College Football Nation: HOP teams 2010
The house of pain is in effect y'all
I say the house of pain is in effect
You know the house of pain is in effect y'all
And anyone that steps up is gettin' wrecked
And, with those poetic lines from Everlast, we enter the Big Ten's House of Pain. All week at ESPN.com, we're exploring the most-painful losses in a team's history. What constitutes pain? First, the game has to be significant. A rough loss in a going-nowhere year doesn't sting as much as one that prevented a team from reaching its ultimate goals.
Painful losses often happen against rivals. Painful losses often have especially painful endings. Painful losses often take place at the worst possible times. Although blowout defeats certainly can qualify as painful, losses that culminate with crunch-time turnovers, field goal makes or misses or generally bizarre plays usually stick out more.
The most important criteria: painful losses linger for you, the fans.
Trust me, this wasn't easy, and I know many of you will disagree with the choices. But I only got to pick one game for each Big Ten team. A special thanks to the Big Ten sports information staffs for helping me with the project.
Here goes ...
ILLINOIS
Date: Nov. 3, 1990
Opponent: Iowa
Site: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, Ill.)
Final score: Iowa 54, Illinois 28
After winning a Citrus Bowl championship the previous January, Illinois entered the 1990 season with raised expectations. The Illini lost the opener but won their next six, rising to No. 5 in the national rankings. They had big dreams, but rival Iowa changed everything by crushing them in front of their own fans at Memorial Stadium. John Mackovic's team had no answer for Iowa's Nick Bell, who rushed for 168 yards. After allowing one touchdown in its opponents' previous 49 possessions, Illinois watched Iowa reach the end zone on its first five drives. Illinois' 2000 loss to Michigan deserves honorable mention.
INDIANA
Date: Nov. 7, 1988
Opponent: Illinois
Site: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, Ill.)
Final score: Illinois 21, Indiana 20
Indiana went to Champaign ranked No. 20 nationally and boasting a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play after a win against Iowa. The Hoosiers seemingly had the game in hand, up 20-9 with less than four minutes remaining. But Illinois quarterback Jeff George, an Indianapolis native who attended Indiana's archrival Purdue before transferring, led the comeback and fired a touchdown pass with 21 seconds left. Illinois' drive came after Indiana quarterback Dave Schnell fumbled on a bootleg. The loss took Indiana out of the race for the Big Ten championship. Indiana's most painful moment came against Anthony Carter and Michigan in 1979.
IOWA
Date: Jan. 1, 1986
Opponent: UCLA
Site: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Final Score: UCLA 45, Iowa 28
Iowa felt the pain both for what happened during the game and what happened soon afterward. Maxwell Award winner Chuck Long led the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes into Pasadena, but he was sacked four times by the Bruins. Tailback Ronnie Harmon had a miserable day, fumbling four times after doing so just once all season and dropping a wide-open touchdown pass. Some believed Harmon threw the game. An Iowa win could have led to a national championship after No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Miami both lost in their bowl games.
MICHIGAN
Date: Nov. 24, 1973
Opponent: Ohio State
Site: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Final score: Ohio State 10, Michigan 10
Michigan has had its share of painful losses -- Appalachian State, Ohio State in 2006, Colorado in 1994 -- but this tie with the hated Buckeyes really stung the Maize and Blue. The game featured its share of pain, as Michigan rallied from a 10-0 deficit to tie things up, but missed two field goals in the closing moments. The controversy really started afterward, as Big Ten athletic directors voted that Ohio State should play in the Rose Bowl ahead of Michigan. The Big Ten's no-repeat rule had been scrapped just two years earlier. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler called the decision "an embarrassment to the Big Ten Conference" and stewed about it until his death in 2006.
MICHIGAN STATE
Date: Jan. 1, 1966
Opponent: UCLA
Site: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Final score: UCLA 14, Michigan State 12
The Spartans came to Pasadena undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. UCLA jumped ahead as the Spartans coughed up the ball four times in the first half. Still, Michigan State had a chance and outgained UCLA 314-212 in the game. The Spartans rallied and scored with less than a minute left, setting up a potential tying two-point conversion attempt. But fullback Bob Apisa was stopped short of the goal line by UCLA's Bob Stiles, who knocked himself out making the tackle. Alabama was awarded the AP national title. Michigan State's 2006 loss to Notre Dame and 1966 tie against the Irish deserve honorable mention.
MINNESOTA
Date: Oct. 10, 2003
Opponent: Michigan
Site: Metrodome (Minneapolis)
Final score: Michigan 38, Minnesota 35
Minnesota was 6-0 and entered the Little Brown Jug rivalry ranked No. 17 nationally. Led by tailbacks Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney, Minnesota led 28-7 after three quarters and 35-21 with 11:11 left. But Michigan couldn't be stopped in the fourth quarter and scored 31 points in the final 15 minutes, capped by Garrett Rivas' field goal with 47 seconds left. Minnesota rushed for 424 yards but still felt short. The Gophers arguably have never been the same. No Big Ten team has more painful losses than Minny.
NORTHWESTERN
Date: Nov. 11, 2000
Opponent: Iowa
Site: Kinnick Stadium
Final score: Iowa 27, Northwestern 17
Northwestern has seen huge leads evaporate (Michigan State in 2006), suffered shocking early losses (Miami University in 1995) and come very close to ending its bowl drought the past two seasons. But Rose Bowl opportunities don't come around too often for the Wildcats, and they squandered one by falling to Iowa. A week after an unforgettable win against Michigan and ranked No. 12 nationally, Northwestern was totally outplayed by a Hawkeyes team that went 3-9. On a day when Purdue opened a path to Pasadena with a loss to Michigan State, the Wildcats stumbled on the doorstep.
OHIO STATE
Date: Nov. 22, 1969
Opponent: Michigan
Site: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Final score: Michigan 24, Ohio State 12
The Buckeyes brought one of their greatest teams ever to "that state up North" to face a Michigan team regaining respectability under first-year coach Bo Schembechler. Although Michigan played at home and carried a four-game win streak into The Game, Ohio State was a 17-point favorite. The Buckeyes scored a quick touchdown but never really recovered, as a Michigan team inspired by Schembechler and a 50-14 loss the year before shut down Rex Kern and Co. Ohio State committed seven turnovers and suffered one of the biggest upsets in college football history. It also spawned the Ten-Year War between Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Ohio State's 1998 loss to Michigan State merits honorable mention.
PENN STATE
Date: Nov. 6, 1999
Opponent: Minnesota
Site: Beaver Stadium (State College, Pa.)
Final score: Minnesota 24, Penn State 23
Undefeated Penn State looked every bit like a national championship team, rising to No. 2 in the polls behind freakish defenders like LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown. The Nittany Lions held a two-point advantage when Joe Paterno decided to punt rather than attempt a long field goal try in the closing minutes, trusting his dominant defense. Minnesota began the game's decisive drive with a Hail Mary pass from Billy Cockerham to Ron Johnson. Moments later, the Gophers converted a fourth-and-16 to set up the game-winning field goal by freshman kicker Dan Nystrom. Penn State lost its final two regular-season games. The Lions' 1979 Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama and their 2005 loss to Michigan gain honorable mention.
PURDUE
Date: Oct. 16, 2004
Opponent: Wisconsin
Site: Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Final score: Wisconsin 20, Purdue 17
Purdue's program hasn't been the same since The Fumble. The Boilers came in 5-0 and ranked fifth nationally, while quarterback Kyle Orton had established himself as the Heisman Trophy front-runner. Purdue led 17-7 with eight minutes left and had a three-point advantage and the ball with 2:49 remaining. On third-and-3, Orton scrambled and made a lunge for the first down, only to have the ball knocked loose. Wisconsin's Scott Starks scooped it up and raced 40 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 2:36 left. Purdue lost its next three games and backslid to the Sun Bowl, where it fell to Arizona State.
WISCONSIN
Date: Oct. 23, 1993
Opponent: Minnesota
Site: Metrodome (Minneapolis)
Final score: Minnesota 28, Wisconsin 21
Wisconsin might have celebrated a national championship had it found a way to beat the rival Golden Gophers. The Badgers were 6-0 heading to the Metrodome but fell behind 21-0 to a Minnesota team that went 4-7 that fall. Wisconsin closed to within 21-14 and reached the Minnesota 8-yard line before Brent Moss was stuffed on fourth-and-1. The Badgers went on to share a Big Ten championship and reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1963, but they were so close to winning it all. Honorable mentions include 1999 against Cincinnati, 1998 against Michigan and 2005 against Iowa in Barry Alvarez's final game.
