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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Unvaccinated kids' numbers fell from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024: Govt
The percentage of zero-dose children (those who have not received a single vaccine) in India has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The ministry attributed the achievement to continued and sustained efforts and intensified implementation of vaccination drives and campaigns across the country. These achievements have positioned India as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) in its 2024 report. India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by The Measles and Rubella Partnership (American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO) at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC, USA on March 6th, 2024, for its committed endeavours, said the ministry. The effect of the increased number of lifesaving vaccines in reducing mortality and morbidity in children due to diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis & encephalitis is also clearly observable. As per the latest SRS (2020-22), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has declined from 130/lakh live births in 2014-16 to 88/lakh live births in 2020-22. As per the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG 2000-2023) report, the MMR of India stands at 80 per lakh live births, reflecting an 86 per cent decline relative to the global reduction of 48 per cent since 1990. As per the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME 2024 Report), India achieved a 78 per cent decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) surpassing the global reduction of 61 per cent and 70 per cent decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) compared to 54 per cent globally during 1990 - 2023. In addition to focused attention on increasing vaccination coverage, India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) embodies a comprehensive range of vaccines recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Till 2013, there were only six available vaccines in the program. From 2014, six new vaccines (namely Inactivated Polio-virus Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Measles-Rubella Vaccine, Adult Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine and Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine) have been introduced in the programme. Currently, India's UIP covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases and has seen significant expansion. With continued focus on improving vaccine coverage, India has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations. The Govt of India, in consultation with all States/UTs, has launched targeted campaigns to address challenges among zero-dose children, particularly in urban slums, peri-urban areas, migratory populations, hard-to-reach regions, and communities affected by vaccine hesitancy. These efforts are also aligned with the National goal of eliminating Measles and Rubella. "To amplify our reach, we are leveraging technology and community engagement. The U-WIN platform tracks immunisation status digitally, ensuring no child is missed. Public awareness campaigns are being intensified using mass media, community radio, social media, and even street plays to educate families. Healthcare workers, ASHAs, and ANMs will go door-to-door, not just to vaccinate, but to sensitise the beneficiaries about the benefits of vaccination," the ministry said in a press release. Some key initiatives include: Zero Dose Implementation Plan 2024: Rolled out across 143 districts in 11 states with a high burden of unvaccinated children. Mission Indradhanush (Since 2014): Intensified in 2017 in collaboration with state governments, it has vaccinated 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women previously unreached or under-vaccinated. Pulse Polio Campaigns: Through National Immunisation Days (NIDs) and Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs), India has maintained polio-free status since Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs): Organized regularly for immunization and outreach activities at the community level. Multi-tiered Task Forces: State (STFI), District (DTFI), and Block (BTFI) level task forces ensure coordinated and effective implementation. Regular IEC (Information, Education, Communication) Campaigns: Help increase awareness and combat vaccine hesitancy. The annual birth cohort in India (2.6 crore) exceeds the total population of several countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Switzerland. Given the varying sizes of the countries across the globe, the percentage comparison shows it at par with the vaccination coverage levels observed in many high-income countries for e.g., New Zealand (DTP-1 93 per cent), Germany & Finland (DPT-3 91 per cent), Sweden (MCV-1 93 per cent), Luxembourg (MCV-2 90 per cent), Ireland (PCV-3 83 per cent), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Rota C 90 per cent). (WUNEIC report 2023). The comparative results of countries on zero dose children as a percentage of the total population shows that Yemen (1.68 per cent), Sudan (1.45 per cent), Angola (1.1 per cent), Afghanistan (1.1 per cent), Nigeria (0.98 per cent), DR Congo (0.82 per cent), Ethiopia (0.72 per cent), Indonesia (0.23 per cent), Pakistan (0.16 per cent) have far more zero dose children as a percentage of their population compared to India's (0.11 per cent during 2023 as per the last Wuneic report released. Any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero-dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate. Therefore, any interpretation or analysis based on isolated factors does not lend credence to the country's progress on its immunisation program, said the ministry. The Universal immunisation program has always been prioritised by the Government of India to ensure that the children of our country are protected against deadly diseases. Elimination of Polio in 2014 and Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus in 2015, and the recent launch of the Measles Rubella campaign in 2025 is a testament to the fact. With focused strategies and committed healthcare workers, the endeavour will always be last-mile delivery to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage. Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions. India's unwavering commitment to immunization is evident through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides free vaccination services annually to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0-1 year).
