This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/Pollaski on 2024-07-15 15:23:34+00:00.
The Tank Job of the Week is an award for the FBS team that did the best job of humiliating itself over the weekend. Whether they blew a large lead, choked away a spot in the limelight, lost a game they had absolutely no right losing, or completely screwed everything on a last second blunder, the TJOTW winner sets the gold standard in college football misery. Over the next seven weeks, we are counting down my 100 greatest tank jobs over the last 20 years. WARNING: You will be hurt.
(video links and a link to the entire list in comments)
92: VANDERBILT COMMODORES (lost to Temple 37-7) [2014]
Its no debate that Vanderbilt is generally regarded as the doormat of the SEC, but that’s not to say the Commodores haven’t had some bright spots. Under James Franklin, for instance, the ‘Dores went 24-15, avoided losing seasons in the SEC in two his three years, and even finished ranked both seasons as a result. And yes, Franklin parlayed those successes into a much more lucrative position in Happy Valley, but some dropoff was expected in Derek Mason’s first season at the helm, there was still some optimism in Nashville, with Vegas laying the O/U right at bowl eligibility.
Vanderbilt came into their opener 9 point favorites over a Temple team that had gone just 2-10 the previous season. The offense was a catastrophe, surrendering a whopping SEVEN turnovers that led to 27 Owl points. Even worse- they couldn’t’ even manage to score- the Commodores’ only points came via a fumble recovery in the end zone. Temple led 21-7 at the half, and dominated the second half, all in front of a dwindling crowd that had been forced to wait several hours for the kickoff due to thunderstorms in the area.
It proved to be a start of a disastrous season in Nashville. Vanderbilt went 3-9, failing to notch a single conference win for the first time since 2009. In fact, they’ve only been to a bowl twice in the ten years since James Franklin’s departure.
91: PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (lost to Houston 35-34) [2014]
Is there anything more depressing than a post-New Years bowl game? Its one thing to play your undercard game as part of the buildup and excitement towards the big games on January 1, its another to be featured after smoke has cleared and the confetti has been swept up. Weirdly, 2014 had six such games, but the Armed Forces bowl was the first, attracting bleary-eyed die-hards still hung over from the previous nights Sugar Bowl where Ohio State had stunned top-ranked Alabama advance to the first College Football Playoff Championship. Little did anyone know that there were still a few fireworks left to pop.
After a scoreless first quarter, Pitt began to take control, rolling out to a 17-6 halftime lead and adding another touchdown in the third quarter. They scored again to start the fourth, taking a 31-6 lead, and with five minutes to go comfortably led 34-13. And that’s when all hell broke loose. With 3:41 to go, Houston scored to make it 34-20. Then they recovered the onside kick and scored again with less than two minutes to go to make it 34-27. They recovered ANOTHER onside kick, and less than a minute later, scored again to make it 34-33. Interim head coach David Gibbs went for two, got it, and with just 59 seconds to go, Houston led 35-34, having scored 22 points in just 2:42.
Pitt would have a chance to get into field goal range to win it, but a third down pass went through the receiver’s hands, and Houston made the stop on fourth down to cement this incredible come from behind win.
UP NEXT: You will NOT want to pass on this one (the winning team sure didn’t!). Also, everyone was expecting a playoff blowout… just not this game.