Top 10: Greatest Upsets

These moments are known for their underdog stories, as well as their significance to their respective eras in sports history. Here are my top 10 greatest sports upsets of all time:


10. 1982: Division II Chaminade upsets top ranked Virginia.

In 1982, Division II school Chaminade defeated college basketball’s top ranked division I school Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest regular season upsets in college basketball history. Virginia ended the season ranked as a top 5 team in the nation.

9. 1950: Miracle on Grass

In the 1950 World Cup, the U.S led by Joe Gaetjens upset the top ranked England soccer team 1-0. This is the U.S soccer team’s greatest victory of all time, and only one of the U.S Soccer's two career victories against the well-decorated English side.


8. 1983: Jim Valvano leads the 6th Seed Wolfpack to a giant victory.

In the 1983 NCAA Basketball National Championship game, the 6th seeded N.C. State Wolfpack defeated the top ranked Houston Cougars who were led by future NBA stars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.


7. 2007: Appalachian St. upsets fifth ranked Michigan

In 2007, Division I-AA Appalachian St. defeated the fifth ranked Wolverines in Ann Arbor by a score of 34-32 in one of the greatest upsets in college football history. This historic football game was the first time a FCS school defeated a ranked, Division 1 opponent.


6. 1994: 8th seed Denver dismantles number one Seattle in 5 games

In 1994, the Denver Nuggets became the first 8 seed to beat a 1 seed in a playoff matchup as they beat the Seattle Supersonics and moved unto the NBA Playoffs’ Quarterfinals. Seattle, who had a 63-19 record during the regular season, lost three straight games to blow a 2-0 lead in the series, in what became the first 8th over 1st seed defeat in NBA Playoffs history.


5. 1990: Douglas over Tyson

In one of the greatest upsets in the history of boxing, Buster Douglas knocked out 42-1 world champion Mike “the baddest man on the planet” Tyson in the tenth round.


4. 1969: Namath leads the Jets over the Colts for the title

Super Bowl III was one of the greatest games in NFL history. The NY Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, defeated the heavily favored (18 points) Baltimore Colts to win their only super bowl title to this date.


3. 1969: The Miracle Mets

The New York Mets were established right before the 1962 season. The Mets were below 500. In each of their first 7 seasons, and inn 5 of their first 7 seasons, they lost 100 games. Going into the 1969 season, the Mets were a 100-1 underdog to win the World Series. After winning 100 games in the regular season, the Mets went on to beat the favored Baltimore Orioles in 5 games to finish off the more surprising season in baseball history.


2. 2008: Super Bowl XLII

The 2008 regular season was a perfect one for the New England Patriots. They finished the season 16-0, and they were sitting comfortably as the Super Bowl favorite. After winning 2 more games to advance to the super bowl and become 18-0, they were defeated by the New York Giants by the score of 17-14, thanks to late game heroics by Eli Manning and David Tyree. Even though all avid sports fans know this play, see the bottom of the article for some nice reminiscing (your welcome Giants fans).


1. 1980: Miracle on Ice

USA Vs. USSR. Democracy Vs. Communism. As the Cold War was at its peak, the U.S Hockey team defeated the legendary Soviet Hockey squad by the score of 4-2. So why was this such a large upset. Well, the American team was made up of college players that had not ever played with each other while the Soviet team was made up of professionals that had won eight of the last nine gold medals.

Enough Said. USA!