The words “college football” and “upsets” are synonymous in the minds of fans across the country, as the sport has produced some of the most stunning games in sports history.
Whether it’s a small program taking down a national giant or a midseason shocker that derails a title contender, these games leave an indelible mark on the sport. Let’s explore the biggest upsets that have altered the landscape of college football history.
College Football’s All-Time Biggest Upsets
With a wealth of upsets to choose from, our selection criteria focused on playoff implications, point spreads, and overall significance to compile the top 10. Here are some notable games that narrowly missed the cut:
- 2007: Pitt 13, No. 2 West Virginia 9
- 2007: Syracuse 38, No. 18 Louisville 35
- 1996: Memphis 21, Tennessee 17 (with Peyton Manning under center)
- 2016: Houston 36, No. 5 Louisville 10
- 2012: Texas State 30, Houston 13
- 2000: Central Michigan 21, Western Michigan 17 (CMU was a 34.5-point dog)
2007: Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32
Michigan shelled out $400,000 to bring Appalachian State to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the season opener, expecting an easy win against the FCS program. Yet, it turned into a back-and-forth struggle, with the Wolverines, ranked No. 5 in the FBS, leading by just one point with 26 seconds left.
The moment wasn’t too big for Mountaineers kicker Julian Rauch, as he delivered a 24-yard field goal, stunning the crowd and clinching one of the biggest upsets in all sports.
2007: Stanford 24, No. 2 USC 23
When the Cardinal stepped onto the field against the Trojans, they were 41-point underdogs, with redshirt sophomore QB Tavita Pritchard making his first career start. Second-ranked USC was on a 35-game home winning streak, while Stanford limped in with a 1-3 record and zero winning seasons in seven years.
It was primed for a USC rout, but instead, it became one of college football’s greatest upsets. In Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural season at the helm, Stanford’s defense forced five turnovers and blocked an extra point, keeping the game within reach. Then, with just 49 seconds left, Pritchard delivered a 10-yard TD on fourth down, capping off the improbable win.
2024: Northern Illinois 16, No. 5 Notre Dame 14
When Group of Five teams make the trek to face Power Four schools — or, in this case, Notre Dame — there’s usually a significant financial incentive. For the Huskies, their trip to South Bend, Ind., in Week 2 came with a hefty price tag of $1.4 million.
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While that number grabs attention, the significance of the upset is even more remarkable. At kickoff, the Fighting Irish were such heavy favorites that the spread soared to -28 in their favor, marking one of the largest lines for any FBS vs. FBS matchup during the slate.
Yet, Northern Illinois was unfazed, earning its first non-conference victory against a ranked opponent since 2003 (19-16 vs. Alabama) and its first-ever win over a top-10 team.
1957: Notre Dame 7, No. 2 Oklahoma 0
While most of the country wasn’t even born before this game, that doesn’t take away from its significance.
The Sooners once held the longest winning streak in college football history, racking up 47 consecutive wins from 1953 to 1957. Entering their 1957 matchup with unranked Notre Dame, the No. 2 Sooners were 19-point favorites, had gone 123 games without being shut out, and they were off back-to-back national championships.
But the Fighting Irish didn’t care. In a defensive battle where neither team could break through, Notre Dame orchestrated a 20-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter, sealing a stunning 7-0 victory and ending Oklahoma’s historic streak.
2017: Howard 43, UNLV 40
In 2017, UNLV was such a heavy favorite over Howard that some Las Vegas sportsbooks didn’t even offer a point spread. Other books pegged the Rebels as 45-point favorites, setting the stage for what seemed like a routine blowout.
Howard was expected to be the victim, as the Bison were paid $600,000 to make the trek to Nevada. But Caylin Newton, Cam Newton’s younger brother, had other plans. The freshman signal-caller threw for 330 yards and three scores, leading the Bison to an electric 43-40 victory that marked the biggest point-spread upset in college football history.
2010: James Madison 21, No. 13 Virginia Tech 16
Virginia Tech, ranked No. 10 entering the 2010 season, was a 33-point favorite against FCS opponent James Madison. After the Hokies’ opening loss to Boise State, this matchup seemed like a perfect rebound opportunity.
The Dukes had been outscored 90-0 in their previous meetings with Virginia Tech, but this time was different. JMU kept the game within reach, and QB Drew Dudzik’s 12-yard TD run locked up a shocking 21-16 victory. Still, the upset didn’t completely derail the Hokies, as they regrouped, won 11 straight, and ended the year ranked 15th.
2011: Iowa State 37, No. 2 Oklahoma State 31
Double overtime. Over 1,000 yards of offense. Eight combined turnovers.
Iowa State’s 37-31 upset over No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State had it all. It wasn’t just any old upset, either, as the Cowboys controlled their own destiny en route to the BCS National Championship Game.
The Cyclones showcased a relentless spirit, overcoming a 17-7 deficit in the first half. In a thrilling final series of events, both teams exchanged TDs, but Cowboys QB Brandon Weeden threw a critical interception in the second overtime, setting up Iowa State’s game-winning score.
2012: Baylor 52, No. 1 Kansas State 24
Just a week after the Wildcats ascended to the No. 1 spot in the BCS standings, Baylor rocked the national picture. The Bears also tanked K-State QB Collin Klein’s Heisman hopes, as they sacked him twice and snatched three interceptions in the contest.
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The 52-24 victory was Baylor’s first win over a top-ranked opponent since outlasting No. 2 Tennessee 13-7 in the 1957 Sugar Bowl.
2017: Liberty 48, Baylor 45
In their FBS debut, Liberty shocked the college football world with a stunning Week 1 road win over Baylor. The Bears battled back late, cutting the lead to 48-45 with five minutes left, and even had a chance to steal the game. But with just over 30 seconds left, Baylor regained possession, only for Anu Solomon’s final pass to be intercepted with six seconds remaining, securing Liberty’s upset.
The loss marked Baylor’s first to a lower-division team since 1981, when DII Lamar stunned them.
1998: Temple 28, No. 2 Virginia Tech 24
In Oct. 1998, Temple entered Blacksburg, Va., to face undefeated No. 14 Virginia Tech, carrying an 0-26 Big East road record and a dismal 1-6 start to the season.
The Hokies, led by the Mike Vick, quickly jumped to a 17-0 lead, leading people to assume the game was already in the bag with the Owls featuring 10 first-time starters, including freshman QB Devin Scott. But Temple, facing Tech’s fourth-ranked defense, rallied behind Scott’s 155 yards and two TDs, pulling off an improbable comeback.
The win was Temple’s first over a ranked opponent since 1987, and Coach Bobby Wallace noted the victory was even more remarkable considering how banged-up his team was.
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