1985 Oregon State vs. Washington football game
Encyclopedia
The 1985 Oregon State vs. Washington football game was a college football
game between the Oregon State Beavers
and the Washington Huskies
that took place on October 19, 1985
. The game featured the largest overcome point spread
in college football history up to that time when the Huskies, after being favored by 38 points, lost the game 21-20 after the Beavers blocked a punt
and recovered the ball in the end zone
with 1:29 left to play in the fourth quarter. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. On October 6, 2007
, Stanford
achieved the highest point spread upset in college football history when the 40 point underdog Cardinal defeated the No. 2 ranked USC Trojans
, 24-23.
and Washington State
, where they allowed a total of 97 points. No team in Oregon State history had allowed that many points over back-to-back games. Prior to that, the Beavers lost to Division I-AA team Grambling State
by a score of 23-6 and to Fresno State
33-24. To make matters worse for Oregon State, starting quarterback Erik Wilhelm
was out for the season, and Pac-10 Conference
(Pac-10) leading receiver Reggie Bynum
was also out due to injury. Additionally, the Beavers had lost the last 10 games played against Washington by an average of 24 points.
The Huskies, on the other hand, were coming off a four-game win streak and were leading the Pac-10. After the betting odds came in to Las Vegas
set at -38 for Washington, the Seattle media had a field day insulting the Beavers. One reporter went so far as to say that "Oregon State plays football pretty much the way Barney Fife
played a deputy sheriff on Mayberry
". In a television interview, Huskies head coach Don James said he expected to give his reserve quarterback Chris Chandler
a chance for some playing time.
Oregon State head coach Dave Kragthorpe
used the media comments in his pregame speech to the Beavers in an effort to motivate them to prove critics wrong before they went out on the field.
put the Huskies up 3-0 in the first quarter. Oregon State backup quarterback Rich Gonzales responded by stunning the Huskies with a 43-yard touchdown
pass to Darvin Malone on the following drive, giving the Beavers the lead. Washington responded with a 80-yard drive and a touchdown of their own, regaining the lead 10-7.
On the next drive, Washington forced Oregon State into a 4th and 20 position on their own 28 yard line. A Husky rush forced the punter to attempt to run for the first down instead of punting the ball, being stopped 10 yards short, turning the ball over on downs to the Huskies on the Beavers' 38 yard line. Washington drove to the 8 yard line, but then threw an interception
in the end zone to give possession back to the Beavers. Oregon State then capped off an 80-yard drive with a 20-yard scramble for a touchdown by Gonzales, and the Beavers led 14-10 at halftime.
Washington took the lead again the lead in the third quarter, going up 17-14. With 1:32 left in the quarter, Washington had first and goal at the one yard line, twice trying to run the ball up the middle and failing to get the score, bringing up third down. On the following play, OSU linebacker
Osia Lewis knocked out
Washington running back
Vance Weathersby with his tackle, causing a fumble
that Oregon State recovered.
With 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, Washington increased their lead to 6 points by making another field goal, making the score 20-14.
With 1:29 remaining in the game, Washington was forced to punt from right outside their own end zone. Oregon State's Andre Todd rushed the punter and managed to block the punt, sending the ball flying into Washington's end zone, nearly causing a safety. However, the bounce went Oregon State's way and ended up staying in the end zone, allowing the Beavers to recover it resulting in the touchdown. The extra point was good, giving the Beavers a 21-20 lead, which would prove to be enough for the win, resulting in the biggest overcome point spread in college football history.
Washington finished the Pac-10 season at 5-3. Eventual conference champion UCLA, whom Washington had previously defeated, went to the 1986 Rose Bowl
with a conference record of 6-2. Washington would have won the tie-breaker and represented the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl. Oregon State did not win any more games for the rest of the season and finished in 9th place in the Pac-10.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game between the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
and the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
that took place on October 19, 1985
1985 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season saw the Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Barry Switzer, win the national championship.Oklahoma finished the season 11-1, with their only loss to Miami at home, in a game future NFL star Troy Aikman was lost for the season...
. The game featured the largest overcome point spread
Spread betting
Spread betting is any of various types of wagering on the outcome of an event, where the pay-off is based on the accuracy of the wager, rather than a simple "win or lose" outcome, such as fixed-odds betting or parimutuel betting. A spread is a range of outcomes and the bet is whether the outcome...
in college football history up to that time when the Huskies, after being favored by 38 points, lost the game 21-20 after the Beavers blocked a punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
and recovered the ball in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
with 1:29 left to play in the fourth quarter. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history. On October 6, 2007
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
, Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
achieved the highest point spread upset in college football history when the 40 point underdog Cardinal defeated the No. 2 ranked USC Trojans
2007 USC Trojans football team
The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl...
, 24-23.
