By Darin 
Many experts consider this to be one of the Top 5 Greatest College Football Games ever played!
Thanksgiving weekend, 1984, served up a miracle that transcended sport. The clash between the No. 10 Boston College Eagles and the No. 12 Miami Hurricanes was already a thrilling, high-scoring shootout. But what transpired in the final seconds remains arguably the most famous single play in college football history. When quarterback Doug Flutie scrambled right and launched a 48-yard desperation pass into the Miami sky, he wasn’t just attempting a prayer—he was securing a stunning 47-45 victory, cementing his Heisman Trophy, and immortalizing his legacy.
The Offensive Explosion in the Orange Bowl
The game on November 23, 1984, was an offensive explosion, a stark contrast to the defensive battles often defining college football’s elite. Both teams traded blows relentlessly in the Orange Bowl, with the score soaring throughout the afternoon. Flutie, already a Heisman contender, put on a passing clinic, consistently frustrating the Hurricanes’ defense.
The drama reached a fever pitch in the final minute. After Boston College managed to score late, the Hurricanes countered with a last-minute touchdown, taking a seemingly insurmountable 45-41 lead with just 28 seconds remaining. For most teams, this would be the end, but 28 seconds was just enough time for Flutie to lead the Boston College Eagles to one final shot from their own 20-yard line.
The Scramble, the Heave, and the Impossible Catch
After a couple of quick passes, the Eagles found themselves at the Miami 48-yard line with just six seconds left on the clock. This was it: the final, desperate throw. Facing immediate pressure from the defensive front, Flutie scrambled far to his right, weaving and creating just enough space. He then stopped, reset his feet, and launched the ball—a high, soaring arc destined for a scrum of players deep in the end zone.
As the ball hung in the air, the nation held its breath. On the CBS broadcast, announcer Brent Musburger screamed, “I don’t believe it!” as the pass descended. Tucked just behind the main scrum of defenders and receivers was wide receiver Gerard Phelan, who caught the ball cleanly, falling backward into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
The final score: Boston College 47, Miami 45. The “Flutie Hail Mary” instantly became the stuff of legend, shocking the crowd at the Orange Bowl and capturing the nation’s imagination on the day after Thanksgiving.
Article from Nov 24, 1984 The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida)
A Legacy Cemented in History
The play had immediate and lasting consequences. The monumental upset earned the Eagles a coveted invitation to the Cotton Bowl. More significantly, it propelled Doug Flutie past the competition, securing his win for the 1984 Heisman Trophy, officially marking him as the most outstanding player in college football. The profound impact of the play is visible even today: the image of Flutie’s angled shoulders, captured in the statue erected by Boston College in 2008, confirms that the 1984 Boston College vs Miami game was more than just a win—it was the definitive, legacy-defining moment of a college football icon.