NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
Encyclopedia
| National championships in NCAA Division I FBS | |
| Current System | BCS Bowl Championship Series The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of... (since 1998 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season The 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first of the Bowl Championship Series, which saw Tennessee win the national championship, one year after star quarterback Peyton Manning left for the NFL... ) |
| National Championship Trophies | AFCA AFCA National Championship Trophy The AFCA National Championship Trophy is the trophy awarded by the American Football Coaches Association to the winner of college football's BCS National Championship Game, which determines the national champion for purposes of the Coaches Poll... (since 1986), AP AP National Championship Trophy The AP National Championship Trophy is the trophy awarded annually by the Associated Press to the team who finishes the season at the number one spot in the AP Poll.... (since 1936 1936 college football season The 1936 college football season was the first in which the Associated Press writers' poll selected a national champion. The first AP poll, taken of 35 writers, was released on October 20, 1936... ), MacArthur MacArthur Trophy The MacArthur Trophy is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the NCAA Division I-FBS college football team or teams determined to be the national champion. There is only one trophy itself, much like the Stanley Cup, and it is kept by the winning institution for one year... (since 1959 1954 college football season The 1954 college football season saw three teams finish unbeaten and untied, with Ohio State Buckeyes and the UCLA Bruins sharing the national championship as the #1 picks of the AP Poll and the UPI Poll, respectively. Although the winners of the Big Ten and the Pacific conferences normally met in... ), Grantland Rice Grantland Rice Award The Grantland Rice Trophy is an annual award presented in the United States since 1954 to the college football team adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America to be "national champion". Named for the legendary sportswriter, Grantland Rice, the trophy was the first national... (since 1954 1954 college football season The 1954 college football season saw three teams finish unbeaten and untied, with Ohio State Buckeyes and the UCLA Bruins sharing the national championship as the #1 picks of the AP Poll and the UPI Poll, respectively. Although the winners of the Big Ten and the Pacific conferences normally met in... ) |
| Longest Continuous Selector | Associated Press Associated Press The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... (1936–present) |
| First Season Awarded | 1869 1869 college football season The 1869 college football season was the first season of intercollegiate football. It is considered the inaugural college football season, and consisted of only two total games, both of which occurred between the and ; The first was played on November 6 at Rutgers' campus, and the second was... |
| Last Completed Season | 2010 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for... |
A college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
national championship
National championship
A national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection(s) of the best college football team(s). Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) football is the only NCAA sport in which a yearly champion is not determined by an NCAA sanctioned championship event.
Because the championship team is not determined by an NCAA championship or tournament event, it has often been unofficially referred to as a "mythical national championship
Mythical National Championship
A mythical national championship is a colloquial term used to question the validity of national championship recognition that is not explicitly competitive...
". Since the NCAA, the sport's governing body, does not determine or declare a national champion in this field, determination of such has often engendered controversy. A championship team is independently declared by various individuals and organizations, often referred to as "selectors". These choices are sometimes at odds with each other. While the NCAA has never officially endorsed an annual championship team, it has documented the choices of several selectors in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records. In addition, various third party analysts have independently published their own lists of what they have determined to be the most legitimate selections for each season. These are also often at odds with each other as well as individual school's claims on national championships, which, for any particular season, may or may not correlate to the selections published elsewhere.
Currently, two widely recognized national champions selectors are the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, which conducts a poll of football sportswriters
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, and the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Coaches' Poll, a poll of American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
active coaches that is contractually obligated to name the winner of the Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
championship game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
as its national champion.
History
The concept of a national championship in college football dates to the early years of the sport in late 19th century, and the earliest contemporaneous polls can be traced to Caspar WhitneyCaspar Whitney
Caspar William Whitney was an American author, editor, explorer, and war correspondent. He originated the concept of the All-American team in college football in 1889 when he worked for Harper's Magazine....
