College Football: The 50 Most Improbable Seasons in College Football History
I'm sure in your lifetime of being a huge college football fan, you've gotten accustomed to the ho-hum, normal seasons from the various big time programs.
You know the SEC is the top dog conference and what style and type of football the other conferences generally play.
You know the traditions other nuggets of information that make you the ultimate fan.
Then there are the seasons by your favorite school, your favorite school's rival or another school that have left you scratching your head.You assumed one thing, but another happened. You've been shocked by how well a season a team had or how poorly a team played.
Things happen in life, and crazy things happen in college football.
So let's rundown the 50 most improbable runs and seasons in college football history.
50. Florida State: 2010
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The Seminoles came into the 2010 season not really knowing what to fully expect. They knew they had good talent on their roster, but FSU hadn't really been "FSU" for some years.
Jimbo Fisher was heading into his second season in replacing the legendary coach, and was trying to restore the proud program back atop the national spotlight.
Amazingly, Fisher guided the 'Noles to a 10-4 season, and capped it off with a win over South Carolina in the Chick-Fil-A bowl.
49. TCU: 1938
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The Horned Frogs had a magical season thanks in large part to one man: Davey O'Brien, as he did almost everything except sell popcorn to fans at halftime for TCU in '38.
He tossed for nearly 1500 yards and 19 touchdowns, which was as astonishing feat in this era and ended up being the first player in college football history to take home the Heisman, Camp and Maxwell award in history.
This is the ultimate trifecta in college football awards.
Oh right, TCU also went undefeated and won the national that year too.
48. Kentucky: 1950
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The Wildcats were coached by some little known coach at the time named Paul "Bear" Bryant, who had the team soaked in pride, grit and toughness every game day.
They faced the No.1 ranked Oklahom Sooners and were seen as a huge underdog, even though they were ranked seventh in the country themselves.
Expectations were for a good season, but not to compete for a national title.
Well, Bryant and the Wildcats won the title indeed, streamlined by topping the top ranked Sooners in the final game of the season.
However, the Sooners had been gien the title before the game, because rules had voting take place before the last game of the season.
With UK beatng OU, the rule was reversed, thus giving UK the title.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
47. USC: 2002
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USC was fresh off of a 6-6 season, under then first-year Head Coach Pete Carroll. USC still did not know what it had with Carroll and the Trojans, as the most of the city did not want him as head coach in the first place.
But magic hit on all cylinders in 2002 for USC, with quarterback Carson Palmer finally putting together a season that showed why he was such a big time recruit.
Palmer unexpectedly won the Heisman Trophy and led the Trojans to an Orange Bowl win over Iowa, who also enjoyed a great season that year as well.
My feel is that if a playoff system had been in place, and with the Trojans being so hot down the stretch, USC would have won the national tile this year.
46. Air Force: 1985
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You want to talk about shock, pain and heartache? Look no further than the improbable way the 1985 Air Force football squad ended their season. Wow.
The Falcons started the year a dominating 11-0, and were thinking national title. The team was a buzz with confidence and mystique and was just rolling opponents.
Then, down the home stretch of the season, they suffered a heartbreaking 28-21 loss to BYU. They finished 12-1 and eighth in polls, after spending most of the season figuring they'd finish first.
45. Akron: 2005
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Akron isn't exactly a frequent BCS bowl attendee or known as a big time program around college football. So, when the Zips come on strong, it is an improbable feat.
The 2005 team decided enough was enough and the MAC conference was theirs that year. They went 7-6 and won the MAC Conference title.
But, to complete a whack season that saw the six loss team still win their conference, Akron lost their bowl game to Memphis 38-31.
This was a total head scratching season.
44. Michigan: 1901
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The Wolverines were still a young program, but had a first year head coach in Fielding Yost.
In every coach's first year, you just don't know what to expect. Which is why Yost guiding Big Blue to an 11-0 record makers as an improbable feat.
Also, when you outscore people 550-0, which likely won't ever be done again, then that's improbable too.
The Wolverines went on to win the Rose Bowl that year ad this was the start of the "Point-A-Minute" that served as Yost's staple to Wolverine football.
43. Arizona: 1993
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Arizona has had its success in the Pac-10, as they've come on the past few years in the Stoops era in the desert. But in 1993, they won their first Pac-10 title, after years of wandering in the desert of mediocrity.
