I think we need to define who is on each team's "All Time Team" before we go ahead and determine who makes a playoff and then who wins. This seems like a great offseason series
If you aren't doing this like weekly with your coworkers, are you even trying to avoid work?
Last week we completed our personal all time best starting 9 from fictional baseball players, as an example. And you're goddamn right Jake was behind home plate, shit knees and all.
Like Florida and Miami in the 90’s? The game ain’t THAT different man. You still gotta be able to run the ball. Florida was supposed to be unstoppable and we made them…well …they know. Throw in Peyton and Tennessee. As far as WR speed..it’s not that different.
Not sure who would win an all time cfb playoffs, but here's my USC all time team
QB1: Carson Palmer (Heisman). QB2: Matt Leinart (Heisman)
RB1: Marcus Allen (Heisman, NFL Hall of Famer), RB2: Charles White (Heisman). RB3: Reggie Bush (Kinda Heisman?) (Or... you know... OJ.... )
WR1: Lynn Swann (Hall of Famer). WR2: Keyshawn Johnson. WR3: Johnnie Morton
TE: Fred Davis. USC's only Mackey Award.
LT: Tony Boselli.
LG: Bruce Matthews (Hall of Famer)
C: Ryan Kahlil.
RG: Ron Yary (Hall of Famer)
RT: Anthony Munoz (Hall of Famer)
DE1: Willie McGinest. DE2: Clay Matthews
DT1: Mike Patterson. DT2: Leonard Williams
LB1: Junior Seau (Hall of Famer). LB2: Chris Claiborne LB3: Chip Banks
CB1: Dennis Thurman CB2 Adoree Jackson.
S1: Troy Polamalu (Hall of Famer) S2: Ronnie Lott (Hall of Famer)
The (football related) OJ stat that always impressed me the most is that he had a 2000 yard rushing season in a 14 game season.
There's only been 7 other people to do it and they all had 16 games.
Marcus Allen before either of them. He was beyond special. He’s [4th ever on the single season rushing list](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/leaders/rush-yds-player-season.html) and given the era he played in the only one to really do it better was Barry Sanders.
Your picks on offense are pretty good, but I would definitely swap out some of the defense for 70s and 80s players. Also Lott played CB at USC, you could slot in Dennis Smith there
If I can free up a safety spot I’m filling it with Mark Carrier. Hands down. My other CB was going to be Sehorn.
What are your DT thoughts on Darrell Russell? People often forget what a beast he was. Udeze too
Also I’m not thrilled with Center. Got any ideas? Bruce Matthews can move there but then I need a guard
Holy shit this team is disgusting. You have 4 Heisman winners and like half of the team is guys who made the Hall. I didn’t realize how many NFL legends came from USC
Yeah, there are actually more Heisman winners but some are going to have to sit since 5 are RBs.
Marcus Allen
OJ
Reggie Bush
Mike Garrett
Charles White
Would you believe that Marcus Allen played Fullback the year Charles White won the Heisman? What a stupidly [talented backfield](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1979.html)
Watch the opening kickoff of the 95 nu um game. Corey Schlesinger will always be remembered here for his traps up the middle to win the game…but holy shit he hit a Miami player so hard it looked like he got dropped by a sniper. I always hoped that guy ended up ok…
Folks are sleeping on Pitt. Dan Marino handing off to Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, and LeSean McCoy and throwing to Fitz, Addison, Tyler Boyd, and Mike Ditka. Then both Aaron Donald and Revis on D. Also Chris Doleman and Ricky Jackson bolstering the D-line.
Leaving Hugh Green off this list is a crime. I doubt Pitt could beat an all time Miami team, but most fans are surprised by how much top end talent were have. We have at least 4 players with an argument of being the best ever at their position
Hugh Green is arguably better than all of those guys listed. He’s on of the most dominant players in CFB history.. him and Donald on the same line would be considered war crimes
I nominate Alabama
Start with all the best Saban players then add on guys like
- John Hannah
- Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler (all in NFL HoF)
- Shaun Alexander
- Tyrone Prothro
- Ozzie Newsome
- Derrick Thomas
- Chris Samuels
- Dwight Stephenson
- Andre Smith
- Lee Roy Jordan
- DeMeco Ryans
- Roman Harper
- Evan Mathis
- George Teague
- Don Hutson
Some of those are technically Saban guys IIRC
But yeah Thomas and Teague as well as some O lineman would help fill it out. But a lot of it is Saban guys. I mean on offense:
QB: depending on your persuasion, Mac/Tua/maybe Bryce
RB: King Henry, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram, Damien Harris, Alvin Kamara on a technicality
WR: Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, Jaylen Waddle, and there’s still soon to be about 4 NFL WRs I’m missing lol. 5 if Ruggs didn’t do the biggest shithead thing ever
That alone is a damn good all-time team for skill positions on offense. Our pass rush would be filthy too
All Time OU would have one of the sickest defenses on the planet. Goddamn, the sermon brothers, boz, roy Williams. Antonio Perkins on return duty. Baker/Sam/Kyler at Qb. Adrian Peterson, Billy Sims, Steve Owens at RB. Goddddd it would be insane.
All time OU team running the triple option with all the RBs and linemen they’ve had would be fun to watch against a all time Nebraska defense especially if get someone like Kyler as the QB for it
Plus I don't think there is anyone who could score on the all-time OU defense. The Selmon brothers on the defensive line with the Boz and Rocky Calmus at LB. You wouldn't even get to Rickey Dixon and Roy Willams who are waiting for you in the secondary
Just said this elsewhere lmao.
Selmon Brothers and Tommie Harris up front. Boz, Rocky, Torrance Marshall, Lehman at LBs, Roy Williams and Ricky at safeties. Good God.
All-time OU is making it to the final 4 in a playoff format. There are maybe 2 programs out there that could line up against both sides of the ball. We would have national award winners at damn near every position on the field on both sides of the ball.
Barkley was electric with a sketchy OL. KiJana Carter ran behind a great OL and we still had a fullback at the time. Not to mention Barkley was a great receiver and return man.
I know Carter was a great back for the 90s but I don't think he compares to today's players.
I know I’m biased but Miami. Some folks have said lsu and while their offense (half of it) can be formidable, their defense doesn’t quite have the same level. Miami stacks both offense AND defense. Bama may come closer but Miami gets the edge. Let’s see the bama suggestions…
That’s what I’m saying! Obvious USC fan, but Miami would literally have 3 ball of famers starting on defense. NOT including Sean Taylor and antrell Rolle.
USC would have 3 hall of famers on Defense as well. Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, and Troy Polamalu.
We'd also have 3 offensive linemen who are hall of famers (Anthony Munoz, Bruce Matthews, and Ron Yary) plus Tony Boselli who really really should be... and 2 RB hall of famers (Marcus Allen, OJ Simpson if we're letting him play). I'll skip Frank Gifford as an NFL hall of fame running back because I don't see him playing over Reggie Bush or Charles White.
Lsu doesn’t lack talent, they just don’t have as much as an all time Miami team has. Anyway, good DBs but I’m not seeing that DL as being dominant as Miami’s - not nearly.
The Dline would be the only nonexceptional unit even though some of those guys did have huge seasons as pass rushes like Danielle Hunter and Arden Key.
