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Alabama Football: College football’s winningest teams lists

By Ronald Evans

(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Looking back at 50, 10, 5 and 3 seasons of college football’s winningest teams interests fans of Alabama football and other SEC schools.

Alabama football has been near the top of any most winning college football teams for almost 100 seasons. Add back the wins forfeited or vacated by the NCAA to the Crimson Tide and all the other top winning schools and Alabama football has 934 wins, the second-most in college football history.

The Michigan Wolverines are the No. 1 winningest team in college football history with 953 wins. The Maize and Blue have an advantage over the Crimson Tide, having begun competition in 1879, compared to 1892 for the Tide.

Other than the all-time list, fans differ in their perspective of how far back a list comparing wins merits attention. A span of fifty seasons has some symmetry and feels momentous. 247Sports recently compiled a Top 15 list of team records over the past 50 seasons, ranked by winning percentage.

  1. Ohio State; 491-130-8; 78.1 percent
  2. Oklahoma; 480-146-8; 76.8 percent
  3. Alabama; 482-151-5; 75.8 percent
  4. Nebraska; 473-157-5; 75.1 percent
  5. Michigan; 454-165-8; 73.5 percent
  6. Penn State; 457-164-8; 73.1 percent
  7. Southern Cal; 448-174-14; 72.3 percent
  8. Boise State; 248-100-1; 71.4 percent
  9. Florida State; 432-177-7; 71.1 percent
  10. Georgia; 425-183-10; 70.1 percent
  11. Texas; 433-188-6; 69.8 percent
  12. Notre Dame; 425-189-6;  69.3 percent
  13. Florida; 411-195-9; 68.1 percent
  14. Tennessee; 402-205-12; 66.5 percent
  15. Miami; 387-202; 65.7 percent

From the excellent data site, teamrankings.com we have lists of the most winning teams for the last ten, five and three seasons.

These rankings (2009-2018; 2014-2018 and 2016-2018) have Alabama football ranked No.1 or tied for No. 1. The full list of the rankings can be seen through the link above.

A summary of the most interesting data is provided below.

  • The 10 season ranking, Top 10, in order: Alabama; Ohio State; Boise State; Clemson; Oklahoma; Stanford; Wisconsin; LSU; Oregon and Florida State. Georgia was No. 13 and Auburn No. 23.
  • The five season ranking, Top 10, in order: Alabama; Clemson; Ohio State; Oklahoma; Wisconsin; Boise State; Georgia; Appalachian State; Stanford and TCU. LSU at No. 12 was the only other SEC school in the Top 25.
  • The three season ranking, Top 10, in order: Alabama and Clemson tied; Ohio State; Oklahoma; UCF; Troy State; Wisconsin; Washington; Boise State and Penn State. Georgia was No. 12 and LSU No. 17.
  • Outside the SEC, the teams with the most pronounced downward slide over the 10 year period were Stanford and Oregon. The Cardinal dropped from No. 6 to a tie for No. 19. The Ducks went from No. 9 to No. 63.

The 14 SEC schools and their 10, 5, and 3-season rankings

  • Alabama: 1; 1; tied for 1
  • LSU: 8; 12; 17
  • Georgia: 13, 7, 12
  • Auburn: 23; 39; 29
  • Florida: 24; 32; 38
  • Texas A&M: 28; 41; tie for 39
  • South Carolina: 34; 74; 52
  • Mississippi State: 40; 27; 44
  • Missouri: 41; 65; 71
  • Ole Miss: 66; 54; 91
  • Arkansas: 70; 89; 110
  • Tennessee: 73; tie for 66; 78
  • Kentucky: 87; tie for 66; tie 39
  • Vanderbilt: 96; 100; 90

Next. Crimson Tide Win Streaks. dark

A broad stroke assumption looking at all the data suggests the most pivotal component in winning is the head coach. No wonder (with the aid of gigantic media deals) the top head coaches are rewarded with massive contracts.

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