What makes this season so improbable is the fact they beat two of the superpower programs in USC and Miami, that year, by a total of 60 points.
A Pac-10 title? Big time wins over USC and Miami? In the same year? That's a big time improbable feat.
This still is regarded as the top season in Arizona Wildcat history.
42. Harvard: 1912
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This was when college football began to move toward the form and shape it is in now, as fourth down was added and other various rule changes took place.
Touchdowns were now worth six and not five points, and the field was 100 yards and 110.
Harvard seemed to adapt to the rules the best and dominated college football. They went 9-0, including victories over arch rival Princeton and undefeated Vanderbilt.
This was a season that marked the modern era of college football, with some teams needing time to adjust, while Harvard yawned kept pace.
41. Arkansas: 1975
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The Red Wolves had gotten word that in 1975 they would be moved up to the big leagues of 1-A ball.
For many programs, this would be a great feat, yet adjustments would need to be made.
Well, not so much for the Red Wolves, as they went unbeaten. Yeah, they didn't lose a game in their first year of 1-A ball—their only undefeated season in school history.
They didn't win the national title, but going 11-0 in your first year playing wtih the big boys full time, and to not lose a game, is remarkable accomplishment.
40. Florida: 2010
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I have to put the 2010 Florida Gators on this list, because their season was just so perplexing. The Gators were a pre-season favorite to compete for the SEC title, as usual and had all the pieces in place.
John Brantley was not expected to need anytime to adjust as he had watched Tim Tebow for three years, learning the system.
However, the Gators stumbled, and stumbled often finishing with an 8-5 record.
Many fans blamed the woes on new offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. This would mark Urban Meyer's final season at the helm, the whole year was an improbable season in Gainesville.
39. Notre Dame: 1920
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This season was improbable because of the tragedy that struck the Fighting Irish during this season: the death of Geroge Gipp.
Gipp was a superstar and had helped lead Notre Dame to back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1919 and 1920. Yet, late in 1920, Gipp got strep throat, and the word is he caught it during the Golden Domers' win over Northwestern late in the year.
It's tragedy that has turned into one of the many mystique that surround the Notre Dame football program to this very day.
38. Auburn: 2004
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If I were to tell you that you would be on a team that went undefeated and that team was from the SEC, then by sheer logic you would tell me that your team must have the national title. Plain and simple.
Well, not if you were on the 2004 Auburn team, who is bantered as the best team to never be allowed to compete for a national title.
USC won the Rose Bowl in 2003, and got a piece of the AP title so they don't qualify.
Auburn went 12-0 and won the Sugar Bowl over Virginia Tech. Then was forced to watch USC destroy Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl thinking about how they would have given the Trojans a real challenge.
37. Notre Dame: 1928
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This was an improbable season, not only for Notre Dame football,but also on the national realm as the country was shocked that Notre Dame had lost two of its first six games.
Yeah, I know 4-2 is solid start, but this is old school Notre Dame we're talking about, losing wasn't in the Irish' vocabulary.
Also, we learned of the famous "win one for the Gipper" speech Knute Rockne gave his Irish squad.
Gipp had died in 1920, but Rockne never told the team what Gipp told him as he lay on his death bead.
Finally, as daunting Army awaited Notre Dame on the field with an unbeaten record, Rockne looked t his injury laden team and delivered perhaps the most famous pre-game speech in sports history.
Oh, Notre Dame won 12-6 by the way.
36. Minnesota: 1934
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Ok, breaking news: the '34 Golden Gophers were good. Real good. By the stats and numbers, this team may have the best rushing attack in college football history, averaging over 330 yards on the ground per contest.
Who needs the forward pass when you could run this efficiently?
The defense wasn't for slouches either, as they pitched shut out after shut out.
Ultimately, at the end of the season and when totals were tallied, the defense was found to have only allowed an average of 4.7 points per game. That's a field goal and nearly 2 points just because they felt sorry for you.
35. Baylor: 1974
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Coming into this season, Baylor football was not expected to provide much good fortune for the school, as it had been almost 50 years since they had won any type of championship. Competing for the Southwest Conference title in '74 was out of the question.
Someone forgot to tell the team all of this.
Baylor went 8-4, and won the conference title. What makes this season even more improbable is how the Bears beat rival Texas with a 24-7 come from behind win.
They are known as the "Miracle on the Brazos."
34. Fordham: 1936
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Here is another improbable season that was going so well but ended in shock, pain and disbelief. In '36, the Rams had what is perhaps the most legendary offensive front in football history, the "Seven Blocks of Granite".