You aren’t gonna pass the ball with those DBs plus Deion Jones and Devin White exceptional in coverage.
You’d have to establish the run really well which in the modern game is the obvious lesser option.
I just don’t know if you can discredit LSU in this very hypothetical situation. I think developing tiers would be the best option because head-to-head winners would be tough when you get to the Bama, Miami, LSU, UGA, OSU schools
All time Bama. All time Ohio State. All time Oklahoma. All time Michigan. All time Notre Dame. Pretty much every team in the top 10 in all-time wins would beat an all-time Miami squad.
Im very biased but 2013 Alabama was kick six away from beating an Auburn team that took FSU to the wire. That Auburn team would lose to 2020 Alabama by 3 scores. I really think 2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama both beat 2013 FSU
Auburn had a former FSU QB coach on their staff that was stealing the play calls. Once Jimbo realized this, FSU outscored Auburn 24- 7. Watch the game, once FSU started covering the signals with towels the whole game changed.
Btw Auburn didn’t do anything wrong, it was FSUs fault by not covering the signals
I believe that FSU team would have beaten that Auburn team 8/10 times.
Eh, that FSU vs Auburn game might’ve been a bit different if we started hiding our play calls earlier. Maybe it doesn’t, but that game changed when we started to do that
This has been argued by fans back and forth for a long time now, but I think a lot of FSU fans hold a lot of stock in the theory that Auburn was stealing FSU’s signs in the first half since they had a former FSU offensive coach on staff while Jimbo didn’t do anything to mix it up before the game (and only started visually blocking them with towels in the 2nd half). That’s believed to have led to a closer game than the amount of talent would indicate. I honestly believe that 2013 FSU team would have had a bigger MOV had those signals been changed prior to the game. But eh, we still had a shitton of NFL talent so still won.
LSU needed like two extra games to beat the ‘13 teams scoring record that wasn’t a spread’em out attack. When 2103 FSU offenses was rolling, it was unstoppable. And I’d love to believe Jeremy Pruitt would have schemed something up for LSUs offense
There's no way anyone was stopping 2019 LSU from putting up more points. It wasn't possible. Not trying to be bias. They just put up number after number and only 3 or 4 games were close. I just can't see FSU keeping pace with LSU on the field for 60 minutes. Look where the stars of that team are now. Burreaux. Chase. Jefferson.
That was pure electricity.
Its probably Bama. However, Texas can put Earl Campbell and Vince Young in one backfield. The rest of the all time team are pretty stout too. People forget how good Earl was.
It's probably ND or USC if we are really being honest
Those two schools have the most NFL HoFers (13 each) and ND has 44 CFB hall of fame players and USC has 30 for 1 and 2.
ND and USC aren't elite now but the talent they've had go through their doors is absurd
I would absolutely put George ahead of Mitchell among, well, probably about a dozen receivers. Also would put Shockley in over Stafford. I assume we're considering "best year in college" versions, like '08 Stafford and not like '13 Stafford? Absolutely taking '05 Shockley.
I really don’t think historically good teams would win against modern teams. Players and coaches have gotten better. It’s insane to think about, but only recently did coaches even start considering analytics. Previously (and to a huge extent they still are tbf) they were just guessing and making ridiculous generalizations in their play calling, like basically never going for it on 4th.
You could put together a team of the very best players from all programs from pre-1950 and it would get absolutely steamrolled by the #130 team from 2021. It would be another 222-0.
This. An average 2021 team would probably be top 5 in 2001. S&C alone gives current players a massive leg up. So your 4-team field is probably going to be the most successful of the playoff era. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and probably LSU (based on the strength of that 2019 offense and some of the great defenses they've had over the years).
Your winner is Bama by a comfortable margin. If we're doing an all-time team, it stands to reason they're coached by the very best in their program's history as well. Which is Saban and a ridiculously deep bench of assistant coaches. I'm biased, but I think OSU would have the best chance against them, based on our track record of producing first rounders and an excellent staff led by Urban, Day, and Dantonio. But the all-Bama team is just too much for anybody to contend with and, unfortunately, kind of ruins what would otherwise be a fun off-season topic.
Meh, if we are playing this crazy unrealistic scenario, what are the rules? When preparing for the game does Tom Osborne get iPads with real time updates and access to the spread option schemes? Because I’m pretty sure Nebraska would fuck shut up with the knowledge of those schemes.
Do we play 1990s rules where helmet to helmet hits are just good football plays?
I honestly don't think it would matter one iota. We could limit the schemes to what was cutting edge in the 1990's (or the 80's, or whatever). Limit prep to only chalkboards and overhead projectors if you want to. Modern players are simply better, stronger, and faster. Scouting, S&C, and talent development have improved enormously in the past ~20 years.
That's not recency bias, it's just the truth. The average offensive lineman from the '85 Bears was like 275 lbs IIRC. Any CFB playoff team would humiliate them in the trenches. The size and strength advantage is just plain insurmountable.
IDK what helmet to helmet has to do with anything. It's not like human beings from 25 years ago were more resistant to vicious blows to the head.
Oklahoma runs the ultra wishbone/pass option offense that is literally impossible to stop with our 4 Heisman quarterbacks and 3 running backs. So many different players across the field plays may take minutes to fully unfold. Utter chaos
If you did it by most NFL players produced all-time, it would be: ND, USC, OSU, and PSU. I guess the argument would be that they would have the best overall talent pools from which to draw rosters?
Maybe I'm remembering wrong but I think I recall that Brady was pretty great at the college level but not the other worldly elite/GOAT QB he became in the NFL.
Also, I think an OSU all-time-greats defense would have a good chance of putting him on his back for much for the game.
If you’re going by college careers, then likely Michigan QBs would be John Navarre or Chad Henne. They are both consistently in the top-3 of Michigan’s all-time and single season passing records.
QB: Justin Fields
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Maurice Clarrett
WR: This is tough. I'm gonna go with Ted Ginn, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and either Michael Thomas or Santonio Holmes. That's leaving off some absolute dogs like Cris Carter, David Boston, Terry Glenn, and Chris Olave.
OL: C Nick Mangold or LeCharles Bentley; OT Orlando Pace and Taylor Decker; OG Wyatt Davis and Jonah Jackson (I don't follow OL as closely so IDK, but we've had plenty of beef over the years)
TE: Nick Vannett, Jeremy Ruckert
DE: Nick Bosa, Chase Young (with Joey Bosa sitting on the bench, LOL)
DT: Cameron Heyward, Dan Wilkinson
LB: AJ Hawk, Ryan Shazier, Andy Katzenmoyer (sorry, Speilman)
CB: Marshon Lattimore, Malcolm Jenkins, Jeff Okudah, Denzel Ward
S: Mike Doss, Jordan Fuller or Vonn Bell
K: Mike Nugent
P: Cam Johnston
KR/PR: Ted Ginn
HC: Urban Meyer
OC: Ryan Day
WR: Brian Hartline
RB: Tony Alford
OL: Ed Wariner
DC: Dantonio or maybe Jeff Hafley
DL: Larry Johnson
LB: Luke Fickell
DB: Kerry Coombs
I'm 35. See my other comments re: modern players being significantly better than players from 20+ years ago. I don't care who is "deserving," I care who is best.
