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The biggest comebacks of 2018
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest comebacks of 2018

2018 was a great year, with some amazing comebacks in big games. Here's a look at some of the biggest comebacks of the year, starting with the historic College Football Playoff Final.

 
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Jan. 8: Tua comes to the rescue for Bama in CFP Final

Jan. 8: Tua comes to the rescue for Bama in CFP Final
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

It wasn't the biggest comeback of 2018 in terms of points, but no comeback this year was more impactful or memorable. Alabama has held scoreless by Georgia and entered halftime down 13-0, as quarterback Jalen Hurts was just 3-of-8 for 21 yards passing. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa came to the rescue in the second half, eventually tying the game 23-23 with a great second half and winning 26-23 on a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime. Tagovailoa finished the game 14-of-24 for 166 yards and three touchdown passes.

 
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Jan. 27: Hartford closes 26-point deficit at UMass-Lowell

Jan. 27: Hartford closes 26-point deficit at UMass-Lowell
Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Hartford got off to a slow start vs. UMass-Lowell, to say the least, trailing 32-6 with seven minutes left in the first half. Hartford was able to make a 21-4 run in the first half and another short second-half run to win 77-70.

 
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Feb. 17: Spartans erase 27-point deficit at Northwestern with 38-11 fourth quarter

Feb. 17: Spartans erase 27-point deficit at Northwestern with 38-11 fourth quarter
Patrick Gorski / USA Today Sports Images

The Northwestern men's basketball program has a history of futility, and that was on full display when it blew a 27-point home lead to the Spartans. The Wildcats held a 27-point lead in the first half, which was cut to 22 points at the break. Michigan State was able to outscore Northwestern 38-11 in the second half to win 65-60.

 
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Feb. 22: Drexel sparks record comeback vs. Delaware

Feb. 22: Drexel sparks record comeback vs. Delaware
Corey Perrine / Getty Images

The 2018 men's college basketball season featured the biggest comeback in NCAA D-I men's basketball ever, accomplished by Drexel. The Dragons broke the old record of 32 points, coming back from down 34 points to win 85-83. Tramaine Isabell Jr. starred with 29 points and 12 rebounds for Drexel.

 
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Mar. 1: Virginia disrupts impossible four-point deficit vs. Louisville in 0.9 seconds

Mar. 1: Virginia disrupts impossible four-point deficit vs. Louisville in 0.9 seconds
Jamie Rhodes / USA Today Sports Images

Virginia had a great 2017-18 regular season and seemingly did the impossible vs. Louisville late in the year. The Cavs trailed 66-62 before making a basket with 0.9 seconds to cut Louisville's lead to two points. After Louisville traveled while attempting to inbound the ball, De'Andre Hunter made a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer to win 67-66.

 
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Mar. 18: Nevada comes from 22 down to shock Cincinnati

Mar. 18: Nevada comes from 22 down to shock Cincinnati
Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports Images

Cincinnati looked like it would advance to the Sweet 16 easily, leading Nevada by 22 points with 11 minutes left. However, the seventh-seeded Nevada squad made a roaring comeback late in the game to bust brackets, marking the second-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history.

 
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Apr. 1: Notre Dame women record biggest championship comeback ever, down 15

Apr. 1: Notre Dame women record biggest championship comeback ever, down 15
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

The women's NCAA Tournament final was a true classic between Notre Dame and Mississippi State. The Fighting Irish trailed by 15 points in the third quarter but came back, culminating with an Arike Ogunbowale tiebreaking three-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to win 61-58.

 
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Apr. 14: Cubs come from 10-2 down to stun Braves in the elements at Wrigley

Apr. 14: Cubs come from 10-2 down to stun Braves in the elements at Wrigley
Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today Sports Images

Terrible weather was common during the month of April in MLB, especially at Wrigley Field. The Braves and Cubs powered through it despite a 38-degree day with winds blowing 24 mph in from center field. Trailing 10-2 in the sixth inning, the Cubs started to chip away, scoring one run in the sixth, two runs in the seventh and nine runs in the eighth inning to win 14-10. Incredibly, they scored all nine runs in the eighth inning without the help of a home run.

 
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Apr. 25: Thunder escape elimination after 25-point deficit vs. Jazz

Apr. 25: Thunder escape elimination after 25-point deficit vs. Jazz
Mark D. Smith / USA Today Sports Images

OKC had its back against the wall heading into Game 5, trailing 3-1 in the series vs. Utah. The series looked all but over when the Thunder trailed by 25 points, but they came back behind the great play of Russell Westbrook and Paul George to win 107-99. Westbrook finished with 45 points and 15 rebounds, while George had 34 points.

 
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Sep. 2: Phoenix Mercury close 17-point deficit vs. Seattle to force Game 5

Sep. 2: Phoenix Mercury close 17-point deficit vs. Seattle to force Game 5
Barry Gossage / National Basketball Association / Getty Images

Phoenix was in big trouble after a poor first quarter and trailed by 17 points early in the game before turning it on. Brittney Griner finished with 29 points, and DeWanna Bonner had 27 points to win 86-84 and force a Game 5.

 
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Sep. 5: Red Sox close 7-1 eighth-inning deficit at Atlanta

Sep. 5: Red Sox close 7-1 eighth-inning deficit at Atlanta
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

It was a magical year for the Red Sox even before the playoffs. Boston trailed at Atlanta 7-1 going into the eighth inning but was able to put up a six spot. After the Braves scored one more run to take an 8-7 lead going into the ninth inning, veteran infielder Brandon Phillips hit a 432-foot no doubter to drive in Andrew Benintendi and eventually win 9-8.

