College football is one of the biggest and most popular sports in the country, although it is regional in its roots. Intra-state rivalries like the Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl and Old Oaken Bucket provide bragging rights to residents and fans for 365 days. Simply put, state pride has been the foundation of the sport for over a century.
Teams like Clemson and Georgia have dominated their state rivals recently, while the Michigan-Michigan rivalry has been fairly even for nearly a decade.
The “season of conversation,” as legendary coach Steve Spurrier called the period leading up to the season, is coming to an end. With that in mind, it’s time to make our picks for the best team in each state. These choices are based on a wide variety of factors, including recent success, rivalry outcomes, and hope for the future.
Alabama — Alabama: The Crimson Tide has the best record in the sport since 2008 and has won six national titles under coach Nick Saban. They have current Heisman Trophy winner – quarterback Bryce Young – and top football player – Will Anderson Jr. foreseeable future. — Barrett Sallee
Arizona — Arizona State: It’s not a huge compliment to be considered the best team in Grand Canyon State, but there’s no doubt that the Sun Devils have the upper hand. NCAA issues are considered a bit, but they’ve won five consecutive Territory Cups and, more importantly, haven’t gone 1-11 last year like Arizona. Still, it’s a critical year for ASU head coach Herm Edwards, who will need success in Pac-12 as a whole this year, not just the state. — Sallee
Arkansas – Arkansas: Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman has created a competent program in just two years in charge, which is more than enough to leapfrog last year’s winner – Arkansas State – into this annual story. Nine-game winners in 2021, the Hogs have a dynamic offense, a robust defense and are one of the biggest threats to Alabama in the SEC West. It’s going to be tough to take down Arkansas based on its trajectory. — Sallee
California – USC: This state can turn a dime with so many quality programs, and the Trojans landed the biggest blow of the offseason by putting trio of coach Lincoln Riley, quarterback Caleb Williams and Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison at receiver. That, along with a 12-3 conference record between 2019 and 2020, was enough to keep the top spot. UCLA has given a push as San Diego State enters 2022 as the underdog after making the Mountain West Championship Game. For now, though, California is the country of Trojans. — Shehan Jeyarajah
Colorado — Air Force: The Falcons had another incredible season with a 10-3 record, which ended with a victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl. Losses against champions Mountain West Utah State, San Diego State and Army came by a total of 16 points. The Air Force is Colorado’s class and it’s not that close. — Jeyarajah
Connecticut — Sacred Heart: The Pioneers took first place by default last season after UConn, Central Connecticut and Yale chose not to play football during the pandemic. In 2022, Sagrado Coração won the honor on the field. Mark Nofri’s team won their third Northeast Conference championship in the past four years and earned a trip to the FCS playoffs with an 8-4 record. Pioneer football is looking up. — Jeyarajah
Delaware — Delaware: Blue Hens 2021 will not enter the record books, but the recent success story is still enough to keep Delaware over the state of Delaware at number one. Delaware reached the FCS semifinals in 2020 as part of two playoff appearances over the past four years. Additionally, the Blue Hens returned to basics during the offseason by signing Ryan Carty as head coach after he helped K.C. Keeler wins the 2021 national championship in Sam Houston. — Jeyarajah
Florida — UCF: Florida won this title last year, but a disastrous 2021 season that resulted in coach Dan Mullen being sacked cannot be ignored. Florida State and Miami are still trying to get back on track, which makes it hard to pick either one. The UCF has at least nine wins in four of its last five seasons and led the Gators to last season’s Gasparilla Bowl. The Knights’ grip over the state is tenuous, but the Sunshine State is still black and gold for now. — Sallee
Georgia — Georgia: The Bulldogs won their first national title since 1981 and have played in four of the last five SEC Championship games. They were again chosen to win the SEC East in the media poll that took place during the SEC Media Days. It’s going to take a miracle for any other team in Peach State to take down the Bulldogs any time in the near future. — Sallee
Hawaii — Hawaii: The Rainbow Warriors are the only Division I team in the state, so consider this a no-competition competition. As a bonus, they’ve finished 0.500+ in three of their last four seasons. — Sallee
