COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S BEST TEAM TO NOT WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Sometimes the best team doesn’t win. Upsets happen in every sport. But in no sport is suffering a regular season upset more costly than in college football. Lose one game and aspirations of a national championship are in serious jeopardy. The induction of the BCS Series and now a four team playoff has made it so one blemish on a team’s record is no longer a hopeless situation. But pre-BCS, a loss meant being relegated to a pack of also-rans hoping for the miracle that every team in the country would also lose at least one game in an era when athletic scholarship limits had little regard for parity. Consequently, there have been some great teams in the pre-BCS era to NOT win the championship. Many that probably had the best team that season, but let their guard down in over confidence for one game and lost to an inferior team. And some great teams simply had the misfortune of playing in a season when an even greater team happened to be playing.  And other great teams just flat out had a strong argument for the championship, but the fickle and sometimes biased voters didn’t see it that way. So the question becomes, who was the best college football team to NOT win an undisputed national championship? Here are some strong candidates:

THE UNDEFEATEDS

It’s really not fair to dismiss any team with an unblemished record. Hard to argue against a team that wasn’t proven beatable on the field.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Penn St.  1968  (11-0)  Coach: Joe Paterno

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Ohio St. (10-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #6 Kansas 15-14 in the Orange Bowl

Penn St.  1969  (11-0)  Coach: Joe Paterno

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Texas (11-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #6 Missouri 10-3 in the Orange Bowl

Penn St.  1973  (12-0)  Coach: Joe Paterno

AP Rank: 5

Champion: Notre Dame (11-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #20 Pitt 35-13, #13 LSU 16-9 in the Orange Bowl

No love for JoePa and his Nittany Lions in the days when more than one undefeated team wasn’t uncommon. The Penn St. dynasty was just starting to blossom and the schedule wasn’t highly regarded. Two straight undefeated seasons and no championship left Paterno as one of the earliest proponents of a playoff system.

The ‘68 team featured Charlie Pittman at RB, and in ‘69 Pittman shared the ball carrying duties with Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell. The ‘69 defense was first in points allowed at 8.2 ppg.

The ‘73 team featured Heisman trophy winner John Cappeletti.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Penn St.  1994  (12-0)  Coach: Joe Paterno

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Nebraska (12-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #14 USC 38-14, at #5 Michigan 31-24, #21 Ohio St. 63-14, #12 Oregon 38-20 in Rose Bowl

Again? Over 20 years later and the voters are still pissing on the Nittany Lions? And to make the slap in the face even more blatant, Penn St. headed into a late season date with #21 Ohio St. as the #1 ranked team and came out ranked #2; after winning by a score of 63-21! This team averaged 47 points per game - tops in the country - and featured Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, Bobby Engram, and Kyle Brady.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Oklahoma  1974  (11-0)  Coach: Barry Switzer

AP Rank: 1

Champion: Split – USC (10-1-1), Oklahoma (11-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #17 Texas 16-13, #6 Nebraska 28-14

Technically this team split the national championship, but no one aside from the AP poll wanted to acknowledge the Sooners as they were on probation. The coach’s poll didn’t list them at all, the television stations couldn’t cover them, and they were banned from all post season bowl games. One of many great Sooners option teams from the ‘70s, this version featured QB Steve Davis running with RBs Joe Washington and Elvis Peacock. Tinker Owens was notable at WR if or when Davis threw the ball. Rod Shoate joined two of the Selmon brothers –Dewey and Lee Roy- on defense.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Washington  1991 (12-0)  Coach: Don James

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Split - Miami (12-0), Washington (12-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: at #9 Nebraska 36-21, at #7 California 24-17, #4 Michigan 34-14 in the Rose Bowl

Now were getting into a grey area, a matter of who you ask. The Huskies actually split the national championship as they were voted #1 in the USA-CNN poll, which was regarded equally as valid as the AP poll that had Miami ranked #1. This team featured Billy Joe Hobert, Lincoln Kennedy, Steve Emtman, and Mario Bailey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Miami  1991 (12-0)  Coach: Dennis Erickson

AP Rank: 1

Champion: Split - Miami (12-0), Washington (12-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #10 Houston 40-10, #9 Penn St. 26-20, at #1 Florida St 17-16, #11 Nebraska 22-0 in the Orange Bowl

While this team was ranked first in the AP, the USA-CNN vote went to the above mentioned Washington Huskies. Fair enough, I’d say. Both teams were undefeated. This team featured Gino Torretta, Kevin Williams, Lamar Thomas, Horace Copeland, Darrin Smith, Michael Barrow, and Darryl Williams.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Michigan  1997 (12-0)  Coach: Lloyd Carr

