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Ranking the top 50 college football programs of all time

By Connor Muldowney

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
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 25, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D
Nov 25, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D /

Another top program coming off a turbulent season, the Texas Longhorns are fresh off the firing of head coach Charlie Strong and the hiring of former Houston Cougars coach Tom Herman. Many disliked the way the situation was handled, but the Longhorns made the best hire of the year with Herman.

Texas hasn’t been a national power since the middle of Mack Brown’s reign, though. The Longhorns are one of the most storied programs in college football history, but everything good to happen to them has seemed to be just that: history.

The school has four claimed national titles and 11 unclaimed crowns, the most recent coming in 2008. However, the 2005 win over USC in the BCS National Championship with Vince Young at quarterback was the pinnacle of successful Texas football. That’s what everyone thinks of when they think of the Longhorns’ in recent times.

Doesn’t that feel like ancient history? Since then, Texas has won just one Big 12 title, making it a combined 32 conference championships in school history — quite the impressive mark. If Herman can lead this team back to the promised land, there will be a bump up the rankings for the Longhorns.

The Longhorns have two Heisman winners (Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams) to go along with 56 consensus All-Americans. The program has been an unreal hotbed for NFL talent overt the years.

Texas is second all-time in bowl game appearances with 53, only behind Alabama, and the Longhorns have won 27 of them, ranking fifth in college football history. Texas may be on hard times lately, but the tradition is what keeps fans coming back for more.

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