Where Do Cam's Tigers Fall? Power Ranking The Top Undefeated Teams of The 2000s

Since the year 2000, Division I college football has witnessed 11 complete undefeated seasons.

The 2010 season has the potential to add two more teams to the mix, providing TCU wins their match-up with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. And we're guaranteed to get at least one more out of the national championship tilt between undefeated Oregon and perfect Auburn.

That could up the number to 13.

But, out of those 13 teams, who has really been the best? 

It's really tough to gauge one team against another from year-to-year,, especially when they're all sporting perfect records, but by evaluating a couple of things, you can get a pretty good idea. So this is my quest, and these are the criteria I'll be using to assist me:

- points scored

- points allowed

- margin of victory

- strength of schedule

- performance against ranked teams

- team statistical rankings

- player statistical rankings

- drafted players

- awards and honors

Obviously, since TCU, Auburn and Oregon haven't played their final games this season, I'll go ahead and use what their rankings are based on their games played to date. That should leave some fun jockeying for position after their respective bowl games.

Let's dig in, and find out who has put together the best undefeated season since the year 2000.

Before we get to the rankings, however, I thought it would be cool to examine just which team had the best performances by individuals players on any of these teams, as well as performances by the team as a whole.

Individual performances in a season

Highest passing efficiency: 188.2, Cameron Newton (2010 Auburn Tigers)

Most passing yards: 3,606, Josh Heupel (2000 Oklahoma Sooners)

Most passing touchdowns: 39, Kellen Moore (2009 Boise State Broncos)

Most rushing yards: 1714, Ian Johnson (2006 Boise State Broncos)

Most rushing touchdowns: 25, Ian Johnson (2006 Boise State Broncos)

Most receptions: 80, Paris Warren (2004 Utah Utes)

Most receiving yards: 1,076, Michael Jenkins (2002 Ohio State Buckeyes) and Paris Warren (2004 Utah Utes)

Most receiving touchdowns: 14, Austin Pettis (2009 Boise State Broncos)

Most field-goals: 30, Leigh Tiffin (2009 Alabama Crimson Tide)

Team performances

Most points scored: 50.2 points per game (2005 Texas Longhorns)

Least points scored: 29.3 points per game (2002 Ohio State Buckeyes)

Least points allowed: 9.8 points per game (2001 Miami Hurricanes)

Most points allowed: 24.5 points per game (2010 Auburn Tigers)

Greatest margin of victory: 33.0 points per game (2005 Texas Longhorns)

Best passing attack: 294.7 yards per game (2000 Oklahoma Sooners)

Best rushing attack: 303.8 yards per game (2010 Oregon Ducks)

Best passing defense: 126.3 yards per game (2010 TCU Horned Frogs)

Best rushing defense: 77.7 yards per game (2002 Ohio State Buckeyes)

Best turnover margin: +26 (2001 Miami Hurricanes)

Most victories over ranked teams: Six (2009 Alabama, 2000 Oklahoma)

Most victories: 14 (2002 Ohio State, 2009 Boise State, 2009 Alabama)

Final ranking: #2 AP/#4 Coaches

Bowl Game: Utah 31, Alabama 17 in Sugar Bowl

Points scored: 480 (36.9 points per game)

Points allowed: 224 (17.2 points per game)

Margin of victory: 19.7 points per game

Strength of schedule: 56th

Wins against ranked teams

Three- #12 TCU (13-10), #14 BYU (48-24), #4 Alabama (31-17)

Season in review

It's hard to believe that this squad entered the 2008 season un-ranked. 

That changed after week one, a 25-23 victory in Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez's Wolverine debut, and the Utes were off and running. They won their next two games by a combined score of 100-31, before taking on undefeated Air Force. The Utes rallied back from a 16-9 third-quarter deficit and ended up with a 30-23 win. 

The Utes completed the non-conference portion of their schedule the next two weeks with wins over Weber State (37-21) and Oregon State (31-28). In order to beat the Beavers, who beat previously unbeaten USC the weekend before, Utah needed a TD with a minute and a half, a quick three-and-out by OSU, and a 37-yard field-goal by Louis Sakoda. 

In MWC play, Utah faced little competition from Wyoming, Colorado State or San Diego State, who they combined to outscore 152-37 in three easy wins.

Their toughest contests came against New Mexico, the week before facing 12th-ranked TCU, and a week later against the Horned Frogs. Both games finished as 13-10 finals, while the latter helped Utah wrap up the MWC crown. In order to secure that title, though, QB Brian Johnson had to march his team down the field to the go-ahead score with only 48 seconds remaining. 

Utah's match-up with 14th-ranked BYU two weeks later held little drama. The Utes rolled to a 24-point victory behind four Johnson passing scores, and locked up their second BCS berth.

In their BCS game, the Sugar Bowl, the Utes overpowered one of the nation's best teams, Alabama, who was reeling after their loss to Florida in the SEC championship game ended any chance at a return to a national title game. Despite being underdogs of nearly ten points, they jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, and withheld a Bama comeback, putting the Tide to bed with a score less than a minute after Alabama cut the lead to four points. The final score was 31-17, and Utah finished the season as the nation's only undefeated team. Florida, who was crowned national champions finished with one loss.

The Utes garnered first-place rankings in four of the six computer rankings used by the BCS, but couldn't make up ground on the Gators in the human polls.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Senior QB Brian Johnson was the heart and soul of this squad, passing for 27 TDs compared to only nine interceptions. He passed for nearly 3,000 yards and finished 16th in passer efficiency.

Running back Matt Asiata led the way in the ground game, rushing for 707 yards and 12 scores. He also had two TD passes, as well as one receiving. Of the receivers, Freddie Brown caught the most balls (77) and finished 100 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. He led the team with seven scores, and four other players finished with at least four receiving TDs.

Kicker Louis Sakoda saved the Utes butts on more than one occasion and put together an amazing season, misfiring on only two of 24 field-goals and finishing with 56 PATs.

Drafted players

2008- DE Paul Kruger (2nd), CB Sean Smith (2nd), CB Brice McCain (6th), WR Freddie Brown (7th)

2009- DE Koa Misi (2nd), OT Zane Beadles (2nd), S Robert Johnson (5th), WR David Reed (5th), LB Stevenson Sylvester (5th), CB R.J. Stanford (7th)

Awards and honors

QB Brian Johnson (MWC Offensive Player of the Year), K Louis Sakoda (MWC Special Teams Player of the Year), coach Kyle Whittingham (Bear Bryant, AFCA Coach of the Year, MWC Coach of the Year)

Seven Utes were named to the MWC First-Team: Johnson, Sakoda, Beadles, OL Robert Conley, McCain, Kruger, and Smith.

Comparison

Utah is one of three teams to appear on this list twice, which says a lot about a program that still finds a way to fly under the radar every year. With the Utes moving to the Pac-10, they should find these undefeated seasons a lot harder to come by, but a lot more rewarding when they do.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 Coaches

Bowl game: Ohio State 31, Miami 24 (overtime) in Fiesta Bowl BCS Championship Game

Points scored: 410 (29.3 points per game)

Points allowed: 183 (13.1 points per game)

Margin of victory: 16.2 points per game

Strength of schedule: 22nd

Wins against ranked teams

Four- #7 Washington State (25-7), #10 Penn State (13-7), #11 Michigan (14-9), #1 Miami (31-24)

Season in review

Ohio State has never been the prettiest team to watch, even when they posted an undefeated season, capped by a national championship victory over a 11.5 point favorite who had won 34 consecutive games.

It was a long road to get to that controversial win, however. 

The Buckeyes' 2002 campaign kicked off with back-to-back thumpings of Texas Tech (45-21) and Kent State (51-17). The 51-point total against Kent State would be the highest total of the season for the Buckeyes. In the third game of the season, Ohio State used a 196-yard second-half by Maurice Clarett to spur them to a 25-7 victory over seventh-ranked Washington State.

That game cemented Ohio State's #2 ranking, which they wouldn't surrender for the rest of the season.

After a close victory over Cincinnati, State jumped into their Big Ten schedule posting comfortable victories over Northwestern and Indiana to move to 6-0. They took a week off for a non-conference tilt with San Jose State (50-7) before re-engaging their conference. The Buckeyes won a close one (19-14) at Wisconsin, led by the spotless play of QB Craig Krenzel.

The team returned home to face 10th-ranked Penn State the next week and eeked out a victory thanks to an interception return for a TD by two-way star Chris Gamble. Clarett was hurt in the 13-7 victory, but wasn't needed with the Buckeye defense holding Penn State to only five first-downs and 179 total yards.

Ohio State crushed Minnesota the next week (34-3) and got a last-minute miracle TD pass on 4th-and-1 from Krenzel that kept the Bucks undefeated against Purdue, 10-6.

Ohio State found trouble again the next week, facing 4-6 Illinois. The Illini took OSU to overtime, but missed out on a chance to spoil the undefeated season when a fourth-down pass was batted down in the end-zone.

