College Football Rankings: Rating All Programs by All-Time BCS Appearances/Wins
The Bowl Championship Series has been in place since the 1998 season of college football and in that time has hosted 57 total games.
What’s remarkable is that of the 57 contests involving 114 total teams, only 45 programs have actually participated in the self-proclaimed “showcase of college football.”
The following slideshow ranks all 45 teams that have participated in the 13 seasons of the BCS era in terms of BCS appearances and then by their overall win/loss record in BCS bowls.
Of note, 75 FBS teams have not yet participated in college football’s biggest money festival which gets more difficult to reach with each passing year.
Washington State
1 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Cougars went 10-2 during the 2002 regular season, captured a piece of a Pac-10 title and then lost 34-14 to Oklahoma in the BCS Rose Bowl.
The conference title was one of only four in program history and the loss brought Washington State’s overall record in the Rose Bowl to 1-3; their only win came in 1916 when they beat Brown 14-0.
Wake Forest
2 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Demon Deacons went 11-2 in 2006 under coach Jim Grobe and won the ACC Atlantic, the ACC Championship (a 9-6 win over Georgia Tech) and ultimately lost 24-13 to Louisville in the 2007 BCS Orange Bowl.
Wake Forest’s final AP ranking of No. 18 in 2006-07 marked a high water mark in program history.
UCLA
3 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
UCLA’s one BCS appearance came in the 1998 season when they went 10-1 (the only loss came in a thrilling 49-45 road defeat to Miami FL in the season finale) and captured the Pac-10 championship.
The Bruins lost 38-31 to Wisconsin in the 1999 BCS Rose Bowl which marks UCLA’s last appearance in the BCS game played on their home field.
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Texas A&M
4 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Aggies' only Big 12 title and BCS appearance came in 1998-99 when the Aggies went 10-2 in the regular season and then beat Kansas State 36-33 in one of the best Big 12 championship games ever.
Texas A&M earned a bid to the 1999 BCS Sugar Bowl where they ultimately fell to Ohio State 24-14.
Syracuse
5 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
Syracuse’s 1998 Big East title marked the third straight for the Orange under then coach Paul Pasquloni; the 1996 squad finished the season with a win over Houston in the Liberty Bowl and the 1997 team lost to Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl (which was the last year before the BCS started).
The 1998-99 Orange team went 8-3 and lost 31-10 to Florida in the first ever BCS Orange Bowl.
Purdue
6 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The first Boilermaker team of the new millennium went 8-3 in the regular season and captured their first piece of a Big Ten title since 1967.
Their 34-24 loss to Washington in the 2001 BCS Rose Bowl marked their second appearance ever in the “Granddaddy of them All,” the first being in 1967 when they bested USC 14-13.
Pittsburgh
7 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Panthers' only trip to the money-rich BCS (thus far) came in 2004-05 when they went 8-3, captured a piece of the Big East title and ultimately lost 35-7 to Utah in the 2005 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
Maryland
8 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Terrapins went 10-1 in the 2001 regular season (the only loss was a late October 52-31 road loss to Florida State) and won their first ACC title since 1985.
Maryland went on to get pounded by Florida 56-23 in the 2002 BCS Orange Bowl.
Kansas State
9 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
Despite losing three consecutive regular season games (to Marshall, Texas and Oklahoma State), the 2003 Wildcats won the Big 12 North Division and then beat Oklahoma 35-7 in the Big 12 title game.
Their BCS dreams ended in a 35-28 loss to Ohio State in the 2004 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
Hawaii
10 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Warriors’ memorable 2007 season of perfection under coach June Jones earned them a WAC title and a bid to the 2008 BCS Sugar Bowl where they were manhandled by Georgia with a score of 41-10.
Georgia Tech
11 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The 2009 Yellow Jackets lost two regular-season games (to Miami FL and Georgia) on their way to an ACC Atlantic title and a 39-34 victory over Clemson in the ACC championship game.
Georgia Tech’s ‘09 campaign officially ended with a loss to Iowa (24-14) in the 2010 BCS Orange Bowl.
Connecticut
12 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The Huskies' 8-4 record in 2010 earned them a piece of their second ever Big East title and a spot in the 2011 BCS Fiesta Bowl where they succumbed to Oklahoma 48-20.
Colorado
13 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
The 2001 Buffaloes capped off a 9-2 regular season campaign with a 39-37 win over Texas in the Big 12 championship game.
This thrilling victory earned Colorado a spot it in the 2002 BCS Fiesta Bowl where they fell to the Ducks of Oregon by a score of 38-16.