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Zero-dose children in India declined from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024: Union Health Ministry
The percentage of zero-dose children (Those who have not received a single vaccine ) in India has declined from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare . The ministry attributed the achievement to continued and sustained efforts and intensified implementation of vaccination drives and campaigns across the country. These achievements have positioned India as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) in its 2024 report. India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by The Measles and Rubella Partnership (American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO) at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC, USA on March 6th, 2024, for its committed endeavours, said the ministry. The effect of the increased number of lifesaving vaccines in reducing mortality and morbidity in children due to diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis & encephalitis is also clearly observable. As per the latest SRS (2020-22), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has declined from 130/lakh live births in 2014-16 to 88/lakh live births in 2020-22. As per the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG 2000-2023) report, the MMR of India stands at 80 per lakh live births, reflecting an 86% decline relative to the global reduction of 48% since 1990. As per the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME 2024 Report), India achieved a 78% decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) surpassing the global reduction of 61% and 70% decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) compared to 54% globally during 1990 - 2023. Live Events In addition to focused attention on increasing vaccination coverage, India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) embodies a comprehensive range of vaccines recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Till 2013, there were only six available vaccines in the program. From 2014, six new vaccines (namely Inactivated Polio-virus Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Measles-Rubella Vaccine, Adult Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine and Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine) have been introduced in the programme. Currently, India's UIP covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases and has seen significant expansion. With continued focus on improving vaccine coverage, India has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations. The Govt of India, in consultation with all States/UTs, has launched targeted campaigns to address challenges among zero-dose children, particularly in urban slums, peri-urban areas, migratory populations, hard-to-reach regions, and communities affected by vaccine hesitancy. These efforts are also aligned with the National goal of eliminating Measles and Rubella. "To amplify our reach, we are leveraging technology and community engagement. The U-WIN platform tracks immunisation status digitally, ensuring no child is missed. Public awareness campaigns are being intensified using mass media, community radio, social media, and even street plays to educate families. Healthcare workers, ASHAs, and ANMs will go door-to-door, not just to vaccinate, but to sensitise the beneficiaries about the benefits of vaccination," the ministry said in a press release. Some key initiatives include: Zero Dose Implementation Plan 2024: Rolled out across 143 districts in 11 states with a high burden of unvaccinated children. Mission Indradhanush (Since 2014): Intensified in 2017 in collaboration with state governments, it has vaccinated 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women previously unreached or under-vaccinated. Pulse Polio Campaigns: Through National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs), India has maintained polio-free status since 2014. Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs): Organized regularly for immunization and outreach activities at the community level. Multi-tiered Task Forces: State (STFI), District (DTFI), and Block (BTFI) level task forces ensure coordinated and effective implementation. Regular IEC (Information, Education, Communication) Campaigns: Help increase awareness and combat vaccine hesitancy. The annual birth cohort in India (2.6 crore) exceeds the total population of several countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Switzerland. Given the varying sizes of the countries across the globe, the percentage comparison shows it at par with the vaccination coverage levels observed in many high-income countries for e.g., New Zealand (DTP-1 93%), Germany & Finland (DPT-3 91%), Sweden (MCV-1 93%), Luxembourg (MCV-2 90%), Ireland (PCV-3 83%), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Rota C 90%). (WUNEIC report 2023). The comparative results of countries on zero dose children as a percentage of the total population shows that Yemen (1.68%), Sudan (1.45%), Angola (1.1%), Afghanistan (1.1%), Nigeria (0.98%), DR Congo (0.82%), Ethiopia (0.72%), Indonesia (0.23%), Pakistan (0.16%) have far more zero dose children as a percentage of their population compared to India's (0.11% during 2023 as per the last Wuneic report released. Any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero-dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate. Therefore, any interpretation or analysis based on isolated factors does not lend credence to the country's progress on its immunisation program, said the ministry. The Universal immunisation program has always been prioritised by the Government of India to ensure that the children of our country are protected against deadly diseases. Elimination of Polio in 2014 and Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus in 2015, and the recent launch of the Measles Rubella campaign in 2025 is a testament to the fact. With focused strategies and committed healthcare workers, the endeavour will always be last-mile delivery to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage. Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions. India's unwavering commitment to immunization is evident through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides free vaccination services annually to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0-1 year).
