Unbreakable Records and Interception Milestones in College Football

Records in college football, as in any sport, are made to be broken. However, some achievements stand the test of time, representing extraordinary feats of athleticism, strategy, and sheer luck. From remarkable rushing streaks to pinpoint passing accuracy and defensive dominance, certain milestones in NCAA football history seem almost untouchable. This article delves into some of the most impressive single-game and single-season records, with a spotlight on interception milestones.

Rushing Dominance: Arnold Mickens' Unbreakable Streak

Former Butler running back Arnold Mickens left an indelible mark on the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) record book during his exceptional two-year tenure (1994-95) with the Bulldogs. While his name appears multiple times for various achievements, his most unbreakable record might be his streak of eight consecutive games with at least 200 yards rushing in 1994. The incredible run commenced with a 218-yard, three-touchdown performance against Xavier and concluded with a 244-yard, three-score showing against Evansville. Mickens' eight 200+-yard games also constitute the single-season record in FCS history.

Passing Prowess: Quinn Epperly's Impeccable Accuracy

Transitioning from pure yardage to remarkable accuracy, Princeton quarterback Quinn Epperly showcased unparalleled precision against Cornell in 2013, completing all of his first 29 passing attempts. Epperly concluded the game with 32 completions on 35 attempts, achieving a 91.4 completion percentage, the best in FCS history with a minimum of 30 attempts. He amassed 325 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and three rushing scores. The then-junior quarterback achieved a perfect first half, completing all 18 of his passes, and extended his streak to 11 more completions in the second half before finally missing his target.

Offensive Explosions: Portland State's Record-Setting Outburst

Portland State holds a unique place in FCS history, having been involved in both the biggest blowout and the highest-scoring game. On one occasion, Portland State scored 105 points in a single game, reaching the century mark with 15 touchdowns. Twenty-seven years after this 105-point rout, PSU was on the losing end of a high-scoring affair, falling to Weber State 73-68 in 2007.

The Southern Miss Interception Feat

In the realm of defensive records, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles etched their name in college football history with an outstanding interception performance. According to StatMuse data, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles led college football in 2025, with 23 interceptions.

Team Defensive Interception Leaders in 2025

The following table showcases the top teams with the most interceptions in college football for the 2025 season:

Rank	Team	Interceptions
1	Southern Miss	23
2	Arizona	22
3	Louisiana Tech	22
4	Notre Dame	21
5	Fresno State	20
6	Indiana	19
7	Maryland	19
8	SMU	18
9	BYU	17
10	LSU	17
11	Texas Tech	17
12	Miami	16
13	Texas	16
14	Tulane	16
15	New Mexico State	15
16	North Texas	15
17	Old Dominion	15
18	Oregon	15
19	Pittsburgh	15
20	San Diego State	15
21	Utah	15
22	Boise State	14
23	Duke	14
24	Louisville	14
25	Miami (OH)	14

This achievement underscores the Golden Eagles' defensive prowess and ability to capitalize on opponents' passing errors.

Comeback for the Ages: Montana's Fourth-Quarter Surge

On September 4, 1993, Montana faced a daunting 38-13 deficit against South Dakota State entering the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies mounted an improbable comeback, scoring 39 points in the final quarter, the most ever scored in a comeback win.

Overtime Oddities: Nicholls' Unlikely Margin of Victory

In college football overtime, where each team gets a possession starting at the 25-yard line, games typically end as one-possession affairs. However, Nicholls defied this logic in a rivalry game, winning 49-36 in five overtimes. After a Terrence Spears touchdown run gave Nicholls a 43-36 lead, Quincy Sorrell intercepted a Texas State pass and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown, sealing a 13-point victory. While theoretically possible, surpassing this 13-point margin of victory in overtime would require a touchdown, a successful two-point conversion, and a defensive turnover returned for an unnecessary touchdown.

Punt Return Aversion: James Madison's Defensive Strategy

James Madison showcased exceptional punt coverage in 2012, allowing just three punt return yards the entire season. While impressive, this wasn't a single-season record, as North Dakota State surrendered zero punt return yards in 2016 on just three attempts.

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Individual Records and Achievements

Beyond team accomplishments, individual players have also set remarkable records across different divisions of college football. These records span various categories, including passing yards, rushing yards, all-purpose yards and more.

