No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular-season matchups since 1969

Georgia and Tennessee face off this weekend in one of the biggest regular-season college football games of the season. Defending champion Georgia comes into the game as the Associated Press No. 1 ranked team, while Tennessee carries the No. 2 ranking in a tie with Ohio State. Due to the College Football Playoff and prior to it, the BCS, these games happen almost yearly, but seeing a No. 1 vs. a No. 2 in the regular season is rare.

In fact, this will be just the 16th time since 1969 that the top two AP-ranked teams have played each other in the regular season, the last time being in 2019 when Joe Burrow and #1 LSU popped #2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. That game, like most matchups of the top two teams, was close and came down to the final moments. To have it happen in the regular season is much more infrequent now than it was during the World War II era and the 1960s.

So let's look back at the last 15 times the AP top two faced off in the regular season since 1969. 

No. 9, 2019 - LSU won, 46-41

Top-ranked LSU brought their unstoppable offense into Tuscaloosa to take on Nick Saban's usually tough defense in 2019 for one of the most anticipated regular season games of this century. All the big names showed out in this one. Eventual Heisman winner Joe Burrow went off in that game, completing 31 of 39 passes for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa also went off, throwing for 418 yards and 4 TDs. Ja;Marr Chase and Terrance Marshall caught touchdowns for LSU while Jaylen Waddle and 2020 Heisman winner DeVonta Smith caught TDs for Alabama (Smith caught TD passes of 64 and 85 yards). But the star of the game was Tigers running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire who ran for three touchdowns and caught a TD pass in LSU's 46-41 win. 

Nov. 5, 2011 - LSU won, 9-6 (OT)

This was the first time two undefeated SEC teams met in the regular season when both were ranked in the top two. The game was a defensive stalemate that saw Alabama miss three field goals and had another one blocked, while LSU made multiple quarterback changes after two of them threw interceptions. Tied 6-6 going into overtime, the Crimson Tide missed a 52-yard field goal. LSU got possession and promptly hit a 25-yard field goal to win it. These two would meet again for the BCS national championship when Alabama gained the ultimate revenge by spanking LSU, 21-0. 

Nov. 18, 2006 - Ohio State won, 42-39

The biggest rivalry in college football had its first...and to this day only...No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup. Both teams entered the game with 11-0 records with the winner of this game heading to the BCS championship game and the loser off to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes jumped on the Wolverines early, 21-7, behind two Troy Smith touchdown passes and a 52-yard TD run by Beanie Wells. Both teams traded blows for the rest of the game, but Michigan could only get as close as four points on two occasions. Smith's 13-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter put the game away. Michigan tacked on a late touchdown (Chad Henne to Tyler Eckler), but it was too late. Ohio State won the game, 42-39, as the teams combined for exactly 900 yards of offense.
The aftermath caused quite a bit of chaos in college football. Ohio State went to the BCS title game, while Michigan stayed at No. 2. However, USC beat Notre Dame the next week and leapfrogged the Wolverines to take the No. 2 spot. The following week, USC lost to UCLA and No. 4 Florida beat Arkansas in the SEC championship game, causing the Gators to jump all the way up to No. 2, keeping the Wolverines at three. Florida would beat Ohio State for the BCS national championship, while Michigan lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. 

Sept. 9, 2006 - Ohio State won, 24-7

Ohio State showed its offensive versatility against the defending champion Longhorns with a big play offense in the first half and a grinding run attack in the second half. Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith had a field day throwing to Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez, while Antonio Pittman ate yards and the clock for a comfortable win. Ohio State's defense was sensational, confusing Colt McCoy and shutting down the vaunted Longhorns attack. This would be the first of two times Ohio State would play in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game. 

Nov. 30, 1996 - Florida State won, 24-21

For the first time in the Gators-Seminoles rivalry, both teams entered their rivalry game with 10-0 records. On a windy day, Florida State piled on Florida early on, jumping to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on the backs of their running backs, Warrick Dunn and Pooh Williams. Florida would punch back in the second quarter behind a pair of Danny Wuerffel touchdown passes to Jacquez Green. The wind and defenses were the story in the second half, as FSU quarterback Thad Busby struggled in the wind, while the defense bent but didn't break against the Gators offense. A Williams TD run late gave the 'Noles enough cushion late to hold off Florida, 24-21. After the game, Steve Spurrier openly complained about Florida State's aggressiveness and perceived cheap shots on his players. The two would face off in the Sugar Bowl, as Florida State was now the No. 1 ranked team and Florida came in at No. 3. After No. 2 Arizona State lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl set up to be a national championship game. Florida exacted revenge on the hated Seminoles by rolling them, 52-20, to win its first title. 

