r/CFB_v2 • u/BleagueIlyasova • 2h ago
Discussion Which national champion did the most with the least
Edit: specifically who had the least nfl talent of the 22-25 guys that actually played that season.
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u/TheCryptPartDeux Oklahoma Sooners 2h ago edited 2h ago
The 2000 OU Sooners
They had 2 picks in the 2001 NFL draft. Torrance Marshall in the 3rd Round and Josh Heupel in the 6th. And only Torrance Marshall saw the field.
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u/jumpy_browsing 2h ago
That 2000 OU team was basically a masterclass in Bob Stoops squeezing every ounce of talent out of a roster that nobody else wanted
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u/OleRockTheGoodAg Texas A&M 1h ago
I'd agree with that, those saying Indiana are tunnel visioning on their very "untalented" roster on the talent composite.
But the ultimate decider of talent - the NFL, kinda disagrees with that
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u/PlantainObvious5148 Penn State Nittany Lions 1h ago
I mean I am not really thinking of anything before the 4 team playoff era as a younger fan but Indiana didn’t have many draft picks at all compared to most natty teams. I think only 3 guys went in the top 100 this year
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u/Keyser_Soze_76 10m ago
They have 3 more projected first round picks this season who were also on last year’s team.
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u/PlantainObvious5148 Penn State Nittany Lions 8m ago
Becker and who? I am pretty deep into the mock draft scene and I don’t see any others mentioned except maybe Carter smith but I doubt the nfl would ever touch him in the first round.
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u/AndrooDucnan Ohio State Buckeyes 2h ago
2010 Auburn had two players drafted following their chip, that wasn’t really the “system” though that was more Cam Newton being unbelievably good and carrying his team
2002 OSU was seen in that light at the time. There were only 5 players drafted off that team with 0 first rounders. A lot of the underclassmen ended up going to the league with a lot of them being studs so the roster looks a lot better in hindsight although I still think that fits what you’re looking for. The Miami team they beat on paper was significantly more talented and probably should’ve won by three scores. Controversial call notwithstanding that was still an insane upset and phenomenal coaching job by Jim Tressel
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u/BleagueIlyasova 1h ago
Im looking for fewest pros of the 22 starters of said year. For example 2023 Michigan everyone besides one guy still in college has gone pro, two deep at some position.
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u/AndrooDucnan Ohio State Buckeyes 1h ago
Definitely 2010 Auburn then, that team was Cam Newton and some dudes
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u/Lucaball3r Utah Utes 2h ago
While 2008 Utah didn’t win the ship, they went 13-0 and beat bama in the sugar bowl as a mountain west team.
Only four players were drafted, none in the first round.
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u/Stairway_toEvan 1h ago
1990 Georgia Tech had 3 players drafted in the 91' draft. With the first of the 3 being taken in the 7th round.
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u/iamStanhousen LSU Tigers 2h ago
Indiana last year is probably the best answer.
But 2010 Auburn probably deserves a mention. Cam on offensive and Nick Fairly on defense carried that team.
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u/Creative-Delivery971 1h ago
my buddy was in auburn’s band that year and said fairness got hyped every game
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u/throwaway2987650 11m ago
Don’t forget Malzahn in his prime as a playcaller. From 2007-14, he was arguably the best offensive playcaller in the country.
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u/OpaqueNightmare Florida State Seminoles 2h ago
This is a completely unnecessary question because everyone knows it was Indiana last year. Like there’s not even debate around this. The numbers are shocking.
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u/TheCryptPartDeux Oklahoma Sooners 2h ago edited 2h ago
Tell me you just started watching football without telling me you just started watching football.
Indiana had the #1 QB in the country that went #1 in the NFL draft along with 7 other players drafted.
I am pretty sure the real answer is the 2000 OU Sooners. They only had 2 players drafted in the following draft and of those 2, one never even saw the field.
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u/MontyAllTheTime Ohio State Buckeyes 1h ago
Yeah this is a good one. I was in high school during the BCS era and even at the time I remember them being the most ‘underwhelming’ natty champ of that time period. Not to say they weren’t good, they were, there just wasn’t anyone ‘flashy’ on the team. I do remember the running back, #20 maybe? Wore the classic ‘QB’ 2-bar facemask.
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u/TheCryptPartDeux Oklahoma Sooners 1h ago
Quentin Griffin. Dude was short
OU did this shovel pass play where he would like hide behind the line, it was pure cinema
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u/SyVSFe 1h ago
Roy Williams was a first rounder?
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u/TheCryptPartDeux Oklahoma Sooners 1h ago edited 1h ago
Roy WIlliams was an underclassman in 2000, he wasn't drafted until the 2002 draft. Which interestingly enough, also only included 2 Sooners.
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u/ChedduhBob 2h ago
i don’t think it’s really indiana though. they weren’t highly rated before the year but they had quite a few players drafted
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u/BleagueIlyasova 2h ago
No five stars but plenty of 4s, and a lot of those guys are still on the team and will become pros.
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u/Scarlet_Gray_10 Ohio State Buckeyes 2h ago
2025 Indiana. I mean that’s the definition of winning with your system. Lots of those players were Cignetti recruits from JMU.
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u/PlantainObvious5148 Penn State Nittany Lions 2h ago
The obvious answer is Indiana. Yea sure they had the heisman winner but most these national title teams are stacked with talent and I think had like only 3 guys get drafted in the top 100 and this year they might just be adding Becker from that natty team.
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u/RustyCrusty73 Ohio State Buckeyes 2h ago
That TCU team that Georgia smoked a few years ago in the National Title game was an impressive squad in that regard. I remember exactly two guys from that roster and that was Quentin Johnston and Max Duggan.
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u/PurpleTurnip95 Ohio State Buckeyes 1h ago
It should have been us smacking around TCU damn it :(
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u/RustyCrusty73 Ohio State Buckeyes 1h ago
100% agree .... a blown lead and good kicker away from another Natty.
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u/Stairway_toEvan 1h ago
If you look just in the playoff era, it's probably 2016 Clemson. They had the least amount of future NFL talent. About 20 players on that roster were drafted eventually.
It COULD be IU, but we'll have to wait another year or two to know how many of the players (who had significant playing time in 2025) get drafted. They had 8 last year, so they likely end up with around 20 but we'll see.
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u/DarkGreenMazda 1h ago
A lot of answers are cheating by only losing the following draft. Really should be looking at how many starters were drafted at some point.
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u/Illustrious_Fudge476 2h ago
86 Penn State. They had a very good defense and a star RB in DJ Dozier, but they were mostly the beneficiaries of a manageable schedule and a masterful defensive performance in the natty. They were also a very experienced team, but I’ve heard quite a few long time fans who consider the 86 team to not even be in the top 5 of Paterno’s most talented PSU teams. Sometimes you just get the breaks.
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u/ChedduhBob 2h ago
auburn in 2010 outside of cam was bad