What Is the Best College Football Team in History?

Betting on football odds for the college level at the BetMGM online sportsbook is extremely common now, but this sport has been around since the 1860s. Over that time, we’ve seen thousands of incredible players and dozens of programs make their mark on the sport. 

Below, I’ll discuss what I think is the best college football team in history. I’ll aim to pick the top program since college football started, not a team for a specific year. 

Let’s dive in. 

What Is the Best College Football Team in History?

The best college football program in history is the Alabama Crimson Tide. The program was established in 1892 and has claimed 18 national championships (two disputed) in the following years: 

• 1925
• 1926
• 1930
• 1934: Widely accepted by several selectors like the Dunkel and Williamson systems.
• 1941: Finished 9-2 and won the Cotton Bowl, but not considered the top team in most major polls. The Houlgate System had them as the national champion, but this is a less prominent system than the AP or Coaches poll. 
• 1961
• 1964
• 1965
• 1973
• 1978
• 1979
• 1992
• 2009
• 2011
• 2012
• 2015
• 2017
• 2020

The program also has secured 34 SEC titles and is 46-28-3 in bowl games all time.

As of Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, there were 61 players in the league from the school, which was 10 more than the next school, Georgia. Alabama has been the leader in active players in the NFL for eight years in a row. 

Colleges with the most players on active NFL rosters in Week 1:

– Alabama: 61 (8th straight year on top)
– Ohio State: 51
– Georgia: 45
– Notre Dame: 41
– Michigan: 40
– LSU: 39
– Penn State: 36
– Oklahoma: 33
– Washington: 32
– Texas: 31
– Clemson: 30
– Florida: 30
-… pic.twitter.com/O4HvHQ9lqC

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2024

The program dominated during the Nick Saban era (2007 to 2023), winning six national championships. 

432 players from the program have also been drafted into the NFL, including more than 80 first-round picks. In the Saban era, 132 players from the program have been drafted into the NFL. 

What Is the Most Dominant Team in College Football History?

Picking the most dominant program in college football history is difficult, but it’s between Alabama and Michigan. Michigan has 12 national titles, is the only school with more than 1,000 wins, and has had 438 players drafted to the NFL. Alabama has 18 national titles, 432 players drafted, and 965 wins through the 2023 season.

What College Team Has the Best Record

Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State are all tied at .731, while Notre Dame is just behind them at .730. 

This data is through the 2023 season. 

What Is the Most Influential College Football Team Ever?

I’ve covered Alabama several times here, and I must continue with them as they’re the most influential college football team ever. 

To me, the Saban era from 2007 to 2023 is the most influential period in college football. This was the program others aspired to be, and they were a team that could never be overlooked. Saban coached at Alabama for 16 seasons and won a national championship in about 38% of his seasons there. The Crimson Tide have been consistently atop the college football national championships odds. 

Through the 2023 season, just nine teams in college football history, besides Alabama, have won at least six national championships. 

What Is the Best School for Football? 

As of 2024, the best school for football is the Georgia Bulldogs. The Saban era is over at Alabama. He retired after the 2023 season, and the Bulldogs have won two of the last three national championships.