Worst bad beat ever? Vandy beats NC State in shocking way

SportsVanderbilt cornerback Cayden Daniels, second from right, celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP Photo/George Walker IVNC State, a 3-point underdog in some lines, was on the wrong side of one of the worst bad beats anyone has ever seen.NC State led by three with six seconds left in the game against Vanderbilt on Saturday and faced fourth-and-3. NC State quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while trying to run out the clock or potentially take a safety in the final seconds.Vanderbilt recovered it for the go-ahead touchdown.The clock had run out with Vanderbilt leading 34-31, and it appeared there was a push.However, one second was put back on the clock, allowing Vanderbilt to kick the extra point and take a 35-31 lead, and there you have the bad beat.Before Saturday, per FOX Sports, FBS teams that had the ball with a lead in the final 10 seconds of regulation were 1046-1 over the last 20 seasons. The only other loss came from Michigan in 2015, up 23-21 against Michigan State with 10 seconds left in the game, before fumbling the snap on a punt that was returned for a score. It was as improbable a finish as the Music City Miracle, the famous last-second kickoff return in January 2000 that gave the NFL’s Tennessee Titans a 22–16 playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.Bailey and the Wolfpack (1-2) were attempting to milk the clock on the final snap, a fourth-and-3 play from their 5-yard line with 6 seconds remaining.Miles Capers knocked the ball out of Bailey’s hands, and Cayden Van Daniels recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. It capped Vanderbilt’s rally from a 17-0 deficit in the first half.Mark Heim is a senior writer who provides sports, news and trending content. He co-hosts a daily sports radio show on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile. Heim has been recognized with awards for his writing, headlines and...