By Darin 
The date of November 16, 1940, remains one of the most remarkable instances of sportsmanship and controversy in college football history. When the final whistle blew at Memorial Field, the No. 2 Cornell Big Red appeared to have narrowly defeated Dartmouth, 7-3, preserving their perfect season and keeping their national championship hopes alive. However, the victory was immediately marred by a startling error that unfolded in the game’s final, frantic minutes.
The Winning Score that Wasn’t
The heavily favored Cornell team had struggled against the unranked Dartmouth Big Green. Trailing 3-0 in the final minute of the game, Cornell mounted a desperate drive. Near the goal line, amidst the noise and confusion, the officiating crew made a critical mistake: they granted Cornell a fifth down.
On that illegal fifth down, the Big Red offense punched the ball into the end zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown. The final score read 7-3, and the exhausted Cornell squad seemingly escaped with their unbeaten streak intact.
An Unprecedented Act of Sportsmanship
The controversy began immediately after the game. The very next day, the referee, finding overwhelming evidence of his error, sent a public telegram to Dartmouth apologizing for the mistaken fifth down.
More significantly, Cornell University took an extraordinary step. After reviewing the game film and confirming the officiating error, the administration made a decision unprecedented in college football: they voluntarily sent a telegram to Dartmouth forfeiting the game.
Cornell stated that the integrity of the sport and the spirit of fair play were more important than an undefeated season or a national championship. The final, official score was changed to Dartmouth 3, Cornell 0.
The Fallout and Legacy
The decision cost Cornell a chance at the mythical 1940 national title, which was ultimately claimed by undefeated Minnesota. While the immediate heartbreak was profound, the forfeit stands as a powerful testament to the value of ethics in athletics.
The “Fifth Down Game” remains a legendary story. It highlighted the importance of media scrutiny and film review (a relatively new concept at the time) and cemented Cornell’s reputation for honor and integrity, demonstrating that true victory sometimes lies in upholding the rules, regardless of the scoreboard.