Universities That Have Completed the Trifecta
That is those who have won National Titles in all three relevant sports
I started working on a post for this week to show the most talented football rosters in the SEC for the upcoming season from 1 through 16. That is proving to be biting off more than I can chew, at least for now. Might be finished with it next week. We are a fortnight away from the British Open that will conclude our 2024 golf season (at least for me—there is no Ryder Cup this year and I could not care less about The Presidents Cup, the FedEx Cup, or the Olympics. Especially the stupid ass Olympics). So after Tennessee’s College World Series win, I wondered how many schools have won Championships in all three major NCAA sports. Obviously we are talking about football, men’s basketball, and baseball. You may argue that college baseball isn’t “major” and I get that. It certainly was not 30 or even 20 years ago. My belief is that has changed with capacity crowds in a lot of college towns not just Baton Rouge. Television ratings for the CWS and even selected Super Regionals are near parity to regular PGA Tour events and Stanley Cup Finals. A predictable arms race in coaching salaries for baseball is well underway. Clearly this is not football or March Madness but college baseball, kind of out of nowhere, is without a doubt relevant and a point of pride at a growing number of athletic programs.
So which campuses hold the distinction of possessing all three trophies (or at least some variation of such) pictured above? I expected a short list and was correct. The numerical answer is six schools (perhaps seven depending on how you judge arbitrary football championships of the past). Most sports fans can probably guess three or four of them. Go ahead, I’ll wait. *Jeopardy theme plays* OK, that’s enough. The obvious ones (at least to me ) are Michigan and Florida. Less obvious but not surprising are UCLA and Ohio State plus Stanford to a smaller degree. The one hardly anyone would guess is Cal. Yes Cal-Berkeley believe it or not. The debatable seventh entry is Oklahoma State. OkeSt claims a National Title in football from 1945. That claim is not recognized by the NCAA. Fortunately, this is the only school where there is grey area for purposes of this article. Because when seemingly every school claims a football Natty at some point I expected more complication. Personally, I don’t have any issue with OkeSt’s claim. They were unbeaten in 1945, won the Sugar Bowl (hilariously against St Mary’s of California), and finished 5th in the AP poll but 1st in the AFCA poll which was the coaches poll we know today. They were in the Missouri Valley Conference at the time but won at Arkansas, at TCU, and at Oklahoma. I guarantee there are more dubious recognized football titles out there from that era. However for this extremely official and definitive survey conducted by me, I am only going to count titles recognized by the NCAA. That leaves us with in order of achieved by year:
Cal
Football: 1920, 1921, 1922 (3)
Basketball: 1959
Baseball: 1947 (the first CWS), 1957 (2)
Ohio State
Football: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 (8)
Basketball: 1960
Baseball: 1966
Stanford
Football: 1926
Basketball: 1942
Baseball: 1987, 1988 (2)
Michigan
Football: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1933, 1948, 1997, 2023 (9)
Basketball: 1989
Baseball: 1953, 1962 (2)
UCLA
Football: 1954
Basketball: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995 (12)
Baseball: 2013
Florida
Football: 1996, 2006, 2008 (3)
Basketball: 2006, 2007 (2)
Baseball: 2017
Where it gets interesting is looking at the schools who have National Titles in two of the three, seeing who has been closest to breaking through in the other, and which ones are most likely to complete the three of a kind. Here are the schools that have won in basketball and baseball:
Holy Cross
Basketball: 1947
Baseball: 1952
Oklahoma State
Basketball: 1945, 1946 (2)
Baseball: 1959
Arizona
Basketball: 1997
Baseball: 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012 (4)
Virginia
Basketball: 2019
Baseball: 2015
Of those an eyelash away these four schools have the toughest trick to turn with football being a different animal. And I should say three schools because Holy Cross hasn’t been Division IA (now FBS) since 1981. From the others, Oklahoma State already has a case as discussed and would be overwhelmingly the most likely of those to make the now 12 team playoff and fall into a title one day. I definitely wouldn’t say its impossible. Virginia doesn’t have a prayer in hell ever and Arizona isn’t far behind.
Next you have those with football and basketball titles but lacking baseball. Those add up to four just like the prior list:
Michigan State
Football: 1952, 1965, 1966 (3)
Basketball: 1979, 2000 (2)
Arkansas
Football: 1964
Basketball: 1994
Maryland
Football: 1953
Basketball: 2002
Syracuse
Football: 1959
Basketball: 2003
This is pretty similar to the prior list aside for Arkansas who feels like they could win a CWS any year. Hell, they probably will next year and I have no idea what they have coming back. But the Razorbacks have eleven CWS appearances just since 1979 with two runner ups, the last of which was in 2018. And they would have won that one if not for a misplayed foul ball for the 9th inning third out leading to Oregon St tying then winning an elimination Game 2. It’s a matter of time for Arkansas baseball. Of any school listed here they are the most likely to join the group of six. With baseball you’d never say never but Michigan St and Maryland baseball are the very dregs of society with one CWS appearance between them (by Michigan St in 1954). Syracuse hasn’t even sponsored a varsity team since 1972 being one of only four Power 5 schools with no baseball. Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Colorado are the others.
