🏆Biggest Sports Upsets of All Time

Miracle on Ice▲ Rising

College amateurs from the US stunned the Soviet hockey machine at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. The 4-3 semifinal win fueled a gold-medal run and became the defining Cold War sports moment. It tops every upset list for improbability and symbolism.

Year: 1980Sport: Ice HockeyOdds: 1,000 :1Viewers: 80 MImpact: 10/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsMiracle on Ice

New York Jets Super Bowl III

Joe Namath guaranteed victory and the AFL Jets delivered against the NFL’s Baltimore Colts. The 16-7 win forced the merger and validated the upstart league. It remains the original pro football shocker.

Year: 1969Sport: American FootballOdds: 19 :1Viewers: 50 MImpact: 9/10

added by IJR

Rulon Gardner Defeats Karelin▲ Rising

The unheralded American ended Aleksandr Karelin’s 13-year unbeaten streak in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Olympics. Gardner won 1-0 on criteria in Sydney. The result shocked the wrestling world.

Year: 2000Sport: WrestlingOdds: 100 :1Viewers: 30 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

New York Giants Super Bowl XLII▲ Rising

The 12-4 Giants ended the 18-0 Patriots’ perfect season with a last-second touchdown. David Tyree’s helmet catch sealed the 17-14 victory. It denied the first undefeated modern NFL title.

Year: 2008Sport: American FootballOdds: 13 :1Viewers: 97 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

1969 New York Mets World Series

The expansion Mets, 100-to-1 longshots, beat the heavily favored Orioles in five games. Tom Seaver and a young pitching staff silenced Baltimore’s bats. The win turned a joke franchise into champions.

Year: 1969Sport: BaseballOdds: 100 :1Viewers: 40 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

Leicester City Premier League Win▲ Rising

5000-to-1 outsiders captured the 2015-16 English title with a 23-win campaign. Jamie Vardy's goals and Claudio Ranieri's tactics dismantled the established order. No repeat has come close since.

Year: 2016Sport: SoccerOdds: 5,000 :1Viewers: 300 MImpact: 9/10

added by IJR

Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson▲ Rising

The 42-to-1 challenger knocked out the undefeated heavyweight champion in Tokyo. Douglas's 10th-round stoppage ended Tyson’s aura of invincibility overnight. It remains boxing’s single-fight benchmark upset.

Year: 1990Sport: BoxingOdds: 42 :1Viewers: 100 MImpact: 9/10

added by IJR

Greece Wins Euro 2004▲ Rising

Unheralded Greece defeated host Portugal in the final to claim the European Championship. Otto Rehhagel’s defensive system produced three straight 1-0 knockout wins. No Greek team has matched the feat.

Year: 2004Sport: SoccerOdds: 150 :1Viewers: 200 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJRin 2 rankings

UMBC Defeats Virginia

A 16-seed became the first to beat a 1-seed when UMBC stunned Virginia 74-54 in the 2018 NCAA tournament. The Retrievers shot 50 percent from three. The result reset March Madness expectations forever.

Year: 2018Sport: BasketballOdds: 200 :1Viewers: 20 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

Appalachian State vs Michigan▲ Rising

The FCS Mountaineers stunned the fifth-ranked Wolverines 34-32 on a last-second field goal. The 2007 upset aired on national TV and cost Michigan a BCS berth. It remains college football’s loudest single-game shock.

Year: 2007Sport: American FootballOdds: 30 :1Viewers: 10 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Villanova Defeats Georgetown 1985▲ Rising

The eighth-seeded Wildcats shot 78 percent to upset the defending champion Hoyas in the NCAA final. Ed Pinckney and a perfect half carried Villanova to the title. The 66-64 win is still the highest shooting percentage in a title game.

Year: 1985Sport: BasketballOdds: 10 :1Viewers: 25 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Joe Namath Guarantee

Namath’s bold prediction and execution in Super Bowl III validated the AFL and changed pro football forever.

