Miami football ranked 16th best all-time not indicative of achievements

The Miami football program ranked 16th on the all-time list of programs using a formula of the accumulative Associated Press rankings by the College Football News.

The AP Rankings began as the Top 10 in 1935 evolved into the top 20 from 1936 through 1960. From 1961 through 1967 only the top 10 were ranked.

Using these rankings is strictly based on the all-time points in the AP Poll. It doesn’t take into account the rankings being the top 10, 20 and 25 at different times. Miami first appeared in the AP Poll when they were ranked 14th week four in 1950. After a 15-14 loss to Clemson in the Orange Bowl, Miami finished 15th.

Miami appeared in the AP Poll 37 times in eight separate seasons during the 1950s. Including 1950, the Hurricanes finished ranked in the final poll four times during the 1950s. The highest-ranking for Miami in the 1950s came when the Hurricanes finished sixth following an 8-1-1 season.

Several other college football powers had a head start on Miami. The poll does not give any more points to national championships or top 10 or five appearances. Based strictly on points the all-time AP Poll does not truly represent the best program. Any formula that would is arbitrary. College Football News explained the rankings.

"“While the AP Poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1960 the wire service only ranked 20 teams. From 1961 to 1967 only 10 teams were recognized. From 1968 to 1988, the AP again resumed its Top 20 before expanding to the current 25 teams in 1989. CFN devised a scoring system giving every AP national champion 25 points, the No. 2 team 24, No. 3 23, and so on down to the bottom – currently No. 25, but the rankings were only a top ten for a bit, and was later a top 20. What does this all prove? Consistency is great, consistency at a high level matters more, and winning national championships – or coming close – make a program an all-time powerhouse. AP Final Rankings Greatest Teams Of All-Time Rankings from 1935 through to LSU’s national championship after the 2019 season. Who earned the most all-time respect and attention from the AP voters?”"

Miami finished tied for 21st with Clemson in the 1950s with 58 AP Poll points. With the majority of polls in the 1960s top 10, Miami had only 11 appearances. After two bowl appearances in the 1950s, Miami had four postseason berths in the 1960s. The highest-ranking for Miami in the 1960s was fifth in the 1967 preseason.