2008 Florida Gators: #1 team since 2000

[Escambia94]

Based on one analyst's formula, the 2008 Gators are the best team of all time! The formula is based on offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency, special teams efficiency, winning record, and strength of schedule. The rankings and scores:

1. 2008 Florida (2121.75)
2. 2019 LSU (1873.28)
3. 2001 Miami (FL) (1822.72)
4. 2011 LSU (1749.23)
5. 2007 LSU (1749.23)
6. 2017 Alabama (1669.11)
7. 2020 Alabama (1625.48)
8. 2009 Alabama (1615.91)
9. 2018 Clemson (1432.61)
10. 2016 Alabama (1418.60)
11. 2015 Alabama (1415.55)
12. 2013 FSU (1406.55)
13. 2011 Houston (1377.55)
14. 2009 Boise State (1317.55)
15. 2012 Alabama (1313.07)
16. 2003 Miami (OH) (1264.26)
17. 2004 USC (1253.26)
18. 2011 Alabama (1246.93)
19. 2007 Kansas (1194.46)
20. 2005 Texas (1177.46)
21. 2014 Ohio State (1141.00)
22. 2010 TCU (1115.40)
23. 2017 UCF (1103.20)
24. 2010 Auburn (1049.97)
25. 2004 Utah (1046.65)
26. 2003 USC (976.02)
27. 2016 Clemson (972.14)
28. 2021 Georgia (944.89)
29. 2006 Florida (872.43)

 

[DRU2012]

Clearly something about the underlying qualifying and analytical assumptions tend to favor the more recent contenders to start with...
That said, I'd still rather be an Alabama, with more-than-MULTIPLE appearances a little ways down that list, than a UF program with one appearance at the top, then nuthin' until barely making it in at the bottom of the Top 30.
And all that BEFORE even considering how the Spurrier years, along with ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEFORE THE 21st CENTURY, is more or less cast by the wayside.
So I don't really know what to MAKE of this list of yours after all, bra'.

 

[Leakfan12]

The 2006 Gators need to be ahead of some of those freaking teams especially 2017 UCF, 2004 Utah, 2011 Houston, 2007 Kansas, 2009 Boise State, and 2010 Auburn. OK I'm probably pushing it with Auburn because they only were champs because of Cam Newton.

 

[DRU2012]

The 2006 Gators need to be ahead of some of those freaking teams especially 2017 UCF, 2004 Utah, 2011 Houston, 2007 Kansas, 2009 Boise State, and 2010 Auburn. OK I'm probably pushing it with Auburn because they only were champs because of Cam Newton.

Yeah--I know that E-- didn't MAKE this list, that in delivering to our attention he's "only the messenger", but one could pick all KINDS of holes in the thing.
AND, like I mentioned, it seems solely to cover competition occurring in this century. As far as I can see, that is the only potentially valid explanation for its strange lack in that regard.

 

[Escambia94]

My take on the rankings is that this is really a formula for the most balance among all three phases of the game. Other teams are considered better than the 2008 Gators because of an explosive offense or a suffocating defense. The 2008 Gators were by far the only team on the list with an explosive offense, a suffocating defense, and a "game changing" special teams. The site will not let me embed the video explaining the originator's rationale, but he does state that he is limited by the availability of statistics before 2000. He actually thinks 1971 Nebraska is the "best" (or what I would says is most efficient) team of all time. I would imagine the 1996 Florida Gators would be up there as well.

What put 2008 Florida over the top by 300 points was that it was #2 or #3 in every statistical category. Other teams on the list may have been #1 in a couple categories, but were in the bottom 50 in complementary phases of the game.

 

[DRU2012]

Well, that explains (to some extent ELIMINATES) the pre-2000 thing...but that kind of deflates its larger "pig picture" relevance, too.
Yes, that 2008 team was balanced...I am NOT so sure the '06 team was THAT far removed from it in its own such talent--there cane a few prevalent "upgrades", but to a great extent was a similarly balanced and COACHED team, with much the same philosophical and onfield gameplan (even with Tebow now QB-1 instead of Leak upping the options in an even more potent running game), the '08 team was "improved"-- but not to THAT degree, it seems to me. Just saying, now that it has been apparently "quantified and ranked" in this manner.

 

[Escambia94]

I agree that coaching is important, but how do we measure that? This list was composed of measurable statistics available to us in a very simple algorithm: rank performance in all three phases of the game. No need to get fancy with advanced metrics or proprietary algorithms. By using the simplest metrics what we get is a measure of efficiency and balance in each phase of the game. For example, 2019 LSU is considered a better team than 2008 Florida solely because of offense. The 2019 LSU defense was horrible. The 2006 team was not as talented as the 2008 team. I posted the talent level in another thread. The 2006 team had to back its way into a national title. I bet the 1996 Gators would demolish the 2006 Gators and be slightly behind the 2008 Gators—largely due to the defense in 1996 led by Bobby Stoops.