I’ve wanted an answer to this for a long time, but since I haven’t been able to find compiled data I decided to do it myself and answer the question: Which school has the best combination of football and men’s basketball? The answer depends on the time frame used, so I looked at it from a number of perspectives. I don’t particularly care about the success of teams from too far back in history so I only went back 30 years (also it takes a pretty long time to process all of this data and at 30 years I was tired of gathering).
My criteria for determining the best dual-sports schools is fairly simple; I took the winning percentage for football and men’s basketball for the year and averaged those numbers. For cumulative years (i.e. intervals of 5 years to 30 years), I took the cumulative winning percentages and averaged those. I only included schools who played basketball at the Division 1 level all 30 years. Additionally, schools that didn’t play football at the FBS level were assigned a football winning percentage of .000 for the years not participating at that level. This filtering resulted in a list of 123 schools, shown in the table below.
The 1 year column is a ranking by average winning percentage for the 2015-16 school year. It should come as no surprise that Michigan State and Oklahoma top this list, as both had top 5 or so teams in both sports.
The 5 years column is a ranking by average winning percentage for the most recent 5 school years, going back to the 2011-12 school year. The table continues in this matter in 5 year increments going back to the 1986-87 school year. Ohio State has clearly shown the most historical success over the last 30 years, despite a recent drop-off due mostly to men’s basketball. In fact, Ohio State is the only school to average above .700 winning percentage for each of the increments in the table below. This suggests that they are rarely down for long.
The most surprising school to me was Notre Dame. I would’ve expected them to be near the top in every increment but they never rank higher than 12th, which came in the most recent year.
I plan to do some further analysis on the data to find interesting trends, and will post what I find. I also plan to update this annually. Next year’s update will more closely follow the conclusion of the men’s basketball season.
| Rank | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | 20 years | 25 years | 30 years |
| 1 | Michigan State | Oregon | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State |
| 2 | Oklahoma | Michigan State | Wisconsin | Oklahoma | Florida | Florida | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Houston | Ohio State | Boise State | Florida | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Florida |
| 4 | North Carolina | Louisville | Brigham Young | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Texas | Florida State |
| 5 | Iowa | Wisconsin | Florida | Boise State | Texas | Wisconsin | Texas |
| 6 | Ohio State | Baylor | Oregon | Texas | Oregon | Florida State | Michigan |
| 7 | San Diego State | Alabama | Michigan State | Louisville | Boise State | Utah | Brigham Young |
| 8 | Utah | Florida State | Louisville | Oregon | Michigan State | Brigham Young | Alabama |
| 9 | Oregon | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Brigham Young | Louisville | Louisville | Arizona |
| 10 | Clemson | San Diego State | Alabama | Louisiana State | Utah | Michigan | Miami (FL) |
| 11 | Alabama | Stanford | Texas | Michigan State | Florida State | Alabama | Louisville |
| 12 | Notre Dame | Boise State | Florida State | Alabama | Brigham Young | Oregon | Syracuse |
| 13 | Navy | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh | Louisiana State | North Carolina | Nebraska |
| 14 | Baylor | Cincinnati | Clemson | Florida State | Miami (FL) | Michigan State | Notre Dame |
