ESPN Instant Classic - Setup

[xMaJoRdAnGeRx]

One for the History Books
Play a game that gets designated as an ESPN Instant Classic (excludes co-op).

Notice: This guide has been confirmed to help some people gain this achivement. My guide is just a basic structure that I used to unlocked this achievement and has been known to not unlock for some. Just keep trying if you don't have this yet and be really patience. It took me about 7 tries to get this and I did the same thing everytime.

Setup: Default (5 mins,Varsity, default sliders)
Teams: Tenn @ Florida
Rivalry: Yes

Boxscore:

1st: Tenn 0 Florida 7
2nd: Tenn 7 Florida 0
3rd: Tenn 10 Florida 7
4th: Tenn 0 Florida 7

Final Score : Tenn 17 - Florida 21

Espn Classic Score: 646

Method: I used all of the default settings. Started the game up by scoring early, ran the clock out going into the 2nd quarter. When the 2nd quarter began, I kicked a FG straight out of bounds, giving them the ball. When on defense, I pumped the crowd up alil bit and held the CPU to 3rd down. When it was 3rd down, i ran FG Block which made them throw over me for an easy TD. When the 3rd quarter started, I gave the ball back to them and repeated the same process, letting them score 10 uncontested.After that,I began to play normal scoring 7 in the 3rd. While running down the clock to 1:52 I scored the last TD and held out for the win.

*Tip: While on offense, I used the quiet crowd animation to get the crowd involved. Idk if it helped but it worked*

Also, i used the even team(RB) while setting up the team.

Confirmed by DarkManX : Sliders and Quarters can be changed.

[DarkManX]

thank you 4 doing this, great idea because this might prevent me from getting 1k

[xMaJoRdAnGeRx]

I updated in the 1st post .
I hope this helps!

[DarkManX]

Do you think It will matter if I use 2 controllers? I haven't been very lucky for this achievement just seeing if it would make a difference.

[xMaJoRdAnGeRx]

Idk, you can try and see. Most of the achievements unlock using 2 controllers.

[DarkManX]

What team were you Tennessee or Florida?

[potterscrow]

This is crazy. I had a triple OT bowl game and I didn't unlock this achievement. I decide to follow this guide and achievement unlocked. Awesome guide by the way. Thank you much.

[Basic BG]

1st lemme say BIG UPS to Major for the strategy and props to Darkman....... i erased all my files cleared cache, loaded up game, selected florida as my favorite team....... loaded up tenn @ fla with sliders adjusted, 3 min quarters, freshman difficulty..... followed the guide to a T, ESPECIALLY the scoring sequence (my first 2 tries the scoring sequence was slightly off)...... after the game i had like 347 instant classic score or some crap (who cares) and it popped ..... this strategy works even for the glitchy games like the 1 I had....... just follow scoring sequence and it should unlock

[DarkManX]

Originally Posted by Basic BG

1st lemme say BIG UPS to Major for the strategy and props to Darkman....... i erased all my files cleared cache, loaded up game, selected florida as my favorite team....... loaded up tenn @ fla with sliders adjusted, 3 min quarters, freshman difficulty..... followed the guide to a T, ESPECIALLY the scoring sequence (my first 2 tries the scoring sequence was slightly off)...... after the game i had like 347 instant classic score or some crap (who cares) and it popped ..... this strategy works even for the glitchy games like the 1 I had....... just follow scoring sequence and it should unlock

Good to hear this worked for you. Would of sucked having 990 GS in this game Welcome to the 1000 club.

[dillon]

OMG It finnally unlocked i was so worried there was 1 second left in the game and i threw a 50 yard TD and made it 21-17 i LOVE YOU

[PoopsGalour]

Thanks xMaJoRdAnGeRx for the method. It kinda worked for me. I tried to do the scoring as he mentioned, but in my ineptitude, i failed to to score in the 4th quarter. So i lost 17 - 14, but guess what i STILL got the achievement. I got a Classic score of only 258. HAHA!