, Charles Patterson, and The Sun in 1901. Therefore, the concept of polls and national champions predated mathematical ranking systems, but it was Frank Dickinson's math system
Dickinson System
The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G...
that was one of the first to be widely popularized. His system named 10–0 Stanford the national champion of 1926, prior to their tie with Alabama in the Rose Bowl
1927 Rose Bowl
The 1927 Rose Bowl Game was a college football bowl game held on January 1, 1927 in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide, of the Southern Conference, and Stanford, of the Pacific Coast Conference, now the Pacific-10 Conference. It was Stanford's second Rose Bowl game in...
. A curious Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
, then coach of , had Dickinson backdate two seasons, which produced Notre Dame
1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1924 college football season. Coached by Knute Rockne and featuring the "Four Horsemen" backfield of Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden, Notre Dame completed an undefeated,...
as the 1924 national champion and Dartmouth
Dartmouth Big Green football
The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League...
in 1925.
A number of other mathematical systems were born in the 1920s and 1930s and were the only organized methods selecting national champions until the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
began polling
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
sportswriters in 1936 to obtain rankings. Alan J. Gould, the creator of the AP Poll, named Minnesota, , and tri-champions in 1935, and polled writers the following year, which resulted in a national championship for Minnesota. The AP's main competition, United Press
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, created the first poll of coaches in 1950. For that year and the next three, the AP and UP agreed on the national champion. The first "split" championship occurred in 1954, when the writers selected Ohio State
1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by QB Dave Leggett and captains John Borton and Dick Brubaker. They were the second national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes...
and the coaches chose . The polls also disagreed in 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, and 1978, the latter of which was followed by eleven years of agreement. The Coaches' Poll would stay with United Press (UP) when they merged with International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
(INS) to form United Press International (UPI) but was acquired by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
in 1991. The poll was in the hands of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
from 1997 to 2005 before moving to its present sole ownership by USA Today.
Though some of the math systems selected champions after the bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s, both of the major polls released their rankings after the end of the regular season until the AP polled writers after the bowls in 1965, resulting in what was perceived at the time as a better championship selection (Alabama) than UPI's (Michigan State
1965 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team represented the Michigan State University in the 1965 college football season. The Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and competed in the 1966 Rose Bowl...
). After 1965, the AP voted before the bowls for two years, permanently returning to a post-bowl vote in 1968. The coaches did not vote after the bowls until 1974, in the wake of awarding their 1973 championship to Alabama, who lost to the AP champion, undefeated Notre Dame
1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1973 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 11 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
, in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
.
The AP and Coaches' polls remain the major rankings to this day, alongside the Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
, considered the modern math giant. The BCS was the successor of the Bowl Alliance
Bowl Alliance
The Bowl Alliance was an agreement among college football bowl games for the purpose of trying to match the top two teams in a national championship bowl game and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions of its member conferences...
(1995–1997), which was itself the successor of the Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
(1992–1994). Besides the many adjustments it undergoes each season, including a large overhaul following the 2004 season
2004 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss...
that included the replacement of the AP Poll with the Harris poll
Harris Interactive College Football Poll
The Harris Interactive College Football Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football teams. The rankings are compiled by Harris Interactive, a market research company that specializes in Internet research....
, the BCS has remained a mixture of math and polls since its inception in 1998, with the goal of matching the best two teams in the nation in a national championship bowl game which rotated yearly between the Sugar
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, Fiesta
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, Rose
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, and Orange
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
from 1998 to 2005, and later a standalone game titled the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
(2006 to present). The winner of the BCS Championship Game is awarded the national championship of the Coaches' Poll thus winning the AFCA National Championship Trophy
AFCA National Championship Trophy
The AFCA National Championship Trophy is the trophy awarded by the American Football Coaches Association to the winner of college football's BCS National Championship Game, which determines the national champion for purposes of the Coaches Poll...
. The BCS winner also receives the MacArthur Trophy
MacArthur Trophy
The MacArthur Trophy is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the NCAA Division I-FBS college football team or teams determined to be the national champion. There is only one trophy itself, much like the Stanley Cup, and it is kept by the winning institution for one year...
from the National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
. Neither the AP Poll, nor other current selectors, have contractual obligations to select the BCS champion as their national champion. The BCS has resulted in a number of controversies
BCS controversies
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system designed to force a "national championship game" between the top-ranking teams in American college football's top division, the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
, most notably those that followed the 2003 season.