Year: 1969Sport: American FootballOdds: 19 :1Viewers: 50 MImpact: 9/10

added by IJR

David Tyree Helmet Catch

The acrobatic grab set up the Giants’ winning drive and denied the Patriots perfection.

Year: 2008Sport: American FootballOdds: 13 :1Viewers: 97 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

Rulon Gardner Gold

Gardner’s shutout victory ended Karelin’s legendary streak in Olympic wrestling.

Year: 2000Sport: WrestlingOdds: 100 :1Viewers: 30 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Greece Euro 2004 Final

Greece’s 1-0 win over Portugal capped the most improbable European Championship run.

Year: 2004Sport: SoccerOdds: 150 :1Viewers: 200 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

NC State 1983 NCAA Title

Jim Valvano’s Wolfpack used a last-second dunk to beat Houston’s Phi Slama Jama 54-52 in the final. Lorenzo Charles’s alley-oop capped a run that included three upsets. The celebration became an iconic image.

Year: 1983Sport: BasketballOdds: 20 :1Viewers: 20 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50▲ Rising

The 12-4 Broncos with a 34-year-old Peyton Manning beat the 15-1 Panthers 24-10. Von Miller’s two strip-sacks decided the game. Carolina’s perfect season ended in Santa Clara.

Year: 2016Sport: American FootballOdds: 5 :1Viewers: 111 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Leicester City 2016 Title

Already covered as entry 2; duplicate avoided in final list.

Year: 2016Sport: SoccerOdds: 5,000 :1Viewers: 300 MImpact: 9/10

added by IJR

Boston Red Sox 2004 ALCS Comeback

Down 3-0, the Red Sox became the first team to win a best-of-seven series after that deficit. David Ortiz’s walk-offs and Johnny Damon’s grand slam fueled the rally against the Yankees. They swept St. Louis to end the curse.

Year: 2004Sport: BaseballOdds: 250 :1Viewers: 50 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

St. Louis Blues 2019 Stanley Cup

The Blues climbed from last place in January to win the Cup in six games over Boston. Jordan Binnington’s goaltending and a late trade for Ryan O’Reilly sparked the run. No team had ever rallied from so far back.

Year: 2019Sport: Ice HockeyOdds: 200 :1Viewers: 30 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Ed Pinckney MVP

Villanova’s perfect shooting night and Pinckney’s leadership produced the 1985 NCAA title.

Year: 1985Sport: BasketballOdds: 10 :1Viewers: 25 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Mets 1969 Title

The Amazin’ Mets shocked the baseball world by winning the World Series in five games.

Year: 1969Sport: BaseballOdds: 100 :1Viewers: 40 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

Red Sox 2004 Rally

Boston’s historic ALCS comeback ended the curse and remains baseball’s greatest postseason reversal.

Year: 2004Sport: BaseballOdds: 250 :1Viewers: 50 MImpact: 8/10

added by IJR

App State Field Goal

The Mountaineers’ 34-32 win on national television remains college football’s loudest upset.

Year: 2007Sport: American FootballOdds: 30 :1Viewers: 10 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Mike Eruzione Scores Winner▼ Falling

The US captain’s third-period goal gave the Americans a 4-3 lead they held against the Soviets. It completed the Miracle on Ice arc already detailed.

Year: 1980Sport: Ice HockeyOdds: 1,000 :1Viewers: 80 MImpact: 10/10

added by IJR

Blues 2019 Cup Run

St. Louis became the first team to win the Stanley Cup after sitting last in January.

Year: 2019Sport: Ice HockeyOdds: 200 :1Viewers: 30 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Broncos Super Bowl 50▼ Falling

Denver’s defense ended Carolina’s perfect season in a low-scoring Super Bowl victory.

Year: 2016Sport: American FootballOdds: 5 :1Viewers: 111 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR

Lorenzo Charles Dunk▼ Falling

The last-second alley-oop gave NC State the 1983 national title over favored Houston.

Year: 1983Sport: BasketballOdds: 20 :1Viewers: 20 MImpact: 7/10

added by IJR