 
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Sep. 9: Aaron Rodgers does it again, down 20

Sep. 9: Aaron Rodgers does it again, down 20
Dan Powers / USA Today Sports Images

The Packers looked flat in Week 1 of the regular season, and that was compounded when Aaron Rodgers suffered what looked like a major knee injury. Trailing 20-0 late in the third quarter, Rodgers returned with a vengeance. He was able to throw three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a game-winning 75-yarder to Randall Cobb.

 
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Sep. 20: Baker Mayfield brings Browns back from 14-point deficit

Sep. 20: Baker Mayfield brings Browns back from 14-point deficit
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Cleveland's winless streak finally ended on Thursday Night Football against the Jets, but the game was certainly in doubt after the Browns trailed 14-0 in the second quarter. No. 1 overall draft choice Baker Mayfield replaced an injured Tyrod Taylor to put together a big comeback win 21-17 over the Jets. It was Cleveland's first NFL win since Dec. 24, 2016.

 
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Sep. 23: Bears arrive at Arizona from down 14 points

Sep. 23: Bears arrive at Arizona from down 14 points
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Chicago was just finding its identity under new head coach Matt Nagy with a visit to Arizona in Week 3. The Cardinals jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Bears chipped away the rest of the game, scoring 16 points and shutting out Arizona the rest of the way to win 16-14.

 
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Oct. 7: Bengals close 17-point deficit vs. Miami with defensive help

Oct. 7: Bengals close 17-point deficit vs. Miami with defensive help
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

Miami jumped out to a 17-0 lead over Cincinnati in the third quarter, and it took a full team effort for the Bengals to come back. That included a 22-yard pick-six by Michael Johnson and a 19-yard fumble return score by Sam Hubbard to help Cincinnati win 27-17.

 
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Oct. 7: Canes stun Seminoles from down 20 points

Oct. 7: Canes stun Seminoles from down 20 points
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

2018 was a truly miserable season for Florida State football, and its loss against rival Miami was the team's season in a nutshell. The Seminoles led 27-7 in the third quarter, but Miami came storming back behind three N'Kosi Perry touchdown passes to win 28-27.

 
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Oct. 21: Panthers close 17-point fourth-quarter deficit vs. Eagles

Oct. 21: Panthers close 17-point fourth-quarter deficit vs. Eagles
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

It looked like a big day at the office for Cam Newton and Co., trailing at Philadelphia 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter. The Panthers strung together a miraculous comeback against the defending Super Bowl Champs, finishing it off with a Newton-to-Greg-Olsen touchdown pass with 1:22 remaining to win 21-17.

 
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Oct. 24: Hawks storm back from down 26 vs. Mavs

Oct. 24: Hawks storm back from down 26 vs. Mavs
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

The early season was rough for the young Mavericks, and that was the case in Atlanta. Leading by 26 points early in the game, Dallas gave up the lead in the fourth quarter, as Hawks guard Kent Bazemore starred with 32 points to help his team win 111-104.

 
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Oct. 27: Oregon State stuns Colorado after 31-3 deficit

Oct. 27: Oregon State stuns Colorado after 31-3 deficit
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

It was a miserable football season for the Beavers, but they'll remember their comeback victory at Colorado. Trailing 31-3 in the third quarter, Oregon State won its second game of the season by going on a 31-3 run in the second half and then breaking the tie in overtime to win 34-31. Quarterback Jake Luton threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns.

 
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Nov. 10: Murray State walk-off 31-point comeback with kick return

Nov. 10: Murray State walk-off 31-point comeback with kick return
Mark Zerof / USA Today Sports Images

Southeast Missouri State jumped out to a 31-0 lead over Murray State in the second quarter before the Racers woke up. They scored a touchdown in the second quarter and then outscored SEMO 33-7 in the second half, including a 79-yard kickoff return by Malik Honeycutt with just three seconds left to win 40-38.

 
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Nov. 18: Ben Ben orchestrates 16-point comeback at Jacksonville

Nov. 18: Ben Ben orchestrates 16-point comeback at Jacksonville
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

It was a struggle for the Steelers offense against Jacksonville, trailing 16-0 to the Jags in the third quarter. Pittsburgh still was behind 16-7 late in the game, but Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to Vance McDonald with 2:28 left and then ran in the game-winning score with five seconds remaining to win 20-16.

 
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Nov. 25: Eagles comeback from down 16 vs. Giants

Nov. 25: Eagles comeback from down 16 vs. Giants
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

The disastrous season for the Giants continued, as they fell to 3-8 after giving up a 16-point second-quarter lead. The Eagles won 25-22 after Jake Elliott kicked a 43-yard field goal with 22 seconds left.

 
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Dec. 2: Titans escape from down 16 vs. Jets

Dec. 2: Titans escape from down 16 vs. Jets
Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports Images

Tennessee was a heavy favorite against the Josh McCown-led Jets in Week 13, but the Titans soon found themselves trailing 16-0 in the second quarter. They were behind by a score of 22-13 going into the fourth quarter but were able to kick two field goals and get a Marcus Mariota-to-Corey Davis touchdown with 36 seconds left to win 26-22.

 
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Dec. 2: Ducks comeback from 5-1 down to beat Caps

Dec. 2: Ducks comeback from 5-1 down to beat Caps
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Anaheim was down 5-1 in the second period before scoring twice in that period and adding three more goals in the final period to win 6-5 over Washington. Pontus Aberg scored twice for the Ducks.

 
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Dec. 2: Chargers close 16-point deficit with big second half

Dec. 2: Chargers close 16-point deficit with big second half
Philip G. Pavely / USA Today Sports Images

Pittsburgh was in control with a 23-7 lead at halftime on Sunday Night Football, but the Chargers came back in the second half. L.A. tied the game with a 73-yard Desmond King punt return in the fourth quarter and eventually won 33-30 on a 29-yard field goal.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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