Having a stellar NFL talent swings these ratings hugely. For instance, the Stanford Rose Bowl winning team of 1971 (the one without Plunkett) is absurdly lower than than the struggling Elway led teams of 81 and 82. Also the earlier years seem uniformly under ranked perhaps due to the smaller NFL squads affording fewer post-college opportunities.
This doesn't make the rankings any less interesting but is a factor to consider when weighing the overall comparative talent of cross-era squads.
This doesn't make the rankings any less interesting but is a factor to consider when weighing the overall comparative talent of cross-era squads.
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.