| 100% | REDBIRDS | 8 | 2004 8-Down losers to the 39-Across, in headlines |
| 56% | CUBS | 4 | 8-Down also-rans to the 39-Across in 1918 |
| 51% | REDS | 4 | They beat the 39-Across in the 1975 8-Down |
| 51% | METS | 4 | They beat the 39-Across in the 1986 8-Down |
| 49% | TEDWILLIAMS | 11 | 39-Across legend who played in the 1946 8-Down |
| 46% | ESTOS | 5 | These, to the characters in 8-Across |
| 45% | STATE | 5 | With 39 Across and 33 Down, what each syllable of the answer to each starred clue is |
| 44% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fairytale |
| 44% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fable |
| 44% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise, in fable |
| 44% | PADRES | 6 | Losers to the Yankees in the 1998 Series |
| 44% | BENGALS | 7 | Losers to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII |
| 44% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fabled race |
| 44% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise, in a fable |
| 43% | UTES | 4 | Losers to the Buckeyes in the 2022 Rose Bowl |
| 43% | RAYS | 4 | Losers to the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series |
| 42% | GHANA | 5 | Loser to the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup |
| 41% | CBS | 3 | Loser to RCA in the color TV race |
| 41% | NETSCAPE | 8 | Loser to Explorer in the first browser war |
| 41% | FRENCHTWIST | 11 | Classic hairstyle ... or a hint to the puns in 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 41% | RIGGS | 5 | Loser to King in the Battle of the Sexes |
| 41% | ALA | 3 | Loser to Barack Obama in a 2004 Senate race |
| 41% | LIBRA | 5 | Balance in the 39 Across |
| 40% | ALA | 3 | Loser to Clemson in the 2019 football championship game (Abbr.) |
| 40% | NSYNC | 5 | Loser to U2 for Grammy Record of the Year in 2001 |
| 38% | UPWARDS | 7 | Going in the opposite direction to down |
| 38% | TACKLING | 8 | In sport, taking down an opponent to stop the ball |
| 37% | URL | 3 | It is seen in the clue to 21 Down |
| 37% | SEATTLE | 7 | Washington city that hosted the 39-Across in 1962 |
| 37% | HATH | 4 | 8-Down, in the Bible |