Best single season college sports teams of all time (in terms of roster only).

[Jaydumo20]

This can be basketball heavy, as it should be but we can use all sports. Not looking for the single "best" answer.

Which college teams, from any era, had a very impressive roster of players on a single team? From the perspective of who became a legit figure or pro after college. Would the Michigan fab 5 make the list based on (Rose, Howard and Weber's eventual success? Maybe) If the team was stacked with 5 star recruits who were either only good in college, or never panned out, try to leave them off the list.

The reaction of a good response would be: "i cant believe all those people played together" (womens sports count too)

I'm not talking about winning. If they won a lot of games thats a bonus but if they were filled with role players and a star or two then it doesnt really apply. Ex. If we took that Duke team, or our team in 99', they probably wouldn't be on this list as neither team were stacked with tons of notable pros, in retrospect.

Have fun and happy monday

 

[lateralous]

2001 Miami Hurricanes football - Nevermind the starters which included Ed Reed and Andre Johnson, they had backups like Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow and Willis McGahee.

 

[Jaydumo20]

2001 Miami Hurricanes football - Nevermind the starters which included Ed Reed and Andre Johnson, they had backups like Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow and Willis McGahee.

I'm glad you led with this. IMO it's the prime example and kinda what led me to start this thread in the first place. We have some sports nerds on here who can probably enlighten us as to more.

 

[aburks41]

2001 Miami Hurricanes football - Nevermind the starters which included Ed Reed and Andre Johnson, they had backups like Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow and Willis McGahee.

17 first round picks from that roster. Nothing will ever come close to that level

 

[superjohn]

2001 Miami Hurricanes football - Nevermind the starters which included Ed Reed and Andre Johnson, they had backups like Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow and Willis McGahee.

Yep, 2001 Miami is the most talented roster I've ever seen. Hell, 2000 Miami is the other most talented roster I've ever seen.

 

[UCONNFAN179]

Some would say the 1998-99 Duke men's basketball team

 

[Ports21]

2001 Miami Hurricanes football - Nevermind the starters which included Ed Reed and Andre Johnson, they had backups like Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow and Willis McGahee.

They would have gone 8-4 if they never scored an offensive TD that season.

 

[Chin Diesel]

It really does start and end with the U.

Maybe a couple of Wooden's UCLA teams anchored by Alcinder or Walton, but otherwise, it's a done topic.

 

[Jaydumo20]

It really does start and end with the U.

Maybe a couple of Wooden's UCLA teams anchored by Alcinder or Walton, but otherwise, it's a done topic.

I changed the topic to reflect that I wasnt looking for a "winner". My poorly written initial thread really made it seem that way. I agree, it's not much of a competition if we are choosing the "best"

 

[Jaydumo20]

1981 unc mbb is pretty impressive. Jordan, worthy and Perkins.
And matt Doherty and buzz Peterson went on to big time coaching gigs

 

[uconnfan68]

Some would say the 1998-99 Duke men's basketball team

Best PR machine for sure.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Any number of Kentucky teams from the Calipari era were incredible on paper, although his terrible coaching kept them from achieving much of anything.

 

[boog204]

I think the gold standard is some of those Miami teams. You have Hall of Fame-caliber players as backups to other Hall of Fame-caliber players. The 01 team's stat about the offensive TD is mindboggling.

Just googled. That 01 team had 38 players drafted in total, and its three running backs are 3rd (Gore), 33rd (Portis), and 43rd (MaGahee) in rushing yards in NFL history. The fourth string RB was Walter Payton's son, and even he was briefly a starter in the NFL.

The Kentucky team that was undefeated before losing to Wisconsin was easily one of the most dominant teams I'd ever seen. They had nine future NBA draft picks and Marcus Lee, who was a top-20 recruit. The beatdown they put on Kansas early in the year was crazy. I was shocked that they lost to Kaminski and Wisc.

There was a 'Bama team recently that had three first round picks in their QB depth chart and four future NFL picks at RB backing up Henry.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I think the gold standard is some of those Miami teams. You have Hall of Fame-caliber players as backups to other Hall of Fame-caliber players. The 01 team's stat about the offensive TD is mindboggling.

Just googled. That 01 team had 38 players drafted in total, and its three running backs are 3rd (Gore), 33rd (Portis), and 43rd (MaGahee) in rushing yards in NFL history. The fourth string RB was Walter Payton's son, and even he was briefly a starter in the NFL.

The Kentucky team that was undefeated before losing to Wisconsin was easily one of the most dominant teams I'd ever seen. They had nine future NBA draft picks and Marcus Lee, who was a top-20 recruit. The beatdown they put on Kansas early in the year was crazy. I was shocked that they lost to Kaminski and Wisc.

There was a 'Bama team recently that had three first round picks in their QB depth chart and four future NFL picks at RB backing up Henry.

