Appalachian State 34, #5 Michigan 32 (2007)
This isn't just an upset; it's the upset by which all other modern upsets are measured. The scene was 'The Big House' in Ann Arbor, where the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines, preseason darlings with national title hopes, paid Appalachian State $400,000
for what was supposed to be a glorified scrimmage. App State, however, was no pushover in their own division, coming in as the two-time defending champion of the FCS (then called Division I-AA). Still, no FCS team had ever beaten a ranked FBS opponent. App State stormed to a 28-17 halftime lead, quieting over 109,000 fans. After Michigan clawed back to take a 32-31 lead late in the fourth quarter, the fairy tale seemed over. But App State drove down the field for a go-ahead field goal with 26 seconds left. Michigan managed to set up a 37-yard, game-winning field goal attempt, only for safety Corey Lynch to block the kick as time expired, sealing the impossible 34-32 victory.
Howard 43, UNLV 40 (2017)
If the Appalachian State game was the most famous upset, this was statistically the biggest. Las Vegas sportsbooks listed Howard University, an HBCU program, as a 45-point underdog for their season opener against UNLV. In fact, the line was so large some books wouldn't even take bets on it. Howard was reportedly paid $600,000 to serve as a sacrificial lamb. But in his first collegiate start, quarterback Caylin Newton—the younger brother of NFL star Cam Newton—had other ideas. Newton was a whirlwind, rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns while passing for another 140 and a score. In a back-and-forth affair, Howard refused to fold, answering every punch from the home team. The 43-40 victory for the Bison remains the largest point-spread upset in college football history, a stunning testament to ignoring the odds.
Stanford 24, #2 USC 23 (2007)
The same season App State shocked Michigan, another earth-shattering upset took place on the West Coast. The USC Trojans were a dynasty under coach Pete Carroll, carrying a 35-game home winning streak and ranked #2 in the nation. Stanford, in its first year under coach Jim Harbaugh, was a 41-point underdog—a spread so massive it was considered laughable. Making his first career start, Stanford's backup quarterback Tavita Pritchard had the unenviable task of facing the Trojans' vaunted defense. The game was a slugfest, but Stanford hung around. Down 23-17 with the clock ticking, Pritchard led a final, improbable drive. On fourth-and-goal from the 10-yard line with under a minute left, he found receiver Mark Bradford in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, completing one of the most statistically unlikely upsets the sport has ever seen.
Centre College 6, Harvard 0 (1921)
To find the grandfather of all upsets, you have to travel back to a time when leather helmets were the norm. In 1921, Harvard was the undisputed king of football, riding a 25-game unbeaten streak and considered invincible, especially at home. Centre College was a tiny school from Danville, Kentucky, with an enrollment of about 250 students. Yet, led by the legendary quarterback Bo McMillin, the “Praying Colonels” traveled to Cambridge and did the unthinkable. In front of 40,000 spectators, Centre's defense stifled the mighty Crimson. The game's only score came in the third quarter when McMillin faked a pass and scrambled 32 yards for a touchdown. The 6-0 final score was so shocking that students back in Kentucky celebrated by painting “C6H0” on buildings—a chemical formula for poisoning Harvard. The Associated Press later named it the biggest upset of the first half of the 20th century.
