In honor of college football's 150th season, we asked USA TODAY'slongtime computer rankings expert Jeff Sagarin to do the impossible: Compile a list of the top 150 teams in college football history.
Given how much college football has changed in just the last 20 years, not to mention the wishbone era and the single wing era, it was a daunting task. But Sagarin did what he does best: working his formula and crunching numbers.
"The ranking method used in this retroactive look was to combineawon-loss-tiemethod with a pure score method," Sagarin explained via email. "Combining those two methods prevents an extreme in one method from dominating the process.
"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.
If a team's schedule was weak, then it essentially needed to be undefeated
and have won by huge scores."
Sagarin's formula led to the 1945 Army team, featuring backs Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, being ranked No.1.
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"The Cadets won all their games by impressive marginsand played the toughest schedule in the country for that season," Sagarin wrote.
The data for the seasons 1869-1945 was collected by his longtime friend Bob Rosiek of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and theUniversity of Michigan (1970). To make the data meaningful,the seasons from 1920-1945 have about 300 teams rated.
"Beginning with 1946-1992, Bob added teams and scores to mypre-existing files," Sagarin wrote. "From 1993 onward, it was relatively straightforward in knowing which teams to include — simply all FBS (I-A) and all FCS (I-AA)."
No. 1: Army (1945)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 4-0
vs. Top 30: 7-0
Sagarin rating: 127.27
No. 2: Notre Dame (1943)
Record: 9-1
vs. Top 10: 5-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 125.47
No. 3: California (1920)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 121.48
No. 4: Army (1944)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 121.41
No. 5: Nebraska (1995)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 127.27
No. 6: Texas (2005)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 116.28
No. 7: Nebraska (1971)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 116.26
No. 8: Michigan (1943)
Record: 8-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 2-1
Sagarin rating: 116.17
No. 9: Ohio State (1944)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 115.31
No. 10: Oklahoma (1971)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 113.62
No. 11: Alabama (1945)
Record:10-0
vs. Top 10: 11-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 113.29
No. 12: Duke (1943)
Record: 8-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 113.19
No. 13: Miami (Fla.) (2001)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 113.04
No. 14: Florida State (1993)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 112.84
No. 15: Notre Dame (1946)
Record: 8-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0-1
vs. Top 30: 2-0-1
Sagarin rating: 112.74
No. 16: Penn State (1994)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 112.66
No. 17: Notre Dame (1949)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 112.74
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
No. 19: Michigan (1947)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 111.89
No. 20: Florida (1996)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 111.65
No. 21: Washington (1991)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 111.25
No. 22: Oklahoma (1974)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 111.17
No. 23: Nebraska (1997)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 110.81
No. 24: Alabama (1971)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 110.72
No. 25: Florida State (2013)
Record: 14-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 110.65
No. 26: Southern California (2004)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 110.61
No. 27: Navy (1943)
Record: 8-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 110.50
No. 28: Randolph Field (Texas) (1944)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 110.42
No. 29: Notre Dame (1966)
Record: 9-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0-1
vs. Top 30: 3-0-1
Sagarin rating: 110.26
No. 30: Oklahoma (1973)
Record: 10-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0-1
vs. Top 30: 7-0-1
Sagarin rating: 110.18
No. 31: Clemson (2018)
Record: 15-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 110.13
No. 32: Ohio State (1996)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 109.98
No. 33: Southern California (2005)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 109.96
No. 34: Michigan (1948)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 109.70
No. 35: Mississippi (1959)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 109.56
No. 36: Navy (1945)
Record: 7-1-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1-1
Sagarin rating: 109.43
No. 37: Syracuse (1959)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 109.29
No. 38: Alabama (1973)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 109.21
No. 39: Northwestern (1943)
Record: 6-2
vs. Top 10: 1-2
vs. Top 30: 2-2
Sagarin rating: 109.09
No. 40: Notre Dame (1977)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 109.01
No. 41: Florida State (1987)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 108.96
