The 50 greatest college football teams throughout history

5. Best college football teams of all-time: 1971 Nebraska

Led by a dominant defense and high-scoring offense, there’s almost no reason not to like this team. The fact that they are only ranked as the fourth-best team of all-time on this list is meant as no slight to them, instead, it speaks to just how competitive this list is. It almost hurt me not to put them higher on this list.

The team averaged 39 points a game on offense, led by quarterback Jerry Tagge throwing to dynamic receiver Johnny Rodgers (both were first round draft picks in 1971 and 1973, respectively) and tore opposing defenses apart thanks to keen schemes from future-head coach Tom Osborne (the offensive coordinator at the time) and his offensive playbook.

On the defensive end, the team also featured a fierce defensive core that included defensive tackle Larry Jacobson and two future second-round picks at linebacker in Willie Harper and Monte Johnson. 25 players in total would play at the professional level after their departure from Nebraska in total.

The team went a perfect 13-0 on the year, finishing as the consensus national champions and defeating a very tough Oklahoma Sooners team on the road in what has often been called the “Game of the Century” in Norman. They made quick work of the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Orange Bowl, winning by a whopping 32-points to solidify their title run.