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Maternal mortality claimed 1,168 lives in Maharashtra in 2024-25
1 2 3 Pune: As many as 1,168 women in the state lost their lives to maternal mortality in 2024-25, health department officials said. Pune district accounted for the highest number of maternal deaths at 95 during this period. Officials cited high population as well as the district being a referral point for other neighbouring districts, with many complicated cases referred at the last minute for the high number of deaths. The leading causes of these deaths were hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, haemorrhage, sepsis, pulmonary embolism and other serious diseases like TB, cancer, etc, said health officials. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune As per the state health department, 2024-25 saw a slightly higher number than 2023-24 when 1,131 maternal deaths were reported. In the past five years, the number of maternal deaths has been fluctuating with no steady decline or rise in numbers. Officials said that of the 1,168 maternal deaths reported in 2024-25, 68 women were from outside Maharashtra. Maternal mortality in a region is a measure of the reproductive health of women in the area. Many women in reproductive age die due to complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth or abortion. As per World Health Organization, "Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. " Dr Sandeep Sangale, additional director, State Family Welfare Bureau, Maharashtra, said, "We have been making several efforts to bring down maternal mortality in the state and right now as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) report on maternal mortality, the state's ratio stands at 36 for 2020-2022, which was 38 for 2019-2021." Maharashtra has the second lowest maternal deaths after Kerala. "The national average for 2020-22 stands at 88. Through our home-based care and post-natal visits by Asha workers, we have been able to reduce mortality. We will further strive to reduce maternal deaths because each life is precious. Although cities may show a higher death rate, this is because they are referral points for neighbouring districts, so when the case reaches at the last minute, the death is registered under that district," he added. SRS is one of the largest demographic sample surveys in the country that, among other indicators, provide direct estimates of maternal mortality through a nationally representative sample Dr Abhijit More, health activist and co-convener Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, said, "Compared to other states, Maharashtra is doing better. Multiple policies targeted at decentralizing maternal care at the village level, providing nutrition to pregnant women and keeping a tab on every pregnant case through Asha workers have helped in achieving this. These early interventions and a robust women's hospital network in multiple districts are lowering deaths among women, however, we must work to ensure no woman dies due to unavailability of healthcare at the right time. " Pune: As many as 1,168 women in the state lost their lives to maternal mortality in 2024-25, health department officials said. Pune district accounted for the highest number of maternal deaths at 95 during this period. Officials cited high population as well as the district being a referral point for other neighbouring districts, with many complicated cases referred at the last minute for the high number of deaths. The leading causes of these deaths were hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, haemorrhage, sepsis, pulmonary embolism and other serious diseases like TB, cancer, etc, said health officials. As per the state health department, 2024-25 saw a slightly higher number than 2023-24 when 1,131 maternal deaths were reported. In the past five years, the number of maternal deaths has been fluctuating with no steady decline or rise in numbers. Officials said that of the 1,168 maternal deaths reported in 2024-25, 68 women were from outside Maharashtra. Maternal mortality in a region is a measure of the reproductive health of women in the area. Many women in reproductive age die due to complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth or abortion. As per World Health Organization, "Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. " Dr Sandeep Sangale, additional director, State Family Welfare Bureau, Maharashtra, said, "We have been making several efforts to bring down maternal mortality in the state and right now as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) report on maternal mortality, the state's ratio stands at 36 for 2020-2022, which was 38 for 2019-2021." Maharashtra has the second lowest maternal deaths after Kerala. "The national average for 2020-22 stands at 88. Through our home-based care and post-natal visits by Asha workers, we have been able to reduce mortality. We will further strive to reduce maternal deaths because each life is precious. Although cities may show a higher death rate, this is because they are referral points for neighbouring districts, so when the case reaches at the last minute, the death is registered under that district," he added. SRS is one of the largest demographic sample surveys in the country that, among other indicators, provide direct estimates of maternal mortality through a nationally representative sample Dr Abhijit More, health activist and co-convener Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, said, "Compared to other states, Maharashtra is doing better. Multiple policies targeted at decentralizing maternal care at the village level, providing nutrition to pregnant women and keeping a tab on every pregnant case through Asha workers have helped in achieving this. These early interventions and a robust women's hospital network in multiple districts are lowering deaths among women, however, we must work to ensure no woman dies due to unavailability of healthcare at the right time. "
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Allow real-time tracking of CPFIA transactions
I hold both CPF Investment Account (CPFIA) and Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) accounts with DBS. When I invest using my SRS funds, the transaction appears immediately on the DBS online portal. But the same real-time visibility is not available for CPFIA transactions. Currently, CPFIA movements are reflected only in monthly statements. While useful, these do not offer the updates needed for prompt reconciliation or early fraud detection. The delay – sometimes up to a month – limits users' ability to monitor their investments closely. With the recent closure of the CPF Special Account, many are looking to invest their Ordinary Account funds to preserve returns. This makes real-time tracking of CPFIA activity more important than ever. I urge DBS to enhance its system to provide online, up-to-date visibility for CPFIA transactions, just as it does for SRS accounts. This would give CPF investors greater control and peace of mind over their retirement savings. Yeo Eng Huat More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How many college football teams could have won a national title with Nick Saban?
