I think when ESPN or those other sites do those "greatest team ever" lists they always focus on what players did/are doing in the NFL. Just by awards Bama has the best player (Maxwell, Heisman), best QB, best RB, best WR, best O-line, best coordinator, best long snapper, a kicker that was perfect all through the most difficult year with some of the worst of circumstances. That isn't even counting all the snubs (Surtain).
The amazing thing about these awards, they all have the stats to back it up, they truly were the best in every sense.
If these guys never a play a down in the NFL, this is the best "college team" in the history of college football.