The almanac · FBS · 1869–2026
Records of the war
Every season since 1916, replayed to the county. Each record links to the exact moment on the map. The records start in 1916, the first season with 100 seeded programs; earlier seasons, when a few Eastern schools shared the whole map, live in the archive.
Who holds the records?
The largest empire on the college football imperialism map since 1916 was Michigan's 2,223,531 mi² (1,774 counties) in 2023. The biggest single conquest was Notre Dame taking 1,558,959 mi² from USC in a 9–0 win in 1952. The wildest upset was Central Michigan over Western Michigan in 2000, won at 1% odds. The longest reign was Washington's 14 straight weeks as the largest empire in 2023. The greatest raider was FCS North Dakota State, which held 784,508 mi² in 2021.
Empire
The largest empires ever
peak holdings at any moment · square miles are planar estimates
| № | Team | Square miles | Counties | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michigan | 2,223,531 | 1,774 | 2023 · Bowls 1 › |
| 2 |  Indiana | 2,168,653 | 1,822 | 2025 · Bowls 1 › |
| 3 |  Oregon | 2,104,155 | 1,234 | 2001 · Bowls 1 › |
| 4 |  Ohio State | 1,985,865 | 1,703 | 2014 · Bowls 1 › |
| 5 |  USC | 1,946,754 | 928 | 2016 · Bowls 1 › |
| 6 |  Clemson | 1,909,975 | 1,638 | 2018 · Bowls 1 › |
| 7 | Ohio State | 1,841,743 | 1,309 | 2024 · Bowls 1 › |
| 8 |  Stanford | 1,801,715 | 684 | 1935 · Bowls 1 › |
| 9 |  Nebraska | 1,786,007 | 1,652 | 1971 · Bowls 1 › |
| 10 | USC | 1,668,553 | 1,127 | 1931 · Bowls 1 › |
| 11 |  TCU | 1,665,271 | 910 | 2015 · Bowls 1 › |
| 12 | Ohio State | 1,661,293 | 917 | 2017 · Bowls 1 › |
Conquest
The biggest single conquests
most land taken in one game
| № | Winner | Took it from | Score | Square miles | Counties | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Notre Dame | USC | 9–0 | 1,558,959 | 557 | 1952 · Week 12 › |
| 2 |  Northwestern | Illinois | 14–7 | 1,459,607 | 709 | 1950 · Week 11 › |
| 3 | Michigan | Washington | 34–13 | 1,453,544 | 743 | 2023 · Bowls 1 › |
| 4 |  Texas | Texas A&M | 21–6 | 1,452,654 | 744 | 1955 · Week 11 › |
| 5 |  LSU | Texas A&M | 41–24 | 1,437,330 | 802 | 2010 · Bowls 1 › |
| 6 |  Texas A&M | Nebraska | 9–6 | 1,437,330 | 802 | 2010 · Week 12 › |
| 7 |  California | Stanford | 20–7 | 1,421,291 | 516 | 1951 · Week 11 › |
| 8 | Clemson | Alabama | 44–16 | 1,414,064 | 1,087 | 2018 · Bowls 1 › |
| 9 | Stanford | USC | 27–20 | 1,340,921 | 492 | 1951 · Week 9 › |
| 10 | USC | Arizona | 14–7 | 1,326,447 | 634 | 1992 · Week 12 › |
| 11 |  UCLA | USC | 38–37 | 1,326,447 | 634 | 1992 · Week 13 › |
| 12 |  Wisconsin | Michigan State | 42–39 | 1,321,483 | 455 | 2011 · Week 14 › |
Upset
The wildest upsets
winner's pregame chance from CFBD Elo, land-moving games only