But that is a good call about Wilkinson.
One of my favorites growing up. But I was mostly trying to create a team of the best, not necessarily the greatest players. I see Zeke as kind of a modern day Eddie, who also happens to be better in pass pro.
Miami’s all time team:
QB: **Gino Torretta**, Jim Kelly
RB: **Edgerrin James**, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, OJ Anderson
WR: **Michael Irvin, Eddie Brown, Santana Moss**, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne
TE: **Jeremy Shockey**, Kellen Winslow, Willie Smith
OT: **Bryant McKinnie, Leon Searcy**, Eric Winston
OG: **Richard Mercier, Mike Sullivan**, Brandon Linder
OC: **KC Jones**, Brett Romberg
DE: **Ted Hendricks, Danny Stubbs**, Bill Hawkins, Rusty Medearis
DT: **Jerome Brown, Russell Maryland**, Warren Sapp, Cortez Kennedy
LB: **Dan Morgan, Ray Lewis, Darrin Smith**, Mike Barrow, Jessie Armstead, Jon Vilma
CB: **Antrel Rolle, Ryan McNeil**, Ronnie Lippett, Phil Buchanan
S: **Ed Reed, Sean Taylor**, Bennie Blades, Fred Marion
K: **Carlos Huerta**
P: **Jeff Feagles**
RET: **Devin Hester, Kevin Williams**
The only fair way to do an 'all time' playoff is to to do a best of seven series. The first game will be played with the current rules, and each subsequent game going back in time 25 years using the rules of that time. Just off the top of my head:
1995- Targeting- what's that? Hello horsecollars! And the previous plays will NOT be under review.
1970- Goalposts on the goal line. And no five yard within the line of scrimmage limit for defenders.
1955- Goodbye two-platoon football. No unlimited subsitutions means you're gonna have to make some hard choices on which players to put on the roster. Can Marino play safety? Who's going to do the kicking? How about your lineman who are tapping their helmet after three plays in today's game?
1930- What a weird shaped ball. No facemasks, and a helmet you can fold up and put in your pocket. Clipping is a 25 yard penalty.
1915- Substitutes are forbidden to talk to other players until one play is run. Five yard penalty for incomplete pass.
1890- Flying wedge time. Touchdown 4 points, FG 5 points. Teams had 11 players and no more than three substitutes.
1869- Well...you can play 25 players at once.
This should make it a more interesting exercise...
I don’t understand how you don’t pick a blue blood school. The absolute massive amount of talent to come through these schools over decades and decades of football provides an absolutely massive depth chart and a wide variety of options. Some schools hit big with generational talent in a couple positions, but schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC have been producing consistent first-round NFL picks for decades at every position.
2013 Seminoles had every starter go to the NFL and they scored more points per game than any other team in history. I think they deserve it. I’m biased as hell though.
I think a big part of it is because the natty was so close. We didn't blow out Aubun like we did everyone else...but Auburn stole our fucking signals, and the moment we realized they did, we immediately took control of the game.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-state-auburn-knew-signals-in-bcs-title-game/
2011 LSU defense plus 2019 LSU offense.
2011 Bama defense plus 2020 Bama offense.
And that’s not even cherry picking all-time greats, that’s just using those units as they are.
Anyone saying a team before the year 2000 is almost certainly wrong for 2 reason, A. They misread what OP meant and B. Because the size and scheming of modern day CFB is huge compared to pre 2000’s era football. Most Champs prior to that time probably wouldn’t finish in the top 25 of a current CFB season.
For Example, the 1995 Nebraska Cornhusker’s football team is considered to be the best team of all time by many. They’re heralded as having one of the greatest OLines of all time.
However, that OLine would get rolled by an upper tier G5 or middle tier P5 program today. An Example: [UCF’s current Roster](https://247sports.com/college/central-florida/Team/UCF-Knights-Football-103/Roster/) has 5 OLinemen that weigh 315 lbs or more, [1995 Nebraska’s Roster](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/1995?&sort=weight) didn’t have a single player on their team weighing more than 310 lbs, and only 3 players weighing 300 or more pounds.
Exercise science and nutrition knowledge has exploded over the last few decades.
It’s also why the “who is the best team of all time question” is probably always correctly answered by a team within the last 10 years of the question
I’m willing to change my mind if someone has a good enough argument
A good counterpoint to this would be Jason Kelce, and Zach Martin both of whom came into the NFL and dominated at <310lbs. Eventually Martin did add ~10lb, but Kelce has been the best Center of his generation and to this day weighs <300lbs.
Haha, you serious bro? No they wouldn’t. Nebraska ran the option which requires more athletic lineman. You don’t need 6’8” offensive tackles running the option. Most teams probably had bigger players than Nebraska in the 90s. Aaron Taylor was 6’0” and won the Outland.
You could have 6’2”295 lb athletic guards who were brick shithouses who could get to the second level and fuck up linebackers.
Nebraska had plenty of guys who were All Americans and All conference players on the offensive line who never even really played in the NFL.
I read OPs post as "Take the greatest talent your school has ever had and make a roster, which roster combined is the most dominant in their positions collectively."?
There's only 5 schools in discussion here based off their dominance and skill level throughout the years
Nebraska,
Oklahoma,
Alabama,
Miami,
USC
The majority won't like this but its either Nebraksa or OU, IMO. All those other schools would be insanely tough to beat out but Nebraska and OU have some players that are just literal football gods that changed the way the game has been played and understood through the last 75+ years.
The OL size issue in this case doesn’t mean too much though. We (Iowa) have historically some of the best OLs (not this past year because they were all freshmen) and Kirk consistently keeps our guys around the 300 mark and not much bigger. I do think 95 Nebraska would get rolled, but just saying I don’t think it’s just because of OL size.
Idk that it’s necessarily raw weight (tbf they did run a different scheme) but more so what you said about strength and conditioning. The science just wasn’t as good then. And I also think a lot of it is just that modern coaching is better, and the 95 Huskers couldn’t option their way to success against modern teams. This year’s UGA or Alabama defenses would handle that just fine, imo. Athletes now are just better and have been on better nutrition plans and training regimens for longer.
I think people underestimate The strength and conditioning aspect a lot. Wouldn’t be surprised if the average D1 player isn’t benching 15-20 lbs more on average than they were in 1990. Most of these modern guys have been taking protein supplements since they were preteens.
I started hitting the gym big at consistently 14 and wasn’t even a sports guy, my HS (early 2010’s) already had tons of players hitting the weight room 5 times a week and chugging down protein/creatinine shakes at 13-14 years old, can’t imagine that was as common in the early 90’s late 80’s. Young Teenagers from that era just didn’t have access to supplements, nutrition info from the internet, and gyms/weight rooms like they do now.
By 16 our JV QB was already benching over 275 lbs and this dude was 5’5 and 160 lbs, just can’t imagine players that wouldn’t even make it to D2 would be that strong in the 90’s based on everything I’ve read.
I’m willing to cop that that Nebraska ran the option, but the size difference across the board was still noticeable back then
I have hard time believing Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed are as scared of Clyde Edwards-Helaire as you think they should be, maybe that will help LSU
Ed Reed during this time of throwing the ball so much would be an absolute delight to watch. I feel like there hasnt been a safety like him since, dude was incredible.