I say the house of pain is in effect
You know the house of pain is in effect y'all
And anyone that steps up is gettin' wrecked
And, with those poetic lines from Everlast, we enter the Big Ten's House of Pain. All week at ESPN.com, we're exploring the most-painful losses in a team's history. What constitutes pain? First, the game has to be significant. A rough loss in a going-nowhere year doesn't sting as much as one that prevented a team from reaching its ultimate goals.
Painful losses often happen against rivals. Painful losses often have especially painful endings. Painful losses often take place at the worst possible times. Although blowout defeats certainly can qualify as painful, losses that culminate with crunch-time turnovers, field goal makes or misses or generally bizarre plays usually stick out more.
The most important criteria: painful losses linger for you, the fans.
Trust me, this wasn't easy, and I know many of you will disagree with the choices. But I only got to pick one game for each Big Ten team. A special thanks to the Big Ten sports information staffs for helping me with the project.
Here goes ...
ILLINOIS
Date: Nov. 3, 1990
Opponent: Iowa
Site: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, Ill.)
Final score: Iowa 54, Illinois 28
After winning a Citrus Bowl championship the previous January, Illinois entered the 1990 season with raised expectations. The Illini lost the opener but won their next six, rising to No. 5 in the national rankings. They had big dreams, but rival Iowa changed everything by crushing them in front of their own fans at Memorial Stadium. John Mackovic's team had no answer for Iowa's Nick Bell, who rushed for 168 yards. After allowing one touchdown in its opponents' previous 49 possessions, Illinois watched Iowa reach the end zone on its first five drives. Illinois' 2000 loss to Michigan deserves honorable mention.
INDIANA
Date: Nov. 7, 1988
Opponent: Illinois
Site: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, Ill.)
Final score: Illinois 21, Indiana 20
Indiana went to Champaign ranked No. 20 nationally and boasting a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play after a win against Iowa. The Hoosiers seemingly had the game in hand, up 20-9 with less than four minutes remaining. But Illinois quarterback Jeff George, an Indianapolis native who attended Indiana's archrival Purdue before transferring, led the comeback and fired a touchdown pass with 21 seconds left. Illinois' drive came after Indiana quarterback Dave Schnell fumbled on a bootleg. The loss took Indiana out of the race for the Big Ten championship. Indiana's most painful moment came against Anthony Carter and Michigan in 1979.
IOWA
Date: Jan. 1, 1986
Opponent: UCLA
Site: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Final Score: UCLA 45, Iowa 28
Iowa felt the pain both for what happened during the game and what happened soon afterward. Maxwell Award winner Chuck Long led the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes into Pasadena, but he was sacked four times by the Bruins. Tailback Ronnie Harmon had a miserable day, fumbling four times after doing so just once all season and dropping a wide-open touchdown pass. Some believed Harmon threw the game. An Iowa win could have led to a national championship after No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Miami both lost in their bowl games.
MICHIGAN
Date: Nov. 24, 1973
Opponent: Ohio State
Site: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Final score: Ohio State 10, Michigan 10
Michigan has had its share of painful losses -- Appalachian State, Ohio State in 2006, Colorado in 1994 -- but this tie with the hated Buckeyes really stung the Maize and Blue. The game featured its share of pain, as Michigan rallied from a 10-0 deficit to tie things up, but missed two field goals in the closing moments. The controversy really started afterward, as Big Ten athletic directors voted that Ohio State should play in the Rose Bowl ahead of Michigan. The Big Ten's no-repeat rule had been scrapped just two years earlier. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler called the decision "an embarrassment to the Big Ten Conference" and stewed about it until his death in 2006.
MICHIGAN STATE
Date: Jan. 1, 1966
Opponent: UCLA
Site: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Final score: UCLA 14, Michigan State 12
The Spartans came to Pasadena undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. UCLA jumped ahead as the Spartans coughed up the ball four times in the first half. Still, Michigan State had a chance and outgained UCLA 314-212 in the game. The Spartans rallied and scored with less than a minute left, setting up a potential tying two-point conversion attempt. But fullback Bob Apisa was stopped short of the goal line by UCLA's Bob Stiles, who knocked himself out making the tackle. Alabama was awarded the AP national title. Michigan State's 2006 loss to Notre Dame and 1966 tie against the Irish deserve honorable mention.
MINNESOTA
Date: Oct. 10, 2003
Opponent: Michigan
Site: Metrodome (Minneapolis)
Final score: Michigan 38, Minnesota 35
Minnesota was 6-0 and entered the Little Brown Jug rivalry ranked No. 17 nationally. Led by tailbacks Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney, Minnesota led 28-7 after three quarters and 35-21 with 11:11 left. But Michigan couldn't be stopped in the fourth quarter and scored 31 points in the final 15 minutes, capped by Garrett Rivas' field goal with 47 seconds left. Minnesota rushed for 424 yards but still felt short. The Gophers arguably have never been the same. No Big Ten team has more painful losses than Minny.
NORTHWESTERN
Date: Nov. 11, 2000
Opponent: Iowa
Site: Kinnick Stadium
Final score: Iowa 27, Northwestern 17
Northwestern has seen huge leads evaporate (Michigan State in 2006), suffered shocking early losses (Miami University in 1995) and come very close to ending its bowl drought the past two seasons. But Rose Bowl opportunities don't come around too often for the Wildcats, and they squandered one by falling to Iowa. A week after an unforgettable win against Michigan and ranked No. 12 nationally, Northwestern was totally outplayed by a Hawkeyes team that went 3-9. On a day when Purdue opened a path to Pasadena with a loss to Michigan State, the Wildcats stumbled on the doorstep.
OHIO STATE
Date: Nov. 22, 1969
Opponent: Michigan
Site: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Final score: Michigan 24, Ohio State 12
The Buckeyes brought one of their greatest teams ever to "that state up North" to face a Michigan team regaining respectability under first-year coach Bo Schembechler. Although Michigan played at home and carried a four-game win streak into The Game, Ohio State was a 17-point favorite. The Buckeyes scored a quick touchdown but never really recovered, as a Michigan team inspired by Schembechler and a 50-14 loss the year before shut down Rex Kern and Co. Ohio State committed seven turnovers and suffered one of the biggest upsets in college football history. It also spawned the Ten-Year War between Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Ohio State's 1998 loss to Michigan State merits honorable mention.
PENN STATE
Date: Nov. 6, 1999
Opponent: Minnesota
Site: Beaver Stadium (State College, Pa.)
Final score: Minnesota 24, Penn State 23
Undefeated Penn State looked every bit like a national championship team, rising to No. 2 in the polls behind freakish defenders like LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown. The Nittany Lions held a two-point advantage when Joe Paterno decided to punt rather than attempt a long field goal try in the closing minutes, trusting his dominant defense. Minnesota began the game's decisive drive with a Hail Mary pass from Billy Cockerham to Ron Johnson. Moments later, the Gophers converted a fourth-and-16 to set up the game-winning field goal by freshman kicker Dan Nystrom. Penn State lost its final two regular-season games. The Lions' 1979 Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama and their 2005 loss to Michigan gain honorable mention.
PURDUE
Date: Oct. 16, 2004
Opponent: Wisconsin
Site: Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Final score: Wisconsin 20, Purdue 17
Purdue's program hasn't been the same since The Fumble. The Boilers came in 5-0 and ranked fifth nationally, while quarterback Kyle Orton had established himself as the Heisman Trophy front-runner. Purdue led 17-7 with eight minutes left and had a three-point advantage and the ball with 2:49 remaining. On third-and-3, Orton scrambled and made a lunge for the first down, only to have the ball knocked loose. Wisconsin's Scott Starks scooped it up and raced 40 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 2:36 left. Purdue lost its next three games and backslid to the Sun Bowl, where it fell to Arizona State.
WISCONSIN
Date: Oct. 23, 1993
Opponent: Minnesota
Site: Metrodome (Minneapolis)
Final score: Minnesota 28, Wisconsin 21
Wisconsin might have celebrated a national championship had it found a way to beat the rival Golden Gophers. The Badgers were 6-0 heading to the Metrodome but fell behind 21-0 to a Minnesota team that went 4-7 that fall. Wisconsin closed to within 21-14 and reached the Minnesota 8-yard line before Brent Moss was stuffed on fourth-and-1. The Badgers went on to share a Big Ten championship and reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1963, but they were so close to winning it all. Honorable mentions include 1999 against Cincinnati, 1998 against Michigan and 2005 against Iowa in Barry Alvarez's final game.
