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A national championship in the highest level of college football in the United States, currently the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), is a designation awarded annually by various organizations to their selection of the best college football team. Division I FBS football is the only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sport for which the NCAA does not host a yearly championship event. As such, it is sometimes referred to as a "mythical national championship".[2][3][4][5][6]

Quick Facts Sport, Founded ...
National championships
NCAA Division I FBS
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season
SportAmerican football
Founded1869; 155 years ago (1869)
First season1869
Organizing bodyCFP Administration, LLC[1]
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Michigan
(2023)
Most titlesPrinceton (28 titles)
Level on pyramid1
Related
competitions
Division I (FCS)
Official websitencaa.com/football/fbs
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Due to the lack of an official NCAA title, determining the nation's top college football team has often engendered controversy.[7] A championship team is independently declared by multiple individuals and organizations, often referred to as "selectors".[8] These choices are not always unanimous.[7] In 1969 even the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, made a selection by announcing, ahead of the season-ending "game of the century" between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 (AP) Arkansas, that the winner would receive a presidential plaque commemorating them as national champions despite the fact that Texas and Arkansas still had to play in a bowl game afterward.[9] Texas went on to win, 15–14.[9]

While the NCAA has never officially endorsed a championship team, it has documented the choices of some selectors in its official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records publication.[8][10] In addition, various analysts have independently published their own choices for each season. These opinions can often diverge with others as well as individual schools' claims to national titles, which may or may not correlate to the selections published elsewhere. Historically, the two most widely recognized national championship selectors are the Associated Press (AP), which conducts a poll of sportswriters, and the Coaches Poll, a survey of active members of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).[11][12][6]

Since 1992, various consortia of major bowl games have aimed to invite the top two teams at the end of the regular season (as determined by internal rankings, or aggregates of the major polls and other statistics) to compete in what is intended to be the de facto national championship game. The current iteration of this practice, the College Football Playoff, selects twelve teams to participate in a national first round or quarterfinals, with the final four teams advancing to the semifinals. The games of the quarterfinals and semifinals are hosted by all of the six partner bowl games, with the final two remaining teams advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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History

The Sun was among the first to publish year-end college football rankings

The concept of a national championship in college football dates to the early years of the sport in the late 19th century.[13] Some of the earliest contemporaneous rankings can be traced to Caspar Whitney in Harper's Weekly, J. Parmly Paret in Outing,[14] Charles Patterson,[15] and New York newspaper The Sun.[16]

"Football, however, is not a game where a great national championship is possible or desirable. The very nature of the sport would forbid anything like such a series of contests as are played in baseball."

Walter Camp, 1919[17]

Claimed intercollegiate championships were limited to various selections and rankings, as the nature of the developing and increasingly violent full-contact sport made it impossible to schedule a post-season tournament to determine an "official" or undisputed champion.[17] National championships in this era were well understood to be "mythical".[14]

Beyond rankings in newspaper columns, awards and trophies began to be presented to teams. In 1917 members of the 9–0 Georgia Tech squad were given gold footballs with the inscription "National Champions" by alumni at their post-season banquet.[18] The Veteran Athletes of Philadelphia put up the Bonniwell Trophy for the national championship in 1919[19] under the stipulation that it was only "to be awarded in such years as produces a team whose standing is so preeminent as to make its selection as champion of America beyond dispute." Notre Dame was the first to be awarded the trophy, in 1924.[20]

Professor Frank G. Dickinson of Illinois developed the first mathematical ranking system to be widely popularized. Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack F. Rissman donated a trophy for the system's national championship in 1926 onward, first awarded to Stanford prior to their tie with Alabama in the Rose Bowl. A curious Knute Rockne, then coach of Notre Dame, convinced Dickinson and Rissman to backdate the Rissman Trophy two seasons; thus Notre Dame is engraved on the trophy for 1924 and Dartmouth for 1925.[21] The Rissman Trophy was retired by Notre Dame's three wins in 1924, 1929, and 1930; the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy was put into competition for 1931 following the untimely death of the legendary coach. The popularity of the Dickinson System kicked off a succession of mathematical rankings carried in newspapers and magazines such as the Houlgate System, Azzi Ratem rankings, Dunkel Power Index, Williamson System, and Litkenhous Ratings.[14]

Two short-lived national championship trophies were contemporaries of the Dickinson System awards. The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy was won twice by Note Dame in 1929 and 1930, as voted by 250 sportswriters from around the country.[22][23] The large silver Erskine trophy was last awarded to USC on the field in Pasadena following their "national championship game" victory over Tulane in the 1932 Rose Bowl.[24] The Toledo Cup[25] was meant to be a long-running traveling trophy, but was promptly permanently retired by Minnesota's threepeat in 1934, 1935, and 1936.[26][27]

College football's foremost historian Parke H. Davis compiled a list of "National Champion Foot Ball Teams"[28] for the 1934 edition of Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide.[14] Davis selected national champions for each year dating back to college football's inaugural season in 1869, for which he selected the sole competitors Princeton and Rutgers as co-champions.[14] Similar retrospective analysis was undertaken in the 1940s by Bill Schroeder of the Helms Athletic Foundation and in Deke Houlgate's The Football Thesaurus in 1954.[29][14]

The Associated Press (AP) began polling sportswriters in 1936 to obtain rankings. Alan J. Gould, the creator of the AP Poll, named Minnesota, Princeton, and SMU co-champions in 1935, and polled writers the following year, which resulted in a national championship for Minnesota.[21] The AP's main competition, United Press (UP), created the first Coaches Poll in 1950. For that year and the next three, the AP and UP agreed on the national champion. The first "split" national championship between the major polls occurred in 1954, when the writers selected Ohio State and the coaches chose UCLA.[30] The two polls have disagreed 11 times since 1950.[30]

Both wire services originally conducted their final polls at the end of the regular season and prior to any bowl games being played.[14] This changed when the AP Poll champion was crowned after the bowls for 1965 and then in 1968 onward. The Coaches Poll began awarding post-bowl championships in 1974. National champions crowned by pre-bowl polls who subsequently lost their bowl game[31] offered an opportunity for other teams to claim the title based on different selectors' awards and rankings,[14] such as the post-bowl FWAA Grantland Rice Award[32] or Helms Athletic Foundation title.[33]

Post-bowl polls allowed for the possibility of a "national championship game" to finally settle the question on the gridiron.[34] But a number of challenges made it difficult to schedule even the season's top two teams to play in a single post-season bowl game,[35] let alone all of the deserving teams.[36] Calls for a college football playoff were frequently made by head coach Joe Paterno of Penn State, whose independent teams finished the 1968, 1969, and 1973 seasons unbeaten, untied, and with Orange Bowl victories yet were left without a single major national title.[37][38]

The 1980s were marked by a succession of satisfying national championship games in the Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl,[35] but the 1990s began with consecutive split AP Poll and Coaches Poll national titles in 1990 and 1991. The Bowl Coalition[39] and then Bowl Alliance[40] were formed to more reliably set up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in a bowl game on New Year's Day, but their efforts were hampered by the Rose Bowl's historic draw and contractual matchup between the Big Ten and Pac-10 conference champions.[40]

The Bowl Championship Series in 1998 succeeded in finally bringing the Big Ten and Pac-10 into the fold with the other conferences for a combined BCS National Championship Game rotated among the Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, and Rose bowls and venues.[21] BCS rankings originally incorporated the two major polls as well as a number of computer rankings to determine the end of season No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.[41] Although the BCS era did regularly produce compelling matchups, the winnowing selection of the top two teams resulted in many BCS controversies, most notably 2003's split national championship caused by the BCS rankings leaving USC, No. 1 in both human polls, out of the Sugar Bowl.[42] The BCS victors were annually awarded The Coaches' Trophy "crystal football" on the field immediately following the championship game.

In 2014 the College Football Playoff made its debut, facilitating a multi-game single-elimination tournament for the first time in college football history. Four teams are seeded by a 13–member selection committee rather than by existing polls or mathematical rankings.[43] The two semifinal games are rotated among the New Year's Six bowl games, and the final is played a week later. The competition awards its own national championship trophy.[44]

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NCAA records book

Although the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has never bestowed national championships in college football at the topmost level, it does maintain an official records book for the sport. The records book, with consultation from various college football historians,[45] contains a list of "major selectors"[8] of national championships from throughout the history of college football, along with their championship selections.[10]

Major selectors

While many people and organizations have named national champions throughout the years, the selectors below are listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book as being "major selectors" of national championships. The criterion for the NCAA's designation is that the poll or selector be "national in scope, either through distribution in newspaper, television, radio and/or computer online".[8] Former selectors, deemed instrumental in the sport of college football, and selectors that were included for the calculation of the BCS standing, are listed together.[8]

The NCAA records book divides its major selectors into three categories: those determined by mathematical formula, human polls, and historical research. The BCS is additionally categorized as a hybrid between math and polls, and the CFP as a playoff system.

Math

Many of the math selection systems were created during the 1920s and 1930s, beginning with Frank Dickinson's system, or during the dawn of the personal computer age in the 1990s. Selectors are listed below with years selected retroactively in italics.

Thumb
Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy, 1934–1962[46]
More information Selector, Name ...
Selector Name Seasons Trophy
A&HAnderson & Hester[n1 1]1997–present
ASAlderson System1994–1998
B(QPRS)Berryman (QPRS)1920–1989, 1990–2011
BRBillingsley Report[n1 2]1869–1969, 1970–2019
BSBoand System[47]1919–1929, 1930–1960Boand trophy[48]
CCRCongrove Computer Rankings1993–present
CMColley Matrix1992–present
CWCaspar Whitney1905–1907
DeSDeVold System1939–1944, 1945–2006
DiSDickinson System1924[49][50]–1940Rissman trophy (1924–1925, 1926–1930)
Rockne trophy (1931–1940)
DuSDunkel System1929–2019
ERSEck Ratings System1987–2005
HSHoulgate System1885–1926, 1927–1958[51]Foreman & Clark trophy[52][53]
LLitkenhous Ratings1934–1978, 1981–1984Litkenhous trophy[46] (1934–1962)
MCFRMassey College Football Ratings1995–present
MGRMatthews Grid Ratings1966–1972, 1974–2006
NYTThe New York Times1979–2004
PSPoling System1924–1934, 1935–1984
R(FACT)Rothman (FACT)1968–c.1970,[54] c.1971–2006
SRSagarin Ratings1919–1977, 1978–present
WWolfe1992–present[n1 3]
WSWilliamson System1932–1963
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Notes
  1. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book shows Anderson & Hester listed as "Seattle Times."
  2. The NCAA records books have contained four distinct sets of Billingsley Report national champions since the system's inclusion as a "major selector" in 1995. Billingsley made several changes to his system's formula over the years, most notably eliminating "Margin of Victory" as a BCS ranking component prior to the 2001 season. The details of the changes can be found at the system's dedicated article; all four sets of champions are included in the table below.
  3. Wolfe did not provide rankings for the 2020 season, stating that there were not "enough games played to allow meaningful analysis," due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[55]

Poll

The poll has been the dominant national champion selection method since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. The National Football Foundation merged its poll with UPI from 1991 to 1992, with USA Today from 1993 to 1996, and with the FWAA since 2014.