Arkansas
14 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 0-1
In what came as a surprise to me, the Razorbacks' one and only BCS appearance came just this last season when they lost to Ohio State 31-26 in the 2011 BCS Sugar Bowl.
Arkansas went 10-2 last season and their only losses came at the hands of Alabama and Auburn.
Washington
15 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 1-0
The Huskies went 10-1 under Rick Neuheisel in 2000 (the one loss was to Oregon in Eugene), won a piece of the Pac-10 and ultimately beat Purdue 34-24 in the 2001 BCS Rose Bowl.
Washington’s No. 3 ranking in the final AP poll was the third best finish in school history (the Huskies were ranked No. 2 in both 1984 and 1991).
Oregon State
16 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 1-0
Oregon State lost only one game in 2000 (33-30 to Washington who also finished the season with one loss), captured a portion of the Pac-10 title and manhandled Notre Dame 41-9 in the 2001 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
Louisville
17 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 1-0
Bobby Petrino’s 2006 Cardinal team finished one three-point loss to Rutgers away from perfection, but, their 11-1 finish earned them a Big East title and their only BCS bid in history.
Johnny Unitas’ alma mater went on to beat Wake Forest 24-13 in the 2007 BCS Orange Bowl.
Kansas
18 of 45
BCS Appearances: 1
Overall BCS Record: 1-0
The 2007 Jayhawks went unscathed in the regular season until the thrilling finale with also perfect Missouri, a game Kansas lost 36-28 costing them a shot at a Big 12 title but earning them a spot in the BCS.
The Jayhawks ultimately beat Virginia Tech 24-21 in the 2008 BCS Orange Bowl.
Illinois
19 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 0-2
The Illini have been to the money dance twice and dropped both games.
The 2001 team went 10-1 (the only loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor) and captured the Big Ten championship only to be upended by LSU 47-34 in the 2002 BCS Sugar Bowl. The 2007 squad went 9-3 and was pounded by USC (49-17) in the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Cincinnati
20 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 0-2
The Bearcats have also received two BCS bids that both resulted in losses.
In 2008 Cincinnati went 11-2, won the Big East and then lost to Virginia Tech 20-7 in the 2009 BCS Orange Bowl. In 2009 they went undefeated, won the conference again and then were throttled by Florida (51-24) in the BCS Sugar Bowl.
TCU
21 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
TCU, a non-BCS team (until 2012 when they join the Big East) have busted the BCS twice.
The first breakthrough came in 2009 when the Horned Frogs went undefeated, won the MWC and lost to fellow buster Boise State 17-10 in the 2010 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
The second came last season when TCU was again perfect through the regular season, captured a second straight MWC title and beat Wisconsin 21-19 in the thrilling 2011 BCS Rose Bowl.
Tennessee
22 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
The Volunteers' two trips to money land came in back-to-back seasons and resulted in an overall .500 mark in BCS play.
The 1998 Vols went 13-0 which included a 24-14 victory over Mississippi State in the SEC title game and then a 23-15 win over Florida State in the 1999 BCS Fiesta Bowl, earning Tennessee its fourth national championship (and its first since 1951).
In 1999 Tennessee went 9-2 in the regular season, ultimately going on to lose to Nebraska (31-21) in the 2000 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
Stanford
23 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
The Cardinal first earned a spot in the BCS in the 1998-99 season where they went 8-3 and captured a Pac-10 title under coach Ty Willingham; the ’98 Stanford team went on to lose 17-9 to Wisconsin in the 1999 BCS Rose Bowl.
The second Stanford BCS appearance came just last season when the memorable 2010 squad went 12-1 and throttled Virginia Tech 40-12 in the 2011 BCS Orange Bowl.
Penn State
24 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
Jo Pa has led Penn State to two BCS appearances, first in 2005-06 when the Nittany Lions finished one two-point loss to Michigan away from perfection, a season that ended with an 11-1 record including a 26-23 victory over Florida State in the BCS Orange Bowl.
The second came in 2008 when Penn State went 11-1 (the only loss was to Iowa), won a piece of the Big Ten crown and ultimately lost 38-24 to USC in the 2009 BCS Rose Bowl.
Nebraska
25 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
The storied Cornhuskers have, thus far, made two BCS appearances netting them a .500 record in the “showcase” of college football.
