ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
December 31.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first. Showing 14 of 22.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Georgia Tech31 | #10 Texas Tech21 | Neutral site |
| 2024 | Michigan Wolverines19 | #11 Alabama Crimson Tide13 | Neutral site · Raymond James Stadium · Tampa, Florida |
| 2019 | Texas38 | #11 Utah10 | At home · Alamodome · San Antonio, Texas |
| 1978 | Stanford25 | #11 Georgia22 | Neutral site |
| 1999 | Oregon24 | #12 Minnesota20 | Neutral site |
| 2008 | LSU Tigers38 | #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets3 | On the road |
| 1986 | Virginia Tech25 | #18 NC State24 | Neutral site |
| 1987 | Texas32 | #19 Pittsburgh27 | Neutral site · The Astrodome |
| 1976 | Kentucky21 | #19 North Carolina0 | Neutral site |
| 2008 | Oregon State Beavers3 | #20 Pittsburgh Panthers0 | On the road |
| 2001 | Michigan State44 | #20 Fresno State35 | Neutral site · Spartan Stadium |
| 1983 | Oklahoma State24 | #20 Baylor14 | Neutral site |
| 2009 | Oklahoma Sooners31 | #21 Stanford Cardinal27 | On the road |
| 2007 | Oregon Ducks56 | #21 South Florida Bulls21 | At home |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first. Showing 10 of 51.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #1 Georgia Bulldogs42 | #4 Ohio State Buckeyes41 | Neutral site · Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA |
| 2021 | #1 Alabama27 | #4 Cincinnati6 | Neutral site · AT&T Stadium · Arlington, Texas |
| 2016 | #1 Alabama24 | #4 Washington7 | At home · Georgia Dome · Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2015 | #1 Clemson37 | #4 Oklahoma17 | At home |
| 1973 | #3 Notre Dame24 | #1 Alabama23 | Neutral site |
| 2025 | #10 Miami Hurricanes24 | #2 Ohio State Buckeyes14 | Neutral site · AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX |
| 2022 | #3 TCU Horned Frogs51 | #2 Michigan Wolverines45 | Neutral site · State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ |
| 2021 | #3 Georgia34 | #2 Michigan11 | Neutral site · Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, Florida |
| 2016 | #2 Clemson31 | #3 Ohio State0 | At home · UOP Stadium · Glendale, Ariz. |
| 2015 | #2 Alabama38 | #3 Michigan State0 | At home |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | #3 Notre Dame24 | #1 Alabama23 | 1 pt |
| 2022 | #1 Georgia Bulldogs42 | #4 Ohio State Buckeyes41 | 1 pt |
| 2012 | #14 Clemson Tigers25 | #8 LSU Tigers24 | 1 pt |
| 1968 | #20 SMU28 | #10 Oklahoma27 | 1 pt |
| 1960 | #19 Florida13 | #19 Baylor12 | 1 pt |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
Top ten. Taken down.
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #6 TCU42 | #9 Ole Miss3 | 39 pts |
| 2015 | #2 Alabama38 | #3 Michigan State0 | 38 pts |
| 2016 | #2 Clemson31 | #3 Ohio State0 | 31 pts |
| 2022 | #5 Alabama Crimson Tide45 | #9 Kansas State Wildcats20 | 25 pts |
| 2021 | #3 Georgia34 | #2 Michigan11 | 23 pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
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 | #21 Texas A&M52 | #24 Duke48 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2007 | California Golden Bears42 | Air Force Falcons36 | Trailed by 21 · in game |
| 2018 | #22 Northwestern31 | #17 Utah20 | Trailed by 17 · in game |
| 2002 | Purdue34 | Washington24 | Trailed by 17 · at a quarter |
| 2022 | #1 Georgia Bulldogs42 | #4 Ohio State Buckeyes41 | Trailed by 14 · in game |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #21 Texas A&M52 | #24 Duke48 | 100 total pts |
| 2022 | #3 TCU Horned Frogs51 | #2 Michigan Wolverines45 | 96 total pts |
| 1999 | Colorado62 | #25 Boston College28 | 90 total pts |
| 2000 | Mississippi State43 | Texas A&M41 | 84 total pts |
| 2004 | #7 Louisville Cardinals44 | #10 Boise State Broncos40 | 84 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 31IRON
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner / tied | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #1 Georgia Bulldogs42 | #4 Ohio State Buckeyes41 | 79,330 fans |
| 2021 | #1 Alabama27 | #4 Cincinnati6 | 76,313 fans |
| 2016 | #1 Alabama24 | #4 Washington7 | 75,996 fans |
| 2007 | #23 Auburn Tigers23 | #15 Clemson Tigers20 | 74,413 fans |
| 2001 | North Carolina16 | Auburn10 | 71,827 fans |