The Buckeyes ended their regular season with another squeaker, 14-9 over Michigan in a game that ended when Michigan QB John Navarre had his pass picked off in the end-zone on the Wolverines desperate last drive. Even though Ohio State didn't play Iowa, who also went undefeated in conference play, they won the honor of Big Ten champs, thanks to their spotless record. 

They also won a date with undefeated Miami, winners of 34 in a row, in the Fiesta Bowl. In what some considered to be the greatest championship game of all-time before the Texas-USC title game a few years later, Ohio State stunned the Hurricanes, utilizing a controversial pass-interference call at the end of the first overtime, that sent Miami players, who had begun celebrating a second consecutive title, back to the sideline.

Ohio State became the first team in college football history to finish a season 14-0.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Running back Maurice Clarett was the star of this squad. As a freshman, he shattered the OSU mark for rushing yards by a first-year player. He ended the season with 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns.

QB Craig Krenzel led the balanced Buckeyes attack, finishing the season as the nation's 14th-ranked passer. He only passed for 12 touchdowns (and seven INTs) and barely completed 59% of his passes, but he also contributed in the running game, gaining 368 yards and scoring three TDs, including two in the title game.

The Buckeyes had two talented receivers in Michael Jenkins (61 receptions for 1076 yards and 6 TDs) and Chris Gamble, who caught two passes for 69 yards in the title game, and also played shutdown corner on the Buckeyes vaunted defense.

The Bucks finished the season ranked 31st in the nation in rushing and 92nd in passing offense. They finished ranked 70th in total offense and 41st in points per game. Clearly it wasn't their offense that won them the title.

Their defense, on the other hand, was top-notch. They finished ranked third against the rush, which more than made up for the fact that they were dreadful against the pass (ranked 95th) despite having Chris Gamble, Will Smith, Mike Doss and Will Allen as a part of their defensive unit.

The finished second in scoring defense with 13.1 points per game, finished in the top-20 in turnover margin, and in true Ohio State fashion, finished in the top-20 in net punting and fewest penalties allowed.

Drafted players

2003- DB Mike Doss (2nd), DT Kenny Peterson (3rd), LB Cie Grant (3rd), LB Matt Wilhelm (4th), DB Donnie Nickey (5th)

2004- DE Will Smith (1st), DB Chris Gamble (1st), WR Michael Jenkins (1st), TE Ben Hartsock (3rd), DT Tim Anderson (3rd), P B.J. Sander (3rd), DE Darrion Scott (3rd), C Alex Stepanovich (4th), DB Will Allen (4th), QB Craig Krenzel (5th), WR Drew Carter (5th), LB Robbie Reynolds (5th), OT Shane Olivea (7th), G Adrien Clarke (7th)

2005- K Mike Nugent (2nd), CB Dustin Fox (3rd), RB Maurice Clarett (3rd)

2006- LB A.J. Hawk (1st), LB Bobby Carpenter (1st), WR Santonio Holmes (1st), C Nick Mangold (1st), DB Nate Salley (4th), G Rob Sims (4th)

2007- QB Troy Smith (5th)

Awards and honors

RB Maurice Clarett (Big Ten Freshman of the Year), coach Jim Tressel (Bryant), DB Mike Doss (Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year)

The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes featured three First-Team All-Americans: Doss, Nugent, Wilhelm.

Comparison

The Buckeyes are by far, one of the weakest offensive teams of these 14. They struggled mightily to win half of their conference games, but when it counted they came up big against Miami. Maurice Clarett put the team on his back and carried them most of the way, and Craig Krenzel was solid and mistake-free when it counted the most.

Final ranking: #5 AP/#6 Coaches

Bowl game: Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 (overtime) in Fiesta Bowl

Points scored: 516 (39.7 points per game)

Points allowed: 229 (17.6 points per game)

Margin of victory: 22.1 points per game

Strength of schedule: 90th

Wins against ranked teams

One- #10 Oklahoma (43-42)

Season in review

The Broncos 2006 season started innocently enough, with a 45-0 victory over Division I-AA opponent Sacramento State. It ended with one of the most amazing finishes to any football game in history. And along the way, the Broncos made a little history of their own.

The second game of the season is what really kick-started the Broncos first BCS run. Boise hosted Oregon State, and pulverized the Beavers on national TV, 42-14, behind 240-yards and five TDs on the ground from Bronco RB Ian Johnson.

Still, not even that was enough to get the Broncos into the top-25. That took two more weeks, and a seven-point victory over Wyoming, moving the team into the #25 spot heading into a match-up with explosive Hawaii. The shootout finally went the way of the Broncos 41-34, who needed a late Jared Zabransky TD-pass to keep the Warriors at bay.

The blowout victory (36-3) the next week at Utah did just about as much for the Broncos as the Oregon State game, and cemented the teams status as potential BCS busters.

The Broncos jumped into the meat of their conference schedule and didn't face another serious test until mid-November, when they needed a late TD-pass and a two-point conversion to tie the game at 20 against San Jose State, and then a field-goal as time expired to preserve their perfect 10-0 record.

Their final games of the season were relative cake-walks (49-10 vs Utah State and 38-7 vs Nevada), and the latter sewed up the first BCS berth in Boise State history. The wins also garnered BSU their highest ranking ever, at number eight.

The epic bowl game, against Oklahoma, will forever be remembered for the final few plays, but it has been pretty much forgotten how badly the Broncos dominated the Sooners early on. They appeared to be at least a few steps ahead of Bob Stoops' squad, building an early 14-0 lead, a 21-0 halftime lead, and a 28-10 lead in the third-quarter.

The Sooners clawed their way back, however, finally taking the lead with less than a minute left on a Jared Zabransky interception that was returned 33-yards for a TD. That's when Chris Petersen forever etched into college football lore the hook-and-ladder (which went a total of 50-yards for a TD to tie the game with seven seconds remaining), the half-back pass (which scored the game-tying TD in overtime) and the Statue of Liberty, which clinched the Fiesta Bowl victory for Boise.

The Broncos finished the 2006 season as the only undefeated team in college football, but still couldn't rise any higher than fifth in the AP poll and sixth in the coaches.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

The 2006 squad was incredibly balanced, on offense and defense, in running and passing, but the star of the season was running-back Ian Johnson. Johnson took the Broncos to new heights, rushing for 1,714 yards and a nation-leading 25 touchdowns on the way. He cracked the century mark eight times in nine of the 12 games he played in and had four games with three or more rushing scores. In back-to-back games against Idaho and New Mexico State he gained 375 yards and scored eight TDs.

And he did that all as a sophomore.

The Broncos passing game wasn't too shabby either, led by Zabransky, who finished eighth in the nation in passing efficiency. He passed for 23 TDs on the season and, an able runner, scored six more times on the ground.

Zabransky's go-to-guys that season were Drisan James and Jerard Rabb, who conveniently were the two guys who teamed up for the hook-and-ladder that sent the Fiesta Bowl to overtime. James caught 36 passes for 650 yards and four scores, while Rabb racked up 37 receptions, 586 yards and four TDs.

As a team, the Broncos finished in the top-ten in total yards per game (ninth), rushing yards per game (sixth), rushing yards per carry (eighth), rushing TDs (second) and points-per game (second). They didn't fare too well on third-downs, but led the nation with a 76% success rate on fourth-down.

The Broncos also boasted one of the most accurate kickers in college football in Anthony Montgomery who in addition to nailing 93% of his kicks, also drilled 61 PATs. They also had a top-ten punter in Kyle Stringer, who averaged 44.6 yards per punt.

On defense, the Broncos were stacked. Safety Marty Tadman and linebacker Korey Hall finished tied for tenth in the nation with six interceptions a piece, and Tadman returned two of his for touchdowns, including one in the Fiesta Bowl. The squad finished the season with 20 picks (good for seventh in the nation) and four returns for touchdowns (second).

On the defensive side of the ball, they also featured Mike Williams, who came up with a huge fumble in the Fiesta Bowl, and a young freshman named Ryan Winterswyk, who has been an All-WAC First-Team star for the three final years of his career. At linebacker, they had WAC Defensive Player of the Year Korey Hall, as well as solid regulars Colt Brooks, David Shields and Dallas Dobbs. The defensive backfield was loaded, featuring future NFL starters Orlando Scandrick and Kyle Wilson, as well as Rashaun Scott, Austin Smith, and Quinton Jones, who also doubled as the Broncos dangerous return man.

They finished 26th in the country with 33 sacks, led by Andrew Browning's eight. 

Drafted players

2007- S Gerald Alexander (2nd), WR Legadu Naanee (5th), LB Korey Hall (6th), TE Derek Schouman (7th)

2008- OT Ryan Clady (1st), CB Orlando Scandrick (5th)

2010- CB Kyle Wilson (1st)

Awards and honors

LB Korey Hall (WAC Defensive Player of the Year), coach Chris Petersen (Bryant, AFCA Coach of the Year)

The 2006 Boise State Broncos featured seven All-WAC First-Team players: Johnson, Hall, Legadu Naanee, Derek Schouman, Ryan Clady, Browning, and Montgomery.

