Upset Special: First top 25-ranked team goes down in 2020

It didn’t take long to deliver the first big upset of the season in college football.

The Louisiana Rajun Cajuns took down No. 23 Iowa State, 31-14, which had drawn some attention from college football experts and analysts as a dark horse contender to make noise in the Big 12 and even reach College Football Playoff. For good measure, the Rajun Cajuns had a punishing double-digit play drive to run the clock out late, and scored with 10 seconds remaining. It was the first ever road win against a ranked team for Louisiana.

At halftime, Iowa State had a narrow 14-10 lead.

But the Rajun Cajuns delivered two big plays in the second half to build a double-digit lead on the road. The first was a 78-yard pass from Levi Lewis to Peter LeBlanc as the Rajun Cajuns grabbed the lead for the first time in the game. Then Louisiana delivered an 83-yard punt return by Eric Garror early in the fourth quarter.

Louisiana entered today 1-32 all-time against AP ranked teams, winning only against No. 25 Texas A&M in 1996

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownCFB) September 12, 2020

The box score was largely even except for turnovers, where Iowa State had two, a fumble and interception.

UL Cajuns are running out the clock on Iowa State, heading toward program history: It will be their first road win over a top 25 team.

And just maybe, they’ll land in the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 12, 2020

The Ragin’ Cajuns air it out for a 78-yard TD ‼️ pic.twitter.com/x2hAKvYdba

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 12, 2020

COAST TO COAST AGAIN 💨 pic.twitter.com/WhqfnqiZUD

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 12, 2020

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.