“What we have here are 100 percent objective ratings of the 100 best college football teams ever.”

Talk about a lengthy — and nearly impossible — task, even using a formula.

Based on the “Simple Ratings System” of Sports-Reference.com, popular blog SportsOnEarth.com compiled a list of the best 100 college football teams ever. The system values point differential and strength of schedule rather than championships.

The author of the piece admits that he doesn’t agree with all the rankings produced by the formula, but it’s a good conversation starter.

It’s difficult to buy the fact that the list’s Top 25 doesn’t include a single SEC program, although 14 different SEC teams did make the Top 100.

Here are the five greatest college football teams of all-time, according to the formula:

  1. 1943 Notre Dame
  2. 1945 Army
  3. 1946 Notre Dame
  4. 1973 Oklahoma
  5. 1949 Notre Dame

And here are the SEC teams that made the list:

  • T26) Alabama, 1971 (11-1, final AP rank: 4)
  • 42) Auburn, 1913 (8-0, final AP rank: N/A)
  • 46) Alabama, 1973 (11-1, final AP rank: 4)
  • 50) Alabama, 1978 (11-1, final AP rank: 1)
  • 57) Alabama, 1930 (10-0, final AP rank: N/A)
  • 58) Alabama, 1972 (10-2, final AP rank: 7)
  • 64) Florida, 2008 (13-1, final AP rank: 1)
  • 69) Georgia, 1946 (11-0, final AP rank: 3)
  • 80t) Tennessee, 1980 (11-1, final AP rank: 4)
  • 87) Alabama, 2012 (13-1, final AP rank: 1)
  • 89) Alabama, 1977 (11-1, final AP rank: 2)
  • 92) Alabama, 2011 (12-1, final AP rank: 1)
  • 94) Alabama, 1965 (9-1-1, final AP rank: 1)
  • 98) LSU, 2011 (13-1, final AP rank: 2)
  • Just missed the cut: 1959 Ole Miss, 1961 Alabama, 1980 Alabama.

SportsOnEarth also pulled a few other conclusions from the study involving SEC teams, naming the 2012 Alabama defense the fifth-best in college football history. The site also says that the 1980 Georgia team, which went 12-0 and won the Sugar Bowl and national championship, is one of the worst title teams in college football history.

Nine different Alabama teams made the Top 100 all-time, but just one Tennessee team appeared on the list — coached by Johnny Majors, not General Robert Neyland.

Alabama is the only SEC team that appears multiple times.

Here are a few other thoughts from Matt Brown, who summarized his findings here:

“While the SEC is largely ignored in the top 50, Bear Bryant leads all coaches in appearances in the top 100, with six of his Alabama teams making the cut. Others with multiple appearances include many coaches who you would expect, plus a few surprises: Frank Leahy (5), Bernie Bierman (5), Fritz Crisler (5), Ara Parseghian (4), Red Blaik (3), Bob Devaney (3), Tom Osborne (3), Darrell Royal (3), Barry Switzer (3), Pappy Waldorf (3), Pete Carroll (2), Forest Evashevski (2), Chuck Fairbanks (2), Woody Hayes (2), Howard Jones (2), Joe Paterno (2), Nick Saban (2), Bo Schembechler (2), Bud Wilkinson (2).”

“Just like Bear Bryant having the most appearances as a coach, the team leader is no surprise either: Notre Dame dominates the top 100 with 13 teams. Others teams with multiple appearances: Michigan (10), Alabama (9), Oklahoma (8), Minnesota (6), Nebraska (6), USC (6), Ohio State (4), Yale (4), Army (3), Northwestern (3), Iowa (2), Michigan State (2), Penn State (2).”