https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Ten-most-depressing-losses-in-college-football-history-Kick-Six-Bush-Push-Prayer-at-Jordan-Hare-169149777/#169149777_1

IMO this article isn't very well-done. IMO the most heartbreak a CFB program can endure is to not be a perennial contender, be in the driver's seat for a spot in the title game, and blow it against a team they should've easily beaten. How about this list?

10. Boise State 31 @ Nevada 34 (2010)
Didn't cost Boise a spot in the title game, but probably the most devastating non-national title aspirations-ruining loss a program can endure. It cost them a spot in the Rose Bowl, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a mid-major program. They were the most hyped mid-major team ever, ranked in the top 5 in both polls wire-to-wire (top 3 for a majority) and losing only one starter from the Fiesta Bowl-winning team of the previous season. They blew a 24-7 lead and Brotzman famously missed 2 sub-30 field goals, the first coming immediately after Kellen Moore threw a Heisman-esque pass to Titus Young at the end of regulation. They fell all the way to the Maaco Bowl.

9. South Carolina 21 @ Navy 38 (1984)
South Carolina came out of nowhere in 1984 and found themselves ranked #2 with only 2 games left in the regular season. They were in contact with Orange Bowl officials and were primed to play the Big 8 champion with the national title on the line. That is, until they traveled to Annapolis to play a 3-5-1 Navy team missing their star player Napoleon McCallum. They got destroyed.

8. Louisville 25 @ Rutgers 28 (2006)
Pandemonium in Piscataway. Despite Michael Bush getting injured early in the season, the Cardinals found themselves at #3, with Michigan and Ohio State above them. Since the latter two teams would play in the final game of the regular season, Louisville was in the driver's seat to play for the national title. Louisville led 25-7 late in the first half, but Rutgers came all the way back to tie the game and were attempting a field goal for the win. They missed, but William Gay jumped offsides, giving the Scarlet Knights another chance which they made the most of.

7. Oregon 14 vs. Stanford 17 OT (2012)
Despite the 2010 team (we'll get to them soon) coming the closest to bringing the crystal football to Eugene, this was probably the best team in Oregon history. Oregon was #1 in both polls and #2 in the BCS. While Stanford was a great team, Oregon was still favored by 21 points. However, a missed block by De'Anthony Thomas, several missed field goals by Alejandro Maldonado, and a missed fumble recovery by Michael Clay in OT that could've extended the game cost them a spot in the title game against an overmatched Notre Dame team.

6. Oregon 19 vs. Auburn 22 (2010/BCS National Championship Game)
The closest Oregon's ever come to a national title. The game is mostly remembered for this heads-up play by Michael Dyer. It put Auburn in field goal range and Oregon was doomed from there.

5. Arizona State 17 vs. Ohio State 20 (1996/Rose Bowl)
Arizona State had a Cinderella season in 1996, which included ending two-time defending champion Nebraska's 26-game winning streak. They finished the season undefeated and ranked #2 in both polls. However, the system at the time locked the Pac-10 and Big Ten champions into the Rose Bowl, so instead of facing fellow unbeaten Florida State for the national title, they went up against Ohio State. It was a back-and-forth game, with the Sun Devils taking a 17-14 lead with just over a minute left. However, Joe Germaine would lead the Buckeyes on a last-minute drive, throwing the game-winning TD to David Boston with 19 seconds left. Florida State went on to lose to Florida in the Sugar Bowl, meaning that Arizona State's loss cost them at least a share of the national championship.

4. UCLA 45 @ Miami 49 (1998)
UCLA, despite being #3 in both major polls, was ranked #2 in the BCS, so they were in the driver's seat to play in the first BCS National Championship Game. This game was originally scheduled to be played in September, but was delayed due to Hurricane Georges. Miami was coming off a 13-66 loss at Syracuse. The Bruins led 38-21 after 3 quarters, but Miami began to come back. With 3:34 remaining, UCLA was driving to kill time up 45-42 when Brad Melsby fumbled (replays would show he was down, but this was before instant replay). Miami would score the game-winning TD with 50 seconds remaining. To make matters worse for UCLA, Kansas State lost to Texas A&M a few hours later, meaning UCLA's loss certainly cost them a spot in the title game.

3. Oklahoma State 31 @ Iowa State 37 2OT (2011)
Oklahoma State was 10-0 and ranked #2 in the BCS when they traveled to Ames to take on 5-4, 28-point underdog Iowa State. The morning of the game, a plane crash occurred that killed Oklahoma State women's basketball coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna. Despite Oklahoma State holding a 24-7 lead in the third quarter, the Cowboys didn't seem as sharp as they had been all season, and the Cyclones came back. With the game tied at 24, Quinn Sharp attempted a 37-yard field goal that would've given Oklahoma State the lead with just over a minute remaining. It passed directly over the upright and was controversially ruled no good. The Cowboys lost in double overtime.

2. Kansas State 33 vs. Texas A&M 36 2OT (1998/Big 12 Championship Game)
10 years removed from being billed "Futility U" by Sports Illustrated, the Wildcats found themselves at 11-0 and ranked in the top 2 in both polls but #3 in the BCS. However, the door of a lifetime would open when BCS #2 UCLA lost at Miami. Kansas State led 27-12 going into the 4th quarter, but A&M came back to tie the game and stun the Wildcats in 2OT with this legendary touchdown by Sirr Parker. Bill Snyder compared the loss to a death in the family.

1. West Virginia 9 vs. Pittsburgh 13 (2007)
You all know the story. All West Virginia needed to do was beat 4-7, 28-point underdog Pitt to play a beatable Ohio State team to win their first national title. Pat McAfee missed 2 chip-shot field goals, Pat White injured his thumb, and West Virginia's vaunted triple option could never get going. They haven't been the same since. This video perfectly sums up the worst loss any CFB team has ever suffered.

This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 2:03 pm