In doing a little research, I see how programs tend to peak for at least 2 seasons. At least when it comes to the national-championship-level programs, they tend to still "be there" the year after. Here's what I mean:
We know Miami was the program of the 80s. But in 85, OU beat PSU for the NC. So we progress to 86 and who's there? PSU again. They beat Miami. The next year - Miami again...over OU. 88 it's Miami still, losing out to ND. The next year - Miami. 1990 is a sort of reset (CU & GT). 91 is back to Miami (and UW). This isn't about Miami, the Canes just happen to never go away for that period of time. 92 Miami is back, but loses to Bama. 93 is a reset, with FSU over UNL. But the new Miami is UNL, with the next to NCs (over Miami, then Florida). Florida wins it the following year, then back to UNL in 97 (with Michigan). 98 is a reset with Tenn & FSU, then FSU again, and FSU a third time, losing out to OU in 2000. 2001 resets with UNL and Miami, then Miami again losing out to OSU. Reset with OU and LSU the next year. USC is sort of at the top 3 straight years, if not 2, vs Texas in 05. 06 is another reset with Florida and OSU, who makes it back a 2nd year in a row vs LSU. Here we see OU is sort of the exception - in-and-out more than a 2-3 year peak.
Anyway, just something we all already kind of knew, but maybe more so than I'd realized.
Starting in 85:
OU-PSU
PSU-MIA
MIA-OU
MIA-ND
ND-MIA
-------
CU-GT
-------
MIA-UW
BAMA-MIA
---------
FSU-UNL
UNL-MIA
UNL-FLA
FLA-FSU
--------
UM-UNL
-------
TENN-FSU
FSU-VT
OU-FSU
--------
MIA-UNL
OSU-MIA
--------
LSU-OU / USC?
USC-OU
TEX-USC
----------
FLA-OSU
LSU-OSU
It sort of ends there, with a lot of Bama and Auburn intermittently next, with some Bama-Clemson lately.