Link: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-every-college-football-national-champion
Ranking Every College Football National Champion Over the Last 50 Years
by Aaron Tallent, Athlon Sports
As we wait to see who will become college football's next national champion, we will hear stories of past champions and how great or lucky they were. Let’s be clear, every national championship team was great, but how do you determine who was the best?
This may be unpopular, but I have attempted to rank every national champion over the past 50 years. I did so by asking the following questions:
How strong was their schedule?
What was their record?
How dominant were their wins?
Did they win their conference?
Did they win their bowl game?
How many elite players did they have?
Before we dive into this list, I think its important to reiterate that every team on here was still pretty exceptional. So think of this as a walk down memory lane more than a scathing critique of national champions. Now without further ado, let’s begin.
58. 1970 Texas
57. 1973 Alabama
56. 1974 USC
55. 2007 LSU
54. 1969 Texas
53. 1984 BYU
52. 1990 Colorado
51. 1989 Miami
50. 1982 Penn State
49. 2011 Alabama
48. 1977 Notre Dame
47. 2017 Alabama
46. 1990 Georgia Tech
45. 1985 Oklahoma
44. 2012 Alabama
43. 2003 USC
42. 1978 Alabama
41. 2003 LSU
40. 1980 Georgia
39. 1983 Miami
38. 1970 Nebraska
Record: 11-0-1
Finished: Beat No. 5 LSU 17-12 in the Sugar Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1 (AP Poll), No. 3 (Coaches Poll)
Notable Wins: No. 16 Missouri (21-7), No. 20 Kansas State (51-13), Oklahoma (28-21), and No. 5 LSU (17-12)
Consensus All-Americans: One (Bob Newton)
The Huskers tied third-ranked USC 21-21 in the second game of the season and then beat all but one of its regular season opponents by at least two touchdowns. They entered the bowl season ranked third in both polls and the Coaches Poll had already named Texas national champion. When both Texas and No. 2 Ohio State lost their bowl games, the AP voters awarded the national championship to Nebraska.
37. 1978 USC
36. 1968 Ohio State
35. 2006 Florida
34. 1976 Pittsburgh
33. 2014 Ohio State
32. 1973 Notre Dame
31. 1981 Clemson
30. 1975 Oklahoma
29. 1986 Penn State
28. 1996 Florida
27. 2016 Clemson
26. 1993 Florida State
25. 2008 Florida
24. 2015 Alabama
23. 1997 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 3 Tennessee 42-17 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1 (Coaches Poll), No. 2 (AP Poll)
Notable Wins: No. 2 Washington (27-14), No. 17 Kansas State (56-26), Missouri (45-38), No. 14 Texas A&M (54-15), and No. 3 Tennessee (42-17)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Jason Peter, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom)
The last primarily rushing team to win a national title averaged 393 yards on the ground per game and blew out all of its Big 12 opponents, except two: 1) a 27-24 win over Colorado, and 2) a 45-38 win over Missouri in the infamous "flea kicker" game. At the end of the season, Nebraska and Michigan were the only two undefeated Power 5 teams and AP voters awarded the national title to Michigan, while the Coaches Poll gave retiring Nebraska coach Tom Osborne his third national championship.
22. 1991 Miami
21. 1997 Michigan
20. 1991 Washington
19. 1998 Tennessee
18. 2002 Ohio State
17. 2010 Auburn
16. 2000 Oklahoma
15. 1992 Alabama
14. 1974 Oklahoma
13. 1987 Miami
12. 1994 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 3 Miami 24-17 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 24 West Virginia (31-0), No. 13 UCLA (49-21), No. 16 Kansas (17-6), No. 2 Colorado (24-7), and No. 3 Miami (24-17)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Brendan Stai, Ed Stewart, Zach Wiegert)
When quarterback Tommie Frazier was lost for much of the season, backup Brook Berringer took over and the team did not miss a beat. With an offensive line that included two Consensus All-Americans, Nebraska averaged 340 rushing yards a game and blew through the Big 8. Frazier returned for the Orange Bowl and led a fourth-quarter comeback to clinch Tom Osborne's first national championship.
11. 1979 Alabama
10. 1999 Florida State
9. 2004 USC
8. 1998 Notre Dame
7. 2005 Texas
6. 1972 USC
5. 2009 Alabama
4. 1995 Nebraska
Record: 12-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 8 Kansas State (41-3), No. 7 Colorado (44-21), No. 10 Kansas (41-3) and No. 2 Florida (62-24)
Consensus All-Americans: One (Tommie Frazier)
After winning the national championship the year before in dramatic fashion, the Huskers sapped the drama out of their encore. Their closest margin of victory was 14 points against Washington State and their beatdown of Florida is the most dominant performance in national championship game history.
