ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
January 5.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #3 Texas Longhorns24 | #10 Ohio State Buckeyes21 | At home |
| 2009 | #10 Iowa Hawkeyes24 | #9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets14 | On the road |
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #3 Texas Longhorns24 | #10 Ohio State Buckeyes21 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #10 Iowa Hawkeyes24 | #9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets14 | 10 pts |
| 2008 | #3 Texas Longhorns24 | #10 Ohio State Buckeyes21 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wisconsin River Falls24 | North Central College14 | Trailed by 11 · in game |
| 2013 | Arkansas St.23 | Ball St.20 | Trailed by 7 · in game |
| 2008 | #3 Texas Longhorns24 | #10 Ohio State Buckeyes21 | Trailed by 4 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights52 | Ball State Cardinals30 | 82 total pts |
| 2025 | Montana State Bobcats35 | Illinois State Redbirds34 | 69 total pts |
| 2018 | North Dakota State38 | Eastern Washington24 | 62 total pts |
| 2012 | Ole Miss Rebels38 | Pittsburgh Panthers17 | 55 total pts |
| 2012 | North Dakota State Bison39 | Sam Houston State Bearkats13 | 52 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · January 5IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Arkansas St.23 | Ball St.20 | 36,119 fans |
| 2025 | Montana State Bobcats35 | Illinois State Redbirds34 | 24,105 fans |
| 2025 | Wisconsin River Falls24 | North Central College14 | 2,403 fans |