| № | Winner | Over | Chance | Score | Square miles | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Central Michigan | Western Michigan | 1% | 21–17 | 200,852 | 2000 · Week 12 › |
| 2 |  UNLV | San Diego State | 1% | 44–42 | 390,589 | 1996 · Week 13 › |
| 3 |  Wyoming | Arizona State | 1% | 45–43 | 79,634 | 1972 · Week 4 › |
| 4 |  Purdue | Michigan | 1% | 16–14 | 41,215 | 1976 · Week 10 › |
| 5 |  Vanderbilt | Alabama | 1% | 40–35 | 98,772 | 2024 · Week 6 › |
| 6 |  Washington | USC | 1% | 16–13 | 30,885 | 2009 · Week 3 › |
| 7 |  Iowa State | Nebraska | 2% | 19–10 | 136,617 | 1992 · Week 12 › |
| 8 |  SamfordFCS | MercerFCS | 2% | 33–13 | 21,246 | 1920 · Week 4 › |
| 9 | LSU | Alabama | 2% | 17–13 | 175,020 | 1993 · Week 11 › |
| 10 |  Illinois | Wisconsin | 2% | 24–23 | 117,502 | 2019 · Week 8 › |
| 11 |  UAB | Southern Miss | 2% | 34–31 | 160,727 | 2011 · Week 12 › |
| 12 |  Memphis | Tennessee | 2% | 21–17 | 87,503 | 1996 · Week 12 › |
Reign
The longest reigns
consecutive weeks as the largest empire
Raid
The great raiders
peak empires won by FCS, D-II and D-III programs
| № | Team | Square miles | Counties | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  North Dakota State | 784,508 | 135 | 2021 · Bowls 1 › |
| 2 |  Montana StateFCS | 771,375 | 108 | 2021 · Bowls 1 › |
| 3 |  South Dakota StateFCS | 765,725 | 105 | 2021 · Week 14 › |
| 4 |  Portland StateFCS | 735,802 | 82 | 2021 · Week 10 › |
| 5 |  Sacramento State | 735,802 | 82 | 2021 · Week 11 › |
| 6 |  Eastern WashingtonFCS | 718,628 | 61 | 2021 · Week 5 › |
| 7 |  Weber StateFCS | 718,628 | 61 | 2021 · Week 8 › |
| 8 |  MontanaFCS | 628,107 | 52 | 2021 · Week 1 › |
| 9 |  Hawai'i | 628,107 | 52 | 1973 · Week 3 › |
| 10 |  San José State | 305,927 | 109 | 1946 · Week 17 › |
| 11 |  North Texas | 272,602 | 132 | 1956 · Week 6 › |
| 12 |  Fresno State | 240,160 | 120 | 1939 · Week 5 › |
Campaign
Most conquests in a season
land-moving wins
Finish
Largest at season's end
the final map, by square miles
| № | Team | Square miles | Counties | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 2,223,531 | 1,774 | 2023 › |
| 2 | Indiana | 2,168,653 | 1,822 | 2025 › |
| 3 | Oregon | 2,104,155 | 1,234 | 2001 › |
| 4 | Ohio State | 1,985,865 | 1,703 | 2014 › |
| 5 | USC | 1,946,754 | 928 | 2016 › |
| 6 | Clemson | 1,909,975 | 1,638 | 2018 › |
| 7 | Ohio State | 1,841,743 | 1,309 | 2024 › |
| 8 | Stanford | 1,801,715 | 684 | 1935 › |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,786,007 | 1,652 | 1971 › |
| 10 | USC | 1,668,553 | 1,127 | 1931 › |
| 11 | TCU | 1,665,271 | 910 | 2015 › |
| 12 | Ohio State | 1,661,293 | 917 | 2017 › |
Coaches
The largest empires built by a coach
each coach's best peak · since 1990
| № | Coach | Program | Square miles | Counties | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | 2,223,531 | 1,774 | 2023 · 2023 · Bowls 1 › |
| 2 | Curt Cignetti | Indiana | 2,168,653 | 1,822 | 2025 · 2025 · Bowls 1 › |