As ESPN.com winds down its top 50 most-painful losses in college football history, it’s a good time to enter the ACC’s own personal house of horrors. Don’t worry, fall camp is beginning and there is only optimism around the corner. Until then, here’s a look at the most-painful loss for each school in the conference. Disagree? Feel free to drop some hurt in the specially designated House of Pain mailbag. I’ll print some of your comments tomorrow in a separate post.
BOSTON COLLEGE
Holy Cross 55, Boston College 12, Nov. 28, 1942
It was the only week BC had ever been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press. The Eagles were undefeated, and the defense had allowed just 19 points in eight games. Nearby Holy Cross, though, was undaunted, despite its 4-4-1 record. The teams met in a packed Fenway Park and the upset was such a shocker that Boston College canceled a victory party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub. Wise move -- the club burned down that night, killing 492 people.
CLEMSON
No. 48 Boston College 20, Clemson 17 Nov. 17, 2007
Clemson trailed Boston College 20-17 in Death Valley with about a minute to play. On first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 45, receiver Aaron Kelly began to slip near the goal line and dropped a near-perfect pass from Cullen Harper a yard from the end zone. Had he made the catch, the Tigers would have won the Atlantic Division and had a chance to play for the school’s first ACC title since 1991. BC finished 6-2 in the division while the Tigers placed second at 5-3.
DUKE
USC 7, Duke 3, Jan. 2, 1939
This was the best team Duke ever had, one of just three since 1920 to go undefeated, untied and unscored upon. Under the direction of coach Wallace Wade, the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead into the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl and seemed to have the upper hand against USC backup quarterback Doyle Nave. But Nave completed four straight passes to “Antelope” Al Krueger, the last for the winning touchdown with a minute remaining.
FLORIDA STATE
Miami 17, Florida State 16, Nov. 16, 1991
This was the original Wide Right. The Seminoles were ranked No. 1 all season and led 16-7 in the fourth quarter. Miami rallied, though, and FSU had three minutes remaining to catch up. The Noles got as close as the Miami 17 in the final minute, and kicker Gerry Thomas came on for a 34-yard attempt. It went barely outside the right upright. Blame the NCAA: it had narrowed the goal posts by 4 feet, 10 inches.
GEORGIA TECH
Florida State 29, Georgia Tech 24, Oct. 17, 1992
It was Bill Lewis’ first season and Charlie Ward’s coming-out party. Georgia Tech was 4-1 entering the game, but Florida State rallied in the fourth quarter and returned an onside kick for a touchdown. The Jackets gave up 22 points in the fourth quarter. That started the slide to a 5-6 season. And another 5-6 season. And a 1-10 disaster.
MARYLAND
Virginia 34, Maryland 30, Nov. 20, 1999
Lamont Jordan had 37 carries for 306 yards and two touchdowns, and his efforts were in vein. Maryland rallied for a 30-27 lead in the final moments of the fourth quarter in the home finale. All Randall Jones, a former safety who was in at quarterback, had to do was run out the clock. Instead, he ran the option to the short side of the field where he was pushed out of bounds. Virginia got possession with 1:12 to go and needed just 46 seconds to march downfield and score.
MIAMI
Ohio State 31, Miami 24 (2 OT), Jan. 3, 2003
Miami corner Glenn Sharpe had broken up a pass from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins. Fireworks went off. The Hurricanes celebrated -- albeit prematurely. Field judge Terry Porter called pass interference and three plays later, Krenzel scored from the 1 to force a second overtime. The Buckeyes won, 31-24, after freshman tailback Maurice Clarett scored on a 5-yard run and the defense stood strong from inside its own 2.
NORTH CAROLINA
Virginia 20, North Carolina 17, Nov. 16, 1996
UNC was 8-1, and the Tar Heels needed only to beat Virginia and rival Duke for a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. They seemed to be on their way in Charlottesville with a 17-3 lead and possession on first-and-goal at the Virginia 9. Instead, quarterback Chris Keldorf threw an interception to Antwan Harris, who returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. UVA converted a pair of fourth-down plays to score the tying touchdown. Rafael Garcia kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.
NC STATE
Penn State 9, NC State 7, Nov. 10, 1979
After NC State took a 7-6 lead with less than a minute to play, Penn State converted a fourth-and-27 with 18 seconds on the clock. Penn State quarterback Dayle Tate hit Terry Rakowsky, who had never caught a pass in a college game, on a 37-yard pass against NC State All-America cornerback Woodrow Wilson. Tate followed with two incomplete passes, but one second remained on the clock. It was just enough time for kicker Herb Menhardt to seal the win.
VIRGINIA
Michigan 18, Virginia 17, Aug. 26, 1995; Texas 17, Virginia 16, Oct. 21 1995
It was a double whammy for the Cavaliers, who lost on the last play of the game in both contests. Against Michigan, in Lloyd Carr’s first game, Virginia led 17-0 in the fourth quarter. On the last play, Scott Dreisbach threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mercury Hayes for the Wolverines’ win. Against Texas, Virginia kicked a 56-yard field goal with 3:12 remaining for a 16-14 lead. Texas answered with a 50-yard field goal as time expired. Despite the losses, it was one of UVA’s best teams.
VIRGINIA TECH
Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29, Jan. 4, 2000
Virginia Tech fought back to lead 29-28 heading into the fourth quarter. Michael Vick led the Hokies to 22 unanswered points, but Virginia Tech was held scoreless in the fourth. Florida State ended the game with 18 straight points. The Hokies outgained Florida State 503 to 359 in total yards. Vick was just 19, but Bobby Bowden said he "played like a man."
WAKE FOREST
Appalachian State 34, Wake Forest 34, Nov. 19, 1988
All Wake Forest had to do to earn a rare bowl appearance was defeat FCS opponent Appalachian State in the final game. Independence Bowl reps were on hand to extend an invitation, but couldn’t justify one after the tie.
BOSTON COLLEGE
Holy Cross 55, Boston College 12, Nov. 28, 1942
It was the only week BC had ever been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press. The Eagles were undefeated, and the defense had allowed just 19 points in eight games. Nearby Holy Cross, though, was undaunted, despite its 4-4-1 record. The teams met in a packed Fenway Park and the upset was such a shocker that Boston College canceled a victory party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub. Wise move -- the club burned down that night, killing 492 people.
CLEMSON
No. 48 Boston College 20, Clemson 17 Nov. 17, 2007
Clemson trailed Boston College 20-17 in Death Valley with about a minute to play. On first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 45, receiver Aaron Kelly began to slip near the goal line and dropped a near-perfect pass from Cullen Harper a yard from the end zone. Had he made the catch, the Tigers would have won the Atlantic Division and had a chance to play for the school’s first ACC title since 1991. BC finished 6-2 in the division while the Tigers placed second at 5-3.
DUKE
USC 7, Duke 3, Jan. 2, 1939
This was the best team Duke ever had, one of just three since 1920 to go undefeated, untied and unscored upon. Under the direction of coach Wallace Wade, the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead into the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl and seemed to have the upper hand against USC backup quarterback Doyle Nave. But Nave completed four straight passes to “Antelope” Al Krueger, the last for the winning touchdown with a minute remaining.
FLORIDA STATE
Miami 17, Florida State 16, Nov. 16, 1991
This was the original Wide Right. The Seminoles were ranked No. 1 all season and led 16-7 in the fourth quarter. Miami rallied, though, and FSU had three minutes remaining to catch up. The Noles got as close as the Miami 17 in the final minute, and kicker Gerry Thomas came on for a 34-yard attempt. It went barely outside the right upright. Blame the NCAA: it had narrowed the goal posts by 4 feet, 10 inches.
GEORGIA TECH
Florida State 29, Georgia Tech 24, Oct. 17, 1992
It was Bill Lewis’ first season and Charlie Ward’s coming-out party. Georgia Tech was 4-1 entering the game, but Florida State rallied in the fourth quarter and returned an onside kick for a touchdown. The Jackets gave up 22 points in the fourth quarter. That started the slide to a 5-6 season. And another 5-6 season. And a 1-10 disaster.
MARYLAND
Virginia 34, Maryland 30, Nov. 20, 1999
Lamont Jordan had 37 carries for 306 yards and two touchdowns, and his efforts were in vein. Maryland rallied for a 30-27 lead in the final moments of the fourth quarter in the home finale. All Randall Jones, a former safety who was in at quarterback, had to do was run out the clock. Instead, he ran the option to the short side of the field where he was pushed out of bounds. Virginia got possession with 1:12 to go and needed just 46 seconds to march downfield and score.
