Miami in, Nebraska out? Andy Staples’ blue blood list both stunning and infuriating

The start of the college football season almost always seems to bring the same debate every year. Which programs are Blue Bloods and which aren't? And every year, someone wants to leave the Nebraska football program off the list despite it being one of the most storied programs in the country. But the latest offering from Andy Staples isn't just galling because the Huskers miss the cut; it's also appalling because of who made it.

Staples' offering has 12 teams making the cut, which already feels like too many. That's before anyone looks at what 12 teams made the cut and which five "just missed."

According to the On3 analyst, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Notre Dame, Texas, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC are all Blue Bloods based on his extremely arbitrary rating system. Staples said he determined the list by using two primary criteria. Top 15 in program win percentage (Minimum 750 games) and

at least one national title in two of three eras (AP or Coaches poll in the two poll eras, winner of the final game in the Bowl Championship Series/College Football Playoff era). Nebraska football doesn't make the cut because it's never won in the BCS/playoff era.

Here's the thing most galling about teams like Tennessee and Miami being on the list while Penn State and Nebraska miss. Yes, Miami has a BCS national title, but if the point is to really claim a team must have won a title recently, does their 2001 title really count as recent? 25 years ago?

The Hurricanes are also 13th in FBS program win percentage (the Huskers are 9th. Meanwhile, yes, Tennessee has a BCS title, the first BCS title in 1998. One year after Nebraska won its last title in 1997. The last of the two-poll era. The Vols are also ranked behind NU in winning percentage.

The criteria seem to be geared towards leaving the Nebraska football team off the list. That's not surprising, as Andy Staples is just the latest analyst to find a way to do it. But when you have to come up with this kind of specific criteria to cut them off, maybe just admit NU is still a Blue Blood and get over it.