No. 42: Oklahoma (1949)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 108.80
No. 43: Miami (Fla.) (1988)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 108.79
No. 44: Notre Dame (1970)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 108.75
No. 45: Michigan State (1952)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 108.70
No. 46: Notre Dame (1973)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 108.66
No. 47: Army (1946)
Record: 9-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0-1
vs. Top 30: 6-0-1
Sagarin rating: 108.46
No. 48: Florida (1995)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 108.36
No. 49: Miami (Fla) (1987)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 108.12
No. 50: Maryland (1951)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 108.09
No. 51: Oklahoma (1987)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 108.08
No. 52: Florida (2008)
Record: 13-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 108.03
No. 53: Notre Dame (1947)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 107.96
No. 54: Texas (1969)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 107.92
No. 55: Florida State (1997)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 107.90
No. 56: Notre Dame (1988)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 4-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 107.50
No. 57: Florida State (1999)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 107.43
No. 58: Nebraska (1970)
Record: 11-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0-1
Sagarin rating: 107.41
No. 59: Oklahoma (2000)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 4-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 107.35
No. 60: Purdue (1943)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 107.22
No. 61: Alabama (2018)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 7-1
Sagarin rating: 107.09
No. 62: Alabama (1930)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 107.08
No. 63: Notre Dame (1930)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 106.97
No. 64: UCLA (1954)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0
Sagarin rating: 106.57
No. 65: California (1921)
Record: 8-0-1
vs. Top 10: 0-0-1
vs. Top 30: 1-0-1
Sagarin rating: 106.57
No. 66: Ohio State (1954)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 106.51
No. 67: Michigan (1944)
Record: 8-2
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 5-2
Sagarin rating: 106.42
No. 68: Nebraska (1994)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 106.39
No. 69: Alabama (2016)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 7-1
Sagarin rating: 106.32
No. 70: Southern California (1932)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 8-0
Sagarin rating: 106.24
No. 71: Notre Dame (1953)
Record: 9-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0-1
Sagarin rating: 106.24
No. 72: Alabama (2012)
Record: 13-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 106.15
No. 73: LSU (1958)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 106.08
No. 74: LSU (2011)
Record: 13-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 106.06
No. 75: Florida State (1996)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 106.06
No. 76: Texas (1970)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 0-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 105.81
No. 77: Alabama (2011)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 105.78
No. 78: Oklahoma (1972)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 105.78
No. 79: Southern California (1972)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 105.50
No. 80: Houston (1968)
Record: 6-2-2
vs. Top 10: 0-0-2
vs. Top 30: 2-1-2
Sagarin rating: 105.40
No. 81: Miami (Fla.) (2000)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 105.38
No. 82: Miami (Fla.) (1991)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 105.23
No. 83: Florida State (2000)
Record: 11-2
vs. Top 10: 1-2
vs. Top 30: 3-2
Sagarin rating: 105.19
No. 84: Oregon (2010)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 105.17
No. 85: Alabama (1961)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 105.08
No. 86: Florida State (1988)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 105.01
No. 87: Auburn (1957)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 104.96
No. 88: Penn State (1982)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 7-1
Sagarin rating: 104.86
No. 89: Ohio State (1998)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 104.84
No. 90: Texas (1947)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 104.83
No. 91: Oklahoma (1986)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 104.77
No. 92: Oklahoma (1952)
Record: 8-1-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 104.73
No. 93: Georgia Tech (1952)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 104.64
No. 94: Nebraska (1993)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 104.63
No. 95: Florida (1997)
Record: 10-2
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-2
Sagarin rating: 104.63
No. 96: Florida State (1998)
Record: 11-2
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 104.48
No. 97: Harvard (1920)
Record: 8-0-1
vs. Top 10: 0-0-1
vs. Top 30: 3-0-1
Sagarin rating: 104.40
No. 98: California (1922)
