The 150 Greatest Teams in CFB History

[Blackshirts BLVD]

The 150 greatest teams in college football's 150-year history

Ordered from 150-1 by 50s.

150. 1944 Ohio State (9-0)
Titles: None (Army won AP)

149. 1959 Ole Miss (10-1)
Titles: None (Syracuse won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

148. 1905 Chicago (11-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

147. 2013 North Dakota State (15-0)
Titles: FCS

146. 1984 BYU (13-0)
Titles: AP, USA/CNN, FWAA, NFF, UPI

145. 2012 Mount Union (15-0)
Titles: NCAA Division III

144. 1951 San Francisco (9-0)
Titles: None (Tennessee won AP, UPI)

143. 1964 Alabama (10-1)
Titles: AP, UPI (Arkansas won FWAA and Notre Dame won NFF)

142. 1937 Pittsburgh (9-0-1)
Titles: AP

141. 1941 Minnesota (8-0)
Titles: AP

140. 1933 Princeton (9-0)
Titles: None (Michigan won CFRA, HAF, NCF

139. 1920 California (9-0)
Titles: CFRA, HAF, NCF

138. 2006 Boise State (13-0)
Titles: None (Florida won BCS)

137. 1973 Ohio State (10-0-1)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF; Alabama won UPI)

136. 1919 Notre Dame (9-0)
Titles: Split NCF with Texas A&M and Harvard; (Harvard won HAF; Illinois and Harvard split CFRA)

135. 1928 Georgia Tech (10-0)
Titles: CFRA, HAF, NCF

134. 1923 Yale: (8-0)
Titles: None (Illinois won HAF, CFRA, split NCF with Michigan)

133. 1946 Army (9-0-1)
Titles: None (Michigan won CFRA, HAF, NCF)

132. 1982 SMU (11-0-1)
Titles: None (Penn State won AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI)

131. 1962 Ole Miss (10-0)
Titles: None (USC won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

130. 1946 Georgia (11-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP)

129. 1973 Alabama (11-1)
Titles: UPI (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA)

128. 1929 Notre Dame (9-0)
Titles: CFRA, HAF, NCF

127. 1904 Minnesota (13-0)
Titles: None

126. 1900 Yale: (12-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

125. 1966 Notre Dame (9-0-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA, UPI (split NFF with Michigan St.)

124. 2009 Florida (13-1)
Titles: None (Alabama won BCS)

123. 1934 Alabama (10-0)
Titles: None (Minnesota won CFRA, HAF and NCF)

122. 1990 Colorado (11-1-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA (Georgia Tech won UPI)

121. 1970 Notre Dame (10-1)
Titles: None (Nebraska won AP; Texas won coaches)

120. 1942 Grambling (8-0)
Titles: None (Ohio State won AP)

119. 1894 Yale (16-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

118. 2014 Ohio State (14-1)
Titles: CFP

117. 1952 Georgia Tech (12-0)
Titles: None (Michigan State won AP, UPI)

116. 1891 Yale (13-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

115. 1952 Michigan State (9-0)
Titles: AP, UPI

114. 1925 Alabama (10-0)
Titles: CFRA, HAF, NCF

113. 1986 Miami (11-1)
Titles: None (Penn State won AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI)

112. 1949 Notre Dame (10-0)
Titles: AP

111. 2010 TCU (13-0)
Titles: None (Auburn won BCS)

110. 1975 Arizona State (12-0)
Titles: None (Oklahoma won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

109. 1980 Pittsburgh (11-1)
Titles: None (Georgia won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

108. 1970 Texas (10-1)
Titles: UPI, NFF (Nebraska won AP; Ohio State won a share of NFF)

107. 1924 Notre Dame (10-0)
Titles: CFRA, HAF, NCF

106. 1930 Notre Dame (10-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF (Alabama won CFRA)