Passing Records

Most Passing Yards in a Game:
- FBS: 734 - Connor Halliday, Washington State vs Cal
- FCS: 730 - Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion vs. New Hampshire
- Div II: 695 - J. J. Harp, Eastern New Mexico vs. Southeastern Oklahoma
- Div III: 736 - Sam Durley, Eureka vs. Knox (IL)
Most Career Passing Yards:
- Div II: 437.3 - J. J.
Most Touchdown Passes in a Game:
- FBS: 11 - David Klingler, Houston vs. Eastern Washington
- FCS: 10 - Ren Hefley, Presbyterian vs. St. Andrews
- Div II: 10 - Bruce Swanson, North Park vs. North Central (IL)
- Div III: 9 - Joe Zarlinga, Ohio Northern vs. Capital, Chaiten Tomlin Mount St Joseph vs.
Most Pass Receptions in a Game:

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- FBS: 77 - David Piland, Houston vs. Louisiana Tech
- FCS: 79 - Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion vs. New Hampshire
- Div II: 74 - Michael Pierce, St. Anselm vs. Stonehill
- Div III: 82 - Bryan Peterson, Whitworth (WA) vs. LaVerne
Lowest Percentage of Interceptions Thrown (Career):
- FBS: 1.20% - Marcus Mariota, Oregon, 2012-14 (min.
- FCS: 1.41% - Josh Johnson, San Diego, 2004-07 (min.
- Div II: 1.29% - Malik Grove, Notre Dame College, 2014-2017 (min.
- Div III: 1.15% - Greg Micheli, Mount Union, 2005-08 (min. 750 attempts); 1.47% - Bobby Swallow, Washington & Jefferson, 2005-08 (min.
Fewest Interceptions Thrown (Season):
- FBS: 0.0% - Matt Blundin, Virginia, 1991 (150-349 attempts); 0.70% - Kellen Moore, Boise State, 2009 (min.
- FCS: 0.00% - Trey Lance, North Dakota State, 2019 (150-349 attempts); 0.78% - Pat Devlin, Delaware, 2010 (min.
- Div II: 0.32% - Billy Cundiff, Ashland, 2009 (min.
- Div III: 0.2% - Matt Behrendt, Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2013 (min.

Rushing Records

Most Rushing Yards in a Game:
- FBS: 427 - Samaje Perine, Oklahoma vs. Kansas
- FCS: 437 - Maurice Hicks, North Carolina A&T vs. Morgan State
- Div II: 425 - Connor Silveria, South Dakota Mines vs. Adams State
- Div III: 522 - Montie Quinn, Curry vs. Nichols
Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback in a Game:
- FBS: 327 - Khalil Tate, Arizona vs. Colorado
- FCS: 330 - Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross vs. Lafayette
- Div II: 323 - Shawn Graves, Wofford vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
- Div III: 342 - Matt Roe, Augustana (IL) vs. Wheaton (IL)*Jaleel McLaughlin is the NCAA's all-time leading rusher.
Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Game:
- FBS: 7 - Keenan Reynolds, Navy vs.
- Div III: 7 - Chris Sharpe, Springfield, vs. St.

All-Purpose Records

Highest Passing Efficiency Rating (Career):
- FBS: 181.3 - Kyler Murray, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, 2015-18 (min.
- FCS: 176.7 - Josh Johnson, San Diego, 2004-07 (min.
- Div II: 190.8 - Dusty Bonner, Valdosta State, 2000-01 (min.
- Div III: 211.2 - Luke Lehnen, North Central, 2021-24 (min.
Highest Passing Efficiency Rating (Season):
- FBS: 403.4 - Tim Clifford, Indiana vs Colorado, 1980 (min. 12 attempts); 317.4 - Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo vs Buffalo, 2003 (min. 25 attempts); 248.0 - Geno Smith, West Virginia vs Baylor, 2012 (min.
- FCS: 409.9 - Taryn Christion, South Dakota State vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 2018 (min.
Highest Passing Completion Percentage (Game):
- FBS: 90.6% - Seth Doege, Texas Tech vs. New Mexico, Sep. 17, 2011 (min. 40 completions); 93.9% - Kyle Allen, Houston vs. Rice, Sep. 16, 2017 (min. 30 completions); 96.0% - Greyson Lambert, Georgia vs. South Carolina, Sep. 18, 2015 (min.
- FCS: 94.6% - Taron Dickens, Western Carolina vs. Wofford, Oct.. 4, 2025 (min. 30 completions); 96.2% - Ricky Santos, New Hampshire vs. Northeastern, Oct. 22, 2005 (min.
- Div II: 90.0% - Lance Parker, Ouachita Baptist vs. Southwest Baptist, Oct. 25, 2008 (min. 35 completions); 96.0% - Zack Eskridge, Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville, Oct. 17, 2009 (min.
- Div III: 84.9% - Ian Kolste, Whitworth vs. George Fox, Oct. 1, 2016 (min. 35 completions); 95.5% - Mark Petruziello, John Carroll vs. Thomas More, Sep. 6, 2008 (min.

