Allen Bored
After 16 years the BCS reign of terror finally ended back on January 6th. For all it’s faults, the BCS was a necessary evil in getting us to a playoff in major college football. Its creation was probably the most significant development in college football since the 1984 NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma case that ended the NCAA’s monopoly on televised college football. Now we look back at the programs that dominated the BCS era, or for a more accurate description, the programs that typically were at least above average in most seasons since 1998.
The rankings themselves are completely objective as I used Sagarin ratings and the Simple Rating System (SRS) to assemble them. I would have also have liked to include F/+ but Football Outsiders’ data only goes back to 2005. Included are little factoids about each program during the BCS era but none were used in determining the final rankings. The only subjective part was selecting which was the best season for each school, as the metrics don’t always match up with conventional wisdom. I elected to choose which was the most satisfying season for each school rather than what was truly their best team during the BCS era.
#40 BYU
SRS Average: 5.12
Sagarin Average: 76.69
Record: 131-72 (.645)
Bowl Record: 6-6
Coaches: LaVell Edwards (23-15), Gary Crowton (26-23), Bronco Mendenhall (82-34)
Conference Championships: 3
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 2
Best Season: 2006 (11-2, Mountain West Champions)
Worst Season: 2002 (5-7, 7th Place in Mountain West)
#39 Louisville
SRS Average: 5.53
Sagarin Average: 76.98
Record: 134-66 (.670)
Bowl Record: 6-7 (2-0 in BCS)
Coaches: John L Smith (41-21), Bobby Petrino (41-9), Steve Kragthorpe (15-21), Charlie Strong (37-15)
Conference Championships: 5
AP Top 25 Finishes: 6
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 1
Best Season: 2006 (12-1, Big East Champions, #6 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2009 (4-8, 8th Place in Big East)
#38 Iowa
SRS Average: 5.86
Sagarin Average: 77.12
Record: 111-87 (.561)
Bowl Record: 6-5 (2-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Hayden Frye (3-8), Kirk Ferentz (108-79)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2002 (11-2, Undefeated in Big Ten, #8 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 1999 (1-11, 11th Place in Big Ten)
#37 Arizona State
SRS Average: 6.38
Sagarin Average: 77.09
Record: 106-92 (.535)
Bowl Record: 3-7
Coaches: Bruce Snyder (17-18), Dirk Koetter (40-34), Dennis Erickson (31-31), Todd Graham (18-9)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 3
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 3
Best Season: 2013 (10-4, Pac-12 South Champions)
Worst Season: 2009 (4-8, 9th Place in Pac-10)
#36 Michigan State
SRS Average: 6.43
Sagarin Average: 77.70
Record: 118-82 (.590)
Bowl Record: 5-5 (1-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Nick Saban (15-8), Bobby Williams (16-17), John L Smith (22-26), Mark Dantonio (64-29)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2013 (13-1, Big Ten Champions, #3 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2006 (4-8, 11th Place in Big Ten)
#35 Stanford
SRS Average: 6.16
Sagarin Average: 78.03
Record: 104-89 (.539)
Bowl Record: 2-5 (2-3 in BCS)
Coaches: Tyrone Willingham (25-21), Buddy Teevens (10-23), Walt Harris (6-17), Jim Harbaugh (29-21), David Shaw (34-7)
Conference Championships: 3
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2010 (12-1, #4 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2006 (1-11, 10th Place in Pac-10)
#34 Utah
SRS Average: 6.40
Sagarin Average: 77.82
Record: 130-65 (.667)
Bowl Record: 10-1 (2-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Ron McBride (33-24), Urban Meyer (22-2), Kyle Whittingham (75-39)
Conference Championships: 3
AP Top 25 Finishes: 4
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 3
Best Season: 2008 (13-0, Mountain West Champions, #2 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2000 (4-7, 6th Place in Mountain Wets)
#33 South Carolina
SRS Average: 6.73
Sagarin Average: 77.67
Record: 111-86 (.563)
Bowl Record: 6-4
Coaches: Brad Scott (1-10), Lou Holtz (33-37), Steve Spurrier (77-39)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 6
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 2
Best Season: 2013 (11-2, #4 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 1999 (0-11, 12th Place in SEC)
#32 UCLA
SRS Average: 6.72
Sagarin Average: 77.99
Record: 110-90 (.550)
Bowl Record: 4-8 (0-1 in BCS)
