Best 4th down plays in UT history

el arroyo

el arroyo

100+ Posts
When I think of the best 4th down plays in UT history, three come to immediate mind. They are (in chronological order):

1. 4th and 3 from the Texas 43-yard line. A completed pass from James Street to Randy Peschel against Arkansas in the 1969 "Game of the Century".
2. 4th and 5 from the USC 8-yard line. A Vince Young run into the end zone in the 2006 Rose Bowl with a "national championship on the line".
3. 4th and 13 from the Arizona State 28-yard line. A Quinn Ewers touchdown pass to Matthew Golden in the 2025 Peach Bowl to force a second overtime

I am sure there are others and I welcome additions to this list. Last night's 4th and 13 pass was clutch!!!
 
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UCLA in 1970 Cotton's catch and run for a TD. There was a BOR member sitting behind us with a quote I'll never forget - "The churches will be full in the morning"

Brett Stafford to Tony Jones against Arkansas. I'll never know how Brett got that ball through that tiny opening.

James to Cotton in the 1970 Cotton Bowl against ND. (Play legend says was called by Freddie earlier in the game.)

I've always wanted to believe that was the discussion in the photo of Freddie & James on the sideline earlier.
 
SabreHorn said:
UCLA in 1970 Cotton's catch and run for a TD. There was a BOR member sitting behind us with a quote I'll never forget - "The churches will be full in the morning"

Brett Stafford to Tony Jones against Arkansas. I'll never know how Brett got that ball through that tiny opening.

James to Cotton in the 1970 Cotton Bowl against ND. (Play legend says was called by Freddie earlier in the game.)

I've always wanted to believe that was the discussion in the photo of Freddie & James on the sideline earlier.
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I was at that 1970 ucla game. I was also at the usc game when John Wayne strutted around on the trojan sideline.
 
SabreHorn said:
UCLA in 1970 Cotton's catch and run for a TD. There was a BOR member sitting behind us with a quote I'll never forget - "The churches will be full in the morning"
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I was sitting in the student section with my date (it was our first date). Needless to say, I got lucky that night.
 
Not as great as the others listed above, but I remember a couple from my days at the 40 acres.

1. Gardere to Keith Cash in ‘90 to beat OU.

2. Gardere on a 4th down keeper from midfield against A&M in ‘90 for a touchdown that we badly needed. I think we were down 14-0 at the time.

3. Gardere to Johnny Walker in ‘89 to give us the lead late against OU but I can’t remember if that was 4th down?
 
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Brett Stafford to Tony Jones against Arkansas. I'll never know how Brett got that ball through that tiny opening.
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"Stafford.....to Jones! Touchdown Texas!"

I have the video of that play on my phone. Still gives me goosebumps.
 
SabreHorn said:
UCLA in 1970 Cotton's catch and run for a TD. There was a BOR member sitting behind us with a quote I'll never forget - "The churches will be full in the morning"
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I was there too. It was my freshman year. I had one of the absolute WORST seats in DKR. The open end of the horseshoe on the east side. Second row at the very end. I was leaning against the wall at the end of the stadium. I couldn't see much of anything except the gaggle of players on the field. EXCEPT, when that play happened. I saw Cotton break open and the ball come out of the mass of players. When Cotton caught caught the ball, it was almost like he was right in my lap.
Didn't Happy Feller also kick a 50+ yd (maybe 55?) field goal in that game?
 
So, how about 2004 Texas vs. KU. Horns trailing late 4 th qtr.

4th down & 18 just outside KU Red Zone. YV runs for 19 yards to keep drive alive.

Then great pass hits Tony Jefferies in the End Zone for the winning TD.

Horns go 11-1 and go on to get a Rose Bowl bid.

Me and UT grad brother were at the iconic RB to witness VY Magic and incredible last second Dusty Mangum FG to beat Michigan 37-35!!!

🤘🤘🤘
 
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WorsterMan said:
2004 Texas vs. KU. Texas trailing late 4 th qtr.

4th down & 18 in KU Red Zone. YV runs for 19 yards to keep drive alive.

Then great pass hits Tony Jefferies in the End Zone for the winning TD.

Horns go 11-1 and go on to get a Rose Bowl bid. I was there to witness incredible Dusty Mangum FG to beat Michigan 37-35!!!
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If not for the 4th and 18 Conversion by VY, I'm not sure we're sitting here with a National Championship in 50 years. I too took my family to that Michigan Game in the Rose Bowl (the forgotten Bowl game) that was EPIC and of course when we made it back for USC, My wife approached me and said "we're going back, RIGHT???"

Easiest answer of my life "Hell yes Honey, Hell yes"
 
Not sure anything can top Street to Peschel or 4th and 5 in the Rose Bowl in '06 because those two won national championships but this is up there in a strong battle for third with Roll Left, VY's fourth-down run in Lawrence in 2004, and those OU TD's in '89 and '90.
 
So, I'm disappointed in myself for not already remembering. I was at the game with my Dad.

Jan. 1, 1970 #1 Texas vs ND. Irish up 17-14. Iconic photo of Street with DKR prior to the play.

Late 4th quarter. Texas 4th down and 2 at Irish 10. Street barely got Spreyer for 8 yards for a first down. RB Billy Dale got the 2 yard TD to regain the lead 21- 17 and seal the NC!!!
 
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el arroyo said:
When I think of the best 4th down plays in UT history, three come to immediate mind. They are (in chronological order):

1. 4th and 3 from the Texas 43-yard line. A completed pass from James Street to Randy Peschel against Arkansas in the 1969 "Game of the Century".
2. 4th and 5 from the USC 8-yard line. A Vince Young run into the end zone in the 2006 Rose Bowl with a "national championship on the line".
3. 4th and 13 from the Arizona State 28-yard line. A Quinn Ewers touchdown pass to Matthew Golden in the 2025 Peach Bowl to force a second overtime

I am sure there are others and I welcome additions to this list. Last night's 4th and 13 pass was clutch!!!
Click to expand...
I think you nailed it. ^^
 
I was in the end zone bleachers for the 1970 UCLa and in the stands for the Tony Jones catch ( the pigs were angry that day)
Also in the stands for Arkansas 1970, we stopped them on the goal line and then we beat them badly.
Watched roll left on tv, those are my best.

I guess I will go with a couple defensive fourth downs that won big games:

1965 Orange bowl Nobis stops Namath on fourth down on the goal line

2005 Rose Bowl fourth quarter fourth down stop to allow VY to do his magic
 
I can add one more key defensive 4th down play. I was at the 1977 Texas-OU game and Texas hadn't beaten OU since the 1970 game. In the 1977 game, Earl was a senior and would win the Heisman Trophy that year. Texas was ahead 13-6, but OU was driving down and seemed poised to tie the score. On 4th down at about the Texas 5 yard line with only a few minutes to go, Johnnie Johnson stopped the OU quarterback, Thomas Lott, to preserve the lead and the win - a much needed win, especially after the disappointing tie in '76.
 
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el arroyo said:
On 4th down at about the Texas 5 yard line with only a few minutes to go, Johnnie Johnson stopped the OU quarterback, Thomas Lott, preserve the lead and the win - a much needed win, especially after the disappointing tie in '76.
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And that nice stop was shortly followed by Erxleben pinning ou back with a 67-yard punt from the end zone - result in no short field for the Osoners.
 
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