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1->'''Hella Jeff:''' bro i got a ticket for the BIG GAME (its sports)\
2'''Sweet Bro:''' dog........ i AM SO JEALOUS you KNOW i love the the the big game.
3-->-- ''Webcomic/SweetBroAndHellaJeff''
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5The Big Game is the [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny end all and be all of existence]]. The OpposingSportsTeam is prepared to win, and everything is riding on the RagtagBunchOfMisfits. There's some bet riding on the game where [[SavingTheOrphanage the orphanage/family restaurant/park/camp can only be saved]] by winning the Big Game. Alternatively, winning the Big Game may inspire the LittlestCancerPatient to live. Or it may represent the third and final game in the StoryArc that characterizes' the Misfits' journey.
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7Typical formula for a Big Game:
8* The first half of the game consists of the OpposingSportsTeam ripping our heroes to shreds, building up a huge lead.
9* At the halftime break, the rest of the team has [[DespairEventHorizon just about given up]] when the coach or [[TheQuarterback team captain]] comes in with a heroic speech inspiring his team to greater heights against the unstoppable juggernaut. That, or they [[PutMeInCoach put in the one player]] who can make the difference.
10* The second half is the MiracleRally; the fired-up underdogs close the gap to tie the game, usually with the help of a montage.
11* Finally, it comes {{down to the last play}}; the game is tied, or the OpposingSportsTeam is just slightly ahead. There's [[DownToTheLastPlay just enough time for one more play, shot, or run]]. The entire game rides on this one. Surely, everyone can all guess what happens next; the game is won in the most spectacular fashion possible.
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13After all, blowouts only happen in real world [[UsefulNotes/SuperBowl Super Bowls]] and UsefulNotes/{{FIFA World Cup}}s.
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15Not to be confused with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Game_%28American_football%29 a football game played by a couple California universities]], or a [[WritingAroundTrademarks trademark-dodging phrase to describe]] the UsefulNotes/SuperBowl. Compare TheBigRace.
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17----
18!!Examples:
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20[[AC:Fan Works]]
21* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': The ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}'' fanfic "The Baseball Game" concerns itself with one. In the final Single-A World Series game, Bolt is pressed into playing duty while serving as honorary team {{Mascot}}. He scores the winning run as a pinch runner for an injured player, and later clinches victory when he pulls off a triple play manning second base despite lacking a glove and the ability to throw a baseball properly.
22* ''WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'': The entire point of the episode "Smexy Soccer".
23
24[[AC:Films -- Animation]]
25* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolfDunkForFuture'': The premise hinges around Team Defenders struggling to find the motivation to practice for the city basketball game after one of their previous matches with Team Tiger doesn't turn out so well. The film ends with them having a match with Team Tiger once more.
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27[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
28* ''Film/AmericanUnderdog'': The climax is Super Bowl XXXIV.
29* ''Film/AngelsInTheOutfield'' and all of its remakes/sequels/spin-offs.
30* ''Film/AsOne'': A movie about table tennis, climaxes with the two former bitter rivals competing as doubles partners for the table tennis world championship.
31* ''Back to School with Literature/{{Franklin}}'': A big soccer game is featured. [[spoiler:It ended in a tie.]]
32* ''Film/TheBadNewsBears'' and its remake famously subverted this by [[spoiler:having the team of the title lose in the end as they realized the game was more about fun and self-respect than winning.]]
33* ''Film/BendItLikeBeckham'': The team is not a bunch of ragtags. They were one of the best teams in the league and if not the favorite to win that game, they certainly weren't a huge underdog.
34* ''Film/TheBigGreen''
35* ''Film/BlackbeardsGhost'': The big track and field competition in the climax that the team of Godolphin has to win lest it wants to cease to exist. Coach Steve Walker also risks losing his job on it. Luckily, there's a certain ghost to help them.
36* ''Film/FridayNightLights'': Both in the original film and several times in the subsequent [[Series/FridayNightLights TV series]].
37* ''Film/{{The Freshman|1925}}'': It has nerdy Harold playing for Tate College in the big game at the end of the football season against State U.
38* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'': In TheClimax of the first movie and the beginning of the third.
39* ''{{Film/Hoosiers}}'': It has the Big Game between tiny little Hickory High and powerful South Bend Central for the state championship.
40* ''Film/HorseFeathers''
41* ''Film/JohnnyBeGood'': The plot begins with Johnny's football team at the state championship, which will determine what college scholarships the players are offered.
