December 23 in college football
Every December 23 in Iron's archive: the ranked teams that lost to unranked ones, the ranked matchups, and the games worth retelling. Every result links to its game card.
- 55games on file
- 4unranked wins over ranked teams
- 3ranked vs ranked meetings
- 1946–2025seasons covered
Unranked over ranked on December 23
Best rank beaten first.
| Season | Winner | Ranked loser | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NC State 30 | #16 Pittsburgh 17 | Neutral site |
| 1986 | Boston College 27 | #17 Georgia 24 | Neutral site |
| 2007 | East Carolina Pirates 41 | #24 Boise State Broncos 38 | At home · Aloha · Honolulu, HI |
| 2016 | Louisiana Tech 48 | #25 Navy 45 | On the road · Amon G. Carter · Fort Worth, Texas |
Ranked vs ranked on December 23
| Season | Winner | Loser | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #11 TCU Horned Frogs 17 | #9 Boise State Broncos 16 | At home · Qualcomm Stadium |
| 1978 | #14 Texas 42 | #13 Maryland 0 | Neutral site · Sun Bowl |
| 2003 | #18 Boise State 34 | #19 TCU 31 | Neutral site · Amon G. Carter |
One-score finishes between ranked teams
Decided by three points or fewer.
| Season | Winner | Loser | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #11 TCU Horned Frogs 17 | #9 Boise State Broncos 16 | 1 pt |
| 2003 | #18 Boise State 34 | #19 TCU 31 | 3 pts |
Top-10 teams routed
The widest losses by a team ranked in the top ten.
| Season | Winner | Ranked loser | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #11 TCU Horned Frogs 17 | #9 Boise State Broncos 16 | 1 pts |
Biggest comebacks
Deficit the winner erased. Measured from in-game margins where play data exists, cross-checked against quarter scores; a row prints only when the quarter lines corroborate it, so this list starts in 2000.
| Season | Winner | Loser | Trailed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #23 Utah Utes 37 | California Golden Bears 27 | 14 ptsin game |
| 2003 | #18 Boise State 34 | #19 TCU 31 | 14 ptsin game |
| 2022 | Houston Cougars 23 | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 16 | 13 ptsin game |
| 2008 | #11 TCU Horned Frogs 17 | #9 Boise State Broncos 16 | 13 ptsin game |
| 2015 | Georgia Southern 58 | Bowling Green 27 | 11 ptsin game |
Highest-scoring games
Combined points, both teams.
| Season | Winner | Loser | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Louisiana Tech 48 | #25 Navy 45 | 93 pts |
| 2015 | Georgia Southern 58 | Bowling Green 27 | 85 pts |
| 1972 | #15 Arizona State 49 | Missouri 35 | 84 pts |
| 2007 | East Carolina Pirates 41 | #24 Boise State Broncos 38 | 79 pts |
| 1998 | Marshall 48 | Louisville 29 | 77 pts |
Biggest crowds
Announced attendance.
| Season | Winner | Loser | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UCF 29 | Florida 17 | 63,669 |
| 2016 | Louisiana Tech 48 | #25 Navy 45 | 40,542 |
| 2003 | #18 Boise State 34 | #19 TCU 31 | 38,028 |
| 2017 | Army 42 | San Diego State 35 | 35,986 |
| 2021 | Army West Point 24 | Missouri 22 | 34,888 |