The Greatest Season Ever for Every College Football Team

Each team has had many "great" seasons. Surely, some are better than others and other programs can actually say "pick a group of seasons and runs."

But what is the single-most impressive and greatest season in history? Today, I'm going to give you each BCS team's best season ever in school history.

Put your seat belt on, make sure you're strapped in and let's go for this epic ride. Once it's over, you can debate all you want!

Mississippi State

For the Bulldogs, their program is not as prestigious as other SEC schools. So it's a bit surprising to learn their best season was in 1999.

The Bulldogs went on to finish ranked 12th in the country, after winning 10 games and the Peach Bowl.

Ole Miss

Now I don't particularly care for ties, and I almost count them as losses. Ole Miss' 1960 team won 10 games but had a tie on their mark.

So I'm moving on from the '60 team and going with the 1962 squad, coached by Johnny Vaught, which was the only Rebel team that went undefeated and claims a championship. Perfection is golden and according to Ole Miss, they achieved it that year—not USC.

Minnesota

I went with the 1934 team, since I have a bit for familiarity with them from writing and studying for another piece awhile back. This team was what we call "dominant."

The run game was amazing as 350 yards a game on the ground was virtually nothing and the defense shut out almost everybody.

Michigan State

I wanted to go with the 1966 team here, I really did. With "The Game of the Century" on their schedule and Bubba Smith, Clinton Jones, Gene Washington and George Webster, it was like an All-Star team.

Sigh. But they tied Notre Dame.

So I'm going with the 1952 team that perfected their season and won the national title.

Michigan

Listen, I'm a huge hip-hop fan and one of my favorite artists is Common. A few years back he came out with an album called Be, which some say is his best ever. Then he followed it up with Finding Forever.

I say Finding Forever is his best ever and one of the reasons is because he proved that Be wasn't a fluke.

Same thing with the 1948 Michigan squad. They won the '47 title, but validated it by winning it again in '48, led by Pete Elliot, who's like a god in Ann Arbor.

Miami

The 'Canes have had some fabulous teams and seasons. Yes, they have. But none other was like the early 2000s run they had.

I mean, these teams were basically NFL squads playing college ball, and the 2001 team is the GOAT in the 305. A 12-0 record. National title. A million first-round draft picks. Enough said.

Maryland

Simple pick for the Terps: the '51 team that was named national champs a short time later. 

We all know that Maryland hasn't had the success of some other programs, so this had to be my choice. Plus, any season here they don't where those unis they wore vs. Miami is a success in my opinion.

Louisville

Could have went with the 2004 team, but the 2005 squad was better. The Cards won 12 out of 13 games, beating several ranked powers.

In fact, if it wasn't for a loss to Rutgers, L'ville might have played for the national title. Yet, they took home an Orange Bowl for good measure.

LSU

I'm keeping it old school here—the 1958 season for LSU is the GOAT for me. They went 7-0, finished the year ranked No. 1 in both polls, won the SEC and beat Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.

The White Team, Go Team and Chinese Bandits did their thing and Billy Cannon took home a Heisman in '59.

Kentucky

See, what had happened was, Kentucky was a solid team in 1950. They were ranked in the Top 10, but stumbled vs. Tennessee. Yet, they went to the Sugar Bowl.

Good, right?

Wrong...and right. Because Oklahoma was their foe, and the Sooners had one just about 30 straight games. No one really thought Kentucky would win, but some coach named Bear Bryant thought otherwise.

Upset. Wildcats. National champs.

Kansas State

I remember as a kid, waking up on Saturday mornings to keep hearing about some dazzling QB named Michael Bishop. Then I saw him play and got on the bandwagon too.

K-State hasn't been a powerhouse, so Bishop's era takes the nod with specific regards to the '98 team in Manhattan. They thought they were headed to the national title game, but lost in the Big 12 title game.

So close. But best in K-State history.

Kansas

Another easy pick for me, as Kansas' best season in school history is the year they won the 12 games, in 2007.

They beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl and finished nestled inside the Top 10 rankings at the end of the season. Again, I'm talking Jayhawk football, not hoops folks.

Iowa State

Hmmm...let's see, Iowa State was a tough one. Ah yes, here we go—they did win a bowl game in 2000. I know that's not much, but it's the best I got for ISU.

They won eight games and took home the Insight.com Bowl trophy.

Iowa

Iowa's 1958 season is its best in school history. They won the Big Ten, the Rose Bowl, the national title and beat Notre Dame, Cal, Michigan and Wisconsin in that season.