3. 2013 Florida State
Record: 14-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Auburn 34-31 in the BCS National Championship Game
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 25 Maryland (63-0), No. 3 Clemson (51-14), No. 7 Miami (41-14), No. 20 Duke (45-7) and No. 2 Auburn (34-31)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Lamarcus Joyner, Byron Stork, Jameis Winston)
Quarterback Jameis Winston became the second freshman to win the Heisman Trophy as he led an offense that outscored its opponents 723-170 to become the highest-scoring team in college football history. The Seminoles beat all but two of its opponents by 27 points or more. Those two exceptions were a 48-34 win over Boston College in Chestnut Hill and the 34-31 win over Auburn in the title game, which ended a run of seven straight national championships for the SEC.
2. 1971 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Alabama 38-6 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 9 Colorado (31-7), No. 2 Oklahoma (35-31) and No. 2 Alabama (38-6)
Consensus All-Americans: Two (Larry Jacobsen, Johnny Rodgers)
The defending national champion Huskers had one close contest: the epic 35-31 win over Oklahoma in college football's one true "Game of the Century". They beat the rest of their opponents by 24 points or more. When the dust settled, Nebraska had beaten the No. 2 (Oklahoma), No. 3 (Colorado) and No. 4 (Alabama) teams in the final rankings.
1. 2001 Miami
Record: 12-0
Finished: Beat No. 4 Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 13 Florida State (49-27), No. 15 Syracuse (59-0), No. 11 Washington (65-7), No. 14 Virginia Tech (26-24), No. 4 Nebraska (37-14)
Consensus All-Americans: Two (Bryant McKinnie, Ed Reed)
The Hurricanes garnered the No. 1 ranking after the first game and went on to beat all of their opponents by an average of 32.9 points. They also had the third-best offense and top-ranked defense that season. With 38 NFL Draft picks (17 in the first round), the 2001 Miami squad is widely regarded by college football fans and writers as the greatest of all time.
Ranking Every College Football National Champion Over the Last 50 Years
by Aaron Tallent, Athlon Sports
As we wait to see who will become college football's next national champion, we will hear stories of past champions and how great or lucky they were. Let’s be clear, every national championship team was great, but how do you determine who was the best?
This may be unpopular, but I have attempted to rank every national champion over the past 50 years. I did so by asking the following questions:
How strong was their schedule?
What was their record?
How dominant were their wins?
Did they win their conference?
Did they win their bowl game?
How many elite players did they have?
Before we dive into this list, I think its important to reiterate that every team on here was still pretty exceptional. So think of this as a walk down memory lane more than a scathing critique of national champions. Now without further ado, let’s begin.
58. 1970 Texas
57. 1973 Alabama
56. 1974 USC
55. 2007 LSU
54. 1969 Texas
53. 1984 BYU
52. 1990 Colorado
51. 1989 Miami
50. 1982 Penn State
49. 2011 Alabama
48. 1977 Notre Dame
47. 2017 Alabama
46. 1990 Georgia Tech
45. 1985 Oklahoma
44. 2012 Alabama
43. 2003 USC
42. 1978 Alabama
41. 2003 LSU
40. 1980 Georgia
39. 1983 Miami
38. 1970 Nebraska
Record: 11-0-1
Finished: Beat No. 5 LSU 17-12 in the Sugar Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1 (AP Poll), No. 3 (Coaches Poll)
Notable Wins: No. 16 Missouri (21-7), No. 20 Kansas State (51-13), Oklahoma (28-21), and No. 5 LSU (17-12)
Consensus All-Americans: One (Bob Newton)
The Huskers tied third-ranked USC 21-21 in the second game of the season and then beat all but one of its regular season opponents by at least two touchdowns. They entered the bowl season ranked third in both polls and the Coaches Poll had already named Texas national champion. When both Texas and No. 2 Ohio State lost their bowl games, the AP voters awarded the national championship to Nebraska.
