Ranking the top 50 college football programs of all time

Oklahoma State might not even be the top football program in its own state, but the Cowboys still make the list because of their recent success. The last two coaches in Stillwater have impressed.

The first was Les Miles, who took over in 2001 before leaving in 2004 for the LSU job. He led the Cowboys to three bowl games in four years after they’d gone to just three in the previous 15 before him. That set up the hire of Gundy, who has gone 112-52 in 12 seasons, including four 10-plus win campaigns in the past six years.

The Cowboys’ only claimed national title came in 1945, when Jim Lookabaugh led them to a 9-0 season and a Sugar Bowl win over Saint Mary’s. The season before, he was 8-1 with a Cotton Bowl victory — that was the last time the Cowboys were serious title contenders before Gundy.

The best player to ever come out of Stillwater has to be the great Barry Sanders, who’s considered a top two or three running back of all time. He also won the only Heisman in Oklahoma State history in 1988.

In bowl games, the Cowboys are 16-9, they have 10 conference titles and they’ve had 17 consensus All-Americans come through the program.