Biggest Upsets of 2007

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 18, 2007

Biggest Upsets of 2007

Western Michigan 28, Iowa 19

Needing a win in this regular-season finale to assure a bowl bid, Iowa allowed Western Michigan to rack up 489 yards of total offense. The Broncos, who finished the season at 4-7, nailed a 30-yard field goal with 1:13 left to secure the win.

Arizona 34, No. 2 Oregon 24

Just a few wins away from the BCS title game, the Ducks season took a turn for the worst when Heisman-candidate Dennis Dixon hurt his knee in the first quarter. Backup QB Brady Leaf struggled mightily behind center and the Ducks' title hopes went down in flames. In the week following the epic loss, it was revealed that Oregon coach Mike Bellotti allowed Dixon to play against Arizona, even though he knew his star QB had already torn his ACL.

Illinois 28, No. 1 Ohio State 21

The top-ranked Buckeyes simply had no answer for Illinois QB Juice Williams. Williams -- who had struggled for much of the season prior to this game -- made big play after big play, burning Ohio State for four touchdown passes and 70 yards rushing.

Arkansas 50, No. 1 LSU 48

Following a heart-breaking, triple-overtime loss to Kentucky, LSU rolled off four straight wins to reclaim the No. 1 spot. Then it ran into Darren McFadden. After fumbling the first two times he touched the ball, the eventual Heisman runner-up ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns and even threw for an additional score.

Syracuse 38, No. 18 Louisville 35

Syracuse -- a 36 1/2-point underdog -- ended Louisville's 20-game home-winning streak and completely exposed the horrendous defense that would haunt the Cardinals all season long. This astonishing triumph ended up being one of two wins for the '07 Orange.

Louisiana-Monroe 21, Alabama 14

The 24 1/2-point underdogs from the Sun Belt Conference held Alabama scoreless in the second half. The WarHawks forced four turnovers, blocked a field goal and stalled a number of promising Tide drives in the fourth quarter. A few days after the loss, Alabama coach Nick Saban compared the defeat to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.

Colorado 27, No. 3 Oklahoma 24

Over the first four games of the season, Oklahoma averaged 61.5 points and a margin of victory of just under 50 points. Dan Hawkins' defense clamped down, though, and the Buffaloes scored the game's final 20 points, including a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired.

Pittsburgh 13, No. 2 West Virginia 9

One win away from the national title game and playing on its home turf, West Virginia entered the 100th Backyard Brawl as a four-touchdown favorite. But Pat White injured his thumb in the second quarter, causing the explosive Mountaineers' offense to stall, and West Virginia became the sixth second-ranked team to lose to an unranked opponent this season.

Stanford 24, No. 2 USC 23

Making his first career start, Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard guided Stanford -- a 41-point underdog -- to a stunning victory in the Los Angeles Coliseum. With 49 seconds left, Pritchard finished off a miraculous game-winning drive (in which Stanford converted a fourth-and-20) by tossing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal.

Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32

Ranked No. 5 entering the season, Michigan had national-championship aspirations. This game was viewed as a virtual scrimmage to ease the Wolverines into the '07 campaign. But Appalachian State had different plans. Led by dynamic QB Armanti Edwards and speedy WR Dexter Jackson, the Mountaineers stormed the Big House and became the first Division I-AA team to beat a ranked Division I-A team. Appalachian State blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game to preserve the win.