Throughout the past 10 years college football has unfortunately been saddled with having to deal with the BCS and its bogus formula. This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the first BCS National Title game which pitted the Tennessee Volunteers against the Florida State Seminoles with the Vols coming out on top 23-17.
So, given that it's the 10 year anniversary, we figured we would rank the past 10 champions to see just who is the greatest team from the past decade.
(Note the champions were the BCS champions so sorry USC your supposed title in 2003 doesn't count for this list)
10. 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes
This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I'm still not quite sure how the Buckeyes won the National Title, but they did. This was a team that had managed to escape numerous close calls all season such as Michael Jenkins hauling in Craig Krenzel's prayer against Purdue on 4th down.
The Buckeyes won seven games by a touchdown or less. Couple this team's numerous close calls with the disputed pass interference call against the Hurricanes in the title game, and anyone can see that it wasn't a tough call to start with the '02 Buckeyes.
Notable players from team: RB Maurice Clarett, QB Craig Krenzel, WR Michael Jenkins, S Mike Doss, CB Chris Gamble, DE Will Smith.
9. 2003 LSU Tigers
This was a tough call because there was a lot to like about this team. Part of the reason I chose to list them here was because at the time when the final rankings were released I thought that USC should've gotten in over them.
The thing about these Tigers was that much like the Buckeyes of '02, there was never a big WOW factor with this team. Although they had no stars they were an unbelievably sound team. They did have one loss to Florida during the season, but didn't have as many close games as the Bucks did the previous year which is why they get the nod in this case.
Notable players from team: RB Joseph Addai, WR Devrey Henderson, WR Michael Clayton, DE Marcus Spears, CB Corey Webster.
8. 2006 Florida Gators
I'd say the Urban Meyer era got off to a good start in his first year. Combining the leadership and experience of quarterback Chris Leak with the athleticism of Tim Tebow, the Gators cruised to the title after baptizing Ohio State in the title game.
But people forget that this team was anything but dominant in the regular season. They had two one point victories (Tennessee, South Carolina) and won three other games by under a touchdown. If this list was based on performances in the title game they would be at the top, but with their struggles in the regular season they end up at No. 8.
Notable players from team: DE Jarvis Moss, QB Chris Leak, QB Tim Tebow, WR Andrew Caldwell, S Reggie Nelson, DE Derrick Harvey
7. 2007 LSU Tigers
11 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Justin Goar 11 months ago
good read. i think you have the '03 tigers a little too low but i'm biased. but if you want to talk about no WOW factor than i have to say the 00 oklahoma sooners are too high. i'd probably put '05 texas in that 3 spot.
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Nick The Only 11 months ago
Good read, but how can you have a 2 loss champion above a 1 loss champion? Switch Florida and LSU and your list would look a lot better. Also, Florida was facing a team led by a Heisman winner (Troy Smith) and they held that offense to very little yardage. Florida had a BETTER RECORD and was MORE DOMINANT in their title game. Both teams played a lot of close games, but Florida managed to win one more than LSU, which should bump them ahead.
Also, notable players on the 2006 Gators: How do you not mention Tebow? He had 800+ yards and 13 TDs for that team in a limited role (including 2 TDs in the BCS title game) and he is definitely "notable"
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David Parks 11 months ago
I have Tebow listed as a notable player.
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Nick The Only 11 months ago
I see. I must have missed it because of my outrage over the 2007 LSU team being ahead of the 2006 Florida team.
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Nick The Only 11 months ago
One more thing: Urban Meyer won the title in his second year, not his first year.
And regarding margin of victory: LSU beat Florida by only 4, Tennessee by only 7, and Auburn by 6 and lost to such powerhouses as Kentucky and Arkansas (at home).
At least Florida lost on the road to Auburn in a game that featured a controversial call when the Gators were in the red zone near the end of the game.
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David Parks 11 months ago
LSU lost to Kentucky on the road not at home. And Nick I think you're letting your bias play too much of a factor in your logic.
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nixk love 11 months ago
your number one team lost to the 2002 buckeyes the next year. think about that.
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David Parks 11 months ago
How can you say that the same team lost to the Buckeyes a year later. Miami didn't have Portis, Shockey, Andre Johnson, Rumph, or Ed Reed. The team that lost to Ohio State in 2002 was nowhere near as good as the team in 2001.
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nixk love 11 months ago
Oh and 2002-03 buckeyes were 14-0 the only team in history to do so. Chemistry is under rated sometimes. If Clarrett stuck around more than just one year that team might have been a three peat with 03,04,05. A backfield of Clarrett, Troy Smith with teddy ginn and co. would have been deadly.
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Michael messinese 11 months ago
2002 Ohio state would have dominated 2006 florida
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donnell amrine 11 months ago
michael u are a fuckin retard
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