9 most shocking upsets in college football openers

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The first week of college football is usually an easy warmup for top teams. They often schedule weaker opponents to get ready for the tough season ahead.

But every once in a while, things go completely off script, and a massive underdog shocks everyone by taking down a top team. Whether it is a smaller school or just a struggling team with nothing to lose, they manage to pull off the impossible in front of a packed stadium.

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These crazy upsets usually happen because of a wild do-or-die play in the final seconds, a bunch of uncharacteristic turnovers or a coach making a fearless decision to go for the win. Even if the favorite team ends up with better stats on paper, they still walk away with a hard loss, proving that rankings and betting odds do not mean a thing when the game actually starts.

So, here are the nine most shocking season-opening upsets in college football history.

9. Jacksonville State 49, Ole Miss 48 (2 OT) (Sept. 4, 2010)

SEC teams almost never lose to FCS opponents at home. That made Jacksonville State’s trip to Oxford look like an easy win for Ole Miss.

Instead, the Gamecocks matched the Rebels throughout the game. The contest went into double overtime after neither team could pull away.

Everything came down to one bold decision. After Ole Miss scored in the second overtime, Jacksonville State answered with a touchdown. Rather than kicking the extra point, the Gamecocks went for a two-point conversion and the win. They converted and escaped with a stunning 49-48 win. That fearless call turned the game into one of the biggest opening-week surprises ever.

8. UCLA 35, No. 3 Alabama 24 (Sept. 2, 2000)

Alabama opened the season ranked No. 3 and carried national-title hopes into the Rose Bowl. Most expected the Crimson Tide to handle UCLA without much trouble.

The Bruins had other plans. Their offense controlled the game and piled up 396 total yards. Running back DeShaun Foster, who would later become UCLA’s head coach, led the way with 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Alabama could not slow UCLA late in the game. The Bruins scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to seal a memorable upset over one of the nation’s top teams.

7. Duke 28, No. 9 Clemson 7 (Sept. 4, 2023)

Clemson entered the season with College Football Playoff expectations. Duke, on the other hand, was not expected to stand in the way.

The final score told a completely different story. Clemson actually finished with more total yards, more first downs and controlled possession for longer stretches.

Still, none of that mattered. Costly turnovers and repeated failures inside the red zone ruined the Tigers’ chances. Duke took full advantage and exploded for 22 second-half points. The result became one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 season.

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6. Liberty 48, Baylor 45 (Sept. 2, 2017)

Matt Rhule’s first game as Baylor head coach was expected to produce a comfortable victory. Instead, Liberty spoiled the day.

The Flames were still an FCS program at the time. Even so, they matched Baylor score for score in a thrilling shootout.

Altogether, the teams combined for 93 points. Liberty’s offense kept finding answers while Baylor’s defense struggled all afternoon. Giving up 48 points at home to an FCS team made the defeat even harder to believe.

5. Montana 13, No. 20 Washington 7 (Sept. 4, 2021)

Washington looked ready to take control after scoring first in Seattle. The Huskies grabbed a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter and appeared to be on their way.

Things changed suddenly. Montana’s defense shut down Washington for the rest of the afternoon.

After that early touchdown, the Huskies never scored again. The Grizzlies slowly erased the deficit with two field goals before adding a touchdown. That defensive effort gave Montana one of the greatest FCS wins over an FBS opponent.

4. Ohio Wesleyan 17, Michigan 7 (Oct. 6, 1928)

Michigan was one of college football’s biggest powers entering the 1928 season. Just one year earlier, the Wolverines crushed Ohio Wesleyan 33-0.

This meeting turned out very differently. Playing before nearly 55,000 fans, Michigan struggled from start to finish.

Internal problems also hurt the team. Tension between head coach Tad Wieman and athletic director Fielding Yost affected the program. The 17-7 loss marked Michigan‘s first season-opening defeat in more than 25 years under Yost’s leadership. The Wolverines eventually lost their first four games that season.

3. Northwestern 17, No. 9 Notre Dame 15 (Sept. 2, 1995)

Northwestern entered the season with little national attention. Between 1974 and 1994, the Wildcats finished with more than three wins only once.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 9, was favored by 28 points at home. Very few believed Northwestern had a chance.

Instead, the Wildcats controlled the game from the beginning. They never trailed and played outstanding defense. Four sacks of quarterback Ron Powlus and two key fumble recoveries helped secure the upset. That win became the starting point for a memorable 10-2 season that ended at the Rose Bowl.

2. UCLA 20, No. 1 Nebraska 17 (Sept. 9, 1972)

Nebraska entered the season as the two-time defending national champion. The Cornhuskers had not lost in 32 straight games and arrived in Los Angeles as 18-point favorites.

UCLA never looked intimidated. Quarterback Mark Harmon — that’s right, Leroy Jethro Gibbs on “NCIS” — directed the wishbone offense with confidence and kept the Bruins in front all game.

At the same time, UCLA’s defense forced five turnovers. Then, with less than a minute remaining, Efrén Herrera kicked a 27-yard field goal for the winning points. The upset ended one of the greatest unbeaten streaks in college football history.

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1. Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32 (Sept. 1, 2007)

No opening-week upset has matched what happened in Ann Arbor. Appalachian State, an FCS program coached by Jerry Moore, became the first FCS team ever to defeat a ranked FBS opponent.

Michigan actually finished with more total yards, 479 to 387. The Wolverines also won the turnover battle.

Even so, Appalachian State delivered an incredible second quarter with 21 points. That burst completely changed the game. Finally, the Mountaineers blocked Michigan’s game-winning field goal attempt in the closing seconds to secure the historic 34-32 win.

More than a decade later, this remains the standard for college football upsets. Every shocking opening-day result is still compared to Appalachian State’s unforgettable win at the Big House.

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