Johnny Druze, Lou Paquin, Al Franco, Alex Wojciechowicz, Natty Pierce, Bob Babartsky and Vince Lombardi just moved targets out of the way left, right and mainly on the ground for the Rams.
In eight games, they had the Fordham offense total 128 points.
Ranked No.3 in the country, the Rams were thinking Rose Bowl, but dropped their final game to NYU in a 7-6 contest.
No Rose Bowl. No national title.
33. Tennessee: 1939
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Heartbreak once again makes up this improbable season.
The boys of Rocky Top were dominating in '39 and had Rose Bowl and national title thoughts in their dreams at night.
In 10 games, the Vols were unbeaten, with no ties and all shut outs on their score boards. The last time this has occurred in college football. They were rolling opponents and putting on clinics during games.
They made it to the Rose Bowl, but fell to USC 14-0, and ended their magical season with an improbable black eye.
Some say they didn't take USC as seriously as they should have, others say they got too in the moment. Whatever it was, this was an improbable way to end this season.
32. Buffalo: 2008
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Buffalo went through a 6-4 stretch for the 2008 season, but found itself in the MAC Championship title game against Ball State. They got to the game riding the wave of the double overtime win over Bowling Green, coming back from a 27-7 margin in the final quarter.
This put them against Ball State, whom we will get to later.
Ball State was incredibly ranked 12th in the country this year and were the undisputed favorites to win the MAC title going into the game.
Buffalo came out and hung 42 on the BSU, winning 42-24.
31. Michigan: 1940
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The Wolverines had an improbable season by featuring two of the top four runners in the country that year.
Bob Westfall and Tom Harmon were the best one-two combo of running backs in their day and ran circles around opponents.
They serve as a big influence on the two back system most teams are starting to use today.
When you think of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown or Reggie Bush and LenDale White, just note that the improbable season if Harmon and Westfall running for 808 and 852, respectively as the season that started the trend.
30. Michigan: 1947
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Michigan strikes again here, with back-to-back teams on the list.
The '47 squad was known for their complicated, slickster-trickster offense. There was a lot ball handling, misdirection and reversing.
Observers who witnessed the offense often would be confused and even dizzy by all of the switching and ball handling. Sometimes thee, four and five different Wolverines would handle the football.
It worked though, as a 10-0 record and Rose Bowl victory served as a cap to a whack year of Michigan football.
The Wolverines also gained a No.1 AP poll ranking after the season.
29. Ball State: 2008
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Ball State is known more for being home school of David Letterman really more so than its football dominance. But in 2008, the Cardinals said enough was enough and went 12-0.
They reached No.12 in the polls and started the year 7-0.
College football had its feel good story of he year, as Ball State was somewhat of a Cinderella team that year.
As with the legend of the rags to riches story, the clock struck midnight on Ball State, twice. They got waxed by Buffalo in the MAC title game then Tulsa beat them in the GMAC Bowl.
Still, BSU being 12 in the country and being ranked as high as 12th is a true improbable season.
28. Oklahoma: 1956
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We know that during this era, this Sooner team is probably the best team to ever take the field in college football history, but the '56 squad alone was ridiculous.
The one stat that pops out at me is the notion of them blowing teams out by an average of 40 points a game.
I know that winning and winning big was expected of the Sooners this year, but I don't think waxing people by 40 every Saturday was truly expected.
Its a improbable feat that serves as one of the telling stats of why the 47-game winning streak is one of the top feats in sports.
27. Central Michigan: 2009
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Dan LeFevour was The Man at CMU. Period. Which is why the Chippewas had their best season perhaps in school history...or since 1975.
They went 12-1 in '09, and capped the year off with a 44-41 win over Troy in the GMAC Bowl.
LeFevour was a dual threat style quarterback, that was tough, could throw and still beat a defense with his legs. He's probably Mr. Chippewa when it comes to best players in CMU history.
He led CMU to a No.23rd final poll ranking, as the Chippewas finished ranked for the first time in school history.
26. Marshall: 1996
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Randy Moss caught 26 scores in '97, but the 1996 team set the table for '97 squad's run. The 1996 Thundering Herd is considered the best 1-AA team ever.
They wet 15-0, and beat every team by two touchdowns at the very least. Moss was a man amongst boys, and Chad Pennington showed why the Jets took him in the top 10 in the NFL Draft.
