Ranking Top 10 College Football Teams from Past 3 Seasons

[Kevin C]

I was bored this evening and decided to look back at the past 3 seasons' results to see how Texas stacked up against the rest of the Top 10 performers based on overall record, playoff record and final season ranking.   In summary, it's impressive to see where Sark has Texas relative to the other elite programs.  Not a surprise but fun to see how teams stacked up.  Also, worth noting that there were 11 teams with 30 or more wins over past 3 seasons.  OU and A&M both fell below that line with only 26 wins each.

 

Most Wins over Past 3 Seasons:

Oregon - 38 (Most under-achieving of all the teams in playoffs, compared to regular season results)

Ohio State - 37 (Gold standard for Big10, 2 of 3 past seasons in semi-finals with National Championship in 2025)

Georgia - 36 (Gold standard for SEC, 2 of 3 past seasons in semi-finals following 2 National Championships previously)

Texas - 35 (Note: Only 3 teams have made semi-finals in 2 of 3 past seasons.  Texas, Georgia and Ohio State)

Notre Dame - 34 (1 semi-final)

Ole Miss - 34 (1 semi-final)

Alabama - 32 (1 semi-final)

Michigan - 32 (Big drop off with S. Moore after 15 wins and National Championship in last season under Cheater Harbaugh)

Indiana - 30 (Especially impressive with 27 wins past 2 seasons and 2026 National Championship in Curt Cignetti's first two seasons after only 3 wins in 2023) 

Miami - 30 (Big trend upward this past season into the championship game, got hot at right time)

Penn St - 30 (Big drop off this past season)

 

So, my Top 10 Best Teams over the past 3 years would be:

1) Ohio State

2) Georgia

3) Indiana* 

4) Texas

5) Oregon

6) Notre Dame

7) Ole Miss

8> Alabama

9) Michigan

10) Miami 

 

Curious what others think?

 

Hook em!!! 

 

Edited Monday at 01:04 AM by Kevin C

[VeneHorn]

Agree with the top 5, of course we are all Texas fans but I think its debatable between Oregon and Texas for the 4-5.

I think Ole Miss should be lower, they have been good the last 2 years but I dont think it has been discussed how easy their schedules were the last 2 years.

[tsip92]

I like the direction you are heading, but think it might be more interesting to rank the individual teams over the last three seasons.  Not having looked back or thought about it, would Indiana 2025 be the best?  Ohio State 2024?  Interesting question.  The Longhorns have been in the discussion but not quite able to get over the top.  

[LonghornFan4Ever]

Correction - Georgia has not made the CFP semifinals in the past three seasons.  They did not make the last 4 team CFP in 2023, and they made the CFP and lost in the the CFP quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025.

[Kevin C]

23 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

Correction - Georgia has not made the CFP semifinals in the past three seasons.  They did not make the last 4 team CFP in 2023, and they made the CFP and lost in the the CFP quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025.

Omg, you’re right.   I’m thinking about their SEC title dominance.   Georgia has underperformed the past 3 seasons down the stretch.   Still cream of the crop from SEC.  

Edited Monday at 01:51 AM by Kevin C

[Here for the Wins]

How much do you weight titles is the question?  Indiana and Michigan have some big holes in their performance.

Oregon somewhat got gifted an appearance but more significantly they were gifted a win then parlayed that into another in which they had a significant advantage.

[Jeff Howe]

I'd probably put Texas and Oregon ahead of Indiana. If Michigan is going to be dinged for the Sherrone Moore years, IU going 3-9 in 2023 and getting blown out by anyone with a pulse in 2024 must be considered.