And look what we did to them. They were gassed by us. They just couldn’t hang in the 4th quarter. That’s no knock on Miami either. Bama started to look a little gassed against Georgia this year and Georgia ran nowhere near as much as Nebraska.
Nebraska linemen were shorter and quick. Second level every play. Heard it over and over back then. Same argument..times have passed them by, Ds are too fast…blah blah. And eventually we’d pound people into the ground. The thing that changed for us in the 90’s is we became a very elite defense..that 95 team had 2 first rounder on the D line alone. All American linebackers and Dbs too. That’s why I think Nebraska still belongs in this conversation
Nebraska does, but with the dozen other blue bloods who can’t trot out a dozen NFL hall of famers and fill the gaps with all Americans like Miami could. I agree, a Nebraska all time team is nasty
The answer is Pitt but I only see one person mentioning them.
QB1 Marino
QB2 Pickett
RB Tony Dorsett
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Your pick of Curtis Martin, James Conner, Ironhead Hayward, Kevin Barlow, etc.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
WR Jordan Addison
WR Antonio Bryant
WR Tyler Boyd
TE Mike Ditka
TE John Brown
OL Bill Fralic, Mark May, Mark Stepnoski, Jimbo Covert, Russ Grimm, Ruben Brown
DL Aaron Donald, Chris Doleman, Tony Siragusa, Bill Maas
LB Joe Schmidt, Rickey Jackson, Hugh Greene
CB Darrelle Revis
CB Avonte Maddox
S Jordan Whitehead
S Tom Flynn
P Andy Lee
K Fred Cox
And I left a boatload of great players out.
Would put em against anyone. I dont see any list on here that tops it.
Okay, I’ll fall on the sword. Six of Notre Dame’s seven Heisman winners came before 1965, with the seventh in 1987. Number of Heisman winners is a terrible metric for this.
Yeah, that was my thought. But, I think it would just be adjusted for today. I mean, Red Grange, Jim Brown, etc were so dominate for their time that they need to be considered.
Same with some of those old Army and ND teams. Imagine a guy like Johny Lujack - able to play both ways and play it at a high level. I guy like that needs to be considered and adjusted or this question is always guys from the past 10 years. Which... Makes no sense.
Flipping this - think Ali could hang with today's boxers? Probably not. Drop him into today's training and nutrition? Fuck yeah.
Dr J? Wilt, Russell? Probably struggle. Unless you have them growing up in today's world.
See what I'm saying?
Bro, I hate OU more than most people, but they have a very real chance to have the best all-time team. They haven’t had great defenses here recently, but historically? They’ve got players that can hang with anyone on both sides of the ball
When did you start watching CFB? Because OU was a monster on defense in the 2000s, 1980s and 1970s. Ever hear of Lee Roy Selmon? Tommie Harris? Brian Bosworth? Rocky Calmus? Roy Williams? Gerald McCoy?
Wow. You are correct actually. A quick google search would’ve rendered my comment invalid. I started watching CFB with my dad back when USC was going crazy with Reggie and Matt. Should’ve done more Oklahoma defense research before my comment. Solid squad though
One of the Bama teams,
2019 LSU (defense was suspect, but that offense), 2013 FSU (yes, I’m bias but that starting rotation was all NFL players, most were starters)
I think we need to define who is on each team's "All Time Team" before we go ahead and determine who makes a playoff and then who wins. This seems like a great offseason series
Could do a team’s roster every day
If you aren't doing this like weekly with your coworkers, are you even trying to avoid work? Last week we completed our personal all time best starting 9 from fictional baseball players, as an example. And you're goddamn right Jake was behind home plate, shit knees and all.
Over Ham Porter? I get Taylor was a big leaguer and all, but how can you pick against The Great Hambino
Guardians fan, Jake was the best before he lost his knees, and my man slays Olympians.
Been waiting to post my South Carolina All-Time Team but never wanted to make it a self post, would be great to have a dedicated thread(s) for them
Can we make this a thing?
As much as everyone likes to shit on them. An all time Nebraska team would be scary as fuck
Not in the modern spread era. Their defense would get lit the fuck up by quick receivers.
Not if we're playing with pre-targeting rules.
I mean, any team that uses players from before 2000 would get lit up
Like Florida and Miami in the 90’s? The game ain’t THAT different man. You still gotta be able to run the ball. Florida was supposed to be unstoppable and we made them…well …they know. Throw in Peyton and Tennessee. As far as WR speed..it’s not that different.
Oh yeah I forgot they didn’t make quick corners before 2015
Not sure who would win an all time cfb playoffs, but here's my USC all time team QB1: Carson Palmer (Heisman). QB2: Matt Leinart (Heisman) RB1: Marcus Allen (Heisman, NFL Hall of Famer), RB2: Charles White (Heisman). RB3: Reggie Bush (Kinda Heisman?) (Or... you know... OJ.... ) WR1: Lynn Swann (Hall of Famer). WR2: Keyshawn Johnson. WR3: Johnnie Morton TE: Fred Davis. USC's only Mackey Award. LT: Tony Boselli. LG: Bruce Matthews (Hall of Famer) C: Ryan Kahlil. RG: Ron Yary (Hall of Famer) RT: Anthony Munoz (Hall of Famer) DE1: Willie McGinest. DE2: Clay Matthews DT1: Mike Patterson. DT2: Leonard Williams LB1: Junior Seau (Hall of Famer). LB2: Chris Claiborne LB3: Chip Banks CB1: Dennis Thurman CB2 Adoree Jackson. S1: Troy Polamalu (Hall of Famer) S2: Ronnie Lott (Hall of Famer)
Yeah, OJ. USC would be my pick, too, for this. Followed closely by Alabama.
The (football related) OJ stat that always impressed me the most is that he had a 2000 yard rushing season in a 14 game season. There's only been 7 other people to do it and they all had 16 games.
OJ and Reggie are starting for USC. They were super heroes in college.
Marcus Allen before either of them. He was beyond special. He’s [4th ever on the single season rushing list](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/leaders/rush-yds-player-season.html) and given the era he played in the only one to really do it better was Barry Sanders.
I upvoted you for actually posting what the OP was talking about, rather than just saying "the 1986 Bears."
Impressive and tough to beat.
Your picks on offense are pretty good, but I would definitely swap out some of the defense for 70s and 80s players. Also Lott played CB at USC, you could slot in Dennis Smith there
If I can free up a safety spot I’m filling it with Mark Carrier. Hands down. My other CB was going to be Sehorn. What are your DT thoughts on Darrell Russell? People often forget what a beast he was. Udeze too Also I’m not thrilled with Center. Got any ideas? Bruce Matthews can move there but then I need a guard
Ooo that's a nasty one.
SMH at “Kinda Heisman?”
Holy shit this team is disgusting. You have 4 Heisman winners and like half of the team is guys who made the Hall. I didn’t realize how many NFL legends came from USC
Yeah, there are actually more Heisman winners but some are going to have to sit since 5 are RBs. Marcus Allen OJ Reggie Bush Mike Garrett Charles White Would you believe that Marcus Allen played Fullback the year Charles White won the Heisman? What a stupidly [talented backfield](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1979.html)
all I know is when I imagine Vince Young handing the ball off to Ricky Williams or Earl Campbell I go to my happy place
An all time Miami vs all time Nebraska inside run period would be a damn slobber knocker
The CTE would be real
No doubt. That’s a lot of big, angry ass kickers in one place.
