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Ranking the Top 10 Greatest College Football Teams Since 2000 (Bleacher Report)
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:54 am
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:54 am
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10. 2002 Ohio State
8. 2013 Florida State
10. 2002 Ohio State
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9. 2010 Auburn
By the numbers: 14-0 record. 41.2 points per game, 499.2 yards of total offense per game and 284.8 rushing yards per game. Two Associated Press All-Americans, and quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy.
Defining moment: Auburn lived on the edge all season, with six wins by a touchdown or less. But the biggest moment came in the BCS Championship Game.
Oregon held the Tigers' potent offense largely in check and tied the game 19-19 with two minutes, 33 seconds remaining. But Auburn had one last chance, and the Tigers took advantage.
The biggest play? Tailback Michael Dyer appeared to have been tackled by Oregon's Eddie Pleasant following a six-yard gain, but neither his knee nor the ball touched the ground, and he kept going for a 37-yard gain that was upheld following replay.
That drive went all the way to the Oregon 1 before Wes Byrum kicked a 19-yard field goal on the game's final play for a 22-19 victory and Auburn's first undisputed national championship in program history.
Why they're here: Auburn has long lived in Alabama's shadow in the college football-crazy Yellowhammer State, but the addition of quarterback Cam Newton turned the Tigers into a national contender.
Auburn and Newton had a potent offense and were escape artists, surviving Clemson 27-24 in overtime, Kentucky 37-34 and erasing a 24-0 second-quarter deficit for a wild 28-27 win over the Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl.
Newton led Auburn's hurry-up, no-huddle offense to perfection and was never rattled. He won the Heisman Trophy and was taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers, where he has won an MVP award and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. He was one of two first-round picks along with defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
The Tigers were indomitable and a fun team to watch thanks to Newton's heroics. Head coach Gene Chizik quickly flamed out at Auburn following Newton's departure, but this team will be remembered forever on the Plains.
8. 2013 Florida State
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7. 2009 Alabama
By the numbers: 14-0 record. 11.71 points allowed per game (No. 2 nationally), 244.1 yards per game allowed (No. 2 nationally), 78.1 rushing yards per game allowed (No. 2 nationally), 215 rushing yards per game (No. 12 nationally).
Five players named as Associated Press first-team All-Americans. Tailback Mark Ingram was Alabama's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, and linebacker Rolando McClain won the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award.
Defining moment: Before Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama wandered in college football's desert following its last national championship under Gene Stallings in 1992, suffering multiple NCAA probations and going through four head coaches.
As the 2009 season wound to a close, the Tide were close to returning to national glory. With an 11-0 record, Alabama needed to beat rival Auburn to secure a perfect regular season.
With 8:27 left, they trailed Auburn 21-20 and took the ball at their own 21. Quarterback Greg McElroy led a 79-yard touchdown drive, completing seven consecutive passes.
He finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left, lifting Alabama to a 26-21 victory that kept the Tide on track to win a national championship.
Why they're here: Alabama fans will always have a special place in their heart for the team that returned the Crimson Tide to glory.
The Tide struggled mightily following Stallings' retirement, but Saban was hailed as a savior. In his third season, Alabama won a national title with a perfect 14-0 record.
The Tide survived an upset bid from Tennessee, escaping with a 12-10 victory after Terrence Cody blocked a last-second field goal.
They avenged the 2008 SEC Championship loss with a 32-13 rout of Tim Tebow and Florida in the 2009 SEC Championship. And they jumped to a 24-6 halftime lead over Texas and hung on for a 37-26 win in the BCS National Championship Game.
Alabama had seven players selected in the 2010 NFL draft, including first-round selections in linebacker McClain and cornerback Kareem Jackson.
This team set the standard for those that would follow and paved the road for Saban's glorious tenure inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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6. 2012 Alabama
By the numbers: 13-1 record. 250 yards per game allowed, 10.9 points per game allowed, 76.3 rushing yards per game allowed, all No. 1 nationally.
Four players named as Associated Press first-team All-Americans. Center Barrett Jones honored with the Rimington Award as college football's top center.
Defining moment: Thanks to a late-season loss to Texas A&M, Alabama entered the BCS National Championship game as the nation's No. 2 team behind undefeated No. 1 Notre Dame. But there was no doubt which was the superior team in south Florida.
