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Undefeated. It’s a term associated with every sports team, no matter the level, which means perfection. A lot of wins, maybe a few draws, but absolutely no losses. There aren’t many squads who can say they’ve achieved such a feat, however, there are more than you may think. Sports have been played at the collegiate and professional level for generations, so naturally there are going to be perfect seasons, but not all flawless performances are created equal. No, a closer examination of a team’s formidable run is necessary, because as fans and analysts are quick to point out, every sport was different at various periods in history. Whether it be the competition, rules, or general playing style, sport in 1975 is not at the level at which athletes compete today. Still, there are teams who’ve gone unbeaten, and seem to defy the confines of time and period.
These few squads are not just regarded as the best for their season, but have often been stacked against the best from other eras of their respective leagues. Those are the teams we’re interested in. Those are the teams worth talking about. From the ’67 UCLA Bruins to the ’02 UConn Huskies, check out the Most Impressive Perfect Seasons in Sports History.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
15. 1945 Army Cadets Football
Record: 9-0
Key player: Doc Blanchard
You know how every once in a while a team comes around that transcends sports? Well, the '45 Army Cadets definitely fall into that category. World War II had ended just before the start of the season, and combined with winning the war, the Cadets had just rattled off a perfect football season the year before. Talk about killing it on all fronts. Blowout wins became the calling card of Army's 1945 season, including lambasting the Fighting Irish at a sold out Yankee Stadium 48-0. Star running back, Felix "Doc" Blanchard, would finish the season with 19 touchdowns and 718 yards, taking home the Heisman Trophy for his efforts.
National champs in '44 and '45, with a World War win in between, now that's what we call ballin'.
14. 1956 Oklahoma Sooners Football
Record: 10-0
Key player: Jim Harris
Between 1954-56, the Sooners reeled off a still-unmatched streak of 47 consecutive wins, with the '56 season serving as true tour de force. In OU's 10 games that season they allowed just two teams to score touchdowns, and only surrendered four touchdowns over the course of the entire season. In addition to pitching six shutouts, the Sooners failed to score more than 40 points just three times. Where these dudes for real? They started the season with 36-0, 66-0, and 45-0 beat downs of UNC, Kansas State, and Texas, respectively. OU also torched little brothers, Oklahoma State, to the tune of 53-0 in the final game of the regular season.
Disclaimer: While the Sooners were crowned national champions, they made no bowl appearance due to a then Big 7 conference rule that no team could make consecutive bowl game appearances. We doubt it would've made any difference.
13. 1967 UCLA Bruins Basketball
Record: 29-0
Key player: Lew Alcindor
The '67 Bruins were as dominant a force as has ever been seen in collegiate basketball. Led by legendary coach, John Wooden, UCLA brushed aside opponents with ease. They rampaged through the regular season, and never looked troubled in the tournament, where they eventually defeated Dayton for the title 79-64. The Bruins were led by sophomore, Lew Alcindor, who averaged 29 ppg and 15.5 rpg. In fact, Alcindor was such a dominating force that dunking was actually banned from college basketball directly after this season. That's domination.
12. 1972 USC Trojans Football
Record: 12-0
Key player: Richard "Batman" Wood
The first team to be voted No. 1 on every ballot in the coach and media polls, the 1972 USC Trojans outscored opponents 467-135 and never trailed in the second half of a game. WR Lynn Swann had plenty to do with the Trojans success, but the real strength was in the stoutness of the defense. A defense, led by All-American Richard Wood, that nabbed 29 interceptions and never gave up a run of more than 29 yards. Stingy is one word that comes to mind. USC defeated five ranked teams during the course of their season, and they walloped the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl 42-17 for the national championship.
The Trojans' closest call came in an October game at Stanford, in which they won 30-21. You know you're killing it when the closest a team comes all season to beating you is when they come within nine points.
11. 1956 San Francisco Dons Basketball
Record: 29-0
Key player: Bill Russell
The 1956 Dons were led by Bill Russell, Hal Perry, and K.C. Jones, and they could flat out ball. USF managed to reel off 55 straight wins and win back-to-back National Championships in 1955 and 1956. Despite losing Jones for the NCAA tournament in '56, the Dons used their innovative full-court press to harass opponents and play a high tempo game. Russell pulled down 50 boards in the semis and finals, combined, and the Dons dispatched Iowa 83-71 to capture a second consecutive title.
10. 2001 Miami Hurricanes Football
Record: 12-0
Key player: Ed Reed
Completing the resurrection of the U that had begun the year prior (when they were passed over for the BCS title game for a FSU team they had beaten earlier in the year), the '01 Canes turned in one of the most dominating performances in college football history. They outscored opponents 512-117, and featured a cast of talent that hasn't been seen on a college football field since. Their backfield featured three future Pro Bowlers in Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, and Frank Gore. They boasted All Pros in Andre Johnson and Ed Reed, and had underclassmen backups that included Kellen Winslow and Sean Taylor. The Canes' season culminated in a 37-14 win over Nebraska at the Rose Bowl for a national championship.
9. 1992 North Carolina Tar Heels Women's Soccer
Record: 25-0
Key player: Mia Hamm
The 1992 Tar Heels women's soccer team was so good that aside from Mia Hamm, they had two additional players in Kristine Lilly and Tisha Venturini who also took home Player of the Year honors. Throughout the course of the season, the Heels only trailed twice and they outscored opponents 132-11. Good lord that's a lot of goals in 25 matches. Hamm finished with 32 goals, and capped her season with a hat trick in the title game over rivals Duke. Did we mention the final of that match was also 9-1? Not a great day in Durham.