With those holding baseball and football titles who need a successful Final Four run, the list is much broader, diverse, and packed with heavy hitter brand names. Here are your contenders:
Southern California
Football: 1931, 1932, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004 (9)
Baseball: 1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1998 (12)
Minnesota
Football: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 (6)
Baseball: 1956, 1960, 1964 (3)
Oklahoma
Football: 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000 (7)
Baseball: 1951, 1994 (2)
Texas
Football: 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 (4)
Baseball: 1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002, 2005 (6)
LSU
Football: 1908, 1958, 2003, 2007, 2019 (5)
Baseball: 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023 (7)
Miami
Football: 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001 (5)
Baseball: 1982, 1985, 1999, 2001 (4)
Georgia
Football: 1980, 2021, 2022 (3)
Baseball: 1990
Ole Miss
Football: 1960
Baseball: 2022
Tennessee
Football: 1951, 1998 (2)
Baseball: 2024
So this is a different kettle of fish. Set aside the fact that virtually any school can stumble into a Final Four and even win it given the right mix of coach, players, and draw. But in addition to that most of the schools above are huge national brands that absolutely could cut down nets in March. The only ones that are not would be Minnesota and probably Ole Miss but I wouldn’t say with finality they cannot win a basketball National Title. Let’s take a brief look at each programs history and see which has come close plus the likelihood of winning in the future on a scale of 1 to 10.
Oklahoma has 33 NCAAT appearances, five Final Fours (the most recent in 2016), and 2 runner ups (‘47 and ‘88). They also have the distinction of having the most NCAAT wins without a championship. This is no surprise to me as OU is a model athletics program, always a tough out in any sport seemingly every year. It’s difficult to say what the move to the SEC will mean. One would think it will lead to an easier path in basketball whereas in football that ain’t gonna be the case at all. SEC basketball is not a joke anymore however and it’s probably a lateral move. Either way I would be comfortable betting a large sum they will get a basketball championship sooner (see what I did there) or later. Chances are 9/10 in my opinion.
LSU has 24 NCAAT appearances and four Final Fours (the last in 2006) but zero runner ups. They, along with Tennessee and Alabama, have been the only even remote check on Kentucky’s SEC dominance with an eyepopping list of all time players. The Tigers have been a bit of a punching bag since John Brady was forced out in 2008 other than a bit of success under known cheater Will Wade. Last year they had a better team than the record would indicate under a first year coach. It’s too soon to tell there but recent history of the LSU athletic department says if they decide to be significant factors, they will be. My only question is will there be enough NIL money to support both football and basketball at an adequate clip in a poor state. Chances are 6/10 in my opinion.
Texas has a much more than I expected 38 NCAAT appearances and three Final Fours (the last in 2003 under Deacon Barnes) but zero runner ups. Many would disagree with me but I don’t love Horns Down chances of winning in basketball. They certainly can, I just doubt they will because they don’t care. They recently opened a new multipurpose facility called the Moody Center in 2022. Capacity for basketball? 10,763. LMFAO. This in a city with a population of nearly 1 million and 52,000 students enrolled. I say chances are 5/10. Charitably.
Tennessee has 26 NCAAT appearances but infamously zero Final Fours. Vol basketball has been much, MUCH better historically than the average fan would think. Except when it counts—March. Ingredients are all there to win on a big scale—fertile recruiting base (which doesn’t matter like in football but still), second to none facilities, more than adequate booster support, cash on hand for NIL, and a fanbase that supports at a fervor somewhat approaching Kentucky unlike any other in the SEC save for Arkansas in a 20,000+ seat arena. My sense is this is just a snakebitten program. I said for much of last season that UT had the best chance of beating UConn. But what was that chance? 1 out of 10? 2 of 10 best case. Because Tennessee blew the 1 seed they never got the opportunity anyway losing to Purdue. There have been precious few other opportunities to make a Final Four. The best, by a galaxy, was the final Grant Williams team that spent a month late in the season as the nations #1 team but lost in the Sweet 16 (to Purdue of course). Bruce Pearl had three teams that were capable given a break in the draw but they never got one, making only one Elite Eight which was ironically one of his weaker teams. That’s a lot of words for a “brief” capsule but this is the school I support after all. Tennessee could definitely do it one day but it seems a bridge too far. In my lifetime anyway. I put the chances at 4/10.
Miami has twelve NCAAT appearances and one Final Four in 2023 when they lost in the semifinals to UConn. I probably am giving the Hurricanes too much credit. Their football team is barely supported and its a legendary program. Heck, Miami didn’t even have a basketball program between 1972 and 1984. They do though currently have possibly the most underrated coach in America with Jim Larranaga but he is 74. They won’t improve on him once retirement comes. Believe me. I figure though if Florida Atlantic can be a national factor (albeit briefly) Miami surely can occasionally. Seems some ragged ACC team comes out of the sticks every few years ala NC State last season. It’s not likely Miami wins a National Title in basketball but I can think of many programs with much longer odds. Let’s say 3/10
Southern Cal has 21 NCAAT appearances and two Final Fours (last coming in 1954) but no runner ups. Things are not going to get any easier in the Big 10. To me it comes down to this—USC is the football school and UCLA is the basketball school in Los Angeles. These deals have a tendency to never change. I’ll go so far as to say SC basketball is going to get swallowed up in the Big 10, rendered to a mediocre afterthought like Northwestern or Nebraska. I wouldn’t feel remorse putting them at 0 out of 10 but we’ll be realistic and settle on 2/10.
