College Football 2011: Updating College Football's Top 25 All-Time Programs

College Football 2011: As much as college football seems to have an "anything can happen mentality"--like this year when Auburn was a surprisingly dominant team--a few schools seem to always hang around.

They are the true powerhouses of college football, ones that separate themselves from really good programs and ascend into greatness.

These schools rack up Heisman Trophies, conference titles and just straight-up wins like they're going out of style.

They are the top 25 programs in college football history.

25. Arizona State Sun Devils

A surprising pick here, Arizona State has never won that coveted national title.

But the Sun Devils have won 17 conference championships, which is pretty impressive when you consider that they've played in a conference with one of college football's most storied programs, USC.

Arizona State also has 551 regular season wins, 12 bowl wins and 16 All-Americans.

24. Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss claims three national championships on its resume, but history will tell you that the Rebels only really one won (1960).

Still, they have 614 regular season wins, 21 bowl wins, six conference titles (though none since 1963) and 54 consensus All-Americans.

More than most other teams on this list, Ole Miss relies heavily on history, but the postseason success and individual success of the school's players keep the Rebels higher than a recent slump might indicate. 

23. Wisconsin Badgers

After two straight Rose Bowl wins (1999 and 2000), Wisconsin has continued its recent run of success, winning at least nine games in six of the past seven seasons.

But the Badgers were a heck of a program even before the last 10 years.

Though Wisconsin has played in a tough Big Ten with the likes Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, the school has won 12 conference titles, and has 22 All-Americans and two Heisman Trophy winners.

22. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M only has one national title (1939) on its record, but the Aggies have quietly put together one of the nation's best college football programs.

The school has a whopping 674 regular-season wins, 13 bowl victories, 18 conference titles, 20 consensus All-Americans and one Heisman winner. 

If Texas A&M can live up to its 2011 preseason hype, the Aggies could jump a spot or two up this list. 

21. Maryland Terrapins

Known most recently as a basketball school, Maryland was a football force in the 1950s, going undefeated in 1953 and claiming national titles in 1953 and 1951.

The Terrapins have been a bit up-and-down in recent years, but they also have amassed 600 regular-season wins and 11 bowl victories.

Maryland also can lay claim to 11 All-Americans and a surprising 11 conference titles. 

20. BYU Cougars

BYU has absolutely racked up conference titles, winning 23 in the history of its program.

The Cougars have also won 510 regular-season games, 10 bowl games and are the last school from a non-big six conference to play for the national championship (1984).

Oh yeah, they won it, too.

Though part of that win was because of a money-hungry move by Washington, BYU still impresses with 13 All-Americans and one Heisman winner. 

19. Boise State Broncos

The pick that's sure to strike up controversy is Boise State.

Though the Broncos haven't been around long, they've had incredible success recently, winning at least ten games per season all but one year since 2002, including two undefeated seasons capped off by BCS bowl wins (2006 and 2009).

Boise State has won just 365 regular season games but has a .716 winning percentage and 16 conference titles. 

18. Washington Huskies

Washington calls itself a four-time national champion, but the Huskies are generally only recognized as having one (1991).

Part of that is their own fault, as the Huskies rejected a chance to play in the 1984 national title game for more money in another bowl.

But all in all, Washington's football program has been pretty good, with 662 wins, 16 bowl wins, 15 conference titles and 20 consensus All-Americans.

17. Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State seems to be getting back on track, but much of the school's success came 40 or 50 years ago.

The Spartans won six national titles--or at least claim six--between 1951 and 1965 when they dominated college football.

However, Michigan State has just seven bowl wins, zero Heisman winners and only 28 All-Americans. 

16. Florida Gators

Florida was a college football afterthought until the 1990s, but the Gators have been one of the nation's best programs since that time.

They've won two national championships in the past four seasons as well as the 1996 title.

The Gators have 662 regular-season wins, 19 bowl wins, eight conference titles, 31 consensus All-Americans and three Heisman winners.

15. UCLA Bruins

UCLA only has one national championship (1954) and has won just 540 games, but the Bruins have been pretty good in the postseason, with 15 bowl wins.

The Bruins have struggled in recent years, too, but they do have one Heisman winner and 39 consensus All-Americans.

The football program can also lay claim to 17 conference championships and being ranked in the top 25 of 27 separate season-ending polls.

Another interesting tidbit: Only USC has won more Pac-10 titles. 

14. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee will tell you that the school has won six national championships, but it's more like two or three.

The Volunteers also have won a whopping 789 total regular-season games and have 25 postseason victories.

They've had 38 consensus All-Americans and zero Heisman winners, though one could argue that Peyton Manning could have won the award.

Of all the feats for Tennessee, though, the most impressive might be that the Volunteers have the last team to go unscored-on in the regular season (1939). 

13. LSU Tigers

The 1990s really kills the history of LSU football, but the program has gradually worked its way to being one of the top schools in the nation once again.

The Tigers have won 709 games, 21 bowl/postseason games and three national titles, with two coming in the last decade (2003 and 2007).