For many years, the national champions of various polls were selected before the annual bowl games were played, by AP (1936–1964 and 1966–1967), Coaches Poll (1950–1973), FWAA (1954), and NFF (1959–1970). In all other latter-day polls, champions were selected after bowl games.[56]:112–119

During the BCS era, the winner of the BCS Championship Game was automatically awarded the national championship of the Coaches Poll and the National Football Foundation.

Selectors are listed below with years selected retroactively in italics. Poll selections that constitute a "Consensus National Championship"[57] in 1950 or later, as designated by the NCAA, are listed in bold.[57]

More information Selector, Name ...
Selector Name Seasons Trophy
APAssociated Press1936–presentAssociated Press Trophy
  Williams Trophy (1941–1947)
  O'Donnell Trophy (1948–1956)
  Bryant Trophy (1957–1965)
  AP Trophy (1966–1977)[58]
  Bryant Trophy (1978–1989)
  AP Trophy (1990–present)
COACHES
  BRC
  UP
  UPI
  USAT/CNN
  USAT/ESPN
  USAT
AFCA Coaches Poll
  Blue Ribbon Commission
  United Press
  United Press International
  USA Today/CNN
  USA Today/ESPN
  USA Today
1950–present, 1922–1949
  1922–1949[n2 1]
  1950–1957[n2 2]
  1958–1990[n2 2]
  1991–1996[n2 3]
  1997–2004[n2 3]
  2005–present[n2 3]
United Press Cup (1956–1958)
UPI Trophy (1959–1985)
The Coaches' Trophy (1986–present)
CFRACollege Football Researchers Association1919–1981, 1982–1992, 2009–present
FNFootball News1958–2002
FWAA
  FWAA
  FWAA-NFF
Football Writers Association of America
  FWAA
  FWAA-NFF Super 16
1954–present
  1954–2013
  2014–present[n2 4]
Grantland Rice Award (1954–2013)
HICFPHarris Interactive2005–2013[n2 5]
HAFHelms Athletic Foundation1883–1940, 1941–1982[62]
INSInternational News Service1952–1957[n2 2]
NCFNational Championship Foundation1869–1979, 1980–2000
NFF
  NFF
  UPI/NFF
  USAT/NFF
  NFF
  FWAA-NFF
National Football Foundation
  NFF
  United Press International/NFF
  USA Today/NFF
  NFF
  FWAA-NFF Super 16
1959–present
  1959–1990
  1991–1992[n2 2]
  1993–1996[n2 3]
  1997–present[n2 6]
  2014–present[n2 4]
MacArthur Bowl[64]
SNSporting News1975–2006
TOP25
  USAT
  USAT/CNN
Top 25
  USA Today
  USA Today/CNN
1982–1990
  1982[n2 3]
  1983–1990[n2 3]
Top 25 trophy[65]
UPIUnited Press International1993–1995[n2 2]
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Notes
  1. At the request of several schools, the AFCA established a "Blue Ribbon Commission" in 2016 to begin retroactively selecting AFCA national champions and Coaches' Trophy winners for 1922 through 1949.[59] The trophy is awarded upon application by individual schools.[60] Championship selections and trophies have been awarded to TCU for 1935 and 1938, Texas A&M for 1939, and Oklahoma State for 1945.
  2. United Press first published their poll of coaches in 1950. International News Service published a separate poll between 1952 and 1957. In 1958 the two news agencies merged, and the Coaches Poll was published by United Press International from 1958 to 1990 until it was taken over by USA Today in 1991. UPI then published the National Football Foundation poll from 1991 to 1992 until it too was taken over by USA Today. Finally, UPI published a poll from 1993 to 1995 that was unaffiliated with either the Coaches Poll or NFF.
  3. USA Today published its own Top 25 college football poll when the national magazine launched in 1982. In 1983 the poll took on CNN as a voting and broadcast partner. In 1991 USA Today / CNN took over the Coaches Poll from UPI. Between 1993 and 1996 USA Today additionally published the National Football Foundation poll. USA Today has published the Coaches Poll since 1991, with partners CNN from 1991 to 1996 and ESPN from 1997 to 2004.
  4. Since the beginning of the College Football Playoff era in 2014, the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation have partnered to conduct the weekly FWAA-NFF Super 16 poll.[61] The final FWAA-NFF poll is taken at the end of the regular season with the intention of influencing the CFP Selection Committee's playoff team selections.[61] No poll is taken after the bowl games or CFP National Championship game and the FWAA-NFF poll does not award or name a national champion. The FWAA's Grantland Rice Award was retired following the 2013 season and the end of the BCS era.[61] The NFF's MacArthur Bowl is now awarded after the season to the CFP national champion.
  5. The Harris Interactive College Football Poll was contracted by the BCS to help formulate its standings. It did not conduct a final poll following the BCS National Championship Game or award or name a national champion on its own, so is not included in the table of national championship selections.[8]
  6. From 1998 to 2013, the MacArthur Bowl was presented to the Bowl Championship Series national champion.[63] Since 2014, it has been presented to the College Football Playoff national champion.[63]

Research

College football historian Parke H. Davis is the only selector considered by the NCAA to have primarily used research in his selections.[56]:117 Davis published his work in the 1934 edition of Spalding's Foot Ball Guide,[28] naming retroactive national champions for the years 1869 to 1932 while naming Michigan and Princeton (his alma mater) contemporary co-champions for the 1933 season. In all, he selected 94 teams over 61 seasons as "National Champion Foot Ball Teams".[28] For 21 of these teams (at 12 schools), he was the only major selector to choose them. Their schools use 17 of Davis' singular selections to claim national titles. His work has been criticized for having a heavy Eastern bias, with little regard for the South and the West Coast.[66]

More information Selector, Name ...
Selector Name Seasons Trophy
PDParke H. Davis1869–1932, 1933
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Hybrid

The Bowl Championship Series used a mathematical system that combined polls (Coaches and AP/Harris) and multiple computer rankings (including some individual selectors listed above) to determine a season ending matchup between its top two ranked teams in the BCS Championship Game. The champion of that game was contractually awarded the Coaches Poll and National Football Foundation championships.

More information Selector, Name ...
Selector Name Seasons Trophy
BCSBowl Championship Series1998–2013The Coaches' Trophy
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Playoff

Unlike all selectors prior to 2014, the College Football Playoff does not use math, polls or research to select the participants. Rather, a 13-member committee selects and seeds the teams.[67] The playoff system marked the first time any championship selector arranged a bracket competition to determine whom it would declare to be its champion.

More information Selector, Name ...
Selector Name Seasons Trophy
CFPCollege Football Playoff2014–presentCFP National Championship Trophy[44]
Close

Yearly national championship selections from major selectors

Below is a list of the national champions of college football since 1869 chosen by NCAA-designated "major selectors" listed in the official Football Bowl Subdivision Records publication.[8]

Many teams did not have coaches as late as 1899. The first contemporaneous poll to include teams across the country and selection of a national champions can be traced to Caspar Whitney in 1901.[15] The tie was removed from college football in 1995 and the last consensus champion with a tie in its record was Georgia Tech in 1990.

As designated by the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records publication:

A letter next to any season, team, record, coach or selector indicates a footnote that appears at the bottom of the table.

