College basketball is a sport that takes its rankings very seriously. They rank the top 25, they rank the strength of schedule, and they even create mini rankings every March called brackets. We go crazy for it, and for good reason. College basketball is awesome, and it’s awesome because of the great programs that drive the storylines every season.
Every year, the talking points are the same. Will the blue-bloods run the table in March? Who will the Cinderella be that make a deep run in the tournament? These are the reasons we watch. Year after year, we are left speechless because there is not sport filled with more drama and the unexpected than college basketball.
Thus, we’ve put together a list of the teams that have cut through the upsets and the drama to be the best in their sport. These are the top 25 college basketball programs of all-time. Is your team listed where you think they should? Did your school top its rival? Flip through and see if you agree with our list.
25. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
You’re probably surprised to see Notre Dame on a list of basketball powerhouses, but it’s true. They’re not just a football school. Let’s take a look at what the numbers show.
Notre Dame has won the 8th most games in NCAA history and has an all-time win percentage that is better than all but 11 teams in history. In 2017, the AP released its all-time top 25 rankings and Notre Dame checked in at No. 18. They’d be considered underrated on this list if they added a national title to that resume.