The Downward Spiral of Five Once-Dominant Programs

When compiling this list, I was torn between the Washington Huskies making the cut and the team that I ended up ranking at No. 5.

It was very close, as the Huskies lay claim to three national titles: 1960, 1990, and 1991 and the team I ultimately ranked at No. 5 only has two.

The No. 5 program also has a higher winning percentage, more notable NFL draft picks, and a coach near the top of the all-time winning-est coaches in D1 history.

For me, those reasons were the difference between fifth and sixth, but by only the narrowest of margins.

No. 5: Florida State Seminoles

Program highs:

FSU has an all-time record of 450-215-17, for a winning percentage of .677.

Head Coach Bobby Bowden is second to only Joe Paterno on the all-time wins list.

They have two National Championships in 1993 (AP) and 1999 (BCS).

Program Lows:

The FSU program is a shell of its former self as of late.

In the nine seasons since their 1999 BCS Championship, the Seminoles have won ten or more games only twice.

Their W/L record in that span is 78-38.

That's an average of only 8.8 wins per season and 4.2 losses.

With the current investigation into allegations of academic fraud, and the possibility that Coach Bowden and the program may have to vacate up to 14 wins, it's easy to validate them earning the No.5 slot of this top five!

No. 4: Miami Hurricanes

Program highs:

Miami has an all-time record of 552-307-19 for a winning percentage of .642.

They were, without question, one of the top teams in college football from the early 1980's up through the early 2000's.

They have four AP National Championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991) and a BCS Championship (2001).

Program Lows:

Since 2003, Miami has had only had one season with more than nine wins (2003: 11-2) and an overall W/L record of 48-27.

That's an average of only 8 wins per season and 4.5 losses.

Coach Randy Shannon seems to have "The U" headed back in the right direction, but a return to their previous form is still two-to-three years away at the very least.

No. 3: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Program highs:

Nebraska is the fourth winning-est D1 program in NCAA history with an all-time record of 817-337-40. That's good for a winning percentage of .707.

They were widely considered as the best team on the 1990's.

They have five National Championships in 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995 (All AP), and 1997 (Coaches).

Program Lows:

Since 2002, Nebraska has had had only one season with more than nine wins (2003: 10-3) and an overall W/L record of 53-36.

That's an average of only 7.6 wins per season and 5.2 losses.

Second year coach Bo Pelini is hoping to bring the Huskers back to national prominence, but that could prove to be a difficult task in the top-heavy Big 12.

If it's does happen, look for it no earlier than 2011.

No. 2: Notre Dame

Program highs:

Notre Dame is the third winningest D1 program in NCAA history with an all-time record of 831-284-42. That's good for a winning percentage of .736.

They are widely considered one of the two best teams in the pre-modern era and one of the best all-time.

They have three Helms National Championships (1924, 1929, 1930) and eight AP National Championships (1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988).

They also have had seven Heisman Trophy winners, tied for most all-time with USC and Ohio State.

Program Lows:

They have not yet played in a BCS title game since it's inception in 1998.

Since 2001, Notre Dame has had only had two seasons with more than nine wins (2002 and 2006: 10-3 both years) and an overall W/L record of 41-31.

That's an average of only 6.9 wins per season and 5.2 losses.

In his fifth season, coach Charlie Weis is currently sitting on the hottest seat in college football.

Anything less and a nine or ten win season and a top tier bowl bid will likely result in his departure from South Bend and more of the same irrelevance for the Irish.

No. 1: Michigan Wolverines

Program highs:

Michigan fans hope and expect to be No. 1 again soon. I'm not sure this is what they had in mind though!

Notre Dame almost took the No. 1 position, but in the end, the Wolverines win the title for having fallen the farthest!

Michigan is the No. 1 winning-est D1 program in NCAA history with an all-time record of 872-294-36. That's good for a winning percentage of .740.

They are widely considered one of the two best teams in the pre-modern era and one of the best all-time.

They have two Helms National Championships (1901, 1902), four Billindsley National Championships (1903, 1904, 1918, 1923), one Dickinson National Championship (1932), two NCF National Championships (1933, 1947), and two AP National Championships (1948, 1997)—a total of 11.

They also have had three Heisman Trophy winners, including the only defensive player, Charles Woodson in 1997, to ever win the award!

UM, has owned SEC conference opponents in the regular season and bowl games, with an impressive record of 21-5-1 all-time!

Program Lows:

Like Notre Dame, they have not yet played in a BCS title game either.

In 2007, The Wolverines became the only top five team to ever lose to an FCS opponent (Appalacian State).

In 2008, UM lost the first ever game to a MAC team (Toledo) in 25 all-time meetings.

As of today, June 8, 2009, it has been exactly 2025 days since Michigan has beaten arch-rival Ohio State.

In fact, Ohio State has won five straight and Buckeye coach Jim Tressel sports a lofty 7-1 record vs. UM.

Since 2001, Michigan has had only had three seasons with more than nine wins (2002 (10-3), 2003 (10-3), and 2006 (11-2)) and an overall W/L record of 67-33.

That's an average of only 8.4 wins per season and 4.2 losses.

In his second season, Rich Rodriguez looks to lead the Wolverines back to respectability and a bowl game after suffering the school's worst season ever (3-9) and missing a bowl game for the first time in 34 years.

Once his spread scheme is installed and he has a couple years to recruit players that fit the system, UM should reclaim their status as one of the top two or three teams in the Big Ten conference and as a consistently top 25 ranked team.

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