15 Best College Football Teams From The 2010s

Let’s get started in this article by taking a look back at some of the most successful and memorable college football teams from the year 2010 to 2019. Obviously, not all were crowned national champions, but a few will still be remembered as among the best in college football despite not achieving the ultimate objective.

Here is our ranking of the best 15 College teams of the last ten years.

1. Alabama (2014)

It’s no denying that Amari Cooper, who had 124 receptions, 1,727 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns, was the offensive standout for the Tide in the 2014 NFL season, while Landon Collins, who bagged an incredible 103 tackles, was the defensive leader. Alabama effectively rebounded from an early road loss to a strong Ole Miss squad, but fell to Ohio State in the CFP semifinals, losing 42-35 and finishing with a record of 12-2.

2. Notre Dame (2012)

Notre Dame going (12-1), led by the team’s versatile quarterback Everett Golson and tight end Tyler Eifert on offense and Manti Te’o (103 tackles) on defense, bagged more than 17 points only once during the regular season while going 12-0. The team had a chance to win the program’s first national championship since 1988, but Alabama defeated them 42-14 in the BCS championship contest.

3. Ohio State (2012)

Some will argue that Ohio State’s 2012 team was superior to the squad that actually claimed the national championship for the Buckeyes in this decade. A postseason ban precluded Urban Meyer’s first Ohio State football team from being more than a footnote in college football despite a perfect 12-0 record. Leading this talented team, Braxton Miller threw for more than 2.000 yards and rushed for more than a whopping 1,200.

4. Oregon (2010)

Some will argue that Ohio State’s 2012 team was superior to the squad that actually claimed the national championship for the Buckeyes in this decade. A postseason ban precluded Urban Meyer’s first Ohio State football team from being more than a footnote in college football despite a perfect 12-0 record. Braxton Miller threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,200 to lead this talented group.

5. Alabama (2018)

Alabama dominated the entire 2018 college football season and was even the bookie’s bet on nfl games online favourite to clinch the title, going undefeated (14-0) and averaging a decent 47.7 points to enter the national championship game against Clemson. Nevertheless, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (3,966 passing yards, 43 touchdown passes) was not at 100 per cent, and the Tide’s defense appeared to be tiring late in the season. The Tigers scored 30 consecutive unanswered points en route to a 44-16 championship game rout.

6. Auburn (2013)

Auburn’s 2013 season was highlighted by Chris Davis’ “Kick Six” return to defeat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. This paved the way for a Missouri rout in the SEC championship game. The Tigers (12-2) did not have many well-known players on their roster, but running back Tre Mason (1,816 rushing yards, 23 TDs) and company led Florida State 21-3 in the first half of the national championship game before allowing the Seminoles to score 21 fourth-quarter points and the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining.

7. Clemson (2015)

2015 may have established the foundation for Clemson’s national dominance in recent years. Deshaun Watson (4,109 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes, 1,105 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and Wayne Gallman (1,527 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns) led the Tigers to the national championship game, where they lost to Alabama and finished 14-1.

8. Georgia (2017)

The Bulldogs looked to be in control of the national championship game after defeating Oklahoma in the CFP semifinals and avenging their lone loss during the regular season by defeating Auburn for the SEC title. In the third quarter, Georgia led Alabama 20-7, and it had a 10-point advantage going into the fourth. Tua Tagovailo’s arm handed a crushing 26-23 setback, but the Tide rebounded to force overtime and upset the Bulldogs.

9. Alabama (2016)

All indications pointed to Alabama successfully defending its national championship. During the regular season, only two opponents scored more than 16 points against this team, while a defense led by Reuben Foster (115 tackles) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (six interceptions) limited seven opponents to seven or fewer points. Alabama raced out to a 14-0 lead over Clemson in the first quarter of their national championship game. It led late before allowing the Tigers’ game-winning touchdown with one second remaining, resulting in a devastating 35-31 defeat.

10. LSU (2011)

These Tigers would have been higher on the ranking if not for their humiliating 21-0 BCS championship loss to Alabama (92 total yards). They finished 13-1 and defeated Alabama 9-6 at home in a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams. Other than those two contests against the Crimson Tide, the 2011 Tigers failed to tally 35 or more points only once.

11. Alabama (2015)

It was perhaps the least memorable of Alabama’s four national championship-winning squads of the decade, going 14-1 and succumbing to Ole Miss in a wild September home game. With future Heisman Trophy recipient Derrick Henry (2,219 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns) running amok, the Tide dominated the remainder of the season. They defeated Michigan State 38-0 in the semifinals of the CFP, but Clemson 45-40 to claim their third championship of the decade.

12. Alabama (2017)

The Iron Bowl defeat prevented Alabama from winning the SEC title in 2017. However, the Crimson Tide still qualified for the CFP, where they defeated Clemson by a score of 24–6. Tua Tagovailoa was introduced to the collegiate football globe. In the national championship game against Georgia, he rallied Alabama from a 20-7 deficit to a 26-23 overtime victory, crowned by a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith.

13. Clemson (2016)

The Tigers were able to complete what they began in 2015, when they surrendered 24 fourth-quarter points to Alabama in the national championship game loss. The 2016 Clemson squad, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson (4,593 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and nine rushing touchdowns), did not have an easy path to the national championship, but fell to Pitt by only one point. In one of the finest college football championship games ever, Watson’s touchdown pass of 2 yards to Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining gave the Tigers a 35-31 victory over the Tide.

14. Ohio State (2014)

Due to the loss of starting quarterback Braxton Miller to injury prior to the 2014 season, national title expectations for the Ohio State Buckeyes were low. Ohio State’s next quarterback was J.T. Barrett, and the Buckeyes lost their second game of the season to Virginia Tech. Despite Barrett’s season-ending injury, the Ohio State Buckeyes did not suffer another defeat. Cardale Jones led the 12-1 champions to a 59-0 rout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game, and Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 476 yards and six touchdowns in CFP victories over Alabama and Oregon.

15. Alabama (2012)

Out with a less dominant defense than they had in 2011, the Crimson Tide successfully defends its national championship, instead with a more comprehensive squad. Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon rushed for a combined 2,430 yards, while AJ McCarron threw 30 touchdown passes and Amari Cooper caught 11 touchdown passes. In a 29-24 defeat, linebacker C.J. Mosley led a unit that recorded four shutouts but struggled to stop Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. The Tide concluded its 13-1 season with a 28-point victory over Notre Dame in the national championship contest.