10 College Football Games Played in Terrible Weather

Hero: DoD photo by E.J. Hersom / DoD News, CC BY 2.0, cropped from the original.

I’m watching the weather for Georgia at Alabama this Saturday. The October 10 game in Tuscaloosa is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central, and the National Weather Service has warned of heavy rain and gusty winds across central Alabama Friday and Saturday.

As checked October 8, the October 7, 6:38 p.m. CDT forecast discussion called for 2–4 inches of rain, locally five, and 40–50 mph gusts in the region. The storm’s track was still uncertain, so those numbers aren’t a forecast for the stadium at kickoff. That threat puts Notre Dame’s 2016 trip to NC State back in my head, along with nine other games where rain, mud or snow changed what the teams could do.

Key takeaways

• NC State won in Hurricane Matthew with a blocked-punt touchdown, while neither offense reached the end zone (the 2016 game).
• Clemson and Washington protected unbeaten records in heavy rain, in 2015 and 2023 respectively (Washington at Oregon State).
• Drake pushed Iowa State to the finish on a muddy field, leading late in the third quarter (the 2018 game).
• Michigan won the 1950 Snow Bowl without a first down, in a game with 45 combined punts (Michigan at Ohio State).
• Snow didn’t always keep points off the board: Mississippi State and Texas A&M combined for 84 (the 2000 Independence Bowl).

1. Notre Dame at NC State (2016): Hurricane Matthew

NC State 10, Notre Dame 3 | October 8, 2016 | Raleigh, North Carolina

Hurricane Matthew brought driving rain and strong winds to Carter-Finley Stadium. The teams combined for 10 fumbles, and neither offense scored a touchdown. Pharoah McKever blocked a punt in the fourth quarter; Dexter Wright returned it 16 yards for the winning score.

Brian Kelly’s passing strategy drew criticism from CBS Sports. DeShone Kizer finished 9 of 26 for 54 yards, with five sacks. Kelly said he was disappointed in “our inability to mount anything offensively.” NC State leaned on Matthew Dayes, who ran for 126 yards.

Notre Dame fell to 2–4 and eventually finished 4–8. NC State improved to 4–1, then lost its next four before recovering to finish 7–6 with an Independence Bowl win over Vanderbilt.

NC State’s rainy celebration, photographed by Grant Halverson/Getty Images. Photograph displayed through Getty’s provider embed; this does not grant download or hero-image rights.

Watch the ACC’s game highlights on YouTube.

2. Notre Dame at Clemson (2015): Rain during South Carolina’s floods

Clemson 24, Notre Dame 22 | October 3, 2015 | Clemson, South Carolina

With rain falling at Memorial Stadium, Clemson limited risky passes. Receiver Charone Peake explained: “We wouldn’t throw certain routes just because it was risky being rainy.” Deshaun Watson threw for 84 yards and ran for 93, while Notre Dame committed four turnovers, including three lost fumbles.

The Irish fought back from 21–3, but Clemson stopped Kizer’s two-point run with seven seconds left. Both teams entered unbeaten; Clemson eventually finished 14–1, losing the national championship game to Alabama. Notre Dame remained in contention until a later loss to Stanford.

“mcinnis-3685” (photograph by Mark McInnis / TigerNet.com), CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Full photograph unchanged; original copyright notice retained.

Watch the ACC’s game highlights on YouTube.

3. Michigan State at Ohio State (2015): A windy, rainy upset

Michigan State 17, Ohio State 14 | November 21, 2015 | Columbus, Ohio

Rain and wind intensified in the second half, complicating both passing attacks. Michigan State was also without injured quarterback Connor Cook. With Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry sharing the job, the Spartans ran for 203 yards.

Ohio State managed just 132 total yards, though weather alone can’t explain the offense’s performance. Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired, ending the Buckeyes’ 23-game winning streak. Michigan State took control of its division race, then won the Big Ten and finished 12–2, losing to Alabama in the playoff. Ohio State finished 12–1 with a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.

Video: Big Ten Network’s game highlights. We’re using game footage because we could not find a suitably licensed original photograph for free reuse.

Watch Big Ten Network’s game highlights on YouTube.

4. Drake at Iowa State (2018): A muddy near-upset

Iowa State 27, Drake 24 | December 1, 2018 | Ames, Iowa

The gamebook lists 34°F and a light rain/snow mix. On the sloppy field, Drake, which plays in the smaller Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), outgained Iowa State 279–273 and led 24–20 late in the third quarter. An early bad punt snap gave Drake the ball at Iowa State’s seven-yard line and a short touchdown drive. The snap went wrong on a muddy field, but its cause isn’t established.

