I find it interesting to look at 5, 10, & 25 year snapshots of how teams are doing according to final AP Polls. These rankings are based on a cumulative points system where a team receives 25 points for a first place finish and one point for a 25th place finish.
5 yr
1. Clemson (120)
2. Alabama (116)
3. Ohio St. (109)
4. Oklahoma (106)
5. LSU (76)
6. Georgia (65)
6. Notre Dame (65)
8. Penn State (63)
9. Wisconsin (56)
10. Florida (52)
11. Michigan (50)
12. Washington (45)
13. Stanford (43)
14. USC (40)
15. UCF (37)
16. TCU (36)
17. Oklahoma St. (33)
18. Michigan St. (31)
19. Auburn (30)
19. Florida St. (30)
21. Iowa (28)
21. Oregon (28)
23. Baylor (26)
24. Miami (19)
25. Houston (18)
25. Texas (18)
10 yr
1. Alabama (223)
2. Ohio St. (192)
3. Clemson (168)
4. Oklahoma (167)
5. LSU (142)
6. Oregon (138)
7. Stanford (118)
8. Georgia (110)
9. Wisconsin (108)
10. Florida St. (104)
11. Michigan St. (101)
12. TCU (95)
13. Notre Dame (92)
14. Auburn (83)
15. Oklahoma St. (78)
16. USC (73)
17. Baylor (71)
18. Florida (69)
19. Michigan (64)
20. Penn State (63)
21. S. Carolina (62)
22. Boise St. (61)
23. UCF (58)
24. Washington (46)
25. Texas A&M (45)
25 yr
1. Ohio St. (432)
2. Alabama (339)
3. Oklahoma (337)
4. Florida (316)
5. LSU (303)
6. Florida St. (291)
7. Georgia (275)
8. USC (255)
9. Texas (246)
10. Oregon (244)
11. Michigan (237)
12. Virginia Tech (206)
13. Wisconsin (204)
14. Penn State (199)
15. Clemson (194)
16. Auburn (188)
17. Miami (179)
18. Tennessee (170)
19. Nebraska (165)
20. Kansas State (163)
21. TCU (162)
22. Notre Dame (161)
23. Boise State (156)
24. Stanford (128)
25. Michigan State (122)
5 yr
1. Clemson (120)
2. Alabama (116)
3. Ohio St. (109)
4. Oklahoma (106)
5. LSU (76)
6. Georgia (65)
6. Notre Dame (65)
8. Penn State (63)
9. Wisconsin (56)
10. Florida (52)
11. Michigan (50)
12. Washington (45)
13. Stanford (43)
14. USC (40)
15. UCF (37)
16. TCU (36)
17. Oklahoma St. (33)
18. Michigan St. (31)
19. Auburn (30)
19. Florida St. (30)
21. Iowa (28)
21. Oregon (28)
23. Baylor (26)
24. Miami (19)
25. Houston (18)
25. Texas (18)
10 yr
1. Alabama (223)
2. Ohio St. (192)
3. Clemson (168)
4. Oklahoma (167)
5. LSU (142)
6. Oregon (138)
7. Stanford (118)
8. Georgia (110)
9. Wisconsin (108)
10. Florida St. (104)
11. Michigan St. (101)
12. TCU (95)
13. Notre Dame (92)
14. Auburn (83)
15. Oklahoma St. (78)
16. USC (73)
17. Baylor (71)
18. Florida (69)
19. Michigan (64)
20. Penn State (63)
21. S. Carolina (62)
22. Boise St. (61)
23. UCF (58)
24. Washington (46)
25. Texas A&M (45)
25 yr
1. Ohio St. (432)
2. Alabama (339)
3. Oklahoma (337)
4. Florida (316)
5. LSU (303)
6. Florida St. (291)
7. Georgia (275)
8. USC (255)
9. Texas (246)
10. Oregon (244)
11. Michigan (237)
12. Virginia Tech (206)
13. Wisconsin (204)
14. Penn State (199)
15. Clemson (194)
16. Auburn (188)
17. Miami (179)
18. Tennessee (170)
19. Nebraska (165)
20. Kansas State (163)
21. TCU (162)
22. Notre Dame (161)
23. Boise State (156)
24. Stanford (128)
25. Michigan State (122)