BTN.com staff, August 2, 2016
This is awesome: The Associated Press, which operates the longest-running college football poll, published a top 25 Tuesday that ranks the nation's best programs over the poll's 80-year existence (1936).
The No. 1 team?
It's Ohio State, the program that has been ranked in the poll for more weeks than any other team (852), including the most at No. 1 (105).
Michigan (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 19), Wisconsin (No. 24) and Iowa (No. 25) also land on the list, as do current Big Ten members Nebraska (No. 6) and Penn State (No. 12), both of which experienced their best years pre-Big Ten.
According to the AP release, the formula to rank the teams considered poll appearances (one point) to mark consistency, No. 1 rankings (two points) to acknowledge elite programs and gave a bonus for AP championships (10 points).
Here's a look at the complete poll:
1. Ohio State (Total appearances: 852; No. 1 ranking 105; Championships: 5)
2. Oklahoma
3. Notre Dame
4. Alabama
5. Southern Cal
6. Nebraska (Total appearances: 717; No. 1 ranking 72; Championships: 4)
7. Michigan (Total appearances: 806; No. 1 ranking 34; Championships: 2)
8. Texas
9. Florida State
10. Florida
11. LSU
12. Penn State (Total appearances: 589; No. 1 ranking 19; Championships: 2)
13. Miami
14. Tennessee
15. Georgia
16. Auburn
17. UCLA
18. Texas A&M
19. Michigan State (Total appearances: 375; No. 1 ranking 29; Championships: 1)
20. Washington
21. Arkansas
22. Clemson
23. Pittsburgh
24. Wisconsin (Total appearances: 334; No. 1 ranking 1; Championships: 0)
25. Iowa (Total appearances: 307; No. 1 ranking 7; Championships: 0)
36. Purdue
37. Minnesota
40. Maryland
50. Northwestern
51. Illinois
72. Indiana
86. Rutgers
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