MIAMI
Ohio State 31, Miami 24 (2 OT), Jan. 3, 2003
Miami corner Glenn Sharpe had broken up a pass from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins. Fireworks went off. The Hurricanes celebrated -- albeit prematurely. Field judge Terry Porter called pass interference and three plays later, Krenzel scored from the 1 to force a second overtime. The Buckeyes won, 31-24, after freshman tailback Maurice Clarett scored on a 5-yard run and the defense stood strong from inside its own 2.
NORTH CAROLINA
Virginia 20, North Carolina 17, Nov. 16, 1996
UNC was 8-1, and the Tar Heels needed only to beat Virginia and rival Duke for a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. They seemed to be on their way in Charlottesville with a 17-3 lead and possession on first-and-goal at the Virginia 9. Instead, quarterback Chris Keldorf threw an interception to Antwan Harris, who returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. UVA converted a pair of fourth-down plays to score the tying touchdown. Rafael Garcia kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.
NC STATE
Penn State 9, NC State 7, Nov. 10, 1979
After NC State took a 7-6 lead with less than a minute to play, Penn State converted a fourth-and-27 with 18 seconds on the clock. Penn State quarterback Dayle Tate hit Terry Rakowsky, who had never caught a pass in a college game, on a 37-yard pass against NC State All-America cornerback Woodrow Wilson. Tate followed with two incomplete passes, but one second remained on the clock. It was just enough time for kicker Herb Menhardt to seal the win.
VIRGINIA
Michigan 18, Virginia 17, Aug. 26, 1995; Texas 17, Virginia 16, Oct. 21 1995
It was a double whammy for the Cavaliers, who lost on the last play of the game in both contests. Against Michigan, in Lloyd Carr’s first game, Virginia led 17-0 in the fourth quarter. On the last play, Scott Dreisbach threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mercury Hayes for the Wolverines’ win. Against Texas, Virginia kicked a 56-yard field goal with 3:12 remaining for a 16-14 lead. Texas answered with a 50-yard field goal as time expired. Despite the losses, it was one of UVA’s best teams.
VIRGINIA TECH
Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29, Jan. 4, 2000
Virginia Tech fought back to lead 29-28 heading into the fourth quarter. Michael Vick led the Hokies to 22 unanswered points, but Virginia Tech was held scoreless in the fourth. Florida State ended the game with 18 straight points. The Hokies outgained Florida State 503 to 359 in total yards. Vick was just 19, but Bobby Bowden said he "played like a man."
WAKE FOREST
Appalachian State 34, Wake Forest 34, Nov. 19, 1988
All Wake Forest had to do to earn a rare bowl appearance was defeat FCS opponent Appalachian State in the final game. Independence Bowl reps were on hand to extend an invitation, but couldn’t justify one after the tie.
Welcome to the non-AQ House of Pain. There are lots of torturous memories here that our main list has not featured. Stay tuned for Friday, when selected reader House of Pain memories will be posted here. There is still time to chime in.
But beware as you enter. These are still as heartbreaking as ever.
BOISE STATE
Georgia 48, Boise State 13, Sept. 3, 2005
The Broncos went into the season ranked No. 18, the first time they ever had a preseason ranking. Then they went ahead and got embarrassed, ruining their credibility as a legitimate contender for several years. It was just their fourth loss in 43 games.
BYU
UTEP 23, BYU 16, Oct. 26, 1985
The defending national champion Cougars came into the game ranked No. 7 behind Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Robbie Bosco. But they somehow lost to one of the worst teams in the country. UTEP ended the season 1-10 in what stands as one of the greatest upsets in college football history.
FRESNO STATE
USC 50, Fresno State 42, Nov. 19, 2005
Fresno State led 42-41 with 9:47 remaining in what was shaping up to be a gigantic upset of Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and company in Los Angeles. But USC answered when LenDale White scored on a 2-yard run with 6:22 left to keep the Trojans unbeaten. Fresno State ended the year with four straight losses.
HOUSTON
Notre Dame 35, Houston 34, 1979 Cotton Bowl
An ailing Joe Montana made his legend in this game, rallying the Irish from a 34-12 fourth-quarter deficit on a cold, icy, windy day in Dallas. Montana hit Kris Haines with an 8-yard TD pass with no time left, walk-on Joe Unis made the extra point and Mr. Comeback was born.
TCU
Southern Mississippi 40, TCU 28, Nov. 20, 2003
The Horned Frogs went into the game 10-0 and ranked No. 8 in the BCS standings. They needed to stay undefeated to be the first BCS buster. Instead, they found themselves trailing 31-6 before a late rally came up short.
UTAH
BYU 33, Utah 31, Nov. 25, 2006
“Beck to Harline.” The Cougars rallied for their first win over Utah in five seasons when John Beck threw an 11-yard TD pass to Jonny Harline with no time left. That score came after Utah seemingly sealed it with 1:19 remaining when Brett Ratliff threw a 19-yard TD to Brent Casteel.
SMU
BYU 46, SMU 45. 1980 Holiday Bowl
SMU led 45-25 with three minutes left in the game behind Craig James and Eric Dickerson. But in one of the wildest finishes in college football history, Jim McMahon led the Cougars to 21 points in the final 2:35 and won it on a Hail Mary to Clay Brown.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Alabama 24, Southern Mississippi 20, Sept. 9, 1995
Southern Mississippi held a 20-17 lead with 17 seconds remaining over No. 13. Alabama. Facing fourth-and-16, ‘Bama quarterback Brian Burgdorf threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Toderick Malone, giving the Tide the victory.
But beware as you enter. These are still as heartbreaking as ever.
BOISE STATE
Georgia 48, Boise State 13, Sept. 3, 2005
The Broncos went into the season ranked No. 18, the first time they ever had a preseason ranking. Then they went ahead and got embarrassed, ruining their credibility as a legitimate contender for several years. It was just their fourth loss in 43 games.
BYU
UTEP 23, BYU 16, Oct. 26, 1985
The defending national champion Cougars came into the game ranked No. 7 behind Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Robbie Bosco. But they somehow lost to one of the worst teams in the country. UTEP ended the season 1-10 in what stands as one of the greatest upsets in college football history.
FRESNO STATE
USC 50, Fresno State 42, Nov. 19, 2005
Fresno State led 42-41 with 9:47 remaining in what was shaping up to be a gigantic upset of Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and company in Los Angeles. But USC answered when LenDale White scored on a 2-yard run with 6:22 left to keep the Trojans unbeaten. Fresno State ended the year with four straight losses.
HOUSTON
Notre Dame 35, Houston 34, 1979 Cotton Bowl
An ailing Joe Montana made his legend in this game, rallying the Irish from a 34-12 fourth-quarter deficit on a cold, icy, windy day in Dallas. Montana hit Kris Haines with an 8-yard TD pass with no time left, walk-on Joe Unis made the extra point and Mr. Comeback was born.
TCU
Southern Mississippi 40, TCU 28, Nov. 20, 2003
The Horned Frogs went into the game 10-0 and ranked No. 8 in the BCS standings. They needed to stay undefeated to be the first BCS buster. Instead, they found themselves trailing 31-6 before a late rally came up short.
UTAH
BYU 33, Utah 31, Nov. 25, 2006
“Beck to Harline.” The Cougars rallied for their first win over Utah in five seasons when John Beck threw an 11-yard TD pass to Jonny Harline with no time left. That score came after Utah seemingly sealed it with 1:19 remaining when Brett Ratliff threw a 19-yard TD to Brent Casteel.
SMU
BYU 46, SMU 45. 1980 Holiday Bowl
SMU led 45-25 with three minutes left in the game behind Craig James and Eric Dickerson. But in one of the wildest finishes in college football history, Jim McMahon led the Cougars to 21 points in the final 2:35 and won it on a Hail Mary to Clay Brown.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Alabama 24, Southern Mississippi 20, Sept. 9, 1995
Southern Mississippi held a 20-17 lead with 17 seconds remaining over No. 13. Alabama. Facing fourth-and-16, ‘Bama quarterback Brian Burgdorf threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Toderick Malone, giving the Tide the victory.
Here's our take on the most painful losses for each Pac-10 team.
Feel free to disagree.