They lost Jim Gibbons and Alex Karrass from the '57 team, but Randy Duncan guided the team well and Forest Evashevski managed the squad as the coach. 

Indiana

The '67 Hoosier team was pretty battled-tested. They played several ranked teams and even lost to Top-20 ranked Minnesota. Yet they beat Top 10-ranked Purdue in a thriller only by five points.

They lost the Rose Bowl, but finished admired by the AP Poll with a No. 5 ranking.

Illinois

Well, you may be upset with me here, but I choose the 2007 season as the best ever for Illinois. They lost in the Rose Bowl, yeah, but that win over No. 1 Ohio State was awesome.

They did win nine games and finished ranked in the Top 20 in both major polls.

Georgia Tech

This one almost feels like a robbery occurred, but you got your wallet back with your credit cards in check, but only to find your $20 gone. So, you're in good shape, but still...

Georgia Tech is the same way with the 1990 team. Yeah they won the national title, but had to split it with Colorado, who won a game by being awarded the infamous fifth down.

Robbery!

Colorado

I have to group these two together. Colorado's best year came in the same 1990 season in the fifth-down season.

Even though they didn't deserve the win, the Buffs still beat ranked teams like Nebraska, Washington, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and even Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

National title...I guess.

Georgia

1980. Simple and plain. UGA saw a special player come into the program named Herschel Walker, who lit up defense after defense and nearly won the Heisman as a freshman.

I mean, Walker was excellent...outstanding...magical. Even if the team didn't do as well as it did, you could still make a case Walker made this the best season in history in Athens.

Oh, yeah, the team? They won 12 games, a Sugar Bowl and a national title.

Florida State

In the late '90s, you kept hearing "Yeah, FSU is good, but can they go wall to wall, and be perfect all year?" Uh, yeah—they proved that in 1999, becoming the only team to start the year No. 1 and finish the year No. 1.

I remember when they won the national title game, the announcer said "Bobby Bowden has got his perfect season." I had no clue at the time that that was the first in history.

Plus, did Peter Warrick deserve the Heisman?

Florida

I'm rolling with the 1996 team's season in Gainesville—the Ol' Ball Coach, Danny Weurffel, Fred Taylor, Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony, Mike Peterson and Jevon Kearse.

Big-time talent. Consensus national champs—vengeance vs. FSU. Best season ever for Florida. 

Duke

Wallace Wade led The Iron Dukes in the '30s and the '38 team is the best Blue Devil season in history. They didn't get scored on—for the whole season! Wowsers.

They won nine games and if it wasn't for that hiccup vs. USC in the Rose Bowl, they would be firmly entrenched in the GOAT team convos.

UConn

This wasn't a hard pick. Well then again, the 2010 season was pretty good in Stoors, as they did go on to play in the Fiesta Bowl.

But winning a piece of the Big East in 2007 and winning nine games is pretty good for a program with basically no history in football just yet. 

Colorado State

Bossman Michael Pinto likes the 1994 season here, so I'm going to oblige as well. Sonny Lubick is like the Vince Lombardi of CSU football and his initial conference title was big time.

They beat Arizona, who was ranked in the Top Five, won 10 games and finished ranked ranked in the Top 20 in AP Poll.

Clemson

Terry Kinard led a Tiger squad in 1981 that won 12 games, never lost and won the national title. 

Clemson beat elite ranked teams like Georgia, Nebraska and North Carolina during this historic season. Could this 2011 season be even better than the 1981 year?

We'll see.

Cincinnati

I know they got waxed in the Sugar Bowl that year, but I have to pick the 2009 season for Cincy. They won 12 games, got up to No. 4 in the polls and saw their coach become a star.

Even back then Brian Kelly was turning purple on the sidelines, as I remember him laying into Tony Pike vs. Pitt, before Pike and Co. threw Cincy back into the game and pulled out a stunner.

California

I wanted to go with the 2006 team so bad. I mean, even the 2004 team got jobbed by Mack Brown's plea at the end of the season. But the '06 squad went 10-3 and beat Texas A&M 45-10 in the Holiday Bowl.

But the 1937 team went 10-0-1 and beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, so that's my pick.

BYU

I was a bit shocked to learn that BYU's only title team was the '84 unit. But, that's who I'm picking anyways for this piece.

They won the Holiday Bowl, got ducked by Washington and lived up to their preseason hype. I know they're not a BCS team, but the Cougars' program has been pretty admirable over the years.