Comparison

The Broncos weren't the first BCS busters, but they certainly left the biggest footprint. Their improbable victory over Oklahoma stamped the place of all non-AQ teams looking for a chance to prove themselves in the BCS. Their offense was great, their defense definitely solid, and their special teams were fantastic. However, they didn't face too much competition in the regular season and many still feel that the Sooners were primed for a letdown in their bowl game, taking some thunder away from Broncos supporters. Despite their underdog status, you get the feeling that no matter who the Broncos faced at the end of the 2006 season, they would have put up one hell of a fight.

Final ranking: #4 AP/#5 Coaches

Bowl game: Utah 35, Pittsburgh 7 in Fiesta Bowl

Points scored: 544 (45.3 points per game)

Points allowed: 234 (19.5 points per game)

Margin of victory: 25.8 points per game

Strength of schedule: 67th

Wins against ranked teams

One- #20 Pittsburgh (35-7)

Season in review

Led by stellar QB Alex Smith, the Utes became the first "BCS Buster," breaking new ground for the non-AQ schools.

And while the Utes didn't play and defeat a ranked team until their finale in the Fiesta Bowl, they manhandled just about every team they played, including the Big East champion Pitt Panthers who were way in over their heads against Utah coach Urban Meyer's vaunted spread offense attack.

Utah's closest game of the season was a 14-point victory over Air Force in week four. Before that, they destroyed two AQ schools, Texas A&M (41-21) and Arizona (23-6) and WAC opponent Utah State (48-6).

After their "close game" against Air Force, Utah rolled to a 21-point victory over New Mexico and a 30-point win over North Carolina. That's when they really got their offense rolling.

They hung 63 points on UNLV for their seventh win, 51 on San Diego State for win number eight, and 63 on Colorado State to get to 9-0. Their closest remaining game was a 45-28 victory over Wyoming. They finished off BYU 52-21 to move to 11-0 and wrap up the MWC title.

Utah was rewarded for their efforts by facing, by far, the weakest of the BCS bowl teams, Pittsburgh, who came into the game with an 8-3 record. Utah wiped the floor with the Panthers, outgaining them 467-268. QB Alex Smith tossed four TDs and ran for 68 yards en route to a 35-7 win that wasn't even that close.

Despite their sterling 12-0 record, the Utes still finished behind the 13-0 Auburn Tigers, 13-0 USC Trojans, and the 12-1 Oklahoma Sooners. They also finished behind 11-1 Texas in the USA Today poll.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

QB Alex Smith was the perfect man to run Urban Meyer's spread-offense. He finished the season with 32 TDs and only four interceptions. He completed nearly 70% of his passes and he contributed on the ground with nearly 700 yards and ten more scores. 

The running game was a three-headed attack that featured Smith and backs Quinton Ganther and Marty Johnson. Ganther gained 654 yards and scored twice, while Johnson gained 802 yards and scored 14 TDs.

The Utes receiving corp was stacked, with Paris Warren (80 rec, 1076 yds, 12 TDs) and Steve Savoy (67 rec, 961 yds, 11 TDs) leading the way.

On defense the Utes had two stars, in Morgan Scalley and Eric Weddle, who combined for 10 interceptions, 3.5 sacks and 126 tackles.

On offense, few teams were better or more efficient than the Utes. They finished 13th in the country in rush offense, and 19th in passing. Overall , they finished third in the nation in total offense, and third in scoring offense. They were the third most efficient passing offense and the 19th best in the country at defending the pass.

On defense, they were no slouches either, finishing 39th in total defense and 22nd in scoring defense. And just for good measure they finished third in net punting and fifth in kickoff return yardage per game.

Their turnover margin of +15 was good for third in the country, and they finished in the top-20 in fumble recoveries and interceptions.

Drafted players

2005: QB Alex Smith (1st), DT Sione Pouha (3rd), G Chris Kemoeatu (6th), WR Paris Warren (7th), DE Jonathan Fanene (7th)

2006: S Spencer Toone (7th), RB Quinton Ganther (7th)

2007: S Eric Weddle (2nd), DT Paul Soliai (4th)

Awards and honors

QB Alex Smith (Sporting News Player of the Year, Sports Illustrated Player of the Year, MWC Offensive Player of the Year), S Morgan Scalley (MWC Co-Defensive player of the Year), coach Urban Meyer (MWC Coach of the Year, Home Depot Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year)

The 2004 Utah Utes had zero First-Team All-Americans, but three Second-Team players: Smith, Kemoeatu, and Scalley.

Comparison

It's really hard to quantify how good the 2004 Utes were because they didn't really play any ranked teams. They didn't get much help in-conference, where New Mexico was the only other team to finish with a winning record. Non-conference opponent Texas A&M finished the season 7-5, but Arizona went 3-8 and North Carolina finished 6-6, so their wins over AQ schools didn't even come out looking that impressive. Even their victory of Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl seemed kind of hollow. I would have loved to see them tested against a better team, like Auburn. 

Final ranking: #2 AP/#2 Coaches

Bowl game: Auburn 16, Virginia Tech 13 in Sugar Bowl

Points scored: 417 (32.1 points per game)

Points allowed: 147 (11.3 points per game)

Margin of victory: 20.8 points per game

Strength of schedule: 60th

Wins against ranked teams

Five- #5 LSU (10-9), #10 Tennessee (34-10), #8 Georgia (24-6), #15 Tennessee (38-28), #9 Virginia Tech (16-13)

Season in review

The 2004 Auburn squad stands as one of the most under-appreciated undefeated teams in history. That is primarily because they didn't have a very tough schedule, it was a down year for the SEC, and they didn't get a shot at the national championship.

Still, this Tiger team was stacked with plenty of star power. Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams helped guide the Tigers to their fifth undefeated season in school history.

It all began with back-to-back blowouts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. The Tigers faced their first test against fifth-ranked LSU, and came out smelling like roses when Campbell hit receiver Courtney Taylor with a 16-yard TD pass with a little more than a minute left in the game, sealing a 10-9 victory.

Auburn cruised to three consecutive victories, defeating the Citadel (33-3) and Louisiana Tech (52-7), sandwiched around a big win over tenth-ranked Tennessee, who would go on to win the SEC East crown. Auburn manhandled the Vols, dominating the time-of-possession and forcing six Tennessee turnovers, leading to a 34-10 victory.

Auburn rolled off four more wins in a row, including a 24-6 victory over eighth-ranked Georgia, a game in which the Tigers D held the Bulldogs to less than 200-yards in the air, and less than 100 on the ground.

That set up Auburn's annual rivalry game with Alabama. The Tigers sleepwalked through the first-half, entering the locker room with a 6-0 deficit. They finally got going in the third-quarter, scoring 21 consecutive points to put the Tide away 21-13, setting up a rematch with Tennessee in the SEC title game.

The Tigers overcame a huge rushing advantage by the Vols, as well as the games only two turnovers, to ride to victory 38-28 behind 374-yards and three TDs by Campbell, who also contributed 57 rushing yards.

Despite being undefeated, and winners of the usually very tough SEC, the Tigers were bypassed for the title game in favor of 12-0 USC and 12-0 Oklahoma, who destroyed Colorado 42-3 in the Big-12 title game.

Auburn was left with a matchup against ninth-ranked Virginia Tech. The game was essentially no contest, merely a formality to a 13-0 season. Tech couldn't find their offense until late in the fourth quarter, trailing 16-0 for nearly the entire game, before scoring twice to bring the final to a more respectable 16-13. The game was no where near as close as the score indicated.

Auburn's gripe was exacerbated when Oklahoma laid an egg in the title game, getting destroyed by USC's vaunted offensive attack, 55-19.

The Tigers finished the season ranked #2 in both polls, and garnered three first-place votes in the AP poll. 

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Much like this season, where the Tigers have also posted a 13-0 record, they were led by one of the nation's most efficient quarterbacks. Jason Campbell played poised ball all season long, completing nearly 70% of his passes with 20 TDs and only seven picks.

But the Tigers two-headed rushing attack of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown was what kept the team going. Williams gained 1165 yards and scored 12 TDs, while Brown chipped in with 913 yards and eight TDs of his own.

Courtney Taylor led a balanced Tiger receiving corps with 43 catches, 737 yards and six TDs.

The Tigers offense didn't finish in the top-ten in any national rankings, but they were one of the more balanced teams in the country, averaging 248 yards through the air and 184 on the ground.

The Tigers defense paved the way for the Tigers undefeated run, holding opponents to a nation's best 11.3 points per game. They had the nation's tenth best pass defense and were 12th best against the run. D-lineman Stanley McClover led the way with eight sacks for a team that racked up 35 total on the year. They finished 17th in the nation with 16 interceptions.