National championships in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records
The NCAA maintains an official records book of historical statistics and records for football. In the records book, with consultation from various college football historians, it has created and maintains a list of "major selectors" of national championships throughout the history of college football along with their championship picks for each season.Major selectors
A variety of selectors have named national champions throughout the years. They generally can be divided into three categories: those determined by mathematical formula, human polls, and historical research. The selectors below are listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records as having been deemed to be "major selectors" for which the criteria is that the poll or selector be "national in scope either through distribution in newspaper, television, radio and/or computer online". The former selectors, deemed instrumental in the sport of college football, and selectors presently included for the calculation of the BCS standing, are listed together.Math
The mathematical system is the oldest systematic selector of college football national champions. Many of the math selectors were created during the "championship rush" of the 1920s and 1930s, beginning with Frank Dickinson's systemDickinson System
The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G...
, or during the dawn of the computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
age in the 1990s. Selectors are listed below with years selected retroactively in italics.
| Selector | Name | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| A&H | Anderson & Hester | 1997–present |
| AS | Alderson System | 1994–1998 |
| B(QPRS) | Berryman (QPRS) | 1940–1989, 1990–present |
| BCS | *Bowl Championship Series Bowl Championship Series The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of... |
1998–present |
| BR | Billingsley Report | 1869–1870, 1872–1969, 1970–present |
| BS | Boand System Boand System The Boand System was a system for determining the college football national championship. It was also known as the Azzi Ratem system. The system was developed by developed by William Boand. The rankings were based on mathematical formula... |
1919–1929, 1930–1960 |
| CCR | Congrove Computer Rankings | 1993–present |
| CM | Colley Matrix | 2001–present |
| CW | Caspar Whitney Caspar Whitney Caspar William Whitney was an American author, editor, explorer, and war correspondent. He originated the concept of the All-American team in college football in 1889 when he worked for Harper's Magazine.... |
1905–1907 |
| DeS | DeVold System | 1939–1944, 1945–2006 |
| DiS | Dickinson System Dickinson System The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G... |
1924–1925, 1926–1940 |
| DuS | Dunkel System | 1929–present |
| ERS | Eck Ratings System | 1987–2005 |
| HS | Houlgate System | 1885, 1887–1905, 1907–1926, 1927–1949 |
| L | Litkenhous | 1934–1972, 1974, 1978, 1981–1984 |
| MCFR | Massey College Football Ratings | 1995–present |
| MGR | Matthews Grid Ratings | 1966–1972, 1974–2006 |
| NYT | New York Times | 1979–2004 |
| PS | Poling System Poling System The Poling System was a mathematical rating system used to select college football national championship teams from 1924 to 1984. While there was no official method for naming a national championship in the sport during the system's existence, it is considered to have been a "National Champion... |
1924–1934, 1935–1955, 1957–1984 |
| R(FACT) | Rothman (FACT) | 1968–present |
| SR | Sagarin Ratings | 1919–1977, 1978–present |
| W | Wolfe | 2001–present |
| WS | Williamson System | 1931, 1932–1963 |
Poll
The poll has been the dominant national champion selector since the inception of the AP PollAP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
in 1936. It is notable that the NFF
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
merged with UPI
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
from 1991 to 1992 and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
from 1993 to 1994. Selectors are listed below with years selected retroactively in italics.
For many years, the national champion of various polls were selected prior to the bowl games. The national champion was selected before bowl games as follows: 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.
Presently the winner of BCS Championship Game is automatically awarded the national championship of the Coaches' Poll and the National Football Foundation.