AP Rank: 1

Champion: Split – Michigan (12-0), Nebraska (13-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: #8 Colorado 27-3, #15 Iowa 28-24, at #15 Michigan St. 23-7, at #2 Penn St. 34-8, At #23 Wisconsin 26-16, #4 Ohio St. 20-14, #8 Washington 21-16 in the Rose Bowl

Nebraska  1997 (12-0)  Coach: Tom Osborne

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Split – Michigan (12-0), Nebraska (13-0)

Lost To: NA

Notable Victories: at #2 Washington 27-14, #17 Kansas St. 56-26, #14 Texas A&M 54-15, #3 Tennessee 42-17 in Orange Bowl

Another split decision between two undefeated teams. One had the #1 offense, the other had the #1 defense. Nebraska’s offense was putting up an average of 46.7 points per game, while Michigan allowed an average of only 9.5 points.

Nebraska’s offense averaged 6.2 yards per carry and featured Scott Frost, Ahman Green, and Aaron Taylor. The defense featured Jason Peter and Grant Winstrom.

Michigan beat seven ranked teams, four of ‘em to close out the season. This team featured Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, Brian Greise, Tai Streets, Anthony Thomas, Steve Hutchinson, Glen Steele, Sam Sword, and Marcus Ray.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

THE UNLUCKY

Sometimes a team was good enough to win a championship in a typical season but found themselves playing in a season that wasn’t so typical in that there happened to be an even better team on their schedule. If these teams were assembled a year earlier or later, it’s very possible they would have won a championship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Oklahoma  1971 (11-1)  Coach: Chuck Fairbanks

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Nebraska (13-0)

Lost To: #1 Nebraska, 31-35

Notable Victories: #17 USC 33-20, #3 Texas 48-27, #6 Colorado 45-17, # 5 Auburn 40-22 in Sugar Bowl

This team was unstoppable on offense with QB Jack Mildren running the option alongside speedy RB Greg Pruitt. The Sooners averaged 44.5 points per game  -tops in the country- and Pruitt averaged 9 yards per carry while scoring 18 TD’s. Mildren was no slouch as he averaged 5.8 yards and scored 20 TD’s of his own. This team’s only loss came on Thanksgiving day against Big-8 rival and eventual national champion Nebraska, who had a player by the name of Johnny Rodgers (eventual Heisman winner) who returned a crucial punt to help seal the Sooners’ fate.

The game and the punt return is considered classic college football. I’ve seen the clip of the punt return several times. Speaking of “clips”…..

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ohio St.  1973 (10-0-1) Coach: Woody Hayes

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Notre Dame (11-0)

Lost To: tied at #4 Michigan 10-10

Notable Victories: #7 USC 42-21 in Rose Bowl

If the nation’s 4^th best offense wasn’t loaded enough with Cornelius Greene, future Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Pete Johnson, Brian Bashnagel and John Hicks, the defense was only allowing a nation’s best 5.8 points per game with studs like Randy Gradishar, Neal Colzie, and Tim Fox. The Buckeyes allowed only 20 points total in their first eight games, including four shutouts. Their claim to a national championship was foiled in a tie at unbeaten conference rival Michigan, a game that I personally consider as the best in the storied rival’s history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Michigan  1973 (10-0-1)  Coach: Bo Schembechler

AP Rank: 6

Champion: Notre Dame (11-0)

Lost To: tied #1 Ohio St. 10-10

Notable Victories:

The other side of the above coin as the Wolverines were also unbeaten heading into the showdown with Ohio St. In those days the Big 10 only sent one team bowling and the conference officials chose to send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. Consequently, Michigan never got the chance to show off their dominance against a ranked team (Ohio St. won the Rose Bowl over a very good USC team) and ended up ranked #6 in an exceptional season that was stacked with great teams across the country. The Wolverines - led by Don “The Wolfman” Dufek - were #2 in the nation defensively allowing only 6.2 points per game and never gave up more than 13 points in one game. The offense was loaded with Dennis Franklin, Gordon Bell, Ed Shuttlesworth, and Gil Chapman.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Notre Dame  1989 (12-1)  Coach: Lou Holtz

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Miami (11-1)

Lost To: at #7 Miami 10-27

Notable Victories: at #2 Michigan 24-19, at #17 Air Force 41-27, #9 USC 28-24, #7 Pitt 45-7, at #17 Penn St. 34-23, #1 Colorado 21-6 in Orange bowl