Boston College

I have the 1984 season again. This time for BC. I mean, what's better than that Flutie Hail Mary? People say it's the greatest moment in college football history.

The Eagles also won 10 games and won the Cotton Bowl that year. Sure, you have the '40 season and that could very well be the best, but I like the '84 year.

Baylor

I'm sure the Mike Singletary teams were better than the '74 squad, but Baylor fans will tell you that 1974 is the finest season because they beat Texas.

In a comeback fashion, the Bears beat the Longhorns and the game was dubbed "The Miracle on the Brazos" for the river that is right down the way from campus. 

Auburn

You know what? The 1993 team was pretty good. Really good, in fact. But again, I'm taking up programs that got robbed today and the 2004 team got robbed.

Do I believe USC would have beat them? Yes. But they still deserved a title shot. I mean, you win the SEC, win 12 games, go undefeated and you still can't play for the title? Not cool in my book.

This season also saw a team field four solid pro prospects in Ronnie Brown, Carlos Rogers, Carnell Williams and Jason Campbell.

Arkansas

Robbery, again. See, I'm staying true to my word. The '64 squad got robbed. I mean, how do we have a system where the final rankings are released technically before the season ends? What sense does that make?

(Herman Edwards' voice) Hello?

The Hogs saw themselves win their Cotton Bowl game, go undefeated and not get a piece of the pie. However, ask Arkansas brass followers and they will tell you "We won the national title in '64."

Arizona

I'm picking the '93 team that won the Wildcats' only Pac-10 title. Led by head coach Dick Tomey, AZ beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl and beat four total ranked teams.

Chuck Levy, star RB on the squad was a teammate of my brother at Lynwood High, while DL Rob Waldrop won the Bednarik, Nagurski and Outland awards.

Arizona State

The 1996 season is my choice as they won 11 games and even blew out No. 1 Nebraska. ASU went into the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State with a national title on their minds with a win.

They lost a thriller 20-17, and went home empty-handed. Yet, this is the best season in Sun Devil history.

Alabama

I was going to go with a modern look and roll with the 2009 team, but it seems like when you want to talk best team in Crimson Tide history, you have to start with the '61 team, because they had the best season in school history.

They won 11 games, and pretty much destroyed teams by using a sound offense and one of the greatest defenses to ever play college football. 

Missouri

The 2007 season for the Tigers was even sweeter because Kansas, their hated arch nemesis, was ranked No. 2 and were flying high. Well Mizzou spoiled the Jayhawks' unbeaten season.

Missouri won 12 games that year and finished ranked inside the Top Five. What's also impressive is the fact that the Big 12 was strong that year and the Tigers still prevailed.

Nebraska

Like 'Bama and their '61 team, Nebraska fans always seem to point to their '71 team as their best. Some go even further and say that this team is the GOAT in CFB history.

You had the offensive firepower, Johnny Rodgers, the Game of the Century vs. Oklahoma, 13 wins and more. Big Red has had some stellar seasons, but it seems like the consensus is the '71 season.

North Carolina

A few days ago, I did a piece of teams that recruit well but have little to show for it. UNC was on that list. With all their talent over the recent years, it's hard to see why their last conference title was in 1980.

This season in Chapel Hill was marked because of Lawrence Taylor and just how utterly incredible he was. He helped win 11 games for UNC and got them a Top 10 ranking. 

NC State

I'm going with the 2002 season for the Wolfpack. They had a star QB in Philip Rivers that had a quirky delivery but got it done, plus several talented stars.

They went on to finish in the Top 11 in the Coaches' Poll and won 11 games. 

Northwestern

Northwestern isn't a power per se, but in 1995 they were phenomenal. I remember my brother telling me when I asked who their star player was, "The whole team." While I know today that wasn't a true assessment, the Wildcats were good.

Ranked as high at third in some polls. They beat Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State this season. Though USC beat them in the Rose Bowl, this NU season was best in history for them. 

Notre Dame

There are so many seasons that the Irish have had over the years, especially back in the day, that could be picked here. But I'm picking the 1924 team with the Four Horsemen.

The Irish won 10 games that year, beating Army, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Stanford and Northwestern along the way. Some say this was Knute Rockne's first title, while historians argue it was his third at Notre Dame.

Ohio State

I did a similar piece to this one earlier this year, and when I looked up some research, I started reading about the '57 team in Columbus. They weren't supposed to be too good.

But they were good. Really good. Like national-title-good.

They just basically won every week with toughness, climbed the polls thanks to teams beating up on one another and were the last team standing in the end. 

