Per Rivals, here are the past few seasons Team Rankings winners...

• 2002 - Texas (LSU was #15, 'Bama was #30)
• 2003 - LSU ('Bama was #49)
• 2004 - USC (LSU was #2, don't know about 'Bama) <-- Was this Saban's last class @ LSU?!
• 2005 - USC ('Bama was #18, LSU was #22) <-- Or was this Saban's last class @ LSU?!
• 2006 - USC (LSU was #7, 'Bama was #11)
• 2007 - Florida (LSU was #4, 'Bama was #10) <-- Saban's first class @ 'Bama?!
• 2008 - Alabama (LSU was #11) <-- Or was this Saban's first class @ 'Bama?!
• 2009 - Alabama (LSU was #2)
• 2010 - USC ('Bama was #5, LSU was #6)
• 2011 - Alabama (LSU was #6)
• 2012 - Alabama (LSU was #18)
• 2013 - [not yet finished] but 'Bama is in good position to finish again with the #1 class

NOTE: bold = Saban coached teams.

Sure oversigning helps, but there is no denying that with Saban's track record (i.e., W vs L, National Titles, overall finishes, recruiting 'championships,' etc.), he's likely the best coach in college football.

He's paying players that's why his non SEC teams weren't #1.

sleeper;1185744 wrote:He's paying players that's why his non SEC teams weren't #1.

Or because he was at Toledo at one point. I wonder where MSU ranked while he was at the helm.

bigkahuna;1186210 wrote:I wonder where MSU ranked while he was at the helm.

Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (1995&#8211;1999)
1995 Michigan State 6&#8211;5&#8211;1 4&#8211;3&#8211;1 5th L Independence
1996 Michigan State 6&#8211;6 5&#8211;3 5th L Sun
1997 Michigan State 7&#8211;5 4&#8211;4 6th L Aloha
1998 Michigan State 6&#8211;6 4&#8211;4 6th
1999 Michigan State 9&#8211;2* 6&#8211;2 2nd Invited to Citrus* 9* 9*
Michigan State: 34&#8211;24&#8211;1 23&#8211;16&#8211;1 * Saban resigned before bowl game.