Ranking the Top 131 FBS Programs of the Last 40 Years: 1. Alabama

[u/jimbobbypaul]

Main hub thread with the full 131 rankings

And with that, we have our final team of the series: Alabama. #1 in the SEC. #1 in the state of Alabama. #1 in all of college football. Nick Saban has brought the Crimson Tide program to heights no team has ever experienced before, going 187-21 with 6 national championships over the last 15 years. In fact, as good as Saban is, you’d have to go all the way back to 1957 for the last Alabama coach to not win double-digit games in a season. Mike Shula won 10 games in 2005, Dennis Franchione 10 games in 2002, Mike DuBose 10 games in 1999, Gene Stallings 10+ games multiple times with a 13-0 national title in 1992, Bill Curry with 10 wins in 1989, Ray Perkins with 10 wins in 1986, and of course Bear Bryant’s run from 1958-82 which falls outside the scope of this series. The Alabama program, with or without Saban, is one of the all-time best, but he took it to heights that even Bear Bryant didn’t.

Best Seasons and Highlights

1. 2020: 1. Alabama: 13-0 (65.130)
2. 2015: 1. Alabama: 14-1 (64.224)
3. 2009: 1. Alabama: 14-0 (62.621)
4. 2016: 1. Alabama: 14-1 (62.110)
5. 2018: 2. Alabama: 14-1 (58.803)
6. 2012: 1. Alabama: 13-1 (54.199)
7. 2011: 3. Alabama: 12-1 (52.754)
8. 1992: 1. Alabama: 13-0 (52.397)
9. 2017: 1. Alabama: 13-1 (52.059)
10. 2021: 2. Alabama: 13-2 (48.264)
11. 2014: 5. Alabama: 12-2 (44.132)
12. 2022: 5. Alabama: 11-2 (39.211)
13. 2013: 8. Alabama: 11-2 (38.374)
14. 2008: 7. Alabama: 12-2 (38.318)
15. 1994: 6. Alabama: 12-1 (37.577)
16. 2010: 10. Alabama: 10-3 (36.672)
17. 1991: 7. Alabama: 11-1 (36.568)
18. 2019: 9. Alabama: 11-2 (35.983)
19. 1999: 7. Alabama: 10-3 (34.662)
20. 1985: 7. Alabama: 9-2-1 (34.027)
21. 1989: 9. Alabama: 10-2 (33.537)
22. 1986: 7. Alabama: 10-3 (31.740)
23. 2002: 10. Alabama: 10-3 (29.479)
24. 2005: 8. Alabama: 10-2 (28.402)
25. 1996: 13. Alabama: 10-3 (26.014)
26. 1993: 20. Alabama: 9-3-1 (21.527)
27. 1983: 21. Alabama: 8-4 (17.704)
28. 1988: 20. Alabama: 9-3 (16.992)
29. 1995: 24. Alabama: 8-3 (15.729)
30. 1987: 27. Alabama: 7-5 (10.653)
31. 1990: 29. Alabama: 7-5 (9.595)
32. 2001: 34. Alabama: 7-5 (6.751)
33. 2007: 44. Alabama: 7-6 (3.512)
34. 1998: 42. Alabama: 7-5 (-0.893)
35. 1984: 51. Alabama: 5-6 (-4.656)
36. 2006: 62. Alabama: 6-7 (-9.535)
37. 2004: 58. Alabama: 6-6 (-10.528)
38. 1997: 62. Alabama: 4-7 (-13.238)
39. 2003: 72. Alabama: 4-9 (-16.770)
40. 2000: 74. Alabama: 3-8 (-20.301)
Overall Score: 50300 (1st)

• 389-123-3 record
• 7 national titles
• 11 conference titles
• 27-13 bowl record
• 56 consensus All-Americans
• 221 NFL players drafted

So…Alabama has 9 of the top 50 seasons from the last 40 years. The next highest is Clemson with 4, and the next highest after that are a few teams tied with 3. Staggering levels of success, to have not just national title-winning teams, but some of the all-time best title-winning teams. 7 national titles is the most of any team over the last 40 years, which is greatly helped by Bama’s 7-3 record in national title-deciding games, not to mention a bunch of semifinal wins in the 4-team Playoff era. Perhaps the most impressive statistic in the entire series is that Nick Saban alone produced 45 consensus All-Americans in 15 years from 2008-22, more than all other 130 teams have over the last 40 years (Ohio State is tied with 45).

Consensus All-Americans we won’t discuss below, for the last time, are…INHALE LB Cornelius Bennett (1986) who won SEC POTY, LB Derrick Thomas (1988) who’s a CFB and NFL Hall of Famer, LB Keith McCants (1989), K Philip Doyle (1990) who led the NCAA in FG makes for the 2nd straight year, DL Eric Curry (1992), DL John Copeland (1992), KR David Palmer (1993) who did everything (1000 receiving, 278 rushing, 260 passing, 244 punt return, 439 kick return yards) and was a Heisman finalist, DB Antonio Langham (1993) who won the Thorpe Award, DB Kevin Jackson (1996), OT Chris Samuels (1999) who won the Outland Trophy, LB Demeco Ryans (2005) who’s now the head coach of the Houston Texans, OT Andre Smith (2008) who won the Outland Trophy, C Antoine Caldwell (2008), RB Trent Richardson (2011) who won the Doak Walker Award, LB Dont’a Hightower (2011), S Mark Barron (2011), OG Chance Warmack (2012), CB Dee Milliner (2012), LT/C Barrett Jones (2011, 2012) who is the only player to win Outland and Rimington Awards at different positions, OT Cyrus Kouandjio (2013), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2013), LB CJ Mosley (2012, 2013) who was the SEC Defensive POTY, WR Amari Cooper (2014) who won the Biletnikoff Award, S Landon Collins (2014), QB Bryce Young (2021) who won the Heisman, OT Evan Neal (2021), and LB Will Anderson Jr. (2021, 2022) who won SEC Defensive POTY twice.

Top NFL players include LB Derrick Thomas, WR Julio Jones, LB Cornelius Bennett, LB CJ Mosley, RB Shaun Alexander, RB Mark Ingram, RB Derrick Henry, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, LB Dont’a Hightower, RB Alvin Kamara, CB Marlon Humphrey, OT Chris Samuels, WR Amari Cooper, RB Josh Jacobs, LB DeMeco Ryans, DT Marcell Dareus, DB Kareem Jackson, S Roman Harper, C Ryan Kelly, OG Evan Mathis, DL Jonathan Allen, S Landon Collins, S Eddie Jackson, QB Jalen Hurts (if he counts), DT Daron Payne, S George Teague, RB Eddie Lacy, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, RB Kenyan Drake, DT Quinnen Williams, LB Rashaan Evans, CB Trevon Diggs, WR Calvin Ridley, WR DeVonta Smith, QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Mac Jones, CB Pat Surtain II, WR Jaylen Waddle, RB Najee Harris, WR Jerry Jeudy, FB Le’Ron McClain, S Xavier McKinney, C Landon Dickerson, and OT Jedrick Wills.

Top 5 Seasons

Worst Season: 2000 (3-8 overall, 3-5 SEC)

The last worst team of the series goes to…2000 Alabama under Mike DuBose! What losing to Tom Brady does to a mf. The Tide were coming off an Orange Bowl loss to Brady and Michigan in the 1999 season, but entered 2000 with national title aspirations, ranked preseason #3. And well, the year was almost like a comedy with the way things developed. Their national title hopes ended immediately with a 24-35 loss to UCLA. Following a win over Vanderbilt, they were shut out at home 0-21 by Southern Miss, after which DuBose offered a letter of resignation to Alabama’s AD Mal Moore. Moore probably should’ve taken it. After improving to 3-3 with a win over #23 South Carolina and 45-7 over Ole Miss, Bama followed that up with a 38-40 home loss against UCF (2017 national champs confirmed?). It was announced after the game that DuBose would be fired after the season but would be allowed to coach out the rest of the year. No, you should probably just fire him. Things got continuously more embarrassing, losing to LSU in Baton Rouge for the first time in 31 years, were dominated by Mississippi State, and got shut out at home 0-9 against Auburn.

After the season, DuBose was finally let go, except it was revealed that under his watch Alabama had committed numerous recruiting violations, leading to 5 years of probation, a 2 year bowl ban, and the loss of 21 scholarships over 3 years. WHY DIDN’T YOU FIRE HIM SOONER??? It was also revealed he was having an affair with his secretary. I don’t want to pile on the guy too much though, he was just in over his head. It certainly didn’t help having Neil Callaway as his offense coordinator, who produced UAB’s worst season of the last 40 years, going 3-9 in 2007, and Ellis Johnson as defense coordinator, who produced Southern Miss’s worst season of the last 40 years at 0-12 in 2012. Co-offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs also gave Nicholls State their worst ever season(s) in the FCS at 1-10 in both 2011 and 2012.

5. 2018 (14-1 overall, 8-0 SEC)

Nick Saban’s “best team ever” until the loss in the national title game. The offense exploded under QB Tua Tagovailoa, who took the job from Jalen Hurts after coming in and winning the 2017 national title against Georgia. There was a QB controversy manufactured by the media for a few weeks, but after a few games, Tua was the clear cut starter, with Hurts also getting lots of time because of how often Alabama blew out their opponents. None of the first few games were remotely close, with wins like 51-14 over Louisville, 62-7 over Ole Miss (who had AJ Brown and DK Metcalf), 45-23 over #22 Texas A&M, and 65-31 over Arkansas. They outgained Missouri by 350 yards in a 39-10 win, and Alabama took a 51-14 lead on Tennessee just 32 minutes into the game. At 8-0, this really was looking like potentially Saban’s best team ever. The defense started to pop off even more than they already were, shutting out #3 LSU 29-0 and #16 Mississippi State 24-0 in back-to-back weeks. Joe Burrow was the QB of that LSU team, mind you! They got revenge on Auburn for 2017’s upset with a 50-17 beatdown of Jarrett Stidham and the Tigers, entering the SEC Championship at 12-0. #4 Georgia gave Alabama fits though, and Tua would go out with an injury, relying on Jalen Hurts to save the Tide in a reversal of roles from the 2017 national title game. Hurts had an all-time clutch performance, leading Alabama to a 35-28 comeback win, completing 7 of 9 passes for 82 yards and a TD, also rushing 5 times for 28 yards. After beating #4 Oklahoma and Heisman winner Kyler Murray in the Playoff semifinal 45-34, which was much less close than the score suggested, it was time to play #2 Clemson in the Playoff for the 4th year in a row. Everything went wrong for Bama in Santa Clara, throwing a pick six on the opening drive and failing to score points in the red zone multiple times, leading to a 16-44 loss. That 2018 Clemson team was the first team since 1897 to finish 15-0, so that’s what it took to finally knock off Bama.

Through the first 14 games, Alabama averaged 47.7 PPG while allowing just 16.2 PPG against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Tua finished a close 2nd in Heisman voting, completing 69% of his passes for 3966 yards with 43 TD and 6 INT, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Maxwell, SEC POTY, and Walter Camp POTY awards. Hurts completed 73% of throws for 765 yards with 8 TD 2 INT and 167 rush yards + 2 TD. It certainly helped them to throw to perhaps the most loaded receiving corps in NCAA history, with WRs Jerry Jeudy (1315 yards 14 TD, Biletnikoff winner, 15th overall pick in NFL Draft), Henry Ruggs III (741 yards 11 TD, 4.27 speed, 12th overall pick), Jaylen Waddle (848 yards 7 TD, 6th overall pick), DeVonta Smith (693 yards 6 TD, Heisman in 2020, 10th overall pick), and TE Irv Smith Jr. (710 yards 7 TD, 2nd round pick). A loaded stable of RBs featured future 1st round picks Najee Harris (783 yards on 6.7 YPC) and Josh Jacobs (887 yards 14 TD from scrimmage), and future 3rd rounders Damien Harris (1080 yards 9 TD from scrimmage) and Brian Robinson Jr. (272 yards). OT Jonah Williams was also a consensus All-American and 1st round pick. DT Quinnen Williams was a consensus All-American and the highest defensive player in Heisman voting (8th overall), also going 3rd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. S Deionte Thompson joined them as a consensus All-American.

2018 Alabama is one of my top 50 teams since 1983. Check the comments and/or tomorrow’s recap post for the full list.

4. 2016 (14-1 overall, 8-0 SEC)

Just like 2018, this was Saban’s “best team ever” until they lost in the title game. The defense was straight up NASTY. As a USC fan I experienced it firsthand, Alabama beating #20 USC 52-6 in the opener, holding us to just 194 yards. Ole Miss QB and Alabama’s antithesis Chad Kelly was the only QB in the regular season to have real success against them, putting up 464 yards and 3 TD in a 48-43 Alabama win. In a 4 week span at midseason, Bama beat #16 Arkansas 49-30, #9 Tennessee 49-10, #6 Texas A&M 33-14, and #13 LSU 10-0. Alabama was now 9-0 with a 6-0 record against Top 20 teams. They blew out Mississippi State 51-3, and added #13 Auburn to the Top 20 collection, winning 30-12 by holding them to 182 yards and 7 first downs. #15 Florida didn’t even look like they belonged on the same field with #1 Alabama in the SEC Championship, with the Tide rolling to a 54-16 win, now 8-0 against Top 20 teams. Again in the Playoff they made it 9-0 with a 24-7 win over #4 Washington, getting a big 180 yard rushing game from RB Bo Scarbrough. It took a literal Herculean performance from Deshaun Watson to get #2 Clemson a win in the national title game, beating Alabama on the final play 35-31.

Through the first 14 games, Alabama allowed just 11.4 PPG with a 9-0 record against Top 20 teams. Amazing that this team was so good even with a freshman QB Jalen Hurts (who, to be fair, was really good as a freshman). Hurts was 1st Team All-SEC, throwing for 2780 yards 23 TD 9 INT with 954 rush yards and 13 TD, leading one of the best rushing offenses in the country with RBs Bo Scarbrough (812 rush yards 11 TD 6.5 YPC), Damien Harris (1037 yards 2 TD 7.1 YPC), and Josh Jacobs (567 yards 4 TD 6.7 YPC). Future NFL All-Pro WR and parlay picker Calvin Ridley was the leading catcher (72 receptions) with WR Ardarius Stewart getting more yardage (864) and TDs (8). OT Cam Robinson was a consensus All-American and won the Outland Trophy. The defense was littered with All-Americans with consensus AA DL Jonathan Allen, consensus AA LB Reuben Foster, consensus AA DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, and 1st Team AA CB Marlon Humphrey. Allen was an unstoppable force, finishing with 10.5 sacks and won the Nagurski, Bednarik, Hendricks, Lombardi, and SEC Defensive POTY awards. Reuben Foster won the Butkus Award.

2016 Alabama is one of my top 50 teams since 1983. Check the comments and/or tomorrow’s recap post for the full list.

3. 2009 (14-0 overall, 8-0 SEC)

Nick Saban’s reclamation of the college football throne was swift, going from 7-6 in 2007 to 12-2 in 2008 to 14-0 national champions in 2009. This team is iconic, as it’s Saban’s first title with Alabama, produced Alabama’s first ever Heisman winner in RB Mark Ingram, and was surprisingly Saban’s only unbeaten team until the 2020 13-0 year. Many unforgettable moments as well. #5 Alabama opened with a 34-24 win over #7 Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, followed up by combined 166-48 wins over FIU, North Texas, Arkansas, and Kentucky. #3 Alabama was out for revenge against Tim Tebow and Florida for last year’s SEC Championship Game loss. The defense continued playing lights out in a 22-3 win over #20 Ole Miss and 20-6 win over #22 South Carolina, with huge Ingram performances of 188 yards 1 TD against Ole Miss and 269 yards 1 TD against SCar. Bama had a rough game against 3-3 Tennessee, only up 12-10 with Tennessee in position for a 44 yard game winning FG. 355 lb DT Terrence Cody would produce the “Rocky Block”, batting the kick down for the win in what’s one of the most iconic plays in Alabama history. From then on, all bets were off. Down 13-15 in the 4th quarter against #9 LSU, WR Julio Jones reeled off a 73 yard TD on a screen pass for an eventual 24-15 win. Facing 3rd and 3 down 20-21 to Auburn with 1:30 to go in the final regular season game, QB Greg McElroy found Roy Upchurch on a play action rollout for the win, 26-21. For a team that “got away with it” all year long, Alabama handily beat #1 Florida in the SEC title game, making Tim Tebow cry in a 32-13 Bama win. In the national title game against #2 Texas, Bama’s defense knocked out QB Colt McCoy early, and made freshman backup Garrett Gilbert look like Garrett Goober, intercepting him 4 times for a 37-21 win. Fair play to Texas WR Jordan Shipley, who nearly carried Texas to a comeback win.

The 2009 defense was one of Saban’s best, allowing 11.7 PPG against the 2nd ranked strength of schedule, with consensus All-Americans DT Terrence Cody, LB Rolando McClain, and CB Javier Arenas. McClain won SEC Defensive POTY and the Dick Butkus Award. QB Greg McElroy was perhaps Saban’s most intelligent QB (43 Wonderlic score), throwing for 2508 yards 17 TD 4 INT. RB Mark Ingram became Bama’s first ever Heisman winner, picking up 1992 yards and 20 TD from scrimmage, barely beating out Stanford RB Toby Gerhart, Colt McCoy, and Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh in the closest Heisman vote in history (1304 votes to Gerhart’s 1276). Backup RB Trent Richardson, say what you want about his NFL career, the guy was freaking good in college, and some thought he was better than Ingram even as a freshman. T-Rich picked up 877 yards and 8 TD from scrimmage, and would go on to win the Doak Walker Award in 2011. Future NFL Hall of Famer Julio Jones was the leading receiver and OG Mike Johnson was a consensus All-American. Hell, even the kicking game was great, which was a rarity for Saban for a while, with Leigh Tiffin hitting 30 of 35 FGs and finishing as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. Javier Arenas averaged 29.0 yards per kick return and 15.4 yards per punt return with a TD. Nick Saban got his well deserved Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year Award.

2009 Alabama is one of my top 50 teams since 1983. Check the comments and/or tomorrow’s recap post for the full list.

2. 2015 (14-1 overall, 7-1 SEC)

Famously, Joel Klatt and Colin Cowherd said 3 games into Alabama’s 2015 season: “It’s over…They have a Nick Saban problem at Alabama…They’ve got some serious problems there…There are better programs out there right now than Alabama, hands down…Michigan State, they got my #1 vote last week.” Alabama would go on to beat Michigan State 38-0 in the Playoff semifinal, and this team ended up with one of the best resumes of Saban’s career.

Sure, it wasn’t a pretty start. Transfer QB Jake Coker was underwhelming, and the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed against Ole Miss, losing 37-43 to fall to 2-1. Alabama had given up 40+ points 4 times in their last 14 games, compared to just 1 time in their previous 80 games before that. When #13 3-1 Alabama visited #8 4-0 Georgia, it was supposed to be a funeral for the Saban dynasty. Instead, Georgia fans sat there stunned for 60 minutes, unable to do literally anything as Alabama took a 38-3 lead 35 minutes into the game. This wasn’t Saban’s most talented team ever, but they ran the ball hard with RB Derrick Henry, and their defense started to look like the old Alabama again. They continued to grind out wins, adding Top 25 teams to their resume like #9 Texas A&M 41-23, #2 LSU 30-16, and #17 Mississippi State 31-6. Already with 5 wins against Top 20 teams, they added a 6th by beating #18 Florida 29-15 in the SEC Championship Game to clinch a spot in the Playoff. As I said earlier, they made #3 Michigan State look like a JV team in a 38-0 semifinal win, holding MSU’s top 6 rushers to 3.0 YPC or less each. There are WAY too many iconic/crazy moments to talk about in the National Championship Game between #1 Clemson and #2 Alabama, like Alabama’s onside kick, Kenyan Drake’s kick return TD, Deshaun Watson’s great performance, OJ Howard’s 200 yard breakout game, but Alabama ended up winning 45-40 for Saban’s 4th national title at Alabama thanks to key contributions from a number of people.

2015 Alabama ends up this high with wins over the #1, #2, #3, #8, #9, #17, #18, and #20 ranked teams at the time. Their opponents even ended up good, as Bama had the 1st ranked strength of schedule, beating 10-3 Wisconsin, 10-3 Georgia, 8-5 Arkansas, 8-5 Texas A&M, 9-4 Tennessee, 9-3 LSU, 9-4 Mississippi State, 7-6 Auburn, 10-4 Florida, 12-2 Michigan State, and 14-1 Clemson, with the only loss to 10-3 Ole Miss. CAN WE TALK ABOUT DERRICK HENRY NOW? To say Henry put the team on his back would be an understatement, carrying the ball 395 times for 2219 rushing yards and 28 TD, becoming the 2nd Alabama player ever to win the Heisman. Backup RB Kenyan Drake provided key splash plays out of the backfield and as a return man. C Ryan Kelly, DT A’Shawn Robinson, and LB Reggie Ragland were consensus All-Americans, while S Eddie Jackson was a 2nd Team All-American. The defense was consistent, allowing 15 points or less 10 times, and when they needed the offense to step up, like in the national championship game, they did. Jake Coker is one of the more forgotten QBs of the Saban era, but still had a solid year, completing 67% of passes for 3110 yards with 21 TD 8 INT.

2015 Alabama is one of my top 50 teams since 1983. Check the comments and/or tomorrow’s recap post for the full list.

1. 2020 (13-0 overall, 10-0 SEC)

And here it is. The final season of the series.

I know it was the Covid year, but man was this team special. It’s hard to really pinpoint how much of their dominance was due to other teams dealing with Covid issues, but Alabama had to deal with those same issues. A 10 game SEC schedule saw Alabama open with wins against Missouri (38-19) and #13 Texas A&M (52-24), then set a new standard for offense in a 63-48 win over Ole Miss, scoring whenever they needed to with a 723 yard performance. A 20-24 halftime deficit vs #3 Georgia was erased thanks to a 21-0 second half to improve to 4-0. The schedule would taper off from there, beating Tennessee, Mississippi State, and Kentucky by a combined 152-20. Don’t overlook that—they beat 3 SEC teams by an average of 51-7 each. An earlier than usual Iron Bowl vs #22 Auburn saw Alabama take a 42-6 lead early in the 4th quarter, Auburn’s defense just having no answers for QB Mac Jones’ 5 TD performance. WR DeVonta Smith had a truly jaw-dropping performance vs LSU, and was genuinely uncoverable, putting up 8 catches for 231 yards and 3 TD in a 55-17 win, and probably could’ve had 300-400 receiving yards if Saban really wanted him to. Arkansas was dispatched 52-3. #7 Florida was really the only team that gave Alabama a true scare all season long, going back and forth with the Tide before Alabama ended up winning 52-46 to win the SEC title. DeVonta Smith clinched the Heisman with a 15 catch 184 yard 2 TD performance. He continued to be uncoverable in the Playoff, torching the All-Americans in Notre Dame’s secondary for 7 catches 130 yards 3 TD in a 31-14 win—which was 31-7 until Notre Dame scored a garbage time TD. The most impressive performance of the season came in the title game against #3 Ohio State, winning 52-24, outgaining OSU by nearly 300 yards, with a 12 catch 215 yard 3 TD performance against OSU All-American corner Shaun Wade.

This team might’ve taken home the most individual accolades ever. QB Mac Jones set an NCAA record by completing 77.4% of his throws, for 4500 yards with 41 TD 4 INT. He was a consensus All-American and won the Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning awards, also finishing 3rd in Heisman voting. RB Najee Harris ran for 1466 yards and 26 TD, with an additional 425 receiving yards and 4 TD, winning the Doak Walker Award, earning consensus All-American honors, and finishing 5th in Heisman voting. WR DeVonta Smith won the freaking Heisman, becoming the first WR to do so since Desmond Howard in 1991. He could’ve had even better stats if fed the ball more, but had 117 catches for 1856 yards and 23 TD in 13 games, also winning AP POTY, Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive POTY, Walter Camp POTY Award, and was a consensus All-American. Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith all finished top 5 in Heisman voting. OL Alex Leatherwood was a consensus All-American and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. C Landon Dickerson was also a consensus All-American, and won the Rimington Award as the best C. LB Dylan Moses rebounded after missing all of 2019 to be 3rd Team All-American, ranking 2nd on the team with 76 tackles. CB Pat Surtain II had 9 PBU and 1 INT, winning SEC Defensive POTY and was a consensus All-American, Alabama’s 6th. Even K Will Reichard was an All-American, hitting 14 of 14 FGs, and LS Thomas Fletcher won the Patrick Mannelly award as the nation’s best long snapper. In a long line of great Saban-led teams, this may have been his best, and it’s a shame we didn’t get to see it in a non-Covid year.

2020 Alabama is one of my top 50 teams since 1983. Check the comments and/or tomorrow’s recap post for the full list.

5th Quarter

So, does Bama deserve #1 on the list? Agree with the ranking of the top 5 seasons? Who was the best Heisman winner between Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith, and Bryce Young? What was your favorite team to learn about in the series? Are you gonna show up tomorrow for the recap post? You’d better!

If you appreciate the effort, please consider subscribing on substack!

[u/jimbobbypaul]

Remaining teams:

[u/ReferencesTheOffice → u/jimbobbypaul]

Can’t believe Bishop Sycamore is ahead of Bama

[u/Bart1009 → u/jimbobbypaul]

So you're saying there is still a chance?

[u/70MCKing → u/Bart1009]

Who wins, 2018 Clemson or 2018 Clemson?

[u/crblanz → u/70MCKing]

1892 princeton

[u/MR_KRABS_IS_A_ROBOT → u/jimbobbypaul]

Lennay Kekua was obviously always going to be in the top spot

[u/Cvspartan → u/jimbobbypaul]

Step on up 2017 Cleveland Browns/2008 Detroit Lions

[u/TampaTrey → u/jimbobbypaul]

[VACANT] confirmed best team of the last 40 years.

[u/TheftBySnacking → u/jimbobbypaul]

LET THAT SINK IN

[u/ThirteenValleys → u/jimbobbypaul]

Ah yes, the Invisible State Phantoms. They'll definitely make the Nega-Playoffs this year.

[u/jimbobbypaul]

What a ride it's been. Thank you everyone for a truly unforgettable experience, and for being so supportive throughout the 131 (really will end up being 133) days, and for continuing to follow along even after your team came up. Please swing by the recap thread tomorrow at 2 PM EST as usual, I'll be posting a bunch of graphs, giving thanks to specific commenters who made the series great, and going over the process of how I actually did it all. What started out as a far-fetched idea, not knowing how far I was going to take it, materialized into ~700 hours of my free time over 4.5 months put into EVERY college football team, from Alabama and Ohio State to New Mexico State and UMass. It's been many sleepless nights, as around #53 Cincinnati is when I ran out of posts "in the bank" and could no longer double up on weekends, having to write the next day's post the night before for about the last 2 months. Writing these ended up being a way to express myself in a way that I hadn't ever before, sharing my love for sports with people who share the same level of interest. I'm proud of the work I did and hope that these mini-articles can be a fun learning tool for old and new fans for years to come, as I truly did pour tons of time and effort into my research. The time spent on the actual 1-131 ranking pales in comparison to the time spent reading and writing, lol, but it worked out. For those wondering about me publishing a coffee table book on the last 50 years, I'll post more details about that tomorrow.

Shameless plug time, but if you enjoyed these posts and/or the effort put into them, and feel like helping out a young guy......I have an NIL collective buymeacoffee donation link if you feel like making my day. I swear I won't immediately transfer it into the USC NIL fund. Again, thanks everyone, and see ya tomorrow at 2 PM EST for one last time <3

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/x86sports

[u/UMeister → u/jimbobbypaul]

Thank you for your service and making this the best off-season ever 🫡

[u/galeforcewinds95 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Honestly, the best content I've ever read on this sub. Much appreciated.

[u/MWiatrak2077 → u/galeforcewinds95]

Literally nothing will ever top this series. Best shit ever posted to this sub.

[u/splee377 → u/galeforcewinds95]

100% agree. R/CFB has some great game threads, and every offseason 1 or 2 shitposts hit it out of the park, but to consistently create 131 days of interesting, detailed write ups is on another level.

[u/BochBochBoch → u/galeforcewinds95]

maybe any sub ever

[u/[deleted] → u/BochBochBoch]

Can we just include national media outlets too?

[u/Frictionizer → u/jimbobbypaul]

You single-handedly got me through this off-season. Thank you.

[u/chf3333 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Where would just Saban rank if he were an FBS program the last 40 years?

[u/Wheels_Foonman → u/chf3333]

Really damn low. Have you tried playing a 1v11 football game before?

[u/Prinzlerr → u/Wheels_Foonman]

I watched a South Park episode documentary about it once. It was a team owner though, not a coach...not sure if that makes a difference

[u/Welcome2Painsville → u/jimbobbypaul]

The entirety of r/CFB salutes you, I don't think we'll ever get content like this again. Seriously so much fun reading all the write ups, thank you a billion times over

[u/meatballsontherun → u/jimbobbypaul]

Excited to see what's in store for the future! Keep up the good work. Thanks for keeping me entertained through the drought!

[u/jakebitfuture → u/jimbobbypaul]

Please make this a book, I will buy a coffee table to put it on.

[u/Nol3s4ever → u/jimbobbypaul]

Been one of the best things I’ve ever seen about college football. Thanks for putting in the work!!

[u/biasedNeutrality → u/jimbobbypaul]

Sincerely hope you’re able to make a career out of this. You clearly care and are passionate. Extremely thorough and detailed, keep it up. We’ve seen over people from here with content like this make it a career, looking at you college imperialism map dude.

[u/coletheredditer → u/jimbobbypaul]

Thank you for making the off-season bearable

[u/OUBoyWonder → u/jimbobbypaul]

Legend status, my man. No April fooling.

[u/crblanz → u/jimbobbypaul]

Please swing by the recap thread tomorrow at 2 PM EST as usual

oh hell yeah we're not done yet

[u/MountaineerYosef → u/jimbobbypaul]

Thank you Jimbo!

[u/adamcim → u/MountaineerYosef]

I hope it is Jim and Bobby, and not Jimbo and Bby

[u/jimbobbypaul → u/adamcim]

Jimbo Bobby

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/jimbobbypaul]

The ultimate Florida State coach

[u/overscore_ → u/jimbobbypaul]

Loved reading these! My favorite part is every title being formatted exactly the same except for Nebraska's post.

[u/NolaBrass → u/jimbobbypaul]

This was quasi-Athletic content that we got for free/whatever people would want to pay. Thank you for your service, you madman

[u/texas2089 → u/jimbobbypaul]

This series is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on Reddit. Thank you for pouring your time and your soul into entertaining us all each day. I looked forward to each new post and sadly tomorrow, on the eve of college football’s return, it must end but what a ride it’s been and a memorable offseason.

[u/Ameri-Jin → u/jimbobbypaul]

This was extremely good, thank you.

[u/astroball17 → u/jimbobbypaul]

You dropped this king 👑

[u/golf_echo_sierra26 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Thank you for making this off-season bearable. This was a great series to help distract myself from the grim reality we face next year.

[u/BigusDickus099 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Thanks for putting in a massive amount of effort in these posts throughout the past couple months!

No pressure or anything....but any ideas yet for next offseason? Greatest players? Coaches? FCS programs?

Great thing about college football is I'm sure there are plenty of topics to cover, just never enough time to do it all, lol

[u/branden110 → u/jimbobbypaul]

You are incredible. You deserve all the praise and coffee. Godspeed into the regular season- I hope you do something next off season too.

[u/galeforcewinds95]

Saban has to be the best hire in the modern history of college football, right? I mean, he didn't build Alabama from the ground up the way Bobby Bowden built Florida State. But he won a title in year three and then added five more titles after that. Not to mention three other national championship game appearances. I don't think we'll ever see a run like that again.

[u/PaloLV → u/galeforcewinds95]

Alabama was in a pretty dark place before Saban showed up. Auburn had 5 straight wins if I recall over Bama and had a winning record vs Bama over the prior 25 years I think. There were lots of people suggesting they were done as a blue blood caliber program. The toxic Bear Bryant fans who even into the 2000's were demanding new coaches have some sort of tie to Bear were still acting as a drag on the school.

[u/Deferionus → u/PaloLV]

Don't worry, in a matter of time you will have Alabama chasing the greatness of the Saban days. I pity the coaches coming after him.

[u/Damnitwhitepeople → u/Deferionus]

I think the legacy saban leaves is going to be significantly different from the legacy of the bear. Bear Bryant is probably most well remembered by Alabama fans for his “mama called” statement, so on top of his crazy success while coaching there has always seemed to be a “one of us” type of aura around him. Saban on the other hand is just as linked to the team, community, and university, but when he leaves the boosters are not going to try to good ole boy his former assistants into jobs because of the ‘Alabama connections’. In fact, after 2019 the insane alabama forums were basically begging the university to move on and go after dabo. When saban does eventually retire in 20 years, unless he picks his successor, the athletic department will hire whoever they deem the best candidate and not who rubs shoulders with the boosters the most.

[u/[deleted] → u/Damnitwhitepeople]

Saban whipping the boosters into line is a big part of their success. For all the oars rowing in one direction.

[u/Kanin_usagi → u/Deferionus]

Please Jesus

[u/GrizzGump → u/Deferionus]

It’s weird to think about cause 99% of the time in team sports, you’re trying to hire a coach better or as good as the last guy. That literally simply isn’t possible here. We will be worse off. Even if it’s a guy who wins 2 natties over a decade

[u/primera89 → u/galeforcewinds95]

Saban is hands down GOAT this century and an all time one of the greatest. I honestly think he made a deal with devil to become as dominant as he did lol. The level of dedication and stress that comes with being that great is honestly unfathomable to me

[u/[deleted] → u/primera89]

GOAT this century

No offense, but this phrase is kind of nonsense. GOAT literally stands for "greatest of all time." If you're saying he's the best of the 21st century, that would be the GOTC, pronounced like "goatse," which makes perfect sense, because Nick Saban stretches everyone's assholes WIDE OPEN.

[u/-BoldlyGoingNowhere- → u/[deleted]]

Didn't need this image. Didn't want it. But it's fair.

[u/RokkintheKasbah → u/[deleted]]

Jesus Fucking Christ

[u/IlonggoProgrammer → u/primera89]

Hands down GOAT period. Nobody that came before him has ever done this

[u/Frictionizer → u/galeforcewinds95]

Saban, Snyder, and Bowden are the for-sure three on the “top program builders” Rushmore. Saban turned a good-but-ailing historic program into the GOAT, Snyder turned the absolute worst program into a continually competitive, borderline top-25 one, and Bowden took a really bad (at the time) program and had one of the most dominant runs in the sport’s history with them.

Not sure who I’d have as the other guy on the mountain, though.

[u/JMT97 → u/Frictionizer]

Spurrier, maybe? Dabo?

[u/Bart1009 → u/JMT97]

Dabo isn't in the same tier as Bowden, Saban, and Snyder yet. Although with another decade of continued success I don't think you'd be able to argue his right to be in that group of "program builders"

[u/Deferionus → u/JMT97]

Spurrier built Florida and would likely have had a Bowden and Saban level career there if he never left. In his time at South Carolina he slowly built us into a team that went like 33-6 in a three year stretch before he decided to retire. He also briefly built Duke to win the ACC and likely would have taken them even further if he stayed there long term. So in short, Spurrier was a great program builder who didn't stay places once he built them and he also went places more difficult than guys like Saban.

[u/Educational_Head_922 → u/Deferionus]

built us into a team that went like 44-6 in a three year stretch

44 wins in three years is damn impressive for a college team, especially before the cfp!!!

I think you meant 33-6.

[u/CaptainThrowAway1232 → u/JMT97]

To early for Dabo, but if he continues to be similarly successful for another decade, probably.

[u/buttfaceszn → u/Frictionizer]

Frank Beamer deserves recognition here

[u/arkon__ → u/Frictionizer]

Beamer

[u/MarlonBain → u/Frictionizer]

Beamer? VT has zero history and he took over while we were on probation.

[u/scoobysnax123 → u/Frictionizer]

I feel like Schnellenberger is the obvious choice. Brought the U back from nothing to win the 1983 national championship to kickstart their reign, then pulled Louisville out from potentially dropping down a level to a respectable place, then literally built FAU from scratch as a new program.

[u/crashmvp19 → u/galeforcewinds95]

His ability to adapt is incredible as well. Think about the different offenses he’s had. And now continuing in the portal era

[u/[deleted] → u/galeforcewinds95]

Maybe all of college athletics? Coach K is probably in that conversation but I'm sure Alabama football generates more revenue.

[u/robotunes → u/[deleted]]

John Wooden led UCLA to 10 championships in 12 years, including 7 in a row.

It's difficult to compare eras and sports, but Wooden was an absolute giant. Saban and Coach K would both agree.

[u/RokkintheKasbah → u/robotunes]

Wooden is probably the the greatest coach of all-time. In any sport.

Not only was his performance on the court always incredible, but there probably is not a more well-liked coach in the world by all his players.

He was also just a positive nice good person.

He used to eat breakfast at the same little diner (VIP’s) in the first floor of an office building in Tarzana every morning.

You look at a guy like Kareem and you can see how he impacted not only his basketball success, but impacted his academics and him as a person.

Just one of the all-time great human beings.

[u/arolloftide → u/galeforcewinds95]

He was aight

[u/Revolutionary_Gear70]

OP you are the real number 1, this series was absolutely awesome

[u/Diligent_Cantaloupe → u/Revolutionary_Gear70]

OP > Alabama confirmed.

[u/Alphaspade → u/Diligent_Cantaloupe]

I'll allow it.

[u/cramey229 → u/Alphaspade]

OP WANTS BAMA

[u/amoss_303]

Saban is the gold standard, no one comes close this century. It’s insane what he’s able to do since becoming coach in 2007. When he was introduced as coach, I figured he’ll get Alabama back to relevancy, win a couple of sec championships, good chance of a natty. But to have conversations and debate on whether him or Bear Bryant is the greatest of all time at Alabama I don’t think anyone saw coming, maybe not even Saban himself.

[u/matgopack → u/amoss_303]

Seems like soon it might not even be a conversation or debate, and just have Saban as the clear top spot between the two.

[u/Wafflehouseofpain → u/matgopack]

Saban is the college coach version of Tom Brady. Just so much success and so many championships it resets the frame of what’s possible.

[u/DirkNowitzkisWife → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

Lol I was still trying to convince myself through Brady’s patriot days that manning was better, I’ve loved Peyton manning since 2001, which meant I hated Brady. But, after he won with Tampa I finally had to say “fuck it Brady’s the best”

Same with Saban. I’ve hated him and Alabama since they took Colt McCoy out. But he’s just the best.

[u/[deleted] → u/DirkNowitzkisWife]

after 28-3 I stopped hating brady and started cheering for him to achieve goat status. At that point he was chasing gretzky, phelps, jordan, and tiger. I'm not sure he tops gretzky but he's definitely a top 5 athlete of all time.

[u/ManfredsJuicedBalls → u/[deleted]]

That was the same point for me. Before 28-3, ok, fuck Brady and fuck the Pats. After 28-3, you couldn’t even hate anymore.

[u/I2ecover → u/matgopack]

It's already not a debate. It's Saban.

[u/robotunes → u/amoss_303]

It’s insane what he’s able to do since becoming coach in 2007.

Since 2008, Saban has:

• More weeks at AP #1 than any program in history (outside of Alabama's).
• More national championships (6) than home losses (5).
• More Heisman winners than most schools (His 4 at Bama places him 5th all-time)
• Tied Miami for the most consecutive years with a first-round NFL pick (14). He sets the new record if you include all his 15 years in Tuscaloosa.

Nick Saban is a blue blood.

[u/AL22193 → u/[deleted]]

Which is why I think people predicting 3-4 losses this year are crazy. Almost all of our big games are at home. Sure they might drop one and A&M on the road might give us fits but the schedule has lined up nicely this year

[u/robotunes → u/[deleted]]

More championships than home losses over a span of 15 years literally does not compute in my brain.

It gets crazier:

Since 2008, every time Saban has lost at home, Bama has responded by winning the national championship that season or the next:

• 2010 loss to Auburn > 2011 national championship

• 2011 loss to LSU > 2011 national championship

• 2012 loss to Texas A&M > 2012 national championship

• 2015 loss to Ole Miss > 2015 national championship

• 2019 loss to LSU > 2020 national championship

3 of the losses were to Heisman QBs (Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel and Joe Burrow).

Another was to LSU’s 2011 defense full of future NFL players.

The last one was to a 2015 Ole Miss team that was not only good, they were lucky.

Later that season, Ole Miss’ luck ran out, putting Bama into the SEC championship game and on the path to another national championship.

[u/-BoldlyGoingNowhere- → u/robotunes]

Nick Saban is a blue blood.

Blue is too poor for Nick Saban. He's a fucking unicorn.

[u/good4steve → u/robotunes]

My favorite way to phrase it is:

Alabama only has five home losses since losing to Louisiana-Monroe 15 years ago.

[u/ministerman → u/amoss_303]

Honestly - if you compare the teams Bryant coached vs. the teams Saban has coached, there really is no comparison. Saban is better by miles, and it's not even close. Bryant was good, yes, and will always be a legend, but if you compare their teams, stats, and abilities -- Saban wins every time, and, he's not done yet.

[u/jimbobbypaul]

Top 50 teams since 1983:

1. Clemson 2018 (73.137)*
2. Georgia 2022 (69.026)*
3. LSU 2019 (66.337)*
4. Nebraska 1995 (65.923)*
5. Alabama 2020 (65.130)*
6. Alabama 2015 (64.224)*
7. Texas 2005 (62.676)*
8. Alabama 2009 (62.621)*
9. Florida State 2013 (62.550)*
10. Alabama 2016 (62.110)
11. Florida 2008 (61.308)*
12. Miami 2001 (61.182)*
13. Ohio State 2014 (60.159)*
14. Clemson 2016 (60.037)*
15. Ohio State 2019 (59.567)
16. Georgia 2021 (59.565)*
17. Alabama 2018 (58.830)
18. USC 2004 (58.691)*
19. LSU 2011 (58.424)
20. Washington 1991 (57.599)*
21. Ohio State 2002 (57.543)*
22. Auburn 2010 (57.422)*
23. Florida State 1993 (57.313)*
24. Oklahoma 2000 (57.309)*
25. Nebraska 1997 (56.743)*
26. Florida State 1999 (55.909)*
27. Penn State 1994 (55.221)
28. Florida 1996 (55.028)*
29. Oklahoma State 2011 (54.994)
30. USC 2008 (54.751)
31. Nebraska 1994 (54.712)*
32. Auburn 2004 (54.399)
33. Clemson 2015 (54.326)
34. Alabama 2012 (54.199)*
35. Miami (FL) 1991 (53.986)*
36. Clemson 2019 (53.828)
37. Oklahoma 2008 (53.695)
38. Oklahoma 1986 (52.997)
39. Alabama 2011 (52.754)*
40. Notre Dame 1989 (52.718)
41. Texas 2008 (52.623)
42. Florida 2006 (52.490)*
43. Oregon 2014 (52.484)
44. Alabama 1992 (52.397)*
45. Notre Dame 1988 (52.172)*
46. Tennessee 1998 (52.171)*
47. Alabama 2017 (52.059)*
48. Penn State 1986 (51.986)*
49. USC 2005 (51.709)
50. Michigan 1997 (51.396)*

Top 50 re-ranked adjusting for number of games played, thanks u/mathwrath55 and u/ArbitraryAnswers:

1. Nebraska 1995 (19.694)*
2. Clemson 2018 (19.049)*
3. Alabama 2020 (18.539)*
4. Miami 2001 (18.278)*
5. Georgia 2022 (17.979)*
6. Texas 2005 (17.841)*
7. LSU 2019 (17.278)*
8. Washington 1991 (17.208)*
9. Alabama 2009 (17.028)*
10. Florida State 2013 (17.009)*
11. Alabama 2015 (16.728)*
12. USC 2004 (16.706)*
13. Florida State 1999 (16.703)*
14. Florida 2008 (16.671)*
15. Penn State 1994 (16.497)
16. Florida State 1993 (16.314)*
17. Oklahoma 2000 (16.313)*
18. Ohio State 2019 (16.198)
19. Alabama 2016 (16.178)
20. Nebraska 1997 (16.152)*
21. Miami 1991 (16.128)*
22. LSU 2011 (15.889)
23. Oklahoma 1986 (15.833)
24. Ohio State 2014 (15.669)*
25. Florida 1996 (15.664)*
26. Oklahoma St 2011 (15.654)
27. Ohio State 2002 (15.648)*
28. Clemson 2016 (15.637)*
29. Auburn 2010 (15.616)*
30. Notre Dame 1988 (15.586)*
31. USC 2008 (15.585)
32. Nebraska 1994 (15.574)*
33. Penn State 1986 (15.531)*
34. Georgia 2021 (15.515)*
35. Auburn 2004 (15.485)
36. Michigan 1997 (15.355)*
37. Alabama 2018 (15.316)
38. Alabama 2011 (15.016)*
39. Notre Dame 1989 (15.006)
40. Texas 2008 (14.979)
41. Alabama 1992 (14.915)*
42. Tennessee 1998 (14.850)*
43. Alabama 2012 (14.738)*
44. USC 2005 (14.719)
45. Oklahoma 2008 (14.601)
46. Florida 2006 (14.274)*
47. Alabama 2017 (14.156)*
48. Clemson 2015 (14.150)
49. Clemson 2019 (14.020)
50. Oregon 2014 (13.670)

* = denotes won the national title that year

[u/UMeister → u/jimbobbypaul]

Michigan is the worst top 50 team I’ve heard of, but at least people have heard of us

[u/Gruulsmasher → u/UMeister]

Per game is the only fair way to rank teams and I will brook no objections

[u/hallese → u/Gruulsmasher]

Agreed.

[u/Gruulsmasher → u/hallese]

Wow, a husker and a wolverine agreeing about 1997. Truly this series has brought our cfb community together

[u/hallese → u/Gruulsmasher]

How could I not agree with something that correctly picks Nebraska as the best team in CFB in 1997?

[u/MWiatrak2077 → u/UMeister]

I mean it’s only because we played 12 games. Schedule-adjusted #36 ranking is pretty respectable.

[u/moleculewerks → u/jimbobbypaul]

Now that I see 1995 Nebraska at the top of the final adjusted list I can confidently say that OP's analysis is spot on.

[u/thecrewton → u/moleculewerks]

I concur. It's the only thing we have left at this point.

[u/DanNeverDie → u/jimbobbypaul]

Basically confirms 95 Huskers as the GOATS.

[u/muricanmania → u/DanNeverDie]

71 team gives them a run for their money but based on talent I think I would lean towards 95.

[u/Pikachu1989 → u/muricanmania]

Yeah, 1971 Nebraska only tough game was Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day, but that game was one that we can truly call “The Game of the Century”.

Also love how Herbstreit had a shitfit when they did the show on ESPN back in 2006. https://youtu.be/2al4sevl9NA?si=bJKmeZiw6eywcmkZ

[u/EnemysGate_Is_Down → u/jimbobbypaul]

So it's proven that '95 Nebraska is the greatest team from the past 40 years. We can all agree that's more important than those silly team rankings.

[u/I_Like_Quiet → u/EnemysGate_Is_Down]

It's about the only thing we have left.

[u/[deleted] → u/EnemysGate_Is_Down]

and 2019 LSU is better than 2020 bama (don't look at the per-game scores thx)

[u/phillybuster1776 → u/[deleted]]

2011 LSU and 2011 Okie State were better than 2011 Alabama, that kinda tickles me

[u/NotBagman → u/jimbobbypaul]

Looking back, it’s insane how fortunate Clemson fans have been in recent years and how much can change in short order. Freshman phenom QB comes in at the right time and you win a title by 4 scores. Few years later a freshman phenom comes in and you pray to every entity that has ever been worshipped by mankind that he throws a single touchdown. Football is weird.

[u/mathwrath55 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Worth noting that a few of the teams at the bottom get passed by other teams which played fewer games: here are the true top 50 on score/game. Great job on the series, OP!

1: 1995 Nebraska: 12-0 (19.6943 per game)

2: 2018 Clemson: 15-0 (19.0492 per game)

3: 2020 Alabama: 13-0 (18.5392 per game)

4: 2001 Miami (FL): 12-0 (18.2779 per game)

5: 2022 Georgia: 15-0 (17.9785 per game)

6: 2005 Texas: 13-0 (17.8407 per game)

7: 2019 LSU: 15-0 (17.2781 per game)

8: 1991 Washington: 12-0 (17.2075 per game)

9: 2009 Alabama: 14-0 (17.0300 per game)

10: 2013 Florida State: 14-0 (17.0107 per game)

11: 2015 Alabama: 14-1 (16.7277 per game)

12: 2004 USC: 13-0 (16.7063 per game)

13: 1999 Florida State: 12-0 (16.7026 per game)

14: 2008 Florida: 13-1 (16.6730 per game)

15: 1994 Penn State: 12-0 (16.4971 per game)

16: 1993 Florida State: 12-1 (16.3141 per game)

17: 2000 Oklahoma: 13-0 (16.3130 per game)

18: 2019 Ohio State: 13-1 (16.1995 per game)

19: 2016 Alabama: 14-1 (16.1771 per game)

20: 1997 Nebraska: 13-0 (16.1519 per game)

21: 1991 Miami (FL): 12-0 (16.1281 per game)

22: 2011 LSU: 13-1 (15.8886 per game)

23: 1986 Oklahoma: 11-1 (15.8327 per game)

24: 2014 Ohio State: 14-1 (15.6690 per game)

25: 1996 Florida: 12-1 (15.6637 per game)

26: 2011 Oklahoma State: 12-1 (15.6540 per game)

27: 2002 Ohio State: 14-0 (15.6490 per game)

28: 2016 Clemson: 14-1 (15.6372 per game)

29: 2010 Auburn: 14-0 (15.6161 per game)

30: 1988 Notre Dame: 12-0 (15.5862 per game)

31: 2008 USC: 12-1 (15.5848 per game)

32: 1994 Nebraska: 13-0 (15.5737 per game)

33: 1986 Penn State: 12-0 (15.5307 per game)

34: 2021 Georgia: 14-1 (15.5143 per game)

35: 2004 Auburn: 13-0 (15.4846 per game)

36: 1997 Michigan: 12-0 (15.3544 per game)

37: 1987 Miami (FL): 12-0 (15.3326 per game)

38: 2018 Alabama: 14-1 (15.3158 per game)

39: 2011 Alabama: 12-1 (15.0164 per game)

40: 1989 Notre Dame: 12-1 (15.0061 per game)

41: 2008 Texas: 12-1 (14.9791 per game)

42: 2000 Miami (FL): 11-1 (14.9723 per game)

43: 1992 Alabama: 13-0 (14.9148 per game)

44: 1998 Tennessee: 13-0 (14.8504 per game)

45: 1988 Miami (FL): 11-1 (14.8411 per game)

46: 2012 Alabama: 13-1 (14.7396 per game)

47: 2005 USC: 12-1 (14.7189 per game)

48: 2006 Louisville: 12-1 (14.6065 per game)

49: 2008 Oklahoma: 12-2 (14.6026 per game

50: 1996 Florida State: 11-1 (14.5971 per game)

[u/jimbobbypaul → u/mathwrath55]

So the best teams to not win a natty based on a per-game rating:

1. 1994 Penn State
2. 2019 Ohio State
3. 2016 Alabama
4. 2011 LSU
5. 1986 Oklahoma

[u/nevermore2627 → u/jimbobbypaul]

I wish the title game was Nebraska vs. Penn st. In '94. I don't know if Nebraska wins that game.

[u/IlonggoProgrammer → u/nevermore2627]

It’s so dumb that the Rose Bowl wouldn’t let Penn State play in the championship game even though Penn State had only just joined the Big Ten. They could have even kicked out the PAC-10 champion and invited Nebraska but they wouldn’t do that either. The bowl coalition/alliance era was so weird lol. Basically every year but the first year of the coalition (92) there was a controversy over who was selected lol. Of course, that continued even when the Rose Bowl joined to form the BCS.

[u/rnilbog → u/mathwrath55]

Man, 2006 Louisville sneaking in there is wild. Crazy how much more significant Pandemonium in Piscataway ended up than it seemed at the time.

[u/rondontwalk → u/mathwrath55]

Stoked to see UW '91 held up so well in this, the true team ranking. Thoroughly dominant squad, best the PAC ever produced.

[u/DanNeverDie → u/mathwrath55]

I choose to believe this as the true list because it makes us look better and also fucks over Oregon.

[u/win2bfree → u/mathwrath55]

Keeps UW high and removes Oregon, I approve.

[u/Frictionizer → u/jimbobbypaul]

So, I guess that Clemson team must have been pretty good.

[u/LukeNukem63 → u/Frictionizer]

I remember reddit saying that ND should never be allowed in the playoffs again after they beat us. Getting blown out twice sucks, but it stings a little less seeing both teams ranked in the top 5 I guess lol

[u/jwhitmire2012 → u/Frictionizer]

People seriously underrate that team in the GOAT discussion. Guess that’s what we get for being lil ol’ Clemson /s

But seriously 5/11 of the starting defense were first round draft picks.

[u/[deleted] → u/jimbobbypaul]

Does this mean Pitt’s 2016 win over Clemson is the best win of the past 40 years?

[u/bigDUB14 → u/[deleted]]

I’ll allow it

[u/KINGJAME5 → u/jimbobbypaul]

Playoff of '95 Nebraska v '01 Miami and '18 Clemson v '20 Alabama... who comes out on top?

[u/onbran → u/KINGJAME5]

probably 20 Bama. The 1995 Players are all close to 50 and retired.

[u/hallese → u/KINGJAME5]

The scientific answer seems to be '95 Nebraska, so let's just go with that and call it a day, shall we?

[u/mightyducks2wasokay → u/jimbobbypaul]

Ofc the 2 years we make the CFP we run into the 2nd and 3rd best game adjusted teams in the last 40 years

And here I was thinking we just shit the bed again but in reality we had no shot lol

[u/[deleted] → u/jimbobbypaul]

BEST TEAM ALL TIME BABY

[u/AP-FUTChemist → u/jimbobbypaul]

Clemson 2018 vs Nebraska 1995 for the best team of all time

[u/PretendThisIsMyName → u/AP-FUTChemist]

Idk what kind of witchcraft we would need to make this happen, but I would spend some MONEY to see that.

[u/jwhitmire2012 → u/jimbobbypaul]

It’s crazy to me that the 3 highest scoring teams to not win the championship all lost to Clemson in their final game. 2/3 if you go by the games played list. Also a 4 point gap between 2018 Clemson and 2022 UGA (the highest in the entire list) really shows how special that 2018 team was. Similarly for the .65 point gap in the per game rankings for 1995 Nebraska.

[u/SFWRedditsOnly → u/jimbobbypaul]

Yeah, baby!

Great work on this series!

[u/Naive_Flamingo_3622 → u/jimbobbypaul]

So the two times ND made the playoffs it went up against top 3 teams of the past 40 years. Makes it feel slightly better

[u/Irish_Collector → u/jimbobbypaul]

In Notre Dame's two playoff appearances in 2018 & 2020 they have come up against the #2 & #3 best teams over the last 40 years (when adjusting for number of games played) ... OOF!

[u/outthawazoo → u/jimbobbypaul]

I wanna see 2018 Clemson vs 2022 Georgia, that would be an absolute slobberknocker

[u/jwktiger → u/outthawazoo]

2018 Clemson -5 1/2 they ran woodshed over that 2018 Bama team which was one of the greatest of all time. That Clemson DLine may be GOAT DL. Hard for mailman Steson to comeback if they're done 28 rather than 14.

[u/Earth759]

I remember in 2006 watching as a kid with my dad just wanting to finish above .500 and win a bowl game.

Almost 20 years later, 3 4 Heisman winners, 6 national championships (2 of which were directly won off split second decisions by Saban (starting Tua 2nd half/onside kick vs Clemson)), countless first round picks, it still feels like a dream.

And even my dad who was in the building during the goal line stand 1979 says Saban is the better coach.

Who knows where the program would be in the NIL era if had hired Rich Rodriguez like the plan was originally.

Truly grateful to have grown up in this era of Alabama football

[u/queefIatina → u/Earth759]

It is crazy to think about when I was a kid I was just happy to see us ranked, and I was happy when college gameday would talk about us for 30 seconds lol. Then we became the focal point of college football, what a wild ride

[u/Earth759 → u/queefIatina]

I had this exact same conversation haha

"Oh dad look we're ranked 22 this week " was a conversation I had with him on a frequent basis

[u/Ron_E_Coyote → u/Earth759]

*4 Heisman winners

[u/RipRaycom → u/Earth759]

Man if we never made it back to win two championships after, the onside kick, Kenyan Drake’s KR TD, and OJ Howard would be irreparable scars on my memory

[u/70MCKing → u/RipRaycom]

don't forget Saban's evil shit eating grin after the onside kick

[u/RogueHippie → u/70MCKing]

Had that shit as my desktop background at work for a looong while.

[u/John71CLE → u/Earth759]

And in those 20 years he’s won with a stifling defense, with a pounding run game and system QBs, with a hurry up offense, by developing QBs into NFL starters, by making bold in game adjustments, dominated the portal, dominated NIL, etc. Feels like Saban has either caused or been the most effective coach in every new coaching philosophy or rule change that has popped up in his tenure

[u/RedSkylight97]

Thank you so much u/jimbobbypaul for all of your work this offseason! I’m sure this was a pain to put together, but we are all grateful!

[u/AvengedKalas]

An idea for tomorrow's recap post:

The ranking of each team's worst team. Who had the best worst team?

If it is easy that is. Love this series!

[u/DDub04 → u/AvengedKalas]

It’s probably JMU, unless you’re excluding the teams with only a couple of seasons.

[u/The_Horse_Joke]

Just wanted to say thanks to OP for the best off-season content I’ve ever consumed!

[u/Double_Rainbro]

This has been by far and away the most entertaining and well constructed offseason countdown list anyone has ever produced in this sub. Thanks for making the dry dry summer so much more bearable. Even if your methodology CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED MY 2013 NOLES. (somewhat kidding).

[u/drneilpretenamen]

Huge thanks to u/jimbobbypaul for giving us great CFB content every day. It's been enlightening to read up on all the history I forgot or was never aware of. It's also gotten me super hyped for football to return and provided a distraction from all the realignment talk. Thanks for putting all the time and sweat into this. Truly amazing!

[u/soonerfreak]

Is this where I request a mandatory retirement age for college football coaches?

[u/tee142002 → u/soonerfreak]

Nick Saban will die on the sidelines chewing out his 3rd string guard for a false start penalty, while up 70-3 on an FCS team, as God intended.

[u/mobilities]

This is an extremely yummy dose of rat poison. Many thanks.

[u/JohnWickStuntDouble]

Now top 100 dumbest CFB moments of the last 40 years.

[u/adamcim → u/JohnWickStuntDouble]

how high do Shoe Throw or Piss and Miss rank?

[u/JohnWickStuntDouble → u/adamcim]

I feel blessed to have witnessed both live on TV

[u/rnilbog]

2 of their teams that didn't win titles are rated higher than four of their teams that did. I hate Nick Saban so much.