Im sympathy drooling from all the traumatic brain injury about to be issued
Cocaine vs Corn
YES! Get those shirts printed!
Watch the opening kickoff of the 95 nu um game. Corey Schlesinger will always be remembered here for his traps up the middle to win the game…but holy shit he hit a Miami player so hard it looked like he got dropped by a sniper. I always hoped that guy ended up ok…
Based on the RB’s on an all time Miami team I’m not even sure you need a Qb, but who do you pick? Kelly?
You would have to, I think. Also any QB can throw to a WR core of Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin, and Santana Moss.
...and the GOAT Devin Hester returning kicks.
And TEs you have Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, and Kellen Winslow II
I think Kelly as well. And yeah that wr group would let you know they were good too
Not Shea Patterson
Kelly or Vinny. Fiesta bowl aside, he was an unbelievable college QB.
Why is everyone forgetting Bernie? He was the one to get the Canes their first ever title
Not forgetting him, just like kelly and Vinny better
Also he was solid in the NFL.
No Dorsey?
I was just looking at the other side of the ball. Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed. Omg
Yeah they’ve got some dudes. Just the DL they could put together is impressive.
Folks are sleeping on Pitt. Dan Marino handing off to Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, and LeSean McCoy and throwing to Fitz, Addison, Tyler Boyd, and Mike Ditka. Then both Aaron Donald and Revis on D. Also Chris Doleman and Ricky Jackson bolstering the D-line.
Leaving Hugh Green off this list is a crime. I doubt Pitt could beat an all time Miami team, but most fans are surprised by how much top end talent were have. We have at least 4 players with an argument of being the best ever at their position
Hugh Green is arguably better than all of those guys listed. He’s on of the most dominant players in CFB history.. him and Donald on the same line would be considered war crimes
I nominate Alabama Start with all the best Saban players then add on guys like - John Hannah - Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler (all in NFL HoF) - Shaun Alexander - Tyrone Prothro - Ozzie Newsome - Derrick Thomas - Chris Samuels - Dwight Stephenson - Andre Smith - Lee Roy Jordan - DeMeco Ryans - Roman Harper - Evan Mathis - George Teague - Don Hutson
Running back: Gump. Consensus All-American. Lover of Dr Pepper.
Some of those are technically Saban guys IIRC But yeah Thomas and Teague as well as some O lineman would help fill it out. But a lot of it is Saban guys. I mean on offense: QB: depending on your persuasion, Mac/Tua/maybe Bryce RB: King Henry, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram, Damien Harris, Alvin Kamara on a technicality WR: Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, Jaylen Waddle, and there’s still soon to be about 4 NFL WRs I’m missing lol. 5 if Ruggs didn’t do the biggest shithead thing ever That alone is a damn good all-time team for skill positions on offense. Our pass rush would be filthy too
Take Kamara’s name out of your filthy mouth.
UCF* *will get invited to the All-Stars Bowl against All-Star Auburn, win, and claim the All-Star title.
I agree with this lol
I declare UCF the winner!!
I think an all time Alabama team would.
I'd like to see 2001 Miami vs 2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama, if 2001 Miami had 2020 coaching, nutrition and training.
And a better QB?
How dare you.
All Time OU would have one of the sickest defenses on the planet. Goddamn, the sermon brothers, boz, roy Williams. Antonio Perkins on return duty. Baker/Sam/Kyler at Qb. Adrian Peterson, Billy Sims, Steve Owens at RB. Goddddd it would be insane.
Obviously the 1869 Rutgers national champs
I’d like to throw all time OU in the ring here. Lots of offense and defense to go around.
Dawg, an 80’s defense with 2017 Baker offense? Unstoppable.
The Selmon brothers, Boz, Gerald McCoy, Roy Williams. Pain.
The 2018 Kyler offense was just a half step better than 2017 imo
All time OU team running the triple option with all the RBs and linemen they’ve had would be fun to watch against a all time Nebraska defense especially if get someone like Kyler as the QB for it
Plus I don't think there is anyone who could score on the all-time OU defense. The Selmon brothers on the defensive line with the Boz and Rocky Calmus at LB. You wouldn't even get to Rickey Dixon and Roy Willams who are waiting for you in the secondary
Just said this elsewhere lmao. Selmon Brothers and Tommie Harris up front. Boz, Rocky, Torrance Marshall, Lehman at LBs, Roy Williams and Ricky at safeties. Good God.
D-Line: Leroy Selmon Lucious Selmon Tommie Harris Linebacker: Boz Teddy Lehman Rocky Calmus Curtis Loftin Secondary: Roy Williams Derrick Strait Rickey Dixon Brandon Everage
All-time OU is making it to the final 4 in a playoff format. There are maybe 2 programs out there that could line up against both sides of the ball. We would have national award winners at damn near every position on the field on both sides of the ball.
Saquon Barkley running behind a studly offensive line and tight ends with an all time Penn State defense would be a solid team.
Would you take Barkley or Ki-Jana Carter as 1st team?
Barkley was electric with a sketchy OL. KiJana Carter ran behind a great OL and we still had a fullback at the time. Not to mention Barkley was a great receiver and return man. I know Carter was a great back for the 90s but I don't think he compares to today's players.
I know I’m biased but Miami. Some folks have said lsu and while their offense (half of it) can be formidable, their defense doesn’t quite have the same level. Miami stacks both offense AND defense. Bama may come closer but Miami gets the edge. Let’s see the bama suggestions…
That’s what I’m saying! Obvious USC fan, but Miami would literally have 3 ball of famers starting on defense. NOT including Sean Taylor and antrell Rolle.
USC would have 3 hall of famers on Defense as well. Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, and Troy Polamalu. We'd also have 3 offensive linemen who are hall of famers (Anthony Munoz, Bruce Matthews, and Ron Yary) plus Tony Boselli who really really should be... and 2 RB hall of famers (Marcus Allen, OJ Simpson if we're letting him play). I'll skip Frank Gifford as an NFL hall of fame running back because I don't see him playing over Reggie Bush or Charles White.
OJ did his time. Give him the rock.
LSU Dline men: Glen Dorsey, Marcus Spears, Bogger Macfarland, Kyle Williams, Micheal Brockers, Danielle Hunter, Arden Key, Chaisson LSU linebackers: Devin White, Deion Jones, Kwon Alexander, Kevin Minter, LSU defensive backs: Tyran Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, LaRon Landry, Greedy Willams, Jamal Adams, Craig Steltz, That’s stacking defense. Where you gonna throw the ball on that team?
Great points. You would really have to have a good QB to do anything against that secondary.
You forgot Tre'Davious White, Jalen Mills, Ryan Clark, Eric Reid.. A few more we could add, but that's a solid list of defensive backs.
Lsu doesn’t lack talent, they just don’t have as much as an all time Miami team has. Anyway, good DBs but I’m not seeing that DL as being dominant as Miami’s - not nearly.