Oklahoma

I thought about handing it to the 2000 team, because they were just like the '57 Ohio State team in a way.

But...not sure about you, but when you're called one of the best teams in sports history, of any sport in any league, your best season is best in your history.

The '56 team mowed opponents by 40 a game on average and helped claim a streak that would stretch to 47 games.

Oklahoma State

Barry Sanders did for the Pokes what Herschel Walker did for Georgia eight years earlier: dazzle and help win a lot of games. Ten to be exact.

1988 saw OSU get to 11th in the polls, Sanders win the Heisman and the Cowboys beat Texas Tech in Coca-Cola Bowl. 

Oregon

Last year was the best year for Oregon. Just hear me out: You kick your starting QB off the team; your future Heisman-contending RB is suspended for the opener; you name a new starting QB that's unproven; and you still win 12 games and go into the BCS title as the favorite?

Come on now.

Chip Kelly did an outstanding job last year and the 2010 season gets the nod. Oregon scored 72 in the opener and was led by an offense that scored 592 total points.

Oregon State

The Beavers don't have the resume that their rivals have, but a year that sticks out is the 2000 year with Dennis Erickson at the helm. 

The won the Pac-10 title that year with having great speed and they were kind of annoying in a good way. Then, when the bright lights came on in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame, the Beavs smashed the Irish and finished in the Top Five in the polls.

Pitt

I'm going with the 1980 season for the Panthers. They went 11-1 and won the national title according to many various outlets. 

Led by three first-round picks in Hugh Green, Randy McMillan and ESPN's Mark May, plus Russ Grimm, this season saw Pitt beat nemesis WVU 42-14.

Penn State

Another ESPN analyst's team here as Todd Blackledge and the PSU team of 1982 gets the nod. JoePa outfoxed Nebraska and Georgia this season and won the national title.

Many fanbases go into a season hoping for a national title, but many kind of know when it's impossible. Penn State's fans were kind of like that, so when they won the title, it was a bit of a shock when compared to preseason thinking.

Purdue

Drew Brees and his classmates were rated the worst recruiting class in the Big Ten. They felt dissed. So they did something about it. In their senior year, they won the conference and beat the other classes rated higher than them.

This 2000 season for Purdue was great, because Brees was just so good and the team survived the whirlwind that was the Big Ten that year and went to the Rose Bowl.

Rutgers

Rutgers' pick was an easy one, since the Scarlet Knights have not been too good for a long time. 

Yet, the 2006 season was a great one in Piscataway since the team won 10 games and won the Texas Bowl. Yes, there's such thing as the Texas Bowl.

South Carolina

The '69 season would have been the pick here, but the Gamecocks only went 7-4 that year, so I moved on. Then I looked at the 2010 season, but I settled on the '84 year.

The Gamecocks clipped 10 games for themselves, beating Georgia, Notre Dame, Pitt and arch-rival Clemson along the way and finished 11th in the polls.

South Florida

I have to go with the 2007 season, which had you scratching your head when USF was ranked No. 2, but rooting for them at the same time. I know things didn't end well, but in the Bulls' short-lived history, the excitement and optimism was grand in Tampa.

Stanford

I mulled over this one, I really did. Because I really thought about the 2010 team that won the Orange Bowl and just how far they came from being downright awful four years before.

But the '26 team won 10 games, and was given the national title, which interestingly enough, was the first time a national title was given out in CFB. Go figure.

Syracuse

For something like this, you have to ride with the Ernie Davis-led teams and the '59 squad gets the pick. 

They won the national title, and beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Upon my research, it seems the Orange defense is one of the most underrated units in history. They were very, very tough.

TCU

TCU is a BCS team, now. Well, next year officially, but I'll toss them on this list for good fun. 

In 1938, TCU had some cat named Davey O'Brien, who was alright and now has a trophy named after him. Yeah, I'm being sarcastic folks.

O'Brien was what Aaron Rodgers is now, harassing defenses via the air. TCU went 11-0 and won the national title.

Tennessee

In 1998, things were weird in Knoxville. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Peyton Manning was not going to be the QB for Tennessee football. 

Then there was the start of some weird, sketchy system called the BCS. My former co-worker Tee Martin didn't care. All he would do is go on to lead the Vols to a national title by winning 13—count 'em, 13—games.

Texas

This kind of hurts to re-live this, because I'm a Los Angeles native, but I have to say the 2005 season is the best in Texas' history. This team had a wealth of stars, but none were brighter than QB Vince Young.

