ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
December 21.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Indiana38 | #9 BYU37 | Neutral site |
| 2019 | Washington38 | #19 Boise St.7 | At home · Sam Boyd Stadium · Las Vegas, NV |
| 2019 | Florida Atlantic52 | #25 SMU28 | At home · FAU Stadium · Boca Raton, Fla. |
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #5 Texas Longhorns38 | #12 Clemson Tigers24 | At home · DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium · Austin, TX |
| 2024 | #6 Penn State Nittany Lions38 | #11 SMU Mustangs10 | At home · Beaver Stadium · University Park, PA |
| 2024 | #8 Ohio State Buckeyes42 | #9 Tennessee Volunteers17 | At home · Ohio Stadium · Columbus, Ohio |
| 2013 | #25 Southern California45 | #20 Fresno St.20 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #8 Ohio State Buckeyes42 | #9 Tennessee Volunteers17 | 25 pts |
| 1979 | Indiana38 | #9 BYU37 | 1 pt |
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Colorado St.48 | Washington St.45 | Trailed by 22 · in game |
| 2019 | #20 Appalachian State31 | UAB17 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
| 2015 | Western Kentucky45 | South Florida35 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
| 2010 | Louisville Cardinals31 | Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles28 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
| 2021 | Wyoming52 | Kent St.38 | Trailed by 10 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | North Carolina A&T64 | Alcorn State44 | 108 total pts |
| 2013 | Colorado St.48 | Washington St.45 | 93 total pts |
| 2021 | Wyoming52 | Kent St.38 | 90 total pts |
| 2019 | West Florida48 | Minnesota State40 | 88 total pts |
| 2020 | App State56 | North Texas28 | 84 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 21IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #6 Penn State Nittany Lions38 | #11 SMU Mustangs10 | 106,013 fans |
| 2024 | #8 Ohio State Buckeyes42 | #9 Tennessee Volunteers17 | 102,819 fans |
| 2024 | #5 Texas Longhorns38 | #12 Clemson Tigers24 | 101,150 fans |
| 2013 | Louisiana24 | Tulane21 | 54,728 fans |
| 2013 | #25 Southern California45 | #20 Fresno St.20 | 42,178 fans |