The 50 greatest college football teams throughout history

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(Original Caption) Notre Dame coach Ara Paraseghian (left) walks off the playing field with Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty after their teams battled to a 10-to-10 tie at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. /

50. Best college football teams of all-time: 1966 Notre Dame

When looking back at this era of football, it’s worth mentioning (at least, at the start of our list) that in this past day and age, college varsity football programs didn’t have freshman playing, no matter how talented and the offensive game was much more run-heavy. Played with a backfield consisting of three running backs, with only one receiver and a tight end out wide, the game was incredibly different.

It is, perhaps, the journey that this 1966 Notre Dame team went through that lands them a spot on our list. This Fighting Irish team, led by the legendary head coach Ara Parseghian, outscored opponents 362-38, with their only blemish coming in a (purposeful) tie with No. 2 Michigan State.

The game was considered the game of the century. Notre Dame played the game without three crucial starters — quarterback Tery Hanratty, top rusher Nick Eddy and center George Goeddake. They had battled back from a 10-0 deficit in the game before Parseghian elected to run out the clock to end the “Game of the Century” in a tie.

The coaching decision would be fully vindicated later on, as the team didn’t disappoint after that. They blew out a solid USC team 51-0 in their final regular-season game, with Notre Dame being voted to their eighth National Championship.