Who's Never Been #1? Purdue is Top-Ranked For Third Consecutive Season

A total of 33 current power-conference members have failed to secure national #1 acclaim in their history. Newly-minted #1 Purdue achieved the feat for first time two seasons ago but the Boilermakers have reached the pinnacle now three straight years. Every Power 6 Conference member has been included in an AP national ranking since the 2007-08 campaign with more than 75% of them (25) ranking among top 12 teams in that span.

Georgia (24th in 2010-11) and Nebraska (21st in 2014-15) are the only elite schools in last 16 years not to reach the Top 20. Nebraska and Northwestern (19th in 2017-18 and 2020-21) are the only power-league members failing to rank among nation's top 15 teams at some point thus far in the 21st Century.

The only one of the 33 power-league institutions in question never placing among the Top 10 at some juncture is Texas Christian (best ranking was 12th during 1951-52 campaign until reaching 11th earlier this decade). Twelve of the following schools have been national bridesmaid (with Maryland settling at #2 in seven different seasons including four straight years in mid-1970s) since AP poll was introduced midway through 1948-49:

NOTE: AP rankings included only top 10 from 1961-62 through 1967-68 and increased from 20 to 25 schools in 1989-90.