The season seemed like a collision course with No. 1 USC, and Young also felt he deserved the Heisman. All he did was put the Longhorns on his back and go out and beat USC in the Rose Bowl to win the national title.

Texas A&M

I liked the 1992 season for Aggies, where the finished ranked in the Top Six overall. But, I think you have to go with the 1939 season in College Station.

Eleven wins. No losses. Sugar Bowl win. National title. Enough said. Why am I still typing?

Texas Tech

In 2008, the Red Raiders came back from a solid 2007 season to win 11 games. This also included that thrilling win vs. Texas and Michael Crabtree's late-minute heroics.

Like USF, things didn't end so hot for Tech, but the overall excitement of the season and the buzz the Red Raiders had that year makes it the best ever in Lubbock.

UCF

2010 was the top season for UCF. They won their second Conference-USA title, 11 games and beat SEC power Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.

The Golden Knights won seven out of eight conference games, had a true freshman QB and finally started getting a little more respect.

UCLA

The '97 Bruin team was pretty good and I thought about them, but UCLA's highest finish was the '54 season. The Bruins finished No. 1 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 2 in the AP Poll.

They should have played Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, which would have been basically for the consensus national title, but the Rose Bowl had some dumb rule of not letting teams play in the bowl game consecutive years.

Robbery! Again!

USC

Again, I'm going to shout out bossman Michael Pinto here—plus, I have a lot of love and admiration for USC. This was an emotional tussle to do.

But it has to be the '72 season. Even though I'm a modern dude and loved the 2004 team, I'm sticking with tradition by riding with the '72 team here.

They're viewed as one of the best teams in sports history, beat five ranked teams and just blasted people week in and week out. With the talent and being the initial consensus No. 1 team, you get the picture.

Utah

I was itching for the 2004 season. I really was. Utah came out of nowhere, and went to the Orange Bowl. They had the crazy-looking offense and their coach was wanted by everybody.

But the 2008 team is kind of under the radar. The clipped 13 games, which is a big-time feat in my eyes, didn't lose at all and waxed mighty Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Vanderbilt

Honestly, this very well could be the season that goes down as tops in Vandy history. Seriously.

That's cool and not cool, because it also shows how bad Vandy has been for a long time. But in 1948, the Commodores won eight games and finished the year ranked 12th.

Virginia

I'm going with 1995 season that saw the Cavs upset national title contender Florida State and win a piece of the ACC title.

Then, Virginia went to the Peach Bowl, beat Georgia and finish the year inside the Top 20 in the polls. Maybe Virginia has underachieved since then, but 1995 was their top season.

Virginia Tech

By the time 1999 came, you had a better grasp of the BCS and how it worked. Notice I said "better" and not "a full grasp," because no one never will.

Anyways, VaTech started surging up the polls behind probably the most physically gifted QB to ever play the position in Michael Vick, who dazzled with a cannon for left arm.

The team won 11 games and just ran into an NFL team by all accounts in FSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Wake Forest

Wake Forest has spotty football history, but the 2006 season saw them hang with the big boys. The Demon Deacons won 10 games and the ACC title.

They got picked apart by Louisville in the Orange Bowl, but just the sight of seeing Wake Forest in a BCS bowl game was pretty cool.

Washington

Washington. What else can you point to for this piece other than the 1991 season? The Huskies had a great defense led by all-world DL Steve Emtman.

Emtman went on to become the top pick in the draft the following April.

Washington State

The Cougars were actually the class of the Pac-10 in the early 2000s. They were very, very good folks. But reach back even further and you see they won the Pac-10 title in 1997 and went to the Rose Bowl.

They got on the map with the aid of a big, rocket-armed, Heisman-contending QB Ryan Leaf, who went to be the No. 2 overall pick to the Chargers. 

Wisconsin

I'm going with a tie here: both '98 and '99. Why? Both seasons ended in Rose Bowl wins and both seasons had teams that had Ron Dayne on them—that's why.

The '98 season saw 11 wins while the '99 season witnessed 10. You get Big Ten titles in both seasons too.

West Virginia

Major Harris is the best player ever in WVU history according to many people around Morgantown. So you have to look at one of his great seasons for this here. I loved the Pat White, Steve Slaton and Rich Rodriguez seasons, but the '88 year does it for me.

WVU made it all the way to the Fiesta Bowl, but got blown out by Notre Dame. But still, the Mountaineers were a title contender that year and Harris was the reason why. The offense was basically as proficient and efficient as Oregon's and Oklahoma State's are now