8. 1976 Indiana Hoosiers Basketball
Record: 32-0
Key player: Scott May
Bobby Knight's Hoosiers were the real deal from 1975-1976. Their 86-68 national title victory over Michigan in '76, completed a 63-1 run for Indiana over that two-year stretch. IU was led by Scott May, who would take home Player of the Year honors that season, as well as Kent Benson and Quinn Buckner. The triple threat played a major role in IU's 27-ppg margin of victory during the 1976 season, and after they knocked off defending champions, UCLA, in the opening game, it probably should've been a sign of great things to come.
The closest the Hoosiers came to a defeat that season was a 66-64 victory at Ohio State in early January. Let's all throw a chair for Coach Knight, okay, maybe not in the office.
7. 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football
Record: 13-0
Key player: Johnny Rodgers
The 1971 'Huskers were an absolute juggernaut on the football field. They won their games by an average of more than 30 points, and defeated the second, third, and fourth ranked teams in the country. RB/WR Johnny Rodgers was one of six All Americans that year, and he would end up with the Heisman Trophy as well as a national championship by seasons end. We mentioned how the 'Huskers beat the teams right behind them, and in the case of third and fourth ranked teams, the term pummeled is probably more appropriate.
However, in what's hailed as the "Game of the Century," the '71 'Huskers stormed into Norman, Okla. on Thanksgiving and edged the No. 2 Sooners by a narrow score of 35-31. We bet the Turkey tasted a little sweeter in Lincoln that night.
6. 2002 Connecticut Huskies Women's Basketball
Record: 39-0
Key player: Sue Bird
The 2002 UConn Huskies under Geno Auriemma didn't just go 39-0, they dominated the competition at a level previously unheard of. The Huskies won by an average of 35.5 ppg, while leading the nation in scoring with 87 ppg. Just to give you an idea of what we're talking about here, the Huskies beat St. Johns 88-28, and thrashed Pitt 112-43 during the season. Led by Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Diana Taurasi, all of whom were All-Americans, the Huskies marched their way to the title game, where they defeated Oklahoma 82-70. This was the first National Title in what would be a three-peat from 2002-2004 for Geno's ladies.
5. 1972 UCLA Bruins Basketball
Record: 30-0
Key player: Bill Walton
Arguably the greatest of the undefeated UCLA squads under John Wooden, the '72 Bruins, led by Bill Walton, won their regular-season games by an NCAA record 30.3 points. Just let that sink in for a minute. Walton, accompanied by Keith Wilkes, Swen Nater, and Henry Bibby, ran the table and defeated Florida State 81-76 to win the title. Even though the Bruins got the win, and were in the midst of an 88-game winning streak, Walton was not happy with the team's performance. "I'm really embarrassed," he said. "I can't believe how bad I played. I'd have to say it was one of my worst games. We should've beat these guys with ease. I guess I should be happy that we won, but in all honesty, I'm not."
Wow, these are not the comments you expect after winning a national title, but then again, not everyone was a part of these UCLA teams.
4. 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football
Record: 12-0
Key player: Tommie Frazier
In 1995 the Nebraska Cornhuskers didn't just win all of their games. They won every game by at least two touchdowns, and all but one by more than 20 points. They led the nation with an average 52.4 ppg for the season, and amassed nearly 400 ypg as well. QB Tommie Frazier led the 'Huskers potent attack, which culminated in a 62-24 ol' fashioned ass-whooping of second-ranked Florida in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship.
3. 2003-04 Arsenal
Record: 26W 12D 0L
Key player: Thierry Henry
Arsene Wenger's "Invincibles," led by forward, Thierry Henry, racked up an extraordinary 90 points in the Premier League by the end of the 2003-04 season. The Gunners finished 11 points clear of second-place Chelsea, and scored 73 league goals while allowing just 26. Henry himself put 30 goals into the back of the net, with fellow strike partner, Robert Pires, bagging 14 goals himself. Arsenal didn't win any other competitions that season, but there record breaking run in the Prem was enough to enshrine them among Europe's most storied teams.
Combined with two victories at the end of the 2002-03 campaign and nine at the start of the 2004-05 season, Arsenal's unbeaten run lasted for 49 matched between 2002-2004.
2. 1998 Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
Record: 39-0
Key player: Chamique Holdsclaw
Aside from Geno's Huskies, the 1998 Lady Vols of Tennessee under Pat Summitt are regarded as one of the greatest teams in women's college basketball history. 1998 would be the undefeated Vols third consecutive national championship, and they accomplished the feat while battling one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Chamique Holdsclaw was a returning All-American, but much of the hype on campus was for one of the greatest freshman classes in NCAA history. That class included Tameka Catchings, Semeka Randall, and Kristen "Ace" Clement, all of whom played a key role in the Volunteers title run.
UT knocked off 13 ranked opponents at various times during their season, and they capped their storied season with a win over their rivals, No. 4 ranked Louisiana Tech, 93-75 in the national title game.
1. 1972 Miami Dolphins
Record: 17-0
Key player: Bob Griese
The only team to go undefeated in the Super Bowl era, the '72 Dolphins are in a class all to themselves. Led by Hall of Fame coach, Don Shula, and quarterback, Bob Griese, the Fins finished the regular season 14-0, and went 3-0 in the playoffs and Super Bowl. While leading the NFL in offense, and showcasing the stingiest defense in the league, many argue that Miami went undefeated as a result of their relatively easy schedule. Yes, the Dolphins only played one winning team before the postseason, but they also went on to beat the Steelers in the AFC title game, and the Redskins in Super Bowl VII, so simmer down. You can only play who's in front of you, right? It's not like the Dolphins put out a bunch of nobodies every Sunday, either.
Miami boasted nine Pro Bowlers in 1972, and were a force to be reckoned with. Their closest call came in Week 6, when they narrowly edged the Bills at home by a final of 24-23. Keep poppin' them bottles, boys.