105. 1892 Yale (13-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

104. 1951 Maryland (10-0)
Titles: None (Tennessee won AP, UPI)

103. 1973 Michigan (10-0-1)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF; Alabama won UPI)

102. 2003 LSU (13-1)
Titles: BCS (USC won AP, FWAA)

101. 1940 Stanford (10-0)
Titles: None (Minnesota won AP)

100. 1938 Tennessee (11-0)
Titles: None (TCU won AP)

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

99. 1978 Penn State (11-1)
Titles: None (Alabama won AP, FWAA; USC won UPI)

98. 1945 Alabama (10-0)
Titles: None (Army won AP)

97. 1947 Michigan (10-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP)

96. 1902 Michigan (11-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

95. 1957 Auburn (10-0)
Titles: AP (Ohio State won UPI, FWAA)

94. 1888 Yale (13-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

93. 1977 Alabama (11-1)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

92. 1901 Michigan (11-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

91. 1930 Alabama (10-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won HAF, NCF; Alabama won CFRA)

90. 1948 Michigan (9-0)
Titles: AP

89. 1949 Army (9-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP)

88. 1987 Florida State (11-1)
Titles: None (Miami won AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI)

87. 2018 Alabama (14-1)
Titles: None (lost to Clemson in CFP National Championship

86. 1946 Notre Dame (8-0-1)
Titles: AP

85. 1938 TCU (11-0)
Titles: AP

84. 2006 Florida (13-1)
Titles: BCS

83. 1968 Penn State (11-0)
Titles: None (Ohio State won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

82. 1932 USC (10-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF, CFRA

81. 1939 Texas A&M (11-0)
Titles: AP

80. 1977 Notre Dame (11-1)
Titles: AP, UPI, FWAA, NFF

79. 1982 Penn State (11-1)
Titles: AP, UPI, USA/CNN, FWAA, NFF

78. 1944 Army (9-0)
Titles: AP

77. 2002 Miami (FL) (12-1)
Titles: None

76. 1964 Arkansas: (11-0)
Titles: FWAA (Alabama won AP/UPI, Notre Dame won NFF)

75. 2012 Alabama (13-1)
Titles: BCS

74. 1996 Florida (12-1)
Titles: AP, USA/CNN, FWAA, NFF

73. 1993 Florida State (12-1)
Titles: AP, USA/CNN, UPI, FWAA, NFF

72. 1966 Michigan State (9-0-1)
Titles: Shared NFF title with Notre Dame (Irish won AP, UPI, FWAA)

71. 1988 Miami (FL): (11-1)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI)

70. 1974 USC (10-1-1)
Titles: UPI, FWAA (OU won AP)

69. 1967 USC (10-1)
Titles: AP, UPI, FWAA, NFF

68. 1978 Alabama (11-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA (USC won UPI)

67. 2008 Florida (13-1)
Titles: BCS

66. 1958 LSU (11-0)
Titles: AP, UPI (Iowa won FWAA)

65. 2016 Alabama (14-1)
Titles: None (Lost to Clemson in CFP National Championship)

64. 1989 Miami (FL) (11-1)
Titles: AP, USA/CNN, FWAA, UPI, NFF

63. 2016 Clemson (14-1)
Titles: CFP

62. 1954 UCLA (9-0)
Titles: UPI, FWAA (Ohio State won AP)

61. 1954 Ohio State (10-0)
Titles: AP (UCLA won UPI, FWAA)

60. 1973 Penn State (12-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF; Alabama won UPI)

59. 1947 Notre Dame (9-0)
Titles: AP

58. 1945 Army (9-0)
Titles: AP

57. 2004 Auburn (13-0)
Titles: None (USC won BCS)

56. 1962 USC (11-0)
Titles: AP, UPI, FWAA, NFF

55. 1973 Oklahoma (10-0-1)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP, FWAA, NFF; Alabama won UPI)

54. 2003 USC (12-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA (LSU won BCS)

53. 1983 Miami (FL) (11-1)
Titles: AP, USA/CNN, UPI, FWAA, NFF

52. 2005 USC: (12-1)
Titles: None (Lost to Texas in BCS title game)

51. 2011 Alabama: (12-1 )
Titles: BCS

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

50. 1970 Nebraska (11-0-1)
Titles: AP (Texas won coaches poll)

49. 1978 USC (12-1)
Titles: UPI (Alabama won AP)

48. 1954 Oklahoma (10-0)
Titles: None (Ohio State won AP; UCLA won coaches and FWAA)

47. 1972 Oklahoma (11-1)
Titles: None (USC won AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

46. 1969 Penn State (11-0)
Titles: None (Texas won AP, FWAA, NFF and UPI)

45. 1961 Alabama (11-0)
Titles: AP, Coaches, NFF (Ohio State won FWAA)

44. 1975 Oklahoma (11-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI

43. 1997 Michigan (12-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA (Nebraska won coaches poll)

42. 2015 Alabama (14-1)
Titles: CFP

41. 2010 Auburn (14-0)
Titles: BCS

40. 1981 Clemson (12-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI

39. 1959 Syracuse (11-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI

38. 1966 Alabama (11-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP and coaches; Notre Dame and Michigan State shared NFF)

37. 1949 Oklahoma (11-0)
Titles: None (Notre Dame won AP)

36. 1983 Nebraska (12-1)
Titles: None (Miami won AP and UPI)

35. 1998 Tennessee (13-0)
Titles: BCS

34. 2002 Ohio State (14-0)
Titles: BCS

33. 1980 Georgia (12-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI

32. 1985 Oklahoma (11-1)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI

31. 1971 Oklahoma (11-1)
Titles: None (Nebraska won AP and UPI)

30. 1979 USC (11-0-1)
Titles: None (Alabama won AP and UPI)

29. 2013 Florida State (14-0)
Titles: BCS

28. 1973 Notre Dame (11-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF (Alabama won coaches)

27. 1963 Texas (11-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI

26. 1986 Penn State (12-0)
Titles: AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI

25. 2000 Oklahoma (13-0)
Coach: Bob Stoops

24. 1997 Nebraska (13-0)
Coach: Tom Osborne

23. 1991 Washington (12-0)
Coach: Don James

22. 1976 Pittsburgh (12-0)
Coach: Johnny Majors (coaches and writers voted him Coach of the Year)

21. 1992 Alabama (13-0)
Coach: Gene Stallings (unanimous coach of the year)

20. 1991 Miami (12-0)
Coach: Dennis Erickson

19. 1955 Oklahoma (10-0)
Coach: Bud Wilkinson

18. 1988 Notre Dame (12-0)
Coach: Lou Holtz

17. 1969 Texas (11-0)
Coach: Darrell Royal

16. 1994 Penn State (12-0)
Coach: Joe Paterno

15. 1994 Nebraska (13-0)
Coach: Tom Osborne

14. 1974 Oklahoma (11-0)
Coach: Barry Switzer

13. 1968 Ohio State (10-0)
Coach: Woody Hayes

12. 1999 Florida State (12-0)
Coach: Bobby Bowden

11. 1987 Miami (12-0)
Coach: Jimmy Johnson

10. 2009 Alabama (14-0)
Coach: Nick Saban

9. 1956 Oklahoma (10-0)
Coach: Bud Wilkinson

8. 1979 Alabama (12-0)
Coach: Paul "Bear" Bryant

7. 2001 Miami (12-0)
Coach: Larry Coker (national coach of the year as first-year HC)

6. 2005 Texas (13-0)
Coach: Mack Brown

5. 2018 Clemson (15-0)
Coach: Dabo Swinney

4. 1995 Nebraska (12-0)
Coach: Tom Osborne

3. 1972 USC (12-0)
Coach: John McKay

2. 2004 USC (13-0)
Coach: Pete Carroll

1. 1971 Nebraska (13-0)
Coach: Bob Devaney

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

Looks like that settles it for 1997 and 1994.