Alabama took its first two drives 82 and 61 yards, respectively, jumped to a 14-0 lead, led 28-0 at halftime and ripped the Fighting Irish 42-14 to win its second consecutive national championship.
Nick Saban's team left no doubt that it was the best program in college football, winning the third national title in his Tuscaloosa tenure.
Why they're here: The 2011 national championship team left a high standard for Alabama's 2012 group to live up to, but the Crimson Tide was quietly excellent.
Following a 9-0 start that included a stirring 21-17 comeback win at LSU, Alabama was upset by Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel in Tuscaloosa.
However, the team rebounded to blank both Western Carolina and Auburn by 49-0 scores and survived a classic 32-28 win over Georgia in the SEC championship that came down to the final seconds. They then crushed Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS National Championship Game.
The Tide thrived with the run game and defense; both T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, and Alabama led the nation in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense.
Defensive back Dee Milliner and offensive linemen Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker were NFL first-round picks, and nine Alabama players were selected in the NFL draft. This team wasn't perfect, but it was very good.
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Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:54 am to TideSaint
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5. 2008 Florida
By the numbers: 13-1 record. 43.6 points per game. 12.9 points per game allowed. 3,419 yards of total offense and 42 total touchdowns by quarterback Tim Tebow.
One first-team All-American in linebacker Brandon Spikes, who had 93 tackles. Three major awards won by Tebow (the Maxwell Award, the Manning Award and the Wuerffel Trophy).
Defining moment: For Florida, the biggest moment of the year was a loss. On September 27, 2008, Ole Miss came into Gainesville and handed the Gators a stunning 31-30 home defeat.
Afterward, an emotional Tebow faced reporters and promised them that "you have never seen any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of this season, and you'll never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of this season, and you'll never see a team play harder than we will the rest of this season."
Tebow was right. No team came closer than 10 points to Florida the rest of the way, including a 49-10 rout of No. 8 Georgia, a 56-6 pummeling of No. 24 South Carolina and a 45-15 blasting of No. 23 Florida State. Florida won its last 10 games and claimed Urban Meyer's second national championship.
Meanwhile, the text of "The Promise" has been placed on a plaque which now hangs outside Florida's practice facility for all to see.
Why they're here: Florida finished 13-1 after a surprising home loss to Ole Miss, but the Gators learned from it and cruised to a national title under Tebow's guidance.
Love him or hate him, Tebow proved to be one of the best and most inspirational college football players in recent memory.
He was a dual threat and an excellent leader, but the defense, with future NFL players such as linebacker Spikes, cornerbacks Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins and defensive end Carlos Dunlap, did its job as well, holding foes to 12.9 points per game.
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4. 2011 Alabama
By the numbers: 12-1 record. 183.6 total yards allowed per game, No. 1 nationally. 8.1 points per game, No. 1 nationally. Zero points allowed in BCS National Championship win over LSU. Four players named as Associated Press first-team All-Americans.
Defining moment: Only one team came within 16 points of Alabama all season. That was LSU, which went into Bryant-Denny Stadium and defeated the Crimson Tide 9-6 in an overtime, all-field goal slugfest.
The Tide finished second in the SEC West behind the Tigers, but they forced a rematch in the BCS National Championship Game, a matchup which has been credited with kickstarting the push for a true four-team college football playoff.
This time, Nick Saban's team would not be denied. Alabama's defense completely shut down the Tigers in a 21-0 defeat, the only title game shutout of the BCS era.
Alabama kicked five field goals and added a late Trent Richardson touchdown for the final margin.
Why they’re here: Saban's best teams are built with defense, and the 2011 Crimson Tide was no exception. Alabama yielded only 8.1 points per game, and only one team (FCS foe Georgia Southern) scored more than 14 points against them. That's impressive.
The Tide avenged its only defeat with a thoroughly dominant 21-0 win over LSU in the BCS National Championship Game.
Alabama ripped No. 12 Florida 38-10, No. 14 Arkansas 38-14 and No. 24 Auburn 42-14. Aside from LSU, no team really challenged the Tide.
Hard-charging tailback Richardson was an NFL bust, but he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for 1,679 yards. He was one of four NFL first-round picks, joined by defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick and linebacker Dont'a Hightower.
It was one of Saban's best teams and can hold its own with plenty of recent champions.
