Spartans are back but surprising school on top

By Tom Shanahan

Michigan State is back among the top-ranked football-basketball programs in the 2017-18 school year after a one-year absence, while a couple of football schools from the ACC and SEC jumped onto the list with surprising basketball strength.

Clemson -- yes, Clemson! -- is No. 1 with 21 points. Michigan State and Ohio State tied for second with 26 points and Auburn was fourth at 33. No other school enjoyed both a football and basketball program ranked among the Top 25, although Miami was ranked in football and among "others" with points in basketball.

The unique ranking is something I came up with five seasons ago when Michigan State, my alma mater, piqued my curiosity. Basketball coach Tom Izzo has long had the Spartans among the elite basketball programs since his first Final Four team in 1999, but football had slumped until Mark Dantonio began his rebuilding effort in 2007. 

For football, I go by The Associated Press final football rankings voted upon by the writers after the bowl games. For basketball, I use the USA Today poll voted upon by the coaches. The reason is, AP doesn’t conduct a final basketball poll at the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament.

With only five schools qualifying, it is the lowest total in the five seasons.

The 2017-18 football basketball rankings

--- 1. Clemson, 19 points: No. 4 football, No. 15 basketball

--- 2 (tie). Michigan State, 26 points: No. 15 football, No. 11 basketball

--- 2 (tie). Ohio State, 26 points: No. 5 football, No. 21 basketball

--- 4. Auburn, 33 points: No. 10 football, No. 23 basketball

--- 5. Miami, 50 points: No. 13 football, three points among others in basketball equal to No. 37.

The 2016-17 football basketball rankings

--- 1. Florida, 24 points: No. 14 football, No. 10 basketball

--- 2. Wisconsin, 25 points: No. 9 football, No. 16 basketball

--- 3. Michigan, 27 points: No. 10 football, No. 17 basketball

--- 4. West Virginia, 29 points: No. 18 football, No. 11 basketball

--- 5. Florida State, 32 points: No. 8 football, No. 24 basketball

--- 6. Louisville, 35 points: No. 21 football, No. 14 basketball

The 2015-16 football/basketball rankings:

--- 1. Oklahoma, 9 points: No. 5 football, No. 4 basketball.

--- 2. Michigan State, 13 points: No. 6 football, No. 7 basketball.

--- 3. North Carolina, 17 points: No. 15 football, No. 2 basketball.

--- 4. Oregon, 25 points: No. 19 football, No. 6 basketball.

--- 5. Notre Dame, 28 points: No. 11 football, No. 17 basketball.

--- 6. Iowa, 34 points: No. 9 football, No. 25 basketball.

--- 7. (tie) Baylor, 37 points: No. 13 football, No. 24 basketball.

--- 7. (tie) Utah, 37 points: No. 17 football, No. 20 basketball.

--- 9. Wisconsin, 44 points: No. 21 football, No. 23 basketball.

The 2014-15 football/basketball rankings:

1.     Michigan State, 12 points: No. 5 football, No. 7 basketball.

2.     Wisconsin, 15 points: No. 13 football, No. 2 basketball.

3.     Arizona, 23 points: No. 19 football, No. 4 basketball.

4.     Oregon, 27 points: No. 2 football, No. 25 basketball.

5.     Baylor, 28 points: No. 7 football, No. 21 basketball.

6.     Louisville, 34 points: No. 24 football, No. 10 basketball.

7.     Utah, 36 points: No. 21 football, No. 15 basketball.

The 2013-14 football/basketball rankings:

1.     Michigan State, 11 points: No. 3 football, No. 8 basketball.

2.     Louisville, 24 points: No. 15 football, No. 9 basketball.

3.     Wisconsin, 25 points: No. 21 football, No. 4 basketball.

4.     Baylor, 31 points: No. 13 football, No. 18 basketball

5.     UCLA, 31 points: No. 16 football, No. 15 basketball.

6.     Stanford, 34 points: No. 10 football, No. 24 basketball.

7.     Duke, 38 points: No. 22 football, No. 16 basketball.

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