Nov. 13, 1993 - Notre Dame won, 31-24

One of the most well-remembered games on this list, Florida State came in with Heisman winner Charlie Ward and a Seminoles team poised to win its first championship against the establishment of Notre Dame and all the pageantry of South Bend. The Irish defense and the running of Lee Becton gave the home team an early lead that it would hang on to for much of the game. Florida State would score on an amazing touchdown pass that was tipped by Notre Dame and into the hands of Kez McCorvey on a fourth-and-20. After an Irish three-and-out, Ward led the 'Noles to the Notre Dame 14-yard line with :03 left. His pass to Warrick Dunn would be knocked down by Shawn Wooden (who would subsequently tear his ACL in the aftermath), and Notre Dame preserved the victory. Everyone was set to see a rematch in the Orange Bowl, as Notre Dame ascended to the No. 1 ranking and Florida State dropped to No. 2. The next week, however, Notre Dame was upset by Boston College in South Bend and the rematch would never happen. The Seminoles would take over the top spot and end up beating Nebraska for the national championship. 

Nov. 16, 1991 - Miami won, 17-16

The game is best known by one play: wide right. The Miami-Florida State rivalry was at a fever pitch, as the Hurricanes consistently got in the Seminoles way toward a national championship. Florida State came into the game with a high-scoring offense, while Miami was known for its suffocating defense. As you can tell by the final score, the 'Canes enforced their will on the game. After Miami scored the first touchdown on a Stephen McGuire run, FSU scored the next 16 points of the game on the strength of three field goals and a Paul Moore TD run. A Carlos Huerta field goal got the lead down to six when Larry Jones busted the goal line to give the 'Noles a 17-16 lead with 3:01 to play. Florida State raced down the field and set up a 34-yard field goal with :29 left, which it kicked on third down. Gerry Thomas' kick went, you guessed it, wide right and Miami won the game. Miami would win out and beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to win its fourth national championship in nine seasons. This is the last time the winner of a No. 1 vs No. 2 game in the regular season went on to win the national championship. 

Sept. 16, 1989 - Notre Dame won, 24-19

This was the fourth straight regular season that the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams would meet. This stat should tell you how times have changed: the defending champion Fighting Irish attempted just two passes all game. It was a different pair of plays, however, that would define this game: Notre Dame's do-everything receiver Raghib "Rocket" Ismail returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Every the Wolverines would get close, they would inexplicably kick it to Ismail and he made the big play. Notre Dame would stay No. 1 the rest of the season before getting spanked by Miami in the regular-season finale. This was Bo Schembechler's final game as head coach in the rivalry, as he lost the final three times he faced the Irish.

Nov. 26, 1988 - Notre Dame won, 27-10

Oddly enough this wasn't the biggest game the Irish would play during the season involving the No. 1 ranked team. That would be in mid-October when the fourth-ranked Irish beat No. 1 Miami, 31-30, in what has since been known as the "Catholics vs Convicts" game. Notre Dame eventually took over the top spot in the rankings when it headed to USC for the regular-season finale. Unlike most of the games on this list, this one wasn't close despite Lou Holtz sitting Ricky Watters and Tony Brooks for the game. Irish QB Tony Rice opened up the game with a 65-yard touchdown run and didn't look back. Stan Smagala picked off Rodney Peete and returned it for a touchdown to give the Irish a 20-7 lead before halftime, and Notre Dame salted the game away from there. Notre Dame would beat West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl to win its 11th...and final...claimed national championship. 

Nov. 21, 1987 - Oklahoma won, 17-7

To fans of a certain age, you know how big this rivalry was. For the entire 1987 season, Oklahoma and Nebraska topped the rankings and were on a collision course toward this showdown. Heading into the 1987 game, Nebraska spent the week filling up Oklahoma's bulletin boards with smack talk and predictions, while the Sooners uncharacteristically stayed quiet. After the 17-7 win, the Sooners, led by head coach Barry Switzer, did plenty of talking. ("When they were talking about beating us 35 to something — it's crazy to me. They haven't scored but four touchdowns on us in three years.") Oklahoma would win its fourth straight Big Eight title.

