The 50 greatest college football teams throughout history

28. Best college football teams of all-time: 1996 Florida

The Gators were an absolutely ruthless team all around for the 1996 season, outscoring opponents 612-228 over their season, in which they would finish with a 12-1 record.

Yes, they suffered a loss.

That’s not to say they don’t deserve a spot on this list, though, as they certainly made it for a reason. Following a 24-21 loss against in-state rivals Florida State University, Gators’ QB Danny Wuerffel and his team rallied and knocked out Alabama in the SEC Championship to book a ticket for a  rematch in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

It was a massacre of a game.

The Gators took revenge sweetly on the ‘Noles, destroying the then-No. 1 Seminoles by a score of 52-20, effectively locking in their successful season with a consensus national championship. The year’s Florida team averaged nearly 50 points per game while averaging over 500 yards per game. The defense was tenacious as well though, letting up an average of just 16.8 points per game.

Head coach Steve Spurrier’s Gators, led by the likes of Wuerffel at quarterback and Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony at wide receiver, used a “fun ‘n gun” offense to outscore opponents by massive amounts.