| 3 | Mike Bellotti | Oregon | 2,104,155 | 1,234 | 2001 · 2001 · Bowls 1 › |
| 4 | Urban Meyer | Ohio State | 1,985,865 | 1,703 | 2014 · 2014 · Bowls 1 › |
| 5 | Clay Helton | USC | 1,946,754 | 928 | 2016 · 2016 · Bowls 1 › |
| 6 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | 1,909,975 | 1,638 | 2018 · 2018 · Bowls 1 › |
| 7 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | 1,841,743 | 1,309 | 2024 · 2024 · Bowls 1 › |
| 8 | Gary Patterson | TCU | 1,665,271 | 910 | 2015 · 2015 · Bowls 1 › |
| 9 | Pete Carroll | USC | 1,660,924 | 895 | 2003 · 2003 · Bowls 1 › |
| 10 | Nick Saban | Alabama | 1,575,599 | 1,043 | 2009 · 2009 · Bowls 1 › |
| 11 | Kalen DeBoer | Washington | 1,453,544 | 743 | 2023 · 2023 · Bowls 1 › |
| 12 | Bill McCartney | Colorado | 1,445,061 | 719 | 1990 · 1990 · Bowls 1 › |
Coaches
Most titles
seasons finished as the largest empire
| № | Coach | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban MeyerFlorida, Ohio State | 3 |
| 2 | Pete CarrollUSC | 2 |
| 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Nick SabanAlabama | 2 |
| 5 | Mike BellottiOregon | 1 |
| 6 | Bobby BowdenFlorida State | 1 |
| 7 | John CooperOhio State | 1 |
| 8 | Mark DantonioMichigan State | 1 |
| 9 | Terry DonahueUCLA | 1 |
| 10 | Dennis EricksonOregon State | 1 |
| 11 | Phillip FulmerTennessee | 1 |
| 12 | Al GrohVirginia | 1 |
Coaches
Most land taken
career square miles won in battle
| № | Coach | Square miles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Saban | 13,089,062 |
| 2 | Urban Meyer | 10,131,037 |
| 3 | Kyle Whittingham | 7,669,585 |
| 4 | Bob Stoops | 7,341,748 |
| 5 | Joe Paterno | 7,217,686 |
| 6 | Mark Dantonio | 6,987,525 |
| 7 | Bobby Bowden | 6,757,059 |
| 8 | Mike Bellotti | 6,743,979 |
| 9 | Kirk Ferentz | 6,551,530 |
| 10 | Lloyd Carr | 6,423,590 |
| 11 | Steve Spurrier | 6,353,291 |
| 12 | Mack Brown | 6,199,874 |
Coaches
Empires at the most programs
programs he held land with
| № | Coach | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dennis FranchioneNew Mexico, Texas A&M, Texas State, Alabama, TCU | 5 |
| 2 | Todd GrahamArizona State, Hawai'i, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Rice | 5 |
| 3 | Lane KiffinUSC, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic, Tennessee | 5 |
| 4 | Willie TaggartFlorida State, South Florida, Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Oregon | 5 |
| 5 | Dennis EricksonArizona State, Idaho, Oregon State, Miami | 4 |
| 6 | Butch JonesArkansas State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee | 4 |
| 7 | Brian KellyNotre Dame, LSU, Central Michigan, Cincinnati | 4 |
| 8 | Bronco MendenhallNew Mexico, BYU, Virginia, Utah State | 4 |
| 9 | Urban MeyerFlorida, Bowling Green, Ohio State, Utah | 4 |
| 10 | Rich RodriguezArizona, Jacksonville State, Michigan, West Virginia | 4 |