Sept. 27, 1986 - Miami won, 28-16

Defending champion Oklahoma brought its stifling defense, led by Brian Bosworth, to South Florida to face the Hurricanes. Miami had beaten the Sooners the previous year and wasn't afraid of the big, bad Sooners. Heisman winner Vinny Testaverde became more and more comfortable as the game went along, with a 30-yard TD pass to Michael Irvin in the third quarter giving the 'Canes a 28-10 lead. Miami's defense made a name for itself, shutting down Oklahoma's vaunted wishbone attack. To appreciate what the Hurricanes did on this day, you have to look at Oklahoma's season as a whole. Its led the nation in passing defense, rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense — yet Miami put 28 points on it. Oklahoma allowed only 45 points in the 10 other regular-season games combined. Miami would roll into the Fiesta Bowl where it lost to Penn State in another No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown. 

Oct. 19, 1985 - Iowa won, 12-10

The statistics of this game should indicate a Hawkeyes blowout. Iowa outgained Michigan 422 to 182 and possessed the ball over 16 minutes longer than the Wolverines. The problem was that it couldn't finish off drives. Rob Houghtlin kicked four field goals in this tight contest with the final one coming as time expired. Hawkeyes quarterback Chuck Long and running back Ronnie Harmon dominated the game, but it was Michigan's Jim Harbaugh's shovel pass to Gerald White that resulted in the game's lone touchdown. Houghtlin's final kick, a 29-yard field goal as time ran out, remains one of the biggest moments in Iowa football history. The Hawkeyes would lose at Ohio State two weeks later, and the dream of a national championship ended. 

Sept. 26, 1981 - USC won, 28-24

This is the first matchup of the top two ranked teams in a decade, and one of the teams didn't really turn out to be worth its ranking. The game itself was sloppy: Players slipped all over the field, and Oklahoma fumbled the ball a whopping 10 times, losing five. Marcus Allen lost his footing a few times but still managed to gain 208 yards. Allen nearly caught the game-winning touchdown, but tight end Fred Cornwall (who caught one pass in his college career to that point) mistakenly reached for the ball and knocked it down. On the next play, Cornwall would be the intended receiver and pulled down the 7-yard pass to give the Trojans the lead with :02 left. Oklahoma would go on to tie Iowa State in its next game and get steamrolled by Texas in the Red River Showdown to stand at 1-2-1. The Sooners would lose two more games during the season to finish 7-4-1. USC would also stumble, losing two weeks later (to Arizona) and to Washington late in the season before losing to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Nov. 25, 1971 - Nebraska won, 35-31

This may be the most memorable game on the list. Nebraska was the defending national champion and riding a 20-game winning streak heading into Norman. It was also a matchup of Oklahoma's vaunted wishbone offense against Nebraska's brutal "Blackshirts" defense. The game was tight throughout before Nebraska took a 28-17 lead on the strength of Jeff Kinney's three TD runs heading into the fourth quarter. Oklahoma QB Jack Mildren would lead a fourth quarter comeback with a 2-yard touchdown run and a 17-yard touchdown pass to take a 31-28 lead with just over seven minutes to play. After a big 33-yard reception by Johnny Rodgers got the Huskers to the Sooners' 15-yard line, Kinney eventually punched in the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 left in the game. The Sooners stalled, and Nebraska won the "Game of the Century."  Nebraska would go on to beat Alabama in the Orange Bowl to claim its second straight national championship, while Oklahoma would beat Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. These two teams filled 17 of the 22 First Team All-Big Eight spots. 

Dec. 6, 1969 - Texas won, 15-14

In the 1960s, Texas and Arkansas carved out a nice little rivalry as Southwest Conference foes. The two won eight of the previous 10 SWC championships, and their meetings tended to be among the biggest games of the conference season. The game was moved to the end of the season to get the most television viewers, and even President Richard Nixon attended the game to declare the winner as the national champion. The Razorbacks would gain control of the game with a 14-0 lead and their crushing defense stuffing Texas' wishbone attack. Texas would score on the first play of the fourth quarter on a James Street touchdown run. The Longhorns went for two to trail by six. Then Texas' defense made the big play, picking off Arkansas in the end zone to stall the Razorbacks from widening their lead. Texas would march down the field, making a key fourth-and-3 conversion that went for 44 yards, before Jim Bertelsen's touchdown run tied the game. The extra point gave the Longhorns the lead with over three minutes left. An Arkansas drive for a game-winning field goal died when Tom Campbell picked off Bill Montgomery to effectively end the game.
Texas would go on to beat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl to win the national championship. Penn State, which was also undefeated, lobbied to also be champion but many soured on its decision to play in the Orange Bowl instead of the SWC champ in the Cotton. Arkansas would lose the Sugar Bowl to Ole Miss.