Fansided

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 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players onto the field for the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players onto the field for the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off a forgettable season in 2016 in which they went 4-8 and didn’t make a bowl game. Brian Kelly was rumored to be on the hot seat, but he will retain his job for at least one more season despite being a love ’em or hate ’em head coach.

Kelly is 59-31 at the school and even made the national title game a few years back, only to get blown out by Alabama.

Notre Dame has the most national titles, claimed and unclaimed, of any college football program in the FBS. Its 11 claimed and 11 unclaimed championships are impressive, but since it’s an Independent, Notre Dame has never won a conference crown.

Not many programs have the kind of history and proof of past success the Fighting Irish have, but being one of the oldest schools in college football will bring with it a rich tradition and plenty of Hall of Fame players and coaches.

The Fighting Irish have one of the most hated programs of all time and you don’t get to be disliked that much without producing some extremely talented players. There have been an incredible 117 consensus All-Americans to come through South Bend and seven Heisman winners — Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack, Leon Hart, Johnny Lattner, Paul Hornung, John Hurarte and Tim Brown.

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