| 11 | Nick SabanLSU, Michigan State, Alabama, Toledo | 4 |
| 12 | John SmithArkansas, Louisville, Michigan State, Utah State | 4 |
Season by season
Every campaign at a glance
end leader · peak empire · first FBS program to lose everything
| Season | Finished #1 | Square miles | Peak empire | Empires | Battles | Raids | Biggest conquest | First to fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026live | Washington | 757,576 | 25 | 175 | 12 | |||
| 2025 | Indiana | 2,168,653 | 12 | 211 | 5 | |||
| 2024 | Ohio State | 1,841,743 | 11 | 209 | 2 | |||
| 2023 | Michigan | 2,223,531 | 12 | 194 | 4 | |||
| 2022 | Washington | 1,149,383 | 13 | 204 | 10 | |||
| 2021 | North Dakota State | 784,508 | 12 | 214 | 29 | |||
| 2020 |  Ball State | 669,001 | 16 | 171 | 2 | |||
| 2019 | LSU | 874,153 | 11 | 202 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | Clemson | 1,909,975 | 11 | 206 | 14 | |||
| 2017 | Ohio State | 1,661,293 | 15 | 203 | 12 | |||
| 2016 | USC | 1,946,754 | 12 | 200 | 25 | |||
| 2015 | TCU | 1,665,271 | 9 | 188 | 22 | |||
| 2014 | Ohio State | 1,985,865 | 9 | 190 | 10 | |||
| 2013 |  Michigan State | 1,309,016 | 11 | 185 | 15 | |||
| 2012 |  Alabama | 1,326,561 | 15 | 188 | 10 | |||
| 2011 | Oregon | 1,321,483 | 13 | 184 | 11 | |||
| 2010 | LSU | 1,437,330 | 14 | 189 | 20 | |||
| 2009 | Alabama | 1,575,599 | 12 | 181 | 8 | |||
| 2008 |  Florida | 1,245,665 | 10 | 167 | 4 | |||
| 2007 | USC | 885,718 | 16 | 202 | 5 | |||
| 2006 | Hawai'i | 1,173,681 | 14 | 169 | 11 | |||
| 2005 | TCU | 829,605 | 12 | 168 | 10 | |||
| 2004 |  Auburn | 1,235,086 | 11 | 172 | 3 | |||
| 2003 | USC | 1,660,924 | 10 | 167 | 4 | |||
| 2002 |  Virginia | 776,814 | 14 | 162 | 3 | |||
| 2001 | Oregon | 2,104,155 | 12 | 173 | 2 | |||
| 2000 |  Oregon State | 860,720 | 17 | 163 | 3 | |||
| 1999 |  Florida State | 1,088,813 | 15 | 163 | 2 | |||
| 1998 |  Tennessee | 991,061 | 14 | 153 | 2 | |||
| 1997 | Nebraska | 1,313,227 | 11 | 167 | 0 | |||
| 1996 | Ohio State | 963,336 | 14 | 154 | 2 | |||
| 1995 | Texas A&M | 1,221,938 | 13 | 154 | 1 | |||
| 1994 |  Penn State | 1,395,434 | 10 | 150 | 2 | |||
| 1993 | Florida | 827,775 | 13 | 143 | 1 | |||
| 1992 | UCLA | 1,326,447 | 11 | 145 | 1 | |||
| 1991 | Washington | 1,070,221 | 15 | 138 | 2 | |||
| 1990 |  Colorado | 1,445,061 | 12 | 148 | 4 | |||
| 1989 |  Miami | 752,561 | 15 | 140 | 2 | |||
| 1988 |  Washington State | 1,166,220 | 12 | 147 | 3 | |||
| 1987 | Miami | 1,008,264 | 14 | 153 | 5 | |||
| 1986 | California | 1,227,438 | 12 | 148 | 3 | |||
| 1985 |  Oklahoma | 920,413 | 11 | 140 | 5 | |||
| 1984 | Florida | 808,529 | 19 | 163 | 7 | |||
| 1983 | Auburn | 1,376,633 | 17 | 152 | 7 | |||
| 1982 | UCLA | 814,691 | 18 | 151 | 7 | |||
| 1981 | Washington | 923,638 | 23 | 208 | 8 | |||
| 1980 | Michigan | 1,194,683 | 23 | 194 | 6 | |||