42* ''Film/KickingAndScreaming''
43* ''{{Film/Leatherheads}}'': Although the protagonists ultimately [[spoiler:win by cheating. Although since the real antagonists are those attempting to add and enforce rules in football, this is treated as a good thing.]]
44* ''Film/LittleGiants'' follows this trope almost to a T.
45* ''Film/TheLongestYard'': In both versions, as well as ''Film/MeanMachine'', the ForeignRemake.
46* ''Film/{{Lucas}}'': Lucas doesn't catch the ball (though it was ruled a fumble apparently since the play was not whistled over.) and we never see the ending, though it is implied that they lose.
47* ''Film/MajorLeague'' and sequels. The first puts a memorable spin on the typical DownToTheLastPlay ending.
48* ''{{Film/Mash}}''
49* ''Film/TheMatch''
50* ''Film/TheMightyDucks'' and its sequels.
51* ''Film/MysteryAlaska'': Although the protagonists ultimately lose the game by one goal.
52* ''Film/NecessaryRoughness'': {{Subverted}}. Despite fitting this trope to a T, the final game is simply the last of the season, and the only stakes on the line are to win just one game (though it is against the top-ranked team in the nation).
53* ''Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie'': It parodies this, specifically parodying both ''Film/VarsityBlues'' and ''Film/{{Lucas}}''.
54* ''Film/{{Possums}}'': A very unusual example is this 1998 indie film. The protagonist team is totally thrashed by the rivals but [[spoiler:scores their first touchdown in over ten years and leaves the field, cheering and holding the scoring player aloft like a hero, leading the opposing coach to ask the referee if his team had actually won.]]
55* ''Film/RememberTheTitans''
56* ''Film/TheReplacements2000''
57* ''Film/RookieOfTheYear''
58* ''Film/{{Saratoga}}'': It ends with a climactic horse race. If Duke wins he has enough money to leave the bookmaking business and rebuild Grandpa's ranch. If Hartley wins, Duke is wiped out.
59* ''Film/SlapShot'': Although it skips the MiracleRally part. [[spoiler:The Chiefs win when the other team is disqualified after one of their players punches the referee.]]
60* ''Film/SpaceJam''
61* ''Film/SpecialWhenLit'': The 2005 PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association) World Championship is framed as this in this {{Documentary}}.
62* ''Film/{{Thunderstruck}}'': It features two Big Games in two days, one for the high school team and one for the NBA team, both to qualify for the respective playoffs.
63* ''Film/VarsityBlues''
64* ''Film/TheWaterboy''
65* ''Film/WhipIt'': {{Subverted}}. The teams are tied pretty much all the way through, [[spoiler:and the Hurl Scouts lose.]]
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67[[AC:Literature]]
68* ''Literature/HouseOfRobotsRobotsGoWild'': Sammy sets one up with Dean Schlipp of Notre Dame College between Professor Hayes' robots and Dr. Ignalls'. If Professor Hayes' robots win, Professor Hayes keeps her job. If Dr. Ignalls' robots win, he takes over her job. [[spoiler:Professor Hayes' robots win once E shows up.]]
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70[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
71* ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'': It affectionately parodies the genre in a sketch about a down-and-out [[{{UsefulNotes/Cricket}} pub cricket team]] who go on a quest to 'win the Ashes' and turn around the fortunes of their town. The sketch is deliberately entirely inaccurate in its depiction of the sport, such as a coach who 'trained the Manchester United team when they won the European Cricket Cup'.
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73[[AC:Theatre]]
74* ''Theatre/TheCollegeWidow1904'': Built up over the first act, the match against Bingham finally arrives mid-way through the second act. The players have been carefully chosen to create a first-rate team for Atwater and Jane has finally convinced Bolton to join it. It's time they show their rival what they are made of.
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76[[AC:Video Games]]
77* ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}'': This is when Jimmy takes on the [[JerkJock Jock clique]], after some initial preparation alongside the nerds.
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79[[AC:Visual Novels]]
80* ''VisualNovel/{{SC2VN}}'': The climax is a Big Starcraft Game.
81
82[[AC:Web Videos]]
83* ''WebVideo/ATrailerForEveryAcademyAwardWinningMovieEver'': It's parodied, like all other tropes in it.
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85[[AC:Western Animation]]
86* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': The titular team in "Muffy's Soccer Shocker" has one against Mighty Mountain Elementary. It ends [[spoiler:with a tie.]]
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