College football: These 10 surprising teams were once the nation’s AP No. 1
By John Scimeca
10. Michigan State
The Spartans last held the nation’s No. 1 ranking in 1966, but they have actually gotten pretty close to this spot in recent years. That year’s Michigan State squad finished the year 9-0-1 after a 10-10 tie against No. 1 Notre Dame for the last game of the regular season. Neither team played in a bowl game, and No. 3 Alabama ended up with an 11-0 record after defeating No. 6 Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl.
Last season’s 5-7 squad under Mel Tucker might seem like a far cry from national title contention, but this program is capable of doing much better. The Spartans’ 11-2 finish in 2021 is the only good season in the past five years, and there are legitimate concerns that Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan are now outpacing the program.
9. Colorado
The Buffaloes spent time as the nation’s No. 1 team in 1989 and 1990 and ended up splitting the 1990 national title with Georgia Tech. The 11-1-1 Colorado squad, representing the Big 8, knocked off Notre Dame 10-9 in the Orange Bowl to claim a share of the national title.
The Buffaloes actually avenged a loss to the Fighting Irish in the same bowl from the previous season, when 11-0 Colorado lost to Notre Dame 21-6.
Current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was Colorado’s All-American running back for that 1990 team. He finished third in the Heisman voting that year and is the Buffaloes’ school leader in career rushing yards (3,940) and rushing touchdowns (42).
Colorado is now famously led by new head coach Deion Sanders, but the Buffaloes haven’t done much on the gridiron lately — they’ve had six consecutive losing seasons (including a 1-11 mark last year).