By Chris Marler
2004 Auburn
There is not a bigger beneficiary of revisionist history than this team. But, yes they were very good and included: four first round draft picks, the best running back duo in SEC history, and an undefeated 13-0 season in what is NOW the best conference in college football.
But let’s be clear, they did not deserve to play for a national title. Anyone saying they should have is misremembering how that season played out. Oklahoma and USC started that season out as No. 1 and No. 2 in the polls, had a combined three Heisman winners and neither team lost all season. Let’s also remember that they played the fifth and eleventh best strength of schedules in the country. Auburn played a total of four ranked teams and a schedule ranked fifty fifth.
But yes, they were good.
1995 Florida
This team is overlooked so often in a conference full of incredible teams. That’s mainly because of what happened to them at the hands of Tommy Frazier and Nebraska out in Tempe. But this team was awesome. Steve Spurrier’s Gators ranked top 10 nationally in scoring offense and defense. The squad was littered with talent and future NFL draft picks on both sides of the ball as well as future Heisman QB Danny Wuerrfel.
The Gators entered the Fiesta Bowl 13-0 having beaten five top 25 teams (three in the top 10) by an average 24 ppg. All 13 wins were by double-digits, and they finished the season with over 41 ppg. All that came crashing when they got absolutely boat raced by Nebraska in the desert, 62-24.
2018 Alabama
This team was considered to be possibly the greatest team of all-time throughout much of the season. They did things we were not used to and absolutely destroyed teams behind star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a quartet of elite WRs. The depth on this team was insane. They had over 30 future NFL Draft picks including 13 first rounders.
And still lost by four touchdowns to Clemson in the natty.
Alabama beat teams so badly that season that going into the month of November, Tua had zero interceptions and hadn’t attempted a single pass in the fourth quarter. There were obvious flaws, especially on the offensive line, but the Tide still managed to finish the regular season with a +35.5 margin of victory. They finished the year 14-1 with five wins versus ranked teams including three over the top five.
2016 Alabama
I’ve seen a lot of good Alabama teams in my lifetime, but 2016 Bama was the best I’ve ever seen. And, if it wasn’t for a pick play leading to a Hunter Renfrow TD with :01 second left in the natty…we would absolutely talk about this team in the same way we talk about 2001 Miami and 2019 LSU.
They finished 14-1 and beat nine ranked teams by an average of 23.4 ppg. Eight of those nine wins were by double digits. The offense had Lane Kiffin AND Steve Sarkisian on staff and quarterback Jalen Hurts was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman. But the defense absolutely stole the show.
The defense was littered with former five-stars and future NFL first rounders. They led the country in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. They also scored a non-offensive touchdown in over HALF their games, finishing with 15 total. Only three teams scored over 17 points against them all year, and they allowed one touchdown the entire month of November.
2011 LSU
Trophy or not, 2011 LSU was hands down one of the best college football teams of all-time. They went 13-1 on the year and beat eight ranked teams by an average of 24.8 ppg. For a team that got criticized for offense and point scoring, they put up 40 or more points in nine games including six of their eight games versus ranked opponents.
The defense was nasty led by (regardless of Heisman trophy) the best player in the country, Tyrann Mathieu. They were fast, physical, and to call them opportunistic was putting it mildly. They absolutely BLUDGEONED teams. And, despite Les Miles’s best efforts, the level of swag this team had was unmatched. Even Aussie punter Brad Wing had one of the best fake punts ever for a touchdown versus Florida. The taunting penalty bringing it back just adds to the edge.
Ultimately, LSU was as unlucky as they were dominant, drawing a national title rematch versus an Alabama team they had already beaten in Tuscaloosa. We know how round two went. Alabama was the best team in the country that year, but don’t kid yourself, if that BCS computer spit out Oklahoma St at No. 2 instead of the Tide, LSU would’ve been 14-0 with yet another national title trophy in Baton Rouge.
