Best All-Time NCAA College Football Team

You won't be surprised to read that our pick for best all-time NCAA college football team comes from our very own Southeastern (SEC) Conference. If you've read The SEC is the Best College Sports Conference, you know that SEC football is the single biggest reason that SEC sports, overall, is the best.

There have been many great football teams in the history of the SEC. However, one stands out. That team is the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

The '61 Alabama football squad was led by legendary coach Bear Bryant. The "Bear" went on to become the Best All-Time NCAA College Football Coach. That's another story, but certainly being led by the greatest college football coach in history is an important factor to consider when thinking about which team is the best in history.

Everyone knows about the great football legacy at the University of Alabama. Certainly Alabama had won football championships before Bear Bryant came along. But when he arrived at Alabama in 1958, the Tide had only won a total of four games in the three prior years.

When Bear Bryant took the Alabama head coaching job, he vowed to bring home a National Championship. And eventually he did. But, not right away. Bryant gradually turned the program around, going 5-4-1 in '58; 7-2-2 in '59; and 8-1-2 in '60.

The '61 Bama team was the breakthrough team for Bear Bryant and for Alabama football. It was the first of many great teams (Bryant would lead the Crimson Tide to five more NCAA Football National Titles). But, being the first is the toughest, and the '61 team has that distinction.

OK, so what are the hard facts about the 1961 team? Here you go:

• Undefeated, 11-0 record


• Outscored opponents by an incredible 297 - 25


• Led by All-SEC and Heisman Trophy finalist (finished 5th), QB, Pat Trammell; Center/Linbacker Lee Roy Jordan (All-SEC in 61; All-American in '63); and, Offensive Lineman, Billy Neighbors (All-American). Jordan, and Neighbors were later selected for the College Football Hall of Fame and had outstanding professional careers as well.


• Beat Arkansas 10-3 in the Sugar Bowl to win the National Championship

It is well recognized that the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team was the best defensive team in college football history. Not only did the '61 Tide outscore opponents 297-25; they shut out six teams and never allowed more than 7 points in any game.

Tex Noel, a college football StatHistorian, with 1st-N-Goal has conducted a comprehensive review of all 89 official NCAA 1-A National Champions since 1936 (counting the major polls over the years using NCAA official champions). Tex's research shows that the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide team had the top all-time defense as far as points scored. The team gave up an incredible average of only 2.3 points per game.

When you combine the incredible defense; the undefeated record; undisputed National Championship; legend of Bear Bryant; and, the fact they were the first of a long line of outstanding teams. You really have a hard time picking any team over this one.

If you ask me who is the Best All-Time NCAA college football team – I say it's the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide.

To read about other great teams (in various sports), go to

• Best All-Time SEC-Basketball Team
• Best All-Time Pro-Football-Team
• Best All-Time SEC-Football Team
• Best All-Time NBA-Basketball Team
• Best All-Time Major-League-Baseball Team
• Best All-Time SEC-Baseball Team
• Best All-Time American Gymnastics Team

Would you pick another team? Let us know by using the form below.

To vote for the best all-time SEC football team, go to Top All-Time SEC Football Team Survey.

If you love college football history, you should check out this Great Early College Football History Book.

Now you know who we think was the best CFB team ever. But, how about the pros? To find out, read Best All-Time Pro Football Team.

We'd love to hear your comments and/or opinions. If you submit them here, other visitors can read them, rate them and comment on them. An e-mail address is not required.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

1961 Alabama Crimson Tide -- No Way -- It Was a Different Era 
Hey guys that's a "no" on the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Let's look at some key facts.

First off, that team played in an era when they didn't ...

Greatest Team of All-Time: 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers  
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2001 Miami Hurricanes-Best College Football Team Ever 
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2004 USC TROJANS 
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Absolutely No Way Alabama 1961 is the Best  Not rated yet
Alabama '61 is not even close to the best team of all time. They are not even in the same ballpark as Army '44-'45 or Nebraska '71 & '95. You might as ...

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