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College football: These 10 surprising teams were once the nation’s AP No. 1

By John Scimeca

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Perris Jones #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers scores a touchdown as Alijah Clark #10 of the Syracuse Orange tackles him during the third quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on September 23, 2022 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Perris Jones #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers scores a touchdown as Alijah Clark #10 of the Syracuse Orange tackles him during the third quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on September 23, 2022 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – SEPTEMBER 10: Quarterback Brady Cook #12 of the Missouri Tigers talks with running back Cody Schrader #20 during the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – SEPTEMBER 10: Quarterback Brady Cook #12 of the Missouri Tigers talks with running back Cody Schrader #20 during the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

8. Missouri

The Tigers vaulted to the nation’s No. 1 AP ranking near the end of the 2007 college football season despite an earlier regular-season loss to Oklahoma. Missouri had its chance for revenge against the Sooners in the Big 12 championship game but fell short by a score of 38-17, leading the Tigers to the Cotton Bowl instead of the BCS No. 1 vs. No. 2 title matchup.

Missouri hasn’t done well in its transition to the SEC from the Big 12 a decade ago. The Tigers have achieved only two winning seasons since 2015, a stretch that includes an 0-4 mark in bowl games.

The Tigers’ best season since that 2007 run came in 2013 when a 12-2 team beat Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M before falling to Auburn in the conference title game in the program’s first year in the SEC.

7. Brigham Young 

The Cougars had a dream 1984 season with a 13-0 record and a national championship behind quarterback Robbie Bosco (3,875 passing yards and 33 passing touchdowns). BYU hasn’t been ranked No. 1 since, although they’ve spent time in the Top 10 in multiple seasons since.

Although BYU has only finished the year as a ranked team twice since 2010, the program’s final year in the Mountain West, the team is a nationally respected brand that could see a boost with its jump to the Big 12 Conference this fall.

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