Regular season games between two top 5 teams not from the same conference

[AmsterBison]

I already posted this on the UC Davis thread, but I'm suspicious of my data and/or analysis.

I've got poll data back to the 1993 and only see four regular season games featuring two Top 5 teams from different conferences:

2008 #1 Appalachian State 32 at #5 James Madison 35 -
2013 #2/3 Eastern Washington 34 at #4 Sam Houston State 49
2014 #4/3 Montana 10 at #1 North Dakota State 22
2019 #4 UC Davis at #1 North Dakota State

It happens so rarely (apparently) that it makes me wonder if I've screwed anything up. Anybody remember other games between that fit the criteria?

[ST_Lawson]

As near as I can tell, we've never been involved in one. Closest for us was a 1997 matchup with Eastern Illinois (who had left the then-Gateway Conference two years earlier). Took place on 8/28/97 when WIU was ranked #8 and EIU was #6. Western won 41-0 in that game.

All matchups with WIU and another non-conference team with both being in the top 5 were playoff games.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'm surprised Delaware and Georgia Southern weren't both ranked in the top 5 when they met in 2001? 2002? somewhere in there....

[gregatim]

I like the trend of the road teams not faring very well.

[Derby City Duke]

I already posted this on the UC Davis thread, but I'm suspicious of my data and/or analysis.

I've got poll data back to the 1993 and only see four regular season games featuring two Top 5 teams from different conferences:

2008 #1 Appalachian State 32 at #5 James Madison 35 -
2013 #2/3 Eastern Washington 34 at #4 Sam Houston State 49
2014 #4/3 Montana 10 at #1 North Dakota State 22
2019 #4 UC Davis at #1 North Dakota State

It happens so rarely (apparently) that it makes me wonder if I've screwed anything up. Anybody remember other games between that fit the criteria?

JMU trailed 21-0 at half. Dukes returned the 2nd half KO for a touchdown and it was game on. Might have been the best game in the history of Bridgeforth.

[that guy]

It is likely NDSU will have two of these this year. Could be more depending on UNI, the Redbirds, and YSU; if one of these goes on a winning streak and move up you could see three but i doubt it.

[SonuvaHenx2]

It is likely NDSU will have two of these this year. Could be more depending on UNI, the Redbirds, and YSU; if one of these goes on a winning streak and move up you could see three but i doubt it.

"Not from the same conference"

[that guy]

sorry missed that part.

[clenz]

UNI McNeese State 2013?

[lucchesicourt]

How many times has UC Davis won at the NDSU's dome?

[Redbird 4th & short]

UNI McNeese State 2013?

Yes, I remember it well .. UNI won 41-6 in week 4 ... UNI went on to lose 5 straight in MVFC by combine total of 28 points, 3 of the game went into 5 total OTs, you lost at NDSU by 1 ... the year many consider to be NDSU's best team ever ... and UNI finished 7-5 overall, but just 3-5 in conf, so tied for 7th place and you beat Southland's 2nd place team by 35,

That year Southland got 3 teams, MVFC got just 2 teams .... 8-4 YSU stayed home, reportedly because they finished season with 3 losses ... to who you might ask ... NDSU, SDSU, and UNI. BUt an 8-4 MVFC team was left out and we got just 2 teams that year. Just 1 year later, we dominated the FCS, got 5 playoff bids, arguably deserved 6, and dominated the playoffs.

But again, our 7th place team beath Southland's 2nd place team by 35 .. and Southland got 3 teams to our 2. To be fair, that UNI team was a very good 7th place team ... but that would be the point .. and MVFC got just 2 teams that year.

My mission continues .... xcoffeex

[clenz]

Yes, I remember it well .. UNI won 41-6 in week 4 ... UNI went on to lose 5 straight in MVFC by combine total of 28 points, 3 of the game went into 5 total OTs, you lost at NDSU by 1 ... the year many consider to be NDSU's best team ever ... and UNI finished 7-5 overall, but just 3-5 in conf, so tied for 7th place and you beat Southland's 2nd place team by 35,

That year Southland got 3 teams, MVFC got just 2 teams .... 8-4 YSU stayed home, reportedly because they finished season with 3 losses ... to who you might ask ... NDSU, SDSU, and UNI. BUt an 8-4 MVFC team was left out and we got just 2 teams that year. Just 1 year later, we dominated the FCS, got 5 playoff bids, arguably deserved 6, and dominated the playoffs.

But again, our 7th place team beath Southland's 2nd place team by 35 .. and Southland got 3 teams to our 2. To be fair, that UNI team was a very good 7th place team ... but that would be the point .. and MVFC got just 2 teams that year.

My mission continues .... xcoffeexThat UNI team beat Iowa State

And then lost 11 people from the Week 1-4 two deep to injuries and... Well...

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[Redbird 4th & short]

That UNI team beat Iowa State

And then lost 11 people from the Week 1-4 two deep to injuries and... Well...

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Not as impressive as this years near win against a much better Iowa St team.

Wishes I would have we rememberes the UNI destruction of McNeese St during my debate with ReignofTerror ... he would have struggled to respond to that one. By the way .. where's he been .. did he get the boot ?

[Beer]

How many times has UC Davis won at the NDSU's dome?

My count is twice: 2003 and 2005.

[JSUSoutherner]

Are you basing it off end of the year ranking or ranking at the time of the game?

[WestCoastAggie]

What about Southern v. FAMU in the 90s? Both of those 90s squads had teams ranked in the top 5 periodically.

[Redbird 4th & short]

sorry missed that part.
yeah, don't be "that guy" !!

:D

[Sader87]

Pre Patriot League née Colonial League, Holy Cross and Colgate might have both been Top 5 when they met...thinking either '82 and/or '83.

[clenz]

Don't think it'll happen but there's a chance UNI/Weber State next week gets there

Currently 6/7 respectively and separated by 1 point in the AGS poll

[Sader87]

Curious, so I checked. Barely missed both years. Both schools were Independent at the time.

1982 Colgate #4 21 HC #6 17...game was the ABC TV Regional GotW

1983 HC #6 21 Colgate #2 18....ovah 20K at Fitton that day

Both tremendous games.

[JayJ79]

Wasn't there a game between UNI and Idaho (before Idaho temporarily went FBS) that was #1 vs. #2? Or was that a playoff game?

[Preferred Walk-On]

Don't think it'll happen but there's a chance UNI/Weber State next week gets there

Currently 6/7 respectively and separated by 1 point in the AGS poll

Can easily see UNI moving up to 5 (or higher); however, difficult to envision Weber moving up to 5, since they are off this week. Stranger things have happened though.


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[clenz]

Wasn't there a game between UNI and Idaho (before Idaho temporarily went FBS) that was #1 vs. #2? Or was that a playoff game?
1992 regular season game in the UNIDome. UNI won 27-26 on a last second field goal

We got close this week with UNI 5 and Weber State 6 in the AGS poll.

[Preferred Walk-On]

Just wanted to bump this thread, as I suspect after 11 AM MDT, we will have another one of these coming up this weekend (two within the same year).

- - - Updated - - -

Oops, my bad. Same conference. Sorry. But still cool.

[Preferred Walk-On]

Even though I can't read thread titles very well, this does make me wonder how often this happens per year - two top 5 teams facing off (no conference restrictions).