ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
September 20.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first. Showing 14 of 21.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Marshall27 | #6 Kansas State20 | On the road |
| 2014 | Mississippi St.34 | #8 LSU29 | On the road |
| 1986 | Miami (OH)21 | #8 LSU12 | On the road |
| 2003 | Toledo35 | #9 Pittsburgh31 | At home |
| 1986 | USC17 | #9 Baylor14 | On the road |
| 2019 | Southern California30 | #10 Utah23 | At home · LA Memorial Coliseum · Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 1997 | Arkansas17 | #11 Alabama16 | On the road |
| 1980 | Boston College30 | #11 Stanford13 | At home |
| 1975 | NC State8 | #13 Florida7 | At home |
| 1997 | BYU13 | #14 Arizona State10 | On the road |
| 1986 | Clemson31 | #14 Georgia28 | On the road |
| 2008 | NC State Wolfpack30 | #15 East Carolina Pirates24 | At home · CarterFinley Stadium · Raleigh, NC |
| 1975 | Oklahoma State20 | #16 Arkansas13 | At home |
| 2008 | Boise State Broncos37 | #17 Oregon Ducks32 | On the road |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first. Showing 10 of 23.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1 Florida St.23 | #22 Clemson17 | At home |
| 1975 | #1 Oklahoma46 | #15 Pittsburgh10 | At home |
| 1997 | #7 Nebraska27 | #2 Washington14 | On the road |
| 2003 | #22 Oregon31 | #3 Michigan27 | At home |
| 1997 | #3 Florida33 | #4 Tennessee20 | At home |
| 1975 | #3 Ohio State17 | #7 Penn State9 | At home |
| 1986 | #4 Alabama21 | #13 Florida7 | On the road |
| 1980 | #4 USC23 | #20 South Carolina13 | At home |
| 1997 | #5 Florida State35 | #16 Clemson28 | On the road |
| 2008 | #6 LSU Tigers26 | #10 Auburn Tigers21 | On the road · Jordan-Hare · Auburn, AL |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | #8 Notre Dame29 | #14 Michigan27 | 2 pts |
| 2001 | #21 South Carolina16 | #18 Mississippi State14 | 2 pts |
| 1997 | #12 Auburn31 | #10 LSU28 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #19 Indiana Hoosiers63 | #9 Illinois Fighting Illini10 | 53 pts |
| 1997 | #7 Nebraska27 | #2 Washington14 | 13 pts |
| 1997 | #3 Florida33 | #4 Tennessee20 | 13 pts |
| 1986 | Miami (OH)21 | #8 LSU12 | 9 pts |
| 1975 | #3 Ohio State17 | #7 Penn State9 | 8 pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Arizona49 | California45 | Trailed by 22 · in game |
| 2025 | San Diego Toreros42 | Princeton Tigers35 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2014 | Yale54 | Lehigh43 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2008 | James Madison Dukes35 | Appalachian State Mountaineers32 | Trailed by 21 · at a quarter |
| 2025 | Memphis Tigers32 | Arkansas Razorbacks31 | Trailed by 18 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | East Carolina70 | North Carolina41 | 111 total pts |
| 2008 | #25 Fresno State Bulldogs55 | Toledo Rockets54 | 109 total pts |
| 2024 | Washington State Cougars54 | San José State Spartans52 | 106 total pts |
| 2014 | Eastern Wash.52 | Montana St.51 | 103 total pts |
| 2025 | Campbell Fighting Camels50 | Bryant Bulldogs48 | 98 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 20IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #16 Penn State Nittany Lions45 | Temple Owls3 | 105,106 fans |
| 2003 | #5 Ohio State24 | Bowling Green17 | 104,358 fans |
| 2014 | Utah26 | Michigan10 | 103,890 fans |
| 2025 | #8 Texas Longhorns55 | Sam Houston Bearkats0 | 103,003 fans |
| 2014 | Mississippi St.34 | #8 LSU29 | 102,321 fans |