What College Football's All-Time Wins Standings Look Like After Notre Dame's Vacation
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view is seen as the Michigan Wolverines run an offensive play against the defense of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish September 16, 2006 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, the NCAA upheld a ruling regarding Notre Dame's academic misconduct scandal, forcing the Fighting Irish to vacate 21 victories - from the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The penalties don't hurt the program moving forward, but it does affect the all-time standings in a few categories.
As a result of the NCAA's decision, Notre Dame falls from No. 2 in all-time wins to No. 6. The Fighting Irish previously had 907 victories - behind only Michigan, which has 943. Now, with 886, they trail Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, Nebraska and Alabama.
Here's what the top 20 looks like at the moment:
- Michigan - 943 wins
- Texas (tied) - 898 wins
- Ohio State (tied) - 898 wins
- Nebraska - 893 wins
- Alabama - 891 wins
- Notre Dame - 886 wins
- Oklahoma - 884 wins
- Penn State - 878 wins
- USC - 834 wins
- Tennessee - 833 wins
- Georgia - 808 wins
- LSU - 787 wins
- Auburn - 759 wins
- West Virginia - 744 wins
- Virginia Tech - 738 wins
- Texas A&M - 732 wins
- Clemson - 729 wins
- Georgia Tech - 728 wins
- Washington - 724 wins
- Pittsburgh - 717 wins
The decision also affects the rankings for all-time win percentage. Notre Dame is now fourth all-time in that category.
- Michigan - .729
- Boise State - .727
- Ohio State - .725
- Notre Dame - .724
- Alabama - .723
- Oklahoma - .723
- Texas - .705
- USC - .702
- Nebraska - .695
- Penn State - .688
Notre Dame, during the 2012 season, finished with an undefeated 12-0 record during the regular season. The team's lone loss came against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.
Michigan and Notre Dame will square off to open the 2018 season. As a result of the NCAA's decision, the matchup will now feature the No. 1 and No. 6 winningest programs of all time.
