As we wrote previously, the Sickos Committee, didn’t start publicly until 2021. We did exist in 2020, but just in a Discord server which is now a part of our Patreon for $5 per month. So, we have only named five Sickos National Champions:
2020 - Michigan (internally within our Discord, but our first tweet was this)
2021 - Nebraska
2022 - Iowa
2023 - Iowa
2024 - Florida State
2025 - Penn State
We just named UCF the Retroactive Sickos National Champions for 2017. And we’re continuing to try to name more retroactive champions through the offseason.
Now, we got to go back in time a little bit more as most of us reading this were not alive for this season. I mean I was but I was about six months old.
THE 1981 SICKOS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NOMINEES
Northwestern 0-11
Virginia 1-10
Texas Tech - 1-9-1
Georgia Tech 1-10
Colorado State 0-12
UTEP 1-10
Notre Dame 5-6
Stanford 4-7
Eastern Michigan 0-11
Tulane 6-5
Iowa State 5-5-1
Minnesota 6-5
Wisconsin 7-5
Memphis 1-10
ULM 5-6
Louisville 5-6
Mizzou 8-4
Mississippi State 8-4
South Carolina 6-6
UCLA 7-4-1
During the podcast episode, we discussed all the nominees and settled on a Top 5.
We will give you a little summary of each Top 5 team and have you cast your ballot for the Sickos National Champion. We will close the poll before our podcast episode on Sunday Night at 9pm CT and crown the 1981 Sickos National Champion when the episode comes out on Tuesday May 12th. We will continue to this for each year this offseason if we get enough participation from you!
THE TOP 5 CANDIDATES FOR THE 1981 SICKOS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Keep in mind, we normally crown the National Champ before all the Bowl Games, so if possible, please factor in that with your vote but we understand it is a retroactive thing so it is pretty tough but this year we didn’t nominate any teams who made a bowl. So this one should be much easier.
1981 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (0-11)
Clinched the longest losing streak in FBS History during the season after their 29th Straight loss against Michigan State. The losing streak ended in 1982.
Shutout in 5 games,
Only one possession game 21-20 loss to Indiana to start the season
Negative 423 Point Differential
Scored 82 Points
Had 85 Punts
8th most pass attempts on the season with 426 attempts
Threw for 10TDs and threw for 21 INTs on the year
Lowest rushing yardage on the year with only 493 yards and 2nd lowest 2 rushing TDs (Rice only had one)
5th lowest yardage gained on the year in all of college football.
Made this promotional film with new Head Coach Dennis Green and narrated by Northwestern alum, Brent Musberger.
1981 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (5-6)
Preseason Ranked #4
After Week 1, moved up to the #1 Ranking
Then lost to #11 Michigan, then lost to Purdue 15-14.
Played five ranked teams and lost to every single one of them.
Used two QBs on the season who combined for 12 TD passes and 15 Interceptions
Scored 232 Points and only allowed 160 points but still wound up under .500
First year of Gerry Faust’s tenure as Notre Dame Head Coach.
1981 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (1-10)
Their only win was against preseason ranked #2 Alabama in the first game of the season. Alabama still finished 9-2-1 and ranked #7 this year.
Only had two one possession losses on the year.
Lost to Memphis, who finished 1-10 themselves.
Threw for 5 TDs and also tossed 18 INTs on the year.
Georgia Tech’s worst season in winning percentage in school history.
Head Coach Billy Curry was in his second year with the program.
Look at them celebrate what would be their only win of the year
1981 MEMPHIS TIGERS (1-10)
Only win over 1-10 Georgia Tech
Nearly upset #18 Florida State but lost 10-5. (Safety Alert)
Four one possession losses
Leading QB only threw for 466 yards
QBs threw for 2 TDs and 17 INTs on the year.
Sixth lowest total yardage gained on the year.
The Tiger looks shocked at the record.
THE 1981 IOWA STATE CYCLONES (5-5-1)
Started 3-0, became ranked 20th, then tied #5 Oklahoma on the road 7-7.
Moved up to #12, then went on the road and lost to San Diego State 51-32
Unranked again, defeated #8 Mizzou at home 34-13.
Then ranked again at #14, beat Colorado at home 17-10.
Moved up to #11 and then lost on the road to 1-6 Kansas State in Farmageddon 10-7.
Lost the remaining games on the year to finish 5-5-1.
Finished the year with 3 TD passes and 15 INTs
Offensive Coordinator was Mack Brown.
Iowa State Football Media Day 1981. Bruce Reimers, George Jessen, QBs with Mack Brown