Idaho — Boise State: The sky is falling over Boise… at least by Broncos standards. The 2021 season was the worst since 1998, with Boise State losing every game by 11 points or fewer. Also, to be clear, that “disaster” was still a promising 7-5 run under head coach Andy Avalos, who has made several rounds in the rest of Idaho’s programs. Boise State remains a powerhouse in the Group of Five. — Jeyarajah
Illinois — Illinois: Northern Illinois defends first place after surprisingly winning the MAC championship with a 9-5 record. However, Illinois showed enough interesting signs in Bret Bielema’s first season to hold back NIU, Northwestern and a handful of exciting FCS teams. Illini’s win ranked Penn State and Minnesota, and defeated Nebraska in a Week Zero game. Keep an eye out for new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who is a rising star. — Jeyarajah
Indiana — Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have recorded at least 10 wins in each of the last five seasons and made two college football playoff appearances during that tenure. They lost coach Brian Kelly, the architect of that success, when he took over the vacant position at LSU. However, new trainer Marcus Freeman is recruiting his tail and has eased the transition to a new era in South Bend. — Sallee
Iowa — Iowa: The Hawkeyes have won six consecutive Cy-Hawk trophies over arch-rivals Iowa State and finished in the AP Top 25 in each of the past four seasons. They also went 10-4 last season, winning the Big Ten West. Coach Kirk Ferentz has established one of the most stable programs in the country, and that doesn’t seem to be in jeopardy anytime soon. — Sallee
Kansas — Kansas State: The Wildcats dominated the state for most of the 21st century, and nothing seems to be changing under head coach Chris Klieman. Kansas State bounced back from a disappointing pandemic campaign with another 8-5 season. The 2022 team could be the best since the 2012 Fiesta Bowl roster. Bet on Kansas coach Lance Leipold to bring the show back to competitiveness, but, uh, not yet. — Jeyarajah
Kentucky — Kentucky: The Wildcats finished last season 10-3, their second 10-win season in the past four years. They established themselves as a constant threat in the SEC East, as well as beating rivals Louisville for the Governor’s Cup in three consecutive seasons. Heading into 2022, Kentucky has one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Will Levis. Coach Mark Stoops transformed Kentucky from a “basketball school” to one that also matters in football. — Sallee
Louisiana — LSU: The Tigers have been a disaster each of the past two seasons, but the 2019 national title, coupled with the ninja signing Brian Kelly out of Notre Dame, keeps them clinging to the top of Pelican State. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have a case in this matter, but we’ll hold off to see what they look like in the post-Billy Napier era. — Sallee
Maine — Maine: The Black Bears rank as the only Division I team in the state and took a win over number 24 Rhode Island at FCS level to go on to a solid 6-5 record. Now, former Yale associate coach Jordan Stevens will have the opportunity to put his stamp on his alma mater. — Jeyarajah
Maryland — Maryland: The Navy owned the state, but it doesn’t anymore. The combination of their struggles and the rise of Mike Locksley’s Terrapins to a somewhat competent team is enough to knock the Midshipmen from the top spot. The Terps went 7-6 last year, ending the season with a 54-10 win over Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl. — Sallee
Massachusetts — Boston College: The Eagles receive serious competition from Holy Cross, who won UConn, won the Patriot League and won Sacred Heart in the FCS playoffs. However, Boston College showed some promising signs under sophomore coach Jeff Hafley to get to another game despite injuries to quarterback Phil Jurkovec. A breakout season could be coming soon. — Jeyarajah
Michigan — Michigan: Last season, the Wolverines won Ohio State for the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era, won their first Big Ten championship since 2004, and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. Yes, they also lost to state rivals Michigan State on October 30th, which should at least be considered here. However, the achievements listed above far outweigh the outcome of head-to-head. — Sallee
Minnesota — Minnesota: Minnesota is actually a fascinating state for small college football, with Minnesota State reaching the Division II national championship in 2019 and St. Thomas jumping from Division III to Division I. However, the Golden Gophers still reign supreme after going 9-4 to reach a third cup in four years. Coach P.J. Fleck has an impressive 35-23 record in six seasons in Minnesota. — Jeyarajah