| 15 | Michigan | Louisiana State | West Virginia | Notre Dame | Cincinnati | Miami (FL) | UCLA |
| 16 | Wisconsin | Brigham Young | Louisiana State | Cincinnati | Alabama | Nebraska | Michigan State |
| 17 | Brigham Young | Arizona | Cincinnati | Utah | Tennessee | Arizona | Utah |
| 18 | Mississippi | Clemson | Missouri | Georgia | Notre Dame | UCLA | North Carolina |
| 19 | Northwestern | North Carolina | Oklahoma State | West Virginia | Georgia | Cincinnati | Tennessee |
| 20 | Louisiana Tech | Duke | Pittsburgh | Oklahoma State | Michigan | Notre Dame | Oregon |
| 21 | Miami (FL) | Michigan | Arizona | Southern California | West Virginia | Tennessee | Wisconsin |
| 22 | Western Kentucky | Louisiana Tech | Texas A&M | Miami (FL) | Oklahoma State | Georgia | Georgia |
| 23 | Texas A&M | Florida | San Diego State | Clemson | Arizona | Syracuse | Clemson |
| 24 | Toledo | Toledo | North Carolina | Michigan | North Carolina | Kansas | Louisiana State |
| 25 | West Virginia | Georgia | Stanford | Missouri | Stanford | Louisiana State | West Virginia |
| 26 | Akron | Kansas State | Georgia | UCLA | UCLA | West Virginia | Arkansas |
| 27 | Florida State | Oklahoma State | Baylor | Stanford | Pittsburgh | Kansas State | Stanford |
| 28 | Georgia | UCLA | Southern California | Virginia Tech | Kansas State | Stanford | Kansas |
| 29 | Louisville | Ohio | Kansas State | Connecticut | Nebraska | Virginia Tech | Iowa |
| 30 | Stanford | Houston | UCLA | Tennessee | Virginia Tech | Clemson | Auburn |
| 31 | Temple | Texas A&M | Houston | Arizona | Southern California | Oklahoma State | Cincinnati |
| 32 | Louisiana State | Miami (FL) | Virginia Tech | Iowa | Clemson | Southern California | Oklahoma State |
| 33 | Boise State | Georgia Southern | Utah | Kansas State | Syracuse | Kentucky | Penn State |
| 34 | Duke | Utah State | Michigan | North Carolina | Connecticut | Auburn | Southern California |
| 35 | Florida | Middle Tennessee | Kentucky | Kansas | Kansas | Iowa | Texas A&M |
| 36 | California | Western Kentucky | Duke | Maryland | Texas Christian | Texas A&M | Virginia Tech |
| 37 | Marshall | Iowa | Kansas | Memphis | Kentucky | Arkansas | Kentucky |
| 38 | Arizona | Missouri | Texas Christian | Texas A&M | Missouri | Penn State | Kansas State |
| 39 | Ohio | Mississippi | Tulsa | Texas Christian | Auburn | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| 40 | Middle Tennessee | Syracuse | Ohio | Kentucky | Maryland | Missouri | Virginia |
| 41 | Pittsburgh | Louisiana-Lafayette | Miami (FL) | Nebraska | Iowa | Toledo | Fresno State |
| 42 | Memphis | South Carolina | Tennessee | Nevada | Mississippi | Texas Christian | Duke |
| 43 | Indiana | West Virginia | Arkansas | San Diego State | Arkansas | Virginia | Missouri |
| 44 | Texas Christian | Northern Illinois | Nebraska | Syracuse | Toledo | Texas Tech | Toledo |
| 45 | Cincinnati | Utah | Nevada | Auburn | Texas A&M | Fresno State | North Carolina State |
| 46 | Northern Illinois | Texas | Connecticut | Duke | Marshall | Nevada | Georgia Tech |
| 47 | Southern California | Arkansas State | Mississippi | Texas Tech | Fresno State | Memphis | Texas Christian |
| 48 | Bowling Green State | Pittsburgh | Penn State | Arkansas | Utah State | Mississippi | Washington |
| 49 | Nevada | Virginia | Middle Tennessee | California | Duke | Maryland | Southern Mississippi |
| 50 | Kentucky | Washington | Memphis | South Carolina | Memphis | Duke | Mississippi |
| 51 | Connecticut | Memphis | Utah State | Boston College | Texas Tech | Georgia Tech | Texas Tech |
| 52 | Oklahoma State | Colorado State | Iowa | North Carolina State | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Memphis |
| 53 | Georgia Southern | Arkansas | Syracuse | Hawaii | Southern Mississippi | Washington | Illinois |
| 54 | Mississippi State | Kentucky | South Carolina | Mississippi | North Carolina State | Utah State | Arizona State |