Drafted players

2005: RB Cadillac Williams (1st), RB Ronnie Brown (1st), CB Carlos Rogers (1st), QB Jason Campbell (1st), DT Jay Ratliff (7th)

2006: OT Marcus McNeill (2nd), WR Ben Obomanu (7th), DE Stanely McClover (7th), WR Devin Aromashodu (7th)

2007- RB Kenny Irons (2nd), LB Will Herring (5th), CB David Irons (6th), WR Courtney Taylor (7th)

2008- CB Patrick Lee (2nd), DE Quentin Groves (2nd), DT Pat Sims (3rd), OT King Dunlap (7th)

Awards and honors

CB Carlos Rogers (Jim Thorpe), coach Tommy Tuberville (Bryant)

Marcus McNeill, Carlos Rogers, and Cadillac Williams were all named to various All-American teams.

Campbell, Williams, Brown, McNeill, LB Travis Williams, Rogers and DB Junior Rosegreen were all named to the All-SEC First-Team.

Comparison

The 2004 Auburn squad had one of the best defenses on this list. They swarmed to the ball, and on several occasions, bailed out their on-again, off-again offense. Despite the offensive star-power (Campbell, Brown and Williams), the Tiger's offense wasn't always running as well as you might expect. Still, you can see by the number, and the quality, of the players drafted that this was a pretty good team.

Final ranking: #3 AP/#3 Coaches

Bowl game: TCU vs Wisconsin in Rose Bowl

Points scored: 520 (43.3 points per game)

Points allowed: 137 (11.4 points per game)

Margin of victory: 31.9 points per game

Strength of schedule: 75th

Wins against ranked teams

Two- #24 Oregon State (30-21), #5 Utah (47-7)

Season in review

Few teams have been as dominating, on both offense and defense as the 2010 TCU Horned Frogs. And while the true outcome of their season depends on their Rose Bowl match-up with Wisconsin, it has been quite an impressive run so far.

Gary Patterson's squad started off the season with a tough non-conference match-up with Oregon State. Despite making the games only two turnovers, the Horned Frogs still came out on top, 30-21, after OSU QB Ryan Katz took a safety that put TCU up by two-scores.

After the season opener, TCU didn't have another close game until two months later, against San Diego State. 

In between, the Horned Frogs crushed Tennessee Tech (62-7), Baylor (45-10), SMU (41-24), Colorado State (27-0), Wyoming (45-0), BYU (31-3)., Air Force (38-7), UNLV (48-6) and fifth-ranked Utah (47-7).

The win over Utah launched TCU up to number three in the BCS rankings, assuring them a spot in the title game had Oregon or Auburn lost. They didn't and the Horned Frogs wrapped up a Rose Bowl berth with a season-ending 66-17 victory over New Mexico, clinching their second-consecutive MWC title as well.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Senior QB Andy Dalton was the heart (and the brains) of the 2010 TCU team. In the passing game he set career marks in touchdowns (26), yard-per-attempt (9.0) and completion percentage (66.2%). His impact on the ground game was just as invaluable, as he rushed for 407 yards and five TDs.

RB Ed Wesley got the biggest share of the carries, but with so many games in hand by half-time, he didn't even reach 175 carries. He did lead the squad in rushing yards, with 1,065, while Matthew Tucker finished with 694, good for second on the team. Wesley scored 11 TDs while Tucker scored seven times.

In the receiving game, it was a four-pronged attack for TCU. Jeremy Kerley led the team in receptions with 50, while Josh Boyce led the team in yards with 602. The two combined for 16 TDs, and Jimmy Young and Bart Johnson chipped in with 825 yards and seven TDs of their own.

As a team, TCU ranked eighth in the nation in rushing offense and ninth in total offense. Their 43.3 points per game ranked tied for fourth in the country, along with Oklahoma State. They had the nation's fifth best passing efficiency as a team, and were one of the best in the country at converting third-downs (53.4%).

The biggest key to their success, however, was most likely the fact that they held the ball, on average, for eight minutes per game longer than their opponent. They ranked second to only Stanford in terms of time-of-possession.

On defense, few teams were better than TCU. They finished third against the run, first against the pass, and tops overall in total defense. Their 11.3 points per game allowed was also best in the country.

Like on offense, they were exceptional in third-down situations, holding teams to a 21% conversion rate on the pivotal down, the best number in the country by more than three points.

The Horned Frogs excelled in special teams as well, ranking in the top-ten in punt and kick returns.

Drafted players

Not available

Awards and honors

QB Andy Dalton (MWC Offensive Player of the Year), LB Tank Carder (MWC Defensive Player of the Year), WR Jeremy Kerley (MWC Special Teams Player of the Year).

TCU had nine players named to the MWC First-Team: Dalton, Carder, Kerley, RB Ed Wesley, OL Jake Kirkpatrick, OL Marcus Cannon, DL Wayne Daniels, LB Tanner Brock, DB Tejay Johnson.

Comparison

The TCU squad can stack up against any other team on this list when it comes to offensive firepower and defensive prowess. Still, with only one true game against a ranked team (Utah), and the relative power (or lacke thereof) of the MWC, TCU can only rise so high. Their tilt against Wisconsin should be a truer gauge of how high to rank this team.

Final ranking: #4 AP/#4 ESPN

Bowl game: Boise State 17, TCU 10 in Fiesta Bowl

Points scored: 591 (42.2 points per game)

Points allowed: 240 (17.1 points per game)

Margin of victory: 25.1 points per game

Strength of schedule: 96th

Wins against ranked teams

Two: #16 Oregon (19-8), #4 TCU (17-10)

Season in review

Traditionally, the Broncos have had to hang their hats on one or two victories each season since they play in the vastly inferior WAC. The 2009 season provided the Broncos with their biggest regular season victory, possibly ever.

The Broncos hosted the Oregon Ducks in the first-game of the season for both teams, and the Broncos dominated from the get-go. Boise jumped out to an early 8-0 lead that increased when the Broncos tackled Duck RB LeGarrette Blount in the end-zone for a safety. Boise got a field-goal to increase their lead to 13-0 at halftime. The team came out dominated the Ducks again in the second half, scoring a TD early in the third-quarter to push their lead to 19-0. The Ducks got a late score to bring the game within 11 points, but they were unable to score again, leaving the Broncos 1-0, and staring down an undefeated season.

Of course, the Broncos dominating effort (holding the Ducks to 152 yards and 31 on the ground) was overshadowed by the post-game antics of Blount, who decked Boise linebacker Byron Hout.

The Broncos rolled over every other opponent that season, and aside from an 11-point victory over Nevada and a seven-point win over Tulsa, none of the games had any real drama attached. They beat Miami-Ohio (48-0), Fresno State (51-34), Bowling Green (49-14), UC-Davis (34-16), Hawaii (54-9), San Jose State (45-7), Louisiana Tech (45-35), Idaho (63-25), Utah State (52-21), and New Mexico State (42-7) to wrap up their second consecutive undefeated regular season.

Their first real test since the Oregon game came in their finale against fourth-ranked TCU, who missed out on a berth in the title game by thismuch. The Broncos overpowered TCU, especially on defense, holding the Horned Frogs, widely considered the better defensive squad, to 31 yards on the ground, en route to a 17-10 victory. The Broncos broke the game open on a fake-punt midway through the fourth-quarter. They scored on the drive, and forced a late TCU interception that sealed the victory and the Broncos second Fiesta Bowl title.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Statistically speaking the Broncos were easily the best team in the country in 2009.

They featured the nation's second-ranked QB, Kellen Moore who, despite being only a sophomore, passed for 3,536 yards and 39 TDs. He completed 64.3% of his passes and tossed only three interceptions, posting the best TD-to-INT ratio in college football history. 

On the ground, they had Jeremy Avery, who ran for 1,150 yards and six TDs despite starting the season as the backup to D.J. Harper who averaged 95 yards and a TD during the Broncos first three games, but blew out his ACL and missed the remainder of the season. Third-string RB Doug Martin led the Broncos on the ground with 15 rushing TDs, including the game-winner in the Fiesta Bowl.

Catching Moore's accuate passes, the Broncos had the nation's most effective receiving-duo. Titus Young and Austin Pettis combined for 142 receptions, nearly 1,900 yards and 24 TDs. The Broncos had six players finish the season with 21 or more receptions.

As a unit, the Broncos had the nation's 26th best rushing attack, the 29th best passing game, and the tenth best total offensive attack. They finished number one in the country in scoring offense, at 42.2 points per game, threw less interceptions as a team than anyone else, and finished seventh in the least amount of turnovers made.

And in 14 games, the Broncos offensive line only allowed five sacks, easily the best number in the country.

They didn't finish inside the top-25 in third-down conversion, but finished third in the country in fourth-down conversion with success on 77.3% of their 22 attempts.

On defense, the Broncos were led by Ryan Winterswyk, who helped the team develop into the nations 28th best defense against the run. And defensive backs Kyle Wilson and Brandyn Thompson guided e the team to a 21st place finish in pass defense. Overall, the Broncos posted the 14th best defense, and their 17.1 points per game allowed also finished 14th.

The Broncos thrived on the turnover game, racking up more interceptions than any other team in the country not named Texas. They were led by Brandyn Thompson's team leading six picks. They also recovered 12 fumbles, giving them 35 total turnovers gained, third-best in the nation.

