ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
December 20.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Southern Miss28 | #13 TCU21 | Neutral site |
| 2008 | Arizona Wildcats31 | #16 BYU Cougars21 | At home |
| 1978 | Texas A&M28 | #19 Iowa State12 | Neutral site |
| 1997 | Oregon41 | #23 Air Force13 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5 Oregon Ducks51 | #12 James Madison Dukes34 | At home · Autzen Stadium · Eugene, Oregon |
| 2025 | #6 Ole Miss Rebels41 | #11 Tulane Green Wave10 | At home · Vaught-Hemingway Stadium · Oxford, Mississippi |
| 2025 | #10 Miami Hurricanes10 | #7 Texas A&M Aggies3 | On the road · Kyle Field · College Station, TX |
| 2024 | #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish27 | #10 Indiana Hoosiers17 | At home · Notre Dame Stadium · Notre Dame, IN |
| 1976 | #16 Alabama36 | #7 UCLA6 | Neutral site |
| 1971 | #9 Tennessee14 | #18 Arkansas13 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | #9 Tennessee14 | #18 Arkansas13 | 1 pt |
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | #16 Alabama36 | #7 UCLA6 | 30 pts |
| 2024 | #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish27 | #10 Indiana Hoosiers17 | 10 pts |
| 2025 | #10 Miami Hurricanes10 | #7 Texas A&M Aggies3 | 7 pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders42 | Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles32 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
| 2008 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons29 | Navy Midshipmen19 | Trailed by 13 · in game |
| 2014 | Illinois State21 | New Hampshire18 | Trailed by 12 · in game |
| 2007 | Utah Utes35 | Navy Midshipmen32 | Trailed by 10 · in game |
| 2008 | Colorado State Rams40 | Fresno State Bulldogs35 | Trailed by 8 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Kent State51 | Utah State41 | 92 total pts |
| 2025 | Wisconsin River Falls48 | Johns Hopkins41 | 89 total pts |
| 2025 | #5 Oregon Ducks51 | #12 James Madison Dukes34 | 85 total pts |
| 2016 | Western Kentucky51 | Memphis31 | 82 total pts |
| 2014 | Wisconsin Whitewater43 | Mount Union34 | 77 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 20IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10 Miami Hurricanes10 | #7 Texas A&M Aggies3 | 104,122 fans |
| 2024 | #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish27 | #10 Indiana Hoosiers17 | 77,622 fans |
| 2025 | #6 Ole Miss Rebels41 | #11 Tulane Green Wave10 | 68,251 fans |
| 2025 | #5 Oregon Ducks51 | #12 James Madison Dukes34 | 55,124 fans |
| 2024 | Florida Gators33 | Tulane Green Wave8 | 41,472 fans |