Greatest Teams of the 2000s

[Spartan Warrior]

Locker: TheLaw1989 (XBox Live)


As one last hurrah for this game I'm working on a roster of classic teams that I enjoyed playing as over the*course of the NCAA series. This is the greatest teams of the 2000s, which means each school is represented by the team I've chosen as their greatest from this century.*

Here are the teams I've made (to varying degrees) so far:
2020 Alabama
2010 Auburn
2004 Cal
2021 Cincinnati
2018 Clemson
2008 Florida
2013 Florida State
2021 Georgia
2001 Illinois
2020 Indiana
2002 Iowa
2006 Louisville
2019 LSU
2001 Miami
2022 Michigan
2013 Michigan State
2019 Minnesota
2001 Nebraska
2012 Notre Dame
2014 Ohio State
2000 Oklahoma
2011 Oklahoma State
2014 Oregon2
005 Penn State
2000 Purdue
2010 Stanford
2010 TCU
2001 Tennessee
2006 Texas
2004 USC
2000 Virginia Tech
2016 Washington
2007 West Virginia

The base file was someone's 2017 rosters, I'm not 100% whose.

Northwestern, Wisconsin, UCF, USF, and Wyoming all have the right year for this roster because*of that but I haven't checked those rosters for accuracy yet.

I'll keep working on the file, here are some of the next teams I want to do:

2011 Arkansas
2006 Boise State
2001 Colorado
2014 Georgia Tech
2007 Hawaii
2007 Kansas
2003 Kansas State
2014 Mississippi State
2007 Missouri
2002 NC State
2015 North Carolina
2015 Ole Miss
2000 Oregon State
2021 Pitt
2006 Rutgers
2013 South Carolina
2012 Texas A&M
2008 Texas Tech
2004 Utah

Please give feedback, I do my best with ratings for guys but fans of the particular team are always going to have insight into them that I lack.*

Trivia:

-Notable players I left off their teams due to them suffering injuries early in the season: Michael Bush (2006 Louisville, broke his leg in their first game and missed the rest of the season) and Braxton Miller (2014 Ohio State, injured his shoulder in training camp and missed the entire season). I don't have an exact rule but I feel like playing three games is probably a good threshold for being included on the roster.

-Urban Meyer is the head coach of three different teams on this file (2004 Utah, 2008 Florida, 2014 Ohio State), I believe he's the only coach with three. A number of coaches have two teams: Bobby Petrino, Chris Peterson, Jim Harbaugh, P.J. Fleck.

-I've only come across two players so far who are on two different teams in this roster. Cam Newton was a backup on 2008 Florida and of course the starter for 2010 Auburn. Derrion Kendrick was a freshman at Clemson in 2018 and then transferred to Georgia and was still around for the 2021 team.

-The only players I've given out 99 speed to so far are John Ross from Washington and Donte Stallworth from Tennessee.

[web53]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Sounds like a fun roster.

I'll follow up with a few files from a similar roster project I've done that could be helpful. I have 6+ iterations of a file where I was creating the best year of each school and then morphed into the best teams in general (multiple years of some schools), so quite a few of these teams are done in the rosters. Feel free to leverage in any way.

I'm a Florida homer but Jeff Demps should be a 99 speed. Set national and world junior records on the track, averaged almost 8 ypc in 2008. Broke US Olympic records for the 4x100. Multiple time All American and national champion in track at Florida. Just a different level of speed when you watched him play. As far as I can find, no football player has ever put up better times. His best 100m time is 0.05 faster than Bob Hayes, who is probably the fastest player in NFL history. His 60m (65 yards) time is 6.52.

Chris Rainey is up there too. Not as fast as Demps, but a multi-time All American and national champion in track as well.

[web53]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Sounds like a fun roster.

I'll follow up with a few files from a similar roster project I've done that could be helpful. I have 6+ iterations of a file where I was creating the best year of each school and then morphed into the best teams in general (multiple years of some schools), so quite a few of these teams are done in the rosters. Feel free to leverage in any way.

