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.

Bryant-Denny Stadium 1961 Walkway Monument

"This is the Walkway Monument in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium commemorating Bama's 1961 team."

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.

Billy Neighbors with other members of the 1961 Alabama football team.

Billy Neighbors in locker room with other members of the great 1961 Alabama defense. Neighbors was one of five Bear Bryant players to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Thanks to Historic Photos of University of Alabama Football for this picture. You can purchase the book at:

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. See Comparison Statistics of All-Time SEC National Championship Football Teams.

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

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

Here's Tex Noel's picks for best teams each year: 1st-N-Goals NC List: 1869 - 2008

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.

Best All-Time NCAA College Football Team
Best All-Time NCAA College Football Team
Best All-Time NCAA College Football Team

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.

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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What about the 1924 Alabama team?
1924 was probably one of the most important seasons in Crimson Tide football history. Their remarkable defense and impressive offense may have helped lead ...

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
The '61 Bama team was surely great. So was the '92 team I think and many more. Bama has an absolutely wonderful football tradition.

The greatest college ...

2001 Miami Hurricanes-Best College Football Team Ever
In my opinion, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes were the greatest college football team of all time. One may argue this, of course, but I don't know if one can ...

2004 USC TROJANS
The defending national champions were ranked number 1 in every poll all year,and as such had a huge target on their backs.

They still went 13-0 with ...

1961 Bama -- not the best team, maybe best season, but not best team
There are a number of better teams.

Personally i never saw one better than:

1980 pitt, best college football team ever.

25 players on the roster ...

Best All-time CFB team
2009 Florida Gators (14-0) Nat'l Champs, Heisman Winner Tim Tebow

'71 Nebrasksa -- Greatest Team Ever Not rated yet
All I know is that Paul "Bear" Bryant called the 1971 Nebraska team the greatest team he'd ever seen when they beat him 38-9.

M Go Blue Not rated yet
There is only 1 Greatest, and that is MICHIGAN!! Michigan is the ONLY team in NCAA history to be undefeated, untied, and not be scored upon in all games,...

1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers: Best Team in CFB History Not rated yet
Who is the "Best All-Time NCAA College Football Team"???

"...averaged a victory margin of more than 38 points, the largest of any Division 1-A team ...

1961 Alabama Not In My Top 5 All Time Not rated yet
Well apparently you got the whole SEC bias thing going here but you have got to be kidding! There is no way in the world that the '61 Crimson Tide could'...

Great teams that didnt win at least a share of the National Championship Not rated yet
I would like to take a moment and mention 4-5 teams that had super seasons but had the mis-fortune to play in seasons with similar teams who got the ...

roll tide roll boy Not rated yet
alabama crimson tide is by far the best football program ever, and it's sad because when a lot of people think of college football they think of Notre ...

Tide Fan Says 1995 Huskers Best All-Time Not rated yet
Are you kidding me? I am a tide fan and I know that isn't the best team ever. It has been voted many times in every poll unanimous that the best team ...

Need Better Reason to Say Bama 61 Best Ever Not rated yet
Why were they better than Army in 1945? or Texas in 1969?

It seems as though what you are saying is that since they were in the SEC and this was the ...

Nebraska 1995 -- Wins All-Time Tournament Not rated yet
Pat Premo has an interesting college football board game where teams from different eras play against each other. He recently conducted a tournament and ...

HUSKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not rated yet
The 08-09 Florida Gators don't hold a candle to the 95-96 HUSKERS.

If i recall right Nebraska dominated the #2 Florida Gators 62-24. Tommie Frazier ...

Nebraska Fan 1995 Not rated yet
The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers are indisputably the best NCAA football team ever. They went undefeated and none of their games were even close.

1995 Nebraska Destroys 2001 Miami Hurricanes Not rated yet
Why? First off, the greatest team of all time shouldn't struggle to beat two inferior teams. Scoring one offensive TD against 01 BC and needing a miraculous ...

Put the crack pipe down Not rated yet
SEC -- The best sports Conference, ok now that I have stopped laughing. That title would go to the PAC 10. They have more NCAA Titles, including the most ...

1995 Huskers Not rated yet
The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers were unstoppable in all aspects of the game. I've never seen a better team than this.

Can a Segregated Team be Best College Football Team Ever? Not rated yet
Was Alabama of 1961 college football’s greatest team? Well, compared to a team of today, they would be outweighed by at least 0ne hundred pounds per man....

1995 Nebraska -- In Another Universe! Not rated yet
No sec team in all history can touch the 95 cornhuskers. The only team I could even consider is 01 Miami because they are built up of more modern day athletes ...

A lot of Bama haters around here I see.... Not rated yet
The 1961 and 1992 Bama teams may not be the best ever but they are both in the top 10 greatest college teams ever. I'd have to say the 95 Nebraska squad ...

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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