Saturday Blitz
Fansided

College Football: Ranking 5 biggest upsets of the 2020 season

By Stephen Spanel

Dec 12, 2020; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators kicker Evan McPherson (19) hold his helmet in dejection after missing a last second field goal that would have tied the game during a game against the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Dec. 12, 2020. Florida lost 37-34 to the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Brad McClenny-USA TODAY NETWORK
Dec 12, 2020; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators kicker Evan McPherson (19) hold his helmet in dejection after missing a last second field goal that would have tied the game during a game against the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Dec. 12, 2020. Florida lost 37-34 to the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Brad McClenny-USA TODAY NETWORK /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Mike Collins, Rice Owls quarterback, waits for the snap during their game against Southern Miss at USM in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Usmvrice2
Mike Collins, Rice Owls quarterback, waits for the snap during their game against Southern Miss at USM in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Usmvrice2 /

3. Rice 20 at Marshall (-24.5) 0

It was the biggest upset that no one saw and a shutout on the road.

Rice is one of the most easily forgettable teams in college football. The Owls have not had a winning season since 2014 and had not beaten a ranked opponent since 1997.

(Fun fact: Do you remember when Rice went 10-4 and won the Conference USA title in 2013 and then played Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl that season? Yep, me neither.)

Rice could have easily been one of the teams whose season was swept under the rug after pushing back their start date and several postponements delayed their first game until late October. By the time their game against Marshall came in December, the Owls were 1-2 with only a win over struggling Southern Miss. They were also going to have to play without their starting quarterback as JoVoni Johnson would lead the team for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Marshall was 7-0 and ranked No. 21 in the latest Playoff poll after running through their schedule. Although unlikely, an undefeated record kept them in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl berth.

However, Marshall had not played a game in three weeks, and perhaps that showed as Grant Wells threw five interceptions despite only throwing four all season. Credit has to go to Rice’s defense who carried the day, and a pick-six in the third quarter was the exclamation point to make it 20-0.

Marshall would go on to lose the Conference USA title game vs. UAB and their bowl game vs. Buffalo. Head coach Doc Holliday would be let go soon afterward in one of the most peculiar endings to a season in recent memory.

Home/College Football News