I'm a Florida homer but Jeff Demps should be a 99 speed. Set national and world junior records on the track, averaged almost 8 ypc in 2008. Broke US Olympic records for the 4x100. Multiple time All American and national champion in track at Florida. Just a different level of speed when you watched him play. As far as I can find, no football player has ever put up better times. His best 100m time is 0.05 faster than Bob Hayes, who is probably the fastest player in NFL history. His 60m (65 yards) time is 6.52.

Chris Rainey is up there too. Not as fast as Demps, but a multi-time All American and national champion in track as well.

Roster files are attached

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

File updated with a lot of new teams. 2013 South Carolina, 2015 Ole Miss, 2016 Western Michigan, 2011 Baylor, 2007 Kansas, 2012 Texas A&M, 2006 Boise State, 2008 Texas Tech, and 2004 Utah.

Played as Baylor on the road against Texas A&M earlier today and had a wild game. Got down 28-3 in the first half and came back to win 38-31. Defense clamped down and forced turnovers in the second half and RG III lit it up both through the air and on the ground. Baylor offense is scary with RG III, Kendall Wright, and Terrance Williams.

2015 Ole Miss is a team loaded with top level talent: Laremy Tunsil, Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell, Evan Engram, Mike Hilton, Van Jefferson, and Jordan Wilkins. #1 defense in the country that year and beat Alabama on the road.

2004 Utah has Alex Smith at QB and they're tough on both lines (Chris Kemoateu anchors the offensive line, Sione Pouha holds down the defensive line).

2013 South Carolina has Jadaveon Clowney on defense and a ton of talent on offense with Bruce Ellington, Pharoah Cooper, Mike Davis, and a number of other NFL players.

2007 Kansas had a crazy year where they managed to go 12-1 and win the Orange Bowl. They have lockdown corners with Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Todd Reesing was a good game manager QB.

2008 Texas Tech famously beat Texas in an incredible game in Lubbock. They've got Graham Harrell throwing the ball to Michael Crabtree and a deep group of receivers.

2012 Texas A&M has Johnny Manziel throwing to Mike Evans and being protected by maybe the most talented offensive line of any team on this roster (three first round picks on the line).

2006 Boise State is the one that beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. They've got a lot of good players with Jared Zabransky, Ian Johnson, Legeduu Naanee, and Gerald Alexander.

Upcoming teams: 2007 Missouri, 2003 Kansas State, 2011 Arkansas, 2001 Colorado, and 2014 Mississippi State.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

2001 Colorado, 2014 Mississippi State, 2003 Kansas State, and 2009 Central Michigan (just did their key players) now added.

2001 Colorado took the Denver Bronocs offense of the 90s and ran it to perfection. I'll never forget them absolutely thrashing Nebraska (who was #1 in the country and undefeated) that year. They've got Chris Brown, Andre Gurode, Justin Bannan, Michael Lewis, and a number of other NFL players. I played as them and was up 24-0 on 2001 Nebraska when I had to turn it off.

2014 Mississippi State is a good team with two superstar players in Dak Preskott and Chris Jones. I played against 2010 Auburn and was absolutely shutting down Cam Newton with their defense.

2003 Kansas State has a good running QB in El Roberson and Darren Sproles is an absolute menace. Jordy Nelson was a freshman this year and redshirted but I put him on the depth chart anyway. I had a great game with 2000 Oklahoma. Scored on a 25 yard TD pass with a couple seconds left and then went for two and got it to win.

2009 CMU has a number of NFL players: Antonio Brown, Frank Zombo, Nick Bellore, Josh Gordy, and a freshman Eric Fisher. Dan LeFevour didn't make it in the NFL but he was the MAC version of Tim Tebow. Dude scored 149 TDs in his career (102 passing and 47 rushing). I played their arch rival 2016 Western Michigan and won 27-21 on a TD by Antonio Brown with under a minute left.

