College Football: The Most Dominating Opening Game Victories of All Time
Nobody is surprised that Oklahoma State defeated Savannah State (GA) last night. The 84-0 final score, though, was surprising and one of the attention-grabbers in the opening week of 2012 College Football.
Those 84 points the OSU Cowboys put on the scoreboard are the most scored in a major college football opener since 1991, when California scored 86 points against Pacific (CA) to open their season.
OSU's 84 point margin of victory is the greatest in major college football since 1951, when Alabama defeated Delta State (MS) 89-0.
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As impressive as the Cowboys' performance was, it doesn't even come close to the record for most dominating opening game victory in major college football history.
That record belongs to the Florida Gators.
In 1913, they opened their season with a 144-0 thumping of Florida Southern (then known as Southern College).
Most Dominating Opening Game Victories in Major College Football History
| Season | Team | Opponent | Score | |
| 1913 | Florida | vs. | Florida Southern | 144-0 |
| 1919 | Utah St. | vs. | Idaho St. | 136-0 |
| 1914 | Oklahoma St. | vs. | Phillips (OK) | 134-0 |
| 1919 | Chicago (IL) | vs. | Great Lakes (IL) | 123-0 |
| 1911 | Nebraska | vs. | Nebraska-Kearney | 117-0 |
| 1922 | Alabama | vs. | Marion Military Institute (AL) | 110-0 |
| 1920 | Texas A&M | vs. | Daniel Baker (TX) | 110-0 |
| 1913 | Georgia | vs. | Alabama Presbyterian | 108-0 |
| 1925 | Washington | vs. | Willamette (OR) | 108-0 |
| 1904 | Minnesota | vs. | Twin Cities Central HS (MN) | 107-0 |
| 1916 | Sewanee (TN) | vs. | Cumberland (TN) | 107-0 |
Looking at all levels of college football, Dayton (OH) has the record for greatest opening game victory. In 1923, they defeated Central Normal of Indiana 161-0.
Most Dominating Opening Game Victories in College Football History (All Levels)
| Season | Team | Opponent | Score | |
| 1923 | Dayton (OH) | vs. | Central Normal (IN) | 161-0 |
| 1919 | Tulsa (OK) | vs. | Oklahoma Baptist | 152-0 |
| 1917 | Detroit (MI) | vs. | Toledo (OH) | 145-0 |
| 1913 | Florida | vs. | Florida Southern | 144-0 |
| 1919 | Utah St. | vs. | Idaho St. | 136-0 |
| 1914 | Oklahoma St. | vs. | Phillips (OK) | 134-0 |
| 1920 | Montana | vs. | Carroll (MT) | 133-0 |
| 1912 | Cincinnati (OH) | vs. | Transylvania (KY) | 124-0 |
| 1919 | Chicago (IL) | vs. | Great Lakes (IL) | 123-0 |
| 1901 | Clemson (SC) | vs. | Guilford (NC) | 122-0 |
Source: Game scores retrieved from College Football Data Warehouse.
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.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