Coaches: Bob Toledo (34-24), Karl Dorrell (35-27), Rick Neuheisel (21-28), Jim Mora (19-8)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 3
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 11
Best Season: 1998 (10-2, Pac-10 Champions, #8 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2008 (4-8, 8th Place in Pac-10)
#31 Missouri
SRS Average: 7.21
Sagarin Average: 77.97
Record: 117-82 (.588)
Bowl Record: 6-4
Coaches: Larry Smith (15-19), Gary Pinkel (102-63)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2007 (12-2, Big 12 North Champions, #4 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2000 (3-8, 10th Place in Big 12)
#30 Georgia Tech
SRS Average: 7.02
Sagarin Average: 78.39
Record: 127-79 (.617)
Bowl Record: 5-11 (0-1 in BCS)
Coaches: George O’Leary (34-14), Chan Gailey (44-32), Paul Johnson (48-32)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 6
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 4
Best Season: 2009 (11-3, ACC Champions)
Worst Season: 2010 (6-7, 9th Place in ACC)
#29 TCU
SRS Average: 6.97
Sagarin Average: 79.07
Record: 145-54 (.729)
Bowl Record: 9-5 (1-1 in BCS)
Coaches: Dennis Franchione (25-10), Gary Patterson (120-44)
Conference Championships: 5
AP Top 25 Finishes: 9
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 5
Best Season: 2010 (13-0, Mountain West Champions, #2 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2004 (5-6, 9th Place in Conference USA)
#28 West Virginia
SRS Average: 7.33
Sagarin Average: 78.75
Record: 128-71 (.643)
Bowl Record: 6-7 (3-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Don Nehlen (19-16), Rich Rodriguez (61-26), Bill Stewart (27-12), Dana Holgorsen (21-17)
Conference Championships: 3
AP Top 25 Finishes: 7
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 3
Best Season: 2005 (11-1, Big East Champions, #5 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2001 (3-8, 7th Place in Big East)
#27 Texas Tech
SRS Average: 7.15
Sagarin Average: 79.27
Record: 127-75 (.629)
Bowl Record: 9-5
Coaches: Spike Dykes (13-10), Mike Leach (84-43), Tommy Tuberville (20-17), Kliff Kingsbury (8-5)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 5
Best Season: 2008 (11-2, tied for 1st Place in Big 12)
Worst Season: 2011 (5-7, 9th Place in Big 12)
#26 Oklahoma State
SRS Average: 7.87
Sagarin Average: 78.65
Record: 118-79 (.599)
Bowl Record: 6-5 (1-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Bob Simmons (13-20), Les Miles (28-21), Mike Gundy (77-38)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 4
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 8
Best Season: 2011 (12-1, Big 12 Champions, #3 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2000 (3-8, 11th Place in Big 12)
#25 Oregon State
SRS Average: 7.19
Sagarin Average: 79.64
Record: 116-82 (.586)
Bowl Record: 7-4 (1-0 in BCS)
Coaches: Dennis Erickson (31-17), Mike Riley (88-73)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 3
Best Season: 2000 (11-1, Tied for 1st in Pac-10, #4 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2011 (3-9, 9th Place in Pac-12)
#24 Arkansas
SRS Average: 8.02
Sagarin Average: 79.33
Record: 116-83 (.583)
Bowl Record: 4-7 (0-1 in BCS)
Coaches: Houston Nutt (75-48), Bobby Petrino (34-17), John L Smith (4-8), Brett Bielema (3-9)
Conference Championships: 0
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2011 (11-2, #5 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2013 (3-9, 13th Place in SEC)
#23 Texas A&M
SRS Average: 8.03
Sagarin Average: 79.47
Record: 118-82 (.590)
Bowl Record: 4-8 (0-1 in BCS)
Coaches: R.C. Slocum (40-22), Dennis Franchione (32-29), Mike Sherman (25-25), Kevin Sumlin (20-6)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 5
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 8
Best Season: 2012 (11-2, #5 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 2008 (4-8, 11th Place in Big 12)
#22 Clemson
SRS Average: 8.40
Sagarin Average: 79.45
Record: 126-76 (.624)
Bowl Record: 6-8 (1-1 in BCS)
Coaches: Tommy West (3-8), Tommy Bowden (72-45), Dabo Swinney (51-23)
Conference Championships: 1
AP Top 25 Finishes: 8
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 7
Best Season: 2013 (11-2, #5 in AP Poll)
Worst Season: 1998 (3-8, 8th Place in ACC)
#21 Notre Dame
SRS Average: 8.60
Sagarin Average: 79.75
Record: 121-77 (.611)
Bowl Record: 3-8 (0-4 in BCS)
Coaches: Bob Davie (28-19), Tyrone Willingham (21-15), Charlie Weis (35-27), Brian Kelly (37-15)
Conference Championships: N/A
AP Top 25 Finishes: 7
Consensus First Team All-Americans: 4
Best Season: 2012 (12-1, BCS Runner-up)
Worst Season: 2007 (3-9)
Featured Image Credit: Matt Cashore/USA Today