Anybody playing with these? Impressions? I'm loving the games I'm having.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Added 2002 Washington State. Pac-10 Champions, played in the Rose Bowl, beat Carson Palmer and USC. Not a flashy team but some serious talent with Devard Darling, Rien Long, Marcus Trufant, Jason David, and Erik Coleman. One of the best secondaries on the roster.

I just did a test game against 2014 Oregon on the road and my defense was dominant, I won 24-3. Held Mariota under 100 passing yards and didn't give up any explosive plays. Offense wasn't amazing but I avoided turnovers and managed to get Darling lose on a 70 touchdown after he broke a tackle.

2020 Iowa State is done too. Brock Purdy and Breece Hall give them a fighting chance against anybody. Not one of the best teams on the file but they still went 10-3 and won a New Years Day bowl game.

Probably going to do Mizzou next. I've been putting them off because I've been going back and forth on whether I want to do the 2007 team or 2013 team, they seem really similar in quality.

I'll probably go with 2006 because Chase Daniel was a better QB than James Franklin.

2013 team had a great defense with Michael Sam, Markus Golden, Shane Ray, and Kony Ealy. Incredible defensive line.

[wreckem27]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Would love to see this for RPCS3. Always thought this style of roster would be a ton of fun to play. Great stuff so far.

Just out of curiosity, what Houston team were you thinking about doing? My vote would be for 06, but I'll I'm excited either way.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

I was going to go with the 2015 Houston team. Not a ton of huge names on that team but 13-1 and a major bowl win over Florida State was really impressive.

What is RPCS3?

[wreckem27]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Oops for some reason I thought it was 2000-2009. Definitely agree with 2015 lol.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

2007 Missouri now added. Great team featuring Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Danario Alexander, Martin Rucker, Ziggy Hood, Sean Weatherspoon, and William Moore. Tough on both sides of the ball.

I played 2000 Oklahoma in a hypothetical Big 12 Championship Game at Cowboy Stadium and won an absolute classic 36-31. Traded the lead several times in the fourth quarter and won on a touchdown with about 30 seconds to play.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

2010 Arkansas now added to the file. Led by the recently deceased Ryan Mallett, who I gave 99 arm strength. Dude could absolutely sling it.

They've also got Nile Davis, Jarius Wright, Joe Adams, Colbi Hamilton, and Travis Swanson. Fast, talented receivers, a big and fast running back, and a quarterback with a cannon arm adds up to a really dangerous offense.

I played a test game against Mississippi State. A very strange game, I wasted a great performance by my defense. I was down 13-0 going into the third quarter after Mallett had been horribly inaccurate all game. Then I suddenly got my offense going and ripped off back to back touchdown drives to go up 14-13 with under a minute left. But I left too much time for Dak and he managed to get into field goal range and they made the game winner on the final play to win 16-14. A very different game from the shootouts I've been having.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Three new teams in the file: 2018 Kentucky, 2012 Vanderbilt, and 2006 Wake Forest.

2018 Kentucky was the best Kentucky team in decades, they finished 10-3 and beat Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. They're anchored by a great defense, as you would expect from a Mark Stoops team. Josh Allen (not that Josh Allen) is the star and they've got a number of other NFL players around him. They're a spread running offense led by Bennie Snell, who rushed for almost 1,500 yards in 2018.

2012 Vanderbilt finished 9-4 and won the Music City Bowl. They have two stars on offense in Zac Stacy at Running Back and Jordan Matthews at Wide Receiver. James Franklin did an amazing job in his time at Vandy.

I played these two teams against each other. I was Vandy and lost a 44-41 OT thriller. I thought I had the game won with five seconds left but one of my receivers dropped what would have been the game winning touchdown. Settled for a field goal to force OT instead and then gave up a touchdown to lose the game. Both running backs were dominant, Snell went for almost 200 yards and Stacy had over 150.