FYI, if anybody cares, i played in Freshman difficulty (ineptitude to the max) with 3 minute quarters. I left the sliders at 50% for CPU and User.

[xMaJoRdAnGeRx]

Updated with video tutorial.

[you need lipo]

as everyone else, i was having the same problem.
i got the achievement finally.
i played an exhibition game; mich v fl. 3 mins sliders default for the first half. the game was close 10-3 during half. then i set the sliders in my favors, i scored a td and to tie with 1 min left. then i let florida run down and score a field goal as time expired. and walaaah i got the achievement. so my theory is if you always win, maybe try to lose?? lol

[Brady816]

You can have the game on fresh and just keep the game about 3 or 7 points the whole game till the 4th quarter but make sure you win and pop the achv will be there. Also i was working on the 4th quarter come back and was able to win the game and get another espn classic also!!!!!! Good luck guys!!!

[darkestone]

what i did is play a very low opponent kept trading field goals every quarter, then touchdowns in the fourth. While even, with very little time left i punted from my own 1 , off to the side so the cpu got the ball around the 30. They kick the FG and it unlocked.

I did it the opposite way with me winning and it didnt unlock, so i can confirm that losing is the way to go lol.

[bLaKgRaVy]

Worked great. Got it on my first try. Thanks!

[Tynstar]

Major you are my hero. I was starting to worry about this one.

Thanks

[xMaJoRdAnGeRx]

Originally Posted by Tynstar

Major you are my hero. I was starting to worry about this one.

Thanks

Np, man. Im glad to help.

[Thegreatest7884]

Pretty good guide. I got it my first game though. I was N'Western versus Illinois and I won at the last second 29-28.

[bLaKgRaVy]

My friend also got it. We were playing Virginia vs. Virginia Tech. The score ended up 35 to 28, and we kept trading touchdowns until the last quarter (me, him, me, him etc.) Then he scored a touchdown in the last 20 seconds to pull ahead. He kept pumping the crowd (he was Virginia home), but don't know if that had anything to do with it. His ranking was 946.

[norcalsniper]

I actually got this Achievement without even trying when I was playing a Bowl Game...

[wildwest08]

so this achievement sucks

[wildwest08]

i wonder if you have to register a team in season showdown to unlock the espn classic thing? just throwing it out there

[FrivolousRhyme]

op-i know you probably don't visit this forum anymore, but thanks for this guide. it worked like a charm for me. this was actually my second instant classic, due to my first one (a triple overtime bcs championship game) that didn't count.

[CanuckLefty]

PROFIT! I followed the scoring sequence exactly, but they scored two TD's in the third (instead of a TD and a FG). Luckily, they missed the extra point, so I won 21-20. I picked off two INT's, including on their final drive. Freshmen, three-minute quarters. It doesn't take much, apparently; only 20 ESPN Classic points. But I'm up to 1000/1000.

[Lord J Rod]

I tried to follow your setup, but they got a first down on me when they were in field goal range and went on to score a TD and led by 21-7. The 4th quarter started, I quickly scored on a huge pass play, 21-14. I quickly shut them down on D and got the ball back using the offsides/sack method(which will work and not affect the achievement). I then scored again and failed on the 2 pt conversion, down 21-20. I shut them down again on D and used timeouts. I tackled the punter on 4th to get good field position. I had :18 on the clock and in 2 pass plays I scored another TD, up 27-21. Game over. Classic score 1631. Booyah!

[Gunstar Red]

I didn't use your exact strategy, but tried playing Florida vs. Tennessee to see if I could get the Classic Achievement exchanging scores. I played Varsity, 5 mins, vs. CPU. I used Florida.

Let CPU score first, then I scored, let CPU score, etc. I made my final score with 2 seconds left on the clock to take the lead in the 4th Qtr. I had planed to score with no time left, but did it too fast. So then I let the CPU return the kickoff with no time remaining, and the CPU won, then the achievement popped!

I had done far more "Classic" games both intentional and unintentional with no classic to show for it. Guess there's just something about UF vs. TENN. Thanks for the advice!