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To paraphrase Chip from 1978's Animal House, let's look at 12 powerhouse teams who received unexpected whippings from 1965 to 2000, and, rather than protest, just took more of it that day. 12...

Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another? 12 College Football Surprise Whippings

by BabyTate (Senior Writer)

69

13,412 reads

Rankings/List

August 19, 2008


To paraphrase Chip from 1978's Animal House, let's look at 12 powerhouse teams who received unexpected whippings from 1965 to 2000, and, rather than protest, just took more of it that day.

 

12. Going into the 1995 season's Fiesta Bowl undefeated, Florida and coach Steve Spurrier thought they had a shot at winning the national title. The Gators took a lickin' from Nebraska and left town losers, 62-24.

 

11. Entering the 1971 season Orange Bowl undefeated, Alabama and coach Bear Bryant thought they had a shot at winning the national title. The Crimson Tide took a whippin' from Nebraska and left town losers, 38-6.

 

10. In the 1995 season, Tennessee and Peyton Manning waltzed into Florida ready to stake their claim as the No. 1 team. Trailing early, the Gators came back with a fury to bury the Vols and hand them their only loss of the season, 62-37.

 

9. The final game of the 1971 regular season featured two undefeated rivals in Auburn and Alabama. The Tigers had the Heisman Trophy winner in Pat Sullivan, but the Crimson Tide cleaned their clock, 31-7.

 

8. The SC Trojans of John McKay believed they had a shot to defeat No. 1 Notre Dame and solidify a Rose Bowl bid in the final game of the 1966 season. The Irish had other ideas, going on the road to crush McKay's Trojans , 51-0.

 

7. In the 1977 season's Orange Bowl, coach Barry Switzer's No. 2 ranked Oklahoma believed they'd win the National Championship by handling Lou Holtz's double-digit underdog Arkansas. The Hogs ran wild and annihilated Oklahoma, 31-6.

 

6. During the 1981 season, the No. 2 ranked UNC team felt they would have little trouble at home with .500 South Carolina. The Gamecocks destroyed the Tar Heels, 31-13, and knocked them out of the National Championship chase.

 

5. In the final regular-season game of 1989, Lou Holtz took his top-ranked, defending National Champion Irish and their 23-game winning streak into Miami. They absorbed a 27-10 bashing from Dennis Erickson's Hurricanes in a game never really that close.

 

4. In the final game of the 1974 season, Ara Parseghian took his defending National Champion Irish into Los Angeles to solidify an Orange Bowl bid by beating Southern Cal. By the second quarter, the Irish led, 24-0, but then the Trojans scored a dizzying 55 straight points and won going away, 55-24.

 

3. Michigan State had not lost a regular season game in two years going into the 1967 campaign. Lightly regarded Houston went to East Lansing and battered coach Duffy Daugherty and his Spartans, 37-7.

 

2. In the 1996 season's Sugar Bowl, Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden believed the National Title was his for the taking in a rematch with Florida. After all, his unbeaten Seminoles had defeated Florida in the final regular season game. Florida creamed its state rival, 52-20.

 

1. Going into the final game of 1981 against Penn State, coach Jackie Sherrill's No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh Panthers had mowed down every foe behind the quarterbacking of Dan Marino. Pitt, playing at home, bolted ahead, 14-0, and the taunting began. They should have waited. Joe Paterno's Lions scored 48 straight points to win in a laugher, 48-14.

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69 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

    Nice! I just did a fist pump when I read # 12, one of my all time favorites. I think Nebraska just scored again and dealt out another sack.
    I also appreciate the omission of the Sugar Bowl following the 1992 season as Alabama's slaughter of Miami has no place on this list anyways.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Miami should have its own article about El Foldos. The '86 title loss to Penn St, the '92 title loss to Alabama, the '02 title loss to Ohio State. All losses to teams the Hurricanes thought they would dominate. This is in addition to the fold up at Maryland in 1984, leading 31-0 at half and losing to the Terrapins 42-40. Going up against Tennessee in the '85 season Sugar Bowl the Volunteers decimated the Hurricanes 35-7, and in '84 the defending national champion Hurricanes were wiped out by rival Florida State 38-3.