More information Season, Champion(s) ...
Season Champion(s) Record Coach Selector
1869Princeton1–1BR, NCF, PD
Rutgers1–1PD
1870Princeton1–0BR, NCF, PD
1871NoneNo games played
1872Princeton1–0BR, NCF, PD
Yale1–0PD
1873Princeton2–0BR, NCF, PD
1874Harvard1–1PD
Princeton2–0BR, PD
Yale3–0NCF, PD
1875Columbia4–1–1PD
Harvard4–0NCF, PD
Princeton2–0BR, PD
1876Yale3–0BR, NCF, PD
1877Princeton2–0–1BR, PD
Yale3–0–1BR,[68] NCF, PD
1878Princeton6–0Woodrow Wilson[28]BR, NCF, PD
1879Princeton4–0–1BR, NCF, PD
Yale3–0–2PD
1880Princeton4–0–1NCF, PD
Yale4–0–1BR, NCF, PD
1881Princeton7–0–2BR, PD
Yale5–0–1NCF, PD
1882Yale8–0BR, NCF, PD
1883Yale9–0BR, HAF, NCF, PD
1884Princeton9–0–1BR, PD
Yale8–0–1BR,[68] HAF, NCF, PD
1885Princeton9–0BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1886Princeton7–0–1BR, PD
Yale9–0–1BR,[68] HAF, NCF, PD
1887Yale9–0BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1888Yale13–0Walter CampBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1889Princeton10–0BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1890Harvard11–0George C. Adams, George A. StewartBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1891Yale13–0Walter CampBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1892Yale13–0Walter CampBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1893Princeton11–0BR, HAF, HS, NCF
Yale10–1William RhodesPD
1894Penn12–0George Washington WoodruffPD
Princeton8–2HS
Yale16–0William RhodesBR, HAF, NCF, PD
1895Penn14–0George Washington WoodruffBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Yale13–0–2John A. HartwellPD
1896Lafayette11–0–1Parke H. DavisNCF, PD
Princeton10–0–1Franklin MorseBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1897Penn15–0George Washington WoodruffBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Yale9–0–2Frank ButterworthPD
1898Harvard11–0William Cameron ForbesBR, HAF, HS, NCF
Princeton11–0–1PD
1899Harvard10–0–1Benjamin DibbleeBR,[68] HAF, HS, NCF
Princeton12–1BR, PD
1900Yale12–0Malcolm McBrideBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1901Harvard12–0Bill ReidBR, PDa[28]
Michigan11–0Fielding H. YostBR,[68] HAF, HS, NCF
1902Michigan11–0Fielding H. YostBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Yale11–0–1Joseph Rockwell SwanPD
1903Michigan11–0–1Fielding H. YostBR,[68] NCF
Princeton11–0Art HillebrandBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1904Michigan10–0Fielding H. YostBR,[68] NCF
Minnesota13–0Henry WilliamsBR
Penn12–0Carl S. WilliamsHAF, HS, NCF, PD
1905Chicago10–0Amos Alonzo StaggBR, HAF, HS, NCF
Yale10–0Jack OwsleyCW, PD
1906Princeton9–0–1Bill RoperHAF, NCF
Vanderbilt8–1Dan McGuginBR[68]
Yale9–0–1Foster RockwellBR, CW, PD
1907Penn11–1Carl S. WilliamsBR[68]
Yale9–0–1William F. KnoxBR, CW, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1908Harvard9–0–1Percy HaughtonBR
LSU10–0Edgar WingardNCF
Penn11–0–1Sol MetzgerBR,[68] HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1909Yale10–0Howard JonesBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1910Auburn6–1Mike DonahueBR[68]
Harvard8–0–1Percy HaughtonBR, HAF, HS, NCF
Michigan3–0–3Fielding H. YostBR[69]
Pittsburgh9–0Joseph H. ThompsonNCF
NonePD[28]
1911Minnesota6–0–1Henry L. WilliamsBR
Penn State8–0–1Bill HollenbackNCF
Princeton8–0–2Bill RoperBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Vanderbilt8–1Dan McGuginBR[68]
1912Harvard9–0Percy HaughtonBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Penn State8–0Bill HollenbackNCF
Wisconsin7–0William JuneauBR[68]
1913Auburn8–0Mike DonahueBR
Chicago7–0Amos Alonzo StaggBR, PD
Harvard9–0Percy HaughtonHAF, HS, NCF, PD
1914Army9–0Charles DalyHAF, HS, NCF, PD
Illinois7–0Robert ZuppkeBR, PD
Texas8–0Dave AllerdiceBR
1915Cornell9–0Albert SharpeHAF, HS, NCF, PD
Minnesota6–0–1Henry L. WilliamsBR
Nebraska8–0Ewald O. StiehmBR[68]
Oklahoma10–0Bennie OwenBR
Pittsburgh8–0Glenn "Pop" WarnerPD
1916Army9–0Charles DalyPD
Georgia Tech8–0–1John HeismanBR
Pittsburgh8–0Glenn "Pop" WarnerBR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
1917Georgia Tech9–0John HeismanBR, HAF, HS, NCF
1918Michigan5–0Fielding H. YostBR, NCF
Pittsburgh4–1Glenn "Pop" WarnerHAF, HS, NCF
1919Centre9–0Charley MoranSR
Harvard9–0–1Bob FisherCFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PD
Illinois6–1Robert ZuppkeBR, BS, CFRA, PD, SR
Notre Dame9–0Knute RockneNCF, PD
Texas A&M10–0Dana X. BibleBR, NCF
1920California9–0Andy SmithCFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, SR
Georgia8–0–1Herman StegemanB(QPRS)
Harvard8–0–1Bob FisherBS
Notre Dame9–0Knute RockneBR, PD
Princeton6–0–1Bill RoperBS, PD
1921California9–0–1Andy SmithBR, BS, CFRA, SR
Cornell8–0Gil DobieHAF, HS, NCF, PD
Iowa7–0Howard JonesBR, PD
Lafayette9–0Jock SutherlandBS, PD
Vanderbilt7–0–1Dan McGuginB(QPRS)
Washington & Jefferson10–0–1Greasy NealeBS
1922California9–0Andy SmithBR, HS, NCF, SR
Cornell8–0Gil DobieHAF, PD
Iowa7–0Howard JonesBR
Princeton8–0Bill RoperBS, CFRA, NCF, PD, SR
Vanderbilt8–0–1Dan McGuginB(QPRS)
1923California9–0–1Andy SmithHS
Cornell8–0Gil DobieSR
Illinois8–0Robert ZuppkeBS, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PD, SR, B(QPRS)
Michigan8–0Fielding H. YostBR, NCF
Yale8–0Tad JonesB(QPRS)
1924Notre Dame10–0Knute RockneBR, BS, CFRA, DiS,[50] HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
Penn9–1–1Lou YoungPD
1925Alabama10–0Wallace WadeBR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
Dartmouth8–0Jesse HawleyDiS,[49] PD
Michigan7–1Fielding H. YostSR
1926Alabama9–0–1Wallace WadeBR, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PS, B(QPRS)
Lafayette9–0Herb McCrackenPD
Michigan7–1Fielding H. YostSR
Navy9–0–1Bill IngramBS, HS
Stanford10–0–1Glenn "Pop" WarnerDiS, HAF,[62] NCF, SR
1927Georgia9–1George Cecil WoodruffBS, PS, B(QPRS)
Illinois7–0–1Robert ZuppkeBR, DiS, HAF, NCF, PD
Notre Dame7–1–1Knute RockneHS
Texas A&M8–0–1Dana X. BibleSR
Yale7–1Thomas JonesBS,[47] CFRA
1928Detroit9–0Gus DoraisPD
Georgia Tech10–0William AlexanderBR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS,[70][51] NCF, PD, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
USC9–0–1Howard JonesDiS, SR
1929Notre Dame9–0Knute RockneBR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, NCF, PS, SR
Pittsburgh9–1Jock SutherlandPD
USC10–2Howard JonesHS,[70][51] SR, B(QPRS)
1930Alabama10–0Wallace WadeCFRA, PD, SR, B(QPRS)
Notre Dame10–0Knute RockneBR, BS, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS
1931Pittsburgh8–1Jock SutherlandPD
Purdue9–1Noble KizerPD
USC10–1Howard JonesBR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
1932Colgate9–0Andrew KerrPD
Michigan8–0Harry KipkeDiS, PD, SR
USC10–0Howard JonesBR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, WS, B(QPRS)
1933Michigan7–0–1Harry KipkeBR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
Ohio State7–1Sam WillamanDuS
Princeton9–0Fritz CrislerPD
USC10–1–1Howard JonesWS
1934[28]Alabama10–0Frank ThomasBR,[68] DuS, HS,[70][51] PS, WS, B(QPRS)
Minnesota8–0Bernie BiermanBR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, L, NCF, SR
1935[71]Minnesota8–0Bernie BiermanBR, BS, CFRA, HAF, L, NCF, PS
Princeton9–0Fritz CrislerDuS
SMU12–1Matty BellDiS, HS, SR, B(QPRS)
TCU12–1Dutch MeyerBRC,[72] WSl[73]
1936[74]Duke9–1Wallace WadeB(QPRS)
LSU9–1–1Bernie MooreSR
Minnesota7–1Bernie BiermanAP, BR, DiS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, WSm[75]
Pittsburgh8–1–1Jock SutherlandBS, CFRA, HS
1937California10–0–1Stub AllisonDuS, HAF, WSn[76]
Pittsburgh9–0–1Jock SutherlandAP, BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, B(QPRS)
1938Notre Dame8–1Elmer LaydenDiS
TCU11–0Dutch MeyerAP, BRC,[77] HAF, NCF, WSo[78]
Tennessee11–0Robert NeylandB(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HS, L, PS, SR, WSo[78]
1939Cornell8–0Carl SnavelyBR,[69] L, SR
Texas A&M11–0Homer NortonAP, BR, BRC,[79] BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, WS, B(QPRS)
USC8–0–2Howard JonesDiS
1940Minnesota8–0Bernie BiermanAP, B(QPRS), BR,[68] BS, CFRA, DeS, DiS, HS, L, NCF, SR
Stanford10–0Clark ShaughnessyBR, HAF, PS, WSp[80]
Tennessee10–1Robert NeylandDuS
1941Alabama9–2Frank ThomasHS
Minnesota8–0Bernie BiermanAP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR
Texas8–1–1Dana X. BibleB(QPRS), WS
1942Georgia11–1Wally ButtsB(QPRS), BR, DeS, HS, L, PS, SR, WS
Ohio State9–1Paul BrownAP, BR,[68] BS, DuS, CFRA, NCF
Wisconsin8–1–1Harry StuhldreherHAF
1943Notre Dame9–1Frank LeahyAP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
1944Army9–0Earl BlaikAP, B(QPRS), BR,q[81] BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
Ohio State9–0Carroll WiddoesBR,q[81] NCF, SR
1945Alabama10–0Frank ThomasNCF
Army9–0Earl BlaikAP, B(QPRS), BR,q[81] BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
Oklahoma A&M9–0Jim LookabaughBRC[82]
1946Army9–0–1Earl BlaikBR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, PS
Georgia11–0Wally ButtsWS
Notre Dame8–0–1Frank LeahyAP, B(QPRS), BR,[68] BS, DeS, DuS, HAF,[62] L, NCF, PS, SR
1947Michigan10–0Fritz CrislerB(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF,[62] HS, L, NCF, PS, SR
Notre Dame9–0Frank LeahyAP, HAF, WS
1948Michigan9–0Bennie OosterbaanAP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
1949Notre Dame10–0Frank LeahyAP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
Oklahoma11–0Bud WilkinsonBR,[68] CFRA
1950Kentucky11–1Paul "Bear" BryantSR
Oklahoma10–1Bud WilkinsonAP, B(QPRS), HAF, L, UP, WS
Princeton9–0Charley CaldwellBS, PS
Tennessee11–1Robert NeylandBR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HS,[51] NCF, SR
1951[83]Georgia Tech11–0–1Bobby DoddB(QPRS), BS, HS[51]
Illinois9–0–1Ray EliotBS
Maryland10–0Jim TatumBR,[68] CFRA, DeS, DuS, NCF, SR
Michigan State9–0Biggie MunnBR, HAF, PS
Tennessee10–1Robert NeylandAP, L, UP, WS
1952[84]Georgia Tech12–0Bobby DoddB(QPRS), BR, HS,[51] INS, PS, SR
Michigan State9–0Biggie MunnAP, BR,[68] BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, SR, UP, WS
1953[85]Maryland10–1Jim TatumAP, INS, UP
Notre Dame9–0–1Frank LeahyBR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS,[51] L, NCF, PS, SR, WS
Oklahoma9–1–1Bud WilkinsonB(QPRS), CFRA
1954[86]Ohio State10–0Woody HayesAP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, HAF,[62] HS,[51] INS, NCF, PS, SR, WS
UCLA9–0Henry SandersBR,[68] CFRA, DuS, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, UP
1955[87]Michigan State9–1Duffy DaughertyBS
Oklahoma11–0Bud WilkinsonAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, HS,[51] INS, L, NCF, PS, SR, UP, WS
1956[88]Georgia Tech10–1Bobby DoddB(QPRS), HS,[51] SR
Iowa9–1Forest EvashevskiCFRA
Oklahoma10–0Bud WilkinsonAP, BR, BS, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, INS, L, NCF, PS,[89] SR, UP, WS
Tennessee10–1Bowden WyattSR
1957[90]Auburn10–0Ralph JordanAP, BR, CFRA, HAF, HS,[51] NCF, PS, SR, WS
Michigan State8–1Duffy DaughertyBR,[68] DuS
Ohio State9–1Woody HayesBS, DeS, FWAA, INS, L, UP
Oklahoma10–1Bud WilkinsonB(QPRS)
1958[91]Iowa8–1–1Forest EvashevskiFWAA
LSU11–0Paul DietzelAP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, HS,[51] L, NCF, PS, SR, UPI, WS
1959[92]Ole Miss10–1Johnny VaughtB(QPRS), BR,[68] DuS, SR
Syracuse11–0Ben SchwartzwalderAP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS
1960[6]Iowa8–1Forest EvashevskiB(QPRS), BR,[68] BS, L, SR
Minnesota8–2Murray WarmathAP, FN, NFF, UPI
Ole Miss10–0–1Johnny VaughtBR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, NCF, WS
Missouri11–0rDan DevinePS
Washington10–1Jim OwensHAF
1961[93]Alabama11–0Paul "Bear" BryantAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI, WS
Ohio State8–0–1Woody HayesFWAA, PS
1962[94]Alabama10–1Paul "Bear" BryantBR[68]
LSU9–1–1Charles McClendonB(QPRS)
Ole Miss10–0Johnny VaughtBR, L, SR
USC11–0John McKayAP, B(QPRS), CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, UPI, WS
1963[95]Texas11–0Darrell RoyalAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS
1964[96]Alabama10–1Paul "Bear" BryantAP, B(QPRS), L, UPI
Arkansas11–0Frank BroylesBR, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, PS, SR
Michigan9–1Bump ElliottDuS
Notre Dame9–1Ara ParseghianDeS, FN, NFF
1965[97]Alabama9–1–1Paul "Bear" BryantAP, BR,[68] CFRA, FWAA, NCF
Michigan State10–1Duffy DaughertyB(QPRS), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NFF, PS, SR, UPI
1966[98]Alabama11–0Paul "Bear" BryantB(QPRS), SR
Michigan State9–0–1Duffy DaughertyCFRA, HAF, NFF, PS
Notre Dame9–0–1Ara ParseghianAP, BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI
1967[99]Notre Dame8–2Ara ParseghianDuS
Oklahoma10–1Chuck FairbanksPS
USC10–1John McKayAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI
Tennessee9–2Doug DickeyL
1968[100]Georgia8–1–2Vince DooleyL
Ohio State10–0Woody HayesAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI
Texas9–1–1Darrell RoyalDeS, MGR, SR
1969[101]Ohio State8–1Woody HayesMGR
Penn State11–0Joe PaternoR(FACT), SR
Texas11–0Darrell RoyalAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI
1970[102]Arizona State11–0Frank KushPS
Nebraska11–0–1Bob DevaneyAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, R(FACT), SR
Notre Dame10–1Ara ParseghianMGR, R(FACT), SR
Ohio State9–1Woody HayesNFF
Texas10–1Darrell RoyalB(QPRS), L, NFF, R(FACT), UPI
1971[103]Nebraska13–0Bob DevaneyAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI
1972[104]USC12–0John McKayAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI
1973[105]Alabama11–1Paul "Bear" BryantB(QPRS), L,[106] UPI
Michigan10–0–1Bo SchembechlerNCF, PS
Notre Dame11–0Ara ParseghianAP, BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF
Ohio State10–0–1Woody HayesNCF, PS, R(FACT), SR
Oklahoma10–0–1Barry SwitzerBR,[107] CFRA, DeS, DuS, SR
1974[108]Ohio State10–2Woody HayesMGR
Oklahoma11–0Barry SwitzerAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, PS, R(FACT), SR
USC10–1–1John McKayFWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, UPI
1975[109]Alabama11–1Paul "Bear" BryantMGR
Arizona State12–0Frank KushNCF, SN
Ohio State11–1Woody HayesB(QPRS), HAF, L,[110] MGR, PS, R(FACT)
Oklahoma11–1Barry SwitzerAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SR, UPI
1976Michigan10–2Bo SchembechlerL[111]
Pittsburgh12–0Johnny MajorsAP, BR,[107] FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
USC11–1John RobinsonB(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, MGR
1977Alabama11–1Paul "Bear" BryantCFRA
Arkansas11–1Lou HoltzR(FACT)
Notre Dame11–1Dan DevineAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
Texas11–1Fred AkersB(QPRS), L,[112] R(FACT), SR
1978Alabama11–1Paul "Bear" BryantAP, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R(FACT)
Oklahoma11–1Barry SwitzerBR,[107] DeS, DuS, HAF, L, MGR, PS, R(FACT), SR
USC12–1John RobinsonB(QPRS), BR, FN, HAF, NCF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
1979Alabama12–0Paul "Bear" BryantAP, B(QPRS), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
USC11–0–1John RobinsonCFRA
1980Florida State10–2Bobby BowdenR(FACT)
Georgia12–0Vince DooleyAP, B(QPRS), BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
Nebraska10–2Tom OsborneR(FACT)
Oklahoma10–2Barry SwitzerBR,[107] DuS, MGR
Pittsburgh11–1Jackie SherrillCFRA, DeS, NYT, R(FACT), SR
1981[113]Clemson12–0Danny FordAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI
Nebraska9–3Tom OsborneNCF
Penn State10–2Joe PaternoDuS
Pittsburgh11–1Jackie SherrillNCF
SMU10–1Ron MeyerNCF
Texas10–1–1Fred AkersNCF
1982[114]Nebraska12–1Tom OsborneB(QPRS), L[115]
Penn State11–1Joe PaternoAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT
SMU11–0–1Bobby CollinsHAF
1983[116]Auburn11–1Pat DyeBR, CFRA, NYT, R(FACT), SR
Miami (FL)11–1Howard SchnellenbergerAP, BR,[107] DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN, UPI, USAT/CNN
Nebraska12–1Tom OsborneB(QPRS), DeS, L, MGR, PS, R(FACT), SR
1984[117]BYU13–0LaVell EdwardsAP, BR, CFRA, FWAA, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN
Florida9–1–1Galen HallBR,[107] DeS, DuS, MGR, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR
Nebraska10–2Tom OsborneL
Washington11–1Don JamesB(QPRS), FN, NCF
1985[118]Florida9–1–1Galen HallSR
Michigan10–1–1Bo SchembechlerMGR
Oklahoma11–1Barry SwitzerAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, UPI, USAT/CNN
1986[119]Miami (FL)11–1Jimmy JohnsonR(FACT)
Oklahoma11–1Barry SwitzerBR,[107] B(QPRS), CFRA, DeS, DuS, NYT, SR
Penn State12–0Joe PaternoAP, BR,[107] FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN
1987[120]Florida State11–1Bobby BowdenB(QPRS)
Miami (FL)12–0Jimmy JohnsonAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN
1988[121]Miami (FL)11–1Jimmy JohnsonB(QPRS)
Notre Dame12–0Lou HoltzAP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN
1989[122]Florida State10–2Bobby BowdenBR[107]
Miami (FL)11–1Dennis EricksonAP, BR,[107] CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, UPI, USAT/CNN
Notre Dame12–1Lou HoltzB(QPRS), ERS, R(FACT), SR
1990[123]Colorado11–1–1Bill McCartneyAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, USAT/CNN
Georgia Tech11–0–1Bobby RossDuS, NCF, R(FACT), SR, UPI
Miami (FL)10–2Dennis EricksonBR,[107] ERS, NYT, R(FACT), SR
Washington10–2Don JamesR(FACT)
1991[124]Miami (FL)12–0Dennis EricksonAP, BR, CFRA, ERS, NCF, NYT, SN, SR
Washington12–0Don JamesB(QPRS), BR,[107] DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, R(FACT), SR, UPI/NFF, USAT/CNN
1992[125]Alabama13–0Gene StallingsAP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI/NFF, USAT/CNN
Florida State11–1Bobby BowdenSR
1993[126]Auburn11–0Terry BowdenNCF
Florida State12–1Bobby BowdenAP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR,[127] DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN, USAT/NFF
Nebraska11–1Tom OsborneNCF
Notre Dame11–1Lou HoltzMGR, NCF
1994[128]Florida State10–1–1Bobby BowdenDuS
Nebraska13–0Tom OsborneAP, AS, B(QPRS), BR,[107] FN, FWAA, NCF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN, USAT/NFF
Penn State12–0Joe PaternoBR,[107] CCR,[129] DeS, ERS, MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SR
1995[107]Nebraska12–0Tom OsborneAP, AS, B(QPRS), BR, CCR,[130] DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR,[131] MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN
1996[68]Florida12–1Steve SpurrierAP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR,[132] DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR,[131] MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/CNN
Florida State11–1Bobby BowdenAS
1997[133]Michigan12–0Lloyd CarrAP, BR, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN
Nebraska13–0Tom OsborneA&H, AS, B(QPRS), BR, CCR,[134] DeS, DuS, ERS, MCFR,[131] MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SR, USAT/ESPN
1998[135]Tennessee13–0Phillip FulmerA&H, AP, AS, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN
1999[136]Florida State12–0Bobby BowdenA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN
2000[69]Miami (FL)11–1Butch DavisNYT
Oklahoma13–0Bob StoopsA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN
2001[137]Miami (FL)12–0Larry CokerA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN, W
2002[138]Ohio State14–0Jim TresselA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN, W
USC11–2Pete CarrollDuS, MGR, SR
2003[139]LSU13–1Nick SabanA&H, BCS, BR, CM, DeS, DuS, MCFR, NFF, R(FACT), SR, USAT/ESPN, W
Oklahoma12–2Bob StoopsB(QPRS)
USC12–1Pete CarrollAP, CCR,e[140] ERS, FWAA, MGR, NYT, SN
2004[141]USCb11–0cPete CarrollA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, MCFR, MGR, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, W
VacatedbBCS, FWAA, USAT/ESPN
2005[142]Texas13–0Mack BrownA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT, W
2006[143]Florida13–1Urban MeyerA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT, W
Ohio State12–1Jim TresselDeS,f[144] R(FACT)g[145]
2007[146]LSU12–2Les MilesAP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
Missouri12–2Gary PinkelA&Hj[147]
USC11–2Pete CarrollDuSd[148]
2008[149]Florida13–1Urban MeyerAP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT
Utah13–0Kyle WhittinghamA&H, Wh[150]
2009[151]Alabama14–0Nick SabanA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
2010[152]Auburn14–0Gene ChizikA&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
TCU13–0Gary PattersonCCR
2011[153]Alabama12–1Nick SabanAP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CFRA, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
LSU13–1Les MilesA&H,k[154] CCRi[155]
Oklahoma State12–1Mike GundyCM
2012[156]Alabama13–1Nick SabanA&H, AP, BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
Notre Dame12–1Brian KellyCM
2013[157]Florida State14–0Jimbo FisherA&H, AP, BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W
2014[158]Ohio State14–1Urban MeyerA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2015[159]Alabama14–1Nick SabanA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2016[160]Alabama14–1Nick SabanCM
Clemson14–1Dabo SwinneyA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2017[161]Alabama13–1Nick SabanA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
UCF13–0Scott FrostCM
2018[162]Clemson15–0Dabo SwinneyA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2019[163]LSU15–0Ed OrgeronA&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2020[164]Alabama13–0Nick SabanA&H, AP, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT
2021[165]Georgia14–1Kirby SmartA&H, AP, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2022[166]Georgia15–0Kirby SmartA&H, AP, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT, W
2023[167]Michigan15–0Jim HarbaughA&H,[168] AP,[169] CCR,[170] CFP,[171] CFRA,[172] CM,[173] NFF,[174] MCFR,[175] SR,[176] USAT[177]
Close

