The 2018 College Football Playoff participants have a combined 50 wins, the most in playoff history. Their combined winning percentage of .980 is also the highest ever. Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma are win away from tying their respective program records, and Notre Dame is one win away from setting their program record.
Have they ever sucked?
Each team has sucked on their own. For example, Alabama once had a winless season and four total wins over three seasons. But have Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Notre Dame all sucked in the same year?
Not really. They've been mediocre at the same time but never truly sucked simultaneously.
In the 110 years of official game records, those four teams have only once combined for a sub-.500 record. They went 22-26 in 1997 (.459). Clemson (7-5) and Notre Dame (7-6) combined for 14 wins but Alabama (4-7) and Oklahoma (4-8) struggled.
In 1960, they went .500: Alabama (8-1-2), Clemson (6-4), Oklahoma (3-6-1) and Notre Dame (2-8). That's it. They combined for an above-.500 record in the other 108 seasons, and never have more than two teams been under .500 in one season.
This is the first year in which they've combined for a winning percentage of at least .900, but it's the 17th time above .800 and 56th time above .700.
