The college football season's 5 biggest surprises
Remember when Florida State was the nation's third-ranked team coming into the season? The Seminoles instead endured a tumultuous campaign, providing one of the biggest surprises of the 2017 college football season. Here are the top five.
UCLA's 34-point comeback in season opener
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With 4:08 remaining in the third quarter, Texas A&M kicked a field goal that extended its lead over UCLA to 44-10. The Bruins then reeled off 35 unanswered points, stunning the Aggies and everyone watching in an epic season opener at the Rose Bowl. Josh Rosen threw four touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the last one coming on a fake spike in the final minute.
Troy upsets LSU
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LSU hadn't lost at home to a non-conference opponent in 17 years. Troy hadn't defeated an SEC club in 16 years. Both streaks ended on the final night of September, as the Trojans buried LSU in Death Valley with a 24-21 upset. The Sun Belt team kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for the entire first half.
Florida State
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Florida State entered the campaign No. 3 in the AP Poll, but by the end, the school was scrambling for bowl eligibility - and a new coach. The Seminoles required a three-game winning streak at the end of the regular season just to qualify for the postseason after starting 3-6, and coach Jimbo Fisher bolted for Texas A&M after a storied career in Tallahassee.
Jim McElwain self-destructs at Florida
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Jim McElwain won two division titles in two years at Florida, but he failed to make it to the end of Year 3. The coach landed in trouble with the Gators' administration in October when he falsely claimed disgruntled fans were sending his players death threats. He was gone from Gainesville not long after.
Iowa destroys Ohio State by 31 points
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Ohio State had won six in a row and was coming off a momentous victory over Penn State when it traveled to Iowa. Nobody could've predicted the debacle that would ensue. J.T. Barrett threw four interceptions, including one on the first play of the game, and the Buckeyes got bashed 55-24 by the unranked Hawkeyes. The 31-point demolition proved fatal for Ohio State's playoff push.