The 25 biggest bowl game upsets of all time

It can be argued that more drama involved these teams before the game than during. Off-field issues by some Hokies players and the future of coach Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech made headlines. Texas had a 30-year-old player using an assumed name and out of college eligibility, and the Longhorns claimed the latter proved to be a serious pre-game distraction for a squad with one loss and a tie and was riding a six-game winning streak. The Hokies' Brian Still caught six passes for 119 yards with a touchdown and returned a punt for a score, and Virginia Tech stymied the Texas offense en route to closing the season on a 10-game winning streak after starting 0-2.

Entering the Fiesta Bowl to cap its 2007 season, West Virginia was 10-2 but coming off a massively disappointing 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh, which reportedly cost the Mountaineers a trip to the BCS National Championship Game. Oklahoma, meanwhile, had two losses but won the Big 12 title and was more than a touchdown favorite for this matchup. However, behind a combined 258 rushing yards from quarterback Pat White and Noel Devine, West Virginia ran for 349. Defensively, the Mountaineers held the Sooners without a first-half touchdown and sacked Sam Bradford three times en route to a rather resounding upset. 

Near the end of the first decade of the 2000s, Utah was about to begin the best three-year stretch in program history while playing in the Mountain West Conference. During the 2008 season, the Utes, ranked No. 6 in the BCS standings, took a 12-0 record into the Sugar Bowl — as a non-automatic qualifier — against the mighty 12-1 Crimson Tide. Utah jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and pulled away from the comfortably favored Tide to complete a perfect season with nothing to show for it other than extreme pride. The Utes' Brian Johnson went 27-of-41 for 336 yards with three touchdowns.

Michigan was 13-0 and believed this would be the season for a national championship. The Wolverines, who boasted a defense that allowed an average of 13.4 points, were 7.5-point favorites against the upstart Horned Frogs, who were coming off a loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game. TCU jumped to a 14-0 lead and never trailed while amassing 488 yards, including 263 on the ground. Michigan also allowed Quentin Johnson to record 163 yards on six receptions and a touchdown while pulling off the upset. Now, Horned Frogs, we won't bring up the national championship game.

Jimmy Johnson's Hurricanes had won 10 in a row after losing their season opener to rival Florida. Meanwhile, the 1985 Volunteers were 3-1-2 through the first half of the season, then allowed 21 total points to win the next five straight. However, Tennessee was not expected to beat Miami, which was in the hunt for a national title with the likes of Michael Irvin and Vinny Testaverde leading the way. Yet, the Vols' stingy defense remained stout, and after Irvin put the 'Canes ahead with a first-quarter touchdown reception, they never dented the scoreboard again en route to this lopsided and disheartening defeat.

Both teams were 12-1, but Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings and a seven-point favorite over LSU, which was No. 2 in the BCS rankings. However, the Tigers prevailed because the defense held Jason White and the Sooners to just 154 total yards while picking off the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback twice and sacking him five times. Meanwhile, LSU totaled 159 yards on the ground en route to pulling off the upset. The Tigers would share the 2003 national championship with USC.

Tulane capped a stellar 12-2 2022 season with one of the bigger bowl upsets in recent memory. The favored Trojans opened a 14-0 advantage before Tulane tied things, but following Caleb Williams' third touchdown pass of the first half, they led 28-14 at the break. USC led 45-30 with 4:30 remaining in regulation, but Tulane wasn't finished. Tyjae Spears ran for his fourth touchdown, then the Green Wave recorded a safety to get within 35-29 with 3:20 to play. Alex Bauman's six-yard TD pass from Michael Pratt with nine seconds remaining, plus the extra point, would secure the upset for the Wave. When all was done, Spears rushed for 205 yards, while Williams was 37-of-52 for 462 yards with five touchdowns and an interception.

We can turn this into a twofer. Ohio State was the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff to conclude the 2014 season, but the Buckeyes won 42-35 over top-ranked Alabama in the semifinals before facing No. 2 Oregon, who had dismantled third-seeded Florida State 59-20 in the other semifinal contest and was a seven-point favorite against the Buckeyes. The Ducks opened the scoring on Marcus Mariota's touchdown pass to Keanon Lowe. After Ohio State scored 21 straight points, Oregon got back within 21-20 late in the third quarter. Then Ezekiel Elliott recorded three straight touchdown runs — totaling 12 yards — to help Ohio State pull away and win their most recent national title. Elliott ran for 246 yards and four TDs on 36 carries.

