Which BYU Hail Mary was better? Jim McMahon vs. Tanner Mangum

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

There's nothing quite like it in sports.

The quarterback drops back, scans deep down the field and hurls the ball as high and far as he can as time expires. The receivers and defensive backs crowd the end zone, a sea of hands waiting to pluck the ball for either triumph or tragedy.

Backup quarterback Tanner Mangum's Hail Mary pass to end Nebraska's 29-game winning streak in season openers is already legendary.

But is it better than Jim McMahon's 1980 Holiday Bowl comeback in which the former Cougar QB launched a Hail Mary of his own with three seconds left to beat SMU 46-45?

Vote in our reader poll which you think was better.

- Brennan Smith

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith