The decade is coming to a close. A good time to see what schools accomplished what on the gridiron and where they ranked.
25. Texas A&M (84-46)
The Aggies brought us one of the most exciting players of the decade in Johnny Manziel. Not that it is as big a deal anymore, but they did make a bowl in every season. They are 5-4 in postseason games in the 2010s and have a Texas Bowl appearance upcoming. Texas A&M for all its success is on its third coach, Jimbo Fisher, of the decade.
24. USC (86-44)
The Trojans have seen Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Clay Helton as their coach in this decade. With a Holiday Bowl appearance on the docket, they come into that game with a 3-3 postseason mark in the decade. There was only one Rose Bowl appearance for a team used to going to Pasadena far more frequently.
23. Appalachian State (90-36)
The Mountaineers have been in the Sun Belt since 2014. All they have done is win 60 games and 4 straight bowl games.
22. TCU: (94-42)
Gary Patterson has been in charge of the Horned Frogs since 2001. The stability has given rise to the program and plenty of success. Despite stepping into the Big 12 TCU has had five double-digit win seasons. There were 6 bowl wins in the decade, including one in the Rose.
21. UCF (87-42)
Talk about a team that has turned itself into a force on the college scene. Remember, UCF is 45 games over .500 despite having gone 0-12 in 2015. The Knights have a bowl game upcoming and a win would enable them to finish the decade with 35 victories in the last three seasons. This is another school that has had 3 head coaches in the decade.
20. Florida (80-46)
The Gators were more than 40 games over .500 but that doesn’t cut it when it comes to the fan base. There were 5 bowl wins heading into the Orange Bowl and 4 seasons of 10 or more wins. It just didn’t feel like the quartet of coaches actually had Florida in the national title picture.
19. Penn State (86-42)
The first half the decade was mediocre but the Nittany Lions have finished with double-digit wins in 3 of the last 4 seasons. Hard to believe the decade actually started with Joe Paterno as the coach before scandal engulfed Happy Valley.
18. Utah (83-46)
The Utes started and finished the decade with double-digit victory seasons. They also stepped up from the MWC to the Pac-12 and have done a good job in the new conference.
18. Washington (84-48)
The Huskies lose Coach Chris Petersen after a season that saw them go 7-5. They head into the Las Vegas Bowl on a 3-game postseason losing streak. Their trio of double-digit victory seasons came from 2016-18.
17. Michigan (85-43)
The record is nice. Then you have to factor in the losses to Ohio State, which take down Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
16. Notre Dame (91-37)
There are a lot of wins but the losses feel like they always come in the tougher games on the schedule, which has a load of soft spots. Brian Kelly has done a nice job getting the team to bounce back from off-years.
14. Michigan State (91-40)
The Spartans are struggling to the finish of a strong 10-year run. Mark Dantonio had a stretch that saw Michigan State win double-digit games 5 of 6 years. However, 3 of the last 4 seasons have been ordinary to awful (3-9 in 2016).
13. Oklahoma State (93-36)
There isn’t much quiet about Mike Gundy. So, it hard to believe his Cowboys actually could sneak up on you with 6 seasons of double-digit triumphs. They also have 7 bowl victories as they head into the Texas Bowl.
12. Stanford (98-35)
The Cardinal stumbled in their final season going 4-8 in 2019. That can’t take away from the job David Shaw has done in Palo Alto. Stanford had 6 seasons of 10-plus wins and 6 bowl victories.
11. Auburn (87-44)
The Tigers started with a 14-0 season and national championship. Their best year of the decade. After that only 2 more seasons of 10-plus wins.
10. Boise State (107-25)
The Broncos may not play in the toughest conference but they win, win and win more games. The most losses they had in a season was 5 in 2013. They are 6-2 in bowl games this decade. Remember, their 2018 game was postponed due to weather.
9. Florida State (96-36)
Jimbo Fisher took over for legendary Bobby Bowden in 2010 and everything was stable until it became seriously unstable in 2017. Fisher left and Willie Taggart came on and didn’t do the job. Next man up is Mike Norvell, who would love to have the kind of run Jimbo had. Recency bias has the Seminoles in this slot as they have 18-18 in the past 3 seasons heading into the Sun Bowl.
8. Georgia (99-36)
The SEC is well represented in both the Top 10 and 25. With good reason as the conference has played some of the best football in the decade. The Dawgs contributed to its success. Seven seasons of double-digit victories under Mark Richt and Kirby Smart.
7. LSU (101-28)
The Tigers are finishing their decade with a flourish, going undefeated and with the likely Heisman winner in Joe Burrow. LSU opened the decade with four seasons of double-digit victories and is closing it with another pair. Les Miles and Ed Orgeron have done a wonderful job in Baton Rouge.
6. Wisconsin (102-33)
The Badgers will look first their first Rose Bowl victory in three tries this decade. They are riding a five-game postseason win streak. Another elite school that had three coaches in the decade. Seven seasons with double-digit wins put Wisconsin good position as a college football power.
5. Oregon (100-32)
The Ducks had a great run in this decade and had three coaches. They suffered 22 of the losses in a four-year stretch from 2015-18. They will look to conclude the decade with a third Rose Bowl victory.
4. Oklahoma (109-24)
If you are looking to put a knock on a team that is 85 games over .500, it is that 5 of the losses came in bowl games. Otherwise, Oklahoma has produced multiple Heisman winners and is always a threat on the national scene. Another 5 of the losses came in 2014.
t-2. Clemson (116-22)
Dabo Swinney saw his first season in 2010 finish at 6-7. Since then it has been a rocket of success and creating a college football powerhouse. The Tigers bring an astounding 28-game winning streak into the Fiesta Bowl.
t-2. Ohio State (117-17)
The Buckeyes not only dominate arch-rival Michigan but most other schools in the land. One hundred games over .500 for the decade and remember 7 of those losses came in 2011 when Luke Fickell has to guide the Buckeyes through the mess that followed the exit of Jim Tressel. By the way, the tie for second is not a copout. The winner of the Fiesta Bowl between the Buckeyes and Tigers gets the slot.
1. Alabama (123-15)
The overall success and incredible strength of the SEC helped tip the overall top ranking to Nick Saban and the Tide. Fifteen losses in an entire decade is astonishing. The Citrus Bowl will be Alabama’s 14th postseason game of the 2010s decade. The game counts because it falls under the 2019 season. A remarkable run. This is the second 10-win season in the decade. Every other season saw more victories!