      No, I have a special treatment reserved for later regarding the Hurricane program. Stay tuned.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      Ouch!
      I could probably help you out with that 1 in order of painfulness.. I'm sure there are way more games where the Canes wee the ones breaking the other teams hearts.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I'm still angry over Miami letting the South down in 1984 at Michigan. You talk about all this Alabama- FlaSt-Tennessee stuff you want, the one that burns me up till this day is that 1st loss in 1984. Bernie was ripped off in that one man. That is one of the 10 most bitter defeats any team I've ever pulled for has experienced.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      In reality the 84 Canes weren't very good and turned into a sieve on D late in the year as well. The Frank Reich Maryland debacle you mentioned before, Hail FLutie and Gaston Green running hog wild for the Bruins all over them in the Fiesta. The Canes gave up 130 points or so in the last 3 games alone.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      The '84 Canes weren't any good???? They started the year off by beating Auburn on Monday night and Florida on Saturday night both away from home. Auburn had finished #2 & 3 the year before to Miami's #1 and claimed they should be the national champion. Miami beat Bo Jackson and his Tigers and then took on the pre-season #1 team in many magazines, Florida, led by QB Kerwin Bell, John L. "The Hammer" Williams, and Neal Anderson. Miami beat them and was #1 in the country going into Michigan. That's why it stung so.

      Miami had injuries later in the year and lost the Hail Mary game to BC, the 0-31 comeback game to Maryland 42-40, and to the vaunted UCLA all 3 games by a total of 6 points. 6 points! 3 games !

      Robbery !

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      All that you said was true, the absolute shutting down of Bo Jackson at the Kickoff Classic was awesome and Bernie's comeback against the Gators (two td's in the last minute or something like that) which was either in Orlando or Tampa. In any event things fell apart, you just can't give up 40 and expect to win and Jimmy's system kicked in the next year and as they say the rest is history.
      An interesting note which even you may not have noticed (but then again you probably have) next time you watch the Hail Flutie play take a look at Flutie right before he throws the ball, it's a very young and very green Jerome Brown (about 30+ pounds smaller than we'd ever see him again) just coming up short on the sack. Pretty neat stuff for the hardcore fan.

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  2. Justin Goar 10 months ago

    great list BT,

    i'm a sucker for an animal house reference as well. love the pic.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      You're just glad I didn't put the 1988 LSU-Miami game on there.

      Thanks for the read and the comment.

      Now drop and give me 20!

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  3. Michael Shibley 10 months ago

    Thanks you sir may I have another! That 1995 Florida/Tennessee game is one I want to forget. Jay Graham fumbling twice and then Florida scoring immediately afterwards...yikes.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      That game is one that comes to mind when you think about teams that believe they have it going their way but then it goes the other way.

      It worked out all right for Tennessee. The lessons the Freshmen learned that day served them well when they were Seniors and won the national championship, knocking off Spurrier and Florida along the way.

      Thanks Michael !

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  4. Daniel Howie 10 months ago

    Great article! There was a comment by Switzer that motivated #7 to happen, or so my dad (a Hog fan) tells me. I guess there was an opening at Arkansas, and when Barry was asked if he wanted that job, he said, "That would be like trading in a Cadillac for a Pinto (or something like that)". Yeah, Arkansas wasn't too happy about that one.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Barry Switzer is from Arkansas, born and raised. He graduated from Arkansas after playing there for Frank Broyles. He spent years as an assistant coach at Arkansas, and was on the staff when the Razorbacks won their share of the National Championship from the Football Writers in 1964.

      Appreciate the input Daniel.

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    • Daniel Howie 10 months ago

      BT,
      Right. I knew he was from Arkansas and played for the Razorbacks. I should have mentioned that because that made that comment even more inflaming. It probably wasn't a Pinto, but it was a car with much less value than a Cadillac.

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    • SEC Idiots .com 10 months ago

      The summer after that Orange Bowl, my grandfather picked up Lou Holtz from the airport and drove him to the local high school for Lou to do a speech. He claims Lou told him that he went in Coach Broyles' office before the Orange Bowl and asked, "Coach, do you think if we beat Oklahoma by 21 they'll vote us #1 in the polls?"
      Broyles told him he didn't think that was a problem to worry about.

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  5. BabyTate 10 months ago

    Arkansas was short handed because Holtz had handed out suspensions prior to the game. He took a short-handed underdog Arkansas and whipped Switzer all over the field. They could have beaten Oklahoma by any amount they wanted to. Switzer, who has been "questioned" as an X and O coach, sat dumbfounded with little answer for the Hogs. One of the great drubbings in history.