Arizona
Oregon 44, Arizona 41, 2OT, 2009
With "College GameDay" on campus for the first time, Arizona fans stormed the field in celebration. Prematurely. And that set up a red ring of disappointment around the field at packed Arizona Stadium, when Jeremiah Masoli rallied the Ducks late for a tie in regulation and then a win in double-overtime. As it turned out, if the Wildcats had won, they would have gone to the school's first Rose Bowl. Masoli tied the game at 31-31 with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive. Two plays before, he had converted an 8-yard pass on fourth-and-5. Masoli scored the game winner from 1-yard out in the second overtime. It was his sixth touchdown of the night -- three passing and three running. It may have been the best game of 2009.
Arizona State
Ohio State 20, Arizona State 17, Rose Bowl, 1997
So close to a national championship. The Sun Devils' 11-0 regular season included a 19-0 victory over defending national champion Nebraska, and they looked poised to win in Pasadena when Jake Plummer, on third-and-11, scrambled for a touchdown and 17-14 lead with 1:40 to play. But the Buckeyes weren't done. They drove 65 yards for the winning score, with David Boston hauling in a touchdown pass from five yards out with 19 seconds left. That pass was thrown by Ohio State's backup quarterback, Joe Germaine, who came off the bench to earn game MVP honors. Germaine was born and raised in Arizona and grew up rooting for ASU but opted to go to Ohio State because the Sun Devils coaches wanted him to play defensive back.
California
USC 23, California 17, 2004
Cal dominated the best USC team of the Pete Carroll era -- the Bears outgained the Trojans 424 yards to 205 -- but a comeback attempt fell short at the end. It was the Bears only regular season loss, despite quarterback Aaron Rodgers tying an NCAA record by completing 23 consecutive passes. Rodgers was nearly perfect until three throws missed from the USC 14-yard line in the final minute. Cal was undone by poor special teams play and three turnovers (versus one from USC). Making the defeat even more bitter: After a lobbying effort from Texas coach Mack Brown, the Longhorns eclipsed the Bears in the BCS standings and played in the Rose Bowl, which relegated Cal, which hadn't played in the Rose Bowl since 1959, to the Holiday Bowl, where they played without passion in an upset lost to Texas Tech.
Oregon
Arizona 34, Oregon 24, 2007
It's hard to decide between the 49-42 loss to Stanford in 2001 -- the Ducks lone defeat that season -- or this one (the 2000 Civil War defeat also deserves note). The Stanford loss -- after leading 42-28 -- ended a 23-game winning streak and was the Ducks first home loss in four years. It also cost the Ducks a shot at the national title against Miami. At Arizona in 2007 on Thursday night on ESPN, the 8-1 Ducks were ranked No. 2 and quarterback Dennis Dixon was the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. They led 8-7 and were driving when Dixon blew out his knee (he'd first hurt it 12 days before versus Arizona State). Things mostly fell apart from there, in the game and over the final two games of the regular season. Here's the distinction: 2001 and its final No. 2 ranking still rate as the best season in program history. If Oregon had beaten Stanford, however, it would have played Miami in the Rose Bowl, the BCS title game, and that Hurricanes team was, well, awesome (in the real sense of the word). If the 2007 Ducks had won out and played LSU or Ohio State for the national title, their chances would have been very good to win the program's first national title. Instead, the season ended in major disappointment -- the Sun Bowl -- and an overwhelming sense of what might have been.
Feel free to disagree.
Arizona
Oregon 44, Arizona 41, 2OT, 2009
With "College GameDay" on campus for the first time, Arizona fans stormed the field in celebration. Prematurely. And that set up a red ring of disappointment around the field at packed Arizona Stadium, when Jeremiah Masoli rallied the Ducks late for a tie in regulation and then a win in double-overtime. As it turned out, if the Wildcats had won, they would have gone to the school's first Rose Bowl. Masoli tied the game at 31-31 with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive. Two plays before, he had converted an 8-yard pass on fourth-and-5. Masoli scored the game winner from 1-yard out in the second overtime. It was his sixth touchdown of the night -- three passing and three running. It may have been the best game of 2009.
Arizona State
Ohio State 20, Arizona State 17, Rose Bowl, 1997
So close to a national championship. The Sun Devils' 11-0 regular season included a 19-0 victory over defending national champion Nebraska, and they looked poised to win in Pasadena when Jake Plummer, on third-and-11, scrambled for a touchdown and 17-14 lead with 1:40 to play. But the Buckeyes weren't done. They drove 65 yards for the winning score, with David Boston hauling in a touchdown pass from five yards out with 19 seconds left. That pass was thrown by Ohio State's backup quarterback, Joe Germaine, who came off the bench to earn game MVP honors. Germaine was born and raised in Arizona and grew up rooting for ASU but opted to go to Ohio State because the Sun Devils coaches wanted him to play defensive back.
California
USC 23, California 17, 2004
Cal dominated the best USC team of the Pete Carroll era -- the Bears outgained the Trojans 424 yards to 205 -- but a comeback attempt fell short at the end. It was the Bears only regular season loss, despite quarterback Aaron Rodgers tying an NCAA record by completing 23 consecutive passes. Rodgers was nearly perfect until three throws missed from the USC 14-yard line in the final minute. Cal was undone by poor special teams play and three turnovers (versus one from USC). Making the defeat even more bitter: After a lobbying effort from Texas coach Mack Brown, the Longhorns eclipsed the Bears in the BCS standings and played in the Rose Bowl, which relegated Cal, which hadn't played in the Rose Bowl since 1959, to the Holiday Bowl, where they played without passion in an upset lost to Texas Tech.
Oregon
Arizona 34, Oregon 24, 2007
It's hard to decide between the 49-42 loss to Stanford in 2001 -- the Ducks lone defeat that season -- or this one (the 2000 Civil War defeat also deserves note). The Stanford loss -- after leading 42-28 -- ended a 23-game winning streak and was the Ducks first home loss in four years. It also cost the Ducks a shot at the national title against Miami. At Arizona in 2007 on Thursday night on ESPN, the 8-1 Ducks were ranked No. 2 and quarterback Dennis Dixon was the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. They led 8-7 and were driving when Dixon blew out his knee (he'd first hurt it 12 days before versus Arizona State). Things mostly fell apart from there, in the game and over the final two games of the regular season. Here's the distinction: 2001 and its final No. 2 ranking still rate as the best season in program history. If Oregon had beaten Stanford, however, it would have played Miami in the Rose Bowl, the BCS title game, and that Hurricanes team was, well, awesome (in the real sense of the word). If the 2007 Ducks had won out and played LSU or Ohio State for the national title, their chances would have been very good to win the program's first national title. Instead, the season ended in major disappointment -- the Sun Bowl -- and an overwhelming sense of what might have been.
Most painful losses for Big East teams
August, 5, 2010
8/05/10
11:00
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
13-9. Jeremy Ito. 48 straight points.
Some losses are so painful that the mere mention of a name, phrase or score instantly brings back horrible memories. Today, as part of ESPN.com's House of Pain series, I'm going to list my nominees for the most painful loss in school history for each Big East team.
CINCINNATI: For years, Cincinnati wasn't good enough to have many painful losses. But one sticks out: Ty King returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown with 19 seconds left as rival Miami (Ohio) beat the Bearcats 23-16 in 1995.
CONNECTICUT: The 2009 season was full of heartache for the Huskies. No game hurt more than the loss to Rutgers. UConn had seemingly won the game in the final minute, but the Scarlet Knights scored on an 81-yard pass from Tom Savage to Tim Brown to ruin the Huskies' first home game since Jasper Howard' death.
LOUISVILLE: Cardinals fans still rue the 2006 loss to Rutgers that kept their team from a possible BCS title game appearance. Louisville led 25-7 in the first half but would not score again. Ito drilled the 28-yard game winner with 17 seconds left after William Gay jumped offside on the kicker's first, missed attempt.
PITTSBURGH: Pitt has never had a more talented team than the 1981 edition. The Panthers were undefeated and ranked No. 1 when they took a 14-0 lead over Penn State in the season finale. But the Nittany Lions then scored the final 48 points in a loss that still perplexes Pittsburgh fans.
RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights just had to beat a Pat White-less West Virginia in the 2006 season finale to claim the Big East's BCS bid. Instead, backup Jarrett Brown led the Mountaineers to a 41-39, triple-overtime win that sent Rutgers to the Texas Bowl.
SOUTH FLORIDA: Bulls fans were beside themselves when the young program climbed to No. 2 in the polls in October 2007. It all came crashing down on a Thursday night in Piscataway, N.J., when Rutgers dashed South Florida's dream season with a 30-27 win, aided by a fake field goal for a touchdown.