They ran the table all season long and went wire to wire at a 15-0 mark.
25. USC: 1962
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Here is the year where the legend of John Mckay just blew up, as the Trojans finally reached the breakthrough point they were looking for under McKay.
His teams really became known the use the I-formation, which revolutionized the power running game and rushing attack of many college football programs after this year.
The team itself went 10-0, and used the I-formatuion to outscore opponents 219-55. The defense rarely was scored upon and held eight different teams to seven points or less this season.
The Trojans capped off their magical '62 season with a victory over Wisconsin, who came into the Rose Bowl with national title hopes and a No.2 ranking.
24. Ohio State: 1968
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This was an improbable season for the Buckeyes because this was practically an All-Star team. I doubt that any team can look around and see 11 All-Americans on the squad and just yawn in today's college football.
The group was led by defensive back Jack Tatum and went 10-0 that year, including destroying Michigan 50-14. Then, they simply headed out to Pasadena and won the Rose Bowl, beating USC after tailing for most of the game.
11 All-Americans, embarrassing your arch rival and winning the national tile is not a regular season for any program.
23. Boise State: 2010
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I'm not a freak for punishment, but this is a list in regards to bizzare, not everyday, improbable seasons. Boise State's 2010 season fits the bill perfectly, in my opinion.
The Broncos started the season on fire, first by picking apart Virginia Tech, which was a top 10 ranked team in the pre-season polls.
Led by Kellen Moore, the Broncos were thick in the BCS Title race for just about all season. Then on Thanksgiving weekend, they couldn't score two field goals to ensure a victory and fell to Nevada, ending their hopes crashing the BCS championship game party.
22. Oklahoma: 1971
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The Wishbone offense served a streamline to domination by the boys in Norman this crazy season.
Their run was nuts, as they beat teams by an average of 45 points. Not sure if that is normal to you, but it isn't to me.
They rushed for a jaw dropping 472 yards per game. Think about that, how would you feel if you're a team getting for fall camp and saying, "oh yeah, we're going to hang half a thousand yards in rushing every Saturday, no big deal."
The Sooners had their title hopes crushed by Nebraska in a heartbreaking 35-31 thriller.
21. UConn: 2007
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UConn is known as basketball school, but moved to D-1 towards the start of the past decade. In 2007, they finally made a Big East title run that served as the stamp for the nation to take them seriously on the gridiron.
They went 9-4 and ranked as high as 16th in the country.
What makes this season so weird is that they won the Big East title, or co-title rather, but they got destroyed in the last regular season by Co-champ West Virginia, 66-14.
20. Duke: 1960-1962
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Before Coach K came to town to run the men's hoops program, if you look back in early '50s and '60s, the Dukies were a football powerhouse.
Today they are considered anything of the sort, but from 1960-1962, they had a magical run.
The Blue Devils were top dog in the ACC, winning three consecutive titles from 1960-1962.
The academic standards of the university, players bolting for more alluring programs and the shadow of the basketball program has always put Duke football on the backburner.
But during this era, especially from the 1950s to the early 1960s, Duke had an improbable run in college football.
19. East Carolina: 1991
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I do this all the time and I know I'm not the only one out there, but overlooking the '91 ECU squad happens way too frequently.
They had a great season that falls into one of the most improbable of any college team in history.
They dropped their first game to Illinois and then simply chose to never accept defeat ever gain in 1991. Not known specifically for being a football powerhouse, by the time the final polls were released, the Pirates found themselves inside the top 10.
The were led by quarterback Jeff Blake, who guided the Pirates' offense to hang on average a 30 spot every week.
18. Eastern Michigan: 1991
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I put Eastern Michigan's '91 season just a notch above the '91 season of Eastern Carolina's because EMU had a stunning upset to cap off their magical run.
While the Pirates had a great year, the Eagles' beating Fresno State in the California Bowl was one of the best bowl moments in history.
Fresno State came into the game as an 18-point favorite to throttle the Eagles, and was practically the home team as the game was played in the Bulldogs' native Golden State.
All the Eagles did was stand up to the bully that was Fresno State and secure their school's first and only bowl win in school history.
17. Florida: 2008
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The Gators find themselves once again on this list, as this season was known for the infamous run that Florida went on.
The run was inspired by Tim Tebow's post game rant from an Ole Miss loss dubbed "The Promise."
