Football is as American as apple pie, so they say. So, naturally, it’s at the heart of many higher-education institutions as a way to provide scholarships to students, drum up team spirit, and gain popularity for the school. In fact, the first-ever known football game took place on a college campus!
Today, college football is one of the most prevalent nationwide interests. After all, everyone loves cheering for their state or local teams!
Find out which colleges boast the best football teams in history and who is looking forward to a great season in the fall.
A Brief History of College Football
The first known football game was played on November 6th, 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers. The rules were much different from modern football and included 25 players on the field and a round ball (like a soccer ball) that could be kicked and hit, not thrown or carried. It was partly inspired by rugby and soccer.
In 1880, Yale football player and coach Walter Camp came up with some crucial changes to the game. He proposed that the game should be played with only 11 players on the field and that there should be a line of scrimmage. For his refinements, he is called “The Father of American Football.”
There are 133 Division 1 FCS teams and 128 FBS teams as of 2023.
By the 1890s, football had gained nationwide popularity and The Intercollegiate Football Association was arranging games and championship tournaments.
The NCAA was formed in 1906 as a way to try to make football safer, in response to President Theodore Roosevelt’s intervention and call for an overhaul of the rules and regulations of the game. At that point, football was a frequent cause of horrific injury and even death for college boys.
While the culture at the time was that partaking in some “controlled violence” was a good character-building opportunity for young men, it had clearly gotten out of hand. With the safety measures implemented by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), there were fewer life-threatening injuries.
With the advent of the household radio in the 20s, suddenly everyone across the states could listen to live narration broadcasts of the games, and interest in the sport boomed. Early icons emerged, like Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan. The first televised football game was in 1939, showing Waynesburg vs. Fordham, and national interest in the sport was cemented.
What Are the Divisions in College Football?
In 1973, the NCAA came up with the division system to help colleges classify themselves, giving a clearer expectation to students, staff, and other schools about the intensity they could expect from an institution.
Division I schools focus a lot on sports: students can get full-ride scholarships for their athleticism, teams participate in bowl games and the championship tournament, and they are part of a conference. D1 is further subdivided into the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision), which has a higher budget and more media coverage, and the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), which has a smaller budget.
Division II schools have a more balanced school-sport expectation of their athletes. They still compete in a national championship, but they are also expected to focus more on school instead of primarily on sports.
Division III schools focus more on the overall college experience for student-athletes. Competition is still there, but it’s not nearly as intense as a D1 or D2 school.
Lastly, there are also NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) division and NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) schools.
Currently, there are no rules putting a cap on how many student-athletes can be on a football team's roster, however, no more than 70 players can make an appearance in one game. Some teams have 115+ students rostered on their teams, but the average is about 70 to 80 players.
A new proposal posits an 85-player roster limit, which is not being well-received by coaches and athletic directors.
Top 10 College Football Programs of All-Time
As of the end of the 2023 season, there were 133 Division 1 FCS teams and 128 FBS teams, 162 Division 2 teams, and 243 Division 3 teams, for a total of 666 NCAA-ranked college football teams. And, if you include NAIA and NJCAA divisions, there are about 858 programs to choose from!
Ranking college teams is a bit more expansive than ranking NFL teams! But, just like when ranking NFL teams, there are many factors at play when evaluating teams.
Such factors include taking into consideration the entire lineage of the team, taking snapshots of the teams year-by-year, looking at their teamwork and leadership, looking at stats including wins, and considering their fanbase.
And of course, all these stats point to whether a college or university’s team is among the best college football programs for student-athletes; after all, any player on a team with good stats and a great reputation has a better shot at the big leagues and/or success in their future endeavors.
According to experts, including the NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) organization’s Power Ranking system, here are the top college football programs in the US according to their entire legacy.
#1 Ohio State University
What is the best college for football? Ohio State has a good balance between tuition affordability (with aid including scholarships and FAFSA), team performance, and reputation, making it an excellent choice among the best football schools.
They have been to the Rose Bowl 16 times and attended 55 bowl games in total. In the last decade, they’ve won more bowls than they’ve lost, setting up a good track record for upcoming years. Their consistent solid performance over the last 50+ years has ensured a heaping handful of coaches and top football players that have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
#2 Princeton University
Although Princeton was the original loser in football (losing to Rutgers in the inaugural 1869 game), they’ve been a strong presence in college football since its inception. In fact, one week after their initial defeat, they won their rematch with Rutgers 8-0! Although football was an extremely different sport back then, it doesn’t diminish Princeton’s legacy.
Princeton doesn’t offer any sports scholarships (the same as other Ivy League schools) but typically offers generous need-based financial aid. They want students to do well in their studies, with sports as a secondary focus.
Princeton is one of the top 3 Ivy League football teams. If these results are what happens when their student-athletes are putting in less effort than some other programs, imagine how effective their team must be!
#3 University of Alabama
One of the hands-down best college football programs of all time, student-athletes are guaranteed to get their time in the spotlight if they roll with the Tide. The fanbase is one of the most dedicated around, and the team’s history inspires fans and players every year.
The team is known for its dominant force on the field and in the stats as well as its strong leadership throughout the years.
#4 University of Michigan
The Wolverines hold the record for the most all-time wins in college football history. Combining this persuasive stat with a great history of coaching including player development, it’s no wonder that Michigan is one of the best football colleges!
Tom Brady is generally considered the best football player in history. He played for the University of Michigan Wolverines in his college days!
#5 Notre Dame University
Although the last 25 or so years haven’t been the best in Fighting Irish history, Notre Dame is still well known for its legacy of titles secured and Heisman Trophy winners, making them one of the best college football teams of all time.
#6 Oklahoma State University
The Cowboys have been a fierce force in the Big 12 conference for many years, unsurprisingly turning out many great NFL players and Heisman Trophy winners, making it a great choice among top colleges for football.
#7 University of Southern California (USC)
Legendary players and coaches, intense rivalries, and a healthy fan base make the Trojans one of the best teams for a college athlete to play for.
#8 Yale University
Yale was one of the original football colleges, with Walter Camp being an athlete here! Having a healthy rivalry with Harvard in both athletics and academics going back to 1875, Yale is part of a fun tradition known as “The Game,” where the two institutions play annually to assert dominance.
#9 Penn State University
The horrible scandal at Penn State can never be forgotten, but the perseverance of the student-athletes and today’s coaches show that their spirit is stronger. The football program is still well-known for its athlete development, in addition to the intriguing rivalries with other schools and the unity of the fans at “White Out” games.
#10 University of Texas Austin
With a strong financial aid program for students, UT guarantees students a great chance to be a part of an excellent team. Over the years, the Longhorns have won many championships and produced world-class players.
The Best College Football Teams for the 2024 Season
Preliminary NCAA football preseason rankings show that the University of Georgia is at the top of the list, followed closely by Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas.
But it’s still early, and the rankings of the most promising colleges for football can change at any time, so be sure to check the stats frequently.
Following college football or finding a college program to enroll in football requires a lot of research and keeping up with trends. No matter which team you cheer for or play for, you’re bound to have a great time enmeshed in the world of college football!
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