 

[Rolltide94]

What kind of fuckery is this, I don't know many who think '79 was Bear's best team or that 2009 was Saban's. Nor do I think '71 was anywhere close to Nebraska's best team.

Shit, looking at the list, it seems to me the only schools they got right might be 2018 Clemson and 2005 Texas, outside of that, I think most have better teams further down the list.

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

I'm surprised 2018 Bama is #87. They didn't win the title, but others on here are higher on the list without titles. Bama dominated and in my opinion, should at the very least be one of the highest rate to not win a title/go undefeated.

I also think 95 Nebraska should be #1 instead of 71 Nebraska, but I can settle with this lol.

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

What kind of fuckery is this, I don't know many who think '79 was Bear's best team or that 2009 was Saban's. Nor do I think '71 was anywhere close to Nebraska's best team.

Shit, looking at the list, it seems to me the only schools they got right might be 2018 Clemson and 2005 Texas, outside of that, I think most have better teams further down the list.

Yeah, I think 95 Nebraska is the team to beat. I do think that 71 is probably the 2nd best Nebraska team. 1983 was really good too (at #36). I would also agree about Bama. I actually think the 2018 Bama team is significantly better than the 2009 team, but I can understand the 09 team being ranked higher since they claimed the title.

Funny that Michigan doesn't even have a mention until #43.... which happens to be their 97 team. Meanwhile, 97 Nebraska is #24. As I said, 97 Nebraska was better annnnnd Michigan is a pretender in the blue blood category, maybe a periwinkle blood.

 

[The Crimson King]

Look how much higher 83 Nebraska is than 83 Miami. Something's up

 

[Rolltide94]

Yeah, I think 95 Nebraska is the team to beat. I do think that 71 is probably the 2nd best Nebraska team. 1983 was really good too (at #36). I would also agree about Bama. I actually think the 2018 Bama team is significantly better than the 2009 team, but I can understand the 09 team being ranked higher since they claimed the title.

Funny that Michigan doesn't even have a mention until #43.... which happens to be their 97 team. Meanwhile, 97 Nebraska is #24. As I said, 97 Nebraska was better annnnnd Michigan is a pretender in the blue blood category, maybe a periwinkle blood.

Although I am personally a fan of the '83 team...I wanted to be Tom Rathman as a young lad, '95 is probably the winner.

To me 2011 is the best Alabama team at 51, followed by '92(21)

 

[Diego Roll Tide]

What kind of fuckery is this, I don't know many who think '79 was Bear's best team or that 2009 was Saban's. Nor do I think '71 was anywhere close to Nebraska's best team.

Shit, looking at the list, it seems to me the only schools they got right might be 2018 Clemson and 2005 Texas, outside of that, I think most have better teams further down the list.

It was pretty random, but then 150 is pretty random. It’s hard to compare across eras.

 

[78Cyclones]

I've seen 15 (10%) of these teams play in person!

2. 2004 USC (13-0) @ UCLA

8. 1979 Alabama (12-0) Tennessee @ Legion Field and Arkansas @ Sugar Bowl

10. 2009 Alabama (14-0) @ Kentucky and Tennessee

12. 1999 Florida State (12-0) Miami (Fla.)

15. 1994 Nebraska (13-0) Okla. State, @ Iowa State and @ Oklahoma

25. 2000 Oklahoma (13-0) Florida State @ Orange Bowl

34. 2002 Ohio State (14-0) Cincinnati @ Paul Brown Stadium

35. 1998 Tennessee (13-0) Miss. State @ SEC CCG and Florida State @ Fiesta Bowl

41. 2010 Auburn (14-0) @ Alabama

42. 2015 Alabama (14-1) Florida @ SEC CCG

49. 1978 USC (12-1) Alabama @ Legion Field

68. 1978 Alabama (11-1) Southern California @ Legion Field and LSU @ Legion Field

74. 1996 Florida (12-1) @ Florida State and Alabama @ SEC CCG

75. 2012 Alabama (13-1) @ Tennessee and Notre Dame @ BCS Championship Game (Miami Gardens, FL)

87. 2018 Alabama (14-1) Mizzou and Oklahoma @ Orange Bowl

Whatcha got?

