7 College Football Seasons Ruined by One Bad Game

by Spencer Toth - 10/30/2026

College football seasons ruined by one bad game Carson Beck

Professional football is a sport of fine margins, and there is even less wiggle room at the collegiate level. One regular season loss can send a National Championship favorite tumbling out of the playoff picture, wiping away years of hard work. The expanded 12-team playoff format means there are fewer regular season heartbreaks, but that doesn’t take away from the importance of every regular season game. Whether it was one missed kick, one flat performance, or simply an unlucky break, a single bad game can dramatically change the trajectory of college football programs. Here are the seven greatest college football seasons ruined by one bad game.

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

#1 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers: Losing to a 4-7 Pittsburgh Team

The 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers had a National Championship in their sights with a 10-1 record and second place in the rankings heading into their final regular season matchup. They had beaten three ranked opponents to ascend the rankings, and all they had to do was beat their bitter rivals from Pittsburgh to advance to the National Championship.

Pittsburgh entered the Backyard Brawl with a miserable 4-7 record and were seen as massive underdogs against West Virginia. The Mountaineers were 28.5-point favorites and had moneylines as high as -7500 for the matchup. However, the game was far from a one-sided affair. Quarterback Pat White missed time with a thumb injury, while the usually explosive Steve Slaton was invisible on the ground. The Mountaineers fumbled the ball five times, went 0-for-2 on fourth down, missed two field goals, and Pittsburgh escaped with a stunning 13-9 victory. A second half touchdown from LeSean McCoy helped Pittsburgh stun West Virginia, denying the Mountaineers their best chance to win a National Championship.

West Virginia had put up 66 points against 20th-ranked Connecticut the week before, making their offensive disaster class even more surprising with their season on the line. Everything that could have gone wrong for West Virginia did, and they were left with a 10-2 record at the end of the regular season. They were leapfrogged by LSU, and had to settle for a 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. West Virginia hasn’t reached the title game since, making this one of the most devastating losses in college football history.

#2 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes: Upset Loss to Michigan State

The 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes entered the season as National Champions and overwhelming favorites to repeat. Urban Meyer’s roster was loaded with NFL talent, with five players going in the first round the following draft including Joey Bosa, and Ezekiel Elliott. Ohio State looked as though they were cruising to a second straight National Championship with a 10-0 record heading into their matchup against ninth-ranked Michigan State. They were 13.5-point favorites and Michigan State was missing their starting quarterback, Connor Cook, for the matchup.

The Ohio State offense was loaded with future NFL talent, but put up one of the worst showings from a ranked team in college football history. They amassed just 132 yards of total offense and five first downs. Their defense forced two fumbles, allowing Ohio State to score on two touchdown drives of 32 yards and six yards. Those short fields were the only points on the board all day, as the Buckeyes struggled immensely before Michigan State hit the game-winning field goal as time expired to secure the 17-14 upset.

Ohio State was still a very strong team, but they slipped all the way down to eighth in the rankings after being top-two all year, and a 42-13 win over Michigan wasn’t enough to get them into the newly expanded four-team playoff. They crushed Notre Dame 44-28 in the Fiesta Bowl, finishing 12-1 on the season. The Buckeyes never got a chance to defend their National Championship, despite having one of the best constructed rosters in the country.

#3 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys: Upset Costs Them National Championship Berth

The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys were on the verge of reaching their first National Championship before a shocking mid-November collapse. Oklahoma State came into the season ranked ninth, but wins over eighth-ranked Texas A&M, 22nd-ranked Texas, and 17th-ranked Kansas State saw them shoot up to second in the rankings heading into their penultimate regular season clash. Oklahoma State was a 27.5-point favorite against Iowa State, and it looked as though everything was going to plan as they built a 24-7 lead in the second half. However, Iowa State pulled off a miracle comeback to force overtime, and eventually claimed a 37-31 victory. Oklahoma State turned the ball over five times, and still suffered defeat despite racking up 568 yards of offense.

Oklahoma State subsequently dropped down to third in the rankings, with Alabama taking its place. The Cowboys responded well two weeks later with a resounding 44-10 victory over 13th-ranked Oklahoma, but it was not enough to get back into the National Championship game. A controversial all-SEC rematch was instead set up, with Alabama beating LSU 21-0 after losing to them in the regular season. Oklahoma State’s defeat helped fuel the argument that college football needed a playoff system, which was eventually introduced in 2014.

#4 1998 Kansas State Wildcats: Blown 15-Point Lead with the Title Game in Sight

Kansas State’s incredible rise from one of the nation’s worst college football programs to a National Championship contender reached its peak in 1998. They were winning games in dominant fashion to start the season, with their first nine victories coming by a combined score of 472-69. They stretched the win streak to 11 games with wins over 11th-ranked Nebraska and 19th-ranked Missouri, setting up a Big 12 Championship Game with Texas A&M.

