{"id":53776,"date":"2019-09-07T11:38:01","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T11:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscroll.com\/?p=53776"},"modified":"2024-02-21T15:04:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T15:04:42","slug":"ranking-the-top-50-college-football-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.sportscroll.com\/ranking-the-top-50-college-football-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking The Top 50 College Football Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"
It’s nearing the official start of fall, and that means college football is finally back.<\/p>\n
Every autumn, football fans around the country rejoice as their favorite teams end a long summer of waiting to take the field yet again. Every one of those universities has a fresh start in front of them. With it comes the chance to pick up some season-defining victories on the way to a potential Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game.<\/p>\n
But let’s be completely honest. Only the best of the best teams will have a realistic shot to make it to those coveted bowl games late in the winter. Those teams are the true elite of college football. Most of them have been proving their excellence on the collegiate gridiron for years. Before there was the BCS, the best NCAA football programs secured victory after victory for the better part of a century to attain their lofty reputations.<\/p>\n
To the victor go the spoils, and these decorated college football programs have certainly earned all of the adulation and respect they have. We ranked the 50 greatest college football programs of all-time based on wins at the outset of the 2019 season (this year not yet included). Check out the full list with stats from 24\/7 Sports<\/a> and Wikipedia<\/a> starting right here:<\/p>\n Kicking off our list of the most legendary college football programs are the Bearcats from Cincinnati, Ohio. Although not always mentioned among the greatest college football powerhouses out there, they did bring 614 wins into this year. Their first season dates back to 1885, and they’ve won 14 total conference titles.<\/p>\n Playing in the AAC, they won’t often battle the true juggernauts you’ll see further up on this list. They’ve played in 18 bowl games, splitting them at 9-9.<\/p>\n Next up, Arizona State makes an appearance in a tie with Cincinnati. Both teams had 614 wins heading into this year. They currently compete in the decorated Pac 12 conference.<\/p>\n While not discussed among the true legends of college football, Arizona State does have an underrated history. They’ve won two unclaimed national titles and have appeared in 31 bowl games. The Sun Devils first competed back in 1897.<\/p>\n The Boilermakers are a Big 10 great who rate below the true rulers of the conference like Ohio State and Michigan. They’ve also found themselves in a three-way tie with Arizona State and Cincinnati on this list. Each team had 614 wins before 2019.<\/p>\n Purdue has one unclaimed national title way back in 1921 and has won 12 conference titles. They first played college football in 1887. While they aren’t dominators in the Big 10, they did contribute a true legend to the NFL in all-time great quarterback Drew Brees.<\/p>\n Kentucky rates as the first of many Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams on this list. With the conference being the most decorated in college football right now, the Wildcats aren’t exactly known as the SEC’s best.<\/p>\n But they still have a storied history, bringing 616 wins into this year. The Wildcats began competing in 1881, making them one of the NCAA’s longest-tenured programs. They have one claimed national championship from 1950 on their record and have won two conference titles.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs once competed in Division I-A but now compete in the FBS. While you may believe that puts an asterisk next to their ranking here, they still maintained a culture of success wherever they played.<\/p>\n They brought 617 wins into 2019, with their program dating back to 1901. They also boast three claimed national titles, albeit in Division II. The program has 25 conference titles and has played in 11 bowl games.<\/p>\n Like Louisiana Tech, Appalachian State only recently began competing in the NCAA FBS division. They have a storied history at the lower levels, racking up 617 prior to this year.<\/p>\n Their first season was only in 1928, a testament to how successful they have been, even if it was at lower levels. They won three straight national titles from 2005-2007 at the FCS level, becoming the first Division I team from the modern era to do so. Now, they compete in the FBS and became nationally ranked for the first time in October 2018. The future is looking up for Appalachian State.