LSU can also lay claim to 41 consensus All-Americans, 13 conference titles, seven division titles and one Heisman Trophy Winner.

12. Auburn Tigers

Though Auburn really exploded onto the scene in 2010-11, the Tigers have been a powerhouse for years.

They've got two national titles (1957 and 2010), three Heisman Trophy winners (Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cameron Newton) and an undefeated 2004 season that left them without a national title.

Auburn has 710 total regular-season wins, is 21-13 in bowl games, and has 11 conference titles (seven in the SEC) and 66 consensus All-Americans. 

11. Florida State Seminoles

The most impressive thing about Florida State football was its dominance in the 1990s, when the Seminoles won at least 10 games and finished in the top five every season.

They spent 58 weeks at No. 1 and won two national titles under Bobby Bowden.

Overall, Florida State has 24 bowl wins, 15 conference titles, 33 consensus All-Americans and two Heisman winners. 

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State has won two national championships, both under Joe Paterno, but the Nittany Lions have a whopping six undefeated seasons.

They've also won 27 bowl games, the third-highest total in the nation, and are 27-14-2 in those games, one of the best bowl records in college football history.

The Nittany Lions have 819 wins, three conference titles, one Heisman winner and 39 consensus All-Americans.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

In the 1940s, Notre Dame won a staggering four national titles during a seven year span from 1943-49, arguably the most impressive run in the history of the sport.

The Fighting Irish also have 845 total wins, 11 claimed national titles, are tied for first with seven Heisman winners and have 96 consensus All-Americans.

However, Notre Dame has really struggled recently, which caused the team to split down this list a bit.

8. Texas Longhorns

From 1963-70, no one could touch Texas, as the school won three national titles during that span.

The Longhorns then added their fourth national title in 2005 (with Vince Young at the helm), which was part of a stretch from 2001-09 when they won at least 10 games every season.

Overall, Texas has 850 wins, 25 bowl victories, 32 conference titles, 53 All-Americans and two Heisman Trophy Winners. 

7. Michigan Wolverines

Though Michigan has more wins than any other college football program (884) and lays claim to 11 national titles, the Wolverines have only two AP national championships.

The school is 19-21 in bowl games, but does have 42 conference crowns, 77 consensus All-Americans and three Heisman Trophy winners.

However, much of Michigan's success has been diminished by recent struggles, and the Wolverines have to get back on track...soon. 

6. Miami Hurricanes

Miami had done next to nothing before 1983 when the Hurricanes won a national title and ushered in the "Decade of Dominance."

During that span, "The U" won titles in 1983, 1987, 1989 and 1991, while finishing as the No. 2 overall team in 1986 and 1988 and the No. 3 team in 1990 and 1992.

It was much of the same at the beginning of the century when Miami finished second in the final poll in 2000 and 2002, while winning the national championship in 2001.

From 1983 to 2003, the Hurricanes finished all but one year inside the top 25.

Miami has 18 bowl wins, five total national titles, 34 All-Americans and two Heisman winners. 

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama lists itself as a 13-time national champion, but history generally recognizes the Crimson Tide as an eight-time winner.

The school had multiple titles in the 1920s, 60s and 70s and most recently won one in 2009.

The Crimson Tide has 802 regular-season wins, 32 postseason wins, 26 conference titles, 46 consensus All-Americans and one Heisman Trophy winner. 

4. Nebraska Huskers

Nebraska football is a rarity, having two teams--the 1971 and 1995 squads--that won back-to-back national championships.

The Cornhuskers can also lay claim to the longest postseason streak in history, from 1969 to 2003.

Nebraska has 23 10-win seasons, five national titles and 26 conferences titles, in addition to 837 total wins, 24 postseason wins, 53 All-Americans and three Heisman winners. 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

As a true testament to the winning tradition at Ohio State, the Buckeyes have had just five losing seasons since 1936.

During that span, Ohio State won a whopping 36 conference titles and seven national championships.

The Buckeyes have 831 wins, but are just 20-22 in bowl games, with particularly bad struggles in the BCS.

However, Ohio State does have 78 consensus All-Americans and seven Heisman winners, which is tied for tops in the country. 

2. USC Trojans

Southern California is one of the best programs of all-time, with a .706 winning percentage and a very impressive 31-16 bowl record.

The Trojans can lay claim to 38 conference titles, 11 national titles, 78 consensus All-Americans and seven Heisman Trophy winners.

Well, six, if you take away Reggie Bush. 

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Boomer Sooner!

Oklahoma has been nearly unstoppable, compiling 811 wins to go with a .717 winning percentage and 26 postseason victories.

The Sooners had the longest winning streak in college football history (47 games) from 1953 to 1957 and have finished the season ranked in the top five an astounding 29 times.

The school has 43 conference titles, seven national titles, 74 consensus All-Americans and five Heisman Trophy winners.

Is there any doubt as to why Oklahoma is the most storied program in college football history?