The Art of Bouncing Back: Lessons from College Football’s Darkest Moments
In the world of college football, defeat can be a crushing blow. But it’s how teams respond to those losses that truly defines their character. The ability to learn from mistakes and prevent them from spiraling out of control is a crucial aspect of success. Unfortunately, not every team has mastered this art.
Take, for example, the infamous 34-game losing streak suffered by one unfortunate program between 1979 and 1982. During this dismal stretch, the team experienced a few heartbreaking close calls, including a 20-16 defeat at the hands of a top-ranked opponent and a 17-10 loss to a powerhouse program. Despite these near-misses, the team couldn’t seem to catch a break, eventually falling to a conference foe in their season opener the following year.
But this team’s struggles are far from an isolated incident. Here’s a look at the longest losing streaks in college football history:
* 34 games: One program’s infamous drought (1979-82)
* 28 games: A pair of programs’ struggles (1958-60 and 1945-48)
* 27 games: Two teams’ dark periods (1988-90 and 1980-82)
* 26 games: A duo of programs’ slumps (2008-10 and 1960-62)
* 24 games: A historic drought (1931-33)
* 23 games: Five teams’ struggles (2012-13, 2006-07, 1999-2001, 1996-98, and 1957-59)
* 22 games: One team’s tough stretch (2005-07)
* 21 games: Seven teams’ rough patches (2018-20, 2012-14, 1998-2000, 1998-99, 1981-83, 1967-69, and 1957-59)
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