As the semester wraps up, I wanted to dedicate my final article to something I genuinely enjoy watching every Saturday: the creativity of college football play design. From the bluebloods at the top of the rankings to the scrappier programs fighting week-to-week, teams across the country are evolving their philosophies and calling plays that are both innovative and flat-out fun. What’s even better is seeing decades-old concepts still thrive in the modern game, repurposed to create advantages for today’s faster, more versatile athletes. At the core of all of it is trust—trust from coaches in their players to execute, adapt, and win.

Montana State continues to impress with some of the most creative play designs in the FCS. One that stands out to me is their use of a zig route—an inside-then-outside break—that puts a huge amount of stress on man coverage. At the Division I level, even a small amount of separation can be the difference between a completion and an incompletion, and this design lets Montana State’s athletes simply go win. What makes the concept so effective is how it pairs with the other routes on that side of the field, creating answers for nearly every coverage rotation defenses in the Big Sky can throw at them. It’s smart football, and it showcases just how well the staff understands their personnel.

2. Oregon:

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big Oregon fan, and one play in particular has stuck with me ever since I saw it against Wisconsin. Oregon used a quick motion followed by a guard–H-back pull combination, creating a downhill run look that perfectly matches their identity. With what I believe is the best running back room in the country, this design gives their backs the space and leverage they need to show their athleticism. It also highlights the trust the staff has in both Davison (a freshman) and Whittington (a senior) to carry the load—especially while Oregon’s quarterback, tight end, and receiving corps have been dealing with injuries throughout the season.

3. Vanderbilt:

For the final example, Vanderbilt gives us a great look at the timeless mesh concept—one of the most common and reliable plays in both college football and the NFL. Mesh is designed to create quick, easy completions, especially against man coverage, and Vanderbilt runs it with a small twist that makes a big difference. Their pre-snap motion forces an off-ball linebacker to stretch horizontally and shift across the formation, which opens up space underneath for the crossing routes to work. With a bit more tweaking, this is a concept that can be endlessly adjusted—routes can change, spacing can change, and it’ll still serve as one of the best answers to pressure and man-to-man defenses.

Featured image: OutKick