Editor's note: This story is a part of No Wrong Answers, a series that explores the college sports questions you've always been curious about — and the ones you never thought to ask. Read our attempt to figure out which college football team has the most fans here. Before Nick Saban became the greatest coach of all time, he was calculated about the jobs he took. The LSU and Alabama programs he inherited were underachievers that still had great recruiting footprints, top-tier resources, storied traditions and everything else that adds up to championship potential. Saban turned them into champions again. But what if Saban chose differently? Advertisement What if, instead of pursuing distressed assets, he went after a bigger fixer-upper — or a program that was never up in the first place? That leads us to this hypothetical with no wrong answers. Let's say Saban left Alabama after winning it all in 2015. What's the worst program the best version of the best coach in college football history could have led to a national title? Could he have lived out the video game dynasty mode fantasy of turning a low-prestige program into a champion? What limits would there have been to Saban's power? To come up with a good-faith, albeit unscientific, answer, The Athletic examined six critical factors, from on-field metrics to talent to money. We identified every FBS program's historic norms, quantified Alabama's growth under Saban — let's call it the Saban Effect — and then determined whether he could have pushed that school past the threshold necessary to win a national championship. Our process took us from 133 potential candidates — every FBS incumbent except for Alabama (no need to game that one out) — to a list of 33 programs. The final list of possible title winners includes obvious headliners, a couple of surprises and one very tantalizing what-if. At the end, we survey our staff for their thoughts. Let us know who you think Saban could have won a championship with in the comments. It's unreasonable to think that even Saban could lead perennial cellar-dwellers like UMass or his alma mater, Kent State, to a national championship. So we used two sets of advanced metrics to lop off the bottom chunk of the FBS. Bear with us for a little wonky math that's not as complicated as it sounds. ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) and Sports Reference's Simple Rating System (SRS) both crunch numbers beyond wins and losses to compare teams to the national average. For broad context, the best teams' ratings are generally above 20, and the worst teams are below negative-20. Advertisement Before Saban (2005-06), Alabama's FPI average was 11.6. During his 2010-13 peak, the Crimson Tide's average FPI was 29. Subtract Saban's starting point from his peak, and we see how much better he made the Crimson Tide: a Saban Effect of 17.4. With SRS, we compared the four years before Saban to a different elite stretch (2017-20). The Saban Effect (17.1) was about the same. Still with us? Good. Our next step was to establish the advanced-metrics floor for title winners. Aside from 2010 Auburn — not even Saban can clone Cam Newton — the lowest FPI for a recent national champion was 24 (Saban's 2009 Crimson Tide). In SRS, it was 20 (2016 Clemson). Because the Saban Effect boosts his new team by about 17, a program needed a baseline of 6.6 in FPI and 2.9 in SRS to reach the championship floor. Our grading was generous; a program passed if it averaged those figures over any four-season stint since 2005. This category knocked out 70 teams, including Illinois, Maryland, Purdue, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest at the Power 4 level — plus Toledo, Saban's first head coaching job in 1990. The only teams outside the current Power 4 to live on? Pac-12 holdovers Oregon State and Washington State, plus Appalachian State, Boise State, Memphis and South Florida. You can't win championships without loaded recruiting classes, and nobody in modern college football history has amassed talent on the recruiting trail like Saban. We used the same thought process as in Factor 1 to determine whether adding Saban's recruiting prowess could build a championship-level roster at each school. We assumed any program that hires him will provide the staff and infrastructure necessary to sign top-tier classes … as long as they're financially able to do so (we'll come back to that). Advertisement We used Rivals' rankings because its data goes back farthest, and we excluded Saban's 2007 transition class, signed just after he became head coach. Alabama recruiting pre-Saban (2002-06) Alabama recruiting with Saban (2008-23) That data gives us a Saban Effect of about 23 spots in the class rankings and almost one