aParke H. Davis' selection for 1901, as published in the 1934 edition of Spalding's Foot Ball Guide, was Harvard.[28] The NCAA Records Book states "Yale" for 1901, which is an error that has been perpetuated since the first appearance of Parke H. Davis' selections in the 1994 NCAA records book.[128]
bThe FWAA stripped USC of its 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy and vacated the selection of its national champion for 2004. The BCS also vacated USC's participation in the 2005 Orange Bowl and USC's 2004 BCS National Championship, and the AFCA Coaches Poll Coaches' Trophy was returned.[178][179]
cRecord does not count wins against UCLA, or against Oklahoma in the BCS Championship game on January 4, 2005, as they were vacated by the NCAA.[180]
dThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Dunkel as having selected LSU,[10] while Dunkel's official website gave USC as its 2007 selection.[148]
eThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists CCR as having selected LSU,[10] while CCR's official website gives USC as its 2003 selection.[140]
fThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists DeVold (DeS) as having selected Florida,[10] while DeVold's official website gives Ohio State as its 2006 selection.[144]
gThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists R(FACT) as having selected Florida,[10] while R(FACT)'s official website gives co-champions Ohio State and Florida as its 2006 selection.[145]
hThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Wolfe as having selected Florida,[10] while Wolfe's official website gives Utah as its 2008 selection.[150]
iThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists CCR as having selected Alabama,[10] while CCR's official website gives LSU as its 2011 selection.[155]
jThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Anderson & Hester (A&H) as having selected LSU,[10] while A&H's official website gives Missouri as its 2007 selection.[147]
kThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Anderson & Hester (A&H) as having selected Alabama,[10] while A&H's official website gives LSU as its 2011 selection.[154]
lThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Williamson System as having selected TCU and LSU as co-champions for 1935. However the system's post-bowl final rankings published in January 1936 show TCU first, SMU second, and LSU third.[73] The accompanying column written by Paul B. Williamson states "There was no undisputable national champion in 1935".[73]
mThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Williamson System as having selected LSU in 1936. However the system's post-bowl final rankings show Minnesota first and LSU fourth.[75]
nThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Williamson System as having selected Pittsburgh in 1937. However the system's post-bowl final rankings show California first and Pittsburgh second.[76]
oThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Williamson System as having selected TCU alone in 1938. However the system's post-bowl final rankings show a tie between TCU and Tennessee.[78]
pThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Williamson System as having selected Tennessee in 1940. However the system's post-bowl final rankings show Stanford first and Tennessee sixth.[80]
qThe NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists the Billingsley Report as having selected Army in 1944 and Ohio State and Army in 1945. According to Billingsley's official website, these selection years are reversed.[81]
rKansas' 1960 defeat of Missouri was overturned by the Big Eight Conference on December 8 (ineligible player). The reversal erased the only loss on Missouri's record.[181]

