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Which are the best college football teams ever at powerhouse programs?

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and linebacker Ben Boulware celebrate Clemson's first national championship since 1981 after beating Alabama 35-31. But is the 2016 Tigers team the best in school history? David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Just about the time that there was buzz about Alabama's 2016 team as perhaps one of the best ever, Clemson stood up and ended the debate.

But here's a new debate: How good was that group of Tigers compared with every other Clemson team?

Why stop there, though? Here's a look at the top teams in school history for Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Washington, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State and Texas. (Please note, this is an ongoing series, so more teams will be added in the coming weeks.)

Clemson Tigers

The Tigers have two national titles in their history: 1981 and 2016. So which team is No. 1? Dabo & Co. may want to turn away.

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Alabama Crimson Tide

How good was the 2016 Alabama team that lost to Clemson for the national title? Very good, actually. In this ranking of the best Tide teams ever, last year's team fared quite well.

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Ohio State Buckeyes

Urban Meyer has had some great squads in Columbus recently. But how do his teams stack up alongside some of the best in Buckeyes history?

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Washington Huskies

Last season's Washington team won the Pac-12 and made the College Football Playoff. Where do those Huskies rank among the all-time best Washington championship teams?

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Florida State Seminoles

Jimbo Fisher has helped Florida State remain a football powerhouse. So where does his best team rank among the all-time Seminoles squads? (Hint: not first.)

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LSU Tigers

LSU canned Les Miles last year ... but his top teams deserve consideration among the very best in school history.

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami's football program hopes to return to the Hurricanes' glory days, when they won five national titles. Which are Miami's best teams? One might be the best college football team ever.

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Michigan Wolverines

Michigan just finished its second consecutive season with 10 wins for the first time since 2002-03. Does last year's team 10-3 deserve a spot among the best in Michigan school history?

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

QB Tommie Frazier led Nebraska to a national title in 1995, but that undefeated team wasn't rated the best in Cornhuskers history. Find out which teams rate higher.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame came within a game of a national title in 2012, so where would that team rank among the best in the program's long history? You'll have to look past the top 10.

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Oklahoma Sooners

The Bob Stoops era at Oklahoma netted 10 Big 12 titles (and one national championship). A few of his Sooners squads merit consideration among the best teams in OU history. But good luck topping some of Oklahoma's 1970s juggernauts.

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Oregon Ducks

Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy and marched Oregon into the College Football Playoff in 2014. Was he the star of the best Ducks team ever? (Spoiler alert: yes.)

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Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State returned to the top of the Big Ten last season, but the 2016 Nittany Lions didn't even make the top 10 of the school's best teams all time. Which teams are Penn State's best?

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Texas Longhorns

Vince Young led Texas to a BCS title with a dramatic win over USC at the Rose Bowl, but that team isn't the best Texas squad of all time. Find out which team has been judged as the best ever.

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USC Trojans

Clay Helton has the Trojans back in the national limelight, but not quite in the conversation about the best USC teams ever. But Pete Carroll's great 2000s teams certainly belong in that debate.

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