Notre Dame, Frank Leahy Load Up All-Time Sagarin Ratings

Jeff Sagarin’s all-time ratings were released by USA Today on Thursday and to the surprise of nobody, Notre Dame was all over the list making up more than 10% of the 150 spots.

With it being college football’s 150th season there have been lists in regards to everything in college football deciding the best this, that or the other all season long.

Who is the best team in any given year in the history of the game?

We finally have an answer.

At least according to a computer.

Jeff Sagarin’s all-time ratings were released by USA Today on Thursday and to the surprise of nobody, Notre Dame was all over the list making up more than 10% of the 150 spots.

You may notice as well that Frank Leahy’s squad have a few appearances on the list. Here’s where Notre Dame’s teams each checked in:

No. 2 – 1943 Notre Dame

No. 15 – 1946 Notre Dame

No. 17 – 1949 Notre Dame

No. 29 – 1966 Notre Dame

No. 40 – 1977 Notre Dame

No. 44 – 1970 Notre Dame

No. 46 – 1973 Notre Dame

No. 53 – 1947 Notre Dame

No. 56 – 1988 Notre Dame

No. 63 – 1930 Notre Dame

No. 71 – 1953 Notre Dame

No. 105 – 1921 Notre Dame

No. 117 – 1989 Notre Dame

No. 122 – 1993 Notre Dame

No. 135 – 1924 Notre Dame

No. 144 – 1948 Notre Dame

There are a few things to take away but to me none greater than six of the 11 teams Frank Leahy coached at Notre Dame being considered among the 150 greatest in the history of the sport.

The formula used to find the greatest teams included win-loss record, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

The No. 1 team historically graded out to be 1945 Army who went 9-0 with seven wins over top-30 squads and four against top-ten teams.

Also worth noting is that 1993 Florida State finished 12-1 with their lone loss coming to Notre Dame while the Irish finished 12-1 as well, with their loss coming to Boston College. However Notre Dame finished ranked 108 spots lower than Florida State in this poll.

Check out the full rankings right here and if you’re up for it, discuss them in the Fighting Irish Wire forum.