| Selector | Name | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Associated Press Associated Press The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... |
1936–present |
| Coaches', known as: UPI USAT/CNN USAT/ESPN USAT |
AFCA Coaches' Poll United Press International USA Today/Cable News Network USA Today/ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... USA Today USA Today USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003... |
1950–present 1950–1990 1991–1996 1997–2005 2006–present |
| CFRA | College Football Researchers Association | 1919–1935, 1936–1981, 1982–1992, 2010–present |
| FN | Football News | 1958–2002 |
| FWAA | Football Writers Association of America Football Writers Association of America The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA... |
1954–present |
| HAF | Helms Athletic Foundation Helms Athletic Foundation The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball... |
1883–1935, 1936–1940, 1941–1982 |
| INS | International News Service | 1952–1957 |
| NCF | National Championship Foundation | 1869–1870, 1872–1935, 1936–1979, 1980–2000 |
| NFF | National Football Foundation | 1959–1990,b,d 1995–present |
| SN | Sporting News | 1975–present |
| UPI | United Press International | 1950–1990,a 1993–1995 |
| UPI/NFF | United Press International/National Football Foundation | 1991–1992b |
| USAT | USA Today USA Today USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003... |
2006–presenta |
| USAT/CNN | USA Today/Cable News Network | 1982–1996c |
| USAT/ESPN | USA Today/ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... |
1997–2003, 2005a |
| USAT/NFF | USA Today/National Football Foundation | 1993–1994d |
aServed as the AFCA Coaches' Poll during the designated years. The 2004 AFCA National Championship awarded to USC in conjunction with the BCS was vacated by the BCS and the AFCA Coaches' Trophy was returned.
bThe UPI Poll conducted the Coaches' Poll through the 1990 season, which was subsequently taken over by the CNN/USAToday. UPI then conducted a poll of National Football Foundation members in 1991 and 1992, the winner of which received the NFF's designation as the national champion and its MacArthur Trophy.
cCNN/USAToday conducted its own poll of college football sportswriters until it took over the Coaches' Poll starting with the 1991 season.
dUSA Today took over the poll of the National Football Foundation's members in 1993 from the UPI, and its winner received the NFF's designation as the national champion and its MacArthur Trophy. The poll was conducted by USA Today through the 1996 season, although national championship selections in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records do not distinguish the NFF from the USAToday/NFF poll in 1995 and 1996. USA Today conducted this poll separately from the CNN/USAToday Coaches' Poll, and the two should not be confused.
In addition to these, since 2005 the BCS has commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a poll of former college football players, coaches, and administrators. This human poll is used to help calculate the BCS standings. No final poll is taken after the BCS championship game and no national championship is awarded or named by Harris Interactive.
Research
College football historian Parke H. DavisParke H. Davis
Parke Hill Davis was an American football player, coach and historian who retroactively named the national championship teams in American college football from the 1869 through the 1932 seasons. He also named co-national champions at the conclusion of the 1933 season...
is the only selector considered by the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
to have primarily used research in his selections. Davis did all of his work in 1933, naming retroactive national champions for most of the years from 1869 to 1932 and naming Michigan
1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke...
and (his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
) co-champions at the end of the 1933 season.
| Selector | Name | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| PD | Parke H. Davis | 1869–1870, 1872–1909, 1911–1916, 1919–1932, 1933 |
Yearly national championship selections from major selectors
Below is a list of the national champions of college football from 1869–present (with the exception of 1871, in which no games were played) deemed to be chosen by "major selectors" as listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records. Many teams did not have coaches as late as 1899. "Consensus" selectors in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records correspond to the period from 1950 to present which began with the introduction of the two poll system upon the appearance of the Coaches Poll in 1950. Selectors used to determine teams listed as "Consensus National Champions" in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records include the AP Poll, Coaches' Poll, Football Writers Association of America, and the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame.The first contemporaneous poll to include teams across the country and selection of a national champions can be traced to Caspar Whitney
Caspar Whitney
Caspar William Whitney was an American author, editor, explorer, and war correspondent. He originated the concept of the All-American team in college football in 1889 when he worked for Harper's Magazine....
in 1901. The last retroactive selection was made by Clyde Berryman in 1989 (Notre Dame). The tie
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
was removed from college football in 1995 and the last consensus champion with a tie in its record was Georgia Tech
1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Yellow Jackets offense scored 379 points while the defense allowed 186 points. Led by head coach Bobby Ross, the Yellow Jackets participated in the...
in 1990. The 1947 Michigan Wolverines
1947 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team, nicknamed the "Mad Magicians", represented the University of Michigan in the 1947 college football season. Coached by Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines finished undefeated and untied with a 10–0 record...
are often credited with a national championship on the basis of a "free poll" conducted by an AP sportswriter after the 1948 Rose Bowl
1948 Rose Bowl
The 1948 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1948. It was the 34th Rose Bowl Game, and the second since the Big Nine Conference and the Pacific Coast Conference reached an exclusive agreement to match their champions in the game each year. In the game, the Michigan...