All Florida did after this was outscore the est of its remaining opponents 469-131 and win he national title over Oklahoma. On their way, they beat ranked opponents like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida State and LSU.
"The Promise" has become a legendary staple and added mystique of Florida Gator football aside from Tebow himself.
16. Florida Atlantic: 2007
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This is a crazy story, as 2007 saw the Owls have one of the most improbable seasons in history based on circumstances alone.
They had just started playing football in 2001, and had joined Division 1-A only two years prior.
In 2007, they went 8-5 and won the Sun Belt conference title.
Wow.
Then, they accepted a bid to play Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl and won.
Double wow.
They are the fastest program to ever win a bowl game in college football history.
15. Penn State: 1982
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The Nittany Lions were not expected to do nothing in '82. Everyone overlooked them in pre-season rankings, and they ere a big time after thought, a rare occurrence for the program.
However, they used the motivation to not just win a few games, but win the national title.
Joe Paterno installed a gritty, tough mentality into his team and they were led by Todd Blackledge— the dude you see on ESPN nowadays.
PSU went 11-1, with two key wins over Georgia and Nebraska.
Both Bulldogs and Cornhuskers entered each game against the Nittany Lions as the bully. Both left the game beaten.
14. Miami: 1983
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This could be any Miami team before this year, as the Hurricane program was a dormant one during its start.
Then came Howard Schnellenberger, who took the '83 squad to the top.
The had an improbable season due to hey beat the big bad bully on the block that was known as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in a thrilling 31-30 victory.
What makes the season even more improbable, however, was the whopping that Miami took from Florida at the start of the year.
Things didn't look promising, but Schnelly rounded up the Canes and put them on track to be champions.
13. Florida International: 2010
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Mario Cristobal has done everything he can to shine some light on his young Panther program, as they try to escape Miami's shadow and reach respectability.
Based on the 2010 results, Cristobal has the FIU program on the right track, as they finally made a breakthrough that left the coach stoked and fired up on ESPN.
The Panthers won the Sun Belt title this past season at 7-6 and went on to win the Little Cesar's Bowl.
A young program that just started playing football earlier this decade, the 2010 team may go down as the squad that turned the tide for the Panther program.
12. Miami: 1986
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It's a "been South Florida" type of feel the past few slides and we continue on with the '86 Miami team.
Talk about ending a season with a huge slice of humble pie and shut up juice, the Canes were served this dessert in 1986.
They are talked as the most hated team in sports history due to how they were extremely over the top cocky, nasty and most importantly good.
They got off the plane for the Fiesta bowl in Army fatigue gear, ready to play Penn State.
Surely, the nation was rooting for the Nittany Lions to beat the cocky Canes, and it happened.
PSU upset Miami 14-10 and the Hurricanes ended their season in the most improbable fashion.
11. Fresno State: 2001
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This was the year that Fresno State really became known in the decade, as they had the top quarterback in country in David Carr.
They started the year as a force to be reckoned with, beating Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin.
Pat Hill then dubbed the program was willing to "play anyone, anywhere at anytime."
A mid-major program, Carr would toss the Bulldogs as high as eight in the polls—a remarkable feat.
Things came crashing down for the Bulldogs though, as a late season defeat to Boise State in a 35-30 thriller cost them a BCS bowl bid.
But this still is one of the most improbable seasons in history.
10. Hawaii: 2006-2007
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The Warriors were led by a record setting quarterback named Colt Brennan, and used the Run 'N' Offense to sling the pigskin all over the field to light up the scoreboards and opposing defenses.
Brennan threw for over 5,500 yards in 2006 and June Jones saw himself back into the national coaching spotlight. Jones was trying redeem his own merit after his days with the Atlanta Falcons.
In the 2007 season, the Warriors went 12-0, and topped Boise State for the WAC title. They got invited to a BCS bowl and finished they year ranked 19th in the country.
9. Michigan: 1997
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This goes down as an improbable season due to the story lines that surround the year for Big Blue.
First, this was obviously the year of Charles Woodson. He was dominating as a cornerback, and great as a return man.
But Woodson also factored well into the Michigan offense as a receiver and even lined up as a running back a few times. With his success, came the 12-0 season Michigan had, beating Ohio State and winning the Rose Bowl over Washington State.
Woodson became first defensive player to ever win the Heisman. The Wolverines finished fist in the AP poll but second in the coaches' poll.