College football fans of a certain age know that Colorado got its revenge on the Fighting Irish and claimed a share of the national championship via the 1991 Orange Bowl. However, the Buffaloes might have had a better team during the 1989 season. With Darian Hagan running the option and a stout defense, Colorado entered the 1990 Orange Bowl with an 11-0 mark and ranked No. 1 in the country. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's only loss that season came to Miami, and it was ranked fourth. Yet, the Irish outrushed Colorado 279-217 and forced three turnovers, ending the Buffaloes' national title hopes.

It can be argued that this was not the most exciting national championship final ever played, but when it comes to upsets, it needs to be on this list. Yes, Oklahoma was 12-0 and ranked No. 1 by both The Associated Press and the BCS. However, 11-1 Florida State was a whopping 11.5-point favorite in the game. The Sooners' defense shined the brightest. They held Florida State's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Chris Weinke in check and the Seminoles to 1-for-15 on third down and just 27 rushing yards to win a national title in Bob Stoops' second year as coach.

Tennessee was 10-0, ranked second in the nation, and had a serious shot at winning the national championship. The only problem was that 8-2 Baylor was not fazed by the aura of invincibility this particular Volunteers team possessed. The Bears matched Tennessee blow for blow and proved they weren't intimidated when fullback Larry Hickman kicked Tennessee guard Bruce Barnham in the face, leading to a second-half skirmish. The Vols led 7-6 when star Johnny Majors muffed a fourth-quarter punt, which led to Buddy Humphrey's one-yard touchdown run to give Baylor the upset victory.

The Hurricanes were the reigning national champions, had won 29 in a row, and boasted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Gino Torretta. Alabama was no slouch at 12-0 but entered this contest as a 10-point underdog to top-ranked Miami. However, the No. 2 Crimson Tide dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They rushed for 267 yards while holding Miami to 48 on the ground and just two field goals to build a 27-6 lead en route to winning the program's first national title since 1979.

How did oddsmakers get this one wrong? Sure, these were the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country, but the top-ranked Buckeyes entered 12-0, had topped the rankings all season, and beat four top-25 teams — making them a seven-point favorite over the Gators, whose only loss came at then-No. 11 Auburn in October. Some critics argued Florida didn't deserve a spot in this BCS title contest , but those were proved resoundingly wrong. After Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. took the opening kickoff back 93 yards for a touchdown, Florida scored 21 unanswered points. Then, when the Buckeyes got within 21-14 early in the third, the Gators scored the next 20. Florida outgained Ohio State 370-82 and sacked Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith five times.

We're going back in the annals of college football for this gem. Cal was 10-0 and ranked fourth in the country.  Not to mention, Golden Bears coach Pappy Waldorf coached Northwestern before heading west. Meanwhile, the Wildcats suffered two losses in 12 games to perennial powers Michigan and Notre Dame. However, this Rose Bowl contest was tight, and Northwestern scored the go-ahead touchdown on Ed Tunnicliff's 45-yard run off the Statue of Liberty play. However, the Wildcats benefited from questionable calls during the contest. Tunnicliff was ruled down when it appeared he fumbled first, and Art Murakowski was awarded a touchdown even though he looked to have lost the ball before crossing the goal line.

A year earlier in the College Football Playoff title game, Alabama beat Clemson to be crowned national champion of the 2015 season. The Tigers turned the tables on the Crimson Tide, who allowed a national-low 11.5 points per contest in the final game of the 2016 campaign —behind the running of Bo Scarbrough (two rushing touchdowns), the Tide, which entered a 6.5-point favorite, led 14-0, then 17-7 early in the third quarter. Clemson responded, thanks to Deshaun Watson (26-of-56, 420 passing yards; 43 rushing yards, one rushing TD), who threw three second-half touchdowns. Two went to Hunter Renfrow (10 receptions, 92 yards), including the go-ahead score from two yards out with one second remaining in regulation.

Coached by Lou Holtz, Arkansas was 10-1 and a very good football team. However, the Razorbacks were ranked sixth in the country, down three suspended starters and up against 10-1, No. 2-ranked Oklahoma. The Sooners happened to be a ridiculous 18-point favorite. However, Arkansas backup running back Roland Sales moved into a starting role and ran for 205 of the team's 317 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. The Razorbacks built a 24-0 lead and never allowed the Sooners to threaten en route to pulling off the stunner.