Total championship selections from major selectors by school

The national title count listed below is a culmination of all championship awarded since 1869, regardless of "consensus"[57] or non-consensus status, as listed in the table above according to the selectors deemed to be "major"[8] as listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records.[10]

The totals can be said to be disputed. Individual schools may claim national championships not accounted for by the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records or may not claim national championship selections that do appear in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (see National championship claims by school below).

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Major polls

Thumb
Map of U.S. college football champions, 1936–2019

National championship selectors came to be dominated by two competing news agencies in the later half of the 20th century: the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI).[12]

These wire services began ranking college football teams in weekly polls, which were then promptly published in the sports sections of each agency's subscribing newspapers across the country. The team ranking No. 1 in each agency's final poll of the season was awarded that agency's national championship.

National championships are often stated to be "consensus" when the two major polls are in agreement with their selections.[182]

AP Poll

The Associated Press (AP) college football poll has a long history. The news media began running their own polls of sports writers to determine who was, by popular opinion, the best football team in the country at the end of the season. One of the earliest such polls was the AP College Football Poll, first run in 1934 (compiled and organized by Charles Woodroof, former SEC Assistant Director of Media Relations, but not recognized in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records) and then continuously from 1936. The first major nationwide poll for ranking college football teams, the Associated Press is probably the most well-known and widely circulated among all of history's polls.[183] Due to the long-standing historical ties between individual college football conferences and high-paying bowl games like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl, the NCAA has never held a tournament or championship game to determine the champion of what is now the highest division, NCAA Division I, Football Bowl Subdivision (the Division I, Football Championship Subdivision and lower divisions do hold championship tournaments). As a result, the public and the media began to take the leading vote-getter in the final AP Poll as the national champion for that season.

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AP National Championship Trophy c.1997

In the AP Poll's early years, the final poll of sportswriters was taken prior to any bowl games and sometimes even prior to the top teams' final games of the regular season.[184][185] In 1938, the poll was extended for one week[184] after Notre Dame, No. 1 in the scheduled "final" poll,[186] subsequently lost to rival USC.[184]

Following the 1947 season the AP held a special post-bowl poll[187] with only two teams on the ballot, Notre Dame and Michigan, but stated that the result would not supersede that of the final poll conducted following the end of the regular season.[187][188] The rivals, both unbeaten and untied, had been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the final poll. January voters were impressed by Michigan's 49–0 win over common opponent USC in the Rose Bowl and elevated the Wolverines above the Irish in the special post-bowl poll.[188]

The AP champion would lose its bowl game five times, following the 1950, 1951, 1953, 1960, and 1964 seasons.[31]

In 1965 the AP decided to delay the season's final poll until after New Year's Day, citing the proliferation of bowl games and the involvement of eight of the poll's current top ten teams in post-season play.[189][190] In the next season, 1966, neither of the top two teams (Notre Dame and Michigan State) were attending bowl games so no post-bowl poll was taken,[191] even after two-time defending AP national champion No. 3 Alabama won the Sugar Bowl and finished the season unbeaten and untied. In 1967 the final poll crowning USC national champion was taken before No. 2 Tennessee or No. 3 Oklahoma had even played their final games of the regular season,[185] and well before those two teams met in the Orange Bowl.

In 1968 the final poll was again delayed until after the bowl games so that No. 1 Ohio State could meet No. 2 USC in a "dream match" in the Rose Bowl.[34] Every subsequent season's final AP Poll would be released after the bowl games. UPI did not follow suit until the 1974 season;[192] in the overlapping years, the Coaches Poll champion lost their bowl game in 1965, 1970, and 1973. The AP's earlier move to crown a post-bowl champion paid off, as in all three years the losing team had also been the No. 1 team in the pre-bowl penultimate AP rankings.

The AP Poll was used as a component of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) computer ranking formula starting in 1998, but without any formal agreement in place like the contract made between the BCS and the Coaches Poll.[42] For the 2003 season the AP Poll caused a split national title and BCS controversy when it awarded its national championship to No. 1 USC instead of BCS champion LSU.[42] In December 2004 the AP opted out of the BCS formula, requesting that the BCS "discontinue its unauthorized use of the AP poll as a component of BCS rankings", in response to three AP voters from Texas elevating Texas above California into the Rose Bowl in the last regular season AP Poll.[42]

In the College Football Playoff era, the Associated Press has continued to award the AP Trophy to the No. 1 team in the final AP Poll. AP rankings are not incorporated in the CFP selection committee's seeding, and voting AP sportswriters are not obligated to award their title to the winner of the CFP national championship game.[43] In 2015 the Associated Press's global sports editor stated that "it is not out of the realm of possibility that a team could win the AP national championship without winning the College Football Playoff's national championship", although that scenario has yet to occur.[43]

Coaches Poll

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The AFCA National Championship Trophy

News agency United Press (UP), the main competitor to the Associated Press, began conducting its own college football ratings during the 1950 season.[193] The wire service came to be known as United Press International (UPI) following a merger with International News Service in 1958.

