MSU among top 16 programs this decade; Michigan unranked

With four national championships in the past seven years, Alabama is the unquestioned king of college football this decade.

What other programs are among the best?

The Sporting News ranked the top 16 teams since 2010 based on success factors including national championships, title game appearances, College Football Playoff appearances, New Year’s Day Six/BCS bowl appearances, Heisman Trophy winners, overall and conference winning percentage and NFL draft picks.

Michigan State earned 22 points in the Sporting News formula and finished 15th but Michigan did not make the top 16.

More: Wojo: Wolverines and Spartans on collision course

“Mark Dantonio has built a remarkable winner in East Lansing,” says the Sporting News’ Bill Bender. “The Spartans are consistent and almost always exceed expectations. That trend continued last year after bouncing back from a 3-9 2016 season. Michigan State has two BCS bowl appearances and a College Football Playoff appearance this decade. They have a habit of proving everybody in the Big Ten wrong.”

Alabama was the runaway winner with 172 points, Ohio State was second and Clemson was third.

Here are the top 16:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

4. Florida State

5. Oklahoma

6. LSU

7. Stanford

8. Oregon

9. Auburn

10. Wisconsin

11. Georgia

12. Florida

13. Boise State

14. Notre Dame

15. Michigan State

16. Washington