Minnesota has 14 NCAAT appearances and one Final Four (since vacated and I have zero memory of it) in 1997 where they lost to Kentucky in the semifinals. It is very hard to conjure a scenario where Minnesota is the last man standing on Monday night. When you think about it, the fact the Golden Gophers have six football championships and three in baseball borders on supernatural intervention regardless of era. That’s what it will take for them to win in basketball. We’ll set the line at 1/10.
Ole Miss has but nine NCAAT appearances and has not once advanced even to the Elite Eight with only one Sweet Sixteen. The high point of Rebel basketball was the six year stretch between 1997 and 2002 when they made five brackets. The Sweet Sixteen year was 2001 when they lost as a 3 seed to eventual runner up Arizona. So this is pretty much Mission Impossible. Still, they do currently have an excellent coach in Chris Beard so you never know depending on how long he sticks around. Odds are long at 1/10.
Georgia has twelve NCAAT appearances and one confounding Final Four in 1983 when they lost as a 4 seed in the semifinals to eventual champion NC State. Aside for that season the Bulldogs have only one other Sweet Sixteen in 1996. Georgia having a Final Four banner (along with South Carolina and Miss St) is the kind of thing that keeps UT fans awake at night. It’s like, HOW? WTF? I would argue no athletic department in the nation is more of a disgrace than the one in Athens in relation to basketball given natural resources. That was true of football as well prior to Kirby Smart. My good friend we’ll call Mouthpiece to protect his identity has long held the theory that Georgia self sabotages basketball so as to maximize football as the only real attraction on campus. Relative to results I can’t think of any other explanation. Georgia is never winning a basketball championship. They don’t even want to. Odds are .0005/10.
Finally here are the single champions per sport:
Football
Yale (17), Alabama (16), Princeton (15), Notre Dame (13), Harvard (8), Nebraska (5), Pittsburgh (5), Penn St (4), Penn (4), Clemson (3), Florida St (3), Georgia Tech (3), Illinois (3), Army (3), Cornell (3), Auburn (2), Texas A&M (2), Washington (1), Colorado (1), Iowa (1), TCU (1), Brigham Young (1), Chicago (1), Lafayette (1)
43 schools have won football National Championships. 36 if you throw out the Ivy type nonsense. Of those above holding only football titles several would be very much in play to win basketball and baseball. Every single SEC school is a CWS threat so which ones could win at basketball too? Same. All of them. In order of probability I would go Alabama (High chance to pull this off eventually), Auburn, and Texas A&M. Others who could do it would be definitely Notre Dame and Florida State. Georgia Tech maybe with a lot of good fortune.
Basketball
Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6), UConn (6), Duke (5), Indiana (5), Kansas (4), Louisville (3), Villanova (3), NC State (2), Cincinnati (2), San Francisco (2), Wisconsin (1), Baylor (1), Oregon (1), Georgetown (1), Marquette (1), Utah (1), UNLV (1), UTEP (1), Wyoming (1), Loyola (Chicago) (1), LaSalle (1), CCNY (1)
37 schools have won basketball National Championships. Of these above holding only basketball titles none have a reasonable chance to win both football and baseball. If pressed to pick one I would probably lean toward Louisville or perhaps North Carolina. Nike U continues to make recruiting inroads bolstered by the pay for play model. I would be delusional to think they won’t have opportunities to win in football. And if Oregon St can win multiple baseball titles there wouldn’t be much reason to think Oregon can’t get at least one. Except I think the days of cold weather northern teams winning the CWS are over.
Baseball
Arizona St (5), Cal State Fullerton (4), Oregon St (3), Vanderbilt (2), South Carolina (2), Mississippi St (1), Wake Forest (1), Missouri (1), Fresno St (1), Pepperdine (1), Wichita St (1), Rice (1), Coastal Carolina (1)
32 schools have won College World Series National Championships. Of those above not a single one has a snowballs chance in hell of winning in football, I don’t care if it’s 100 billion years. That means whether they can win in basketball is immaterial.
I’ll close with this:
Top 10 Schools in Order of Which Can Join the Three Sport Champion Club
Arkansas (needs baseball)
Oklahoma (needs basketball)
LSU (needs basketball)
Texas (needs basketball)
Tennessee (needs basketball)
Miami (needs basketball)
Alabama (needs basketball and baseball)
Notre Dame (needs basketball and baseball)
USC (needs basketball)
Auburn (needs basketball and baseball)
That’s all I’ve got this week. Have a safe Independence Day and we’ll see you next week with hopefully the first football look ahead of the year.