<\/p>\n Central Michigan isn’t often discussed among the legendary programs of college football, yet they have some impressive accolades to their credit. They’ve won 16 conference titles and have one national title from their Division II days in 1974 on their record.<\/p>\n The Chippewas brought 618 wins into 2019. Their college football history dates back to 1896. While they’re certainly an under-the-radar team, they have competed in bowl games in five of their last seven years.<\/p>\n The Golden Hurricane are currently competing in the American Athletic Conference after leaving Conference USA before the 2014 season.<\/p>\n They recorded 621 wins before 2019, with their program dating back to 1895. They’ve made 21 bowl games and have won an impressive 35 conference titles.<\/p>\n You may think that a storied college football powerhouse like Miami (Fla.) would be ranked much higher on this list. They would be if we were ranking national titles alone, as they’ve won an incredible five claimed titles and seven unclaimed national championships.<\/p>\n However, since they only began playing football in 1926, many other teams on this list had a head start on them in terms of racking up overall wins. Regardless, what they’ve been able to accomplish in a comparatively short amount of time is absolutely remarkable. Aside from the aforementioned national titles, they’ve won nine conference titles. They also compiled 630 wins heading into 2019, an impressive feat based on their starting point. Perhaps most indicative of their success is their long list of top-flight NFL talent. It includes Michael Irvin, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Jim Kelly, and Frank Gore.<\/p>\n The Terrapins, who currently compete in the Big 10, secured 649 victories heading into the 2019 season to earn a spot among the all-time greats. They have one claimed national title and one unclaimed national title. They’ve been playing college football since their debut in 1892.<\/p>\n Maryland also has 11 conference titles to their credit. They aren’t necessarily among the true elite, but Maryland has quietly won their way into the top 50 greatest college football programs.<\/p>\n The Hawkeyes are beloved by their many fans and remain a Big 10 conference stalwart. Iowa has been playing on the gridiron since 1889 and had 649 wins prior to the 2019 season. Iowa also has four claimed national titles and one unclaimed national championship. They’ve played in 32 bowl games and have 13 conference titles to their credit.<\/p>\n Overall, the Hawkeyes may not rate clear up there with the true elite of the Big 10, yet they aren’t far behind. They consistently send many of their most talented players to the NFL, a sign of their continued success.<\/p>\n The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are indeed a lesser-known entity in the stacked Big 10 conference. But that doesn’t take away from their overall success as somewhat of a dark horse when it comes to the most legendary college football programs.<\/p>\n Their list of accomplishments isn’t necessarily long, with one national title all the way back in their first year in 1869. Having competed for so long, they were able to win 650 games heading into 2019. While Rutgers lacks the on-paper success in terms of recorded accolades, they still have a spot among the East Coast’s many storied college football programs.<\/p>\n Texas Christian University (TCU) isn’t known as the most legendary college football program, so you may be surprised to see them make the list of the 50 greatest. But it’s true, as they’ve racked up 651 wins since their inaugural season way back in 1896.<\/p>\n Their best-known player of all-time is undoubtedly Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. He parlayed a wildly successful career at TCU into an even greater NFL career. There are a ton of great college football programs from the State of Texas, and TCU gets the ball rolling for those here.<\/p>\n Moving up the West Coast, Stanford comes in at 39 on the list of winningest college football programs. The Northern California powerhouse is a respected school, with 653 wins since debuting in 1891.<\/p>\n They’ve been atop the Pac-12 conference for many years. They also bring a long tradition of great quarterbacks starting with all-time great John Elway. Jim Plunkett is the only Stanford Cardinal to win the Heisman trophy. Finally, an alum shocked the football world recently when Andrew Luck retired following successful runs at Stanford and with the Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n The Pacific Northwest is represented well by the Oregon Ducks, who have racked up 657 wins after debuting in 1894. They’ve become well-known for their uniform partnership with nearby apparel giant Nike, and their uniforms may be the most popular in all of college football these days.