ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
September 26.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first. Showing 14 of 27.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Kentucky27 | #1 Ole Miss21 | On the road |
| 1964 | USC40 | #2 Oklahoma14 | On the road |
| 2020 | Kansas St.38 | #3 Oklahoma35 | On the road · Memorial Stadium · Norman, Okla. |
| 1959 | Tennessee3 | #3 Auburn0 | At home |
| 2002 | Louisville26 | #4 Florida State20 | At home |
| 2009 | Iowa Hawkeyes21 | #5 Penn State Nittany Lions10 | On the road · Beaver Stadium · State College, PA |
| 2020 | Mississippi St.44 | #6 LSU34 | On the road · Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, La. |
| 2009 | Oregon Ducks42 | #6 California Golden Bears3 | At home |
| 1981 | Iowa20 | #6 UCLA7 | At home |
| 2025 | Virginia Cavaliers46 | #8 Florida State Seminoles38 | At home · Scott Stadium · Charlottesville, VA |
| 1970 | Oklahoma State26 | #11 Houston17 | At home |
| 1981 | Purdue15 | #13 Notre Dame14 | At home |
| 1970 | Alabama46 | #13 Florida15 | At home |
| 1970 | Oregon State23 | #14 Oklahoma14 | On the road |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first. Showing 10 of 23.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | #1 USC28 | #2 Oklahoma24 | At home |
| 1959 | #1 LSU10 | #9 TCU0 | At home |
| 1953 | #1 Notre Dame28 | #6 Oklahoma21 | On the road |
| 1998 | #2 Nebraska55 | #9 Washington7 | At home |
| 1987 | #2 Nebraska35 | #12 Arizona State28 | On the road |
| 1959 | #10 Northwestern45 | #2 Oklahoma13 | At home |
| 2005 | #10 Tennessee Volunteers30 | #3 LSU Tigers27 | On the road · Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA |
| 1981 | #3 Penn State30 | #15 Nebraska24 | On the road |
| 1981 | #4 Texas14 | #14 Miami7 | At home |
| 1970 | #18 Colorado41 | #4 Penn State13 | At home |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | #10 Tennessee Volunteers30 | #3 LSU Tigers27 | 3 pts |
| 2020 | #21 Pittsburgh23 | #24 Louisville20 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | #2 Nebraska55 | #9 Washington7 | 48 pts |
| 1987 | #5 Miami51 | #10 Arkansas7 | 44 pts |
| 2009 | Oregon Ducks42 | #6 California Golden Bears3 | 39 pts |
| 1959 | #10 Northwestern45 | #2 Oklahoma13 | 32 pts |
| 1970 | #18 Colorado41 | #4 Penn State13 | 28 pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kansas St.38 | #3 Oklahoma35 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2009 | Butler Bulldogs28 | Morehead State Eagles21 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2005 | #10 Tennessee Volunteers30 | #3 LSU Tigers27 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2025 | Arizona State Sun Devils27 | #24 TCU Horned Frogs24 | Trailed by 17 · in game |
| 2020 | #8 Texas63 | Texas Tech56 | Trailed by 15 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Grambling State Tigers70 | Prairie View A&M Panthers54 | 124 total pts |
| 2020 | #8 Texas63 | Texas Tech56 | 119 total pts |
| 2015 | #3 Texas Christian55 | Texas Tech52 | 107 total pts |
| 2020 | Louisiana Tech66 | Houston Christian38 | 104 total pts |
| 2009 | Wagner Seahawks56 | St Francis (PA) Red Flash48 | 104 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · September 26IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Iowa Hawkeyes21 | #5 Penn State Nittany Lions10 | 109,316 fans |
| 2009 | #23 Michigan Wolverines36 | Indiana Hoosiers33 | 108,118 fans |
| 2009 | #13 Ohio State Buckeyes30 | Illinois Fighting Illini0 | 105,219 fans |
| 2009 | Tennessee Volunteers34 | Ohio Bobcats23 | 95,535 fans |
| 2015 | Penn St.37 | San Diego St.21 | 95,107 fans |