full star per recruit. To find the recruiting floor for a national championship, we analyzed the four classes before a team's title run (those hauls formed the bulk of every depth chart). All but 2010 Auburn averaged a top-12 ranking or better, and nearly every champion since 2005 averaged at least 3.6 stars per signee. Those thresholds mean a team's historical average must be a top-35 recruiting class or 2.6 stars to rise to championship contention with the Saban Effect. This factor eliminates the remaining teams outside the Power 4, except for Oregon State. Though BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF were weighed down by their time outside a Power 4 conference, none have signed a top-35 class since joining the Big 12, either. The list of 53 contenders still includes Cal (which hit both criteria) along with Kansas, Boston College, Northwestern and Rutgers (which survived based on their recruits' average star ranking). Two other caveats: We ignored the transfer portal as a workaround because Saban relied mostly on high school prospects during his Alabama tenure. And because his Crimson Tide recruited so well nationally — he plucked superstars everywhere from Texas, Florida, California, New Jersey and Hawaii — we didn't consider geography or proximity to talent, which were inherent advantages Saban had at Alabama. This one is slightly arbitrary but simple. Even though Saban is a historically great recruiter, it's unrealistic to expect him to sign several elite prospects annually at a school that has no track record of doing so. Our proof-of-concept requirement: at least one five-star signee in any of the 24 classes of the modern recruiting era. Advertisement Kansas' title hopes end here, along with Baylor, Iowa State, Minnesota and Northwestern. Georgia Tech's out, too, because Calvin Johnson was merely a four-star prospect by Rivals. But three-time Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson was a five-star talent, which helped Cal advance. The top junior college signee of 2008, defensive lineman Simu Kuli, keeps Oregon State in the mix, just as the No. 25 recruit in the 2004 class, linebacker Brian Toal, pushes Boston College to the next phase. Even if a school is willing to install and implement Saban's famed 'Process,' it has to have the money to fund his army of analysts while competing in the arms races of facilities and NIL. In the three years before Saban's arrival, Alabama reported an average of $46.9 million in football revenue to the U.S. Department of Education. In the three years after his arrival, the Crimson Tide reported $64.6 million. We'll expect a proportional bounce for other schools, so the Saban Effect is a 38 percent income bump based on the wins and booster buzz he'd provide. Because fiscal years don't overlap cleanly with football seasons, the numbers are squishy. But almost every national champion since 2005 has ranked among the top 10 in football expenses around its title run. A 38 percent increase in football revenue still wasn't enough to jolt the budgets of Boston College, Cal, Oregon State and Rutgers consistently to that level. We'll assume they can't give Saban the resources he demands, so they're the next group to go. Because elite talent doesn't always lead to championships, we also have to consider how well that talent was developed. The NFL Draft is an imperfect but instructive barometer. Average NFL Draft picks Since Saban's 2011 title team, most national champions have produced about 30 picks over the next three drafts. A reasonable floor was 18 (the number of draftees from Trevor Lawrence's 2018 Clemson team). If the Saban Effect alone provides 10.8 picks over three seasons, the team itself must produce 7.2. That's an average of 2.4 picks per year. If a program hasn't been able to clear that relatively low bar since 2000, it probably lacks the infrastructure required for Saban to lift the team to the top. This factor knocks out Arizona, Kansas State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and West Virginia, the flagship school of Saban's home state. Our list is down to 35, with Arizona State (2.46 picks per year) barely squeaking through. Like five-star recruiting, this final category is simple and somewhat arbitrary. It's hard to think a team is capable of winning a national championship if it has never flashed championship potential. Both Alabama and LSU won titles before Saban, and both had a 10-win season in the four years before his arrival. Advertisement Our proof-of-concept bar is lower. We mandated at least one AP top-10 finish since 1992 (the year of Alabama's last pre-Saban crown). That means we must say goodbye to Pitt and North Carolina State, the latter of which has never finished in