Notre Dame and Oklahoma both recorded their 900th wins on the same day during the 2019 season
Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma joined an elite club when they won their 900th game during the 2019 season and Penn State followed suit in 2020. All four schools are among the winningest FBS programs in college football history. Here are the top 10 (totals as of Jan. 12, 2021).
10. Tennessee
Wins: 849
Winning Percentage: .671
First Season: 1891
The last decade-plus has not been kind to Tennessee's program, but that is the longest period of futility in its history. However, the Volunteers need to be wary because SEC East rival Georgia (839) is nipping on their heels in the win department.
9. USC
Wins: 852
Winning Percentage: .699
First Season: 1888
USC vacated 14 wins between 2004 and '05 because of the Reggie Bush scandal, or it would not be neck and neck with Tennessee on this list.
8. Penn State
Wins: 902
Winning Percentage: .688
First Season: 1887
The NCAA vacated 112 of these wins because of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal but restored them in 2015. Had it not, Penn State would be 13th all-time in wins.
7. Nebraska
Wins: 905
Winning Percentage: .688
First Season: 1890
When you win at least nine games every season from 1969-2001, you can expect to hold a pretty high place on this list.
6. Oklahoma
Wins: 917
Winning Percentage: .726
First Season: 1895
Three head coaches are responsible for more than half (492) of Oklahoma's victories: Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer, and Bob Stoops. And current head coach Lincoln Riley is off to a good start. He's 45-8 with four Big 12 titles in his first four seasons.
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— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 28, 2019
5. Notre Dame
Wins: 918
Winning Percentage: .729
First Season: 1887
The Irish actually reached 900 wins in 2017 but had to do it again after 21 wins were vacated because of academic misconduct.
4. Texas
Wins: 923
Winning Percentage: .704
First Season: 1893
Some may argue that the Longhorns' college football pedigree is overblown, but it is important to note that Texas has only suffered only 16 losing seasons in its 125-plus year history.
3. Alabama
Wins: 929
Winning Percentage: .729
First Season: 1892
Alabama has gone 127-12 over the last 10 seasons. If the Crimson Tide keeps playing like this, they will continue to move up this list.
2. Ohio State
Wins: 931
Winning Percentage: .730
First Season: 1890
Ohio State won its first Rose Bowl in 1920 and its first national championship in '42, but its success since 1950 has propelled the program to second on this list. During that span, the Buckeyes have won more than 550 games, 31 conference titles, and seven national championships.
1. Michigan
Wins: 964
Winning Percentage: .727
First Season: 1879
The Wolverines were college football's first true powerhouse thanks to Fielding Yost's "point-a-minute" teams in the early 1900s. In the modern era, Michigan has only suffered three losing seasons in the last 50 years, although Wolverine fans probably don't count the 2020 pandemic-shortened campaign (2-4).
— Written by Aaron Tallent, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Tallent is a writer whose articles have appeared in The Sweet Science, FOX Sports’ Outkick the Coverage, Liberty Island and The Washington Post. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronTallent.