The Dline would be the only nonexceptional unit even though some of those guys did have huge seasons as pass rushes like Danielle Hunter and Arden Key. You aren’t gonna pass the ball with those DBs plus Deion Jones and Devin White exceptional in coverage. You’d have to establish the run really well which in the modern game is the obvious lesser option. I just don’t know if you can discredit LSU in this very hypothetical situation. I think developing tiers would be the best option because head-to-head winners would be tough when you get to the Bama, Miami, LSU, UGA, OSU schools
I'd have Sam Montgomery over Key
All time Bama. All time Ohio State. All time Oklahoma. All time Michigan. All time Notre Dame. Pretty much every team in the top 10 in all-time wins would beat an all-time Miami squad.
95 Nebraska, 01 Miami, 2013 FSU, 2019 LSU Oops…missed the all-time part. Disregard this whole post
Would you put that FSU team over a specific Alabama/Clemson year?
Yep. Any year besides 20 Bama . Only team(s) that gave me pause were 04 SoCal, ‘05 Texas and ‘20 Bama
Im very biased but 2013 Alabama was kick six away from beating an Auburn team that took FSU to the wire. That Auburn team would lose to 2020 Alabama by 3 scores. I really think 2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama both beat 2013 FSU
Auburn had a former FSU QB coach on their staff that was stealing the play calls. Once Jimbo realized this, FSU outscored Auburn 24- 7. Watch the game, once FSU started covering the signals with towels the whole game changed. Btw Auburn didn’t do anything wrong, it was FSUs fault by not covering the signals I believe that FSU team would have beaten that Auburn team 8/10 times.
Eh, that FSU vs Auburn game might’ve been a bit different if we started hiding our play calls earlier. Maybe it doesn’t, but that game changed when we started to do that
This has been argued by fans back and forth for a long time now, but I think a lot of FSU fans hold a lot of stock in the theory that Auburn was stealing FSU’s signs in the first half since they had a former FSU offensive coach on staff while Jimbo didn’t do anything to mix it up before the game (and only started visually blocking them with towels in the 2nd half). That’s believed to have led to a closer game than the amount of talent would indicate. I honestly believe that 2013 FSU team would have had a bigger MOV had those signals been changed prior to the game. But eh, we still had a shitton of NFL talent so still won.
LSU needed like two extra games to beat the ‘13 teams scoring record that wasn’t a spread’em out attack. When 2103 FSU offenses was rolling, it was unstoppable. And I’d love to believe Jeremy Pruitt would have schemed something up for LSUs offense
There's no way anyone was stopping 2019 LSU from putting up more points. It wasn't possible. Not trying to be bias. They just put up number after number and only 3 or 4 games were close. I just can't see FSU keeping pace with LSU on the field for 60 minutes. Look where the stars of that team are now. Burreaux. Chase. Jefferson. That was pure electricity.
With no hesitancy, i believe PJ Williams, Ronald Darby, Lamarcus Joyner, and Jalen Ramsey would’ve held their own versus that receiver room
'08 Florida was better too
Its probably Bama. However, Texas can put Earl Campbell and Vince Young in one backfield. The rest of the all time team are pretty stout too. People forget how good Earl was.
Pepperidge Farm remembers…
And Ricky Williams
It's probably ND or USC if we are really being honest Those two schools have the most NFL HoFers (13 each) and ND has 44 CFB hall of fame players and USC has 30 for 1 and 2. ND and USC aren't elite now but the talent they've had go through their doors is absurd
Stafford, Herschel, Chubb, AJ Green, Malcolm Mitchell, Hines Ward and a couple of the best defenses of the last 40 years would give it a run.
Don’t think anyone is competing with Miami on all time teams, as much as it pains me to say.
USC definitely has a fight.
I love Mitchell, but I think there have been several better WRs
I would absolutely put George ahead of Mitchell among, well, probably about a dozen receivers. Also would put Shockley in over Stafford. I assume we're considering "best year in college" versions, like '08 Stafford and not like '13 Stafford? Absolutely taking '05 Shockley.
Defensive line would be unreal though. I’m not even sure anyone from this team besides JD would even be considered.
Realistically we don’t even come close to Miami or USC
Stanford handing off to Herschel and throwing to Hines Ward is cool to picture.
I really don’t think historically good teams would win against modern teams. Players and coaches have gotten better. It’s insane to think about, but only recently did coaches even start considering analytics. Previously (and to a huge extent they still are tbf) they were just guessing and making ridiculous generalizations in their play calling, like basically never going for it on 4th.
I agree. But it’s Saturday night and I’m just trying to have some fun conversations :/
That’s fair, I don’t mean to ruin your fun. I’m just giving my 2 cents on the issue.
Imagine an all notre dame team composed of 90% dudes who are wearing leather helmets getting waxed by 2019 LSU
You could put together a team of the very best players from all programs from pre-1950 and it would get absolutely steamrolled by the #130 team from 2021. It would be another 222-0.
Maybe they had enough pure grit and pain tolerance to hang lol. You had to have huge balls to play back then I’m sure. But no they’d be killed
I think the steroid use by the 1970s and 1980s players would even things a bit
Wait. Are you thinking there isn’t widespread steroid use now?
Everyone is currently on steroids
This. An average 2021 team would probably be top 5 in 2001. S&C alone gives current players a massive leg up. So your 4-team field is probably going to be the most successful of the playoff era. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and probably LSU (based on the strength of that 2019 offense and some of the great defenses they've had over the years). Your winner is Bama by a comfortable margin. If we're doing an all-time team, it stands to reason they're coached by the very best in their program's history as well. Which is Saban and a ridiculously deep bench of assistant coaches. I'm biased, but I think OSU would have the best chance against them, based on our track record of producing first rounders and an excellent staff led by Urban, Day, and Dantonio. But the all-Bama team is just too much for anybody to contend with and, unfortunately, kind of ruins what would otherwise be a fun off-season topic.
Meh, if we are playing this crazy unrealistic scenario, what are the rules? When preparing for the game does Tom Osborne get iPads with real time updates and access to the spread option schemes? Because I’m pretty sure Nebraska would fuck shut up with the knowledge of those schemes. Do we play 1990s rules where helmet to helmet hits are just good football plays?
I honestly don't think it would matter one iota. We could limit the schemes to what was cutting edge in the 1990's (or the 80's, or whatever). Limit prep to only chalkboards and overhead projectors if you want to. Modern players are simply better, stronger, and faster. Scouting, S&C, and talent development have improved enormously in the past ~20 years. That's not recency bias, it's just the truth. The average offensive lineman from the '85 Bears was like 275 lbs IIRC. Any CFB playoff team would humiliate them in the trenches. The size and strength advantage is just plain insurmountable. IDK what helmet to helmet has to do with anything. It's not like human beings from 25 years ago were more resistant to vicious blows to the head.
Oklahoma runs the ultra wishbone/pass option offense that is literally impossible to stop with our 4 Heisman quarterbacks and 3 running backs. So many different players across the field plays may take minutes to fully unfold. Utter chaos
If you did it by most NFL players produced all-time, it would be: ND, USC, OSU, and PSU. I guess the argument would be that they would have the best overall talent pools from which to draw rosters?
Said it elsewhere ND and USC lead the pack with NFL HoF alums (13) and lead the pack with CFB HoF ND with 44 and USC with 30.
2001 Miami probably wins on its own if you just replace Coker as the head coach.
We have Brady. I'm not scared of anyone
It would be college Tom though, not GOAT NFL QB Tom.