This team beat six ranked teams – four on the road – including an Orange Bowl victory over then #1 Colorado. The schedule was rated second most difficult in the country. A late season loss at eventual champion Miami relegated the Fightin’ Irish to second in the polls. Many of the players from the previous season’s national championship team were still on the roster: Tony Rice, Anthony Johnson, Ricky Watters, Raghib Ismail, Derek Brown, Chris Zorich, and Todd Lyght.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

THE STUMBLERS

These are the teams that let their guard down, didn’t bring their “A” game, and lost to a team that most would agree was inferior. Happens in all sports with varying consequences. In these cases the price was a national championship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ohio St.  1975 (11-1) Coach: Woody Hayes

AP Rank: 4

Champion: Oklahoma (11-1)

Lost To: #11 UCLA 10-23 in the Rose Bowl

Notable Victories: at #11 Michigan ST. 21-0, #7 Penn St 17-9, at #13 UCLA 41-20, at #4 Michigan 21-14

This team was loaded as it headed into the Rose Bowl ranked #1 and in the top five in both offensive scoring and defensive points allowed. The Buckeyes’ opponent, UCLA led by HC Dick Vermeil, had a season good enough to be ranked in the top 20. But not many, probably including a good portion of the Ohio St. roster, gave UCLA much chance as earlier in the season Ohio St. traveled to UCLA and crushed the Bruins on their home field, 41-20. But UCLA got revenge in the Rose Bowl as RB Wendell Tyler ran wild and shocked the Buckeyes 23-10. This Ohio St. team featured the final season of a backfield that started together since their sophomore season, possibly the best ever assembled in Columbus with Cornelius Greene, Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Pete Johnson, and Brian Bashnagel. Tim Fox starred for the defense.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Oklahoma  1978 (11-1)  Coach: Barry Switzer

AP Rank: 3

Champion: Split – Alabama (11-1), USC (11-1)

Lost To: at #4 Nebraska 14-17

Notable Victories: #14 Missouri 45-23, #6 Texas 31-10, #6 Nebraska 31-24 in Orange Bowl

Losing at #4 ranked rival Nebraska doesn’t seem like much of an upset. But this was yet another dominating Oklahoma option offense - #1 in points per game - featuring Heisman winner Billy Sims, Thomas Lott, Kenny King and David Overstreet. The defense featured Reggie Kinlaw and George Cumby. Oklahoma had won the previous six meetings and, despite the #4 ranking, this Nebraska team didn’t appear to have the muscle to break the streak. But the Sooners fumbled nine times, losing six, one of which was late in the game just three yards away from the go-ahead score. Oklahoma avenged the loss in a rematch in the Orange Bowl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

USC  1978 (11-1)  Coach: John Robinson

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Split – Alabama (11-1), USC (11-1)

Lost To: at Arizona St 7-20

Notable Victories: at #1 Alabama 24-14, #19 Washington 28-10, at #14 UCLA 17-10, #8 Notre Dame 27-25, #5 Michigan 17-10 in Rose Bowl

The Trojans split the championship – the AP voters chose Alabama – but would have been unanimous as the only undefeated had it not been for a mid-season loss to unranked Arizona St. This team featured future Heisman winner Charles White, Paul McDonald, Calvin Sweeney, Brad Budde, Keith Van Horne, and Ronnie Lott. A powerful team that beat five ranked teams, one of which was - get this - Alabama. AT Alabama. Yet the AP voters chose the Tide as their champion. I guess SEC bias existed even in those days.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Nebraska  1983 (12-1)  Coach: Tom Osborne

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Miami (11-1)

Lost To: #5 Miami 30-31 in Orange Bowl

Notable Victories: #4 Penn St. 44-6

This team was an offensive juggernaut that steamrolled its way through the season averaging a nation’s best 50.3 points per game. RB Mike Rozier won the Heisman as he ran behind an O-Line that featured Dean Steinkuhler. Turner Gill was the QB and future #1 NFL draft pick Irving Fryar played WR. The Huskers went wire to wire as the consensus #1 team heading into the Orange Bowl undefeated against a one loss upstart Miami team coached by Howard Shnellenberger and led by freshman QB Bernie Kosar. Miami had yet to build the reputation it enjoys today as a perennial contender and entered the game as a 10 1/2 point underdog. Nebraska fell behind 31-17 in the fourth quarter, and as most superior teams that come out flat do, came storming back in the closing moments. The ‘Huskers scored a TD with under two minutes left to pull within one point and failed on the two point conversion attempt (there was no such thing as overtime in 1983). A kicked extra point and a tie would have most likely given Nebraska the championship as the nation’s only undefeated team.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ohio St  1996 (11-1)  Coach: John Cooper

AP Rank: 2

Champion: Florida (12-1)