Record: 9-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 1-0
Sagarin rating: 104.39
No. 99: Kentucky (1950)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 1-1
Sagarin rating: 104.36
No. 100: Oklahoma (1955)
Record: 8-1-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 104.35
No. 101: Texas (1961)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 104.34
No. 102: Georgia (1946)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 104.33
No. 103: Nebraska (1996)
Record: 11-2
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-2
Sagarin rating: 104.31
No. 104: Oklahoma State (2011)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 7-0
Sagarin rating: 104.19
No. 105: Notre Dame (1921)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 1-1
Sagarin rating: 104.18
No. 106: Oklahoma (1975)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 4-0
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 104.73
No. 107: Southern California (1969)
Record: 10-0-1
vs. Top 10: 4-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0-1
Sagarin rating: 104.10
No. 108: Michigan (1973)
Record: 10-0-1
vs. Top 10: 0-0-1
vs. Top 30: 0-0-1
Sagarin rating: 103.97
No. 109: Minnesota (1934)
Record: 8-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 1-0
Sagarin rating: 103.91
No. 110: Penn State (1973)
Record: 12-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 103.83
No. 111: Clemson (2016)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 7-1
Sagarin rating: 103.81
No. 112: Minnesota (1940)
Record: 8-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 103.78
No. 113: Southern California (1952)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 103.77
No. 114: Florida State (1992)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 103.72
No. 115: Nebraska (1982)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 103.67
No. 116: Texas (1968)
Record: 9-1-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0-1
vs. Top 30: 4-0-1
Sagarin rating: 103.67
No. 117: Notre Dame (1989)
Record: 12-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 7-1
Sagarin rating: 103.66
No. 118: Mississippi (1960)
Record: 10-0-1
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 103.60
No. 119: Tennessee (1998)
Record: 13-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 6-0
Sagarin rating: 103.59
No. 120: LSU (2003)
Record: 13-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 103.57
No. 121: Tennessee (1951)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 0-1
vs. Top 30: 2-1
Sagarin rating: 103.57
No. 122: Notre Dame (1993)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 103.48
No. 123: Alabama (1966)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 103.48
No. 124: Norman Navy (1944)
Record: 6-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 103.46
No. 125: Texas (1977)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 103.45
No. 126: Ohio State (2014)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 103.43
No. 127: Alabama (2015)
Record: 14-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 9-1
Sagarin rating: 103.36
No. 128: LSU (1961)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 103.23
No. 129: Alabama (2009)
Record: 14-0
vs. Top 10: 3-0
vs. Top 30: 7-0
Sagarin rating: 103.20
No. 130: Georgia (1942)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 103.18
No. 131: Florida State (1994)
Record: 10-1-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1-1
Sagarin rating: 103.18
No. 132: Miami (Fla.) (1986)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 103.13
No. 133: Virginia Tech (1999)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 0-1
vs. Top 30: 2-1
Sagarin rating: 103.10
No. 134: Iowa Navy PF (1943)
Record: 9-1
vs. Top 10: 0-1
vs. Top 30: 2-1
Sagarin rating: 103.08
No. 135: Notre Dame (1924)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 4-0
Sagarin rating: 103.04
No. 136: Colorado (1971)
Record: 10-2
vs. Top 10: 1-2
vs. Top 30: 4-2
Sagarin rating: 102.96
No. 137: Miami (Fla.) (1989)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 102.93
No. 138: Michigan (1940)
Record: 7-1
vs. Top 10: 2-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 102.93
No. 139: Iowa (1960)
Record: 8-1
vs. Top 10: 3-1
vs. Top 30: 5-1
Sagarin rating: 102.90
No. 140: Florida (1994)
Record: 10-2-1
vs. Top 10: 0-2-1
vs. Top 30: 2-2-1
Sagarin rating: 102.88
No. 141: Georgia Tech (1943)
Record: 8-3
vs. Top 10: 0-3
vs. Top 30: 2-3
Sagarin rating: 102.83
No. 142: Mississippi (1962)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 3-0
Sagarin rating: 102.78
No. 143: California (1949)
Record: 10-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 6-1
Sagarin rating: 102.67
No. 144: Notre Dame (1948)
Record: 9-0-1
vs. Top 10: 2-0
vs. Top 30: 2-0-1
Sagarin rating: 102.64
No. 145: Florida (1993)
Record: 11-2
vs. Top 10: 1-2
vs. Top 30: 3-2
Sagarin rating: 102.60
No. 146: Minnesota (1949)
Record: 7-2
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 3-1
Sagarin rating: 102.59
No. 147: Southern California (1962)
Record: 11-0
vs. Top 10: 1-0
vs. Top 30: 5-0
Sagarin rating: 102.58
No. 148: Oklahoma (1956)
Record: 10-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 1-0
Sagarin rating: 102.53
No. 149: Arizona State (1996)
Record: 11-1
vs. Top 10: 1-1
vs. Top 30: 4-1
Sagarin rating: 102.52
No. 150: Cornell (1921)
Record: 8-0
vs. Top 10: 0-0
vs. Top 30: 1-0
Sagarin rating: 102.49