SYRACUSE: The eighth-ranked Orange had a chance to knock off No. 1 Miami in 1992 for a Sugar Bowl berth. They trailed 16-10 and were threatening to score, but tight end Chris Gedney was tackled 2 yards short of the end zone as time expired.
WEST VIRGINIA: Do we even need to explain? West Virginia fans were booking their tickets to the BCS title game before the 2007 season finale. One problem: Pitt -- which entered the game with a 4-7 record -- pulled off a shocking 13-9 upset in Morgantown that changed the course of both programs.
Which losses are the most painful for you? Remember to send me your comments and memories to this link. I'll highlight the best entries in a post on Friday.
Some losses are so painful that the mere mention of a name, phrase or score instantly brings back horrible memories. Today, as part of ESPN.com's House of Pain series, I'm going to list my nominees for the most painful loss in school history for each Big East team.
CINCINNATI: For years, Cincinnati wasn't good enough to have many painful losses. But one sticks out: Ty King returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown with 19 seconds left as rival Miami (Ohio) beat the Bearcats 23-16 in 1995.
CONNECTICUT: The 2009 season was full of heartache for the Huskies. No game hurt more than the loss to Rutgers. UConn had seemingly won the game in the final minute, but the Scarlet Knights scored on an 81-yard pass from Tom Savage to Tim Brown to ruin the Huskies' first home game since Jasper Howard' death.
LOUISVILLE: Cardinals fans still rue the 2006 loss to Rutgers that kept their team from a possible BCS title game appearance. Louisville led 25-7 in the first half but would not score again. Ito drilled the 28-yard game winner with 17 seconds left after William Gay jumped offside on the kicker's first, missed attempt.
PITTSBURGH: Pitt has never had a more talented team than the 1981 edition. The Panthers were undefeated and ranked No. 1 when they took a 14-0 lead over Penn State in the season finale. But the Nittany Lions then scored the final 48 points in a loss that still perplexes Pittsburgh fans.
RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights just had to beat a Pat White-less West Virginia in the 2006 season finale to claim the Big East's BCS bid. Instead, backup Jarrett Brown led the Mountaineers to a 41-39, triple-overtime win that sent Rutgers to the Texas Bowl.
SOUTH FLORIDA: Bulls fans were beside themselves when the young program climbed to No. 2 in the polls in October 2007. It all came crashing down on a Thursday night in Piscataway, N.J., when Rutgers dashed South Florida's dream season with a 30-27 win, aided by a fake field goal for a touchdown.
SYRACUSE: The eighth-ranked Orange had a chance to knock off No. 1 Miami in 1992 for a Sugar Bowl berth. They trailed 16-10 and were threatening to score, but tight end Chris Gedney was tackled 2 yards short of the end zone as time expired.
WEST VIRGINIA: Do we even need to explain? West Virginia fans were booking their tickets to the BCS title game before the 2007 season finale. One problem: Pitt -- which entered the game with a 4-7 record -- pulled off a shocking 13-9 upset in Morgantown that changed the course of both programs.
Which losses are the most painful for you? Remember to send me your comments and memories to this link. I'll highlight the best entries in a post on Friday.
We're counting down this week through the top 50 most-painful losses in the history of college football. Some programs will make multiple appearances. Some will make none.
But every program has a loss that makes fans clench their fists thinking about it. Here are game's with strong cases to be the most painful in each Big 12 team's history.
Baylor -- 27-24 loss to UNLV in 1999
Not much competition here. Baylor had the ball on the UNLV 8-yard line and needed to kneel to win. But it ran a play and UNLV linebacker Tyler Brickell slapped a fumble loose and cornerback Kevin Thomas scooped and scored from 100 yards out in the game's final second to beat the Bears in Waco. Baylor also lost to Boston College the week before on a missed extra point in overtime.
Colorado -- 21-6 loss to Notre Dame in 1990 Orange Bowl
The game was scoreless at halftime, but the Buffaloes gave up a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Colorado got to within 14-6, but the Fighting Irish used a seven-plus minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to take the bowl of oranges back to South Bend.
Iowa State -- 17-14 loss to Missouri in 2004
You read about this one earlier this week: The Cyclones were denied a berth in the Big 12 title game by the Tigers, who capitalized on the Cyclones' walk-on kicker Bret Culberson missing a 24-yard field goal to win the game. An interception in the end zone sent Colorado to the Big 12 title game after Missouri opened the scoring in overtime with a 25-yard field goal.
Kansas -- 15-14 loss to Penn State in the 1968 Orange Bowl
This game came in at No. 38 on our list. Penn State coach Joe Paterno went for two points and the win after a late touchdown, but Kansas annulled an incomplete pass -- by defending it with 12 men. The Nittany Lions punched in a win on the next play from just outside the end zone.
Kansas State -- 36-33 loss to Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 championship game
Wildcats coach Bill Snyder carries the title of one of the best coaches never to win a national championship. This game, No. 21 on our list, is a big reason why. Kansas State blew a 27-12 fourth-quarter lead, finished off by an Aggies two-point conversion with 1:05 to play. The Wildcats lost in double overtime and never got to play Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl for a national championship.
Missouri -- 45-38 loss in overtime to Nebraska in 1997 or 33-31 loss to Colorado in 1990
Tough to pick a winner (loser?) between two of the most improbable finishes in college football history. The Nebraska loss, dubbed the "Flea Kicker," only made it to overtime after Matt Davison slid to catch a ball that was kept alive in the end zone by an inadvertent (maybe) kick. The Huskers won in overtime, denying Missouri its first win over the Huskers since 1978. Against Colorado, the rules of football were briefly rewritten to give the Buffaloes a "Fifth Down" to punch the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line to beat Missouri en route to a national championship.
Nebraska -- 31-30 loss to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl
Sometimes the right call doesn't work. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne went for two and the win after bringing the game to within one point with 31 seconds to play. The Huskers rallied from 17-0 and 31-17 deficits, but Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill's pass was tipped away, denying the Huskers a national championship.
Oklahoma -- 35-31 loss to Nebraska in 1971
A game billed as the "Game of the Century," No. 2 Oklahoma took a 31-28 lead over No. 1 Nebraska with seven minutes to play, but the Huskers took the lead back for good with a 12-play, 74-yard drive for the win on Thanksgiving.
Oklahoma State -- 20-10 loss to Colorado in 1976
The Cowboys led 10-6 with two minutes to play and stopped a Colorado drive with an interception deep in their own territory. Oklahoma State fumbled the return and gave the Buffaloes the ball at the 1-yard line, where they took the lead with 43 seconds to play. They also intercepted a pass on the next drive and returned it for a touchdown. The loss cost the Cowboys the tiebreaker in a three-way tie for the Big Eight title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
Texas -- 10-9 loss to Georgia in the 1984 Cotton Bowl
No. 2 Texas led No. 7 Georgia 9-3 late, and fearing a fake punt, Texas left its defense on the field. Texas DB Craig Curry tried to field the punt anyway but fumbled, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Texas 23. That game was the same night as Nebraska's loss to Miami in the Orange Bowl, and a Texas win would have likely meant a national title.
Texas A&M -- 31-6 loss to Arkansas in 1975
This game came in at No. 29 on our list. The Aggies were 10-0 and hoping for a Southwest Conference title after 15 losing seasons in 16 years from 1958-73. Arkansas took the game and cost Texas A&M a national title, a league title and a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
Texas Tech -- 65-21 loss to Oklahoma in 2008
The Red Raiders came to Owen Field two weeks removed from an upset win over top-ranked Texas in Lubbock and held both a 10-0 record and the nation's No. 2 ranking. Thirty-five second-quarter points by the No. 5 Sooners ended that and sent Texas Tech to the locker room down 42-7. There'd be no national, Big 12 or even outright Big 12 South title for the Red Raiders in 2008 after a three-way tie atop the Big 12 South kept Texas Tech out of the Big 12 title game. The season finished with a disappointing loss in the Cotton Bowl to Ole Miss, but the Red Raiders beat the Sooners 41-13 in Lubbock the next year, taking out a few of their frustrations.
But every program has a loss that makes fans clench their fists thinking about it. Here are game's with strong cases to be the most painful in each Big 12 team's history.
Baylor -- 27-24 loss to UNLV in 1999
Not much competition here. Baylor had the ball on the UNLV 8-yard line and needed to kneel to win. But it ran a play and UNLV linebacker Tyler Brickell slapped a fumble loose and cornerback Kevin Thomas scooped and scored from 100 yards out in the game's final second to beat the Bears in Waco. Baylor also lost to Boston College the week before on a missed extra point in overtime.