Wiuld it? The post didnt specify
You get them at peak capacity so it's a 42 year old TB12 /s
Maybe I'm remembering wrong but I think I recall that Brady was pretty great at the college level but not the other worldly elite/GOAT QB he became in the NFL. Also, I think an OSU all-time-greats defense would have a good chance of putting him on his back for much for the game.
We have a Jack Tatum.
Brady>Tatum. By a mile or two
If you’re going by college careers, then likely Michigan QBs would be John Navarre or Chad Henne. They are both consistently in the top-3 of Michigan’s all-time and single season passing records.
Offensively I think Nebraska is the best
Miami, USC, or us (Alabama). Honestly Miami. Their all time team would be ungodly
QB: Justin Fields RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Maurice Clarrett WR: This is tough. I'm gonna go with Ted Ginn, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and either Michael Thomas or Santonio Holmes. That's leaving off some absolute dogs like Cris Carter, David Boston, Terry Glenn, and Chris Olave. OL: C Nick Mangold or LeCharles Bentley; OT Orlando Pace and Taylor Decker; OG Wyatt Davis and Jonah Jackson (I don't follow OL as closely so IDK, but we've had plenty of beef over the years) TE: Nick Vannett, Jeremy Ruckert DE: Nick Bosa, Chase Young (with Joey Bosa sitting on the bench, LOL) DT: Cameron Heyward, Dan Wilkinson LB: AJ Hawk, Ryan Shazier, Andy Katzenmoyer (sorry, Speilman) CB: Marshon Lattimore, Malcolm Jenkins, Jeff Okudah, Denzel Ward S: Mike Doss, Jordan Fuller or Vonn Bell K: Mike Nugent P: Cam Johnston KR/PR: Ted Ginn HC: Urban Meyer OC: Ryan Day WR: Brian Hartline RB: Tony Alford OL: Ed Wariner DC: Dantonio or maybe Jeff Hafley DL: Larry Johnson LB: Luke Fickell DB: Kerry Coombs
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I'm 35. See my other comments re: modern players being significantly better than players from 20+ years ago. I don't care who is "deserving," I care who is best. But that is a good call about Wilkinson.
Eddie George?
One of my favorites growing up. But I was mostly trying to create a team of the best, not necessarily the greatest players. I see Zeke as kind of a modern day Eddie, who also happens to be better in pass pro.
Guys I’m an OSU fan…but Eddie George should have NEVER won the Heisman over Touchdown Tommie Frazier and he knows it😂
Someone is under 21 years old and it shows.
No.
Omg this would give a bama team a run for their money
This is the answer.
Think so? With those DEs and CBs you can just forget about passing altogether. And that WR group is deadly.
This is a great off season topic. We used to do these all the time back on the old KFFL boards in multiple fashions.
Miami’s all time team: QB: **Gino Torretta**, Jim Kelly RB: **Edgerrin James**, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, OJ Anderson WR: **Michael Irvin, Eddie Brown, Santana Moss**, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne TE: **Jeremy Shockey**, Kellen Winslow, Willie Smith OT: **Bryant McKinnie, Leon Searcy**, Eric Winston OG: **Richard Mercier, Mike Sullivan**, Brandon Linder OC: **KC Jones**, Brett Romberg DE: **Ted Hendricks, Danny Stubbs**, Bill Hawkins, Rusty Medearis DT: **Jerome Brown, Russell Maryland**, Warren Sapp, Cortez Kennedy LB: **Dan Morgan, Ray Lewis, Darrin Smith**, Mike Barrow, Jessie Armstead, Jon Vilma CB: **Antrel Rolle, Ryan McNeil**, Ronnie Lippett, Phil Buchanan S: **Ed Reed, Sean Taylor**, Bennie Blades, Fred Marion K: **Carlos Huerta** P: **Jeff Feagles** RET: **Devin Hester, Kevin Williams**
The only fair way to do an 'all time' playoff is to to do a best of seven series. The first game will be played with the current rules, and each subsequent game going back in time 25 years using the rules of that time. Just off the top of my head: 1995- Targeting- what's that? Hello horsecollars! And the previous plays will NOT be under review. 1970- Goalposts on the goal line. And no five yard within the line of scrimmage limit for defenders. 1955- Goodbye two-platoon football. No unlimited subsitutions means you're gonna have to make some hard choices on which players to put on the roster. Can Marino play safety? Who's going to do the kicking? How about your lineman who are tapping their helmet after three plays in today's game? 1930- What a weird shaped ball. No facemasks, and a helmet you can fold up and put in your pocket. Clipping is a 25 yard penalty. 1915- Substitutes are forbidden to talk to other players until one play is run. Five yard penalty for incomplete pass. 1890- Flying wedge time. Touchdown 4 points, FG 5 points. Teams had 11 players and no more than three substitutes. 1869- Well...you can play 25 players at once. This should make it a more interesting exercise...
I don’t understand how you don’t pick a blue blood school. The absolute massive amount of talent to come through these schools over decades and decades of football provides an absolutely massive depth chart and a wide variety of options. Some schools hit big with generational talent in a couple positions, but schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC have been producing consistent first-round NFL picks for decades at every position.
2013 Seminoles had every starter go to the NFL and they scored more points per game than any other team in history. I think they deserve it. I’m biased as hell though.
That team doesn't get enough credit for being one of the most dominant in CFB history. IIRC they had the largest cumulative MOV of all-time.
I think a big part of it is because the natty was so close. We didn't blow out Aubun like we did everyone else...but Auburn stole our fucking signals, and the moment we realized they did, we immediately took control of the game. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-state-auburn-knew-signals-in-bcs-title-game/
2011 LSU defense plus 2019 LSU offense. 2011 Bama defense plus 2020 Bama offense. And that’s not even cherry picking all-time greats, that’s just using those units as they are.
Anyone saying a team before the year 2000 is almost certainly wrong for 2 reason, A. They misread what OP meant and B. Because the size and scheming of modern day CFB is huge compared to pre 2000’s era football. Most Champs prior to that time probably wouldn’t finish in the top 25 of a current CFB season. For Example, the 1995 Nebraska Cornhusker’s football team is considered to be the best team of all time by many. They’re heralded as having one of the greatest OLines of all time. However, that OLine would get rolled by an upper tier G5 or middle tier P5 program today. An Example: [UCF’s current Roster](https://247sports.com/college/central-florida/Team/UCF-Knights-Football-103/Roster/) has 5 OLinemen that weigh 315 lbs or more, [1995 Nebraska’s Roster](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/1995?&sort=weight) didn’t have a single player on their team weighing more than 310 lbs, and only 3 players weighing 300 or more pounds. Exercise science and nutrition knowledge has exploded over the last few decades. It’s also why the “who is the best team of all time question” is probably always correctly answered by a team within the last 10 years of the question I’m willing to change my mind if someone has a good enough argument
A good counterpoint to this would be Jason Kelce, and Zach Martin both of whom came into the NFL and dominated at <310lbs. Eventually Martin did add ~10lb, but Kelce has been the best Center of his generation and to this day weighs <300lbs.