The 1999 Huskers went 11-1 (the only loss a four-point defeat at Texas which was avenged by beating the Longhorns in the Big 12 title game 22-6) and beat Tennessee 31-21 in the 2000 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
In 2001 Nebraska went unscathed until the season finale against Colorado where they were throttled 62-36 in Boulder; the season was capped off with a 37-14 loss to Miami (FL) in the 2002 BCS Rose Bowl.
Iowa
26 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 1-1
Iowa has been dancing twice during the BCS era. The first trip was at the close of the 2002-03 season when the Hawkeyes went 10-1 in the regular season (the only loss was to Iowa State), captured a piece of the Big Ten title and finished the year with a loss to USC (38-17) in the 2003 BCS Orange Bowl.
The Hawkeyes' only BCS victory came at the close of their 2009-10 campaign (10-2 with back-to-back losses to Northwestern and Ohio State) when they beat Georgia Tech 24-14 in the 2010 BCS Orange Bowl.
West Virginia
27 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 2-0
The Mountaineers are perfect in BCS play, earning a 38-35 victory over Georgia in the 2006 Sugar Bowl (they went 11-1 overall in 2005 with the only loss being to Virginia Tech) and beating Oklahoma 48-28 in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl (WVU was 11-2 in 2007 with losses to Pitt and USF).
Both BCS teams also captured Big East titles and were both coached by Rich Rodriguez.
Utah
28 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 2-0
Though sometimes less publicized than TCU or Boise State, BCU buster Utah is perfect over its two glass ceiling breakthroughs.
The 2004 Utes capped off an undefeated season and a MWC title with a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh in the 2005 BCS Fiesta Bowl while the 2008 squad, also perfect, beat Alabama 31-17 in the 2009 BCS Sugar Bowl.
Boise State
29 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 2-0
Perhaps the most recognizable team in BCS busting, Boise State is also perfect in its two tries at winning in the big time.
In 2006 the Blue Turfers went 12-0 in the regular campaign, won the WAC and then put the cherry on top of a marvelous season by besting Oklahoma 43-42 in the 2007 BCS Fiesta Bowl which featured one of the most memorable finishes in BCS history.
The 2009 squad was also perfect and capped off their season with a 17-10 win over fellow buster TCU in the 2010 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
Auburn
30 of 45
BCS Appearances: 2
Overall BCS Record: 2-0
The Tigers finished off their two perfect seasons during the BCS era with BCS bids and victories; one earned Auburn a national championship while the other resulted in nothing but a great postseason win.
The 2004 Tigers went 11-0 in regular season play and then beat Tennessee 38-28 in the SEC title game; the perfection was stretched to 13-0 when Auburn beat Virginia Tech 16-13 in the BCS Sugar Bowl.
In 2010 the Tigers were again unscathed (this time beating South Carolina for the SEC Crown) but made it to the 2011 BCS National Championship game where they beat Oregon 22-19 securing Auburn’s third ever national title (and their first since 1957).
Notre Dame
31 of 45
BCS Appearances: 3
Overall BCS Record: 0-3
The storied Irish have been to the BCS three times and have lost all three contests.
The 2000 Irish went 9-2 and lost 41-9 to Oregon State in the 2001 BCS Fiesta Bowl, the 2005 squad also went 9-2 in the regular season and then lost to Ohio State 34-20 in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. Finally, the 2006 Irish went 10-2 and capped off their season with a 44-14 beat down at the hands of LSU in the 2007 Sugar Bowl.
Oregon
32 of 45
BCS Appearances: 3
Overall BCS Record: 1-2
The Ducks hold a 33 percent winning percentage over three tries in BCS play.
Their first try, and only win, came at the end of the 2001 season (10-1, Pac-10 Champions) when they beat Colorado 38-16 in the 2002 BCS Fiesta Bowl.
The two losses came in back-to-back seasons, first a defeat in the 2010 BCS Rose Bowl to Ohio State (26-17) and then the narrow 22-19 loss last season to Auburn in the BCS title game.
Alabama
33 of 45
BCS Appearances: 3
Overall BCS Record: 1-2
The Crimson Tide are also 1-2 overall in BCS play losing the 2000 BCS Orange Bowl in a thrilling 35-34 game against Michigan (the Tide went 10-2 in 1999 and won the SEC) and also dropping the 2009 BCS Sugar Bowl to Utah by a score of 31-17 (Alabama went 12-1 in 2008 and lost the SEC title game to Florida).
Alabama’s only BCS win counted big time with a 37-21 win over Texas in the 2010 BCS Championship which capped off a perfect season and sealed the Crimson Tide’s 12th national crown.