2006 Wake Forest had a miraculous run to win the ACC Championship for only the second time in school history. They managed to do it despite losing their starting quarterback and all of their running backs to the point where they had to move on of their receivers to running back. They have a strong offensive line with Steve Justice at Center and a couple other NFL players. The defense is led by first round pick Aaron Curry. They've also got Alphonso Smith and current Maryland Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis at safety.

I played as them and upset Florida State 21-13. My defense played great. We picked off Jameis Winston twice, once returning it for the touchdown and the other time setting up a TD by the offense. I was able to run effectively but struggled to throw, ended the game with under 100 yards passing. I basically took the air out of the ball in the second half and just depended on my defense to hold and they were able to get it done.

I'm loving playing with these rosters. I feel like I get a good mix of blowouts, close games, comebacks, shootouts, and defensive battles. Editing the coach sliders to turn up aggression on offense and turn it down on defense seems to be helping too, stops the CPU from throwing screens all day and blitzing every down on defense.

[txbball14]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Locker: TheLaw1989 (XBox Live)


As one last hurrah for this game I'm working on a roster of classic teams that I enjoyed playing as over the*course of the NCAA series. This is the greatest teams of the 2000s, which means each school is represented by the team I've chosen as their greatest from this century.*

Here are the teams I've made (to varying degrees) so far:
2020 Alabama
2010 Auburn
2004 Cal
2021 Cincinnati
2018 Clemson
2008 Florida
2013 Florida State
2021 Georgia
2001 Illinois
2020 Indiana
2002 Iowa
2006 Louisville
2019 LSU
2001 Miami
2022 Michigan
2013 Michigan State
2019 Minnesota
2001 Nebraska
2012 Notre Dame
2014 Ohio State
2000 Oklahoma
2011 Oklahoma State
2014 Oregon2
005 Penn State
2000 Purdue
2010 Stanford
2010 TCU
2001 Tennessee
2006 Texas
2004 USC
2000 Virginia Tech
2016 Washington
2007 West Virginia

The base file was someone's 2017 rosters, I'm not 100% whose.

Northwestern, Wisconsin, UCF, USF, and Wyoming all have the right year for this roster because*of that but I haven't checked those rosters for accuracy yet.

I'll keep working on the file, here are some of the next teams I want to do:

2011 Arkansas
2006 Boise State
2001 Colorado
2014 Georgia Tech
2007 Hawaii
2007 Kansas
2003 Kansas State
2014 Mississippi State
2007 Missouri
2002 NC State
2015 North Carolina
2015 Ole Miss
2000 Oregon State
2021 Pitt
2006 Rutgers
2013 South Carolina
2012 Texas A&M
2008 Texas Tech
2004 Utah

Please give feedback, I do my best with ratings for guys but fans of the particular team are always going to have insight into them that I lack.*

Trivia:

-Notable players I left off their teams due to them suffering injuries early in the season: Michael Bush (2006 Louisville, broke his leg in their first game and missed the rest of the season) and Braxton Miller (2014 Ohio State, injured his shoulder in training camp and missed the entire season). I don't have an exact rule but I feel like playing three games is probably a good threshold for being included on the roster.

-Urban Meyer is the head coach of three different teams on this file (2004 Utah, 2008 Florida, 2014 Ohio State), I believe he's the only coach with three. A number of coaches have two teams: Bobby Petrino, Chris Peterson, Jim Harbaugh, P.J. Fleck.

-I've only come across two players so far who are on two different teams in this roster. Cam Newton was a backup on 2008 Florida and of course the starter for 2010 Auburn. Derrion Kendrick was a freshman at Clemson in 2018 and then transferred to Georgia and was still around for the 2021 team.

-The only players I've given out 99 speed to so far are John Ross from Washington and Donte Stallworth from Tennessee.

Is there an XBOX gamertag with these rosters?

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

Gamertag: TheLaw1989

Updated the file to include 2014 Georgia Tech. They won the ACC Coastal and ran all over Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl. For a Flexbone team they have surprisingly great wide receivers in DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller.

[vtcrb]

Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s

How many teams are left to complete?