<\/p>\n But that’s only a part of their rich history. Oregon has always been known as a school that can light up the scoreboard with their impressive aerial attack. The former ‘Webfoots’ wreak havoc in the Pac-12 conference. Oregon is a revered team both in-state and across America.<\/p>\n We travel across the country all the way to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) next. The Virginia Cavaliers also have 657 total wins since their first season in 1888. Not only that, but they are also half of ‘The South’s Oldest Rivalry’ with another storied university later on this list.<\/p>\n Their former coach George Welsh ranked second all-time in wins in the ACC conference. Virginia may not be among the all-time greats, but they’re knocking on that door.<\/p>\n Back across the country to the East Coast, Boston College is up next. They secured 666 wins heading into 2019, with their first year coming in 1893. Competing in the ACC as well, Boston College is one of only two Catholic Universities in the FBS along with another famous school on this list.<\/p>\n The Eagles have always been a hard-nosed, competitive team. They boast alumni such as NFL star quarterback Matt Ryan, who currently starts for the Atlanta Falcons.<\/p>\n The University of California in Berkeley is up next. The Bears won 668 games heading into the 2019 season. They have a bowl record of 11-11-1 with five claimed national championships and 14 conference championships.<\/p>\n While they aren’t up there amongst the strongest Pac 12 teams these days, they do have a storied history. Perhaps their most prized export is Green Bay Packers Super Bowl hero Aaron Rodgers.<\/p>\n The venerable “Ole Miss” is undoubtedly one of the most famous college football programs in the nation. The team boasts 671 wins in their decorated history dating back to 1893.<\/p>\n Not only that, but Mississippi also has six SEC titles and three National Championships to their credit. While they haven’t quite lived up to that lofty billing compared to other SEC powerhouses of recent years, “Ole Miss has produced quality NFL stars like two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. Their rivalries throughout college football’s toughest conference will always be some of the most heated, competitive games in college football.<\/p>\n Although a somewhat obscure team compared to others on this list, the Utah Utes are a storied college football program regardless. They have won 677 games before the 2019 season. Utah debuted its football program in 1892.<\/p>\n All told, they’ve won 24 conference championships and have made it 22 total postseason bowl games, winning 17 of them. Perhaps their most famous NFL export is former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, who most recently played quarterback for the NFL’s Washington Redskins.<\/p>\n Formerly of the Big 12, Missouri now continues its rich tradition of football in the SEC East. They have 677 total wins in their history beginning way back in 1890. The program has 33 bowl games with 10 major bowl appearances. They’ve also won 15 conference titles, 5 division titles, and have 2 national championships.<\/p>\n While these Tigers aren’t currently ranked up with the elite of the SEC right now, they are nonetheless one of college football’s all-time greatest programs.<\/p>\n While you might think it’s the University of Miami (Fla.) that has more wins, it’s actually Miami of Ohio and their 690 victories that rank higher overall. They first debuted in 1888. They have 22 conference titles and 11 bowl appearances.<\/p>\n While their wins earn them a spot among the best of all-time, Miami of Ohio is perhaps known best for producing Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “Big Ben” was tossing touchdowns for Miami before carving out a Hall of Fame career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he hasn’t exactly made a ton of friends along the way.<\/p>\n The North Carolina Tar Heels are mainly known for their all-time great NCAA basketball program. However, their football team also ranks up there among the greatest with 691 total wins heading into 2019. Their football program’s history dates back to 1888.