, though that poll was unofficial and it is not recognized in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records.
Note that the Harris Interactive Poll (2005–present) is contracted by the BCS to help formulate its standings, and although its final ranking which occurs prior to the bowl games is listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, it does not conduct a final poll or award or name a national champion on its own and so has been eliminated from the following table.
As designated by the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, the table below shows:
- Teams listed in italics indicate retroactive-applied championships.
- Teams listed in bold indicate "consensus" championships according to official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records designation, 1950 to present.
| Season | Champion(s) | Record | Coach | Selector(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869 | 1–1 | BR, NCF, PD | ||
| 1–1 | PD | |||
| 1870 | 1–0 | BR, NCF, PD | ||
| 1871 | None (no games) |
N/A | N/A | |
| 1872 | 1–0 | BR, NCF, PD | ||
| 1–0 | PD | |||
| 1873 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
1–0 | BR, NCF, PD | |
| 1874 | 2–1–1 | PD | ||
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
2–0 | BR, PD | ||
| 3–0 | NCF, PD | |||
| 1875 | 3–1–1 | PD | ||
| 4–0 | NCF, PD | |||
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
2–0 | BR, PD | ||
| 1876 | 3–0 | BR, NCF, PD | ||
| 1877 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
2–0–1 | BR, PD | |
| 3–0–1 | NCF, PD | |||
| 1878 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
6–0 | BR, NCF, PD | |
| 1879 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
4–0–1 | BR, NCF, PD | |
| 3–0–2 | PD | |||
| 1880 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
4–0–1 | NCF, PD | |
| 4–0–1 | BR, NCF, PD | |||
| 1881 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
7–0–2 | BR, PD | |
| 5–0–1 | NCF, PD | |||
| 1882 | 8–0 | BR, NCF, PD | ||
| 1883 | 9–0 | BR, HAF, NCF, PD | ||
| 1884 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
9–0–1 | BR, PD | |
| 8–0–1 | HAF, NCF, PD | |||
| 1885 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
9–0 | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1886 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
7–0–1 | BR, PD | |
| 9–0–1 | HAF, NCF, PD | |||
| 1887 | 9–0 | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1888 | 13–0 | Walter Camp Walter Camp Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1889 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
10–0 | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1890 | 11–0 | George Adams, George Stewart | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1891 | 13–0 | Walter Camp Walter Camp Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1892 | 13–0 | Walter Camp Walter Camp Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1893 | Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
11–0 | BR, HAF, HS, NCF | |
| 10–1 | William Rhodes William Rhodes (American football) William Castle "Billy" Rhodes was American football player and coach. Rhodes played tackle at Yale University from 1887 to 1890 and was selected for the 1890 College Football All-America Team... |
PD | ||
| 1894 | 12–0 | George Washington Woodruff George Washington Woodruff Note: Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. 1894 Poll Results = Penn: Parke H. Davis, Princeton: Houlgate, Yale: Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke H. Davis1895 Poll Results = Penn: Billingsley, Helms,... |
PD | |
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
8–2 | HS | ||
| 16–0 | William Rhodes William Rhodes (American football) William Castle "Billy" Rhodes was American football player and coach. Rhodes played tackle at Yale University from 1887 to 1890 and was selected for the 1890 College Football All-America Team... |
BR, HAF, NCF, PD | ||
| 1895 | 14–0 | George Washington Woodruff George Washington Woodruff Note: Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. 1894 Poll Results = Penn: Parke H. Davis, Princeton: Houlgate, Yale: Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke H. Davis1895 Poll Results = Penn: Billingsley, Helms,... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 13–0–2 | Josh Hartwell Josh Hartwell John Augustus "Josh" Hartwell was an American football player and coach, military officer, and physician. Hartwell attended Yale University, where he played end for Walter Camp's Bulldogs football team from 1888 to 1891... |
PD | ||
| 1896 | 11–0–1 | Parke H. Davis Parke H. Davis Parke Hill Davis was an American football player, coach and historian who retroactively named the national championship teams in American college football from the 1869 through the 1932 seasons. He also named co-national champions at the conclusion of the 1933 season... |
NCF, PD | |
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
