Everyone loves a good back-and-forth battle, but some games take that to the extreme. From blowouts to shootouts, college football has seen several record-breaking games. We look at the best back-and-forth matchups and the most one-sided showdowns in this dive into the most points scored in a college football game.
Most Points by Both Teams
While the highest score by both teams comes from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ 222-0 win over Cumberland, we stuck with FBS vs. FBS matchups for this breakdown of the most points scored in a college football game.
Texas A&M vs. LSU (2018), 146
It was the game that made the NCAA ruin overtime. It’s a game that will be remembered by many, mostly because of how insane overtime proceeded. At the end of the 4th quarter, the game was tied at 31.
The LSU Tigers broke out the premature Gatorade bath on head coach Ed Orgeron, but a replay review reversed a call that kept the Texas A&M Aggies‘ final regulation drive alive.
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Both teams scored in all seven overtimes, but the Aggies converted their two-point conversion in the final overtime, which gave them the win.
The teams combined for 1,017 yards and 64 first downs. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow accounted for six total touchdowns, while Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond accounted for seven.
SMU vs. Houston (2022), 140
Houston Cougars fans still have nightmares about this one. All of the points between the two teams were scored in regulation, and the halftime score was 56-35 in favor of the SMU Mustangs.
It was a game that felt over, but not simultaneously. Neither team wanted to play defense, and it almost seemed too easy for both sides at times. Houston’s Clayton Tune threw for 527 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 111 yards and another score in a losing effort. His three interceptions might have been the difference.
SMU’s Tanner Mordecai shredded the Cougars’ defense for 379 yards and a school-record nine touchdowns. The Mustangs also averaged 10.7 yards per rush, and both teams combined for 1,165 yards. SMU won 77-63.
Western Michigan vs. Buffalo (2017), 139
Despite P.J. Fleck’s departure, the Western Michigan Broncos had no problem putting up points under a new regime. It was another seven-overtime thriller to add to this list and another game where both teams scored more in overtime after being tied at 31 at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Broncos tandem of Jarvion Franklin and LeVante Bellamy combined for 307 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, while Buffalo Bulls quarterback Drew Anderson threw for 597 yards and seven scores. The two teams combined for 1,328 yards in the game. Western Michigan pulled out a 71-68 win in the end.
Pitt vs. Syracuse (2016), 137
If you were looking for a random college football thriller in 2016, you found the right one when the Pitt Panthers faced the Syracuse Orange at home. Pitt scored 20 or more points through three quarters of the game, and the two teams combined for 47 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Syracuse’s Amba Etta-Tawo was the spotlight player of the day, catching 13 passes for 178 yards and five touchdowns. The two teams combined for over 1,300 points along with 58 combined first downs. Pitt would hang on to win 76-61.
Navy vs. North Texas (2007), 136
That’s right, the Navy Midshipmen can score points. In a battle of clashing styles, the Midshipmen pulled out a thriller with a 74-62 win over the Mean Green. The first half featured most of the fireworks, with the Mean Green holding a 49-45 lead at halftime. Navy used a 29-point second half while holding North Texas to just 13 for the win.
As you might expect, Navy rushed for 572 yards and 8 touchdowns. Shun White led all Midshipmen rushers with 131 yards, while Zerbin Singleton averaged 12.9 yards per carry and scored 3 times. North Texas quarterback Giovanni Vizza threw for 478 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Boise State vs. Nevada (2007), 136
There are many reasons why the 2007 college football season will go down as one of the best and even more reasons why Chris Petersen’s Broncos were one of the most entertaining teams of its era. Nevada outgained Boise State 639 to 627 in total yards that night, but it was the Broncos who would come away with a 69-67 win.
Former Wolfpack star Colin Kaepernick and running back Luke Lippincott combined for 364 yards and six touchdowns rushing to lead Nevada, while Boise State’s Ian Johnson ran for 205 yards and two scores. The game was a back-and-forth match until Boise State came up with a sack of Kaepernick to end the game.
UNLV vs. Wyoming (2016), 135
The 2007 college football season was good, but there was also something exciting about the 2016 season too (as evidenced by this list). The offense was incredible this year, and multiple games broke FBS records. At the time, UNLV and Wyoming weren’t exactly known for lighting up scoreboards, but they made an exception for this one.
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Former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen only completed 14 of his 31 passes, but he threw for 334 yards. Kurk Palandech led the Rebels in both passing (252 yards, three touchdowns) and rushing (157 yards, one touchdown) on the way to a 69-66 triple-overtime win.
Arkansas vs. Kentucky (2003), 134
Before Texas A&M and LSU’s barn burner in 2018, this game stood as the SEC record for most points combined in conference history. A game nearly surpassed the five-hour mark went well into the night, with the Razorbacks winning 71-63.
Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones threw for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing for 112 yards and one touchdown. Former Kentucky Wildcats southpaw Jared Lorenzen led the Wildcats with 326 yards passing with two scores.
Western Kentucky vs. Marshall (2014), 133
True college football fans didn’t get distracted by the race for the College Football Playoff, especially when Western Kentucky and Marshall put on a show.
While the game entered overtime with the score tied at 59, the Hilltoppers didn’t waste any time securing the win. After Marshall scored and kicked an extra point, Western Kentucky scored and converted a two-point conversion for the 67-66 win.
West Virginia vs. Baylor (2012), 133
One of the greatest college football games ever played comes in the prime of Tavon Austin’s career with West Virginia. It was a back-and-forth battle between the Bears and Mountaineers, with the halftime score sitting tied at 35.
West Virginia started the second half on a 21-0 run, and that ended up being the difference with the Mountaineers winning 70-63.
If you liked offense, then this was the game for you. Baylor’s quarterback threw for 581 yards and 5 touchdowns, while West Virginia’s Geno Smith threw for 656 yards and eight touchdowns. Smith had more touchdowns than incompletions (six) that day.
Baylor’s Terrance Williams led all receivers with 17 catches for 314 yards along with two scores. West Virginia’s duo of Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin went off that day, combining for 518 yards and seven touchdowns.
San Jose State vs. Rice (2004), 133
Usually, when a game starts one-sided, you have an idea of how the game will end. Rice jumped out to a 34-7 lead with 10:27 left in the second quarter, but San Jose State wouldn’t go away. The Spartans pulled within 6 at halftime and used a 42-point second half to pull out the 70-63 win.
Middle Tennessee vs. FAU (2016), 133
If you don’t know about the legend of Richie James, then this game will explain everything you need to know. Middle Tennessee won the final game of the 2016 season in epic fashion, and it was a heavy dose of James that helped them win 77-56.
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He did it in all phases of the game: passing, rushing, and receiving. The Blue Raiders saw four players throw passes, with James completing five of his six attempts for 76 yards. He also rushed 22 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns and turned four catches into 120 yards and 1 more score.
Most Points by One Team
The early 1900s in the college football world was survival of the fittest, and we saw several blowouts during that era. Here are the highest scores from one team.
Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland (1916), 222
The infamous highest-scoring game in college football history, and likely one we’ll never see again unless it’s in a video game. Cumberland’s team featured baseball players and students from law school, so this result should have been easy to predict.
Oklahoma vs. Kingfisher (1917), 179
Oklahoma got their 1917 season off to a blazing start. First, they beat Central State 99-0 followed by this 179-0 win over Kingfisher. Despite the quick start, the Sooners finished 6-4-1 that year.
Arizona vs. Camp Harry Jones (1920), 167
Arizona got their season off to a hot start, scoring 40 or more points in their first four games. The second game was a record-breaker as they dropped 167 points at home against lowly Camp Harry Jones.
Oklahoma vs. Kingfisher (1919), 157
The Sooners return to the list with another beatdown of Kingfisher with a 157-0 win (the teams didn’t play in 1918). Oklahoma had another strong start at 2-0 but stumbled after that to finish 5-2-3.
Tulsa vs. Oklahoma Baptist (1919), 155
While this falls under Tulsa, the school was originally called Henry Kendall College. Their 1919 season featured seven games in which they scored 60 or more points, and they finished the year 8-0-1.
Rice vs. SMU (1916), 146
It was a tough start for the Rice Owls 1916 season when they lost to Texas 16-2, but they bounced back well. They didn’t lose a game after that and scored a school-record 146 points in a 146-3 win over SMU.
Minnesota vs. Grinnell (1904), 146
Everyone knows Grinnell for Jack Taylor’s 138 points in a single basketball game, but even that wouldn’t have helped them in 1904. To be fair, Minnesota would later go on to win its first national championship.
Florida vs. Florida Southern (1913), 144
SEC teams working lower division opponents has been a tradition for a while. Florida started their season strong with a 144-0 win, but the momentum didn’t carry through the season as they finished 4-3.
Syracuse vs. Manhattan (1904), 144
When Syracuse was winning games in 1904, they won big. The Orange won games by an average of 63.8 points, however, they finished the year 6-3.
Notre Dame vs. American Medical (1905), 142
Notre Dame took on an entire hospital and won. A disappointing 2-2 start wasn’t what the Fighting Irish envisioned, but they took their frustrations out on American Medical (142-0) and DePauw (71-0) in the next 2 games.
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