<\/p>\n The Tar Heels have won five ACC conference titles and played in 31 bowl games. They’ve also produced a number of great players who moved on to play the NFL. Those range from legendary defensive end Julius Peppers to current Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The jury’s obviously still out on Trubisky in the NFL, but that doesn’t change the fact that North Carolina is one of the best college football programs.<\/p>\n While Army doesn’t rank up there with the best college football teams of today, they were once among the truly elite in the sport many years ago. Their rich tradition still ranks them among the best in term of overall wins. They secured 692 victories since first playing in the 1890 season.<\/p>\n They won three national titles in the 1940s and have made eight bowl game appearances. Army has also produced three Heisman Trophy winners. They’re also one of only six schools to claim no allegiance to any FBS conference.<\/p>\n While you may not think the Golden Gophers of the Big 10 conference are one of college football’s greatest programs, they indeed are. They’ve racked up 695 wins heading into this season. They were also members of the Big 10 conference when it was called the Western Conference in its first season of 1896. Their program dates back to 1882.<\/p>\n Minnesota also won seven national championships from 1904-1960. While it’s been quite some time since they’ve reached those lofty heights, Minnesota has maintained a rich, storied tradition with several high-profile rivalries.<\/p>\n The Spartans are another Big 10 powerhouse who can lay claim to a period of unparalleled success. They won six national championships from 1951-1966. They also have nine Big 10 conference championships to their credit. Overall, Michigan State won 701 games before 2019 since their debut in 1896.<\/p>\n Like the University of Minnesota, Michigan State is still trying to reignite that type of success in the current era of college football. That doesn’t mean they’re a bad team, by any means. You need only look at the fact they produced All-Pro NFL running back Le’Veon Bell in recent years as proof. The Spartans uphold the strong traditions of the Big 10 conference and always will.<\/p>\n The storied Buffaloes from Boulder used to compete in the Big 12 conference, but now they’re looking to make noise in the Pac-12. The Buffs boasted 705 wins heading into this season, an impressive number to be certain. Their rich history dates back to 1890.<\/p>\n Interestingly enough, they’ve only won one national championship, and it was in 1990 – 100 years after their debut. They’ve also made 29 bowl games, but have only won 12 of those. Nonetheless, the University of Colorado has produced many NFL-level talents. The Buffs will rate as one of the best and brightest college football programs for many years to come.<\/p>\n Wisconsin adds to the growing number of Big 10 teams among the greatest college football programs. It seems that they’re always in the mix, and that’s resulted in 14 conference championships. However, their only national titles are unclaimed versions way back in 1906, 1928, and 1942. They’ve made it 30 bowl games.<\/p>\n Overall, the Badgers had 705 wins heading into the 2019 season. Their program’s history dates back to 1889. The Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson was an integral cog for the Badgers at one point. He’s now the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.<\/p>\n Similar to rival Army, the Midshipmen aren’t exactly at the pinnacle of college football as of right now. However, they’ve still had a very successful program since their first season in 1879. They’ve won 711 games total. Their only national championship was way back in 1926.<\/p>\n Navy has made it to 23 bowl games, splitting them at 11-11-1 overall. Their most famous football alum is most likely Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach. There’s no doubt the Navy passed is among the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all-time.<\/p>\n Back to the SEC with Arkansas, the Razorbacks have ‘quietly’ racked up 715 wins. Their program’s history dates back to 1894. The Razorbacks have one claimed national championship from 1964 and one unclaimed one from 1977.<\/p>\n They’ve also made 42 bowl games and have won 13 conference titles. When talking about the most elite SEC teams, Arkansas’ name doesn’t often come up. They’re still up amongst the most storied college football programs of all-time.<\/p>\n The Syracuse Orange of the ACC has earned their spot among the greats. They totaled 719 wins heading into this year. They boast one national championship from 1960 since their inaugural year of 1889.<\/p>\n The Orange also has five conference titles and has made it to 26 bowl games, winning 16. Perhaps they aren’t perennial national title contenders, but Syracuse has produced some great talent for the NFL. Their biggest stars are all-time greats Jim Brown, Marvin Harrison, and Larry Csonka.