| 1979 | USC | 1,311,701 | 19 | 205 | 9 | |||
| 1978 | USC | 1,240,750 | 21 | 183 | 5 | |||
| 1977 | Notre Dame | 956,489 | 26 | 215 | 13 | |||
| 1976 |  Oklahoma State | 871,662 | 19 | 191 | 10 | |||
| 1975 |  Arizona State | 782,941 | 21 | 195 | 13 | |||
| 1974 | Oklahoma | 1,219,328 | 23 | 197 | 9 | |||
| 1973 | Oklahoma | 674,470 | 23 | 165 | 10 | |||
| 1972 | USC | 904,251 | 20 | 186 | 6 | |||
| 1971 | Nebraska | 1,786,007 | 26 | 178 | 8 | |||
| 1970 | Stanford | 802,782 | 18 | 172 | 3 | |||
| 1969 | Texas | 1,003,343 | 22 | 174 | 9 | |||
| 1968 | Texas | 904,127 | 18 | 161 | 4 | |||
| 1967 | Colorado | 925,879 | 21 | 154 | 3 | |||
| 1966 | Oregon State | 1,202,034 | 17 | 162 | 2 | |||
| 1965 |  Houston | 818,473 | 15 | 165 | 9 | |||
| 1964 | USC | 1,135,994 | 18 | 152 | 5 | |||
| 1963 | Texas | 1,262,149 | 18 | 169 | 2 | |||
| 1962 | USC | 1,312,446 | 17 | 160 | 3 | |||
| 1961 | Wisconsin | 1,187,568 | 18 | 173 | 3 | |||
| 1960 | Purdue | 739,049 | 23 | 152 | 3 | |||
| 1959 |  Syracuse | 1,325,217 | 19 | 152 | 4 | |||
| 1958 | Wisconsin | 875,944 | 23 | 144 | 3 | |||
| 1957 | Michigan State | 808,819 | 19 | 154 | 2 | |||
| 1956 |  Iowa | 1,108,014 | 18 | 145 | 2 | |||
| 1955 | Texas | 1,452,654 | 22 | 149 | 6 | |||
| 1954 |  Navy | 817,944 | 21 | 140 | 10 | |||
| 1953 | Texas | 1,257,312 | 16 | 150 | 5 | |||
| 1952 | Notre Dame | 1,558,959 | 14 | 135 | 2 | |||
| 1951 | California | 1,421,291 | 21 | 157 | 4 | |||
| 1950 | Northwestern | 1,459,607 | 19 | 143 | 4 | |||
| 1949 | Michigan | 1,006,240 | 15 | 146 | 1 | |||
| 1948 | Michigan | 1,336,449 | 23 | 145 | 4 | |||
| 1947 | Iowa | 941,128 | 20 | 146 | 6 | |||
| 1946 | Illinois | 1,153,667 | 14 | 154 | 3 | |||
| 1940 |  Minnesota | 1,150,501 | 23 | 142 | 10 | |||
| 1939 |  DuquesneFCS | 957,876 | 24 | 138 | 12 | |||
| 1938 | Minnesota | 1,131,318 | 21 | 128 | 6 | |||
| 1937 | California | 915,461 | 20 | 126 | 5 | |||
| 1936 | Notre Dame | 938,377 | 29 | 152 | 14 | |||
| 1935 | Stanford | 1,801,715 | 28 | 153 | 9 | |||
| 1934 | Alabama | 981,771 | 30 | 147 | 7 | |||
| 1933 | USC | 1,014,191 | 29 | 145 | 10 | |||
| 1932 | USC | 1,079,973 | 28 | 131 | 8 | |||
| 1931 | USC | 1,668,553 | 25 | 146 | 5 | |||
| 1930 | Alabama | 907,669 | 23 | 141 | 4 | |||
| 1929 | Stanford | 1,047,934 | 27 | 132 | 4 | |||
| 1928 |  Georgia Tech | 910,578 | 28 | 131 | 6 | |||
| 1927 |  Santa Clara | 728,823 | 24 | 130 | 4 | |||
| 1926 | Washington State | 885,557 | 28 | 131 | 7 | |||
| 1925 | Alabama | 957,035 | 32 | 133 | 6 | |||
| 1924 | USC | 628,107 | 31 | 136 | 10 | |||
| 1923 | California | 978,328 | 29 | 123 | 5 | |||
| 1922 | California | 1,116,409 | 30 | 127 | 6 | |||
| 1921 | California | 981,525 | 30 | 117 | 6 | |||
| 1920 | California | 1,298,225 | 30 | 113 | 6 | |||
| 1919 | Washington | 876,310 | 28 | 125 | 10 | |||
| 1916 | Washington | 628,107 | 27 | 109 | 3 |