10–0–1 | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1897 | 15–0 | George Washington Woodruff George Washington Woodruff Note: Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. 1894 Poll Results = Penn: Parke H. Davis, Princeton: Houlgate, Yale: Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke H. Davis1895 Poll Results = Penn: Billingsley, Helms,... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 9–0–2 | Frank Butterworth Frank Butterworth -External links:... |
PD | ||
| 1898 | 11–0 | William Forbes William Cameron Forbes William Cameron Forbes was an American investment banker and diplomat. He served as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1908 to 1913 and Ambassador of the United States to Japan from 1930 - 1932.... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF | |
| Princeton Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... |
11–0–1 | PD | ||
| 1899 | 10–0–1 | Benjamin Dibblee Benjamin Dibblee Benjamin Harrison Dibblee was an All-American football player who played halfback for Harvard University. Dibblee attended preparatory school at the Groton School where he played on the football team and took a prominent role in athletics... |
HAF, HS, NCF | |
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
12–1 | BR, PD | ||
| 1900 | 12–0 | Malcolm McBride Malcolm McBride -External links:... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1901 | 12–0 | Bill Reid | BR | |
| Michigan 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1901 college football season. In their first year under new head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by the unprecedented total of 550... |
11–0 | Fielding H. Yost | HAF, HS, NCF | |
| 11–1–1 | George S. Stillman George S. Stillman -External links:... |
PD | ||
| 1902 | Michigan 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1902 college football season. In their second year under head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by a combined score of 644 to... |
11–0 | Fielding H. Yost | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD |
| 11–0–1 | Joseph R. Swan Joseph R. Swan Joseph Rockwell Swan was an American investment banker, football player and coach. He played college football for Yale University from 1899 to 1901 and was the head coach of the 1902 team... |
PD | ||
| 1903 | Michigan 1903 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1903 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1903 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost... |
11–0–1 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| 11–0 | Art Hillebrand Art Hillebrand Arthur Ralph Thomas "Doc" Hillebrand was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a tackle for Princeton University. He was head coach for the Navy Midshipmen and then back to his alma mater, Princeton... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1904 | Michigan 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1904 college football season. In the team's fourth season under head coach Fielding H. Yost, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 10–0 record and outscored opponents 567–22. The 1904 team was the fourth of Yost's... |
10–0 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| Minnesota | 13–0 | Henry Williams Henry L. Williams Dr. Henry Lane Williams was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy in 1891 and the University of Minnesota from 1900 to 1921, compiling a career college football record of 141–34–12... |
BR | |
| 12–0 | Carl Williams Carl Sheldon Williams Carl Sheldon "Cap" Williams was an American football player and coach. A Wellington, Ohio native, Williams graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1894 with a bachelor of Science and a medical degree in 1897. Williams played both at Oberlin and University of Pennsylvania and coached at... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1905 | 10–0 | Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF | |
| 10–0 | Jack Owsley Jack Owsley John Ebsworth "Jack" Owsley was an American football player and coach and businessman. He played college football, principally as a left halfback, for Yale University from 1901 to 1904. He was the head coach of Yale's undefeated 1905 football team that outscored opponents 226 to 4... |
CW, PD | ||
| 1906 | 9–0–1 | William Roper William Roper (football) William Winston "Bill" Roper was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute , Princeton University , the University of Missouri , and Swarthmore College ,... |
HAF, NCF | |
| 9–0–1 | Foster Rockwell Foster Rockwell Foster Haven Rockwell was an All-American football player and hotelier. A native of Vermont, Rockwell played football at Yale University and was selected as the quarterback on the 1902 College Football All-America Team and was a member of Skull and Bones... |
BR, CW, PD | ||