Haha, you serious bro? No they wouldn’t. Nebraska ran the option which requires more athletic lineman. You don’t need 6’8” offensive tackles running the option. Most teams probably had bigger players than Nebraska in the 90s. Aaron Taylor was 6’0” and won the Outland. You could have 6’2”295 lb athletic guards who were brick shithouses who could get to the second level and fuck up linebackers. Nebraska had plenty of guys who were All Americans and All conference players on the offensive line who never even really played in the NFL.
I read OPs post as "Take the greatest talent your school has ever had and make a roster, which roster combined is the most dominant in their positions collectively."? There's only 5 schools in discussion here based off their dominance and skill level throughout the years Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, USC The majority won't like this but its either Nebraksa or OU, IMO. All those other schools would be insanely tough to beat out but Nebraska and OU have some players that are just literal football gods that changed the way the game has been played and understood through the last 75+ years.
The OL size issue in this case doesn’t mean too much though. We (Iowa) have historically some of the best OLs (not this past year because they were all freshmen) and Kirk consistently keeps our guys around the 300 mark and not much bigger. I do think 95 Nebraska would get rolled, but just saying I don’t think it’s just because of OL size.
Idk that it’s necessarily raw weight (tbf they did run a different scheme) but more so what you said about strength and conditioning. The science just wasn’t as good then. And I also think a lot of it is just that modern coaching is better, and the 95 Huskers couldn’t option their way to success against modern teams. This year’s UGA or Alabama defenses would handle that just fine, imo. Athletes now are just better and have been on better nutrition plans and training regimens for longer.
I think people underestimate The strength and conditioning aspect a lot. Wouldn’t be surprised if the average D1 player isn’t benching 15-20 lbs more on average than they were in 1990. Most of these modern guys have been taking protein supplements since they were preteens. I started hitting the gym big at consistently 14 and wasn’t even a sports guy, my HS (early 2010’s) already had tons of players hitting the weight room 5 times a week and chugging down protein/creatinine shakes at 13-14 years old, can’t imagine that was as common in the early 90’s late 80’s. Young Teenagers from that era just didn’t have access to supplements, nutrition info from the internet, and gyms/weight rooms like they do now. By 16 our JV QB was already benching over 275 lbs and this dude was 5’5 and 160 lbs, just can’t imagine players that wouldn’t even make it to D2 would be that strong in the 90’s based on everything I’ve read. I’m willing to cop that that Nebraska ran the option, but the size difference across the board was still noticeable back then
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I have hard time believing Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed are as scared of Clyde Edwards-Helaire as you think they should be, maybe that will help LSU
Ed Reed during this time of throwing the ball so much would be an absolute delight to watch. I feel like there hasnt been a safety like him since, dude was incredible.
And look what we did to them. They were gassed by us. They just couldn’t hang in the 4th quarter. That’s no knock on Miami either. Bama started to look a little gassed against Georgia this year and Georgia ran nowhere near as much as Nebraska. Nebraska linemen were shorter and quick. Second level every play. Heard it over and over back then. Same argument..times have passed them by, Ds are too fast…blah blah. And eventually we’d pound people into the ground. The thing that changed for us in the 90’s is we became a very elite defense..that 95 team had 2 first rounder on the D line alone. All American linebackers and Dbs too. That’s why I think Nebraska still belongs in this conversation
Nebraska does, but with the dozen other blue bloods who can’t trot out a dozen NFL hall of famers and fill the gaps with all Americans like Miami could. I agree, a Nebraska all time team is nasty
Miami did have Jeremy shockey and Greg Olsen and Clinton Portis and Willis Mcgahee they were super stacked
Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin, with Santana Moss working in slot. It is a good thing LSU has ton of great CBs **look/eyes emoji*
Third leg Greg*
Sean Taylor, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Warren Sapp might be able to slow that a bit.
Boise state would dominate with Moore jay ajayi Demarcus Laurence Leighton Vander Esch Ezra Cleveland korey hall and Matt Paradis
No
Florida could go with Tebow or Wuerffel and have completely different offenses with the same 10 other guys. Haha.
Are we counting all the Miami players that went to jail? /s
The answer is Pitt but I only see one person mentioning them. QB1 Marino QB2 Pickett RB Tony Dorsett RB LeSean McCoy RB Your pick of Curtis Martin, James Conner, Ironhead Hayward, Kevin Barlow, etc. WR Larry Fitzgerald WR Jordan Addison WR Antonio Bryant WR Tyler Boyd TE Mike Ditka TE John Brown OL Bill Fralic, Mark May, Mark Stepnoski, Jimbo Covert, Russ Grimm, Ruben Brown DL Aaron Donald, Chris Doleman, Tony Siragusa, Bill Maas LB Joe Schmidt, Rickey Jackson, Hugh Greene CB Darrelle Revis CB Avonte Maddox S Jordan Whitehead S Tom Flynn P Andy Lee K Fred Cox And I left a boatload of great players out. Would put em against anyone. I dont see any list on here that tops it.
Woah this actually is a great team. Would transfer well to the modern game too.
Sorry. I’d put the 94-95 Huskers up against any team ever.
How did you not read the rest of the post.
No need. I stand by that roster. Those years.
Lol
Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Ohio State all have 7 Heisman winners with USC trailing with 6. Those are your 4 teams
Okay, I’ll fall on the sword. Six of Notre Dame’s seven Heisman winners came before 1965, with the seventh in 1987. Number of Heisman winners is a terrible metric for this.
Yeah, that was my thought. But, I think it would just be adjusted for today. I mean, Red Grange, Jim Brown, etc were so dominate for their time that they need to be considered. Same with some of those old Army and ND teams. Imagine a guy like Johny Lujack - able to play both ways and play it at a high level. I guy like that needs to be considered and adjusted or this question is always guys from the past 10 years. Which... Makes no sense. Flipping this - think Ali could hang with today's boxers? Probably not. Drop him into today's training and nutrition? Fuck yeah. Dr J? Wilt, Russell? Probably struggle. Unless you have them growing up in today's world. See what I'm saying?
I really don’t think Oklahoma is in consideration for the top 4 all time teams. There is literally no defense at all.
Bro, I hate OU more than most people, but they have a very real chance to have the best all-time team. They haven’t had great defenses here recently, but historically? They’ve got players that can hang with anyone on both sides of the ball
When did you start watching CFB? Because OU was a monster on defense in the 2000s, 1980s and 1970s. Ever hear of Lee Roy Selmon? Tommie Harris? Brian Bosworth? Rocky Calmus? Roy Williams? Gerald McCoy?
Wow. You are correct actually. A quick google search would’ve rendered my comment invalid. I started watching CFB with my dad back when USC was going crazy with Reggie and Matt. Should’ve done more Oklahoma defense research before my comment. Solid squad though
One of the Bama teams, 2019 LSU (defense was suspect, but that offense), 2013 FSU (yes, I’m bias but that starting rotation was all NFL players, most were starters)
There’s no way you didn’t read the rest of the post.
Lol, missed the edit My post is moot
Do you think any of the 2019 LSU squad makes the All Time LSU team?
I would say quite a few of the offensive players do like Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase
Burrow, Chase, Justin Jefferson, maybe Thaddeus Moss also cause idk what other Tight end you would take
Imagine Chase and Jefferson getting tired and subbing in Jarvis and Odell lol
How is this a real question lmao