 

[78Cyclones]

It was pretty random, but then 150 is pretty random. It’s hard to compare across eras.

It is, but they have some cool teams that need to remembered like 1902 Michigan, 1905 Chicago (Walter Eckersal), 1942 Grambling, 1945 Alabama, 1973 Michigan, 1973 Ohio State, 1975 Ariz. State, and 1988 Miami (Fla.)(Schedule was INSANE) to name a few.

 

[78Cyclones]

I was happy to see these teams make the list: 110. 1975 Arizona State (12-0), 111. 2010 TCU (13-0), 138. 2006 Boise State (13-0) and 146. 1984 BYU (13-0).

 

[Voltaire26]

Looks like that settles it for 1997 and 1994.

Begrudgingly concede ... should have had a playoff ... Congratulations Cornhuskers

 

[PhilSimms11]

They have 1984 BYU (13-0) at #146. People raised hell about them being crowned National Champions. That would've been one helluva year to have an 8-team playoff. It was kind of a fucked up year. Florida (9-1-1) finished #3, but they were on probation. BYU turned out to be the only unbeaten team that year. Their schedule was pathetic. They played one ranked team all season--#3 Pitt who ended up going 3-7-1.

(3)Pitt (3-7-1)
Baylor (5-6)
Tulsa (6-5)
Hawaii (7-4)
Colorado St (3-8)
Wyoming (6-6)
Air Force (8-4)
New Mexico (4-8)
UTEP (2-9)
San Diego St (4-7-1)
Utah (6-5-1)
Utah St (1-10)
Michigan (6-6)

Could they have gotten through this.....? I doubt it.
(1)BYU (12-0) vs (8)Oklahoma St (9-2)
(4)Nebraska (9-2) vs (5)Ohio St (9-2)

(2)Oklahoma (9-1-1) vs (7)Boston College (9-2)
(3)Washington (10-1) vs (6)South Carolina (10-1)

 

[The Crimson King]

1914 Auburn gave up zero points

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

119. 1894 Yale (16-0)
Titles: HAF, NCF

Damn!!! 16 games?

 

[olympicoscar]

What kind of fuckery is this, I don't know many who think '79 was Bear's best team or that 2009 was Saban's. Nor do I think '71 was anywhere close to Nebraska's best team.

Shit, looking at the list, it seems to me the only schools they got right might be 2018 Clemson and 2005 Texas, outside of that, I think most have better teams further down the list.

You have to judge it from the times the games were played. 1971 was the greatest Nebraska team, based on that, and, IMO, the greatest of all time. As for Bama, I always like the 2011 team.

 

[PhilSimms11]

Damn!!! 16 games?

They gave up a total of 13 points (13 shutouts). They were co-National Champions that season with Penn (12-0) and Princeton (8-2).

 

[78Cyclones]

You have to judge it from the times the games were played. 1971 was the greatest Nebraska team, based on that, and, IMO, the greatest of all time. As for Bama, I always like the 2011 team.

Interestingly, I didn't care for the 2011 Alabama team (style wise), but I loved the 2012 team - which had much more flair (Amari Cooper helped!) and opened the year kicking Michigan's butt and ended the year kicking Notre Dame's butt! What was not to like?

As for Ohio State, the 2002 team that I saw play @ Cincinnati is one of my favorite CFB teams of all time. I think the list is cool with all of the old teams in it, but I 100% agree with your point about not being able to cross compare eras very well.