ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
January 4.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | #2 Texas Longhorns41 | #1 USC Trojans38 | At home |
| 2004 | #1 USC Trojans55 | #2 Oklahoma Sooners19 | On the road · Pro Player Stadium |
| 2003 | #3 LSU21 | #1 Oklahoma14 | Neutral site · La. Superdome · New Orleans, LA |
| 1999 | #1 Florida State46 | #2 Virginia Tech29 | Neutral site |
| 1998 | #1 Tennessee23 | #2 Florida State16 | Neutral site |
| 2009 | #6 Boise State Broncos17 | #4 TCU Horned Frogs10 | On the road |
| 2010 | #6 Ohio State Buckeyes31 | #8 Arkansas Razorbacks26 | On the road |
| 2012 | #9 Texas A&M Aggies41 | #11 Oklahoma Sooners13 | On the road |
| 2011 | #23 West Virginia Mountaineers70 | #15 Clemson Tigers33 | On the road |
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | #2 Texas Longhorns41 | #1 USC Trojans38 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | #1 USC Trojans55 | #2 Oklahoma Sooners19 | 36 pts |
| 1999 | #1 Florida State46 | #2 Virginia Tech29 | 17 pts |
| 1998 | #1 Tennessee23 | #2 Florida State16 | 7 pts |
| 2003 | #3 LSU21 | #1 Oklahoma14 | 7 pts |
| 2009 | #6 Boise State Broncos17 | #4 TCU Horned Frogs10 | 7 pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
Never count them out
Largest deficits erased. Verified against quarter scores; available from 2000. Each result shows how its deficit was measured.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Trailed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tulane30 | Southern Mississippi13 | Trailed by 13 · in game |
| 2005 | #2 Texas Longhorns41 | #1 USC Trojans38 | Trailed by 12 · in game |
| 2011 | #23 West Virginia Mountaineers70 | #15 Clemson Tigers33 | Trailed by 7 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Toledo63 | Arkansas St.44 | 107 total pts |
| 2011 | #23 West Virginia Mountaineers70 | #15 Clemson Tigers33 | 103 total pts |
| 2005 | #2 Texas Longhorns41 | #1 USC Trojans38 | 79 total pts |
| 1999 | #1 Florida State46 | #2 Virginia Tech29 | 75 total pts |
| 2004 | #1 USC Trojans55 | #2 Oklahoma Sooners19 | 74 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 4IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | #3 LSU21 | #1 Oklahoma14 | 79,342 fans |
| 2004 | #1 USC Trojans55 | #2 Oklahoma Sooners19 | 77,912 fans |
| 2021 | Kansas St.42 | LSU20 | 52,207 fans |
| 2013 | Vanderbilt41 | Houston24 | 42,717 fans |
| 2019 | Tulane30 | Southern Mississippi13 | 38,513 fans |