Football: Record score in second half after a tie.

The Game Room
1

I was thinking abaout the Oregon/Tennessee game that Oregon won 48-13.

Tennessee actually led the game until Oregon tied it 13-13 with 1:04 remaining in the second half. Then Oregon came back in the second half and scored 35 unanswered points. 35-0 in the second half. I was wondering if this is some kind of record. I have watched a lot of college football and have never seen a tie game at the half turn like that.

Usually a 48-13 score denotes that the winning team more or less “pulled away” and won the game by the first half, not being behind until halftime. This is what I like about college football, because stuff like this happens.

So, as my general question, what was the greatest margin of points in the second half of a football game after a halftime tie?

2

Not exactly fitting the question, but…

1974, USC vs. Notre Dame. Notre Dame up 24-0 just before halftime. USC scores a touchdown to make it 24-7 at half. USC would open the floodgates in the second half to win 55-24.

3

[moderating]
I understand you have a specific question, but football questions still go in the Game Room, not GQ.
I have moved the thread accordingly.
[/moderating]

4

I’ve cited this one before, I’ll quote myself: Insight Bowl, December 29, 2006. At halftime, Texas Tech trailed Minnesota by four touchdowns. I turned the TV off and went into the other room to surf the net. When I came back, Tech was jumping and cheering, and the announcers were talking about overtime. What the hell?! Thank goodness for DVRs; I was able to back up at least the last hour and watch the biggest comeback in Division I-A bowl game history.

In the final twenty minutes of the game, Tech scored 31 unanswered points, tying the game at 38-38 with a 52-yard field goal at the buzzer. In overtime, the Gophers scored first with a field goal; Tech followed with a touchdown to win the game, 44-41.

It’s less than your 35 points (unless you add in the overtime touchdown, which would make it 37), but it was during a bowl game, so that increases the significance to me.

5

As an Irish fan, I will repeat now what I said then: Damn USC RB Anthony Davis all to hell.

Link

6

The name of the QB you want is Frank Reich.

  • 1984, Maryland over Miami 42-40 after trailing 31-0 at the half.
  • 1993, Bills over Oilers 41-38 after trailing 35-3 at the half.
7

You’re all using an entirely different definition of “tie” than the one that I’m familiar with.

8

Yeah, I noticed that myself. “Hmmm… NONE of these answers fit the question. Sure, Frank Reich had two spectacular moments in the sun, but no, it’s wrong.”

Joe

9

I watched that game. (On TV, not at the stadium.) Never seen anything quite like it, before or since.

Wonder how many football teams, college or pro, have won by more than 3 TDs, after being down by more than 3 TDs at some point. I bet it’s a mighty small list.

10

If you define a TD as 6 points rather than 7, then Florida’s win against South Carolina a few years ago qualifies. They were down 21-3 and ended up winning 41-21.

11

Thanks for the responses, but I would like to know the greatest margin of victory after a halftime tie or a game that is within 7 points. The USC-Notre Dame game most fits my answer.