Colorado -- 21-6 loss to Notre Dame in 1990 Orange Bowl
The game was scoreless at halftime, but the Buffaloes gave up a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Colorado got to within 14-6, but the Fighting Irish used a seven-plus minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to take the bowl of oranges back to South Bend.
Iowa State -- 17-14 loss to Missouri in 2004
You read about this one earlier this week: The Cyclones were denied a berth in the Big 12 title game by the Tigers, who capitalized on the Cyclones' walk-on kicker Bret Culberson missing a 24-yard field goal to win the game. An interception in the end zone sent Colorado to the Big 12 title game after Missouri opened the scoring in overtime with a 25-yard field goal.
Kansas -- 15-14 loss to Penn State in the 1968 Orange Bowl
This game came in at No. 38 on our list. Penn State coach Joe Paterno went for two points and the win after a late touchdown, but Kansas annulled an incomplete pass -- by defending it with 12 men. The Nittany Lions punched in a win on the next play from just outside the end zone.
Kansas State -- 36-33 loss to Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 championship game
Wildcats coach Bill Snyder carries the title of one of the best coaches never to win a national championship. This game, No. 21 on our list, is a big reason why. Kansas State blew a 27-12 fourth-quarter lead, finished off by an Aggies two-point conversion with 1:05 to play. The Wildcats lost in double overtime and never got to play Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl for a national championship.
Missouri -- 45-38 loss in overtime to Nebraska in 1997 or 33-31 loss to Colorado in 1990
Tough to pick a winner (loser?) between two of the most improbable finishes in college football history. The Nebraska loss, dubbed the "Flea Kicker," only made it to overtime after Matt Davison slid to catch a ball that was kept alive in the end zone by an inadvertent (maybe) kick. The Huskers won in overtime, denying Missouri its first win over the Huskers since 1978. Against Colorado, the rules of football were briefly rewritten to give the Buffaloes a "Fifth Down" to punch the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line to beat Missouri en route to a national championship.
Nebraska -- 31-30 loss to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl
Sometimes the right call doesn't work. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne went for two and the win after bringing the game to within one point with 31 seconds to play. The Huskers rallied from 17-0 and 31-17 deficits, but Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill's pass was tipped away, denying the Huskers a national championship.
Oklahoma -- 35-31 loss to Nebraska in 1971
A game billed as the "Game of the Century," No. 2 Oklahoma took a 31-28 lead over No. 1 Nebraska with seven minutes to play, but the Huskers took the lead back for good with a 12-play, 74-yard drive for the win on Thanksgiving.
Oklahoma State -- 20-10 loss to Colorado in 1976
The Cowboys led 10-6 with two minutes to play and stopped a Colorado drive with an interception deep in their own territory. Oklahoma State fumbled the return and gave the Buffaloes the ball at the 1-yard line, where they took the lead with 43 seconds to play. They also intercepted a pass on the next drive and returned it for a touchdown. The loss cost the Cowboys the tiebreaker in a three-way tie for the Big Eight title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
Texas -- 10-9 loss to Georgia in the 1984 Cotton Bowl
No. 2 Texas led No. 7 Georgia 9-3 late, and fearing a fake punt, Texas left its defense on the field. Texas DB Craig Curry tried to field the punt anyway but fumbled, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Texas 23. That game was the same night as Nebraska's loss to Miami in the Orange Bowl, and a Texas win would have likely meant a national title.
Texas A&M -- 31-6 loss to Arkansas in 1975
This game came in at No. 29 on our list. The Aggies were 10-0 and hoping for a Southwest Conference title after 15 losing seasons in 16 years from 1958-73. Arkansas took the game and cost Texas A&M a national title, a league title and a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
Texas Tech -- 65-21 loss to Oklahoma in 2008
The Red Raiders came to Owen Field two weeks removed from an upset win over top-ranked Texas in Lubbock and held both a 10-0 record and the nation's No. 2 ranking. Thirty-five second-quarter points by the No. 5 Sooners ended that and sent Texas Tech to the locker room down 42-7. There'd be no national, Big 12 or even outright Big 12 South title for the Red Raiders in 2008 after a three-way tie atop the Big 12 South kept Texas Tech out of the Big 12 title game. The season finished with a disappointing loss in the Cotton Bowl to Ole Miss, but the Red Raiders beat the Sooners 41-13 in Lubbock the next year, taking out a few of their frustrations.
You asked for it. Well, you get it.
As ESPN.com continues with its countdown of the 50 most-painful outcomes in college football history, I've come up with the most agonizing loss for each SEC team. Some of these games have already been featured in the House of Pain countdown, and some may still be yet to come.
This is going to be painful for some of you, but here goes:
ALABAMA
Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23 (Sugar Bowl); Dec. 31, 1973: It was perhaps the most hyped game in Alabama's storied history with two coaching giants -- Bear Bryant and Ara Parseghian -- going head-to-head in a classic duel. But the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide lost a heartbreaker, ending their perfect season. They had already won the UPI national championship, but the Irish vaulted to No. 1 in the AP poll.
ARKANSAS
Texas 15, Arkansas 14; Dec. 6, 1969: It was dubbed the 'Game of the Century." Texas was No. 1 and Arkansas No. 2. President Richard Nixon was in the stands that night at Razorback Stadium, and the Hogs built a 14-0 lead. But the Longhorns rallied with quarterback James Street completing an improbable 44-yard pass to tight end Randy Peschel on a fourth-and-3 play to set up the winning touchdown. Street, a wishbone quarterback, had only thrown 80 passes all season.
AUBURN
Alabama 25, Auburn 23; Nov. 30, 1985: In Bo Jackson's final SEC game, Alabama's Van Tiffin kicked a 52-yard field goal with six seconds left to send the No. 7-ranked Tigers reeling in the 50th Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide streaked downfield with no timeouts remaining and less than a minute on the clock to get in field goal range. There were four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.
FLORIDA
Georgia 27, Florida 10; Nov. 5, 1966: The Gators, led by senior quarterback Steve Spurrier, were ranked No. 7 nationally and unbeaten, but were no match for arch-rival Georgia that day in Jacksonville. The Gators' SEC championship hopes were derailed, and they had to wait until 1991 to win their first SEC title, Spurrier's second year as coach at his alma mater. Spurrier still hasn't forgiven the Bulldogs.
GEORGIA
Penn State 27, Georgia 23 (Sugar Bowl); Jan. 1, 1983: The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs were on the doorstep of a second national championship and unblemished season in three years, but fell behind 20-3 to the Nittany Lions and could never catch up. Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker played his final game for the Bulldogs and didn't have a run that was longer than 12 yards. In the 36 games that Walker played for Georgia, the Bulldogs lost only three times.
KENTUCKY
Tennessee 7, Kentucky 0; Nov. 25, 1950: Bear Bryant's No. 3-ranked Wildcats lost a chance at an undefeated season and outright national championship in the regular-season finale, dropping a heartbreaking 7-0 decision to the Vols after a winter storm hit Knoxville and dumped 10 inches of snow on the ground the morning of the game. The loss stung even more after Kentucky went on to defeat No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl and snap the Sooners' 31-game winning streak.
LSU
Tennessee 14, LSU 13; Nov. 7, 1959: One week after Billy Cannon's historic punt return for a touchdown to beat Ole Miss on Halloween night, No. 1-ranked LSU was upset at Tennessee when Cannon was stopped at the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. Cannon claims to this day that he got in. The loss ended the Tigers' 19-game winning streak and their hopes of a second consecutive national championship.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 14; Dec. 5, 1998: It's the closest the Bulldogs have come to winning an SEC championship in the modern era. They led No. 1-ranked Tennessee 14-10 late in the fourth quarter in what remains Mississippi State's only trip to the SEC championship game. But the Vols got a pair of touchdown passes from Tee Martin 28 seconds apart to escape and go on to win the national championship that season.
OLE MISS
LSU 7, Ole Miss 3; Oct. 31, 1959: Billy Cannon's Halloween magic on an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown spoiled what could have been one of the greatest seasons in Ole Miss history. It's the only game the Rebels lost all season, and they only gave up 21 points in 11 games. They wound up beating LSU in a Sugar Bowl rematch, but lost out on a chance to win the outright national championship when they couldn't get Cannon on the ground two months earlier.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Navy 38, South Carolina 21; Nov. 17, 1984: If ever there was proof that the "Chicken Curse" really exists, it's that dreary November day in Annapolis, Md., 26 years ago. The No. 2-ranked Gamecocks were unbeaten and on their way to playing for a national championship, but were inexplicably upset by a Navy team that finished 4-6-1 that season. The Gamecocks had a chance earlier in the week to lock in a Sugar Bowl berth (win or lose) if they would commit, but they were holding out for the Orange Bowl. They wound up tumbling to the Gator Bowl and were beaten by Oklahoma State.