This was the first Orange Bowl to be played at night and the first-ever college football game televised in front of a primetime audience. Alabama entered 10-0, ranked No. 1 in the country, a three-point favorite and was technically recognized as national champion at the end of the regular season. However, Joe Namath and Co. weren't invincible. Fifth-ranked Texas jumped to a 14-0 lead thanks to a 79-yard touchdown run by Ernie Koy and Jim Hudson's 69-yard touchdown pass to George Sauer, then hung on for the upset victory. Despite the loss, Namath was named MVP after going 18 of 37 for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

This was everything a college football fan could want from a national championship contest.  Reigning national champion Miami was riding a 34-game winning streak and entered as the double-digit favorite, but Ohio State was in control most of the night. That was until the Hurricanes scored the final 10 points of regulation and forced overtime on Todd Sievers' 40-yard field goal as time expired. Miami also lost star running back Willis McGahee to a severe knee injury in the fourth. After both teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Maurice Clarett's five-yard touchdown run put Ohio State ahead in the second extra session. Then, the Buckeyes defense stepped out and stymied Miami, which had first-and-goal from the two-yard line but failed to score.

Amid frigid temperatures, Notre Dame was undefeated and a 6.5-point underdog to the top-ranked Crimson Tide. It didn't matter. Ara Parseghian's Fighting Irish were not fazed. In a highly competitive contest, 11-0 Alabama went ahead 23-21 with 9:33 remaining in the fourth quarter when Mike Stock caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Richard Todd. However, Notre Dame marched down the field and took the lead on Bob Thomas' 19-yard field goal with 4:26 to play. The Irish defense would hold, stunning "Bear" Bryant's the mighty Crimson Tide.

Vince Young might be the best overall athlete in the history of Texas football, and he proved that in what has been c onsidered the greatest bowl game of all time. USC, a seven-point favorite, led 24-23 after three quarters and went up by eight after Reggie Bush's 26-yard scoring run early in the fourth. The Trojans led 38-26 with 6:42 in regulation when Young took over. He scored on a 17-yard TD run with 4:03 to play, then scampered into the end zone from eight yards out on fourth-and-5 with 19 ticks on the clock. The Longhorns won the national title and solidified Young's legendary status.

Arkansas was the defending national champion, averaged more than 34 points per game, and entered this contest riding a 22-game winning streak. That did not matter to the Tigers, who were 7-3 but played their best game of the season when it mattered most. The Razorbacks scored on their first drive off the game, but that was it. The Tigers' defense proved impressively stout and made a pair of short, second-quarter touchdown runs from Joe LaBruzzo stand to pull off one of the greatest upsets in college bowl history.

This was a rematch of the previous year's Cotton Bowl, which Texas won 21-17 to cap its undefeated season. However, the Fighting Irish would get their revenge on the first day of 1971.  The Longhorns, winners of 30 consecutive games entering this contest, took an early 3-0 lead, but Notre Dame scored the next 21 points to stun the favorites. Irish quarterback Joe Theismann was an efficient 9-of-16 for 176 passing yards, and their defense held the Longhorns' vaunted wishbone offensive attack out of the end zone.

Ian Johnson's "Statue Left" winning two-point conversion run was the icing on the cake of Boise State's seemingly improbable Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma, which was favored by more than a touchdown. However, the Broncos pulled out all the stops to get to that point. Trick plays, gadget plays, and seemingly improbable fourth-down conversions by Boise State highlighted a game in which Oklahoma scored 25 straight points during the second half to lead 35-28 with 1:20 remaining in regulation. Only for the Broncos to tie it on Jerard Rabb's 35-yard touchdown pass (via lateral) from Jared Zabransky with seven seconds to go.

Another classic No. 1 (Miami) versus No. 2 (Penn State) matchup, but one where it seemed No. 1 would roll. The favored Hurricanes, who got off the plane in Arizona wearing military fatigues, brought the swagger. However, the blue-collar Nittany Lions were stronger. Though severely outgained by Miami, Penn State forced seven turnovers, including picking off Heisman Trophy-winner Vinny Testaverde five times. That allowed Penn State to record the go-ahead touchdown on D.J. Dozier's six-yard run with a little more than eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Miami got inside the Nittany Lions' 10-yard line with 45 seconds remaining, but Testaverde was picked off in the end zone by linebacker Pete Giftopoulos on fourth down, securing Penn State's championship.

In the annals of college football history, upsets don't get much bigger than this one — or change the landscape of the nation's college football power structure in the process. Fifth-ranked Miami announced its presence as a perennial power, stunning No. 1-ranked, undefeated Nebraska to win the national championship — after results of other bowl games ended in the Hurricanes' favor. The game was filled with drama and excitement. Like Bernie Kosar throwing two touchdown passes for the Hurricanes and the infamous "fumblerooski," resulting in a 19-yard touchdown run for Nebraska lineman Dean Steinkuhler. And, of course, Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne decided to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game — and likely winning the national title if it ended that way — and failing with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.