. For North Texas, quarterback Giovanni Vizza threw for 478 yards and eight touchdowns in the high-scoring affair.
Boise State vs. Nevada (2007), 136 Points
There are many reasons why the 2007 college football season is remembered as one of the best, and Chris Petersen’s Boise State Broncos were one of the most entertaining teams of that era. In this game, Nevada actually outgained Boise State 639 to 627 in total yards, but it was the Broncos who escaped with a 69-67 win.
Future NFL star Colin Kaepernick and running back Luke Lippincott combined for 364 rushing yards and six touchdowns to lead the Nevada Wolf Pack. For Boise State, running back Ian Johnson ran for 205 yards and two scores.
The game was a back-and-forth thriller until the very end, when Boise State came up with a sack on Kaepernick on the final play to seal the victory.
UNLV vs. Wyoming (2016), 135 Points
While the 2007 season was special, there was something equally exciting about the 2016 season, as this list shows. Offenses were explosive that year, and multiple games broke FBS records. At the time, neither the UNLV Rebels nor the Wyoming Cowboys were known for lighting up scoreboards, but they made an exception for this matchup.
Rebels win 69-66!!! Bornand closes it out against Wyoming with a 40 yard field goal in triple overtime! #UNLVFB #LightTheFuse pic.twitter.com/8q6MEzDEeS
— UNLV Athletics (@UNLVathletics) November 13, 2016
Future NFL quarterback Josh Allen only completed 14 of his 31 passes for Wyoming, but he threw for 334 yards. For UNLV, Kurt Palandech led the Rebels in both passing (252 yards, three touchdowns) and rushing (157 yards, one touchdown) on the way to a 69-66 triple-overtime win.
Arkansas vs. Kentucky (2003), 134 Points
Before Texas A&M and LSU rewrote the record books in 2018, this game stood as the SEC record for most combined points in conference history. The contest, which nearly surpassed the five-hour mark and went well into the night, ended with the Arkansas Razorbacks winning 71-63.
Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 112 yards and another score. Former Kentucky Wildcats southpaw Jared Lorenzen led his team with 326 passing yards and two scores.
Western Kentucky vs. Marshall (2014), 133 Points
True college football fans were not distracted by the race for the College Football Playoff, especially when the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Marshall Thundering Herd put on a show.
The game entered overtime tied at 59, but the Hilltoppers did not waste any time securing the win. After Marshall scored and kicked an extra point, Western Kentucky answered with a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion.
West Virginia vs. Baylor (2012), 133 Points
One of the greatest college football games ever played comes in the prime of Tavon Austin’s career with West Virginia. It was a back-and-forth battle between the Bears and Mountaineers, with the halftime score tied at 35.
West Virginia started the second half on a 21-0 run, which ultimately led to the Mountaineers’ victory of 70-63.
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If you liked offense, then this was the game for you. Baylor’s quarterback threw for 581 yards and five touchdowns, while West Virginia’s Geno Smith threw for 656 yards and eight touchdowns. Smith had more touchdowns than incompletions (six) that day.
Baylor’s Terrance Williams led all receivers with 17 catches for 314 yards and two scores. West Virginia’s duo of Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin went off that day, combining for 518 yards and seven touchdowns.
San Jose State vs. Rice (2004), 133 Points
Usually, when a game starts one-sided, you have an idea of how the game will end. Rice jumped out to a 34-7 lead with 10:27 left in the second quarter, but San Jose State wouldn’t go away.
The Spartans pulled within six at halftime and used a 42-point second half to pull out the 70-63 win.
Middle Tennessee vs. FAU (2016), 133
If you don’t know about the legend of Richie James, then this game will explain everything you need to know. Middle Tennessee won the final game of the 2016 season in epic fashion, and it was a heavy dose of James that helped them win 77-56.
He did it in all game phases: passing, rushing, and receiving. The Blue Raiders saw four players throw passes, with James completing five of his six attempts for 76 yards. He also rushed 22 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns and turned four catches into 120 yards and one more score.