David Montgomery carried 33 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Purdy’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Deshaunte Jones supplied the winning points. Iowa State finished the regular season 8–4 and ended 8–5 after its bowl loss. Drake ended 7–4 after coming within three points of the upset.

Video: Stadium’s game highlights. We’re using game footage because we could not find a suitably licensed original photograph for free reuse.

Watch Stadium’s game highlights on YouTube.

5. Washington at Oregon State (2023): Rain in Corvallis

Washington 22, Oregon State 20 | November 18, 2023 | Corvallis, Oregon

In nearly constant rain at Reser Stadium, Michael Penix Jr. completed 13 of 28 passes for 162 yards, with two passing touchdowns and another on the ground. Penix, a Florida native, said afterward: “It wasn’t like a heavy Florida rain.”

Washington led 22–10 at halftime and scored nothing in the second half. A snap over Oregon State’s punter’s head gave Washington a safety, worth two points in a game decided by two. Both teams also lost fumbles on defensive strips; the rain doesn’t explain every mistake. The Huskies survived to reach 11–0 and clinch a Pac-12 championship-game berth. Washington finished 14–1, losing the national championship game to Michigan; Oregon State finished 8–5 after a Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame.

Oregon State students in falling rain on November 18, 2023. Tom Hauck/Getty Images, through Getty’s provider embed.

Watch Pac-12’s game highlights on YouTube.

6. Michigan at Ohio State (1950): The Snow Bowl

Michigan 9, Ohio State 3 | November 25, 1950 | Columbus, Ohio

At an airport a few miles east of Ohio Stadium, the temperature was 13°F at 2 p.m., with gusts above 35 mph. In the blizzard, the teams punted 45 times. Ohio State’s archives describe punts on third down, leaving fourth down available if the snap went wrong.

Michigan gained 27 yards, completed no passes and earned no first downs. It still won: a blocked punt produced a safety, and Tony Momsen blocked and recovered another for a touchdown just before halftime. Michigan finished 6–3–1, winning the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl; Ohio State’s final record was 6–3.

Harry Allis kicks the extra point in the 1950 Snow Bowl. Unknown photographer, 1951 Michiganensian, page 217, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain in the United States (copyright not renewed); original image unchanged.

Watch archival game film on YouTube, uploaded by Dr. Sap.

7. Washington at Washington State (1992): A snowy Apple Cup

Washington State 42, Washington 23 | November 21, 1992 | Pullman, Washington

With snow falling on Martin Stadium, Drew Bledsoe threw a 44-yard touchdown to Phillip Bobo, who slid into a snowbank beyond the end zone. Washington had led 7–6 at halftime; Washington State scored 29 points in the third quarter.

Bledsoe passed for 259 yards, and Shaumbe Wright-Fair ran for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Even in the snow, the Cougars gained 476 total yards. Washington State finished 9–3 after winning the Copper Bowl; Washington also finished 9–3, losing the Rose Bowl to Michigan. The Apple Cup loss didn’t keep the Huskies out of Pasadena.

Video: Washington State’s official clip of the Bledsoe-to-Bobo touchdown. We’re using game footage because we could not find a suitably licensed original photograph for free reuse.

Watch Washington State’s official clip of Bledsoe’s touchdown to Bobo.

8. Penn State at Notre Dame (1992): A late two-point conversion in the snow

Notre Dame 17, Penn State 16 | November 14, 1992 | Notre Dame, Indiana

By the final minute, roughly an inch of snow covered the grass. Trailing 16–9, Notre Dame scored on a Rick Mirer pass to Jerome Bettis in the final half-minute. With no college overtime then, Lou Holtz chose a two-point try for the win, and Mirer found Reggie Brooks.

With snow covering the grass, the Irish won on two late throws. Notre Dame finished 10–1–1, beating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Penn State finished 7–5, including a Blockbuster Bowl loss to Stanford. The game closed the schools’ annual 1981–92 series, though they met again later.

Rick Mirer in snowfall on November 14, 1992. Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images, through Getty’s provider embed.

Watch game highlights on YouTube, uploaded by This Pretty Golden Damer.

9. Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M (2000): Snow at the Independence Bowl

Mississippi State 43, Texas A&M 41 (OT) | December 31, 2000 | Shreveport, Louisiana

Snow began about 30 minutes before kickoff, and crews cleared field markings during timeouts. The nearby airport recorded 2.2 inches, though that’s not an exact stadium measurement. Ja’Mar Toombs ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns for Texas A&M; Dontae Walker answered with 143 yards and three touchdowns for Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs erased a 35–21 fourth-quarter deficit. In overtime, they blocked an extra point and returned it for two points, then Wayne Madkin ran six yards for the winning touchdown. The bowl ended Mississippi State’s season at 8–4 and Texas A&M’s at 7–5, with 84 points scored on a snowy field.

Video: the Independence Bowl’s official 1:05 Snow Bowl highlights. We’re using game footage because we could not find a suitably licensed original photograph for free reuse.

Watch the Independence Bowl’s official Snow Bowl highlights.

10. Army vs. Navy (2017): Snow in Philadelphia

Army 14, Navy 13 | December 9, 2017 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The gamebook lists 29°F, snow and a northeast wind. Both teams already ran option offenses, so the storm didn’t create their reliance on the ground game: Army rushed for 221 yards, Navy for 294, and they combined for just 22 passing yards. Navy’s Malcolm Perry ran for 250 yards himself.

Ahmad Bradshaw’s one-yard touchdown with 5:10 left put Army ahead. Two Navy false starts pushed the final field-goal attempt to 48 yards, and Bennett Moehring missed left as time expired. Army won its first Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy since 1996 and finished 10–3 after its bowl win; Navy finished 7–6 with a bowl win of its own.

DoD photo by E.J. Hersom / DoD News, CC BY 2.0, from the original. Displayed at reduced size.

Watch Army’s official Sights and Sounds package, or the final kick.

I’m curious how Georgia and Alabama will adjust if the heavy rain reaches Tuscaloosa during the game. The forecast still has time to move before Saturday night.

Frequently asked questions

How many passes did Notre Dame attempt against NC State in 2016?

DeShone Kizer attempted 26 passes, completing nine for 54 yards, according to the official gamebook. He was also sacked five times; counting sacks as passing plays produces 31, but that isn’t the pass-attempt total.

Did Michigan really win the 1950 Snow Bowl without a first down?

Yes. Michigan gained 27 yards and no first downs in a 9–3 win over Ohio State. The Ohio State archives describe the blocked punts that produced Michigan’s safety and touchdown.

Was Notre Dame–Clemson in 2015 played during Hurricane Joaquin’s landfall?

No. Joaquin stayed offshore. The game was played during South Carolina’s flooding, with tropical moisture feeding a separate weather system; calling it a hurricane landfall at Clemson would misstate the weather.

Which college football bowl game was played in a snowstorm?

The 2000 Independence Bowl is a memorable example. Mississippi State beat Texas A&M 43–41 in overtime, with snow arriving shortly before kickoff and both teams combining for 84 points.

Does snow stop college football teams from passing?

Snow can make passing and handling the ball harder, but teams have still completed important throws. Bledsoe threw for 259 yards in the 1992 Apple Cup, and Mirer’s late touchdown and two-point passes won Notre Dame’s 1992 Snow Bowl.

Sources

• Alabama: October 10, 2026 game center; NWS Birmingham forecast discussion.
• Notre Dame: 2016 NC State recap, gamebook, Kelly quotes and season finale; NC State recap, schedule and bowl result; CBS Sports: Kelly criticism.
• Clemson: 2015 gamebook, recap and season schedule; Sports Illustrated: Peake and conditions; NWS: 2015 weather summary.
• Michigan State: Ohio State recap and conditions; Michigan State season; Ohio State season.
• Drake: gamebook and recap; Iowa State recap and season.
• AP: Washington–Oregon State recap; Sports Illustrated: Penix and the rain; Washington season; Oregon State season.
• NWS: 1950 Snow Bowl weather; Ohio State Libraries: game history; Michigan’s 1950 schedule; Ohio State football archive.
• Washington State: 1992 Apple Cup and football history; Washington’s 1992 schedule.
• Notre Dame: 1992 Snow Bowl and media guide; Penn State: Paterno season history.
• Texas A&M: 2000 Independence Bowl; NWS: Shreveport snow; Mississippi State: bowl box score.
• Army: 2017 Navy recap, gamebook and season schedule; Navy’s 2017 schedule.