When was the last time you had the great debate over which college team in which era fielded the best team ever? Earlier today? Thought so. Well, now we can finally settle this debate once and for all (or at least try). With it being the 150th season of college football, longtime USA TODAY computer rankings expert Jeff Sagarin compiled a list of the top 150 teams in college football history.
This task was not an easy one considering how much college football has changed and evolved over the year. Sagarin explained that the ranking method combined a won-loss-tie method with a pure score method to attempt to eliminate one method from dominating during the process. He stated: “To achieve a high rating, a team must have a great won-loss record, have won its games by decisive scores, and also have played a decent schedule.”
Where do Big Ten teams rank? Let’s take a look…
Conference names and participating teams have varied greatly over the years. We will be looking at the current Big Ten teams for this discussion today.
Of the top 150 teams in college football history, current Big Ten schools make the list 31 times. The first question any Ohio State supporter is going to ask is “who had more appearances: The Buckeyes or the team up north?” Ohio State and Michigan each appear on the list 6 times. Of the 14 teams currently in the Big Ten, all but four appear at least once. The four without an appearance on the list are Illinois, Indiana, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. The school with the MOST appearances within the Big Ten was Nebraska with eight.
Nebraska (#5, #7), Ohio State (#8) and Michigan (#9) each make an appearance in the top 10. Penn State (#16) falls just outside the top 15. Ohio State (#18), Michigan (#19), and Nebraska (#23) each make an additional appearance within the top 25.
Here is the complete list of the Big Ten teams ranked among the best:
#5 – Nebraska (1995)
#7 – Nebraska (1971)
#8 – Michigan (1943)
#9 – Ohio State (1944)
#16 – Penn State (1994)
#18 – Ohio State (1973)
#19 – Michigan (1947)
#23 – Nebraska (1997)
#32 – Ohio State (1996)
#34 – Michigan (1948)
#39 – Northwestern (1943)
#45 – Michigan State (1952)
#50 – Maryland (1951)
#58 – Nebraska (1970)
#60 – Purdue (1943)
#66 – Ohio State (1954)
#67 – Michigan (1944)
#68 – Nebraska (1994)
#88 – Penn State (1982)
#89 – Ohio State (1998)
#94 – Nebraska (1993)
#103 – Nebraska (1996)
#108 – Michigan (1973)
#109 – Minnesota (1934)
#110 – Penn State (1973)
#112 – Minnesota (1940)
#115 – Nebraska (1982)
#126 – Ohio State (2014)
#138 – Michigan (1940)
#139 – Iowa (1960)
#146 – Minnesota (1949)
Let’s take a closer look at some of the greatest Ohio State teams of all time.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have fielded six of the greatest teams of all time.
No. 9: Ohio State (1944)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 115.31
The highest rated Buckeye team was one for the books. Paul Brown, the head coach who lead the Buckeyes to their first national championship 2 years prior enlisted in the Navy. In his absence, Carroll Widdoes was placed in charge with very little head coaching experience. Of the 44-man roster, 31 were Freshmen. Despite the odds, the Buckeyes went on to their second undefeated season and seventh Big Ten Title. Les Horvath was also the first Buckeye to win the Heisman Trophy at the conclusion of the 1944 season.
No. 18: Ohio State (1973)
Record: 10-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0-1
vs. Top 30: 1-0-1
Sagarin rating: 112.12
Led by legendary coach Woody Hayes, the 1973 Buckeyes defeated opponents by an average score of 38-6 including 4 shut outs. The Buckeyes were undefeated and the top-ranked team in the nation heading into their final game against undefeated #4 Michigan. Ohio State unfortunately could not take care of business and the game finished in a tie. This tie is considered the likely reason for the Buckeyes finishing #2 in the AP rankings that year.
No. 32: Ohio State (1996)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 109.98
Led by head coach John Cooper, the Ohio State Buckeyes had another dominant season despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George at the conclusion of the previous season. Heading into their final match of the season ranked No. 2, the Buckeyes lost to Michigan resulting in a drop in the standings to fourth. Had it not been for this upset, many ponder if Ohio State would have had an opportunity to compete for the national championship that year.
No. 66: Ohio State (1954)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 106.51
After three less than ideal seasons, some expected 1954 to be Woody Hayes’ last season as head coach. Instead, Coach Hayes made some coaching changes to focus on improving the defense. The Buckeyes had a perfect 10-0 season winning their second Rose Bowl and claiming their second national championship.
No. 89: Ohio State (1998)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 104.84
Ohio State retained 17 starters heading into the 1998 season and were considered the top-ranked team at the start of the season. The Buckeyes had a record-breaking season averaging the most total yards of offense per game in program history, had the most 500-yard games in a season, most sacks, and most tackles for loss.
Ohio State defeated every team by at least 10 points with one exception: the upset by Nick Saban-led Michigan State. The 28-24 loss to the Spartan’s was the one blemish of the season and resulted in the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes falling to No. 7.
No. 126: Ohio State (2014)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 103.43
The 2014 season was a series of ups and downs for the Urban Meyer-led Buckeyes. Things looked promising heading into the season until two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy front-runner Braxton Miller re-injured his throwing shoulder 12 days prior to the season opener. Ohio State leading rusher Carlos Hyde also finished his fourth season with the team and entered the NFL draft the season prior.
With only four returning starters on offense, the weight of the world was on red-shirted freshman J.T. Barrett and sophomore Ezekiel Elliot. Barrett and Elliot both surpassed expectations and led a dominating Buckeye team to an undefeated record heading into the final regular season game against Michigan. However, in the fourth quarter against Michigan, Barrett suffered a broken ankle and third-string quarterback Cardale Jones was now placed into the spotlight.
The Buckeyes were able to finish what they started and win against Michigan. The next game, Jones’ first start, was the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin. The Buckeyes won in blow-out fashion with a 59-0 victory over the Badgers. Just squeezing into the first ever college football playoff at the No. 4 seed, Ohio State was the heavy underdog going into the Sugar Bowl to face No. 1 seed Alabama.
Behind the 230-yard performance by Elliot, the Buckeyes upset Alabama. Ohio State beat Oregon 42-20 in the National Championship game to win the first every college football playoff and its eighth national championship.
So, who was considered the greatest college football team of all time? Let’s look.
According to Sagarin’s formula, the 1945 Army team is the greatest of all time finishing with a 9-0 record. The team was 4-0 vs Top 10 teams and 7-0 against Top 30 teams. The team finished with a Sagarin rating of 127.27.
There you have it. The debate is finally over, or at least according to Sagarin’s formula.
Tune in Saturday to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl to see who earns a spot in the national championship game. The game is scheduled for 8 PM EST.
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