The 50 greatest college football teams throughout history

47. Best college football teams of all-time: 2014 Ohio State

In head coach Urban Meyer’s third season at the helm for the Buckeyes, they put together an impressive squad of talented players despite losing a large portion of their starting lineup on both sides of the ball from the year before.

Not only did they welcome Maryland and Rutgers to the world of Big Ten football in a truly friendly manner (small massacres by 28 points and 39 points, respectively), but on the way to a national championship season, they also easily defeated No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Oregon, led by Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota.

In a season in which they dropped just one game to Virginia Tech at home, the Buckeyes put together an impressive year, also defeating No. 7 Michigan State on the road and No. 11 Wisconsin at the Big Ten Championship game, shutting out the Badgers 59-0.

This team featured some absolutely massive names that are now in the NFL, including running back Ezekiel Elliot who was a monster the entirety of the year, defensive end Joey Bosa, offensive linemen Pat Elfein and Taylor Decker and wide receiver, Michael Thomas.

After their loss at home to Virginia Tech in which the Buckeyes struggled to get their offensive motor running with an inexperienced quarterback, J.T. Barrett, they rebounded from being ranked No. 22 in the nation, making the climb to national champion behind back-up quarterback Cardale Jones filling in for the injured Barrett.