The weekly ranking was a joint polling effort between the news agency and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), with UP/UPI sports writers gathering and tabulating the coaches' votes and publishing the results in newspapers across the nation.[194]

The UP/UPI rankings were originally conducted by polling 35 of the nation's college football coaches.[193] The coaches were chosen to represent every major football conference, with 5 coaches from each of 7 regions, in an apparent effort to combat the perceived East Coast bias of the rival AP Poll's constituent sports writers.

Their votes will provide the only football rating based on the opinion of the men who know the sport best. The nature of the board, giving each section of the country equal representation, avoids the sectional bias and ballot box stuffing for which other football polls have been criticized.

United Press Football Ratings announcement, September 1950[193]

Each season's final Coaches Poll was initially published following the regular season and did not take bowl game results into account; the UP/UPI national champion lost its bowl game 8 times between 1950 and 1973. Since the 1974 season the poll has awarded its national championship following the postseason bowls.[195] That same year the AFCA voted to thereafter not rank any team currently under NCAA or conference-sanctioned probation.[195][196]

Following the decline of UPI in the 1980s, the AFCA ended their 42-year relationship with the wire service in 1991.[197][194] The Coaches Poll continued, with new sponsorship and distribution partners, as the USA Today/CNN poll (1991–1996), USA Today/ESPN poll (1997–2004) and USA Today poll (2005–present).

The Bowl Championship Series included the Coaches Poll as a major factor in its ranking formula.[198] In return, voting AFCA members were contractually obligated to award their Coaches Poll national championship selections to the winner of the BCS National Championship Game. Lacking its own dedicated trophy, the BCS champion was awarded The Coaches' Trophy on the field immediately following the game.

Poll era national championships by school (1936–present)

The following table contains the national championships that have been recognized by the final AP or Coaches Poll. Originally both the AP and Coaches poll champions were crowned after the regular season, but since 1968 and 1974 respectively, both polls crown their champions after the bowl games are completed (with the exception of the 1965 season). The BCS champion was automatically awarded the Coaches Poll championship. Of the current 120+ Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly Division I-A) schools, only 30 have won at least a share of a national title by the AP or Coaches poll. Of these 30 teams, only 20 teams have won multiple titles. Of the 20 teams, only 7 have won five or more national titles: Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, Miami (FL), Nebraska, and Ohio State. The years listed in the table below indicate a national championship selection by the AP or Coaches Poll. The selections are noted with (AP) or (Coaches) when a national champion selection differed between the two polls for that particular season, which has occurred in twelve different seasons (including 2004, for which the coaches selection was rescinded) since the polls first came to coexist in 1950.

More information School, Titles ...
School Titles Winning years
Alabama
13
1961, 1964, 1965 (AP), 1973 (Coaches), 1978 (AP), 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020
Notre Dame
8
1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973 (AP), 1977, 1988
Oklahoma
7
1950, 1955, 1956, 1974 (AP), 1975, 1985, 2000
USC
7
1962, 1967, 1972, 1974 (Coaches), 1978 (Coaches), 2003 (AP), 2004 (AP)†
Ohio State
6
1942, 1954 (AP), 1957 (Coaches), 1968, 2002, 2014
Miami (FL)
5
1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 (AP), 2001
Nebraska
5
1970 (AP), 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Coaches)
LSU
4
1958, 2003 (Coaches), 2007, 2019
Texas
4
1963, 1969, 1970 (Coaches), 2005
Minnesota
4
1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
Clemson
3
1981, 2016, 2018
Florida
3
1996, 2006, 2008
Florida State
3
1993, 1999, 2013
Georgia
3
1980, 2021, 2022
Michigan
3
1948, 1997 (AP), 2023
Army
2
1944, 1945
Auburn
2
1957 (AP), 2010
Michigan State
2
1952, 1965 (Coaches)
Penn State
2
1982, 1986
Pittsburgh
2
1937, 1976
Tennessee
2
1951, 1998
TCU
1
1938
BYU
1
1984
Colorado
1
1990 (AP)
Georgia Tech
1
1990 (Coaches)
Maryland
1
1953
Syracuse
1
1959
Texas A&M
1
1939
UCLA
1
1954 (Coaches)
Washington
1
1991 (Coaches)
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† USC's 2004 BCS National Championship was vacated by the BCS and their AFCA Coaches' Trophy was returned.[199]

Split national championships

The AP Poll and Coaches Poll have picked different final national poll leaders at the end of 11 different seasons since their first concurrent polls in 1950.[30] This situation is referred to as a "split" national championship.[200]

More information Season, Champion ...
Season Champion Record Wire service poll
1954Ohio State10–0AP
UCLA9–0Coaches
1957Auburn10–0AP
Ohio State9–1Coaches
1965Alabama9–1–1AP
Michigan State10–1Coaches
1970Nebraska11–0–1AP
Texas10–1Coaches
1973Notre Dame11–0AP
Alabama11–1Coaches
1974Oklahoma11–0AP
USC10–1–1Coaches
1978Alabama11–1AP
USC12–1Coaches
1990Colorado11–1–1AP
Georgia Tech11–0–1Coaches
1991Miami (FL)12–0AP
Washington12–0Coaches
1997Michigan12–0AP
Nebraska13–0Coaches
2003USC12–1AP
LSU13–1Coaches
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National championship games

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Column in The Atlanta Constitution proposing a 1917 national championship game between Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh.[201][202]

College football fans and administrators have long sought to match the No. 1 vs. No. 2 teams in an end-of-season national championship game to determine an undisputed national champion on the gridiron.[39]

Historic occurrences

Throughout most of the 20th century, a number of challenges made it impossible to ordinarily schedule the two top teams for a single post-season title fight:

  • Some schools, most notably Notre Dame, declined to play in bowl games for many years.[36]
  • Conference tie-ins prevented certain conference champions from ever meeting in a post-season bowl game.
  • "No repeat" rules prevented teams from playing in their conference's bowl two seasons in a row.[203]
  • At-large bowl game invitations were extended in mid-November, locking in teams with subsequent late-season losses.[204]

Through luck and fortuitous scheduling, a "national championship game" was occasionally able to settle the matter on the field, as described in some contemporaneous reports.[35] Despite the promotional billing, in several instances there were plausible scenarios for a third team to be selected as national champion by the major selectors, depending on outcomes of other games.

More information Season, Game ...
Season Game Winning team Score Losing team Notes
1924Rose Bowl[205][206]Notre Dame27–10Stanford
1931Rose Bowl[207][208]No. 2 USC21–12No. 1 TulaneTitle game for the Albert Russel Erskine Trophy[210] and for the Dickinson System's Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy.[211][212]
1932Rose Bowl[213][214]No. 2 USC35–0No. 3 PittsburghTitle game for the second Rissman Trophy.[217]
1943Notre Dame vs. Iowa Pre-Flight[218][219]No. 1 Notre Dame14–13No. 2 Iowa Pre-FlightGame played November 20. Each played another regular season game November 27, which for Notre Dame was a loss to Great Lakes Navy.
1944Army–Navy Game[220]No. 1 Army23–7No. 2 NavyFinal regular season game. Navy finished 6–3 ranked No. 4.
1945Game of the Century[221]No. 1 Army32–13No. 2 Navy
1946Game of the Century[222][223]No. 1 Army0–0No. 2 Notre Dame
1962Rose Bowl[224][225][226]No. 1 USC42–37No. 2 WisconsinFWAA only; USC had already been named No. 1 in the final AP and Coaches Polls four weeks earlier.[227]
1963Cotton Bowl[228][229]No. 1 Texas28–6No. 2 NavyFWAA only; Texas had already been named No. 1 in the final AP and Coaches Polls three weeks earlier.[230]
1965Orange Bowl[231][232]No. 4 Alabama39–28No. 3 NebraskaBecame AP Poll championship game after No. 1 and 2 teams lost the Rose and Cotton Bowl games earlier in the day.
1966Game of the Century[233][234]No. 1 Notre Dame10–10No. 2 Michigan StateThe following week Notre Dame defeated USC in its last regular season game.[237]
1967Game of the Century[238][239]No. 4 USC21–20No. 1 UCLAGame played November 18. UCLA played another regular season game November 25.
1968Rose Bowl[240][226]No. 1 Ohio State27–16No. 2 USCFinal AP poll was delayed until after the bowl games specifically to account for the result of the No. 1 vs. No. 2 "dream match" in the Rose Bowl.[34]
1969Game of the Century[9]No. 1 Texas15–14No. 2 (AP) ArkansasWinner was to be awarded a presidential plaque by game attendee Richard Nixon declaring them "the number-one college football team in college football's one-hundredth year."[9] This was the final regular season game, and it determined the Coaches Poll title. Entering the game, Arkansas ranked No. 3 in the Coaches Poll and remained No. 3.[241][242]
1971Game of the CenturyNo. 1 Nebraska35–31No. 2 OklahomaGame played November 25 for Coaches Poll title, compiled before bowl games and released December 6. Each played another regular season game December 4.[243]
Orange Bowl[244][245]No. 1 Nebraska38–6No. 2 AlabamaTitle game for NFF MacArthur Bowl.[246]
1972Rose Bowl[247]No. 1 USC42–17No. 3 Ohio StateOne-loss Oklahoma, No. 2 in final regular season polls, won the Sugar Bowl and remained No. 2 after the bowls.
1973Sugar Bowl[248][249]No. 3 Notre Dame24–23No. 1 AlabamaTitle game for NFF MacArthur Bowl; No. 2 Oklahoma finished 10–0–1, was on probation and ineligible for a bowl game.[250]
1978Sugar Bowl[225][251]No. 2 Alabama14–7No. 1 Penn StateNational championship was split; No. 3 USC finished atop Coaches Poll.[252]
1982Sugar Bowl[253]No. 2 Penn State27–23No. 1 Georgia
1983Orange Bowl[254]No. 5 Miami (FL)31–30No. 1 NebraskaNo. 2 Texas and No. 4 Illinois had lost earlier in the day.[254] No. 3 Auburn won the Sugar Bowl played at the same time.
1984Orange Bowl[255][256]No. 4 Washington28–17No. 2 OklahomaBYU won national titles in both AP and Coaches Polls.[257]
1985Orange Bowl[258]No. 3 (AP) Oklahoma25–10No. 1 Penn StateOklahoma entered the game No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the AP Poll. AP No. 2 Miami lost in the Sugar Bowl.
1986Fiesta Bowl[35]No. 2 Penn State14–10No. 1 Miami (FL)
1987Orange Bowl[35]No. 2 Miami (FL)20–14No. 1 Oklahoma
1988Fiesta Bowl[259]No. 1 Notre Dame34–21No. 3 West Virginia[260]
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Bowl Coalition (1992–1994)

Following back-to-back years of split AP and Coaches Poll national champions in 1990, between Colorado (AP) and Georgia Tech (Coaches), and 1991, between Miami (FL) (AP) and Washington (Coaches), the Bowl Coalition was formed in 1992 to increase the probability of a No. 1 vs. No. 2 national championship game matchup in one of the Coalition's participating bowls.[39]

The Coalition's rules retained traditional bowl game conference tie-ins but provided some flexibility for scheduling a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between two teams selected from among the champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Eight, SEC, and SWC conferences, or independent Notre Dame, in the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, or Sugar Bowl.

The Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences were notably not members of the Bowl Coalition, with their champions retaining their traditional and contractual matchup in the Rose Bowl. Likewise, mid-major teams had no route to the Bowl Coalition National Championship Game.

More information Season, Bowl ...
Season Bowl Winning team Score Losing team Notes
1992Sugar BowlNo. 2 Alabama34–13No. 1 Miami (FL)
1993Orange BowlNo. 1 Florida State18–16No. 2 Nebraska
1994Orange BowlNo. 1 Nebraska24–17No. 3 Miami (FL)[261]
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Bowl Alliance (1995–1997)

In 1995 the Bowl Alliance replaced the Bowl Coalition.[40] Going further than the Coalition, the Alliance guaranteed a postseason matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams of its same five conference champions plus Notre Dame. Beginning in 1996, the Big 12 champion joined the Alliance in place of the champions of the disbanded Big Eight and Southwest conferences.

Unlike the Coalition, the Alliance eliminated traditional conference tie-ins to its associated bowls. The Bowl Alliance national championship game would be rotated amongst the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl, with the Cotton Bowl dropped from the slate. The Bowl Alliance also awarded its own trophy to the winner of its national championship game.[262]

The Rose Bowl remained independent of the Alliance, leaving open the possibility of a national title going to the Big Ten or Pac-10 Rose Bowl champion rather than the Alliance's champion.[263] This occurred in 1997, when No. 1 Michigan won the Rose Bowl and retained their top ranking in the AP Poll.[263] The Bowl Alliance National Championship Game[263] winner Nebraska split the championship when they passed Michigan in the final Coaches Poll (a result denied by the Coaches Poll to Penn State three years earlier in the same situation).

More information Season, Bowl ...
Season Bowl Winning team Score Losing team Notes
1995Fiesta BowlNo. 1 Nebraska62–24No. 2 Florida
1996Sugar BowlNo. 3 Florida52–20No. 1 Florida State[264]
1997Orange BowlNo. 2 Nebraska42–17No. 3 Tennessee[265]
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Bowl Championship Series (1998–2013)

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS), starting in 1998, finally succeeded in bringing the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences together with the former Coalition and Alliance members for a combined national championship game.

Following the regular season, the BCS paired its No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams to play for the title in the BCS National Championship Game. This designation initially rotated in order between four BCS Bowls: the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Rose Bowl. For the 2006 season onward the BCS National Championship Game became its own separate contest, played one week later at the site of the bowl in the same rotation.

The original BCS formula incorporated the AP Poll and Coaches Poll along with an average of various computer rankings.[41] The formula underwent many adjustments over the years, including a large overhaul following the 2004 season in which the AP Poll was replaced with the Harris Interactive College Football Poll.[266]

The winners of the BCS National Championship Game were crowned the Coaches Poll national champions and were awarded the Coaches' Trophy on the field following the game. They were also awarded the MacArthur Bowl by the National Football Foundation.

BCS National Championships by school

More information School, Titles ...
School Titles Winning years
Alabama
3
2009, 2011, 2012
Florida
2
2006, 2008
Florida State
2
1999, 2013
LSU
2
2003, 2007
Auburn
1
2010
Miami (FL)
1
2001
Ohio State
1
2002
Oklahoma
1
2000
Tennessee
1
1998
Texas
1
2005
USC
01
2004
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Notes

1 USC's victory in the 2005 Orange Bowl and corresponding 2004–05 BCS National Championship was vacated by the BCS.[179][199]

College Football Playoff (2014–present)

The College Football Playoff (CFP) was designed as a replacement for the BCS. While the NCAA still does not officially sanction the event, organizers sought to bring a playoff system similar to all other levels of NCAA football to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The College Football Playoff relies on a 13-member selection committee to choose the top four teams to play in a two-round single-elimination playoff bracket.[43] The winner of the final game is awarded the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy.[44]

CFP National Championships by school

More information School, Titles ...
School Titles Winning seasons
Alabama
3
2015, 2017, 2020
Clemson
2
2016, 2018
Georgia
2
2021, 2022
Michigan
1
2023
LSU
1
2019
Ohio State
1
2014
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National championship claims

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Tennessee's national championship claims, as posted in their Neyland Stadium

The following tables list schools' known national championship claims at the highest level of play in college football. Some of these schools no longer compete at the highest level, which is currently NCAA Division I FBS, but nonetheless maintain claims to titles from when they did compete at the highest level.

Because there is no one governing or official body that regulates, recognizes, or awards national championships in college football, and because many independent selectors of championships exist, many of the claims by the schools listed below are shared, contradict each other, or are controversial.[7][267][268]

"There is no official standard because there is no official national champion. It all depends on the standard the school wishes to utilize. The national champion is in the eye of the beholder."

Kent Stephens, historian, College Football Hall of Fame[267]

The majority of these claims, but not all, are based on championships awarded from selectors listed as "major" in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records publication.[8][10] Not all championships awarded by third party selectors, nor all those listed in the NCAA records book, are necessarily claimed by each school.[n3 1] Therefore, these claims represent how each individual school sees their own history on the subject of national championships.

The tables below include only national championship claims originating from each particular school and therefore represent the point-of-view of each individual institution. Each total number of championships, and the years for which they are claimed, are documented by the particular school on its official website, in its football media guide, on a prominent stadium sign, or in other official publications or literature (see Source). If a championship is not mentioned by a school for any particular season, regardless of whether it was awarded by a selector or listed in a third-party publication such as the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, it is not considered to be claimed by that institution.

Claims by school

More information School, Claims ...
School Claims Claimed national championship seasons Source
Princeton
28
1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1920, 1922, 1933, 1935, 1950[271]
Yale
27
1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901,[n3 2] 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1927[272][273]
Alabama
18
1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020[274]
Michigan
12
1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997, 2023[275][276]
Notre Dame
11
1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988[277][278]
USC
11
1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004[n3 3][280][281]
Pittsburgh
9
1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934,[n3 4] 1936, 1937, 1976[282][283]
Ohio State
8
1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014[284][285]
Harvard
7
1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919[286][287]
Minnesota
7
1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960[288][289]
Oklahoma
7
1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000[290][291]
Penn
7
1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907,[n3 5] 1908, 1924[292]
Michigan State
6
1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966[293][294]
Tennessee
6
1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998[295][296]
Army
5
1914, 1916, 1944, 1945, 1946[297][298]
California
5
1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1937[299]
Cornell
5
1915, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1939[300][301]
Illinois
5
1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951[302][303]
Iowa
5
1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960[304] [better source needed]
Miami
5
1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001[305][306]
Nebraska
5
1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997[307][308]
Georgia
4
1942, 1980, 2021, 2022[309][310]
Georgia Tech
4
1917, 1928, 1952, 1990[311][312]
LSU
4
1958, 2003, 2007, 2019[313][314]
Texas
4
1963, 1969, 1970, 2005[315][316]
Clemson
3
1981, 2016, 2018[317][318]
Florida
3
1996, 2006, 2008[319][320]
Florida State
3
1993, 1999, 2013[321][322]
Lafayette
3
1896, 1921, 1926[323]
Ole Miss
3
1959, 1960, 1962[32][324]
SMU
3
1935, 1981, 1982[325][326]
Texas A&M
3
1919, 1927, 1939[327][328]
Auburn
2
1957, 2010[329][330]
Chicago
2
1905, 1913[331]
Columbia
2
1875, 1933[n3 6][332]
Penn State
2
1982, 1986[333][334]
Stanford
2
1926, 1940[335][336]
TCU
2
1935, 1938[337][338]
Washington
2
1960, 1991[33][339]
Arkansas
1
1964[340]
Boston College
1
1940[n3 7][345]
BYU
1
1984[346][347]
Centre
1
1919[348]
Colorado
1
1990[349][350]
Dartmouth
1
1925[351]
Detroit
1
1928[352]
Kentucky
1
1950[353]
Maryland
1
1953[354][355]
Navy
1
1926[356]
Oklahoma State
1
1945[357]:[59][358]
Rutgers
1
1869[359]
Syracuse
1
1959[360][361]
UCF
1
2017[362][363]
UCLA
1
1954[364][365]
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Notes
  1. The following schools either make no apparent statement or claim regarding national championships, or clearly state no claims on a national championship, despite the listing of a national championship for that school in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records: Arizona State, Colgate, Duke, Missouri, Purdue, Utah,[269] Vanderbilt,[270] and Washington & Jefferson.
  2. No major selectors chose Yale for 1901. The original source for Parke H. Davis' "National Champion Foot Ball Teams" states "1901 Harvard".[28]
  3. USC's January 4, 2005, win over Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game was vacated as mandated by the NCAA, its 2004 BCS National Championship vacated by the BCS, and its AFCA Coaches' Trophy returned. NCAA sanctions mandate that "any reference to the vacated results, including championships, shall be removed." USC still retains the 2004 Associated Press National Championship and has not abandoned its claim to a 2004 national championship.[199][279]
  4. No major selectors chose Pittsburgh for 1934. Parke H. Davis died in June 1934;[28] Pitt was selected in the next 1935 edition of the Spalding Foot Ball Guide[71] but that selection is not included in the NCAA record books. Pitt's claim was based on a 1967 Sports Illustrated article which attributed the posthumous Spalding selections directly to Davis.[14]
  5. The Billingsley Report originally named Penn as champions for 1907 and the team was listed in the 1996[68]–2003[139] NCAA records books. However the team was dropped from subsequent NCAA records books when Billingsley updated his system's formula to remove the Margin of Victory component.
  6. No major selectors chose Columbia for 1933. Columbia's media guide states that the team "was referred to as a national champ."[332]
  7. No major selectors chose Boston College for 1940. Final AP Poll and several other selections preceded bowl games. Boston College defeated Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl in a battle of unbeatens.[341][342][343][344]