Background
Prior to the game, the Beavers were coming off four straight losses including back to back blankings against USCUniversity of Southern California Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program, established in 1888, represents the University of Southern California in college football. USC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS and the Pacific-12 Conference . The Trojans have been a football powerhouse throughout NCAA...
and Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
, where they allowed a total of 97 points. No team in Oregon State history had allowed that many points over back-to-back games. Prior to that, the Beavers lost to Division I-AA team Grambling State
Grambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
by a score of 23-6 and to Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
33-24. To make matters worse for Oregon State, starting quarterback Erik Wilhelm
Erik Wilhelm
Erik Bradley Wilhelm is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1989 to 1997 and the Arena Football League in 2001. Wilhelm was selected out of Oregon State University by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft...
was out for the season, and Pac-10 Conference
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
(Pac-10) leading receiver Reggie Bynum
Reggie Bynum
Reginald Deshain "Reggie" Bynum is a former professional American football Wide Receiver in the National Football League. He was the 9th round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 1986 NFL Draft, playing Wide Receiver there in 1986....
was also out due to injury. Additionally, the Beavers had lost the last 10 games played against Washington by an average of 24 points.
The Huskies, on the other hand, were coming off a four-game win streak and were leading the Pac-10. After the betting odds came in to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
set at -38 for Washington, the Seattle media had a field day insulting the Beavers. One reporter went so far as to say that "Oregon State plays football pretty much the way Barney Fife
Barney Fife
Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show, portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
played a deputy sheriff on Mayberry
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
". In a television interview, Huskies head coach Don James said he expected to give his reserve quarterback Chris Chandler
Chris Chandler
Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...
a chance for some playing time.
Oregon State head coach Dave Kragthorpe
Dave Kragthorpe
Dave Kragthorpe is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at South Dakota State University in 1969, at Idaho State University from 1980 to 1982, and at Oregon State University from 1985 to 1990, compiling a career college football record of...
used the media comments in his pregame speech to the Beavers in an effort to motivate them to prove critics wrong before they went out on the field.
The game
Washington put the first points up on the board after a field goalField goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
put the Huskies up 3-0 in the first quarter. Oregon State backup quarterback Rich Gonzales responded by stunning the Huskies with a 43-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass to Darvin Malone on the following drive, giving the Beavers the lead. Washington responded with a 80-yard drive and a touchdown of their own, regaining the lead 10-7.
On the next drive, Washington forced Oregon State into a 4th and 20 position on their own 28 yard line. A Husky rush forced the punter to attempt to run for the first down instead of punting the ball, being stopped 10 yards short, turning the ball over on downs to the Huskies on the Beavers' 38 yard line. Washington drove to the 8 yard line, but then threw an interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
in the end zone to give possession back to the Beavers. Oregon State then capped off an 80-yard drive with a 20-yard scramble for a touchdown by Gonzales, and the Beavers led 14-10 at halftime.
Washington took the lead again the lead in the third quarter, going up 17-14. With 1:32 left in the quarter, Washington had first and goal at the one yard line, twice trying to run the ball up the middle and failing to get the score, bringing up third down. On the following play, OSU linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Osia Lewis knocked out
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
Washington running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Vance Weathersby with his tackle, causing a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
that Oregon State recovered.
With 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, Washington increased their lead to 6 points by making another field goal, making the score 20-14.
With 1:29 remaining in the game, Washington was forced to punt from right outside their own end zone. Oregon State's Andre Todd rushed the punter and managed to block the punt, sending the ball flying into Washington's end zone, nearly causing a safety. However, the bounce went Oregon State's way and ended up staying in the end zone, allowing the Beavers to recover it resulting in the touchdown. The extra point was good, giving the Beavers a 21-20 lead, which would prove to be enough for the win, resulting in the biggest overcome point spread in college football history.
Aftermath
Oregon State players celebrated, shouting "You can blame this one on your media" as they returned to the locker room. The Seattle media did not appear to ask coach Kragthorpe questions after the game.Washington finished the Pac-10 season at 5-3. Eventual conference champion UCLA, whom Washington had previously defeated, went to the 1986 Rose Bowl
1986 Rose Bowl
The 1986 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1986. It was the 72nd Rose Bowl Game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. UCLA tailback Eric Ball was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. He ran for a Rose Bowl record four touchdowns.-Iowa Hawkeyes:Iowa...
with a conference record of 6-2. Washington would have won the tie-breaker and represented the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl. Oregon State did not win any more games for the rest of the season and finished in 9th place in the Pac-10.
See also
- 2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football gameThe 2006 edition of the Michigan State Spartans / Northwestern Wildcats football game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA history. The Spartans, after falling behind to the Wildcats 38-3 with 9:54 remaining in the 3rd quarter, rallied to score 38 unanswered points to defeat the Wildcats...
, the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A/FBS history - 2006 Insight Bowl2006 Insight BowlThe 2006 Insight Bowl, a college football bowl game held on December 29 at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, pitted the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I FBS bowl history...
, the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A/FBS postseason history - 2007 Stanford vs. Southern California football game2007 Stanford vs. Southern California football gameThe 2007 Stanford vs. Southern California football game was a college football game held on October 6, 2007, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. In a remarkable upset, the visiting Stanford Cardinal won 24–23. Southern California was favored by 41 points over Stanford,...
- UpsetUpsetAn upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win , is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom...
List of the greatest sports upsets of all time.