Should be a good debate
Itâs really hard to say. Some would argue the â69 team by the end of the season was best. They won 9 straight and crushed a good Auburn team (#12) in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Usually the â79 and â73 teams get the most support though we had our highest ranking in â76. The â78 teamâs loss to Notre Dame puts a damper on their chances, but they were damned good. They beat #6 (A&M), #6 again (Texas), #9 (Arkansas), and #10 (Florida State). Of course, the â76 team defeated #4 (Maryland), #5 (Tech), #9 (A&M), and #20 (Texas).
For pure talent the1989 team had 5 players drafted in the first 3 rounds (2 in the first round).
Freaking wrecking crew and Arkansas ruined what should have been an undefeated season.
A&M did first. Those two teams were our toughest competition in the conference that year, and both games were on the road.
And now we worry about road games against Memphis and Navy. No one should argue for a team after 89.
2015 squad makes the list
Of top 5 teams? You could make an argument. The only really good teams they beat were Florida State (finished #14), which played with their second team QB, IIRC, and Navy (finished #18). Iâd put them behind â79, 73, â76, â69, and â78 (the SWC was like a P5 league in the 70s), but in the mix with â74 and â89. To each his own.
I agree on the â69 team as being near or at the top at the end of the season. The beating they put on Auburn was classic. The â78 team would be my #1 (but still top 3) with the win against ND.
Maybe 1990?
The â90 team played a soft schedule and couldnât stop anybody. I wouldnât have them in my top five, but thatâs just me.
3rd highest ranking in program history. Tied for best record. Beat four ranked teams. Won a conference championship. Won a major bowl. A lesser version of that team beat the Big 12 champs the following year and shut down the Heisman trophy winner. There isnât a world in which that team isnât a top 5 team in program history. All due respect given to the past but some of you old timers are just blatantly disrespectful.
Nope
This
Thatâs just the nostalgia speaking for you. Reality is the 2015 team is only one of three teams in program history to win a major bowl and a conference championship in the same year. Only the the '76 and '79 teams accomplished more within their sport because they finished with a higher ranking in addition to garnering the same accolades.
Yes, but that conference championship simply doesnât compare to those won in the 70s when the SWC was truly a power league. The â15 team was a good one, but âranked teamsâ like Memphis and Navy donât compare to Texas, A&M, Arkansas, Nebraska, etc.
SamHouston is correct. Those who have watched Cougar football for 40-50 years understand and have seen a lot.
Uh, letâs clarify.
Itâs more accurate to say that we put their first team QB out of action.
They played with their 2nd team QB because our defense decimated them to the extent that they were FORCED to, not because of circumstances beyond our control or theirs.
That changes the calculus a bit. We didnât win because their 2nd team QB was out, but rather, because we KNOCKED him out.
BIG difference. One worth mentioning rather than disregarding.
I like â79, â76, â73, â78, and â15.
Their first team qb came back into the game if i remember correctly
As I recall our own 2nd string QB contributed and scored a TD as well.
If we could win with our 2nd string QB playing, then why couldnât they?
Hint: because we were that much deeper, better, and more dominating.
People shouldnât attempt to either devalue our FSU win, or find reasons to give less credit than is due to the â15 team.