Catch of the year? Fans, media react to Indiana’s insane game-winning TD catch vs. Penn State 

Omar Cooper Jr. may have made one of the greatest catches of the college football season.

First, the setup. Indiana’s hopes of an undefeated season were under serious threat at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Hoosiers trailed Penn State, 24-20, with less than two minutes to go as they got the ball back after a Nittany Lions punt.

Fernando Mendoza was sacked on the first play of the drive. But he calmly worked the ball down the field after that, with one of his throws being pulled in near the sideline by Charlie Becker to put the Hoosiers at the Penn State 7.

Becker’s catch was clutch. But Cooper’s catch was sensational.

With 36 seconds left and the Hoosiers facing a 3rd-and-goal, Mendoza fired to the very back of the end zone. Cooper went up for the ball and, incredibly, was able to get a foot down in bounds to give Indiana the lead.

Here’s the video. This was simply jaw-dropping, with Gus Johnson going apoplectic in the FOX booth:

Here’s a closer look. As you can see, Cooper’s right foot was clearly down, just inches from the back of the end zone:

It’s hard to think of a more incredible catch this year. Regardless of how the Hoosiers’ season ends, this will go down as an iconic moment in program history.

Social media exploded after Cooper’s catch:

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.