Mississippi — Ole Miss: The Rebels had a 10-win regular season and went to the Sugar Bowl last year. They have two straight wins over state rivals Mississippi State, and coach Lane Kiffin has established their offense as one of the most dynamic units in the country. This works well between the lines and on the recruiting trail. — Sallee
Missouri — Missouri: The Tigers are the only FBS team and one of three Division I programs in the Show Me state, making this a relatively easy choice. With that said, manager Eli Drinkwitz is 11-12 in two seasons in a program that hasn’t finished above 0.500 since 2018. He’s still relatively new as a head coach, and there’s a lot of promise for the future in Colombia based on form. how this racing game clicked last season. — Sallee
Montana — Montana: The Brawl of the Wild between Montana and Montana State is easily one of the most underrated rivalries in all of college football, and there’s no better way to determine the best team at Treasure State than on the field. Montana State ended up going in a Cinderella run for Brent Vigen’s first season national title game, but Montana crushed the Bobcats 29-10 in Missoula. — Jeyarajah
Nebraska — Nebraska: The greatest 3-9 team in college football history follows with a unanimous selection as the best team in the state. Pretty good considering the Cornhuskers are the only First Division football team in Nebraska. — Jeyarajah
Nevada — Nevada: The Wolf Pack finished 8-5 with a Quick Lane Bowl appearance last season. One of those eight wins included a 51-20 victory over rivals UNLV. Coach Jay Norvell led Nevada to four straight winning seasons before leaving to take over at Colorado State. — Sallee
New Hampshire — Dartmouth: Coach Buddy Teevens has Dartmouth in a special run with back-to-back Ivy League titles and a 56-14 record since 2014, and standout players include All-Americans Jake Guidone and Jalen Mackie. Success is more than enough to put off New Hampshire. — Jeyarajah
New Jersey — Rutgers: As one of three Division I teams — and the only FBS program — in New Jersey, you’d think Rutgers would be an easy pick for the top spot at Garden State. However, Princeton has made it difficult for the Scarlet Knights in the past. That said, a Gator Bowl appearance after the second season of Greg Schiano’s second stint as coach is enough for the top spot here. — Sallee
New Mexico — New Mexico: The Wolves were not good in 2021, but rival State of New Mexico was profoundly terrible, which led to the end of the Doug Martin era. A 3-9 record for New Mexico in Danny Gonzales’ second season looks better in comparison. — Jeyarajah
New York — Army: This is a no-brainer. The Black Knights have won nine games in each of the last two seasons, bowled in five of the last six seasons, and have established themselves as the best service academy in the country. Jeff Monken has completely changed a tradition-rich show that has struggled for most of the last few decades. — Sallee
North Carolina – Wake Forest: This is always a fun state to look at because there is usually a discussion for two or three schools every year. This year, however, it took about two seconds. The Demon Deacons are coming off an 11-win season and have finished over .500 in four of the last five seasons. Coach Dave Clawson has established one of the most consistently explosive offenses in the country. The question is not whether Wake Forest deserves that designation this year, the question is whether it is sustainable in the future. — Sallee
North Dakota – State of North Dakota: After losing early in the Spring 2021 FCS playoffs, the State of North Dakota came back in full force and paved the way for their ninth national championship since 2011 with a 38-year dominance. 10 over the state of Montana. The Bison machine doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. — Jeyarajah
Ohio — Ohio State: Cincinnati is Ohio State’s first true contender in years after the Bearcats won a trip to the College Football Playoff, but the Buckeyes’ track record is second to none. Ohio State is a favorite to reach the national championship and perhaps take home the final prize for the first time since 2014. — Jeyarajah
Oklahoma — Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy finally got the best of Oklahoma for the first time since 2011 to earn a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game, and his Cowboys won Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma has a long history of success, but an outside hiring of coaches for the first time since 1998 provides the narrow opening for the state of Oklahoma to control the state. — Jeyarajah
Oregon – Oregon: The Ducks finally broke through in 2021 and reached national contention behind a first pick in the NFL draft in Kayvon Thibodeaux and a solid head coach in Mario Cristobal. Dan Lanning is steering the ship now after helping Georgia to a national championship, and the state of Oregon is nipping Oregon’s heels, but the Ducks still have the inner lane in the state. — Jeyarajah