Receiving Records

Most Receiving Yards in a Game:
- FBS: 405 - Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech vs. Nebraska
- FCS: 376 - Kassim Osgood, Cal Poly vs. Northern Iowa
- Div II: 425 - Trey McVay, Northeastern State vs. Harding
- Div III: 418 - Lewis Howes, Principia vs. Martin Luther
Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Game:
- FBS: 7 - Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State vs. SMU
- FCS: 6 - Cos DeMatteo, Chattanooga vs. Mississippi Valley
- Div II: 8 - Paul Zaeske, North Park vs. North Central (IL)
- Div III: 7 - Matt Perceval, Wesleyan (CT) vs. Middlebury

Kicking and Punting Records

Most Field Goals Made in a Game:
- FBS: 71 Lindsey Scott Jr.
- FCS: 10 - Ren Hefley, Presbyterian vs. St. Andrews
- Div II: 10 - Bruce Swanson, North Park vs. North Central (IL)
Most Points Scored Kicking in a Game:
- FBS: 66 - David Klingler, Houston vs. Eastern Washington
- FCS: 64 - Ren Hefley, Presbyterian vs. St. Andrews
Most Field Goals Attempted in a Game:
- FBS: 24 - Mike Prindle, Western Michigan vs. Marshall, Sep. 29, 1984; Dominik Eberle, Utah State vs. New Mexico State, Sep.
- FCS: 24 - Goran Lingmerth, Northern Arizona vs. Idaho, Oct.
- Div II: 21 - Thomas Kopcho, Missouri Western State University vs. Northeastern State (OK), Oct.
- Div III: 20 - Jim Hever, Rhodes vs. Millsaps, Sep.
Most Touchdowns Scored in a Game:
- FBS: 48 - Howard Griffith, Illinois vs. Southern Illinois, September 22, 1990; Kalen Ballage, Arizona State vs. Texas Tech, September 10, 2016; Jaret Patterson, Buffalo vs.
- FCS: 42 - Omar Cuff, Delaware vs. William & Mary, Aug. 30, 2007; Jessie Burton, McNeese State vs. Southern Utah, Sep. 19, 1998; Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona vs. Weber State, Oct.
- Div II: 48 - Paul Zaeske, North Park vs. North Central (IL), Oct. 12, 1968; Junior Wolf, Oklahoma Panhandle vs. St. Mary (KS), Nov.
- Div III: 48 - Carey Bender, Coe vs. Beloit, Nov.
Most Interceptions by a Team in a Game:
- Div II: 14 - Seven times.
- FBS: 10* - Oklahoma St. vs. Detroit, Nov. 28, 1942; UCLA vs. California, Oct. NCAA single game national record. 11 interceptions: St. Cloud State College vs Bemidji, Oct. 31, 1970.
Most Interceptions by An Individual in a Game:
- FBS: 5*† - 4 times: Lee Cook, Oklahoma St. vs. Detroit, Nov. 28, 1942; Walt Pastuszak, Brown vs. Rhode Island, Oct. 8, 1949; Byron Beaver, Houston vs. Baylor, Sep. 22, 1962; Dan Rebsch, Miami (OH) vs. Western Mich., Nov.
- FCS: 5 - 3 times: Mark Cordes, Eastern Washington vs. Boise State, Sep. 6, 1986; Michael Richardson, Northwestern State vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 12, 1983; Karl Johnson, Jackson State vs. Grambling, Oct. NCAA National record: 5 interceptions by Bill Trewick, St. Cloud State vs. Bemidji, Oct. Gary Evans, Truman vs. Missouri S&T, Oct.
- Div III: 5 - 11 times. Most recent: James Patrick, Stillman vs. Edward Waters, Nov. Oct.

Defensive Records

Most Interceptions (Career):
- FBS: 15 - Al Brosky, Illinois, Nov. 11, 1950 to Oct.
- FCS: 3 - Johnnie Jackson, Houston vs. Texas, Nov.
- Div II: 216 - Keiron Bigby, Brown vs. Yale, Sep.
- Div III: 164 - Rick Conner, McDaniel vs. Dickinson, Oct.
Most Tackles (Career):
- FBS: 32 * - Harold Stuart| West Texas State vs, Wichita State, Oct.
- FCS: 31 - Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham vs. Nebraska, Sep.
- Div II: 30 - Kevin Kilroy, Missouri Western vs.
- Div III: 31 - Keith LaDu, Oberlin vs.

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