Led by kicker/punter Kyle Brotzman, KR Titus Young and PR Kyle Wilson, the Broncos also had one of the country's top special teams units. Brotzman helped the Broncos to the nation's 14th best punting unit, while Young helped the team turn in the fourth-best effort on kick-returns and retuned one kick 108-yards for a TD.

Drafted players

2009- CB Kyle Wilson (1st)

Awards and honors

QB Kellen Moore (WAC Offensive Player of the Year), coach Chris Petersen (WAC Coach of the Year, Bryant)

The Broncos placed six players on the WAC First-Team: Moore, WR Austin Pettis, WR/KR Titus Young, CB Kyle Wilson, OL Nate Potter, DE Ryan Winterswyk

Comparison

The 2009 Boise State Broncos were rarely challenged, but when they were (against Oregon and TCU), they stepped up in a big way. And along the way they beat every team they were supposed to by a comfortable margin. They had an impressive offensive attack led by Moore, Young and Pettis, and an up-and-coming defense that was better than anyone gave them credit for. The way the defensive unit played against Oregon and TCU was inspiring, and gave the Broncos one of the top ten undefeated squads of the past decade.

Final ranking: #2 AP/#2 Coaches

Bowl game: Oregon vs Auburn in BCS Championship Game

Points scored: 592 (49.3 points per game)

Points allowed: 221 points (18.4 points per game)

Margn of victory: 30.9 points per game

Strength of schedule: 12th

Wins against ranked teams

Three- #9 Stanford (52-31), #24 USC (53-32), #21 Arizona (49-28)

Season in review

Oregon dominated a slightly weakened Pac-10 conference in 2010, setting all sorts of offensive records in the process.

The season began with a 72-0 pasting of New Mexico and only got better from there.

The Ducks dominated conference play, outscoring their opponents 403-208. This included huge blowouts against Washington (53-16), UCLA (60-13) and Washington State (43-23).

In the three biggest games of their season they rolled, dominating #9 Stanford 52-31, #24 USC 53-32 and #21 Arizona 49-28.

The closest game they had was a 15-13 victory over California, but the Ducks righted their ship the next week with the victory over Arizona, followed by a 17-point victory over hated rival Oregon State that sent the Ducks to the BCS National Championship game.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

The Ducks put one on of the most impressive offensive shows in college football history in 2010, and despite ranking 104th (out of 120) in time-of-possession, they managed to lead the nation in points scored, while ranking fourth in rushing offense.

The Ducks were led by QB Darron Thomas, who passed for 2,518 yards and 28 TDs, and gained 488 yards and scored another five TDs on the ground.

RB LaMichael James emerged as a serious Heisman candidate after rushing for nearly 1,700 yards and 21 TDs. Both he and backup Kenjon Barner rushed for at least six yards per carry and combined for 27 touchdowns.

The Ducks featured little star-power in their receiving corps but had a very deep squad. Jeff Maehl led the team in catches (68), yards (943) and TDs (12). Six other players caught at least 11 passes, while eight others caught a touchdown.

The Ducks defense was vastly underrated. They finished in the top-15 against the run and made up for their struggles against the pass by racking up 20 interceptions, good for fourth in the nation.

Their special teams play was also great, and the Ducks ranked in the top-15 of net punting, and led the nation in yards per punt return.

Drafted players

Not available

Awards and honors

RB LaMichael James (Heisman finalist, Doak Walker finalist), coach Chip Kelly (Pac-10 Coach of the Year)

The 2010 Oregon Ducks placed seven players on the Pac-10 First-Team: James, WR Jeff Maehl, TE David Paulson Jr., OL Jordan Holmes, LB Casey Matthews, DB Talmadge Jackson, KR Cliff Harris

Comparison

The 2010 Ducks were one of the most explosive teams in history, easily besting every other squad on this list. Their defense was strong, but not nearly enough to catapult them to the top of the list. Also, their lack of competition in conference will eventually dim the shine of this squad a few years from now.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 ESPN

Bowl game: Texas 41, USC 38 in Rose Bowl BCS Championship Game

Points scored: 652 (50.2 points per game)

Points allowed: 213 (16.4 points per game)

Margin of victory: 33.8 points per game

Strength of schedule: 28th

Wins against ranked teams

Four- #4 Ohio State (25-22), #24 Colorado (42-17), #10 Texas Tech (52-17), #1 USC (41-38)

Season in review

The Longhorns started the season with high expectations, and spent the entire season ranked number two in the country. 

They kick-started the 2005 campaign with a cake-walk win over Louisiana-Lafayette 60-3. Then came their highly anticipated match-up with number-four Ohio State. The Longhorns needed some late magic but came away victorious 25-22.

They entered Big-12 play with tons of momentum, blowing out one opponent after another. They handed each conference opponent a loss of more than 11-points including a 31-point win over Missouri, a 33-point win over Oklahoma, a 25-point win over Colorado, a 35-point win over #10 Texas Tech, a 19-point win over Oklahoma State, a 62-point victory over Baylor, a 42-point win over Kansas, and an 11-point win over Texas A&M.

For a finale, the Longhorns routed Colorado in a incredibly uneven Big 12 Championship, 70-3, the worse blowout in conference championship game history. Any conference.

The Longhorns didn't face another challenge until their BCS Championship match-up with #1 USC. The game see-sawed back and forth until Vince Young scored the game-winning TD with under a minute remaining. The 41-38 victory gave the Longhorns another national title, and cemented this team as one of the best, and most explosive of all-time.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Before there was Cam Newton, there was Vince Young.

Young was the heart and soul of this team. He passed for over 3,000 yards and 26 TDs, while rushing for 1,050 yards and ten more scores.

He led a Longhorns rushing attack that finished second in the country with 275-yards per game. Jamaal Charles chipped in with nearly 900 rushing yards of his own and 11 more scores. Both Ramonce Taylor and Henry Melton scored at least ten TDs, giving the Longhorns four players with 10 or more rushing scores.

Their wide receiving corps was incredibly balanced, with three different receivers catching five TDs a piece.

On defense, Texas had the eighth best scoring unit and the nation's eighth best pass defense. Their defensive backfield consisted of safeties Michael and Marcus Griffin, as well as Michael Huff, and cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and Aaron Ross.

On the D-line, they had future NFL players Roy Miller, Brian Orakpo, Rod Wright, Frank Okam and Tim Crowder.

Drafted players

2006- QB Vince Young (1st), S Michael Huff (1st), CB Cedric Griffin (2nd), TE David Thomas (3rd), OT Jonathan Scott (4th), DT Rod Wright (7th)

2007- S Michael Griffin (1st), CB Aaron Ross (1st), G Justin Blalock (2nd), DT Tim Crowder (2nd), DT Brian Robison (4th), CB Tarell Brown (5th), G Kasey Studdard (6th)

2008- WR Limas Sweed (2nd), RB Jamaal Charles (3rd), TE Jermichael Finley (3rd), OT Tony Hills (4th), DT Frank Okam (4th)

Awards and honors

QB Vince Young (Davey O'Brien, Maxwell, Manning, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year), S Michael Huff (Thorpe), RB Jamaal Charles (Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year), DE Brian Orakpo (Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year), coach Mack Brown (Big 12 Coach of the Year, Bryant)

Four Longhorns were named to the AP All-American First-Team: Young, Jonathan Scott, Rod Wright, Michael Huff.

Comparison

The 2005 Longhorns are the only other team that can give the 2010 Oregon Ducks a run for their money on the offensive side of the ball. This squad averaged an astonishing 50.2 points per game, and had wins over four ranked teams, two of which came by ridiculous margins. Their defense wasn't too shabby either, and they were led by Vince Young, who put together one amazing season. His bowl performance only enhanced his stature as one of the most explosive players in college football history.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 ESPN

Bowl game: Oklahoma 13, FSU 2 in Orange Bowl BCS Championship Game

Points scored: 481 (37 points per game)

Points allowed: 194 (14.9 points per game)

Margin of victory: 22.1 points per game

Strength of schedule: N/A

Wins against ranked teams

Six- #11 Texas (63-14), #2 Kansas State (41-31), #1 Nebraska (31-13), #23 Texas A&M (35-31), #8 Kansas State (27-24, #3 Florida State (13-2)

Season in review

The Sooners began the season ranked 19th, but soon began their march toward the #1 ranking, and a spot in the BCS Championship game.

They cruised to four easy victories to start the season, working their way up to the #10 ranking, before taking on one of the toughest gauntlets of ranked teams that any team has ever faced.

It began with #11 Texas at the Cotton Bowl. The Sooners man-handled the Longhorns, and won by a final score of 63-14, giving them all the momentum they would need traveling to face #2 Kansas State on the road the very next week.

Against Kansas State, the OU offense, led by senior QB Josh Heupel, was firing on all cylinders and the Sooners escaped Manhattan with a 41-31 victory.

The next week it got even harder, as the Sooners hosted #1 ranked Nebraska. The number-three ranked Sooners made mincemeat of the Huskers, sending them to a 31-13 loss, and ascending the Sooners to the number one spot that they would hold for the rest of the season.

But their run wasn't over yet. Two weeks later they had to travel to College Station to face the 23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. The Sooners won another shootout, this time 35-31, and moved to 9-0.

They cemented an undefeated run through the Big 12 two weeks later with a 12-7 victory over rival Oklahoma State.

The next weekend, they captured the Big 12 crown in a rematch with Kansas State, 27-24.

In the championship game, easily one of the most boring in history, the Sooners stifled a vaunted Florida State offense to zero points. The only FSU score came on a Sooner safety.

The Sooners finished the season 13-0 and gave Bob Stoops his first, and only, national championship.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

QB Josh Heupel led a balanced Sooner attack, passing for 3,606 yards and 20 TDs. He did toss 15 interceptions, but also completed 65% of his passes and scored seven times on the ground.

RB Quentin Griffin led the way on the ground for Oklahoma, scoring 17 times and gaining 823 yards.

Wide receivers Antwone Savage, Andre Woolfolk and Curtis Fagan combined for 133 catches, 1,738 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Sooners didn't finish in the top-ten in any offensive category, except for points per game. Still, they had one of the nation's top-ten defensive units. 

The Sooners finished ninth in pass defense and picked off 22 passes, good for fifth in the nation. And despite Heupel's 15 interceptions, they still finished +6 in turnover margin.

Drafted players

2001- LB Torrance Marshall (3rd), QB Josh Heupel (6th)

2002- S Roy Williams (1st), LB Rocky Calmus (3rd), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (6th)

2003- CB Andre Woolfolk (1st), RB Quentin Griffin (3rd)

2004- LB Teddy Lehman (2nd), CB Derrick Strait (3rd)

2005- WR Mark Clayton (1st), LB Dan Cody (2nd), CB Antonio Perkins (4th), G Wes Sims (6th)

Awards and honors

QB Josh Heupel (Walter Camp)

The 2000 Sooners squad placed three players on the AP All-American First-Team: Heupel, LB Rocky Calmus, and FS J.T. Thatcher

Comparison

The 2000 Sooners are one of the most overlooked squads in recent memory. Probably because of their lame-o game-o in the title game. Still, they had the best passing attack of any undefeated team since 2000, and their defense was solid and stacked with future NFL talent. I get the feeling that they could put up a good fight against any squad on this list.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 Coaches

Bowl game: Auburn vs Oregon in BCS Championship game

Points scored: 555 (42.7 points per game)

Points allowed: 318 (24.5 points per game)

Margin of victory: 18.2 points per game

Strength of schedule: 2nd

Wins against ranked teams

Five- #12 South Carolina (35-27), #12 Arkansas (65-43), #6 LSU (24-17), #11 Alabama (28-27), #19 South Carolina (56-17)

Season in review

Make no mistake, Auburn was supposed to be good this year, but no one saw this coming, not even head coach Gene Chizik.

This season would ultimately be decided by how well junior-college transfer Cam Newton performed in a tough SEC, and easily the toughest division in college football. And not only has Newton more than risen to the occasion, Auburn has made it look pretty easy dominating one of the toughest schedules in recent memory.

The season began with uneven expectations for the Tigers. Newton put to rest any concerns about how he would perform, passing for 186 yards and three TDs as well as rushing for 171 yards and two more TDs against Arkansas State. As good as his performance was, it was just the beginning.

Auburn notched a big conference win in week 2 over a rejuvenated Mississippi State squad, holding off a late rally. It wasn't until week three that Newton showed the nation what kind of special season these Tigers had in store. Newton rallied his team from a 17-0 deficit to force overtime against Clemson, where the Tigers won it when the Clemson kicker hooked a re-kick wide left, keeping hopes for an undefeated season alive.

If the drama of back-to-back close conference games wasn't enough, Auburn needed some more magic to get past South Carolina the next week, with Newton once again rallying the Tigers from a deficit, sealing the win with two fourth-quarter TD passes.

After a cake-walk win over Louisiana-Monroe and a nail-biter against Kentucky, Auburn got right back into the thick of a tough schedule, facing off against 12th-ranked Arkansas and #6 LSU in back-to-back weeks. Auburn was able to outscore Arkansas, who lost QB Ryan Mallett to an injury, 65-43 to get to 7-0 and then handed LSU their first loss after an Onterio McCalebb 70-yard TD run put Auburn on top for good with less than six minutes remaining in the game.

After the LSU game, Auburn faced Mississippi, Chattanooga, and Georgia in consecutive weeks, outscoring the three opponents 162-86. 

The came the Iron Bowl.

As it became obvious that Newton was the best player in college football this year, and that Auburn had a legitimate shot at an undefeated season and a championship game berth, all eyes turned toward the Tigers annual tilt with Alabama, widely considered to be the favorite to win back-to-back national titles before the season.

And Alabama gave Auburn all they had, jumping out to a 24-0 lead. That's when Newton and the Auburn offense finally got moving. They closed the gap to 24-7 before halftime and then outscored the Tide 21-3 in the second-half en route to the biggest comeback ever against Alabama.

Auburn put the finishing touches on a perfect season in a rematch with South Carolina in the SEC championship game. Newton accounted for six total TDs and the Tigers rolled to a 56-17 victory, securing their first SEC title since 2004.

Auburn awaits a very exciting championship game match-up with #2 Oregon who is the only team who can compare the Auburn's explosive offense.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

This season was all about Cam Newton. As a passer, he completed 67% of his passes for 2,589 yards, 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions. On the ground, he accounted for another 1,409 yards and 20 more TDs. He became only the second player in history to pass and rush for 20 or more touchdowns in a single season. He had six efforts in which he rushed for more than 150 yards, and had a stretch in the middle of the season in which he averaged three rushing scores per game. He finished the regular season as the top rated passer in the country.

It wasn't all Newton though. RB Onterio McCalebb rushed for 753 yards and nine TDs. Freshman sensation Michael Dyer had quite a season himself, rushing for 950 yards, and almost guaranteeing himself a 1,000-yard season with one game remaining. He scored five TDs and had huge games against LSU, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Newton's receivers performed very well, with Emory Blake and Darvin Adams both catching seven TDs.

On offense it was tough to stop the Tigers. They scored 42.7 points per game, and on six occasions topped the 50-point mark. They finished seventh in the nation in offensive yards per game, including 287 yards per game on the ground, good for sixth in the country. They finished fourth in the nation in third-down conversion, at 50.3%.

On defense, the Tigers weren't great, but they weren't awful either. Clearly, they managed to go undefeated. They allowed 24.5 points per game, but were helped out by 32 team sacks, good for 19th in the country. They did allow huge point totals to Arkansas (43), Kentucky (34), Mississippi (31) and Georgia (31), but also held four opponents under 20 points.

Drafted players

Not available

Awards and honors

QB Cam Newton (Heisman finalist, Maxwell, Walter Camp, Davey O'Brien), DE Nick Fairley (Lombardi), coach Gene Chizik (Home Depot Coach of the Year)

Newton is practically a shoe-in to be named SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Fairley is a good bet to win Defensive Player of the Year, and Chizik should be the conference's Coach of the Year.

Newton and Fairley should both occupy top spots on the SEC First-Team.

Comparison

Auburn compares quite favorably to the 2009 Alabama squad that won the national championship. Provided they win the title against Oregon, Auburn would have six wins over teams ranked in the top-25, including their last three games. They played arguably the toughest schedule of the year, and will most likely walk away with a Heisman trophy and numerous other awards to go with their SEC title.

Their offense could hang with any team on this list, and while their defense was more than suspect on more than one occasion, Cam Newton had a season for the ages, and if you pitted this team against any other team on this list, you just know Newton would find a way to win.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 ESPN

Bowl game: USC 55, Oklahoma 19 in Orange Bowl BCS Championship Game (vacated)

Points scored: 496 (38.2 points per game)

Points allowed: 169 (13 points per game)

Margin of victory: 25.2 points per game

Strength of schedule: 7th

Wins against ranked teams

Three- #7 California (23-17), #15 Arizona State (45-7), #2 Oklahoma (55-19)

Season in review

The reigning national champion (in one poll anyways) USC Trojans opened their season with an impressive 24-13 victory over a Virginia Tech squad that would go on to win ten games and win the ACC. QB Matt Leinart kicked off his Heisman campaign with three TD passes, all to sensational sophomore RB/WR/PR Reggie Bush, who caught five passes for 127 yards on the day.

They suffered no emotional meltdown the next two weeks, crushing non-conference opponents Colorado State and BYU by a combined 91-10 score.

In week four, they traveled to Stanford to face the Cardinals in a tough game that the Trojans were lucky to sneak away with. The Trojans rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter, behind 95-yards rushing from Bush, to go on to victory 31-28.

The Trojans were tested again the next week by Aaron Rodgers and seventh-ranked Cal. The Trojans needed a huge goal-line stand at the end of regulation to eek out a 23-17 victory. 