the top 10. Their exits leave us with this final list of 33 programs (plus Alabama) that could have won a national championship with the peak version of Nick Saban: Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Utah, Virginia Tech, Washington and Wisconsin. Not surprisingly, the group includes every national champion since Colorado and Georgia Tech split the crown in 1990. The Spartans, who haven't won a national title since 1966, are the most intriguing option because Saban coached there from 1995-99. He went 25-22-1 over his first four seasons before a 9-2, top-10 breakthrough that springboarded him to LSU. You can use his mixed Michigan State tenure as evidence that Saban couldn't build a champion without the elite resources, tradition and recruiting pull of a marquee program like LSU or Alabama. In that case, the list is probably smaller than 33. You can also reach the opposite conclusion. Perhaps Saban simply needed time to amass enough talent to revamp a program that had only one top-10 finish in the previous quarter century. Or maybe the early struggles at his first head coaching job in a major conference provided the teachable moments that turned him into the greatest coach ever. What if he stayed in East Lansing for the long haul? That's a what-if for another day. Advertisement Of our final 33 contenders, nine have not claimed a national championship in the AP poll era (since 1936). Oregon and Virginia Tech have both played for a title since the BCS began, so set them aside, too. Our answer, then, is on this worst-of-the-best list: Arizona State, Louisville, North Carolina, South Carolina, Stanford, Utah and Wisconsin. By our numbers, the weakest remaining option is … Louisville! The Cardinals are the only one without a top-five finish since 1990 and had the lowest average FPI. Their recruiting rankings were virtually tied with Utah at the bottom of the top tier, and the Sun Devils were the only contender with lower NFL Draft production. Louisville's perch in the ACC also provides a power conference starting point with an easier route to the Playoff. Pair a Saban defense with 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, and a national title doesn't seem outlandish. To add a human element to the debate, we surveyed 17 of The Athletic's college sports staffers for their thoughts. Baylor and Texas Tech (12 votes each) are the top contenders that didn't crack our above list. Multiple staffers said Saban could have won titles at Maryland and Virginia. Scott Dochterman picked Louisville as Saban's worst potential championship for the reasons cited above. Other answers included: West Virginia: 'He would sign all his boys from his hometown and turn them into studs that crushed everyone with their toughness and physicality.' — Grace Raynor Stanford: 'I'm really intrigued by if he could have won at Stanford in their heyday (which was not that many years ago) … Could he have made Christian McCaffrey even more dominant?' — Lindsay Schnell South Carolina: 'The Gamecocks' only three top-10 seasons came under one Hall of Fame coach (Steve Spurrier), and another (Lou Holtz) never fared better than the Outback Bowl. But both were in their final years. If Spurrier could win 11 games three times during the Saban era while nearing retirement, it's not a stretch to think peak Saban could have elevated the Gamecocks to an even higher level and won a national title.' — Matt Baker Advertisement Michigan State: 'Ironically, Michigan State is probably the worst program that I thought Saban could lead to a national championship, which he left to go win a national championship at LSU. Also, everyone in the SEC could/would win it all with Saban other than Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.' — Pete Sampson Washington: 'And even that I thought was a stretch. I firmly believe that in college football its nature over nurture when it comes to the ability to contend for a national title. Even the greatest coach of all-time needs the right conditions. Saban himself recognized that. Which is why he ended up at Alabama in the first place.' — Ralph D. Russo Of the 68 Power 4 teams, 17 schools received unanimous support for being able to win a national title under Saban: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. Apologies to the six schools that received zero votes: Kansas, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. Who do you think is the worst program Saban could have led to a national title? What other No Wrong Answers topics would you like to see? Let us know in the comments. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photo: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire / Getty, iStock; graphics: Thomas Oide / The Athletic)