Pennsylvania — Penn State: This one was hard to pin down. On the one hand, you have a Penn State show that is steeped in tradition and has finished in the top 20 in four of the last six seasons – three of which have been top 10 results. Meanwhile, Pitt is fresh off an ACC title and quarterback Kenny Pickett has gone to New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. That was Pitt’s first 10-win season since 2009, while Penn State has three since 2016. Going forward, the Nittany Lions should be able to sustain success longer than their cross-state rival. — Sallee
Rhode Island — Rhode Island: Providence hasn’t played college football since 1941, so congratulations Rhode Island, you are undisputed champions. The Rams had a solid 7-4 record in the CAA and moved up to 12th in the FCS rankings before a three-game slippage in October. — Jeyarajah
South Carolina — Clemson: A 10-win season was considered a “low” year for the Tigers and coach Dabo Swinney. That alone is enough to show how powerful they are. Put together two national titles since 2016 and seven straight wins over rivals within the state of South Carolina, and this is an easy choice. — Sallee
South Dakota — State of South Dakota: The Jackrabbits won a trip to the NCAA Division I Football Championship during the 2021 spring season. Then, they followed it up with an 11-4 record and a playoff berth. in the fall. If it weren’t for the state of North Dakota at its own conference, the state of South Dakota might be a household name. — Jeyarajah
Tennessee — Tennessee: Volunteers have been spinning their wheels for over a decade, which has allowed Memphis to slide into place on multiple occasions. Not this year, however. Tennessee went 7-5 in the regular season and earned a spot in the Music City Bowl. Coach Josh Heupel has established one of the most dynamic attacks in the country. Hope is a beautiful thing… especially on Rocky Top. — Sallee
Texas — Baylor: What a difference a year makes. After going 2-7 in Dave Aranda’s first season, the Bears took first place at the Lone Star State after winning their first Big 12 Championship Game, setting a winning record and winning a Sugar Bowl title. Achieving two title games in three seasons is enough to hold Texas A&M for first place. The Aggies and Bears will unquestionably be the top two contenders for the 2023 best in Texas title, but don’t be surprised if Houston joins the chat too. — Jeyarajah
Utah — Utah: This was a fun discussion because there are legitimate points for the Utes and rival BYU. We chose Utah because of their 2021 Pac-12 title, three 10-win seasons since 2015, and nine wins in their last 10 encounters with the Cougars in Holy War. Moving forward, the Utes look like they could become a dynasty in Pac-12 (if they stay) when USC and UCLA leave. — Sallee
Virginia — Virginia Tech: The Hokies have finished under .500 each of the past two seasons, but have outscored rival Virginia in 17 of their last 18 games. This is too much to ignore. A weak argument could be made for Liberty, but it’s too early to put so much faith in the Flames’ long-term success. — Sallee
Washington — Washington State: Washington state was among the toughest selections on the board. The Apple Cup finally went to Washington state for the first time since 2012, but both UW and Wazzu dealt with major distractions off the field. Eastern Washington made an elite FCS case behind Walter Payton winning quarterback Eric Barriere. However, Washington State’s second half of the season under Jake Dickert was too impressive to ignore, including a 40-13 win over Washington. — Jeyarajah
West Virginia — West Virginia: The Mountaineers remained competitive in the Big 12 with another bowl appearance, but reinforcements are on the way in the form of former Georgia quarterback JT Daniels and Air Raid offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. The promise is enough to hold Marshall during a transition under sophomore coach Charles Huff. — Jeyarajah
Wisconsin — Wisconsin: The Badgers win this by default as they are the only Division I team in the state, but they also deserve recognition for consistency and success in the Big Ten. They run the ball, play defense and are always a threat to win the Big Ten championship, no matter who is snapping, running the football and running the front seven. — Sallee
Wyoming — Wyoming: The Cowboys had one of their most inconsistent teams under former North Dakota head coach Craig Bohl. Wyoming had narrow wins over UConn and Montana State, plus a loss to New Mexico, but followed it up with wins over Kent State and Utah State. Regardless, Wyoming is the only First Division team in the state, so the decision is an easy one. — Jeyarajah
