If Indiana wins all the marbles this year I put them right next to PSU '94.
'86 Miami was jacked and so were the USC teams with Reggie Bush.
Shalom
'86 Miami was jacked and so were the USC teams with Reggie Bush.
Shalom
Besides PSU '94 FB, what was or is the greatest College FB team?
- Thread starter Mr. Potter
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Indiana has to get a mention because they will have one I believe 16 games. So I put them in a conversation. I think in a normal situation Penn State would've beat them back in the day.
I think PSU would have beaten a similar team back then.
I think PSU would have beaten a similar team back then.
I agree with your Indiana statement. They are that good.
Miami '86 was good until they ran into us at the Fiesta Bowl, where Vinny Testaverde threw five INTs.
Sticking to Penn State
The 1978 Penn State team that lost to Bama in the Sugar Bowl was really effing good.
The 1969 team that got hosed by the White House.
Outside of Penn State
I will give credit to the 1976 Pitt team and perpetual academic sophomore Tony Dorsett.
1995 Nebraska
1999 F$U
The 1978 Penn State team that lost to Bama in the Sugar Bowl was really effing good.
The 1969 team that got hosed by the White House.
Outside of Penn State
I will give credit to the 1976 Pitt team and perpetual academic sophomore Tony Dorsett.
1995 Nebraska
1999 F$U
Other than PSU, these teams would be the most dominant in recent memory:
1995 Nebraska
2001 Miami
2017 LSU
2013 FSU and 2005 USC could be in this conversation, imo.
1995 Nebraska
2001 Miami
2017 LSU
2013 FSU and 2005 USC could be in this conversation, imo.
Lost in all of the lists of greatest teams ever is the 94 team simply because voters wanted Tom Osbourne to get a Championship.
94 PSU was the best team ever. The most balanced and powerful offensive team in NCAA history. When facing the nations #1 Defense, PSU had their 2nd lowest scoring output of the season at 35 points. Only a game at #5 Michigan was less….at 31 points!
Every once in a while a team comes along that looks equally frightening until someone figures them out at least for a game. Even Indiana had a tough day in Happy Valley this year.
In 94 those who voted us as “not champion” pointed to our defense claiming Nebraska would have run over, as we weren’t all that good. It was a red herring. We scored so often and so fast our D was constantly sent back out to the field with little to no breathing space.
Would Nebraska have scored a lot? Sure. Maybe more than others. But their D would have been punished in a way that would have been shocking.
That is the game that should have been played. The greatest team in CFB history didn’t get a chance to show it, though arguably did in those two wins vs Illinois and Michigan. Oregon was a parade lap.
Indiana would have no chance vs 94 PSU provided the OL and DL’s could be adjusted for comparable size in today’s game.
x10000000. If you’re talking pro talent, no one compares. That depth chart was ludicrous. Frank Gore was 4th string RB, Kellen Winslow backed up Jeremy Shockey, Sean Taylor was a freshman sitting behind Ed Reed, Philip Buchanan, Mike Rumph etc
There have been recent idiots who claimed one of the SEC champion Alabama or UGA team could beat the worst NFL team and 100x over NFL guys tell them how ridiculous that is but I believe Ed Reed and/or maybe Clinton Portis said one time that if that 2001 team would have played the 1-15 Carolina panthers that year they would have won.
‘86 miami was just five picks away from a NATTY. 
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I assume you must be kidding about the 2025 Indiana. In no scenario, do they even make the list. They are mostly blue-collar over achievers with an outstanding coach.
Also, the 1994 Penn State team had arguably, the greatest offense of all time but not the greatest overall team. That 1994 defense was just average by Penn State standards.
Greatest CFB Teams I have seen in no particular order:
Nebraska (1971, 1995)
Miami (1989, 1991, 2001)
USC (1972, 2003, 2004)
Alabama (2015, 2020)
If I had to pick only one team it would be between Miami (2001) and USC (2004) with the nod going to Miami (2001) because of their ridiculous NFL like roster of stars on offense and defense.
That’s a very solid list. I saw all but those 2 early 70s teams, but have always seen the 1972 Trojans listed amongst the best ever teams. They certainly had some ridiculous offensive skill players
1980-81 PItt team. Loaded with NFL players and Marino at QB
5 and 6th year starters makes it challenging to compare to the pre-portal/COVID teams At Indy 28/29 players are in their final year of eligibility. Tied for most in the country.
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I totally agree. It's really hard to compare different errors, and of course the 94 team was 30 some years ago now.
I say it's harder to be an undefeated team now and go 16 and all for example then go 12 an old back then. But would you call them the greatest ever, I just don't know.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, Ohio State had a record-tying 14 players selected, led by four first-round picks: WR Emeka Egbuka(Buccaneers), G Donovan Jackson (Vikings), DT Tyleik Williams(Lions), and OT Josh Simmons (Chiefs), with running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and DE J.T. Tuimoloau also going in the second round, showcasing a dominant year for the Buckeyes.
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LSU had 5 1st round picks. Chase wasn’t even draft eligible. 15-0 with 7 wins against teams ranked in Top 10 when they played.
Best offense in college football history.
Checkmate
Notre Dame teams from 1946-1949 never lost a game (36-0-02). Imagine being a student who entered as a freshman in 1946 and never saw the team lose in your 4 years there. That’s pretty impressive.
Outside of 1994 Psu, the 2 greatest teams I ever watched were the 1989 ND team that had one loss, but that year I believe they beat the ACC champ, the PAC 10 champ, the big ten champ, 2 of the top eastern independents (Psu and Pitt) and the big 8 champ in the orange bowl. The 1991 Washington team with Steve Emtman - most dominating defensive player I ever watched at the college level.
All of whom had the IQ of golf par.
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes were an NFL team. out side of our 94 team the best offense I've ever seen but they also had an outstanding defense.
94 Penn State was the greatest team of all time. They were robbed of their rightful place at the top of the mountain. Never forgive or forget what was done to them
Osborne got the pity MNC, but it was another opportunity to crap on Joe.
Those Osbourne teams were full of thugs. Total antithesis of what Joe stood for
Many were garbage people, but I loved watching them play. Their option run game was amazing.
They had a very strong pipe line to New Jersey as well. That has since run dry.
Considering that they nearly lost to this year's Penn State team, which was in chaos, no way. Prediction: they won't win out.