Poll: At which FBS school is it the easiest to win a NT?

[UM Fire]

This all started from a conversation I was having with my team at work. We were trying to determine who has the most opportunities to be successful. I thought I would bring this to the hoop, because it’s always fun to get differing opinions.

We took into account the level of talent in the state, the ease of which you can get that talent through the admissions board (sorry Harvard), the level of real competition for talent from in-state rivals and winning tradition. (Basically, if Urban Meyer or Nick Saban coached these teams, which school would win the most NTs)

To give some context, ESPN was kind enough to rank High School talent. The article was written in 2007, so take it with a grain of salt.

Overall state football rankings

High School Ranks:
1. Texas
2. California
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Ohio
6. Pennsylvania
7. Louisiana
8. Virginia
9. Alabama
10. Michigan
11. Illinois
12. South Carolina
13. New Jersey
14. North Carolina
15. Mississippi
16. Maryland
17. Oklahoma
18. Tennessee
19. Nebraska
20. Arkansas
21. Washington
22. Arizona
23. Iowa
24. New York
25. Wisconsin

To get the 15 options, I took schools with the highest winning percentage with at least 500 wins and kept only the ones who've won national titles in the last 30 years. If you have others, please comment. I'd love to hear other ideas.

 

[UM Fire]

For example, if we just narrowed it down to the 2000s, we agreed on USC. Cal, UCLA, Stanford and ND were down during most of the decade. It seemed like year in and year out 7 or 8 of the top 10 CA players went to SC. They had a strangle hold on their state, a top state, and little competition from rivals. Now, with UCLA, Stanford and ND better, it's much harder for SC to win.

 

[theboardref]

I think you left one school off the list. Georgia. Georgia is overloaded with talent, and is right next to Florida and can go pick up some guys from there. Georgia does an AWFUL job keeping it's best talent in state.

 

[Smart]

Went with Ohio State. Nicest stadium, best facilities, largest fan base, solid academics that don't reject a lot of kids, in the heart of a great football state with the ability to pull elite kids from all over the country, and a history of winning both long-term and recently.

Only other two I considered were Texas and USC, but I don't think they are that close. OSU's stadium and fanbase blow both of those away, as does its dominance of its home state.

 

[The Derski]

This list should probably be slimmed down to Ohio St., USC, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. If we are talking about proximity to elite recruits and the ability to keep them in state.

 

[The Derski]

I know FSU is more storied than Florida but it's a toss up for me so I went with Florida because their athletic department is much better.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Right now I'd say it's Ohio State, since they won the title last year and seem to have at least as good a chance of winning it this year as does any team. OF course, had you asked the question a couple of years ago, then Alabama would have been the answer.

 

[theboardref]

I know FSU is more storied than Florida but it's a toss up for me so I went with Florida because their athletic department is much better.

I think LSU is fair to be on the list for the question, the state does produce the most NFL talent per capita. I just think the state can never produce quarterbacks. Harris is a diamond in the damn rough. He isn't great by any means, but the last decent Louisiana qb to start for LSU I coulnd't even tell you how long ago that was. If you include Ryan Perriloux not that long ago, but I dont.

 

[iowajerms]

OD is going to be pissed

 

[The Derski]

For example, if we just narrowed it down to the 2000s, we agreed on USC. Cal, UCLA, Stanford and ND were down during most of the decade. It seemed like year in and year out 7 or 8 of the top 10 CA players went to SC. They had a strangle hold on their state, a top state, and little competition from rivals. Now, with UCLA, Stanford and ND better, it's much harder for SC to win.

ND is in Indiana.

 

[4down20]

I doubt it's easy at any school.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I wonder if a team has ever won a title simply because it was easier for them to do so than it was for other teams. I doubt it. LOL

 

[OregonDucks]

Should be Texas.

Best recruits
Top facilities
Loads of money
Conference can be relatively easy if you actually get your top recruits and keep them from Baylor,TCU,TECH.

 

[Pariah]

@ Virginia Tech
vs. Hawaii
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. Western Michigan
@ Indiana
vs. Maryland
vs. Penn State
@ Rutgers
vs. Minnesota
@ Illinois

 

[The Derski]

@ Virginia Tech
vs. Hawaii
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. Western Michigan
@ Indiana
vs. Maryland
vs. Penn State
@ Rutgers
vs. Minnesota
@ Illinois

And? Ohio St. would run right through the Big 12.

 

[Bamabino]

Went with Ohio State. Nicest stadium, best facilities, largest fan base, solid academics that don't reject a lot of kids, in the heart of a great football state with the ability to pull elite kids from all over the country, and a history of winning both long-term and recently.

Only other two I considered were Texas and USC, but I don't think they are that close. OSU's stadium and fanbase blow both of those away, as does its dominance of its home state.

Yet they only have 2 titles since 1968. Poster child for under-achievers.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

At this point its Ohio St, with Florida St a close 2nd.

Ohio St dominates in-state recruiting, faces a less than stellar conference schedule, and has great tradition.

Florida St has most of those same advantages but faces a lot more competition for recruits.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

Yet they only have 2 titles since 1968. Poster child for under-achievers.

Blame coaching. Can you imagine how many titles Saban would have in Columbus?

 

[UM Fire]

I think you left one school off the list. Georgia. Georgia is overloaded with talent, and is right next to Florida and can go pick up some guys from there. Georgia does an AWFUL job keeping it's best talent in state.

I thought about Georgia. They were on the list until I had to cut it down to 15. They haven't won a national title in the last 30 years, so I had to leave them out. But that is a fair point.

One other point to consider is they also have competition from GT. Tech has been inconsistent to say the least, but they are still a power 5 team that has a chance each year.

 

[TheDayMan]

I would like to write in oregon. Should be so easy there, that's how bad they suck, should be the easiest place to win a NT, and they never have...