Yesterday on Boneyard Banter, someone posed the question of where ECU ranks among the Group of Five teams on wins against current Power 5 members over the past 50 years.
So out of curiosity, I wanted see where the Pirates stacked up against the rest of the AAC. I wasn't about to go through every G5 school. I didn't have the time. The answer was pretty much what I expected, somewhere in the middle.
My source for this research was
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/
I didn't go through and double check each one. So I apologize up front if the numbers are off by one or two. Anyway this is what I learned.
#1. Houston - 107 wins
Houston was pretty much a bad ass back in 1970's-80's. They regularly stomped other Texas schools and consistently traded blows with the SEC schools.
#2. SMU - 79 wins
Mostly in the 1970's and early 80's - What can I say?? Pony Express
#3. Tulane - 74 wins
Yes Tulane. They were good too back then. Vandy hated playing them.
#4. #5. Tie - Cincinnati and Navy - 69 wins
Navy has been pretty consistent throughout the years with a few lulls here and there.
Cincinnati has been tops since 2000 in the conference with about 40 wins. But if you removed Rutgers and Louisville from their win totals it would probably reduce it by a third or half.
#6. #7. Tie - ECU and Memphis - 55 wins
Probably half of ECU wins come from NC schools.
Memphis was decent a long time ago and kind of sucked in the middle but are enjoying an obvious resurgence now.
Edit***
#8. Temple 51 wins (rechecked and total is correct) Rutgers and old Big East schools were most of their wins. But not just during the Big East years. Spread throughout the years. Data starts 1971 though. Break in program from early 1950’s to 1970.
#9 Tulsa 37 wins - I think their wins were mostly from 1970-2000
#10 USF* - 36 wins - Impressive 2nd best in total since 2000.
*Only 20 years of data
#11 UCF* - 12 wins - Bit of a shocker here. I was expecting 20-25. But no one else can claim back to back undefeated seasons.
*Data goes back to only 1996.
Note: Wichita State 1970 - 1986 - 4 wins