Lost To: #21 Michigan 9-13

Notable Victories: at #5 Notre Dame 29-16, #4 Penn St. 38-7, at #20 Iowa 38-26, #2 Arizona 20-17 in Orange Bowl

This Ohio St. team plowed through the third toughest schedule in the country stumbling only once at home in the regular season finale against rival Michigan. The Wolverines were playing for pride as they had already lost three conference games, two of ‘em in the games immediately prior to this matchup. Ohio St. was the obvious better team as was reflected when the oddsmakers pegged the Buckeyes as 17 point favorites. But they weren’t better on that particular Saturday. The loss cost Ohio St. the championship as no other team in the nation went undefeated. This team featured Stanley Jackson, Joe Germaine, Pepe Pearson, David Boston, Orlando Pace, Andy Katzenmoyer, Mike Vrabel and Shawn Springs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

NOTABLE

Losing twice should probably mean automatic disqualification for this list, but these two-loss teams were too loaded to ignore.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ohio St.  1974 (10-2)  Coach: Woody Hayes

AP Rank: 4

Champion: USC (10-1-1) (UPI)

Lost To: at Michigan St. 13-16, #5 USC 17-18 in the Rose bowl

Notable Victories: #13 Wisconsin 52-7, #3 Michigan 12-10

This team lost twice by a combined total of four points and less than three yards. One was a major upset that left the Buckeyes out of time less than a yard away from the game winning score, the other was after a two-point conversion in the final moments of the Rose Bowl to eventual UPI champion USC. If the Buckeyes make the stop on the conversion attempt they most likely would have been recognized as the national champions. Undefeated Oklahoma got the AP vote but was banned from television and any post season bowl game so they were pretty much dismissed by everyone but the AP voters. This team featured arguably the best backfield in school history: Heisman winner Archie Griffin, Cornelius Greene, Pete Johnson, Brian Bashnagel, and Champ Henson. Neal Colzie, and Tim Fox were defensive standouts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ohio St.  1995 (11-2)  Coach: John Cooper

AP Rank: 6

Champion: Nebraska (12-0)

Lost To: at #18 Michigan 23-31, #4 Tennessee 14-20 in the Citrus Bowl

Notable Victories: #22 Boston College 38-6, #18 Washington 30-20, #15 Notre Dame 45-26, at #12 Penn St. 28-25, at #21 Wisconsin 27-16, #25 Iowa 56-35

Maybe not the best game-day coach, but John Cooper recruited some championship talent during his reign as Buckeyes coach. He just never won a championship. Despite consistently going into the game with the higher ranking, and what appeared to be the better team, he rarely beat rival Michigan. This season was no different. A second loss was added in the ensuing bowl game but this may have been Coop’s best team and arguably one of the best assembled at Ohio St. This team beat six ranked teams in the first eight weeks of the season and featured Heisman winner Eddie George, Bobby Hoying, Rickey Dudley, Orlando Pace, Terry Glenn, Mike Vrabel, and Shawn Springs. Pace became a #1 pick in the NFL draft and three others were first round choices.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Florida St. 1989 (10-2)  Coach: Bobby Bowden

AP Rank: 3

Champion: Miami (11-1)

Lost To: Southern Mississippi 26-30, #10 Clemson 23-34

Notable Victories: at #21 LSU 31-21, at #17 Syracuse 41-10, #11 Auburn 22-14, #2 Miami 24-10, #6 Nebraska 41-17 in the Fiesta Bowl

This team opened with an upset loss to Brett Favre and his Southern Miss Golden Eagles and then lost again the following week to top ten Clemson. The Seminoles ran the table from there, defeating five ranked teams including a two touchdown victory over eventual champion Miami. Throw out one of the two early losses and most likely Florida St. gets the vote as champion, given the victory over Miami. I think many felt Florida St. was the best team by the end of the season, but with two losses, #3 was the highest ranking that could be justified. This ‘Noles team featured Peter Tom Willis, Dexter Carter, Edgar Bennett and LeRoy Butler.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Some other teams to consider: 1970: Notre Dame (10-1), 1972: Oklahoma (11-1), 1973: Alabama (11-1), 1974: Michigan (10-1), Alabama (11-1), 1976: USC (11-1), 1977: Alabama (11-1), Texas (11-1), 1978: Alabama (11-1), Penn St. (11-1), 1979: Ohio St. (11-1), 1982: Nebraska (12-1), Georgia (11-1), 1986: Miami (11-1), 1987: Florida St. (11-1), Oklahoma (11-1), 1988: Miami (11-1), 1990: Colorado (11-1-1), Georgia Tech (11-0-1), 1993: Notre Dame (11-1), Nebraska (11-1)