ESPN Crowning Another "Greatest"

[Appa23]

As college football fans have nothing left to argue for a few months, ESPN has decided to rank the 119 Division I-A prgrams according to "prestige", from 1936 to today. There is an explanation of the scoring at the link below, but the general idea is that you get mega points for national titles (AP/UPI/ESPN), big points for high poll finishes and major bowl wins, and you lose points for losing seasons and being put on probation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3836130

Right now, they have done 119 to 11.

11. Penn State: 1088 points
12. Tennessee: 1072
13. LSU: 926
14. Georgia: 888
15. Florida: 834
16. UCLA: 738
17. Washington: 634
18. Ga Tech: 610
19. Arkansas: 604
20. Texas A&M: 584
21. Auburn: 579
22. Clemson: 486
22. Colorado: 486
24. Ole Miss: 477
25. BYU: 476
26. Michigan State: 454
27. Pittsburgh: 444
28. Arizona State: 408
29. Syracuse: 407
30. Iowa: 368
T-31. Maryland: 352
T-31. TCU: 352
33. Minnesota: 341
34. Wisconsin: 317
35. West Virginia: 315
36. Missouri: 314
37. Virginia Tech: 303
38. Duke: 297
39. Army: 284
40. Boston College: 280
41. North Carolina: 277
42. Texas Tech: 267
43. Utah: 264
44. California: 260
45. Stanford: 242
46. Navy: 239
47. Houston: 229
48. Miami (Ohio): 220
49. Illinois: 219
50. Purdue: 210
51. Wyoming: 188
52. Toledo: 184
53. Oregon: 177
54. Boise State: 172
55. Fresno State: 169
56. Oregon State: 160
57. Air Force: 154
58. North Carolina State: 152
59. Louisville: 146
60. Arizona: 144
61. SMU: 138
62. Rice: 137
63. Baylor: 129
64. Tulsa: 123
65. Oklahoma State: 115
66. Virginia: 101
67. Southern Miss: 99
68. Bowling Green: 94
T-69. Kentucky: 86
T-69. Kansas: 86
T-71. San Diego State: 80
T-71. Nevada: 80
73. Hawaii: 75
74. San Jose State: 72
75. Colorado State: 69
76. Kansas State: 66
T-77. Washington State: 65
T-77. Central Michigan: 65
79. Marshall: 62
80. Northwestern: 60
81. Mississippi State: 59
82. Cincinnati: 58
83. South Carolina: 55
84. Ball State: 48
85. Troy: 40
86. East Carolina: 26
87. South Florida: 22
T-88. North Texas: 20
T-88. Florida Atlantic: 20
90. Connecticut: 17
91. UCF: 16
92. Louisiana Tech: 13
T-93. Ohio: 11
T-93. Tulane: 11
T-95. Utah State: 9
T-95. Middle Tennessee: 9
T-95. Wake Forest: 9
98. Western Michigan: 7
99. Northern Illinois: 6
100. UNLV: 1
101. Rutgers: minus-6
102. Indiana: minus-8
103. Buffalo: minus-11
104. New Mexico: minus-14
T-105. UAB: minus-15
T-105. Florida International: minus-15
107. Arkansas State: minus-17
108. Akron: minus-21
109. UL Lafayette: minus-23
110. Memphis: minus-24
111. UTEP: minus-26
112. UL Monroe: minus-27
113. Eastern Michigan: minus-36
114. Iowa State: minus-53
115. Temple: minus-56
116. Kent State: minus-59
117. New Mexico State: minus-60
118. Idaho: minus-64
119. Vanderbilt: minus-73

[Appa23]

The top five likely will be Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, and USC, although not necessarily in that order.

I am guessing that Miami and Florida State will find themselves in the bottom partof the Top Ten.

Nebraska might be somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 (there were some lean years prior to Bob Devaney arriving at the start of the 1960s.) Alabama and Ohio State also will be right at that second tier.

Here is my guess:

Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan, USC, Texas, Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio State, Florida State, and Miami.

[silverscreenselect]

Naturally, I looked immediately to see who would be at the bottom of the list.

Unfortunately, this scoring system is incredibly biased against a school like Vanderbilt simply because they have been playing (and losing) at the top level for years. Schools like the UL's, Buffalo, and Temple which haven't been at Division I for nearly as long can't possibly accumulate as many negative points.

And I wonder how they figured in SMU's death sentence in calculating that school's prestige. It seems that should count for a lot more than merely losing a couple of scholarships for a year or two.

[andrewjackson]

Hurray! Purdue is in the top 50!

