Ranking the top 50 college football programs of all time

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes fans and mascot celebrate a victory over the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium. Miami won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

From Mark Richt’s old team (Georgia) to his new job, the Miami Hurricanes have had some of the most recent success in college football history. No, I’m not talking about in the past five years, but the early-2000s, when this was the hottest program in all of college football.

The U has one of the more exciting histories in college football. Miami has been the breeding ground for 35 consensus All-Americans, two Heisman winners and countless NFL draft selections.

Richt took over the program prior to the 2016 in hopes of bringing the Hurricanes back to national dominance. Miami won five Orange Bowls, two Peach Bowls, two Sugar Bowls, a Cotton Bowl and a Rose Bowl from 1981-2005.

The all-time bowl record for the Hurricanes is 18-19, but there was a span of four straight years in which they had made a BCS bowl or national title game — they won their last national championship under Larry Coker in 2001.

The Hurricanes were a feared program during that 24-year period, but have since fallen off a bit into the ACC’s middle class. They’ve won nine conference championships, but none since joining the conference in 2004.

Miami has two Heisman Trophy recipients in school history in Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta. Some notable alumni are Michal Irvin, Jim Kelly, Cortez Kennedy, Warren Sapp, Edgerrin James, Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Ed Reed and Devin Hester.

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