Cardale Jones and 10 Most Improbable Players To Lead Their Team To National Championship Victory

By Jerry Landry

Cardale Jones and 10 Most Improbable Players To Lead Their Team To National Championship

Cardale Jones Ohio State Buckeyes Quarterback — Third-string quarterback Cardale Jones looked far from it in the National Championship game against the Oregon Ducks. Discipline and adjustments went a long way for the Buckeyes, but the leadership of Jones to steady the ship after an early deficit spoke volumes. Here are 10 other improbable heroes to lead their team to national championship glory.

10. Tee Martin - Tennessee Volunteers, 1999

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium inside

10. Tee Martin - Tennessee Volunteers, 1999

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium inside — Peyton Manning literally just left, and now you win a championship? This is exactly how it felt in early 1999, as Tee Martin (with a little help from Peerless Price) guided the Tennessee Volunteers to a 23-16 win over the 5.5-point favorite Florida State Seminoles.

9. Craig Krenzel - Ohio State Buckeyes, 2003

Ohio State Buckeyes Brutus Flag

9. Craig Krenzel - Ohio State Buckeyes, 2003

Ohio State Buckeyes Brutus Flag — Speaking of underdogs, the Miami Hurricanes were favored by 11.5 by Vegas to win this one in regulation. They didn’t, and Ohio State ripped their heart out in double overtime whether you think the Bucks benefited from pass interference or not. Craig Krenzel, the molecular genetics junior from Utica, Mich., was cool and calculated, making big throws when they mattered most.

8. Derrick Lassic - Alabama Crimson Tide, 1993

Bryant Denny Stadium Alabama Crimson Tide inside

8. Derrick Lassic - Alabama Crimson Tide, 1993

Bryant Denny Stadium Alabama Crimson Tide inside — Here’s another upset that stings the eye of the Hurricanes. As eight-point underdogs, the Alabama Crimson Tide rode the shoulders of Derrick Lassic to two touchdowns and a 34-13 rout in the 1993 Sugar Bowl.

7. Robbie Bosco - BYU Cougars, 1984

BYU Cougar Band

7. Robbie Bosco - BYU Cougars, 1984

BYU Cougar Band — What ended up being the national championship in 1984 was played in December and during the Holiday Bowl. Robbie Bosco, BYU quarterback, injured his knee on the Cougars’ first possession. But the hobbled Bosco would return to battle through the pain and the picks (he threw three) to resiliently surpass the Michigan Wolverines 24-17.

6. Vince Young - Texas Longhorns, 2006

Texas Longhorns Football Flag

6. Vince Young - Texas Longhorns, 2006

Texas Longhorns Football Flag — Nobody could beat the USC Trojans, not even the NCAA compliance department. Or so we thought. Vince Young walked into the 2006 Rose Bowl and ran out with the final touchdown and offensive MVP honors, leading the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory in the Trojans’ sister stadium.

5. Torrance Marshall - Oklahoma Sooners, 2001

Oklahoma Sooners Football Flag

5. Torrance Marshall - Oklahoma Sooners, 2001

Oklahoma Sooners Football Flag — In the most forgettable championship of the BCS era, the 11-point underdog Oklahoma Sooners beat the Florida State Seminoles by that exact margin. Boringly enough, the final score was 13-2. Oklahoma exacted a taut defense against the AP No. 3-ranked Seminoles, and linebacker Torrance Marshall came away the outright MVP.

4. Ike Hilliard - Florida Gators, 1997

Florida Gators The Swamp

4. Ike Hilliard - Florida Gators, 1997

Florida Gators The Swamp — The 1997 Sugar Bowl placed the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles against the No. 3 Florida Gators in what would become an intrastate National Championship game thanks to contractual issues with the former Bowl Alliance and Pac-10. Ike Hilliard torched the Seminoles' secondary for three touchdowns, and Florida cruised to a 52-20 upset.

3. Homer Jordan - Clemson Tigers, 1982

Clemson Tigers Football Flag

3. Homer Jordan - Clemson Tigers, 1982

Clemson Tigers Football Flag — The Clemson Tigers won their first and only national championship in the 1982 Orange Bowl. Thanks to Homer Jordan, Clemson would stave off the loaded Nebraska Huskers (featuring Mike Rozier and Roger Craig) and secure the national championship before Jordan entered into NFL obscurity.

2. D.J. Dozier - Penn State Nittany Lions, 1987

Penn State Nittany Lions Football Mascot

2. D.J. Dozier - Penn State Nittany Lions, 1987

Penn State Nittany Lions Football Mascot — Before head coach Jimmy Johnson hit his stride with the Miami Hurricanes, he was knocked down by the upset-minded Penn State Nittany Lions. D.J. Dozier scored the go-ahead touchdown to seal the 14-10 victory and was named co-MVP for his efforts.

1. Justin Vincent - LSU Tigers, 2004

LSU Tigers Football Helmet

1. Justin Vincent - LSU Tigers, 2004

LSU Tigers Football Helmet — Favored by a touchdown, it seemed all but certain the Oklahoma Sooners would win their second title in four years. If only it weren’t for Justin Vincent having a little Lee Corso “not so fast” in him, this would have played out predictably. Vincent, the future undrafted free agent, would run for 117 yards and a touchdown, becoming the out-of-nowhere MVP of the Sugar Bowl.

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