College football fans are in an uproar after The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel dropped a bombshell list of the “Top 25 Programs Since 2000,” shockingly placing Ohio State above Alabama for the top spot.
Critics are calling the ranking everything from “clickbait nonsense” to an outright insult to the sport’s history, sparking a wildfire of backlash across social media.
Mandel’s article, tucked behind a paywall but teased publicly, claims Ohio State’s “consistency” over the past 23 years justifies its No. 1 position. But fans and analysts alike aren’t buying it.
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Alabama’s legendary run under Nick Saban—featuring six national titles (double Ohio State’s three), nine championship game appearances, and 15 straight seasons of 10+ wins—has been widely hailed as the greatest dynasty in college football history. Even a disastrous 2000-2007 stretch for the Crimson Tide, critics argue, wouldn’t dent their claim to the throne given their post-2008 dominance.
“How do you ignore Saban’s WARRIORS?!” tweeted one enraged fan.
Even Ohio State loyalists admitted the ranking felt off, with one writing:
“I bleed scarlet and gray, but Bama’s résumé is untouchable.” Others mocked Mandel’s logic, joking, “Next they’ll say water isn’t wet.”
While Mandel likely aimed to stir debate (mission accomplished), the list’s credibility is now in question. Alabama’s trophy case, overflowing with hardware from the College Football Playoff era alone, seems to render the debate pointless. As one viral tweet put it:
“If this isn’t rage bait, it’s pure delusion.”
Whether a calculated engagement ploy or a genuine hot take, one thing’s clear: The Athletic just handed college football fans the scandal of the offseason. And in the court of public opinion, Alabama’s reign remains unshaken.
