In the unpredictable world of college football, it seems no ranking is safe and no perfect record is secure. The latest earth-shaking upset came courtesy of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who marched into Ames and shocked the previously unbeaten No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones with a heart-stopping 23-22 victory.
The loss was a crushing blow for Iowa State, who at 8-0 had been dreaming of a historic run to the College Football Playoff. But dreams gave way to nightmares when Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks punched in the game-winning touchdown with a mere 20 seconds on the clock.
While the Cyclones faithful were left stunned, for many college football fans, it was just the latest in a season that has been chock-full of chaos. Upsets have become the norm in 2024, with seemingly invincible juggernauts falling week after week.
Tide Gets Rolled by Commodores
Perhaps no upset was more shocking than what transpired in Tuscaloosa on October 5th. The mighty Alabama Crimson Tide, riding high off a huge win over Georgia and sitting atop the rankings, welcomed lowly Vanderbilt to Bryant-Denny Stadium. What was supposed to be a leisurely Saturday stroll turned into a horror show for Bama fans.
Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia torched the vaunted Tide defense for 252 yards through the air as Vandy jumped to a 23-14 halftime lead and never looked back. A late Alabama rally fell short, and the goalposts came down in Nashville as the Commodores celebrated a program-defining 40-35 triumph.
Vols Silenced on Rocky Top
That same fateful Saturday saw another titan fall, as the 4th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers were undone 19-14 by the smashmouth Arkansas Razorbacks. It was a classic SEC slugfest, with both defenses dominating and points coming at a premium.
But with just over a minute to play and the Vols clinging to a 14-13 lead, Arkansas quarterback Malachi Singleton scampered in for a touchdown to put the Hogs ahead. Tennessee’s last-gasp drive ended in heartbreak, as Chase McGrath’s 47-yard field goal attempt to force overtime drifted wide as time expired.
“It came down to one play, and we just couldn’t make it happen. It hurts, but we have to regroup and try to finish strong.”
– Tennessee coach Dave Whitford
Wildcats Roar in Oxford
Two weeks before taking down Tennessee, Arkansas saw its own perfect season ruined, falling victim to an upset bug that spared no one in 2024. On September 28th in Oxford, Kentucky waltzed into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and shocked the 6th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 20-17.
The Wildcats were led by gritty running back Josh Kattus, who bulled his way in for the winning score with 2:09 on the clock. The Rebels had a chance to force overtime, but Caden Davis’s 48-yard field goal try sailed heartbreakingly wide, touching off a raucous Big Blue celebration in the Mississippi night.
Irish Bounced by Huskies
The early-season shockers started on opening weekend, when preseason No. 10 Florida State fell to Georgia Tech in Dublin. But the upsets kept on coming in week two, as Northern Illinois marched into Notre Dame Stadium and dumped the 9th-ranked Irish 16-14.
The Huskies defense put on a clinic, holding the high-powered Irish attack to a paltry 286 yards and forcing three crucial turnovers. A late field goal provided the winning margin, giving Northern Illinois its first-ever victory over an AP top-10 foe.
More Madness to Come?
As the calendar flips to November and the College Football Playoff picture starts to take shape, fans across the nation are wondering what surprises still await in this upset-filled season. Will more giants fall between now and Selection Sunday? In a year where no one seems safe, it appears almost inevitable.
For now, the bruised and battered survivors at the top of the rankings will try to lick their wounds and regroup for the stretch run. But they’d best stay on high alert – in 2024, the next earth-shaking shocker could be lurking right around the corner.
