AP Names Ohio State Top College Football Program Of All-Time

As the obsession with lists, rankings and “all-time” debates steadily climbs to a feverish pitch, the Associated Press has delivered another dandy that will have the sports world screaming over each other until the 2016 season kicks off August 26 in Australia.

AP released its Top 25 College Football Programs of All-Time and Ohio State has taken the title of No.1 in the history of the sport.

AP Names Ohio State Top College Football Program Of All-Time

Using a mathematical system that accounted for poll appearances, No. 1 rankings and national championships, the AP dug through 80 years of polling to determine the Buckeyes were the best choice.

“The Associated Press has been ranking the best teams in college football since 1936,” the publication stated. “Over 80 years and 1,103 polls, a total of 165 schools have been ranked and 44 of them have been ranked No. 1 (Minnesota was the first).”

Each poll appearance counted for one point, with No.1 rankings counting for two points and championships worth 10 points for each title, according to AP.

Ohio State, which garnered 1,112 total points, has appeared on over 77 percent of all AP Top 25 polls, including an appearance in the first year of its existence.

BRIEF HISTORY OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL

All though the Buckeyes don’t hold the mantle for most championships, (Alabama, 10) OSU owns 105 No. 1 rankings and were listed on 92.57 percent of the polls in the 1970s.

Perhaps the best argument for Ohio State sitting atop the all-time poll is the Buckeyes consistency.

From AP‘s ‘Poll Points’:

“There have only been three seasons during the 80-year history of the AP poll in which the Buckeyes were not ranked at least once, the fewest poll-less seasons of any program.”

Rounding out the top five were Oklahoma (1,055 points), Notre Dame ( 1,042), Alabama (993 ) and Southern California (974).

The Sooners have appeared on 71 percent of all AP Polls and over 100 weeks as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Despite its recent success, four championships in the last seven years, and double digit national titles, the Crimson Tide had 24 fewer No. 1 rankings than the Fighting Irish, which allowed Notre Dame to sneak ahead of Alabama for the three spot.

Finishing up the top 10 were Nebraska, Michigan, Texas, Florida State and Florida, respectively.

SEE FULL AP TOP 100 HERE

The Seminoles were able to edge the Gators for the best program in the Sunshine State due to the length of their success.

FLORIDA STATE VS. FLORIDA RIVALRY HISTORY

Both schools tout three championship titles, but the Noles have 72 No.1 rankings to Florida’s 41, a symptom of the Gators emergence not coming until the mid-1980s.

“The Gators had no top-three appearances before Nov. 26, 1984 and then 95 top-three appearances after,” according to AP.

But the debates wages on.

Some are crying foul for ‘The U’ after Miami, though the school has more championships than the other two Florida institutions, is listed at No. 13.

As expected, LSU (No.11) Penn State (No.12) and Georgia (No. 15) all made the cut, with Wisconsin and Iowa anchoring the final two spots on the Top 25.

The biggest surprise appearances were held by Arkansas, Clemson and Pittsburgh, ranked No. 21-23.

Putting aside Clemson’s dominance under Dabo Swiney, all three have not made much of an impact on the weekly rankings in the last 15 years.

The Razorbacks at No. 21 are a head-scratcher for many, given the Hogs haven’t really been relevant since Darren McFadden left Fayetteville for the NFL in 2007.

Arkansas has only one week at No. 1 in the 80-year history of the AP Poll, but they appear on 37 percent of all polls and have 30 top-three appearances, though only two since 1978.

Surprisingly, Pitt has appeared on almost 27 percent of all AP polls, with two championships and 21 weeks at No. 1. It’s surprising because few people under 40 years old have seen such success.

AP’s Poll Point on Pittsburgh: “The Panthers have not had a top-five appearance during the regular season since Dec. 6, 1982.”

Of course the rankings release has not come without controversy, College Football News purports to have a much more accurate system that finds Oklahoma to be the No.1 college football program of all-time.

The AP’s list credits equal value for ranking No. 25 in week two and ranking No. 2 at the end of a season.

SB Nation’s Jason Kirk feels CFN’s equation is more accurate.

“That’s flawed and somewhat self-promotional, since it implies (1.) appearing in the AP Poll at any point in the season is exactly as valuable as appearing in a season’s final ranking and (2.) all rankings other than No. 1 are equally valuable.”

Here is CFN’s Top 135