    I can tell your Dad enjoyed that one.

    Appreciate the personal side of the story also.

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    • Donald Fincher 10 months ago

      Wow Tate, you really know your college football. You are absolutely right. Arkansas was smaller, not as quick, and had several players suspended (kudos to Holtz for actually suspending players for a game of some magnitude). And Arkansas beat them bloody. Arkansas could have made that game worse but Holtz called off the dogs because Switzer was an Arkansas alumni. I remember watching that game as a kid and I still have good memories. The story behind how Lou got the team so motivated and sky-high has been retold in books on leadership. Those guys were playing other-worldly that night.

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  6. Timothy Croley 10 months ago

    Some great games in that list. I love to see the underdog win...as long as my team isn't playing the underdog. Loved #9. Wish Bama could have done the same for #12. #2 brings back some not so good memories as I used to like FSU second only to my Crimson Tide.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Timothy, there was a time when Nebraska was really Nebraska. I don't know know what happened there. Somebody said the Coach they had a few years back drank a lot of alcohol and didn't pay attention to what was happening, and the program fell apart. There was a time they beat Bear Bryant, Steve Spurrier, Barry Switzer, everbody really, with equal ease. Maybe Pellini can get them back up and going.

      You know there are a lot of Alabama games you could put in here because of the storied history. I'm glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for the comment.

      Roll Tide.................

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  7. Stuart Whitehair 10 months ago

    Well done - one to add to the list: #14 Colorado 62, #2 Nebraska 36, November 23, 2001. Chris Brown scores six touchdowns as Nebraska absorbs is worst loss to that date.

    Since then, there have been a pair of losses in the 70's (Texas Tech, Kansas), and CU's 65 last year. Arguably, the decline in the NU program began on November 23, 2001 - and it's still trying to recover.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Yes, I'll agree with that. Can't use that Buffalo rout or the K St rout of Oklahoma in '03 because the timetable is '65 to 2000. Great comment, appreciate it.

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  8. Justin Hokanson 10 months ago

    Good list.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Thanks Justin. Could just as easily added Auburn mowing down undefeated Georgia in the next to last game of 1971. Everyone around back then knew that's why Auburn had nothing for Alabama the next week, they'd just played a clash of unbeaten titans.

      Appreciate the input!

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  9. InTheBleachers.net 10 months ago

    #1 was great.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I have to tell you, I didn't just come up with that as #1. I felt at the end of that game I'd never seen anything like it. Shutdown city.

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  10. 12 10 months ago

    I would have to say this is a very good list of heartbreakers, but my favority was mentioned in the first comment. Alabama was the decided underdog going into the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 1992 season against Miami. The talk on Bourbon Street was all Miami, from the players trash talking to the media hype favoring Miami.

    According to many, Alabama wasn't even suposed to score on the highly touted Miami defense. Instead, bookends Curry and Copeland smothered Miami QB Gino Torretta, the Bama defense held Miami to MINUS 13 yards in the first half.

    Derrick Lassic rushed for 135 yards and two td's, the Bama defense intercepted Toretta three times, and George Teague ran down Lamar Thomas and took the ball away from him in full stride! The play as negated by a penalty, but it still thrills me today to watch that replay!

    Final score:

    Alabama 34

    Miami 13

    Alabama 1992 National Champions

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  11. 12 10 months ago

    That game also ended a 29 game winning streak by the Hurricanes.

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  12. RedRaider Red 10 months ago

    Hey what about the OU-USC NC game in 2004?

    Also the OSU-UF NC game in 2006. Both games were pretty much whippings.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I know. But the list is 1965-2000.

      Let's hope the Red Raiders continie to roll in '08. My secret society choice for the national championship..............

      Appreciate the comment and input Red Raider.

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  13. RedRaider Red 10 months ago

    Oops... should've read the "1965-2000" part. Thanks for your support! I hope this year is a better one.

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  14. BabyTate 10 months ago

    Red Raider power !

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  15. Gil HHH 10 months ago

    You forgot to include the Sugar Bowl game between Miami and Alabama. Prior to the game I remember the Miami team was talking a lot of crap about Alabama's style of play and Alabama destroyed Miami.

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  1. Shiv Shan 10 months ago

    I am surprised that the University of Florida's destruction of osu for the BCS title in 2006 was not on there. No one gave the Gators much of a shot, and they totally annihilated osu and their "heisman" trophy winner by holding them to 82 yards of total offense.