| 55 | Appalachian State | Arizona State | Temple | Houston | Penn State | Tulsa | Maryland |
| 56 | Tennessee | North Carolina State | Central Florida | Utah State | Boston College | North Carolina State | Louisiana Tech |
| 57 | Texas Tech | Marshall | California | Fresno State | Nevada | Purdue | Purdue |
| 58 | Virginia | Texas Christian | Auburn | Toledo | Virginia | California | Tulsa |
| 59 | Arkansas | Temple | Maryland | Tulsa | Purdue | Mississippi State | California |
| 60 | Virginia Tech | Nebraska | Arizona State | Central Florida | San Diego State | Bowling Green State | Colorado State |
| 61 | Washington | Appalachian State | Mississippi State | Georgia Tech | California | Arizona State | Bowling Green State |
| 62 | Tulsa | Bowling Green State | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee | Louisiana Tech | Southern Mississippi | Utah State |
| 63 | UCLA | Mississippi State | Louisiana Tech | Arizona State | Washington | Colorado State | South Carolina |
| 64 | Old Dominion | Central Florida | Southern Mississippi | Virginia | Tulsa | New Mexico | Boston College |
| 65 | New Mexico | Northwestern | Georgia Tech | Bowling Green State | Arizona State | Western Michigan | Mississippi State |
| 66 | Colorado State | Tulsa | Washington | Ohio | Ohio | San Diego State | Indiana |
| 67 | Hawaii | Vanderbilt | Navy | Louisiana Tech | Mississippi State | Illinois | Colorado |
| 68 | Central Michigan | East Carolina | Texas Tech | Baylor | South Carolina | Louisiana Tech | Hawaii |
| 69 | Arkansas State | Southern California | North Carolina State | Washington | Colorado State | Miami (OH) | Western Michigan |
| 70 | Penn State | Tennessee | Purdue | Southern Mississippi | Central Florida | South Carolina | Wyoming |
| 71 | North Carolina State | Penn State | Northwestern | Marshall | New Mexico | Hawaii | New Mexico |
| 72 | Texas | Minnesota | Virginia | Penn State | Middle Tennessee | Ohio | Ball State |
| 73 | Western Michigan | Maryland | Marshall | Mississippi State | Hawaii | Colorado | San Diego State |
| 74 | Air Force | Nevada | Vanderbilt | Air Force | Air Force | Air Force | Houston |
| 75 | Southern Methodist | Virginia Tech | Kent State | Kent State | Bowling Green State | Wake Forest | Miami (OH) |
| 76 | Maryland | Iowa State | Hawaii | Illinois | Minnesota | Minnesota | Air Force |
| 77 | Georgia State | Indiana | Air Force | New Mexico | Illinois | Baylor | Baylor |
| 78 | Texas-El Paso | California | Western Michigan | Purdue | Western Michigan | Indiana | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 79 | South Carolina | Southern Methodist | Fresno State | Northern Illinois | Houston | East Carolina | Minnesota |
| 80 | Washington State | Georgia Tech | Arkansas State | Minnesota | Navy | Houston | Wake Forest |
| 81 | Utah State | Connecticut | East Carolina | Western Michigan | Wake Forest | Ball State | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 82 | Kansas State | Old Dominion | Toledo | Northwestern | Akron | Wyoming | Ohio |
| 83 | Fresno State | Fresno State | New Mexico | Wake Forest | Colorado | Navy | Texas-El Paso |
| 84 | Syracuse | Kent State | Bowling Green State | Akron | Miami (OH) | Iowa State | Akron |
| 85 | Colorado | Akron | Louisiana-Lafayette | Louisiana-Lafayette | Baylor | Louisiana-Lafayette | East Carolina |
| 86 | Idaho | New Mexico | Akron | Temple | Kent State | Nevada-Las Vegas | Iowa State |
| 87 | Nebraska | Western Michigan | Texas-El Paso | Oregon State | Iowa State | Vanderbilt | Temple |
| 88 | Arizona State | Auburn | Central Michigan | Colorado State | Temple | Akron | Northern Illinois |
| 89 | New Mexico State | Southern Mississippi | Oregon State | Arkansas State | Wyoming | Texas-El Paso | Navy |
| 90 | Southern Mississippi | Navy | Boston College | Navy | Oregon State | Temple | Vanderbilt |