That kentucky team was such a good one. I remember listening to that game on the radio. What a stacked squad

1973 usc Trojans had steve Kemp, rich dauer, roy smalley and Fred Lynn. I think baseball is the toughest sport to have a bunch of pros on the same team. I'm sure there are many more

 

[superjohn]

I think the gold standard is some of those Miami teams. You have Hall of Fame-caliber players as backups to other Hall of Fame-caliber players. The 01 team's stat about the offensive TD is mindboggling.

Just googled. That 01 team had 38 players drafted in total, and its three running backs are 3rd (Gore), 33rd (Portis), and 43rd (MaGahee) in rushing yards in NFL history. The fourth string RB was Walter Payton's son, and even he was briefly a starter in the NFL.

The Kentucky team that was undefeated before losing to Wisconsin was easily one of the most dominant teams I'd ever seen. They had nine future NBA draft picks and Marcus Lee, who was a top-20 recruit. The beatdown they put on Kansas early in the year was crazy. I was shocked that they lost to Kaminski and Wisc.

There was a 'Bama team recently that had three first round picks in their QB depth chart and four future NFL picks at RB backing up Henry.

Yep and that's after losing first round draft picks Dan Morgan, Damione Lewis, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne off their 2000 roster.

The talent was just unbelievable...

 

[nelsonmuntz]

In terms of eye test, the 1991 UNLV team is the best college basketball team I have ever seen. No one can convince me that the semifinal game against Duke wasn't point shaving gone wrong.

The 2004 team was the best UConn team of all time, and would have lost maybe 2 games if Okafor's back hadn't kept glitching. I may be a little rusty on the games, but I think the Pitt road game and the Ryan Gomes game were the only two games UConn lost where Okafor was around 100%.

 

[dannyHAM]

No where near as crazy as Miami but the 2019 Joe Burrow LSU team was stacked if I recall.

 

[Lafayette]

Oklahoma State 1988 - Barry Sanders sets like 45 records to Heisman. That team when we was on, man they were on

Barry - 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns. 7.6 yards per carry and remember a year earlier Oklahoma's coach Switzer - "Whatever you do, do not hurt Thurman Thomas. Guys, we've got a problem. You don't want to play against this freshman named Barry Sanders!"

 

[Matrim55]

2001-02 Huskies started three Hall of Famers including both the GOAT and the GOAT PG. They also had another future WNBA all-star in the starting five, two other long-time WNBA starters, and another WNBA contributor coming off the bench.

It's the most stacked 8-man roster in the history of basketball, men's or women's. Jordan's best UNC team doesn't touch it, Kareem's best UCLA side doesn't touch it, none of the football teams mentioned touch it. The only one that comes close is the 2015-16 group.

Only other thing I can think of are some of the great UNC women's soccer teams from the early '90s with Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Tisha Venturini et al.

 

[lateralous]

Yep, 2001 Miami is the most talented roster I've ever seen. Hell, 2000 Miami is the other most talented roster I've ever seen.

It's crazy that the 2001 roster was that stacked AFTER losing Santana Moss, Dan Morgan and Reggie Wayne.

 

[imno1]

Maybe one of those Trinity squash teams during their 252 game win streak

 

[Jaydumo20]

2001-02 Huskies started three Hall of Famers including both the GOAT and the GOAT PG. They also had another future WNBA all-star in the starting five, two other long-time WNBA starters, and another WNBA contributor coming off the bench.

It's the most stacked 8-man roster in the history of basketball, men's or women's. Jordan's best UNC team doesn't touch it, Kareem's best UCLA side doesn't touch it, none of the football teams mentioned touch it. The only one that comes close is the 2015-16 group.

Only other thing I can think of are some of the great UNC women's soccer teams from the early '90s with Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Tisha Venturini et al.

I was hoping this team was mentioned. The two you mentioned are top 5 players and personalities in the games history. They have their own Manning cast for gods sake.
And then there is conlon, battle, cash, jones valley, moore, williams. You are correct.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Call me a homer, but I think the 2002 lady Huskies don't get enough credit. After an undefeated national championship season, in the WNBA draft they produced picks No. 1 (Sue Bird), No. 2 (Swin Cash), No. 4 (Asjha Jones) and No. 6 (Tamika Williams). The only starter who wasn't a top-6 pick was Diana Taurasi (No. 1 pick in 2004 and the GOAT).

 

[Scoe]

I'm gonna throw 2024 Penn State wrestling in there. Believe they had 10 all Americans out of 10 varsity spots. Had four national champions, 3 undefeated wrestlers, 2 four time national champions in Aaron Brooks and Carter Starocci. Staruccio did come back for a 5th year btw and won his 5th national championship in 2025. As a team won the national championship by 100 pts over Cornell.

 

[Jaydumo20]

A friend of mine was a student assistant on an early 90s Miami of ohio bball team. The coaching staff was:

Herb Sendek
Sean Miller
Thad Motta
Charlie Coles

Not that it directly fits the category but I absolutely love stuff like this.