Indiana is not in the top 100.


Seems like an accurate system.

[christie1111]

11. Penn State: 1088 points

#11, I like it!

[Appa23]

11. Penn State: 1088 points

#11, I like it!

I was surprised that PSU was not higher than Miami and FSU.

(Maybe they realize that 1982 was a tainted title. )

[TheCalvinator24]

I don't know how Texas Tech is so far ahead of Baylor. Doesn't shock me that they are ahead, but the point gap seems out of whack to me.

[Vandal]

.
.
.
116. Kent State: minus-59
117. New Mexico State: minus-60
118. Idaho: minus-64
119. Vanderbilt: minus-73

WooHoo!
The Vandals are not last!
The Vandals are not last!

[Jeemie]

11. Penn State: 1088 points

#11, I like it!

I was surprised that PSU was not higher than Miami and FSU.

(Maybe they realize that 1982 was a tainted title. )

"Human error" does not taint a title.

It's part of the game (or was back then).

[Jeemie]

BTW, will this "greatest" work out the same as them declaring the baltimore Ravens the "Greatest Defense" of 2008 and Ed Reed the "greatest safety" (and Ray Lewis the "greatest defensive player ever?")

LOL!!!

[DadofTwins]

I don't know how this would change the line-up, but I would be curious to see how "points per year" differed from the total.

Also, every year removed from an accomplishment diminishes its significance. If this is going to be a regular feature, it should include a "collapsing" factor to reward more recent success.

Plus, are all losing seasons created equal? In this system 5-7 is a huge drop-off from 6-6, but treated the same as 1-11.

[NellyLunatic1980]

Should I be embarrassed that my alma mater's rank is 69?

[Appa23]

BTW, will this "greatest" work out the same as them declaring the baltimore Ravens the "Greatest Defense" of 2008 and Ed Reed the "greatest safety" (and Ray Lewis the "greatest defensive player ever?")

LOL!!!

I was going to comment on that factor. You may recall that 2004 (IIRC) Oklahoma was the greatest team ever, right until they got blasted by USC.

Then, 2005 USC was the greatest ever, right until they lost to Texas.

Less than one month ago, there were rumblings that 2008 Oklahoma had the greatest offense ever, and then couldn't even break 20 in their last game.

Although, I do not recall many saying that Baltimore was the "greatest" (this year), or certainly that Ray Lewis was the greatest defensive player ever.

I do recall some debates over Troy versus Ed.

[Just so it does not seem like I am picking on OU, the 1983 Huskers also had that "greatest" tilte thrust on them prior to losing the national title game. (Although, if there had been overtime at that time, Nebraska likely would have a 6th title.)]

[Appa23]

Should I be embarrassed that my alma mater's rank is 69?

No. You should be embarrassed that your school is tied with Kansas.

(I am guessing that you graduated from Kentucky -- otherwise, just switch the joke.)

[silverscreenselect]

BTW, will this "greatest" work out the same as them declaring the baltimore Ravens the "Greatest Defense" of 2008 and Ed Reed the "greatest safety" (and Ray Lewis the "greatest defensive player ever?")

LOL!!!

Have we already forgotten the undefeated New England Patriots, the greatest team ever?

[BackInTex]

My Aggies at #20. That is quite a gift. There are a lot of lean lean years in there, and only one National Champ offset by some probation. They pollsters must like the collie.

[christie1111]

#11, I like it!

I was surprised that PSU was not higher than Miami and FSU.

(Maybe they realize that 1982 was a tainted title. )

"Human error" does not taint a title.

It's part of the game (or was back then).

I was at that game.

And the Nebraska people were EXTREMELY gracious about the fact that it was a ref who got the call wrong, not the Penn State fans.

And BTW, I never saw so many fans of another team come so far to watch a game in my 6 years at Penn State.

When I saw the amount of red and the number of HUGE Nebraska motor homes, I was impressed knowing how far they had come.

National title still counts.

[Appa23]

I was surprised that PSU was not higher than Miami and FSU.

(Maybe they realize that 1982 was a tainted title. )

"Human error" does not taint a title.

It's part of the game (or was back then).

I was at that game.

And the Nebraska people were EXTREMELY gracious about the fact that it was a ref who got the call wrong, not the Penn State fans.

And BTW, I never saw so many fans of another team come so far to watch a game in my 6 years at Penn State.

When I saw the amount of red and the number of HUGE Nebraska motor homes, I was impressed knowing how far they had come.

National title still counts.

LOL! I was expecting you to ask if Nebraska would return the 1994 title to the "rightful owner".