TENNESSEE
LSU 31, Tennessee 20; Dec. 8, 2001: Tennessee's program hasn't been the same since. The Vols were coming off an epic win over Florida in a game that was moved to the end of the season because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and were all set to face Miami in the Rose Bowl and play for their second national championship in four years. But they couldn't get past LSU in the SEC championship game. The Tigers rallied from 10 points down and won despite losing their starting quarterback and starting running back to injuries during the game.
VANDERBILT
Tennessee 20, Vanderbilt 17; Dec. 1, 1973: Leading No. 19-ranked Tennessee 17-13 with less than two minutes left in rain-soaked Neyland Stadium, Vanderbilt punter Barry Burton, an eventual All-American at tight end, dropped the snap. The Vols recovered inside the 40 and scored the winning touchdown in the waning seconds. The Commodores, under first-year coach Steve Sloan, missed out on their chance to become bowl eligible for the first time in 18 years and finished 5-6.
As ESPN.com continues with its countdown of the 50 most-painful outcomes in college football history, I've come up with the most agonizing loss for each SEC team. Some of these games have already been featured in the House of Pain countdown, and some may still be yet to come.
This is going to be painful for some of you, but here goes:
ALABAMA
Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23 (Sugar Bowl); Dec. 31, 1973: It was perhaps the most hyped game in Alabama's storied history with two coaching giants -- Bear Bryant and Ara Parseghian -- going head-to-head in a classic duel. But the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide lost a heartbreaker, ending their perfect season. They had already won the UPI national championship, but the Irish vaulted to No. 1 in the AP poll.
ARKANSAS
Texas 15, Arkansas 14; Dec. 6, 1969: It was dubbed the 'Game of the Century." Texas was No. 1 and Arkansas No. 2. President Richard Nixon was in the stands that night at Razorback Stadium, and the Hogs built a 14-0 lead. But the Longhorns rallied with quarterback James Street completing an improbable 44-yard pass to tight end Randy Peschel on a fourth-and-3 play to set up the winning touchdown. Street, a wishbone quarterback, had only thrown 80 passes all season.
AUBURN
Alabama 25, Auburn 23; Nov. 30, 1985: In Bo Jackson's final SEC game, Alabama's Van Tiffin kicked a 52-yard field goal with six seconds left to send the No. 7-ranked Tigers reeling in the 50th Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide streaked downfield with no timeouts remaining and less than a minute on the clock to get in field goal range. There were four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.
FLORIDA
Georgia 27, Florida 10; Nov. 5, 1966: The Gators, led by senior quarterback Steve Spurrier, were ranked No. 7 nationally and unbeaten, but were no match for arch-rival Georgia that day in Jacksonville. The Gators' SEC championship hopes were derailed, and they had to wait until 1991 to win their first SEC title, Spurrier's second year as coach at his alma mater. Spurrier still hasn't forgiven the Bulldogs.
GEORGIA
Penn State 27, Georgia 23 (Sugar Bowl); Jan. 1, 1983: The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs were on the doorstep of a second national championship and unblemished season in three years, but fell behind 20-3 to the Nittany Lions and could never catch up. Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker played his final game for the Bulldogs and didn't have a run that was longer than 12 yards. In the 36 games that Walker played for Georgia, the Bulldogs lost only three times.
KENTUCKY
Tennessee 7, Kentucky 0; Nov. 25, 1950: Bear Bryant's No. 3-ranked Wildcats lost a chance at an undefeated season and outright national championship in the regular-season finale, dropping a heartbreaking 7-0 decision to the Vols after a winter storm hit Knoxville and dumped 10 inches of snow on the ground the morning of the game. The loss stung even more after Kentucky went on to defeat No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl and snap the Sooners' 31-game winning streak.
LSU
Tennessee 14, LSU 13; Nov. 7, 1959: One week after Billy Cannon's historic punt return for a touchdown to beat Ole Miss on Halloween night, No. 1-ranked LSU was upset at Tennessee when Cannon was stopped at the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. Cannon claims to this day that he got in. The loss ended the Tigers' 19-game winning streak and their hopes of a second consecutive national championship.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 14; Dec. 5, 1998: It's the closest the Bulldogs have come to winning an SEC championship in the modern era. They led No. 1-ranked Tennessee 14-10 late in the fourth quarter in what remains Mississippi State's only trip to the SEC championship game. But the Vols got a pair of touchdown passes from Tee Martin 28 seconds apart to escape and go on to win the national championship that season.
OLE MISS
LSU 7, Ole Miss 3; Oct. 31, 1959: Billy Cannon's Halloween magic on an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown spoiled what could have been one of the greatest seasons in Ole Miss history. It's the only game the Rebels lost all season, and they only gave up 21 points in 11 games. They wound up beating LSU in a Sugar Bowl rematch, but lost out on a chance to win the outright national championship when they couldn't get Cannon on the ground two months earlier.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Navy 38, South Carolina 21; Nov. 17, 1984: If ever there was proof that the "Chicken Curse" really exists, it's that dreary November day in Annapolis, Md., 26 years ago. The No. 2-ranked Gamecocks were unbeaten and on their way to playing for a national championship, but were inexplicably upset by a Navy team that finished 4-6-1 that season. The Gamecocks had a chance earlier in the week to lock in a Sugar Bowl berth (win or lose) if they would commit, but they were holding out for the Orange Bowl. They wound up tumbling to the Gator Bowl and were beaten by Oklahoma State.
TENNESSEE
LSU 31, Tennessee 20; Dec. 8, 2001: Tennessee's program hasn't been the same since. The Vols were coming off an epic win over Florida in a game that was moved to the end of the season because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and were all set to face Miami in the Rose Bowl and play for their second national championship in four years. But they couldn't get past LSU in the SEC championship game. The Tigers rallied from 10 points down and won despite losing their starting quarterback and starting running back to injuries during the game.
VANDERBILT
Tennessee 20, Vanderbilt 17; Dec. 1, 1973: Leading No. 19-ranked Tennessee 17-13 with less than two minutes left in rain-soaked Neyland Stadium, Vanderbilt punter Barry Burton, an eventual All-American at tight end, dropped the snap. The Vols recovered inside the 40 and scored the winning touchdown in the waning seconds. The Commodores, under first-year coach Steve Sloan, missed out on their chance to become bowl eligible for the first time in 18 years and finished 5-6.
Notre Dame's illustrious history is full of joyous victories -- and also painful losses. Defeats hurt more when you always expect to win, so picking out the most gut-wrenching loss in program history was no easy task.
But here's what I pick for the foundation in Notre Dame's House of Pain:
Boston College 41, Notre Dame 39, 1993: Yes, it's fairly recent in the annals of Irish history, but this one had all the trappings of a loss that stings for decades. Notre Dame had toppled No. 1 Florida State the week before to ascend to the top of the polls. Perhaps the team was still congratulating itself as it fell behind Boston College 38-17. But then the Irish made a furious fourth-quarter rally to take a 39-38 lead with 1:09 left (and don't most painful losses involve a late rally that is then trumped?). The Eagles returned serve and drove into field goal range for Dave Gordon, who kicked a 41-yard game-winner as time expired.
What makes the loss even worse is that Florida State won the national title that could have belonged to the Irish. And what makes the pain linger is that Notre Dame hasn't come close to challenging for a championship since.
But here's what I pick for the foundation in Notre Dame's House of Pain:
Boston College 41, Notre Dame 39, 1993: Yes, it's fairly recent in the annals of Irish history, but this one had all the trappings of a loss that stings for decades. Notre Dame had toppled No. 1 Florida State the week before to ascend to the top of the polls. Perhaps the team was still congratulating itself as it fell behind Boston College 38-17. But then the Irish made a furious fourth-quarter rally to take a 39-38 lead with 1:09 left (and don't most painful losses involve a late rally that is then trumped?). The Eagles returned serve and drove into field goal range for Dave Gordon, who kicked a 41-yard game-winner as time expired.
What makes the loss even worse is that Florida State won the national title that could have belonged to the Irish. And what makes the pain linger is that Notre Dame hasn't come close to challenging for a championship since.
BACK TO TOP
Page: 1
ABOUT THIS BLOG
College Football Nation
Have a question about college football? Ask our bloggers:
