The Greatest College Football Team of Every Decade

College football has been an integral part of American culture since its inception in the late 19th century. The sport’s association with universities, politicians, and the way it reflects the nation’s culture make it the most American sport we have. As we reflect on the 100 years of college football, we examine the greatest team of every decade, from the 1920s to today.

1920s: Notre Dame (83-11-3)

The decade started with one of the most recognizable coaches and programs in college football history, Knute Rockne, leading Notre Dame. Two of Rockne’s three national titles came in the 1920s (1924, 1929), and the third would come shortly after in 1930. The consistency throughout the decade, with eight of the 10 seasons having just one loss or fewer, and nine of them including a double-digit point differential per game, gives Notre Dame the honor for the decade.

The sport was extremely regionalized in the 1920s, with dynasties popping up in different corners. Cal and USC were warring for supremacy out West, while Wallace Wade laid the foundation for Alabama’s excellence in the South. However, if there’s just one program for the whole decade, there’s no debate that Notre Dame and Knute Rockne take the cake.

1930s: Alabama (79-11-5)

Wallace Wade’s work in the 1920s paid off with a sustained run of excellence throughout the next decade. Frank Thomas picked up the baton from Wade and doubled down on the standard. Alabama claimed a conference title in the newly formed SEC in 1933 and followed that with a 10-0 national championship season in 1934, culminating in a Rose Bowl win over Stanford.

USC gets our first nod for honorable mention after a decade that saw three claimed national championships (1931, 1932, 1939) but also a mid-decade dip under Howard Jones. Tennessee is also a worthy mention, with General Robert Neyland’s 1938 and 1939 squads remembered for their defensive dominance.

1940s: Notre Dame (82-9-6)

World War II disrupted all facets of American life, and college football was certainly among them. Coaches and players left the sport to serve in various branches of the military. Army and Navy still fielded football teams, but the programs that rose to the top did so in an era of roster fluidity most recognizable to today’s transfer portal.

Frank Leahy, a former Notre Dame tackle who played for Knute Rockne, guided his alma mater to four national championships and six top-three finishes in the AP poll throughout the 1940s. Notre Dame also produced three Heisman Trophy winners in this decade, becoming the first school with three different winners of the award.

1950s: Oklahoma (93-10-2)

Bud Wilkinson cemented his status as a Hall of Fame coach, leading the most successful program of the decade, Oklahoma. The Sooners won their conference championship every single season from 1950-59, adding eight top-10 finishes in that span and national championships in 1950, 1955, and 1956.

Oklahoma had already established itself as a regional power in its conference under previous regimes, but the sustained dominance of the Wilkinson era laid the foundation for the investment and expectations that would follow the Sooners through the decades.