USC cruised to big wins the next three weeks over conference opponents Washington, Washington State and Arizona State, beating each by an average of 37 points. 

They faced their next tough test in Corvallis against Oregon State. The Trojans needed a late 65-yard punt return touchdown and a five-yard scoring run from LenDale White to hold off the Beavers in a 28-20 victory.

Again, USC rolled to back-to-back wins over Arizona (49-9) and Notre Dame (41-10) before their season-ending match-up with rival UCLA. 

And again, it was Reggie Bush doing the damage, rushing for 204 yards on only 15 carries, as he literally carried the Trojans to a 29-24 victory. Bush scored twice, while Leinart finished the season with a thud, tossing zero TDs and one pick

The title game saw USC face off against #2 Oklahoma, led by Heisman finalist Jason White and fab-freshman Adrian Peterson. Neither Sooner could muster much against a USC defense that held their opponent 372 yards, most of which came after the Trojans jumped out to a 38-10 halftime lead.

Leinart cemented his status as the top college QB with five TD passes, three of which found their way to Steve Smith. Bush accounted for nearly 150 total yards, including 75 rushing yards on only six carries, and LenDale White rushed for 115 yards and a score.

The Trojans defense forced White into three interceptions and held Petersen to 82 yards, in a season that he rushed for 1,925.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Leinart led the Trojans offense, completing nearly 66% of his passes for 3,322 yards and 33 touchdowns. 

Bush and White led the ground game, gaining a combined 2,011 yards on 346 carries. Together they scored 21 touchdowns, and those are just the ones that came on the ground. Bush scored seven more through the air, while White added two, bringing their TD total to 30.

The Trojans had a three-headed pass catching attack. Steve Smith caught 42 balls, gained 660 yards and scored six TDs. Dwayne Jarrett caught everything thrown his way, racking up 55 receptions, 849 yards and 13 scores. And in addition to his seven receiving scores, Bush caught 43 passes and gained 509 yards.

The Trojans averaged 38.2 points per game, good for sixth in the country. They ranked 33rd in rushing, and 13th in passing, and in total offense placed 12th. They had the nation's seventh most efficient passing attack.

On defense, they boasted future first-round NFL picks Mike Patterson, Sedrick Ellis and Keith Rivers, as well as Shaun Cody, Lofa Tatupu, Frostee Rucker, Lawrence Jackson and Clay Matthews. They helped the Trojans hold teams to nation's best 79.4 rushing yards per game. USC only gave up five rushing scores on the season. They finished sixth overall in total defense, and the 13 points they allowed per game ranked third.

Their turnover margin of +19 ranked as tops in the country, and they forced more interceptions and fumbles than all but five teams.

They also boasted one of the nation's best punting units, as well as punt and kick-return squads.

Drafted players

2005- WR Mike Williams (1st), DT Mike Patterson (1st), DT Shaun Cody (2nd), LB Lofa Tatupu (2nd), QB Matt Cassel (7th)

2006- RB Reggie Bush (1st), QB Matt Leinart (1st), RB LenDale White (2nd), DE Frostee Rucker (3rd), TE Dominique Byrd (3rd), LB Darnell Bing (4th), FB David Kirtman (5th), DT LaJuan Ramsey (6th), G Fred Matua (7th)

2007- CB Eric Wright (2nd), WR Dwayne Jarrett (2nd), WR Steve Smith (2nd), C Ryan Kalil (2nd), LB Dallas Sartz (5th), LB Oscar Lua (7th)

2008- DT Sedrick Ellis (1st), LB Keith Rivers (1st), OT Sam Baker (1st), DE Lawrence Jackson (1st), G Chilo Rachal (2nd), TE Fred Davis (2nd), CB Terrell Thomas (2nd), QB John David Booty (5th), LB Thomas Williams (5th), RB Chauncey Washington (7th)

2009- LB Clay Matthews (1st), DT Fili Moala (2nd)

Awards and honors

QB Matt Leinart (Heisman, Walter Camp, AP Player of the Year, Pac 10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year), RB Reggie Bush (Pac 10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year), coach Pete Carroll (Pac 10 Coach of the Year), DL Shaun Cody (Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year)

Six Trojans were named to the AP All-American First Team: Leinart, Bush, Cody, LB Matt Grootegoed, DT Mike Patterson, LB Lofa Tatupu.

Comparison

The only other undefeated team that can stack up with the number one squad in terms of draftable talent. The '04 Trojans may be overshadowed by the 2005 version, but keep in mind, the '05 squad didn't go undefeated, and didn't win a championship.

This version had it all: the explosive offense, the amazing special teams, and the great defense. Not to mention a Heisman trophy winner and nine future first-round draft picks.

Despite the fact that the final two games of their season were retroactively vacated, the 2004 USC Trojans were historically epic.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 Coaches

Bowl game: Alabama 37, Texas 21 in BCS National Championship

Points scored: 449 (32.1 points per game)

Points allowed: 164 (11.7 points per game)

Margin of victory: 20.4 points per game

Strength of schedule: 2nd

Wins against ranked teams

Six- #7 Virginia Tech (34-24), #20 Mississippi (22-3), #22 South Carolina (20-6), #9 LSU (24-15), #1 Florida (32-13), #2 Texas (37-21)

Season in review

Time can't even begin to diminish how good this Alabama squad was. 

Everyone knew they would be good, but from the very beginning the season was hung on the throwing arm of QB Greg McElroy, who hadn't lost a football game since 8th-grade. Luckily, the fresh-faced McElroy had a stellar supporting cast, including a Heisman trophy winning running-back, a Butkus award-winning linebacker, and six AP First-Team All-Americans.

Alabama truly ran a gauntlet, facing six teams ranked in the top-25, including three games in four weeks near the middle of the season. The Tide rolled to easy wins over non-conference opponents Florida International (40-14), North Texas (53-7), and Tennessee-Chattanooga (45-0). 

In conference, they only really struggled in one game, a 12-10 victory over Tennessee, in which the Tide needed a blocked field-goal to sustain their undefeated campaign. They traveled to 20th-ranked Ole Miss, and handed the Rebels a 22-3 loss, and also defeated rival Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium 26-21, securing an undefeated regular season.

At home, they hosted 22nd-ranked South Carolina and 9th-ranked LSU and sent both home with losses. 

Their two most impressive efforts came at opposite ends of the season. The season opener against Virginia Tech saw McElroy tested against a good defense for the first time and he performed admirably, passing for 230 yards and a touchdown that put Alabama up by ten points with less than seven minutes remaining. That same Tech squad would go on to a 10-3 finish, including back-to-back wins over ranked teams Nebraska and Miami.

The other defining win was in the SEC Championship game against Florida, the reigning champion, who also came into the game undefeated, and ranked number one in the country. Alabama took a 3-0 lead less than six minutes into the game and never relinquished it, cruising to a 32-13 victory.

In the BCS title game, Alabama was matched up with Texas, who came into the game undefeated and led by two-time Heisman finalist Colt McCoy. The Tide took eliminated any sense of an even game on the Longhorn's fifth offensive play, knocking McCoy out of the game, and forcing freshman Garrett Gilbert onto the field. The Tide jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead and romped to a 37-21 victory that wasn't as close as the score made it appear. The Tide became the third team in NCAA history to finish the season 14-0.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

For the season, McElroy finished with a 60.9 completion percentage, 2,508 yards, 17 passing TDs and only four interceptions. His efficiency rating was 30th in the nation. Mark Ingram finished with 1,658 yards, good for fourth in the nation, and 17 touchdowns. Highly touted freshman RB Trent Richardson rushed for 751 yards and eight scores, including a 109-yard, two-TD effort in the title game. Sophomore WR Julio Jones led the Tide with 43 receptions for 596 yards and four TDs.

Strangely enough, Alabama didn't finish in the top-40 in offensive yards per game, but they did finish 12th in the country in rushing yards per game. Their 32.1 points per game ranked 22nd in the country, tied with Pittsburgh.

On defense, DB Mark Barron finished third in the country with seven interceptions, one of which he returned 77-yards for a touchdown. CB/KR Javier Arenas also contributed with five picks of his own. As a team, the Tide finished tied for second in the country with 24 team interceptions.

As a team, Alabama finished second in total defense, allowing only 244.1 yards per game. They had the second best rush defense in the country (78.1 ypg) and the 10th best pass defense (166 ypg). They also finished second in points allowed per game, with 11.7. And at +19, they had the fourth best turnover margin in the country.

On special teams, K Leigh Tiffin, a Lou Groza award-finalist, finished tied for fourth in the nation in scoring. Tiffin booted 30 field goals and 42 extra-points. Arenas also chipped in with a 29.3 return average on kickoffs (9th best in the nation) and scored on a 66-yard punt return.