Wisconsin
34 of 45
BCS Appearances: 3
Overall BCS Record: 2-1
The Badgers hold an impressive 66 percent win ratio in BCS games; the only defeat came last season when Wisconsin lost to TCU in the 2011 Rose Bowl (21-19). The two wins came in back-to-back Rose Bowls (1998, 38-31 over UCLA and 1999, 17-9 over Stanford).
The consecutive wins were enjoyed under coach Barry Alvarez and both were won by teams who also captured Big Ten titles.
Georgia
35 of 45
BCS Appearances: 3
Overall BCS Record: 2-1
Georgia has managed a trip to the BCS via the daunting SEC three times and has, thus far, walked away with two wins and only one loss.
The 2002 Bulldogs (who went 11-1 in the regular season) won the SEC title (over Arkansas) and went on to beat Florida State 26-13 in the 2003 BCS Sugar Bowl.
In 2005 Georgia went 10-2 and beat LSU in the SEC championship, ultimately ending their season with a narrow 38-35 defeat at the hands of West Virginia in the 2005 BCS Sugar Bowl.
Finally, in 2007 the Bulldogs went 10-2 in the regular season and capped off their year with a 41-10 throttling of streaking Hawaii in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.
Michigan
36 of 45
BCS Appearances: 4
Overall BCS Record: 1-3
Michigan is one of only four teams to have reached the BCS apex four times, and their 1-3 record (25 percent winning ratio) is the worst of the group.
The three losses came in the 2004 BCS Rose Bowl (the 2003 Big Ten champion Wolverines lost 28-14 to USC) , the 2005 BCS Rose Bowl (the 2004 Big Ten co-champs lost 38-37 to Texas) and the 2007 Rose Bowl (a 32-28 loss to USC).
The one victory came way back in the 1999-2000 season when Michigan went 9-2 and finished the season with a 35-34 win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl.
Texas
37 of 45
BCS Appearances: 4
Overall BCS Record: 3-1
The Longhorns have a 75 percent winning ratio in BCS play, which ties them for second (with Miami FL) in winning percentage among teams who have played in more than two BCS games.
Texas won three straight BCS games (the 2005 Rose Bowl, the 2006 Rose Bowl and the 2009 Fiesta Bowl) before suffering their first loss, which came at the hands of Alabama (37-21) in the 2010 BCS Championship game.
The wins were over Michigan (38-37 in the ’05 Rose Bowl), over USC (41-38 in the ’06 Rose Bowl which captured Texas’ fourth national title) and over Ohio State (24-21 in the ’09 Fiesta Bowl).
Miami (FL)
38 of 45
BCS Appearances: 4
Overall BCS Record: 3-1
The Hurricanes are also 3-1 in BCS play, but they haven’t made an appearance in the big dance since winning the 2004 Orange Bowl.
Miami’s BCS wins include the 2001 Sugar Bowl (37-20 over Florida capping off an 11-1 season), the 2002 Rose Bowl (37-14 over Nebraska capturing a National Championship for the Hurricanes) and the 2004 Orange Bowl (16-14 over Florida State), while their only loss came in to Ohio State (31-24) in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl (which was the national championship game that year).
LSU
39 of 45
BCS Appearances: 4
Overall BCS Record: 4-0
LSU is the only college football team with more than two BCS appearances to go undefeated in BCS games (with the exception of USC who technically lost the 2006 Rose Bowl which is a game that has been vacated).
The Tigers won the 2002 Sugar Bowl (47-34 over Illinois), the 2004 Sugar Bowl (21-14 over Oklahoma, capturing a national championship for the Nick Saban led Tigers), the 2007 Sugar Bowl (41-14 over Notre Dame) and the 2008 BCS National Championship (which capped off the 2007 season with 38-24 over Ohio State, giving LSU its fourth national title).
Virginia Tech
40 of 45
BCS Appearances: 5
Overall BCS Record: 1-4
The Hokies are one of only two teams to claim five BCS appearances (the other is USC when you take away their vacated appearances) but their 1-4 record nets them only a 20 percent BCS winning ratio.
The losses came via the 2000 Sugar Bowl (46-29 to Florida State in what was the 1999 season’s national title game), the 2005 Sugar Bowl (a 16-13 loss to Auburn), the 2008 Orange Bowl (24-21 to Kansas) and the 2011 Orange Bowl (40-12 to Stanford).
The only Virginia Tech BCS victory came at the end of the 2008 season when the Hokies beat Cincinnati 20-7 in the 2009 Orange Bowl.
