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10 Biggest Cinderella college football national champions of all time

By Michael Collins

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) celebrates on the field after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) celebrates on the field after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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LOUISIANA, NO – JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs surounded by teammates after the Bull Doges defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LOUISIANA, NO – JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs surounded by teammates after the Bull Doges defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 10 – 1980 Georgia Bulldogs

Preseason Rank: No. 16
Crowned Champs By: AP, UPI
Record: 12-0
Head Coach: Vince Dooley

Back in the poll era – when championships were decided by the sportswriters (AP poll) and coaches (UPI poll), there were a lot of undeserved preseason rankings being thrown around. Some too high, some too low.

Entering the 1980 season, Georgia was tabbed with a No. 16 preseason rank – which, given their previous season’s 6-5 record and preseason No. 12 ranking which was gone by week two – seemed pretty generous.

In the late 1970s, the SEC belonged to Alabama. It was just a given in most seasons. Nobody expected a middling Georgia program to come in and upset the natural order of things. But in the second half of the opening week game against Tennessee, UGA head coach Vince Dooley unleashed his secret weapon 34 – a young running back named Herschel Walker.

Walker led the Dawgs to a national championship win over Notre Dame, and for three years, Georgia was the team to beat in the SEC and the nation.

Next: 1962

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