3. 2005 Texas
2. 2004 Southern California
1. 2001 Miami
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:55 am to TideSaint
Big 3
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:55 am to TideSaint
:inb4noUK:
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:55 am to TideSaint
2009 Alabama is always underrated.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:56 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama entered the BCS National Championship game as the nation's No. 2 team behind undefeated No. 1 Notre Dame. But there was no doubt which was the superior team in south Florida.
Damn, that game was boring
Posted on 5/17/17 at 11:59 am to TideSaint
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10. 2002 Ohio State
My only problem with this ranking is that if Miami had won the Fiesta Bowl, they would be in the top 5 of this list. I don't care because OSU won a crystal ball, but it's kind of annoying.
Like shouldn't Texas 2005 be the best since they beat 2005 USC who ESPN proclaimed the best ever before the game?
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:04 pm to Weagle25
quote:
Big 3
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:06 pm to TideSaint
Great post. Thanks.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:07 pm to TideSaint
LSU 2011 should be on here. The ran rough shot on everyone and even beat the eventual national champion at their house. I think they also beat the Orange bowl champ (WVU) and the Rose bowl champ (Oregon) during that season.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:07 pm to joeytiger
The fact LSU 2011 isn't on here is a joke.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:08 pm to TideSaint
Not sure why 2004 USC is ahead of 2005 Texas.
Also, I think 2012 LSU should be ahead of 2002 Ohio State.
Also, I think 2012 LSU should be ahead of 2002 Ohio State.
This post was edited on 5/17/17 at 12:09 pm
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:08 pm to TideSaint
2011 LSU would have manhandled at least #9 and #10
This post was edited on 5/17/17 at 12:09 pm
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:14 pm to CrimsonCrusade
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2011 LSU would have manhandled at least #9 and #10
The joke is 2009 UA above 2010 AU. Bama barely beat an 8-5 Auburn team with noodle arm at QB. Cam would've destroyed that 2009 Bama team.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:16 pm to rockiee
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Damn, that game was boring
There were at least four or five teams in the top 10 that would have beaten Notre Dame.
Posted on 5/17/17 at 12:16 pm to TideSaint
So they put Auburn in because they had one good year and got pity votes because they live in the shadows of Alabama?
I guess you can be "proud" of that as an Auburn fan if you want to....
I guess you can be "proud" of that as an Auburn fan if you want to....
Posted on 5/17/17 at 1:12 pm to AshLSU
People talk about 01 Miami all the time and replace their memories with NFL memories. nobody remembers that Virginia Tech had the game won and gave it away (just needed a chip shot FG but threw an INT trying to throw the ball away to stop the clock). Nobody remembers that they had a new head coach. Nobody remembers that the Big Least was one of the worst conferences of all time. They were not just bad, they were really awful.
They were not the best team I saw that decade. They had the best talent. They had the best roster. But, they had the easiest schedule of any national champion since BYU in 1984.
They didn't even play a top 10 team yet they are crowned the best ever? They are widely viewed as the best team ever because nobody saw them play (especially Miami fans who didn't show up for the games).
People on the west coast thought they were something because they stomped Washington (finished unranked) in the dirt.
I watched a lot of their games because I was down there during that season doing business. People just look at their roster and ditto head what others say.
There are several teams on this list that would not lose to the '01 Canes.
They were not the best team I saw that decade. They had the best talent. They had the best roster. But, they had the easiest schedule of any national champion since BYU in 1984.
They didn't even play a top 10 team yet they are crowned the best ever? They are widely viewed as the best team ever because nobody saw them play (especially Miami fans who didn't show up for the games).
People on the west coast thought they were something because they stomped Washington (finished unranked) in the dirt.
I watched a lot of their games because I was down there during that season doing business. People just look at their roster and ditto head what others say.
There are several teams on this list that would not lose to the '01 Canes.
This post was edited on 5/17/17 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 5/17/17 at 1:33 pm to TheRaid
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People talk about 01 Miami all the time and replace their memories with NFL memories
I agree, that Miami team was absolutely loaded, but good God did they play a joke of a schedule. They also got gifted the national title by getting to play dogshit Eric Crouch and Nebraska who got absolutely boat raced by Colorado their last game of the season. Don't forget the Ed Reed pick 6 to beat that God awful Boston College team. They would get beat by several teams on the list, especially if that 02 Ohio St team beat essentially the same Miami team in 02.
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