Dandy Dozen: Best college football movies

Yeah, they can be sappy and cliche-ridden. Yet the best college football movies will make you cry or laugh, with story lines that even Hollywood and Matthew McConaughey can't screw up.

With the help of some Top 25 voters, here's a guide to the AP's 12 most memorable college football movies.

1) "RUDY" — The mostly true story of Notre Dame walk-on Rudy Ruettiger, who earns a spot on the team through sheer determination. If you're a Fighting Irish fan, it's a movie that will bring you to tears. If you hate Notre Dame, it's pure propaganda.

From the panel: "Great motivational story, even though Joe Montana says now a lot of what happened in the film isn't really true. Come on, Joe. Don't ruin it." Marcus Fuller, St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press.

2) "HORSE FEATHERS" — A Marx Brothers classic. The new president of Huxley College recruits players out of a local bar to help beat rival Darwin. The best part? How about Chico calling out signals such as: "High diddle diddle the cat and the fiddle, this time I think we go through the middle."

From the panel: "The older I get, the more I realize that the Marx Brothers' 'Horse Feathers' was the most accurate college football movie ever filmed (at least in terms of the relationship between football and higher education)." Cecil Hurt, The Tuscaloosa News.

3) "WE ARE MARSHALL" — Based on the true story of how Marshall rebuilt its football program after a plane crash killed almost all the players and coaches. Even with McConaughey in lead role, it's an inspirational tearjerker.

From the panel: "Wasn't the most compelling acting (sorry, McConaughey), but the true story shines through." Travis Haney, The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier.

4) "THE WATERBOY" — Some seriously repressed anger issues turn Adam Sandler's Bobby Boucher from stuttering waterboy into a tough-hitting linebacker so fierce he'd put Ray Lewis to shame.

From the panel: "Became a lot more meaningful to me when I moved to Louisiana." Randy Rosetta, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.).

5) "THE EXPRESS: THE ERNIE DAVIS STORY" — Didn't generate much box office buzz, but no college football player was ever more worthy of having a movie done about his life than the 1961 Heisman trophy winner from Syracuse.

From the panel: "Almost like an extension of 'Remember the Titans,' it's important to acknowledge heroes like Ernie Davis." Haney.