The wildest game of Saturday’s college football slate came from a game hidden deep into the selections on ESPN+.
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels took down the Bowling Green Falcons 59-57 in seven overtimes, in a game that took four and a half hours.
At seven overtimes, it’s only topped by Illinois’ nine-overtime victory over Penn State in 2021.
Oh, and Eastern Kentucky — who entered the game as a 7.5-point underdog — is an FCS program, while Bowling Green — a member of the MAC — is part of the FBS.
An unbelievable FCS over FBS win:
Eastern Kentucky beats Bowling Green 59-57 in seven overtimes.
It's the most OTs for an FCS program facing a D-I opponent. However, Bethune-Cookman defeated D-II Virginia State in eight OTs on Sept. 26, 1998. pic.twitter.com/f95U8ByW9o
— FCS Football (@FCS_STATS) September 11, 2022
Eastern Kentucky sent the game to overtime with a touchdown — followed by the game-tying extra point — to beat the fourth-quarter buzzer.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 👀 pic.twitter.com/KL2wreB9Ey
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) September 10, 2022
In the third overtime, Eastern Kentucky converted the game-tying two-point conversion on an 18-yard pass.
Eastern Kentucky converted their two-point try from the 18 yard line to send it to a fourth OT I'm howling pic.twitter.com/AdBhzGEx3Y
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) September 11, 2022
And in the fifth overtime, Eastern Kentucky ran a hilarious play in an attempt to win the game. The play failed.
FOR THE WIN… pic.twitter.com/vSVDYqScxV
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) September 11, 2022
Eastern Kentucky tried to run a hook & lateral to an offensive lineman from the 2-yard line in the 5th overtime against Bowling Green. It failed miserably.
I love college football so much.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) September 11, 2022
Finally, in the seventh overtime, the Colonels came through and completed a wacky walk-off victory.
COLONELS WIN 59-57!!!!!!#E2W | #MatterOfPride pic.twitter.com/AqyOUM6uE2
— EKU Football (@EKUFootball) September 11, 2022
Eastern Kentucky trailed the game 10-0 in the first quarter, before erupting for a 24-points second quarter that gave the Colonels a 24-17 lead at halftime.
Here’s a look at how the college football world is reacting to Eastern Kentucky’s upset victory in a seven-overtime marathon:
In the wildest football game you will ever see, Eastern Kentucky defeats Bowling Green in 7OT (!), 59-57.
Second-longest game per OT periods in history (Illinois – Penn State went 9OT last year).
Just an insane win for the Colonels. FCS over FBS upset.
— Cameron Drummond (@cdrummond97) September 11, 2022
BG and EKU actually going to negative-fourth OT pic.twitter.com/RzF7T6JP3e
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 11, 2022
FCS Eastern Kentucky gets 7-OT win at Bowling Green in game for which EKU is getting $350,000 guarantee. This is 3rd FCS-over-FBS win of the season, the first in OT after two previous FCS losses in OT
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) September 11, 2022
EKU beats Bowling Green, 59-57 in 7OT! It is the 5th game that has gone to 7 or more OTs in D1 history. pic.twitter.com/kY6w3PFQHb
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 11, 2022
Fans react to Bowling Green's 7OT loss to FCS EKU… of note the two coaching picks below (Loeffler & Addazio) were also the first two head coaches to be ejected from FBS games over two unsportsmanlike conduct calls! pic.twitter.com/SvMAs25j3g
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 11, 2022
BGSU loses to Eastern Kentucky in 7th OT.
They had a ton of chances to win & couldn’t get a stop. Just a brutal loss against an FCS opponent at home.
If there’s a positive, they figured some things out offensively & Ta’Ron Keith has emerged as a real playmaker. But man…
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) September 11, 2022
EASTERN KENTUCKY DOES IT!!! THEY WIN IN 7 OTS!!! 59-57!!!
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) September 11, 2022
[Photo Credit: ESPN+]