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    • Daniel Howie 10 months ago

      That's a good one, but BabyTate limited it to surprise whippings between 1965-2000. It's okay. I missed that the first time too.

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  2. Brian Hood 10 months ago

    Great stuff as always, thanks for the history lesson Tate.....would the Vols 1985 Sugar Bowl beat down of the big bad 'Canes qualify?

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  3. Nick Martin 10 months ago

    Oregon State beating the irish in 2001 Fiesta Bowl 41-9

    How is that not on the list???????

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      Because it is 2001 and the list runs from 1965-2000. Thanks for reminding me of that one though.

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    • Nick Martin 10 months ago

      Oh sorry I didn't see the preclaimer.

      Great list though, Loving all the Notre Dame beat downs.

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    • Michael Collins 10 months ago

      That was a real beat down. Oregon St had Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh receiving and the Pac 10 leading rusher, Ken Simonton. The Beavers defense was awesome.

      How about Notre Dame over Texas with Earl Campbell in 1971 ending their 30 game win streak in a game that was not that close?

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      That's a great addition to any list. thanks for bring that one to mind.

      Michael, Notre Dame had 2 upset wins over #1 Texas. The 1970 season Longhorns hadn't lost in over 30 games and the Irish clipped them, 24-11. The 1977 #1 Longhorns had Earl Campbell and lost to Notre Dame and Joe Montana 38-10. Both great adds.

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  4. Ronnie Rinckner 10 months ago

    Good list, BT! I really enjoyed it.

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  5. Tony Liegel 10 months ago

    How can you leave off the Whammy in Miami in 94'? So many little sub plots. Two teams that split the national championship just 3 years early. The Dawgs lost a heartbreaking season opener to USC, then bounced back against Ohio St, then has to head to Miami. Nice way to start a season. And, of course, Miami has the nations longest home winning streak at 55 games.
    The Dawgs leave Miami with a convincing 38-20 win putting an end to the Canes impressive streak.

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  6. Lisa Horne 10 months ago

    my fave was '74, when ND led 24-6 at halftime, and AD ran back the opening kickoff in the second half and then SC rattled off 49 straight points. I actually have that game on tape...I could sell it for a fortune on eBay. It's priceless seeing Jim Lampley in long hair commentating from sidelines.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I have that as #4. One of the alltime swings of momentum. An odd thing happened after that game, it was revealed that Ara Parseghian was preparing to step down. When the Irish took on unbeaten Alabama in the Orange Bowl 6 weeks later they beat the Tide, 13-11. Ara's final national championship (1973) was won against Bear Bryant in the Sugar Bowl (24-23), his last loss was to John McKay of SC 55-24, and his final win as a coach was against Bear Bryant. How's that for tying together the 2 men who coached against each other in their great history-making 1970 game in Birmingham.

      Thanks for the comment from the West Coast perspective!

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    • Michael Collins 10 months ago

      My favorite was '73 when Notre Dame ended USC's 23 game winning streak (23-14), held Anthony Davis to 55 yds and won the national championship by beating Bear's Alabama (13-11) in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

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    • Michael Collins 10 months ago

      Hmmn, my bad. The Irish beat Alabama in 1974 13-11, but, as Baby Tate notes, it was 24-23 over the unbeaten Tide in 1973. Two unbeatens and two legendary coaches and teams in one year.

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  7. RT 10 months ago

    The 1992 demolition of the Hurricanes by the Crimson Tide was beautiful. And should have made this list.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I appreciate the comment but i've written an entire article featuring information on that game. Thanks for the input.

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  8. Thomas 10 months ago

    love the article and love the pic. great stuff.

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  9. Lauren Green 10 months ago

    The loss to Nebraska mention hurt, but seeing how the Gators got mentioned twice on the winning side made up for it. I don't think I was quite old enough to care at all about college football for any of the Florida games mentioned, but I've heard my dad talk about them so much I feel like I might as well have watched them myself. : ) Great article.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I know, Lauren. Whenever your team gets beat it hurts. You seem to be a dedicated Florida fan. I can appreciate the genuine affection of your connection with the Gator program. Frankly, I've been astonished at some of the comments from supposed Florida fans that I've read on the Bleacher Report. How some Gators can turn against Steve Spurrier tells me one thing, I don't want to depend upon any of those pointy heads when it's time for me to make my last stand. Florida was a blip on the radar before Steve Spurrier became the quarterback and was mired in a downward probation-fueled spiral before he returned to become the coach. He gave Florida the best years of his life and made Florida what it is on the national scene, winning their first Heisman Trophy and their first National Championship, as well as coaching their 2nd Heisman Winner in Danny Wuerffel. Florida is also better off by having fans like you. Thanks for the input, Lauren.

