ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
December 26.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Liberty37 | #12 Coastal Carolina34 | Neutral site · Camping World · Orlando, Fla. |
| 1984 | Iowa55 | #19 Texas17 | Neutral site · Anaheim Stadium |
| 2013 | Utah St.21 | #23 NIU14 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | #7 Arizona State17 | #6 Nebraska14 | Neutral site |
| 1980 | #10 Penn State31 | #11 Ohio State19 | Neutral site |
| 1975 | #20 Pittsburgh33 | #19 Kansas19 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | #7 Arizona State17 | #6 Nebraska14 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | #7 Arizona State17 | #6 Nebraska14 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kansas State Wildcats44 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights41 | Trailed by 17 · in game |
| 2010 | Florida Intl Golden Panthers34 | Toledo Rockets32 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
| 2003 | California52 | Virginia Tech49 | Trailed by 14 · at a quarter |
| 2024 | Toledo Rockets48 | Pittsburgh Panthers46 | Trailed by 10 · in game |
| 2019 | Pittsburgh34 | Eastern Michigan30 | Trailed by 10 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Virginia Tech55 | Tulsa52 | 107 total pts |
| 2003 | California52 | Virginia Tech49 | 101 total pts |
| 2007 | Purdue Boilermakers51 | Central Michigan Chippewas48 | 99 total pts |
| 2024 | Toledo Rockets48 | Pittsburgh Panthers46 | 94 total pts |
| 1969 | #20 Toledo56 | Davidson33 | 89 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 26IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Purdue Boilermakers51 | Central Michigan Chippewas48 | 60,624 fans |
| 2003 | #20 Bowling Green28 | Northwestern24 | 51,286 fans |
| 2019 | Pittsburgh34 | Eastern Michigan30 | 34,765 fans |
| 2019 | Louisiana Tech14 | Miami (Fla.)0 | 33,129 fans |
| 2018 | Texas Christian10 | California7 | 33,121 fans |