Greatest Upsets of the BCS era

[CanadianVol]

UT-Uf 2001 is #7 on the list of the greatest upsets in the BCS era

"In a game delayed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, massive underdog Tennessee shocked Steve Spurrier's best Florida team and stole the SEC east title. Tennessee tailback Travis Stephens rushed for 226 yards, and Florida quarterback Rex Grossman couldn't connect on a late two-point conversion that would have forced overtime."

Here's the list:
Football Sports College Athletics College Football Florida State Seminoles (Football) - SI Vault

 

[buckeyevol23]

Looking back, I always think it's weird that game was such an upset (I wasn't expecting a UT win either though). Both teams had 1 loss going into the game and were ranked high IIRC plus UT had lots of talent on both sides of the ball. Although, UT did have a lot of close wins during the year against average teams.

 

[BeecherVol]

That was a BIG win, but that UT team was pretty good. And I guess it is debateable, but Im not sure that was Spurrier's best team at UF.

 

[Jeb]

Great list. App State/Michigan has to be #1 though.

 

[#10_Ainge_#10]

Great list. App State/Michigan has to be #1 though.

Agreed. I don't understand how Boise and OU is #1, I mean don't get me wrong it was a great game but it wasn't as big of an upset as Appy State over Michigan...At least Boise is a D-1 school

 

[sammyjoey]

that list is pretty confusing because it has both upsets that are great because of their significance (usc/texas, miami/ohio state, oklahoma/k state, wvu/pitt) and upsets that are great because they were truly unexpected (michigan/app st, va tech/temple, fsu/nc state, usc/stanford). they should stick to either top 10 most unexpected upsets of the bcs era or the top 10 most significant upsets/signature moments of the bcs era.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

Great list. App State/Michigan has to be #1 though.

Why #1? That Michigan team wasn't very good, just average. Is it just because "they're Michigan"? That's understandable - but not #1 worthy.

 

[Ohio Vol]

If I remember right, Jabar Gaffney missed the two-point conversion because he'd already started to turn to the official to wave for a flag.

 

[kptvol]

If I remember right, Jabar Gaffney missed the two-point conversion because he'd already started to turn to the official to wave for a flag.

He's been conditioned to think you don't actually have to catch the ball to score a TD, anyway.

 

[Ohio Vol]

He's been conditioned to think you don't actually have to catch the ball to score a TD, anyway.

He also was the most flagrant chronic offender of the offensive pass interference section of the rulebook I've ever seen at any level.

During a game against South Carolina, there was a high pass toward the end zone. He stopped, shoved the SC defender a good five yards one way, then walked the other way to make the catch.

 

[tvolsfan]

Why #1? That Michigan team wasn't very good, just average. Is it just because "they're Michigan"? That's understandable - but not #1 worthy.

At that point in the season, it seemed much more shocking than it turned out to be. I still think Stanford USC was bigger.

As for UT Florida, I can certainly understand that it was a big upset but number 4 over number 2 just doesn't strike me as the 7th biggest upset of the era.

 

[kptvol]

He also was the most flagrant chronic offender of the offensive pass interference section of the rulebook I've ever seen at any level.

During a game against South Carolina, there was a high pass toward the end zone. He stopped, shoved the SC defender a good five yards one way, then walked the other way to make the catch.

Not surprised he'd have a lack of respect for rules. Didn't he get caught red-handed stealing money from a teammate?

 

[someone else]

Interesting list. Of all the upsets Tenn has pulled, I wouldn't have thought of that Florida game first. What came to my mind was Tenn beating Bo Jackson & Auburn in '85 or Tenn over Miami in the Sugar Bowl in Jan 86.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

At that point in the season, it seemed much more shocking than it turned out to be. I still think Stanford USC was bigger.

As for UT Florida, I can certainly understand that it was a big upset but number 4 over number 2 just doesn't strike me as the 7th biggest upset of the era.

Yeah - I agree if you look at everything at the time rather than looking back at the season then it could be #1.

 

[Maryland Bobcat]

Why #1? That Michigan team wasn't very good, just average. Is it just because "they're Michigan"? That's understandable - but not #1 worthy.

I have to completely agree. I still don't understand why this is considered such an amazing upset. App State were FCS champions, which means they could compete and win most mid-major conferences at the FBS level. Michigan was not very good. Heck, William & Mary beat UVA and richmond beat Duke this year. To me those are the same.

The Boise St game wasn't even an upset. The media and fans get to hung up on conference labels instead of judging teams individually based on their quality.

 

[Oldblood]

If I remember correctly, UT had just come from close shaves against Vandy and/or Kentucky in 2001. This was why no one gave us much chance vs. UF at the swamp.

 

[Oldblood]

I have to completely agree. I still don't understand why this is considered such an amazing upset. App State were FCS champions, which means they could compete and win most mid-major conferences at the FBS level. Michigan was not very good. Heck, William & Mary beat UVA and richmond beat Duke this year. To me those are the same.

The Boise St game wasn't even an upset. The media and fans get to hung up on conference labels instead of judging teams individually based on their quality.

Michigan was ranked #5 in the country at the time and went on to beat Florida in a bowl that year. I'd say it was a bigger upset than Richmond over Duke or William & Mary over UVA. Let me know when Duke and UVA play in New Year's Day bowls this year.