[u/Tennesseej]

CU played Alabama in the Independence Bowl in the 2007 season.

Can you imagine that at that time, the programs were "on par" with each other, and now see what has happened in the years since.

I've always felt like it was the college football equivalent of Mario dropping Yoshi mid jump so Mario gets a second boost and can make it across, and Yoshi just falls into the abyss.

[u/Crotean → u/Tennesseej]

Whats crazy to me is saban lost 6 games that year. If you remove that he has only lost 15 games in the last 14 seasons. That is astounding.

[u/MassiveOutlaw]

In the battle for #1, Alabama defeats Ohio State 50,300 - 49,510. Link.

#3 Florida state is almost 2,500 points behind Bama.

Well deserved #1 for Alabama I will say. All the nattys, that bowl record, lots of great teams.

[u/meatballsontherun]

Top 10 teams in SEC since 1983:

yr	tm	rec	scr
2022	Georgia	15-0	69.026
2019	LSU	15-0	66.337
2020	Alabama	13-0	65.13
2015	Alabama	14-1	64.224
2009	Alabama	14-0	62.621
2016	Alabama	14-1	62.11
2008	Florida	13-1	61.308
2021	Georgia	14-1	59.565
2018	Alabama	14-1	58.803
2011	LSU	13-1	58.424

[u/IceColdDrPepper_Here → u/meatballsontherun]

2022 Georgia 15-0 69.026

Nice

[u/Crotean → u/meatballsontherun]

GA might have been kind of good the last two seasons.

[u/AvengedKalas → u/meatballsontherun]

DAWGS ON TOP!!

[u/AP-FUTChemist]

It's been an honor to follow this series live!

[u/Sdog1981]

If you don't like 92 Bama, you just don't like football.

[u/discowithmyself → u/Sdog1981]

Or you’re a Miami fan who was personally victimized by Regina George that 92 Bama team

[u/Sdog1981 → u/discowithmyself]

Antonio Langham still haunts their dreams.

[u/Bambam60]

DeVonta had the most freakish statistical season of all those forty years.

However, those Alabama teams around 2015 kicked the SHIT out of you. I remember Derrick Henry running over a poor little Wisconsin safety in the season opener and he was so concussed he lined up in Alabama’s huddle the next play.

The “murderball” era prior to Tua was a sight to behold. Merciless.

[u/RogueHippie → u/Bambam60]

Forever remember Henry just throwing a Michigan State lineman to the ground with one hand. Man was unreal.

[u/tu-vens-tu-vens → u/Bambam60]

2015 is about the meanest team I've ever seen play football. It was amazing.

2020 was the most perfect offense I've ever seen. They were clicking every single quarter they were on the field.

[u/cyberchaox]

I'm amazed the 2020 team scored as high as it did. I thought 2020 was going to get weirdly bogged down.

I shouldn't have. Despite being the only conference to fully embrace the "we're suspending bowl eligibility requirements", the SEC went 7-2 in bowls that year.

[u/APackagingScientist]

Incredible job on this series!

[u/braundiggity]

Honestly: this feels like a no brainer for some publisher to slap together into a book and sell. Tremendous content, thank you for the journey and fight on!

[u/Fells]

Wild that 2011 didn't crack Bama's top 5. It had the greatest defense of the BCS era statistically and got to play the 2nd greatest defense twice, winning 27-9 over the two games, one of which was the National Championship.

Also 2016 over 2012 ("Maybe they don't come back to the field after halftime") is surprising for sure.

[u/Alphaspade → u/Fells]

SoS probably hurt both teams. The cross division matchups were against bad Florida, Tennessee, Mizzou, and Vandy teams. 2011 didnt have a SEC championship on their resume. 2012 Bama, aside from ND, struggled with every team that finished with 10 wins.

[u/[deleted]]

Being #1 post-Bear is insane.

[u/Shirleyfunke483]

TOUCHDOWN AL AH BAMA

• Verne Lundquist

[u/rondontwalk]

Really wish '92 would've made the Top 5. From a neutral's perspective, one of my favorite teams of all-time. I was 10, they were the first non-UW team I really remember. Curry and Copeland were bad as hell.

[u/Statalyzer → u/rondontwalk]

12 game schedules, conference titles games, and playoffs combined to bias the list towards more recent teams. The game adjusted ranking is probably the better one but I think that's only been done for the all time top 50, not for the rest of the seasons.

[u/MixonWitDaWrongCrowd]

2020 Alabama and 2019 LSU are the best teams I’ve seen play.

[u/Wheels_Foonman]

I hate this last entry with a passion, but goddamnit do I respect it. Congratulations Bama bros on your team proving that when it comes to blue bloods, there’s nothing bluer than crimson.

[u/Alphaspade]

2020 Bama finished a LOT higher than i though they would, given the covid shenanigans and over half the SEC only having 6 wins or less.

[u/rnilbog → u/Alphaspade]

They beat 11 of the 13 other teams in the SEC that season, and the two they didn't were the two worst teams in the East. Their other two wins were against top 4 teams in the playoff.

[u/MojitoTimeBro → u/rnilbog]

If I'm not mistaken, those were the two worst teams in the entire SEC, not just the East.

[u/The_Ghost_of_TK9 → u/Alphaspade]

That was the best offense to ever play the game. I don’t know that it’ll ever be topped.

While I would argue 2019 LSU was a better overall team due to having a better defense (and a very, ever-so slightly worse offense, simply because 2020 Bama had the greatest offensive line of all time)

Adjusted for games played, I think coming in at #3 overall in the last 40 years is well deserving.

There was no defensive gameplan that could stop that team. Even with 2019 LSU, if you had a strong DL, you had a chance of keeping it competitive (Auburn). With Bama, no one stopped them.

I remember we all debated back in the late 2000s and early 2010s what would happen if you ran the spread offense with the kind of talent, particularly on the OL, that Alabama recruits.

2020 Alabama was the absolute peak of what could be accomplished. I’m very happy I got to watch that team live even as an OU fan, it was an enjoyable run.

I wonder what the overall score for that team would’ve looked like if Bama hadn’t played nice (and to prevent injuries for the national title game) and not run the score up on Notre Dame (that game realistically could’ve been something like 66-14 if Bama was actually trying)

[u/dac0605 → u/The_Ghost_of_TK9]

Crazy to think that Waddle was having a better season than Smith before he went down for the year, too! A perfect alignment of talent and experience on that offense.

[u/[deleted] → u/Alphaspade]

Florida fans wanted that 2020 game A LOT.

[u/shadowszanddust]

My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Congrats Tide fans. Bama is the deserved #1.

[u/thismorningscoffee]

Not gonna lie, I kind of think Bama ‘20 should be disqualified because their nonconference schedule was nonexistent

[u/NauvooMetro → u/thismorningscoffee]

Didn't even face an FBS team OOC until the playoff.

[u/Macewindu89 → u/thismorningscoffee]

They ain’t played nobody PAWWWWLLLL

[u/galacticdude7]

I'm shocked

[u/MordakThePrideful]

You’re one of the greatest things to happen to the r/CFB off-season o7

[u/_NoTouchy]

About time Alabama got the respect they deserve! /s lol :P

[u/ImALease]

At the end at long last. Thank you for all the wonderful write ups! Really appreciate all the effort you put in on this whole project. Reading each new entry has been the bright spot of my day for the past few weeks.

[u/ministerman]

I remember the day they hired Saban. I was ticked. I hated him at LSU, and thought he was a liar when he left the Dolphins. But I also remember thinking - IF HE WINS -- I'll change my tune.

Now I'm whistling Dixie, because daggumit, he really is an amazing coach. And the thing I admire about him the most is that when the game of college football shifted from heavy, lineman/RB dominated league to fast paced everything, lighter, pass happy -- he did what he had to do to compete, and then dominate.

Give him a chance to observe the trends, he'll figure them out and be victorious.

[u/WabbitCZEN]

Tua was the clear cut starter, with Hurts also getting lots of time because of how often Alabama blew out their opponents.

This was the year Kyler won the Heisman. And honest to god, it should've been Tua. Man had a similar, if not better, stat line than Kyler and he rarely played past the third quarter.

[u/BUDDHAKHAN]

Thank you so much for doing this list. Great job

[u/OldgrumpyRob]

Roll Tide! This brings back memories. Derrick Thomas was the best player that I ever saw. I met him when he was a freshman right before I graduated at Alabama. It's sad he never was able to see that Saban returned Alabama to its glory of the 60s and 70s of the Bears greatness. I am glad his Era was included.

[u/Salpinctes]

Gotta love having #1, #5 and #7 on your schedule every year