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    • Lauren Green 10 months ago

      I completely agree with you about Spurrier. It's sad to have him somewhere else, but I'll always love the old ball coach - as most true fans will.

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  10. InTheBleachers.net 10 months ago

    An honorable mention should go to the 1994 PSU team who beat Ohio State 63-14.

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      That Penn State team may have been the best offensive team of the 90s, and there were a lot of good offensive teams in the 90s.

      It's shocking to look at that score, 63-14 over Ohio State. Great add.

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  11. Erkki Corpuz 10 months ago

    How about UCLA (5-4-1) defeating #4 ranked Illinois (10-1) in the 1984 by the score of 45-9?

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  12. Blah Blah 10 months ago

    The Arizona State 19-0 buttkicking of Nebraska in 1996 is missing. The Cornhuskers had destroyed ASU the year before in Lincoln, 77-28, and NU, which was riding a 30+ game win streak, was expected to destroy the Sun Devils on its way to its 3rd straight national title. Instead, ASU came out from the start and punched them in the mouth from start to finish on defense, including 3 safeties. At the end of the game, ASU forced a final fumble to preserve the first shutout of NU in decades...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFDfhDIYC4 gives you an idea of how it was that night (a little heavy on Derrick Rodgers - other players made great plays too).

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I watched every minute of it. It was a late game here in the EST. It was one of the best games I've ever seen and was as exciting as any game that was a 19 point spread could be. A sensational comment and I thank you for bringing up that memorable performance. Very nice.

      You stop by in the future blah.

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  13. J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago

    Thanks for the great read along with the Animal House reference. My favorite you have at #4 - the 1974 USC vs Notre Dame 55-24 game.

    It remains the greatest game I have ever attended and favorite sports moment. My Notre Dame loving uncle took me to the game and we were sitting around the 35 yard line about 25 rows from the field in the middle of a Notre Dame cheering section.

    The first half was misery, but after the 2nd half kick return I could tell the Domers were getting nervous. I know there isn't a Trojan player the Domer fans hate more than Anthony Davis. It's too bad a trip to the CFL and injuries sidetracked his career.

    I don't think there has ever been a game where a team allowed over 20 points in a row, said "Oh, yeah?" then came back with over 50 in a row in response.

    I also liked #12 with Spurrier getting shellacked. It seems his humble pie buffet of a stint in the NFL may have calmed him down some. Though being in South Carolina may just cut into his national media presence. Any east coast brethren able to confirm or refute this for me?

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    • BabyTate 10 months ago

      I'll tell you that I was shocked by the turnaround. It seems to me it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving because we still had a lot of family around and everyone went to eat at halftime. We came back for the 2nd half and the Trojans started from the kickoff taking the game over.

      Now about Spurrier, what happened there was Tennessee winning the national championship in '98. He didn't think they could do it and it sort of wrecked his mental domination of the SEC East. I thought he appeared to burn out at Florida by 00, constantly having to live up to that mid 90s era. For one reason or the other he left for the NFL. He couldn't believe some players have personal service contracts which allow them to go behind certain coaches to certain owners and get their playing time. Steve got nervous, and when folks get nervous they shut down and do what they are comfortable with. Spurrier presented a very primitive offense after his first season, eventually resulting in his separation.

      When Spurrier was the Sophomore QB at Florida in 1964 he led the Gators to a 37-0 win over South Carolina. Carolina fans have since feared and admired Spurrier. He was always respected in South Carolina. He is very soft spoken and professorial at Carolina, teaching rather than yelling and visor throwing. He has Carolina being respected and that's all the Gamecock fans wanted. It would be nice if he could beat Clemson more than 1 out of 3 from the Gamecock perspective. If he goes to a Bowl and wins 8 games a year, splits with Clemson, Georgia, and Tennessee he can stay on forever. If he does that, he'll name his son Junior as his successor and everyone will be happy. Junior is an asst. now.

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  14. Jonny House 10 months ago

    1997- UCLA beats then #11 Texas 66-3 ..... in Austin!. That was a good day to be a Bruin

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