Kansas State entered the game as a massive 17.5-point favorite, and just needed to win to participate in the inaugural BCS National Championship game. Quarterback Michael Bishop was having a dominant season, and eventually finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. Everything looked as though it was going to plan as Kansas State entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 27-12 lead. Texas A&M came back with two unanswered touchdowns including a score and a two-point conversion with 1:05 to go, setting up overtime. The Aggies eventually won 36-33 with Sirr Parker catching a 32-yard touchdown pass on third-and-17 to seal the stunning comeback.

The loss prevented Kansas State from reaching the BCS National Championship Game, and the Wildcats instead faced off against Purdue in the Alamo Bowl. To cap it off, Purdue beat Kansas State 37-34 to give the Wildcats a 11-2 record. The season that looked minutes away from a National Championship game berth instead ended in back-to-back defeats, and the Wildcats have never come close since.

#5 2023 Georgia Bulldogs: Alabama Ends Three-Peat Bid

The Georgia Bulldogs entered the 2023 season looking to do something no other team had in the modern poll era: win three consecutive National Championships. The Bulldogs had been utterly dominant over nearly three seasons, winning 29 straight games including a perfect 12-0 regular season heading into the SEC championship game against Alabama. Alabama was sitting at eighth in the nation after an early-season loss to Texas, and were +170 underdogs to end the Bulldogs incredible win streak.

Georgia jumped out with an early touchdown, but the Crimson Tide responded with 17 consecutive points to take control. Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck helped make things close late by cutting the deficit to 27-24, but Alabama then ran out the clock to secure the upset. The defeat ended Georgia’s 29-game win streak and created one of the most controversial playoff selections in history. Georgia entered the championship weekend on top of the rankings with an undefeated record, but slipped all the way down to sixth with the loss. Undefeated 13-0 Florida State was dropped down to fifth to make space for Alabama at fourth. The one loss prevented Georgia from completing the unthinkable, and forced them to settle for back-to-back championships rather than a historic three-peat. They smashed Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl to finish 13-1, but still ended with the disappointment of no playoff berth.

#6 2013 Alabama Crimson Tide: The Kick Six

The Alabama Crimson Tide entered the 2013 season looking to cement one of the greatest dynasties in college football history. Nick Saban had already guided Alabama to championships in 2009, 2011, and 2012, and was well on his way to another with an 11-0 start to the regular season. That included wins over Texas A&M and LSU, both of which were in the top ten, as well as three shutouts in the regular season.

Alabama entered their regular season finale firmly on top of the rankings, and were 10.5-point favorites over Auburn. The two teams traded blows throughout the spectacular rivalry matchup, with the Crimson Tide holding a 28-21 lead late in the fourth. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall found Sammie Coates for the 39-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining, tying up the game.

With one second left, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal for the win. Auburn returner Chris Davis set up in the end zone in case the kick fell short, and what happened next is still arguably the craziest moment in college football history. The kick fell one yard short, and Chris Davis scampered for 109 yards into the Alabama end zone with zeros on the clock. The unforgettable Kick Six gave Auburn the victory, ending Alabama’s dream of a third consecutive National Championship.

#7 2017 Wisconsin Badgers: Twelve Straight Wins Wasted

Wisconsin has never won a National Championship, but they came awfully close in 2017. They entered the Big Ten Championship Game with a perfect 12-0 record and their first College Football Playoff appearance within reach. They were led by freshman running back Jonathan Taylor, and had one of the best defenses in the nation. Their two regular season wins over ranked opposition both came by multiple touchdowns, as Wisconsin could now finish the job against Ohio State. The Buckeyes had already lost two games and couldn’t expect to finish in a playoff spot, while Wisconsin knew one more win would secure a playoff berth.

The Badgers found themselves behind early with a 21-10 deficit at halftime. They battled back to make it 27-21 in the fourth, but the offense couldn't complete the comeback. When the final playoff rankings were announced, Wisconsin had fallen to sixth while Alabama held onto fourth, despite not playing in the SEC Championship Game. Wisconsin beat Miami 34-24 in the Orange Bowl, finishing an impressive 13-1 on the season. However, the loss to Ohio State transformed an incredible year into a season remembered for what could have been. To make matters worse, Alabama went on to win the National Championship from the spot that could have been Wisconsin’s, making this one of the most impactful losses in college football history.

Get college football picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

Start:	October 31, 2026 @ 3:00 PM
Expert:	Tony George
Free $60 Account Sign Up

7 College Football Seasons Ruined by One Bad Game

Most Recent College Football Handicapping