Claims by year

More information Season, Claims ...
Season Claims Claimants[366] Record
18692Princeton1–1
Rutgers1–1
18701Princeton1–0
18710None
18722Princeton1–0
Yale1–0
18731Princeton2–0
18742Princeton2–0
Yale3–0
18752Columbia4–1–1
Princeton2–0
18761Yale3–0
18772Princeton2–0–1
Yale3–0–1
18781Princeton6–0
18792Princeton4–0–1
Yale3–0–2
18802Princeton4–0–1
Yale4–0–1
18812Princeton7–0–2
Yale5–0–1
18821Yale8–0
18831Yale9–0
18842Princeton9–0–1
Yale8–0–1
18851Princeton9–0
18862Princeton7–0–1
Yale9–0–1
18871Yale9–0
18881Yale13–0
18891Princeton10–0
18901Harvard11–0
18911Yale13–0
18921Yale13–0
18932Princeton11–0
Yale10–1
18943Penn12–0
Princeton8–2
Yale16–0
18952Penn14–0
Yale13–0–2
18962Lafayette11–0–1
Princeton10–0–1
18972Penn15–0
Yale9–0–2
18982Harvard11–0
Princeton11–0–1
18992Harvard10–0–1
Princeton12–1
19001Yale12–0
19012Michigan11–0
Yale11–1–1
19022Michigan11–0
Yale11–0–1
19032Michigan11–0–1
Princeton11–0
19043Michigan10–0
Minnesota13–0
Penn12–0
19052Chicago10–0
Yale10–0
19062Princeton9–0–1
Yale9–0–1
19072Penn11–1
Yale9–0–1
19081Penn11–0–1
19091Yale10–0
19101Harvard8–0–1
19111Princeton8–0–2
19121Harvard9–0
19132Chicago7–0
Harvard9–0
19142Army9–0
Illinois7–0
19152Cornell9–0
Pittsburgh8–0
19162Army9–0
Pittsburgh8–0
19171Georgia Tech9–0
19182Michigan5–0
Pittsburgh4–1
19194Centre9–0
Harvard9–0–1
Illinois6–1
Texas A&M10–0
19202California9–0
Princeton6–0–1
19214California9–0–1
Cornell8–0
Iowa7–0
Lafayette9–0
19224California9–0
Cornell8–0
Iowa7–0
Princeton8–0
19234California9–0–1
Cornell8–0
Illinois8–0
Michigan8–0
19242Notre Dame10–0
Penn9–1–1
19252Alabama10–0
Dartmouth8–0
19264Alabama9–0–1
Lafayette9–0
Navy9–0–1
Stanford10–0–1
19273Illinois7–0–1
Texas A&M8–0–1
Yale7–1
19283Detroit9–0
Georgia Tech10–0
USC9–0–1
19292Notre Dame9–0
Pittsburgh9–1
19302Alabama10–0
Notre Dame10–0
19312Pittsburgh8–1
USC10–1
19322Michigan8–0
USC10–0
19333Columbia8–1–1
Michigan7–0–1
Princeton9–0
19343Alabama10–0
Pittsburgh8–1
Minnesota8–0
19354Minnesota8–0
Princeton9–0
SMU12–1
TCU12–1
19362Minnesota7–1
Pittsburgh8–1–1
19372California10–0–1
Pittsburgh9–0–1
19382TCU11–0
Tennessee11–0
19393Cornell8–0
Texas A&M11–0
USC8–0–2
19404Boston College11–0
Minnesota8–0
Stanford10–0
Tennessee10–1
19412Alabama9–2
Minnesota8–0
19422Georgia11–1
Ohio State9–1
19431Notre Dame9–1
19441Army9–0
19452Army9–0
Oklahoma A&M9–0
19462Army9–0–1
Notre Dame8–0–1
19472Michigan10–0
Notre Dame9–0
19481Michigan9–0
19491Notre Dame10–0
19504Kentucky11–1
Oklahoma10–1
Princeton9–0
Tennessee11–1
19513Illinois9–0–1
Michigan State9–0
Tennessee10–1
19522Georgia Tech12–0
Michigan State9–0
19531Maryland10–1
19542Ohio State10–0
UCLA9–0
19552Michigan State9–1
Oklahoma11–0
19562Iowa9–1
Oklahoma10–0
19573Auburn10–0
Michigan State8–1
Ohio State9–1
19582Iowa8–1–1
LSU11–0
19592Ole Miss10–1
Syracuse11–0
19604Iowa8–1
Minnesota8–2
Ole Miss10–0–1
Washington10–1
19612Alabama11–0
Ohio State8–0–1
19622Ole Miss10–0
USC11–0
19631Texas11–0
19642Alabama10–1
Arkansas11–0
19652Alabama9–1–1
Michigan State10–1
19662Michigan State9–0–1
Notre Dame9–0–1
19672USC10–1
Tennessee9–2
19681Ohio State10–0
19691Texas11–0
19703Nebraska11–0–1
Ohio State9–1
Texas10–1
19711Nebraska13–0
19721USC12–0
19732Alabama11–1
Notre Dame11–0
19742Oklahoma11–0
USC10–1–1
19751Oklahoma11–1
19761Pittsburgh12–0
19771Notre Dame11–1
19782Alabama11–1
USC12–1
19791Alabama12–0
19801Georgia12–0
19812Clemson12–0
SMU10–1
19822Penn State11–1
SMU11–0–1
19831Miami11–1
19841BYU13–0
19851Oklahoma11–1
19861Penn State12–0
19871Miami12–0
19881Notre Dame12–0
19891Miami11–1
19902Colorado11–1–1
Georgia Tech11–0–1
19912Miami12–0
Washington12–0
19921Alabama13–0
19931Florida State12–1
19941Nebraska13–0
19951Nebraska12–0
19961Florida12–1
19972Michigan12–0
Nebraska13–0
19981Tennessee13–0
19991Florida State12–0
20001Oklahoma13–0
20011Miami12–0
20021Ohio State14–0
20032LSU13–1
USC12–1
20041USC13–0
20051Texas13–0
20061Florida13–1
20071LSU12–2
20081Florida13–1
20091Alabama14–0
20101Auburn14–0
20111Alabama12–1
20121Alabama13–1
20131Florida State14–0
20141Ohio State14–1
20151Alabama14–1
20161Clemson14–1
20172Alabama13–1
UCF13–0
20181Clemson15–0
20191LSU15–0
20201Alabama13–0
20211Georgia14–1
20221Georgia15–0
20231Michigan15–0
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Other selectors

In addition to the NCAA-designated "major selectors" listed above, various other people and organizations have selected national champions in college football. Selections from such notable selectors are listed below.

Unique championship selections from non-major selectors

Teams in the following table were selected by people or organizations not listed as a "major selector" in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book.

In the interest of brevity, this table contains only teams that were not also selected by any NCAA-designated major selector for the given year. Some are contrarian selections or protests against the choices of the major polls and the BCS.

Thumb
Howard Jones Memorial Foundation national championship trophy
More information Season, Champion(s) ...
Season Champion(s) Record Coach Selector(s)
1903Minnesotaco14–0–1Henry L. WilliamsJim Koger (JK)[367]
1904Yale10–1Charles D. RaffertyCaspar Whitney[368][369]
1910Washington6–0Gil DobieBill Libby (BL)[370]
1911Carlisle11–1Glenn WarnerBL
1913Notre Dame7–0Jesse HarperBL, JK
1914Harvard7–0–2Percy HaughtonWorld Almanac,[371][372]
Alexander Weyand (AW)[373][374]
1915Washington State7–0William DietzWashington State Senate[375]
1917Pittsburghco10–0Glenn WarnerAW[376]
1921Notre Dame10–1Knute RockneAW[377]
1929Tulane9–0Bernie BiermanBL
Utah7–0Ike ArmstrongFrank E. Wood[378]
1931Tennessee9–0–1Robert NeylandBL
Tulane11–1Bernie BiermanWood[379]
1934Pittsburgh8–1Jock SutherlandSpalding's Foot Ball Guide[71] (editor Walter R. Okeson)
Stanford9–1–1Tiny ThornhillHoulgate System (HS)[380]
1935 Stanford8–1Tiny ThornhillKenneth Massey (MCFR)[381]
1936Northwestern7–1Pappy WaldorfBL
Saint Vincent5–3Red EdwardsAssociated Press sportswriter via transitive wins and losses[382][383]
Santa Clara8–1Buck ShawMCFR
1939Tulane8–1–1Red DawsonHS[384]
1941 Duquesne8–0Aldo Donelli/Steve SinkoMCFR
1942 Georgia Navy Pre-Flight7–1–1Raymond WolfMCFR
1943March Field9–1Paul J. SchisslerMCFR
1944Randolph Field12–0Frank TriticoDr. L. H. Baker[385]
1947 Texas10–1Blair CherryMCFR
1953 Michigan State9–1Biggie MunnMCFR
1955 Ole Miss10–1Johnny VaughtMCFR
1963Navy9–2Wayne HardinWashington Touchdown Club[386][387]
1974Alabama11–1Paul "Bear" BryantWashington Touchdown Club[387]
1978Penn State11–1Joe PaternoWashington Touchdown Club[387]
2004Auburn13–0Tommy TubervilleEufaula Tribune,[388] Golf Digest,[389] People's National Championship[390]
2010Oregonco12–1Chip KellyR(FACT)[391]
2014Alabamaco12–2Nick SabanR(FACT)[392]
Oregonco12–1Mark Helfrich
TCUco12–1Gary Patterson
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Notes
  • Teams listed in italics indicate retroactively applied championships.
  • Co-champion selections are indicated by co.
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See also

References

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