<\/p>\n The Panthers are an under-the-radar powerhouse. They bring quite the record of past success. Pitt brought 724 wins into this year. Pittsburgh also has nine claimed national titles to their credit, but not any from recent years. They won eight titles from 1915 to 1937 and then again in 1976. Pitt has eight unclaimed titles as well, including two from 1980 and 1981.<\/p>\n Their history dates back to 1890. There’s no question that the university has produced some unreal football talent such as Heisman winner Tony Dorsett, legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, and future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald.<\/p>\n The highly-touted Gators appear with 725 wins heading into this season, a remarkable feat considering their first season was in 1906. They have three claimed national titles from 1996, 2006, and 2008. The Gators had two unclaimed titles from 1984 and 1985 and also eight conference championships.<\/p>\n Florida has made 44 bowl games. They’ve proved a factory for producing top NFL talent, with legendary running back Emmitt Smith coming out of Florida. The Gators always seem to be at the forefront of NCAA football, and their success is obviously a big reason why.<\/p>\n Longtime Pac-12 members Washington brought 734 wins into 2019 dating back to their first season in 1889. The Huskies have two claimed national championships from 1960 and 1991, while also possessing three unclaimed titles from 1910, 1984, and 1990.<\/p>\n They’ve won an incredible 17 conference titles. More recently, Washington impressed in the newest rankings system for college football by making it to a BCS playoff game in 2016. The university is also known for producing a long string of quarterbacks who played in the NFL.<\/p>\n ACC Coastal member Georgia Tech is one of college football’s all-time greatest programs. They have 735 wins prior to this season, dating back to their first season in 1892. The university also has four claimed national titles from 1917, 1928, 1952, and 1990.<\/p>\n John Heisman, whom the revered Heisman Trophy was named for, was a coach at Georgia Tech. They also boast three unclaimed national titles and 16 conference championships. The Yellow Jackets produced NFL greats like receivers Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas.<\/p>\n Another highly respected team from the SEC, Texas A&M brought 741 wins into 2019 dating back to their first season in 1894. They’ve made it to 40 bowl games, winning 18 of them. Texas A&M has three national titles from 1919, 1927, and 1939.<\/p>\n While it may have been a while since Texas A&M has found truly elite success, they still bring one of the most feverish fanbases in college football. Their nearly 103,000-seat stadium proactively moves along with the throng of humanity there to cheer them on. Current head coach Jimbo Fisher, once the head man at Florida State, is looking to resurrect the Aggies to their long-lost glory in his second season this year. The Aggies are and always will be a legendary college football program.<\/p>\n The Hokies bring a rich tradition of success. They’re currently competing in the Coastal division of the ACC. The program has secured 743 wins before 2019. Virginia Tech first debuted in 1892.<\/p>\n50 (tie). Cincinnati Bearcats:<\/h2>\n
50 (tie). Arizona State Sun Devils:<\/h2>\n
50 (tie). Purdue Boilermakers:<\/h2>\n
49. Kentucky Wildcats:<\/h2>\n
47 (tie). Louisiana Tech Bulldogs:<\/h3>\n
47 (tie). Appalachian State Mountaineers:<\/h2>\n
46. Central Michigan Chippewas:<\/h2>\n
45. Tulsa Golden Hurricane:<\/h2>\n
44. Miami Hurricanes:<\/h2>\n
42 (tie). Maryland Terrapins:<\/h2>\n
42 (tie). Iowa Hawkeyes:<\/h2>\n
41. Rutgers Scarlet Knights:<\/h2>\n
40. TCU Horned Frogs:<\/h2>\n
39. Stanford Cardinal:<\/h2>\n
37 (tie). Oregon Ducks:<\/h2>\n
37 (tie). Virginia Cavaliers:<\/h2>\n
36. Boston College Eagles:<\/h2>\n
35. Cal Golden Bears:<\/h2>\n
34. Ole Miss Rebels:<\/h2>\n
32 (tie). Utah Utes:<\/h2>\n
32 (tie). Missouri Tigers:<\/h2>\n
31. Miami (Ohio) Redhawks:<\/h2>\n
30. North Carolina Tar Heels:<\/h2>\n
29. Army Black Knights:<\/h2>\n
28. Minnesota Golden Gophers:<\/h2>\n
27. Michigan State Spartans:<\/h2>\n
25 (tie). Colorado Buffaloes:<\/h2>\n
25 (tie). Wisconsin Badgers:<\/h2>\n
24. Navy Midshipmen:<\/h2>\n
23. Arkansas Razorbacks:<\/h2>\n
22. Syracuse Orange:<\/h2>\n
21. Pittsburgh Panthers:<\/h2>\n
20. Florida Gators:<\/h2>\n
19. Washington Huskies:<\/h2>\n
18. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:<\/h2>\n
17. Texas A&M Aggies:<\/h2>\n
16. Virginia Tech Hokies:<\/h2>\n