This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/Pollaski on 2024-07-19 15:10:06+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)
84: NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (lost to Michigan State Spartans 41-38) [2006]
On June 29, 2006, Northwestern head coach Randy Walker suddenly passed away of a heart attack just one month after his 52nd birthday, a tragedy that left the Wildcat family in shambles. In its wake, Northwestern turned to Pat Fitzgerald, who’d been a star linebacker on the Wildcats miraculous 1994 Rose Bowl season. All the same, optimism wasn’t high for the Wildcats 2006 season, and while it began with an emotional 21-3 win over Miami-OH (Walker’s alma mater, oddly enough), Northwestern was blasted 34-17 by FCS New Hampshire the following week. They were just 2-5 heading into their matchup against Michigan State on October 21, and two of their final four games were coming against the top two teams in the nation- Michigan and Ohio State, which meant their bowl prognosis was pretty much gone.
Michigan State, meanwhile had started the season 3-0 but also was in a free fall, having lost their last four (which is all we are saying about THAT… for now). Their bowl prognosis was much more promising, however, with a challenging but doable remaining schedule. But those bowl hopes would turn much darker if they couldn’t win in Evanston on Homecoming.
Michigan State started with an 11 play drive that netted them a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Northwestern responded with a 14 play drive of their own, finishing the first quarter up 7-3. They scored again early in the second quarter, then again towards the end, sandwiching a field goal in between, taking a 24-3 lead into the half. They would score two more touchdowns early in the third quarter, and halfway through held a commanding 38-3 lead. Even after a couple of Spartan touchdowns Northwestern entered the fourth quarter still safely up 38-17. Things looked almost secured when Michigan State started the fourth quarter with backup QB Brian Hoyer throwing an interception.
But the Wildcats went three and out, and the resulting punt was blocked and retuned 31 yards by Ashton Henderson for a touchdown. Northwestern went three and out again, and Michigan State quickly rushed down the field to close the gap to just 38-31. For the third drive in a row, Northwestern went three and out, and was forced to punt it back to Michigan State, who now had the opportunity to tie having scored 28 points in just a little more than 15 minutes. They made good on it, and with less than three minutes to go, the game had been tied at 38.
Now desperate to salvage the game, Northwestern tried to mount one last drive- and was intercepted on the first play, setting the Spartans back up in field goal territory. They drained all but thirteen seconds off the clock, and hit a 28 yard field goal to seal the deal. In just under 23 minutes, a 35 point lead had turned into a three point loss- and it remains the largest comeback in NCAA football history.
Impressive as it was, the win was not enough to save Spartan head coach John L. Smith’s job, as he would be terminated after a loss to Indiana the following week. In fact, the Spartans would lose their final four games to finish the season at just 4-8, the win over the Wildcats being their only conference victory. . Northwestern would also finish 4-8 with an upset over Iowa and a win over an even more dismal Illinois squad in its season finale. They would improve the next year, and Fitzgerald would go on to become the most successful coach in Northwestern history before being fired after the 2022 season amidst allegations of hazing within the program.
83: WASHINGTON HUSKIES (lost to Montana 13-7) [2021]
Washington started their 2021 season by losing to Montana 13-7. This was the first time I did Tank Job of the week on Reddit, and it was well received and here we are.
TOMORROW: We-
Wait, that’s it?
It’s 12:30 AM on a Sunday night, brain. I’m tired.
We can write it tomorrow. This is why you’re trying to stay like five days ahead of your posting schedule.
That was mainly because my parents were about to euthanize their dog and writing was helping me take my mind off things.
Are you trying to mention that so people feel sorry for you and give you a pass for skipping out on this one?
…No.
Stop being a baby. You’re spending nearly two months dragging everyone else’s teams skeletons out of the closet and gleefully parading them around. You can do a Husky loss or two.
…Or three.
Ooh. Spoilers!
Shut up.
Just do it, coward. People are wanting this. Besides, like you said, this games kinda historical for TJOTW.
FINE.
When Chris Petersen retired after the 2019 season, fans were happy when defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake was named successor. After all, Lake had risen from UW’s secondary coach over the previous six years, and had produced the D’s that helped guide some of the best Husky teams in recent memories. Washington fans were even more pleased when they found out that offensive coordinator Bush Hamden would not be retained with Lake instead electing to bring in former NFL and Penn State OC John Donovan.
Lake’s first season at the helm was the Pandemic-addled 2020 season, and the Huskies went 3-1, winning the North. Unfortunately, COVID-19 kept the Huskies from playing for the Pac-12 Championship or in a bowl game, allowing Oregon to backdoor their way in instead and putting a massive asterisk on their conference championship.
You know Oregon fans are going to dispute that version of events.
Let them go for it. And fail. Like Dan Lanning always does. ANYWAYS… the Huskies limited 2020 success was enough to inspire optimism for 2021, and Washington would enter the season ranked 20th, and was even named analyst Phil Steele’s surprise team of the year.
And boy were we surprised!
The Huskies would open their season against FCS Montana, with a massive showdown with Michigan waiting the week after. And things started off well, with Washington driving 78 yards in less than five minutes to notch their first points of the season. Montana responded with a field goal, and then the slog began. Washington turned the ball over on downs, and then they traded punts. Montana got downed out in their own territory, Washington couldn’t capitalize, and they exchanged punts. Washington threw an interception. Washington missed a field goal. And then more punts.
Finally, Washington broke the monotony by throwing an interception with less than a minute left in the third quarter. . Montana responded by driving 69 yards for a touchdown, taking a 10-7 lead. After a disastrous three and out, Montana again drove and got a field goal, going up 13-7. Washington would turn the ball over on downs, giving Montana a chance to ice the game. But the field goal attempt came up short, giving UW one last chance to pull out the win. But Dylan Morris threw his third interception and that was that. The Huskies were held scoreless for the last 55 minutes of a game they were favored to win by 24. They wouldn’t score again until picking up a field goal towards the end of the third quarter of the Michigan game.
Jimmy Lake’s fall from grace was abrupt and spectacular, and he would be suspended after the Oregon game due to a sideline altercation and let go the following week, ending his head coaching stint at just thirteen games. He is now the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, which, good for him. He was a great DC.
Just maybe think twice before promoting him further. There, happy?
It was okay. You’ve done better.
Whatever. We’re going to bed now.
Fine by me. I plan on having you dream about the 2008 BYU game that you couldn’t quite fit on here.
GAH I HATE YOU
TOMORROW: My existential crisis is resolved by talking about someone else’s ranked FCS loss. And the dreaded TURNOVER SPIDER appears!