| 91 | Purdue | Air Force | Northern Illinois | Texas-El Paso | Texas-El Paso | Washington State | Washington State |
| 92 | Vanderbilt | Wyoming | Illinois | Vanderbilt | Northwestern | Northern Illinois | Kent State |
| 93 | Iowa State | Oregon State | Rutgers | Iowa State | East Carolina | Northwestern | Oregon State |
| 94 | Auburn | Texas-El Paso | Minnesota | Nevada-Las Vegas | Arkansas State | New Mexico State | Central Michigan |
| 95 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Kansas | Colorado State | South Florida | Louisiana-Lafayette | Arkansas State | Rutgers |
| 96 | Kansas | Illinois | Nevada-Las Vegas | Rutgers | Northern Illinois | Kent State | New Mexico State |
| 97 | Illinois | Ball State | Indiana | Colorado | Vanderbilt | Rutgers | Northwestern |
| 98 | South Florida | Rutgers | Wake Forest | Indiana | Indiana | Oregon State | Rice |
| 99 | Ball State | Central Michigan | Iowa State | East Carolina | Nevada-Las Vegas | Rice | Southern Methodist |
| 100 | Kent State | Texas Tech | Ball State | Washington State | Ball State | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan |
| 101 | South Alabama | Hawaii | Southern Methodist | Central Michigan | Southern Methodist | Southern Methodist | San Jose State |
| 102 | Georgia Tech | Purdue | Wyoming | Ball State | Washington State | Louisiana-Monroe | Connecticut |
| 103 | Nevada-Las Vegas | New Mexico State | South Florida | Wyoming | New Mexico State | North Texas | Army |
| 104 | East Carolina | Nevada-Las Vegas | Texas-San Antonio | North Texas | Rutgers | Connecticut | Western Kentucky |
| 105 | Rice | Rice | New Mexico State | Miami (OH) | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan | Boise State |
| 106 | Oregon State | Colorado | Washington State | New Mexico State | Rice | San Jose State | Old Dominion |
| 107 | San Jose State | South Alabama | North Texas | Southern Methodist | North Texas | Army | Massachusetts |
| 108 | Army | North Texas | Texas State | Rice | Louisiana-Monroe | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee |
| 109 | Louisiana-Monroe | Georgia State | Rice | Louisiana-Monroe | Idaho | Old Dominion | Charlotte |
| 110 | Missouri | Texas State | Colorado | San Jose State | San Jose State | Massachusetts | Nevada |
| 111 | Texas State | Texas-San Antonio | Louisiana-Monroe | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | Boise State | South Alabama |
| 112 | Minnesota | Washington State | Army | Western Kentucky | Army | Charlotte | Marshall |
| 113 | Massachusetts | Louisiana-Monroe | San Jose State | Army | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee | Arkansas State |
| 114 | Miami (OH) | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Idaho | Old Dominion | South Alabama | Georgia Southern |
| 115 | Eastern Michigan | Wake Forest | Miami (OH) | Old Dominion | Charlotte | Central Florida | Texas-San Antonio |
| 116 | Wake Forest | Eastern Michigan | Idaho | Massachusetts | South Alabama | Georgia State | Appalachian State |
| 117 | Wyoming | South Florida | Eastern Michigan | Charlotte | Massachusetts | Marshall | Central Florida |
| 118 | Charlotte | San Jose State | Old Dominion | South Alabama | Georgia State | Appalachian State | Louisiana-Monroe |
| 119 | Rutgers | Army | South Alabama | Georgia State | Appalachian State | Texas-San Antonio | Georgia State |
| 120 | Boston College | Boston College | Georgia State | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | Idaho |
| 121 | North Texas | Idaho | Appalachian State | Appalachian State | Texas-San Antonio | Texas State | North Texas |
| 122 | Texas-San Antonio | Miami (OH) | Charlotte | Texas-San Antonio | Texas State | Idaho | Texas State |
| 123 | Central Florida | Charlotte | Georgia Southern | Texas State | South Florida | South Florida | South Florida |
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