[silverscreenselect]

"Human error" does not taint a title.

It's part of the game (or was back then).

I was at that game.

And the Nebraska people were EXTREMELY gracious about the fact that it was a ref who got the call wrong, not the Penn State fans.

And BTW, I never saw so many fans of another team come so far to watch a game in my 6 years at Penn State.

When I saw the amount of red and the number of HUGE Nebraska motor homes, I was impressed knowing how far they had come.

National title still counts.

LOL! I was expecting you to ask if Nebraska would return the 1994 title to the "rightful owner".

Let's not forget the 1990 national title GT had to share with Colorado as a result of their getting five downs against Missouri.

[Jeemie]

LOL! I was expecting you to ask if Nebraska would return the 1994 title to the "rightful owner".

No- that was Kordell Stewart's fault- that guy screwed Penn State fans over long before he screwed Steeler fans over!

He doesn't complete that Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook against Michigan, and the Wolverines are undefeated and highly ranked when Penn State beats them.

And then maybe Nebraska doesn't pass Penn State in the rankings!

[tubadave]

Then, 2005 USC was the greatest ever, right until they lost to Texas.

Yeah, there were a lot of Texas fans (myself included) that were just a bit unhappy about that one at the time....ESPN seemed downright giddy at the thought of crowning USC as 3-time champions and "Greatest Ever."

VY and Texas raining on that little parade still ranks as one of the more satisfying events of my life.

[Appa23]

Color me surprised!

6. Alabama: 1534
7. Texas: 1494
8. Michigan: 1332
9. Fla State: 1110
10. Miami: 1109

Miami was in 9th place until FSU won the Champs Sports Bowl a few weeks back.

FSU apparently had the highest point season in 1993, when it had 3 consensus All-Americans, the Heisman winner, and was given a National Title by a blind officiating crew. ( ) It comprised over 10% of its total.

If anyone is keeping track, the final five seems to be Oklahoma, USC, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ohio State.

[Appa23]

Just to close this thread out:

#5:

Spoiler

Nebraska: 1553 points (Not bad when you consider that Nebraska had losing seasons nearly year until the 1960s)

#4:

Spoiler

Notre Dame: 1579 points. (and fading fast)

#3:

Spoiler

Ohio State: 1655 points (last decade has helped the Buckeyes, as well as the fact that it has not had more than 2 losing seasons apaprently in the last 70 years.

#2:

Spoiler

USC: 1897 points (clearly the leader for the BCS era. The 2004 team had the second highest-point total for this exercise.)

#1:

Spoiler

OU: 1968 points (they actually passed Notre Dame for #1 in 1958 amd have had the lead every ten years since that time. Helped greatly by the number of conference titles, as USC passes them without that component. It also is interesting that the top 2 teams have been heavily penalized by the NCAA. If schools were deducted more heavily for such transgressions, the next three schools close the gap.)

[silverscreenselect]

Miami was in 9th place until FSU won the Champs Sports Bowl a few weeks back.

FSU apparently had the highest point season in 1993, when it had 3 consensus All-Americans, the Heisman winner, and was given a National Title by a blind officiating crew. ( ) It comprised over 10% of its total.

If they are trying to keep track of college football from its inception, I don't see how FSU and Miami can be this high. FSU didn't even play football until the late 1950s (Burt Reynolds was on some of their first teams) and had generally horrible teams until Bobby Bowden arrived. Miami had a bit of minor success in the 1960s but also a number of mediocre seasons until the late 1970s.

[Appa23]

Miami was in 9th place until FSU won the Champs Sports Bowl a few weeks back.

FSU apparently had the highest point season in 1993, when it had 3 consensus All-Americans, the Heisman winner, and was given a National Title by a blind officiating crew. ( ) It comprised over 10% of its total.

If they are trying to keep track of college football from its inception, I don't see how FSU and Miami can be this high. FSU didn't even play football until the late 1950s (Burt Reynolds was on some of their first teams) and had generally horrible teams until Bobby Bowden arrived. Miami had a bit of minor success in the 1960s but also a number of mediocre seasons until the late 1970s.

I thought that I posted that the starting point of this exercise was 1936, when the first AP poll was taken.

Miami and Florida State are helped by the fact that points were given for first round draft picks from 1970 on. I believe that Miami has 4-5 national titles, and Florida State had a run where they were in the AP top 5 for an entire decade (something that USC is duplicating right now.) Each also had been voted #1 for several weeks in the AP poll, and each have had a tremendous number of consensus All-Americans in the past three decades.