The greatest unbeaten teams in college football history

While BYU, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, and Marshall march toward potentially memorable and conversation-creating undefeated seasons, the top teams in college football still exist in the Power Five conferences.

Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State are the standard-bearers of their conferences and look poised to meet in the College Football Playoff at the end of the season. Ohio State has only played two games, so the Buckeyes have had less opportunity to have their weaknesses exposed, but they look like the strongest of that group.

In a year with no out-of-conference games, though, it is hard to imagine any of this year’s potential undefeated teams will go down as an all-time great.

With that in mind, let’s look back at the top five undefeated teams in college football history.

5. Clemson (2018)

The first team to achieve a 15-0 record, the Tigers steamrolled their way to and through the title game, with an average winning margin of 31.1 points per game.

Led by freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a dominant defensive line, Clemson won the CFP semifinal, 30-3, over No. 4 Notre Dame, then crushed fellow unbeaten No. 1-ranked Alabama, 44-16, in the CFP National Championship.

Alabama’s 2018 roster was one of the most talented of the decade, and the Crimson Tide looked like it was playing a man down on the biggest stage.

Had Clemson’s strength of schedule in the regular season been tougher, the Tigers might be higher on this list.

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4. LSU (2019)

The most recent team to graduate into this prestigious group, the Tigers clawed their way to the title by an average winning margin of 26.5 points. And LSU’s competition was undoubtedly one of the toughest of any team to achieve an undefeated season.

The Tigers defeated seven top-10 teams over the course of their 15-0 campaign, so they can stake the claim of the toughest schedule for any national champion.

Led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, LSU was unstoppable on offense. The Tigers scored 63 points in the CFP semifinal against Oklahoma and then 42 in the title game, against a Clemson team that sent several defenders to the NFL.

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3. Nebraska (1995)

It is hard to believe it has been 25 years now since the mid-90s Cornhuskers defined a different sort of power in the sport.

With the triple-option offense paving over every defense it faced, Nebraska averaged more than 53 points per game and produced an average winning margin of 38.7.

Nebraska didn’t give up a sack all season, defeated four top-10 teams, and didn’t have a game decided by fewer than 14 points.

They Cornhuskers overwhelmed the Florida Gators in the national title game, 62-24, behind Tommie Frazier, Ahman Green, and Lawrence Phillips.

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2. Miami (2001)

Arguably the most talented college football team of all time, the Hurricanes’ 2001 roster produced a mind-blowing 17 first-round picks and 38 picks overall in the NFL Draft.

Led by the relatively forgettable Ken Dorsey at quarterback, it was every other position on the roster that displayed Hall of Fame-caliber talent, with players like Ed Reed, Andre Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, and Clinton Portis just a few of the contributors who went on to have long NFL careers.

While Miami’s 32.9 average margin of victory was impressive, its 37-14 victory in the Rose Bowl came against a Nebraska team that had just been defeated, 62-36, by Colorado.

It’s fair to ask if the Hurricanes beat the best.

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1. Florida State (2013)

The 2013 Seminoles were the greatest team in college football history.

They had the highest margin of victory of any team in the modern era (39.5), and their closest contest, prior to the National Championship game against No. 2 Auburn, was a 14-point win.

While Jameis Winston was the polarizing leader, the entire roster was full of NFL talent, nearly the same extent as the 2001 Miami team. FSU had 23 players drafted and every starter, on both sides of the ball, earned an NFL roster spot.

Jalen Ramsey, Lamarcus Joyner, Eddie Goldman, and Telvin Smith were the stars of the defense, and they surrendered the fewest points per game of any team in the country.

The biggest difference between 2013 Florida State and 2001 Miami, however, is the star power at quarterback. Winston, for all his off-the-field notoriety, eviscerated defenses and rallied his club in the final drive of the title game to take the lead with 13 seconds remaining.