Drafted players

2010- LB Rolando McClain (1st), DB Kareem Jackson (1st), CB Javier Arenas (2nd), DT Terrance Cody (2nd), OL Mike Johnson (3rd), DB Marquis Johnson (7th), DL Brandon Deaderick (7th)

Awards and honors

RB Mark Ingram (Heisman, SEC Offensive Player of the Year), LB Rolando McClain (SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus, Jack Lambert), coach Nick Saban (SEC Coach of the Year), defensive-coordinator Kirby Smart (Broyles)

Six Alabama players were named to the SEC First-Team: Ingram, McClain, Cody, Arenas, Mike Johnson and Leigh Tiffin.

Comparison

Granted, this team is one of the most recent on this list and we as fans are always susceptible to the "what have you done for me lately" game, but Nick Saban assembled one of the most impressive units in quite some time. They are easily the best SEC team of the past decade.

Final ranking: #1 AP/#1 ESPN

Bowl game: Miami 37, Nebraska 14 in Rose Bowl BCS Championship Game

Points scored: 512 (42.7 points per game)

Points allowed: 117 (9.8 points per game)

Margin of victory: 32.9 points per game

Strength of schedule: 18th

Wins against ranked teams

Five- #14 Florida State (49-27), #14 Syracuse (59-0), #12 Washington (65-7), #14 Virginia Tech (26-24), #4 Nebraska (37-14)

Season in review

Miami entered the season seriously ticked off after finishing the 2000 season 11-1 and not being chosen for the BCS title game, despite beating the team (Florida State) that ended up losing 13-2 to Oklahoma.

The Hurricanes wasted no time dishing out some revenge, destroying Penn State 33-7, while gaining over 600 yards. The Canes jumped to an early 30-0 halftime lead and first-year coach Larry Coker let the backups play most of the second-half. The backups consisted of Frank Gore, Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Vernon Carey and Rocky McIntosh. QB Ken Dorsey threw for 344 yards and three scores, while Clinton Portis gained 164 yards on the ground.

Miami kept it rolling the next week and steamrolled Rutgers 61-0 in a game that wasn't even that close. Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Portis combined for 179 yards and two scores on only 32 carries. Dorsey tossed two TD passes, one to Jeremy Shockey and one to Andre Johnson. The Hurricanes defense held the Scarlet Knights to only 126 yards. Defensive back James Lewis recorded his second interception in as many games.

The week after, Miami traveled to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night game. The Panthers gave them a bit of trouble, but still lost 43-21, behind 131 yards and three TDs from Portis. McGahee chipped in with 74 yards and a score of his own.

After a 38-7 non-conference victory over Troy, in which Ed Reed returned an interception 27 yards for a TD, the Hurricanes geared up for a match-up with 14th-ranked Florida State. 

Both teams showed up, and the Noles actually outgained the Canes, but four Chris Rix interceptions doomed FSU, and Miami rolled to a 49-27 win. Dorsey was flawless, tossing three TDs, including two to Johnson, who finished with 111 yards receiving. Ed Reed and Phillip Buchanon both picked off Rix twice in the contest.

After a week-and-a-half of rest, the Canes returned to the field, and to Big East play against West Virginia, and sent the Mountaineers back north with a 45-3 loss. This time the attention fell to Gore, who rushed for 124 yards and two scores on only six carries. Again, both Shockey and Johnson caught TDs and Reed recorded two more picks and picked up a fumble.

After another extended lay-off, the Canes destroyed Temple, 38-0, behind 203 combined yards from Portis and Gore, who each scored a TD. Johnson only had two catches, but made one of them count for a TD and Reed kept his streak going, picking off another pass. All-American punt-returner Buchanon returned a punt for a TD as well.

Miami almost saw their perfect season come to an end against Boston College the next week. Dorsey threw four picks and the Canes had to hold off a furious late charge by the Eagles, needing a Mark Walters interception in the Canes own red-zone to preserve an 18-7 victory.

Whatever plagued the Canes offense against BC, Coker exiled it and the next two weeks the Canes rolled to the biggest consecutive wins over ranked opponents in college football history. First up was Syracuse, ranked 14th. The Orangemen fell 59-0 thanks to four TD passes from Dorsey, two to Shockey and two to Johnson. Portis ran for 153 yards and a TD, while Gore gained 153 on only 11 carries.

Next up was 12th-ranked Washington in a rescheduled game. Nothing could prevent the Huskies from eventually meeting their end, 65-7. The Canes forced six Washington interceptions, one of which was returned for a score. Dorsey threw three TDs, Portis gained 105 yards and scored twice, and backup Najeh Davenport scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air.

In the Canes regular season finale, they bested Virginia Tech, ranked 14th, 26-24. Once again, the Canes had their defense to thank. The unit forced four more interceptions and Clinton Portis had a huge day, carrying 34 times for 124 yards and a score. Reed picked off two more passes, bringing his season total to nation-leading nine.

The Canes moved to 11-0, and earned the right to face the fourth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Rose Bowl. The Cornhuskers came into the game 11-1 and featuring Heisman trophy winner Eric Crouch. 

The Canes put the hurting on Crouch and jumped all over the Cornhuskers, sprinting to a 34-0 halftime lead, while making the Huskers look no different than Troy or Rutgers. Dorsey led the way, passing for 362 yards and three TDs, two to Johnson. Both players were named co-MVPs and Miami cruised to a 37-14 win that wasn't even that close.

Player Stats and Team Rankings

Dorsey finished the season completing nearly 60% of his passes for 3,029 yards and 26 TDs.

Portis carried the ball 240 times for 1,304 yards and finished with 11 touchdowns on the ground. McGahee finished with 321 yards and three TDs, while full-back Kevin Bishop gained 565 yards and scored five touchdowns of his own.

Johnson led the way in the receiving game and was a touchdown machine, with 10 of his 37 catches resulting in six points. He racked up nearly 700 yards through the air. Shockey led the squad in receptions, with 45 and gained 604 yards on them, scoring eight times. Lesser known Mark Rossetti led the team with 881 yards receiving and caught 12 TDs.

In addition to finishing third in the nation in points per game, the Canes also finished eighth in total offense.

It was on defense that the Canes really made their mark. The allowed a nation's best 9.4 points per game. They finished sixth in total defense, aided by their second place finish against the pass, an effort that was helped greatly by the Canes astonishing 27 interceptions.

Reed checked in with nine interceptions, one of three seasons in which he recorded at least eight. He led the nation in picks each of his final three seasons. Buchanon finished with five, while James Lewis finished with three.

Together with 18 fumble recoveries the Canes posted the best turnover margin in the country at +26.

The Canes defense was so quick and so dominating that it scored eight touchdowns of it's own. They also only allowed two field-goals all season.

If the Canes had a weakness, it was in their ability to commit penalties. In true Hurricane fashion, the team racked up more penalties per game than all but three of the 115 Division I-A teams.

Drafted players

To save space and time, only the Hurricane's first-rounders are listed. Feel free to look up all their draft choices from these years on your own time.

2002- CB Phillip Buchanon, OT Bryant McKinnie, S Ed Reed, CB Mike Rumph, TE Jeremy Shockey

2003- WR Andre Johnson, DL William Joseph, DL Jerome McDougle, RB Willis McGahee

2004- OT Vernon Carey, S Sean Taylor, LB Jonathan Vilma, LB D.J. Williams, TE Kellen Winslow

2005- S Antrel Rolle

2006- CB Kelly Jennings

Awards and honors

QB Ken Dorsey (Maxwell, Big East Offensive Player of the Year), OT Bryant McKinnie (Outland), coach Larry Coker (Big East Coach of the Year)

Six Hurricanes were named to the AP All-American First-Team: McKinnie, PR Phillip Buchanon, OT Joaquin Gonzalez, S Ed Reed, TE Jeremy Shockey, K Todd Sievers

And an astonishing 13 of 26 players on the 2001 Big East All-Conference First-Team wore Miami white and orange, including: Dorsey, Portis, McKinnie, Sievers, Buchanon, Gonzalez, Shockey, C Brett Romberg, G Martin Bibla, P Freddie Capshaw, DE Jerome McDougle, Reed, LB Jonathan Vilma.

Comparison

Clinton Portis. Jeremy Shockey. Andre Johnson. Ed Reed. Bryant McKinnie. Willis McGahee. Frank Gore. Vince Wilfork. Kellen Winslow. Antrel Rolle. Vernon Carey. Rocky McIntosh. Jonathan Vilma. D.J. Williams.

What more proof do you need that this team was the most stacked team in college football history?Together they put together one of the most impressive seasons in a very long time. They were exciting and explosive on offense, and dominating and destructive on defense.

Not even the nation's elite (Florida State, Syracuse, Washington, Virginia Tech, and Nebraska outscored by a total of 236-72) held a candle anywhere close to their greatness.

So, that's the list ladies and gents. If you'd like to view the rankings in one-slide, here they are:

1) 2001 Miami

2) 2009 Alabama

3) 2004 USC

4) 2010 Auburn

5) 2000 Oklahoma

6) 2005 Texas

7) 2010 Oregon

8) 2009 Boise State

9) 2010 TCU

10) 2004 Auburn

11) 2004 Utah

12) 2006 Boise State

13) 2002 Ohio State

14) 2008 Utah