37. 1978 USC
36. 1968 Ohio State
35. 2006 Florida
34. 1976 Pittsburgh
33. 2014 Ohio State
32. 1973 Notre Dame
31. 1981 Clemson
30. 1975 Oklahoma
29. 1986 Penn State
28. 1996 Florida
27. 2016 Clemson
26. 1993 Florida State
25. 2008 Florida
24. 2015 Alabama
23. 1997 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 3 Tennessee 42-17 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1 (Coaches Poll), No. 2 (AP Poll)
Notable Wins: No. 2 Washington (27-14), No. 17 Kansas State (56-26), Missouri (45-38), No. 14 Texas A&M (54-15), and No. 3 Tennessee (42-17)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Jason Peter, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom)
The last primarily rushing team to win a national title averaged 393 yards on the ground per game and blew out all of its Big 12 opponents, except two: 1) a 27-24 win over Colorado, and 2) a 45-38 win over Missouri in the infamous "flea kicker" game. At the end of the season, Nebraska and Michigan were the only two undefeated Power 5 teams and AP voters awarded the national title to Michigan, while the Coaches Poll gave retiring Nebraska coach Tom Osborne his third national championship.
22. 1991 Miami
21. 1997 Michigan
20. 1991 Washington
19. 1998 Tennessee
18. 2002 Ohio State
17. 2010 Auburn
16. 2000 Oklahoma
15. 1992 Alabama
14. 1974 Oklahoma
13. 1987 Miami
12. 1994 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 3 Miami 24-17 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 24 West Virginia (31-0), No. 13 UCLA (49-21), No. 16 Kansas (17-6), No. 2 Colorado (24-7), and No. 3 Miami (24-17)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Brendan Stai, Ed Stewart, Zach Wiegert)
When quarterback Tommie Frazier was lost for much of the season, backup Brook Berringer took over and the team did not miss a beat. With an offensive line that included two Consensus All-Americans, Nebraska averaged 340 rushing yards a game and blew through the Big 8. Frazier returned for the Orange Bowl and led a fourth-quarter comeback to clinch Tom Osborne's first national championship.
11. 1979 Alabama
10. 1999 Florida State
9. 2004 USC
8. 1998 Notre Dame
7. 2005 Texas
6. 1972 USC
5. 2009 Alabama
4. 1995 Nebraska
Record: 12-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 8 Kansas State (41-3), No. 7 Colorado (44-21), No. 10 Kansas (41-3) and No. 2 Florida (62-24)
Consensus All-Americans: One (Tommie Frazier)
After winning the national championship the year before in dramatic fashion, the Huskers sapped the drama out of their encore. Their closest margin of victory was 14 points against Washington State and their beatdown of Florida is the most dominant performance in national championship game history.
3. 2013 Florida State
Record: 14-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Auburn 34-31 in the BCS National Championship Game
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 25 Maryland (63-0), No. 3 Clemson (51-14), No. 7 Miami (41-14), No. 20 Duke (45-7) and No. 2 Auburn (34-31)
Consensus All-Americans: Three (Lamarcus Joyner, Byron Stork, Jameis Winston)
Quarterback Jameis Winston became the second freshman to win the Heisman Trophy as he led an offense that outscored its opponents 723-170 to become the highest-scoring team in college football history. The Seminoles beat all but two of its opponents by 27 points or more. Those two exceptions were a 48-34 win over Boston College in Chestnut Hill and the 34-31 win over Auburn in the title game, which ended a run of seven straight national championships for the SEC.
2. 1971 Nebraska
Record: 13-0
Finished: Beat No. 2 Alabama 38-6 in the Orange Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 9 Colorado (31-7), No. 2 Oklahoma (35-31) and No. 2 Alabama (38-6)
Consensus All-Americans: Two (Larry Jacobsen, Johnny Rodgers)
The defending national champion Huskers had one close contest: the epic 35-31 win over Oklahoma in college football's one true "Game of the Century". They beat the rest of their opponents by 24 points or more. When the dust settled, Nebraska had beaten the No. 2 (Oklahoma), No. 3 (Colorado) and No. 4 (Alabama) teams in the final rankings.
1. 2001 Miami
Record: 12-0
Finished: Beat No. 4 Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl
Final Ranking: No. 1
Notable Wins: No. 13 Florida State (49-27), No. 15 Syracuse (59-0), No. 11 Washington (65-7), No. 14 Virginia Tech (26-24), No. 4 Nebraska (37-14)
Consensus All-Americans: Two (Bryant McKinnie, Ed Reed)
The Hurricanes garnered the No. 1 ranking after the first game and went on to beat all of their opponents by an average of 32.9 points. They also had the third-best offense and top-ranked defense that season. With 38 NFL Draft picks (17 in the first round), the 2001 Miami squad is widely regarded by college football fans and writers as the greatest of all time.