A defensive player winning the Heisman? A controversial split in the national title? Both equal an improbable season.
8. Idaho: 1998
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Idaho isn't top dog type of college football program. They haven't had many seasons to be proud of. Until you look at the '98 Vandal squad.
Before the season, if you could have told anyone in the country that Idaho would win its conference and a bowl game, you'd be slapped and laughed at, in any order.
But the Vandals did just so in 1998, winning the Big West conference and the Humaitarian Bowl at a 9-3 mark.
7. Tennessee: 1998
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In '98, Idaho was having its success, as the Vols were enjoying theirs as well. This was the year that was the first of the post-Peyton Manning era.
The Vols were ranked10th, yet big things were not really expected from the Rocky Top boys this year.
No one knew anything about Tee Martin, but Martin simply didn't care. He led the Vols to the first BCS title in history.
Tennessee beat four top 10 teams this year, including a 23-16 win and going 13-0.
6. Iowa State: 2000
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The Cyclones shockingly have not really been as good a program as I thought. Upon reviewing their merits, up until the 2000, the school only had one nine win season and hasn't on a conference title since 1912.
But in 2000, the Cyclones went 8-3 ad won the Insight.com bowl for the first and only bowl win in Iowa State history. The Cyclones even finished the year ranked No.25 in the final polls.
I honestly thought Iowa State had enjoyed more success than this, but they haven'—which is why the 2000 team's season is so improbable.
5. Kansas: 2007
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Kansas football is pretty similar to Duke football—its has been overshadowed by the big time shadow of the basketball program. But in 2007, the Jayhawks went on a little magical football run.
Mark Mangino used what learned from Bob Stoops in Norman to get the Jayhwks to the Orange Bowl, where they beat No.3 ranked Virginia Tech.
They went 12-1, only dropping the final game of the regular season to Missouri.
Probably the best team in school history, the Jayhawks finished the year ranked eighth nationally. No one expected them to have this type of season.
4. Auburn: 2010
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The Tiger faithful was still getting used to having Gene Chizik as their head coach, as he was not wanted by Tiger nation. After a solid 2009 season, Chizik signed a very good recruiting class.
One of the players was a big, dual threat quarterback from the JC ranks.
All Cam Newton did was put a program on his back and lead them to a 14-0 record in 2010, which saw Auburn steadily climb the polls and reach the top with a BCS title game win over Oregon.
If you would have told me, or anyone else that Auburn would win the national championship before the 2010 season, there would have been much laughter and had shaking towards you, as the Tigers were not eve supposed t win the SEC, let alone the national title.
3. Oklahoma: 2000
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Oklahoma began the season ranked in the 20's in most polls, and winning a national title was not even discussed that much in Norman. They had a left handed quarterback who's ball wobbled most of the time, he had a weird last name and the program hadn't been "back" in awhile.
Until the 2000 season.
The key game for me was the Nebraska game.
I remember waking up early just to be prepared to watch this game, as the Sooners had climbed the rankings and national title talk was alive and well at this point of the season.
The game had an electric atmosphere to it, and the Sooners won.
They barely beat Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. This led to them heading to the Orange Bowl and upsetting Florida State.
The Sooners went 13-0 and outscored opposing teams 481-194.
2. South Florida: 2007
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South Florida was still a very young program, that was still learning their ropes on how to compete in 1-A ball. They began the season un-ranked, but by the time week three came, saw themselves with a No.23 attached to them.
Ultimately, the Bulls rose to No.2 in the country by the seventh week and were in the midst of a magical season.
South Florida fans were talking BCS in the middle of the season and Jim Leavitt was big time in Florida.
Yet, a fall from grace ensued as the Bulls dropped three straight late in the year to Rutgers, UConn and Cincinnati and they fell out of the polls.
They found themselves 21st in the final BCS standings, but to rise to No.2 after just a few short years of playing football is a big time feat and one of the improbable seasons in history.
1. Ohio State: 1957
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Talk was that the Buckeyes would take a step back that year, as they were supposed to be in rebuilding and reloading mode.
I guess they rebuilt and reloaded quicker than people thought.
After dropping their initial game to TCU, who was un-ranked, the Buckeyes went unbeaten for the rest of the '57 season.
They made a National Title run by steadily climbing the poll week after week.
They beat Iowa and nemesis Michigan, and finished the year as the No.1 team in the country.
What makes this such an improbable season is that they were not even ranked until late in the season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