USC
41 of 45
BCS Appearances: 5
Overall BCS Record: 5-0
You could look at the Trojans' BCS record in several different ways, straight up they are 6-1 but once you remove the “vacated” games their record stands at 5-0.
The vacated games are the 2005 Orange Bowl (a 55-19 win over Oklahoma for the now vacated national championship) and the 2006 Rose Bowl (a 41-38 loss to Texas in the national title game).
The games that remain are all wins; the 2003 Orange Bowl (38-17 over Iowa), the 2004 Rose Bowl (28-14 over Michigan for a national title), the 2007 Rose Bowl (32-18 over Michigan), the 2008 Rose Bowl (49-17 over Illinois) and the 2009 Rose Bowl (38-24 over Penn State).
Florida State
42 of 45
BCS Appearances: 6
Overall BCS Record: 1-5
Florida State is tied with rival Florida for the third most BCS appearances but their 1-5 record (16 percent winning ratio) is the mirror opposite of the Gators impressive 5-1 record in the big money dance.
The Seminoles' losses include the 1999 Fiesta Bowl (a 23-16 loss to Tennessee in the national title game), the 2001 Orange Bowl (a 13-2 loss to Oklahoma in the national title game), the 2003 Sugar Bowl (a 26-13 loss to Georgia), the 2004 Orange Bowl (a 16-14 loss to Miami FL) and the 2006 Orange Bowl (a 26-23 loss to Penn State).
The one win was a 46-29 triumph over Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl which capped off the 1999 season with a national title.
Florida
43 of 45
BCS Appearances: 6
Overall BCS Record: 5-1
The Gators have been to the BCS six times and their 83.3 percent winning ratio is the best among teams that have played in more than two BCS games (again, throwing out USC’s record which is diluted by asterisks).
Florida’s wins include the 1999 Orange Bowl (31-10 over Syracuse), the 2002 Orange Bowl (56-23 over Maryland), the 2007 BCS national championship (41-14 over Ohio State), the 2009 BCS national championship (24-14 over Oklahoma) and the 2010 Sugar Bowl (51-24 over Cincinnati).
The Gators' only BCS loss came at the end of the 2000 season when they lost to Miami (FL) 37-20 in the 2001 Sugar Bowl.
Oklahoma
44 of 45
BCS Appearances: 8
Overall BCS Record: 3-5
The Sooners' record eight BCS appearances is second only to Ohio State (who has been to nine) but their 37.5 percent winning ratio represents quite a drop from the Buckeyes' 66.7 percent performance.
Of note, Oklahoma has been involved in almost 62 percent of the 13 BCS hosted postseasons, a number that is again bested only by Ohio State who has participated in almost 70 percent of BCS campaigns.
The Sooners' three BCS wins are as follows:
The 2001 Orange Bowl, a 13-2 win over Florida State for the national championship.
The 2003 Rose Bowl, a 34-14 victory over Washington State.
The 2011 Fiesta Bowl, a 48-20 win over Connecticut.
Oklahoma’s five BCS losses are as follows:
The2004 Sugar Bowl, a 21-14 loss to LSU for the national title.
The 2005 Orange Bowl, a 55-19 beat down by USC for a national title (now vacated by USC).
The 2007 Fiesta Bowl, a thrilling 43-42 loss to Boise State.
The 2008 Fiesta Bowl, a 48-28 loss to West Virginia.
The 2009 BCS national championship, a 24-14 loss to Florida.
Ohio State
45 of 45
BCS Appearances: 9
Overall BCS Record: 6-3
The Buckeyes have been extended a BCS bid a record nine times which means that the BCS has gone without an Ohio State team only four times in its history (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005).
The dominant run is unmatched and the current string of six consecutive appearances may have gone on for the foreseeable future, had scandal not hit Ohio State in the 2011 off season (but, who knows, maybe they can repeat anyway).
Ohio State’s BCS wins:
The 1999 Sugar Bowl, a 24-14 win over Texas A&M.
The 2003 Fiesta Bowl, a 31-24 win over Miami (FL) for the national championship.
The 2004 Fiesta Bowl, a 35-28 win over Kansas State.
The 2006 Fiesta Bowl, a 34-20 win over Notre Dame.
The 2010 Rose Bowl, a 26-17 win over Oregon.
The 2011 Sugar Bowl, a 31-26 win over Arkansas.
The Buckeyes’ BCS losses:
The 2007 BCS national championship, a 41-14 loss to Florida.
The 2008 BCS national championship, a 38-24 loss to LSU.
The 2009 Fiesta Bowl, a 24-21 loss to Texas.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
