OU joined a prestigious group of college football’s finest Saturday, picking up its 800th win in a shaky 31-24 win over Utah State.
The Sooners are only the eighth program to reach the milestone.
Michigan and Notre Dame, programs that dominated college football in its humble beginnings more than a century ago, racked up several wins in the early years because they were the only premier programs.
However, OU has enjoyed more success since World War II than any other 800-win club member, which raises the question: What would the most wins list look like if each program had started with equal footing from the beginning?
Or what would it look like if success in college football’s “modern era” held more weight than early success? Or what if consistency, Heisman winners and championships were factored?
Here’s how I would rank college football’s 800-win programs adjusted to include the total accomplishments (with more weight on recent success and consistency).
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Credentials: Seven national championships, five Heisman Trophy winners, .724 winning percentage (third), 509 weeks in the AP top 10, 30 10+ win seasons
It’s hard to argue with the most wins of any Division 1 program since World War II. OU also has three of the top-25 best win streaks in college football, including the longest ever (47). The Sooners also are tied with Alabama for the most 10-plus win seasons and are second in weeks in the AP top 10. OU is the ideal picture of consistent success.
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Credentials: Five national championships, three Heisman Trophy winners, .701 winning percentage (seventh), 499 weeks in AP top 10, 26 10+ win seasons
Only one other program has won more hardware than Nebraska (five titles, three Heismans) since our parents were in diapers (USC with five titles, five Heismans). Nebraska also appeared in 35-straight bowl games from 1968 to 2003, the longest streak in bowl history. During the Tom Osborne era (1973-1997), the Huskers never won fewer than nine games and had an .835 winning percentage. I put Nebraska over Alabama and Notre Dame because of its consistent winning and modern success.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Credentials: Eight national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, .732 winning percentage (second), 496 weeks in AP top 10, 15 10+ win seasons
The Fighting Irish have the best numbers on paper until you look at them in the last three decades. Since 1977, Notre Dame’s only title came in ’88. It’s hard to look past its most recent plight and how bad its been in my lifetime. I mean, they’ve only had 15 seasons with 10 or more wins. Since I’m putting more weight on modern success and the Irish haven’t been really consistent since the ’70s, they stay where they were on the 800 list despite their all-time success.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Credentials: Five national championship, seven Heisman Trophy winners, .717 winning percentage (fifth), 512 weeks in AP top 10, 19 10+ win seasons
The Buckeyes have everything you’d look for in a top program — titles, Heisman winners, weeks in the top 10, solid winning percentage — except for recent success. Before 2002, the last Ohio State championship was 1968. That gives it just one title since 1970 and three Heisman winners. The Buckeyes’ overall bumped them up, but the lack of dominance lately is no excuse in the Big Ten.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Credentials: Eight national championships, one Heisman Trophy winner, .695 winning percentage (eighth), 409 weeks in AP top 10, 30 10+ win seasons
With last year’s title, the Crimson Tide moved into a tie with Notre Dame for the most recognized national championships in the country. But before last season, it had been 17 years since ‘Bama had won the big one and 13 more to the one before that. Alabama also failed to snag a Heisman until last season. The overall resume is there, but it hasn’t been as strong recently until the last couple seasons.
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luciousooner 1 year, 8 months ago
Epic fail. Alabama does not have 800 wins. Sanctions and NCAA violations have caused them to vacate many wins over the years. The Crimson Tide currently sit at 793 wins including Saturday's win over San Jose State. Get your facts straight!