U-M #6 on ESPN's best 50 CFB programs in the 150 years of the sport
If you recall a decade ago, something very similar came out from them involving "Prestige Rankings". It had us back then at only #8, mostly due to a cut off point of 1936 and only counting AP or Coaches' Poll titles. While not every title we claim this time around is recognized by them, we do get 9 titles to our name versus 2 in the previous prestige rankings. Still not completely satisfying for us, especially since Ohio State ranks higher still, but it's a good improvement on the system I think. The top 10 in case you were wondering goes like this:
1. Bama
2. Domers
3. Ohio St
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. Michigan
7. Yale (yeah, I know, it's not just major FBS programs included)
8. Nebraska
9. Texas
10. North Dakota State
August 15th, 2019 at 3:43 PM ^
So does this mean we shouldn't be concerned about Army?
August 15th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
Miss the XFL
August 15th, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
The formula
Basic model
Dominance, 20% -- number of national championships
Peak strength, 20% -- winning percentage for best 50 seasons in program history
Since integration, 30% -- winning percentage over the past 50 seasons (1969-2018)
Early modern, 20% -- winning percentage over the middle 50 seasons (1919-1968). Mostly pre-integration and included some games against non-college teams
Pre-modern, 10% -- winning percentage over the first 50 seasons (1869-1918) *mostly pre-standardization of current rules and many games against non-college teams
Adjustments
National championships below the FBS level count at 50%
National championships before the poll era (1936) count at 50%
Winning percentages when a team was not in Division I are reduced by 10%
12. Penn State
28. Michigan State
29. Minnesota
50. Wisconsin
others of note:
11. Princeton
18. St. John's (Minn.)
41. Central Michigan
August 15th, 2019 at 5:51 PM ^
Whatever that will get Bama on the top is what we are going to use--ESPN's Motto
August 15th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
Six seems about right when you weight recent success more highly that what happened long ago.
I'm not sure how ND manages to be that high though. They have had less historical success than Michigan, went through semi-recent hard times, and are now a very solid team. That sounds a lot like Michigan, with a little more current success.
August 15th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
They went to the semifinals and the big game in that time span.
And well... they get the Catholic boost. *facepalm*
August 15th, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
I hate THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OSU as much as anyone, but it's hard for me to perform the mental gymnastics required to think ND should be above them in any measure of "football success."
August 15th, 2019 at 3:57 PM ^
They credit ND with 13 titles to UM's 9. And the revolving door of HoF coaches. They do explicitly call out the last 25 years as being bad, though.
August 15th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
Guessing many on here subscribe to MGoBlog Podcast. If you DON'T know already the newest episode on "The Teams" they reviewed 1925 season with Seth, Craig Ross, Dr. Sapp, and Oosterbaans godson. They had a lot of great commentary on the shenanigans between Yost, Rockne, and Stagg. Rockne was a (mostly self) promoter apparently and pretty much sold Notre Shame as the best thing ever and media of the day bought into it - imagine that, and mostly it stuck.
August 15th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
Honest question, what are your metrics for saying Notre Dame has less historical success?
August 15th, 2019 at 4:00 PM ^
Per the comment above, probably recency bias and a strong hate for ND.
August 15th, 2019 at 3:55 PM ^
That seems pretty fair.
August 15th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
I’d put Yale above us.
August 16th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
you are the top dog Putingrad .This old Buckeye sends his respect . You should have your own pod cast
August 15th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
Princeton > Yale
August 15th, 2019 at 4:35 PM ^
What's this based upon? W's? Fan base? Brand recognition?
...and NDSU? I may not know my CFB history but what?
USC? Their suck has been great lately, they had a good run under Carroll, but the 80's and 90's weren't that good to them. Even in the 70's they struggled. Only thing I can think of here is Brand Recognition... everyone out west had a SoCal sticker.
*Note: This will change in another few years when The Game (TM) is back to being a true rivalry!
August 15th, 2019 at 7:14 PM ^
USC did have a couple of rough seasons to start the 70's, but most of their teams were pretty good during that decade.
August 15th, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
What is ESPN?
August 15th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
Lol I love these "best CFB teams in history" lists that have all these qualifiers and that favor recent success over overall historical success
August 15th, 2019 at 7:24 PM ^
FESPN