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The 50 greatest college football teams throughout history

By Nate Williamson

Ed Orgeron, Joe Burrow, Grant Delpit, LSU Tigers. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Ed Orgeron, Joe Burrow, Grant Delpit, LSU Tigers. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Best college football teams of all time
8 Nov 1997: Anthony Thomas of the Michigan Wolverines scores a touchdown during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Michigan won the game 34-10. /

32. Best college football teams of all-time: 1997 Michigan

This Michigan Wolverines squad was a championship winner and is without a doubt one of the top 50 teams of all time. The Wolverines won all 12 of the games they played in the season thanks to a ridiculously good defensive lineup.

The defense was led by none other than the eventual Heisman Trophy winner in Charles Woodson and the defense allowed the team to punish their opposition all season.

Woodson intercepted eight passes and also scored touchdowns in a variety of ways for the Wolverines—via pass receptions, runs from scrimmage and as a returner. He and defensive end Glen Steele were both first-team All-Americans.

The only time they had a spot of trouble was when they needed to come from behind in the Rose Bowl against previously unbeaten Washington State. They succeeded in the comeback, winning the Rose Bowl by a score of 21-16 and thus securing the top spot on the AP Poll at the end of the season, winning the National Championship.

In a Big Ten that was stacked with top-25 talent, including eventual No. 12 Ohio State, No. 15 Purdue and No. 16 Penn State, the Wolverines ground out an undefeated season and ensured their place on the list of the all-time greats.