Caylin Newton Breaks the Books

Published on July 5th, 2025 5:40 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


The biggest point spread upset in college football history began with Caylin Newton and ended with Howard rewriting what is possible. Biggest upset in college football history. On paper, it was a mismatch. A 45-point spread. Howard University was supposed to get flattened. UNLV had size, talent, depth. Howard had Caylin Newton and belief.

Howard was paid $600,000 to show up. The game was a buy-in, a confidence booster for the Rebels. Instead, it became a national headline.

Final score: Howard 43, UNLV 40.

Howard entered the game as a 45-point underdog. No FBS team had ever lost as such a massive favorite. That margin broke the previous record: Stanford's 2007 loss to USC as a 41-point dog.

Newton passed for 140 yards. He ran for 190 more. Two touchdowns. He wasn't just Cam Newton's little brother anymore. He was the face of a miracle.

The Bison racked up 449 total yards. They led 21-9 at halftime. They didn't just hang around. They took control.

UNLV had chances. They had 558 yards of offense. But they couldn't stop Newton. And they couldn't convert late.

Howard was 2-19 in their previous 21 games before that night. UNLV was looking ahead. Howard made them pay.

The win didn't just shake Las Vegas. It shook the whole FBS. Bettors were stunned. Books took a hit. Parlay cards were torched.

Before this, no team had ever won outright as a 40+ point dog. Howard did it in Week 1.

Biggest point spread upset in history. Still true today.

One game. One player. One program rewriting the odds.

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