Ranking the 7 Most Dominant College Football Offenses of the Last Decade

In the modern era of college football, teams rolling out high-powered offenses have become the norm.

The schemes and philosophies are different. While most programs run a version of the spread offense, they might have a pass-first approach, a run-focused style or truly be a balanced scoring attack.

And the best of the best—whew, they are special.

The last decade in the Football Bowl Subdivision has featured many dominant offenses and deserving candidates for a ranking of this nature. However, these picks are focused on total production and team success with a nod to competition level.

Key Skill Players: QB Seth Russell, QB Jarret Stidham, RB Johnny Jefferson, RB Shock Linwood, WR Corey Coleman, WR K.D. Cannon

Man, one of the greatest what-if questions in the decade.

What if a neck injury hadn't cut short Seth Russell's year? In just seven appearances, he threw for 2,104 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 402 yards and six scores. Baylor averaged a mind-numbing 61.1 points as Russell guided the Bears to a 7-0 start.

Seriously, read that again: 61.1 points per game. The offense generated at least 644 yards in Russell's six healthy outings.

Even after his injury, the Jarrett Stidham-led scoring attack put up 522 yards on Kansas State and 700 on Oklahoma State. Stidham's ankle injury then forced Chris Johnson into the lineup, and a concussion forced him out of the lineup in the Big 12 Championship Game.

In the Russell Athletic Bowl, the hobbled Bears cranked out an absurd 645 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

An unreal year, in so many ways.

Key Skill Players: QB Jayden Daniels, RB Logan Diggs, WR Malik Nabers, WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Bo Nix powered a dynamic Oregon team in 2023, and the Ducks deserve a hearty golf clap for their production.

LSU, however, is the correct choice.

If the Tigers had a semblance of a defense, they would've competed for a national title. Dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels earned the Heisman Trophy while racking up 4,946 yards of total offense, throwing 40 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more. Wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. joined Daniels as AP All-America selections.

As a team, LSU paced the nation with 8.4 yards per snap, 543.5 yards per game and 45.5 points per game. No offense generated more explosive plays than LSU, which notched 54 gains of 30-plus yards.

LSU managed a 10-3 record in spite of a defense that ranked 81st in points allowed per game and 109th in yards allowed per play.

Key Skill Players: QB Baker Mayfield, RB Rodney Anderson, RB Trey Sermon, TE Mark Andrews, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Marquise Brown

During the final year of Baker Mayfield's memorable college career, the Sooners lit up the scoreboard.

Oklahoma scored 45.1 points per game, leading the nation in yards per snap (8.3) and per game (579.6). The offense also paced the FBS with 60 gains of 30-plus yards and 28 passes of 40-plus yards.

Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner, had a cast of standout teammates. Left tackle Orlando Brown and tight end Mark Andrews landed first-team AP All-America recognition, while future NFL receivers Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb each posted 800-plus yards and seven scores.

As part of a 12-2 season, the Sooners took out Ohio State and rival Oklahoma State on the road and defeated Top 10 TCU twice.

Oklahoma's year ended with an overtime loss to Georgia in an epic Rose Bowl during the College Football Playoff.

Key Skill Players: QB Kyler Murray, RB Kennedy Brooks, RB Trey Sermon, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Marquise Brown, TE Grant Calcaterra

The next season, Oklahoma had to replace Mayfield. Incredibly, the Sooners were better in 2018.

Kyler Murray dazzled in his lone campaign as OU's starter, bringing a second straight Heisman to Norman. He surpassed 4,000 yards in the air and topped 1,000 yards on the ground, totaling 54 touchdowns and leading the Sooners to another Big 12 crown and CFP trip. They averaged a nation-leading 48.4 points and 570.3 yards per game, too.

Oklahoma nearly had a trio of 1,000-yard rushers with Kennedy Brooks, Murray and Trey Sermon, who missed the mark by 53 yards. The team averaged an FBS-best 6.6 yards per carry.

Brown ascended into stardom with an AP All-American nod, which offensive linemen Dru Samia and Cody Ford also earned.

For good measure, Lamb provided 1,158 yards and 11 scores as tight end Grant Calcaterra secured first-team All-Big 12. They are emblematic of the ridiculous depth OU boasted in a 12-win 2018.

Key Skill Players: QB Tua Tagovailoa, RB Damien Harris, RB Najee Harris, RB Josh Jacobs, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Henry Ruggs III, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Irv Smith Jr.

The program that ended Oklahoma's season in the CFP semifinals? Unsurprisingly, it would be Alabama.

After winning a national title in 2017, the Crimson Tide handed the keys to Tua Tagovailoa over Jalen Hurts. Tagovailoa responded with a stellar year, racking up 4,156 total yards and 48 touchdowns. Alabama didn't play a game within 22 points in the regular season.

Tua's supporting cast included fellow AP All-Americans in tackle Jonah Williams, receiver Jerry Jeudy and center Ross Pierschbacher.

Along with Jeudy's 1,315 yards, four other pass-catchers—Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III, Irv Smith Jr. and DeVonta Smith—each tallied at least 693 receiving yards and six touchdowns. It shouldn't be a surprise to hear Alabama led the country with 28 aerial gains of 40-plus yards.

Clemson ended Bama's dreams of an unbeaten national title, but a prolific offense helped the Tide win an SEC title and finish 14-1.

Key Skill Players: QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR DeVonta Smith, WR John Metchie, WR Jaylen Waddle

Among the 12 first-team AP All-America picks in 2020, the Crimson Tide claimed five of them.

I mean, come on.

DeVonta Smith became the rare non-QB to win a Heisman, amassing 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Don't feel sorry for Mac Jones; he passed for 4,500 yards and 41 scores to four interceptions and finished third in Heisman voting. Oh, and running back Najee Harris checked in fifth thanks to his 1,891 scrimmage yards and 30 total touchdowns. Offensive linemen Alex Leatherwood and Landon Dickerson rounded out the All-American list.

Bama averaged 7.8 yards per play and 541.6 per game, along with 48.5 points per contest. As part of a 13-0, championship-winning year, the Tide defeated 12 of their 13 opponents by 15-plus points.

Key Skill Players: QB Joe Burrow, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Justin Jefferson, WR Ja'Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr.

Absurd. Ridiculous. Extraordinary.

You pick the descriptive word, and I likely won't argue. I might exhaust all possible adjectives when describing this LSU juggernaut.

The offense obliterated many FBS records, including the most points scored (726) in a single season. Heisman winner Joe Burrow catapulted the Tigers to a perfect 15-0 record, throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns. His rushing output took him past 6,000 total yards.

First-team AP All-American receiver Ja'Marr Chase collected 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson added 1,540 yards and 18 scores, and Terrace Marshall Jr. took 13 trips to the end zone.

In the backfield, Clyde Edwards-Helaire rumbled for 1,414 yards, reeled in 55 passes for 453 yards and totaled 17 touchdowns.

LSU stood atop the country at 48.4 points and 568.4 yards per game, riding the offense to 12 wins of double-digit margins, seven victories over Top 10 opponents and a national championship.