Top 10 Greatest College Football Dynasties in History

Nov 29, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes cheerleader performs before a game against Pittsburgh Panthers at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. Miami Hurricanes, 1986-1991

There is a legitimate case to make that the dynasty for the Miami Hurricanes began in 1983, with their first national championship under Howard Schnellenberger. But an 8-5 record and unranked finish the next year, Jimmy Johnson’s first year, followed by a 35-7 Sugar Bowl humiliation to Tennessee to ruin the next season puts two major black marks over the run.

Losing to Penn State in 1986 made things even more bitter, but that year is when the dynasty starts. From 1987 to 1991, the Hurricanes won three national championships with two different coaches, as Johnson took them undefeated in 1987 after Vinny Testaverde left, and Dennis Erickson then won national championships in 1989 with an 11-1 record and a 12-0 record.

They lost the national championship the year after that run in 1992 and the year before in 1986, which still shows dominance, and they also finished No. 2 in 1988 and No. 3 in 1990.

With loaded NFL talent and an intimidating, glamorous style of play that scared everybody, there is no way you can ignore this period of Miami Hurricanes dominance over college football.

If the program had any discipline, it likely would have won the national championship every year during this time.

But it is still an amazing run and belongs on this list.

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