| 1907 | 9–0–1 | William F. Knox William F. Knox William F. "Billy" Knox was an American football player and coach and lawyer. He played college football for Yale University and was selected as a first-team All-American halfback in 1906. He was the head coach of the 1907 Yale football team which finished the season with a record of 9–0–1... |
BR, CW, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1908 | 9–0–1 | Percy Haughton Percy Haughton Percy Duncan Haughton was an American football and baseball player and coach in the United States. He served as head football coach at Cornell University from 1899 to 1900, at Harvard University from 1908 to 1916, and at Columbia University from 1923 to 1924, compiling a career college football... |
BR | |
| LSU | 10–0 | Edgar Wingard Edgar Wingard Edgar Ramey Wingard was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at six different schools: Butler University , the University of Pittsburgh , Louisiana State University , the University of Maine , Susquehanna... |
NCF | |
| 11–0–1 | Sol Metzger Sol Metzger Sol S. Metzger was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, college athletics administrator, and sports journalist... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1909 | 10–0 | Howard Jones | BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 1910 | 8–0–1 | Percy Haughton Percy Haughton Percy Duncan Haughton was an American football and baseball player and coach in the United States. He served as head football coach at Cornell University from 1899 to 1900, at Harvard University from 1908 to 1916, and at Columbia University from 1923 to 1924, compiling a career college football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF | |
| 9–0 | Joseph Thompson Joseph H. Thompson Joseph "Colonel Joe" Henry Thompson was a highly decorated World War I veteran, recipient of the Medal of Honor, lawyer, Pennsylvania state legislator, head football coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.... |
NCF | ||
| 1911 | 8–0–1 | Bill Hollenback Bill Hollenback -References:* *, which tracks the Football history of the Union Club of Phoenixville-External links:... |
NCF | |
| 8–0–2 | William Roper William Roper (football) William Winston "Bill" Roper was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute , Princeton University , the University of Missouri , and Swarthmore College ,... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1912 | 9–0 | Percy Haughton Percy Haughton Percy Duncan Haughton was an American football and baseball player and coach in the United States. He served as head football coach at Cornell University from 1899 to 1900, at Harvard University from 1908 to 1916, and at Columbia University from 1923 to 1924, compiling a career college football... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| Penn State | 8–0 | Bill Hollenback Bill Hollenback -References:* *, which tracks the Football history of the Union Club of Phoenixville-External links:... |
NCF | |
| 1913 | Auburn 1913 Auburn Tigers football team The 1913 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1913 college football season. The team was coached by Mike Donahue and was undefeated at 8–0, outscoring opponents 224–13... |
8–0 | Mike Donahue Mike Donahue Michael Joseph "Iron Mike" Donahue was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, baseball, tennis, track, soccer, and golf, and a college athletics administrator... |
BR |
| 7–0 | Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football... |
PD | ||
| 9–0 | Percy Haughton Percy Haughton Percy Duncan Haughton was an American football and baseball player and coach in the United States. He served as head football coach at Cornell University from 1899 to 1900, at Harvard University from 1908 to 1916, and at Columbia University from 1923 to 1924, compiling a career college football... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1914 | 9–0 | Charles Daly Charles Dudley Daly Charles Dudley "Charlie" Daly was an American football player and coach, an author, and served in the United States Army during World War I... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| 7–0 | Robert Zuppke Robert Zuppke Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his... |
PD | ||
| 8–0 | Dave Allerdice Dave Allerdice David Way Allerdice was an American football player and coach in the United States. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1907 to 1909 and coached football at Butler University and the University of Texas at Austin .-Early life and playing career:Allerdice was born in... |
BR | ||
| 1915 | 9–0 | Albert Sharpe Albert Sharpe (American football) Dr. Albert Hayes Sharpe was an All-American football player, coach and athletic director and medical doctor. He played football for Yale University and was selected as a halfback for the 1899 College Football All-America Team. Sharpe was also a star basketball player in the early years of the... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | |
| Oklahoma | 10–0 | Bennie Owen Bennie Owen Benjamin Gilbert Owen was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball... |
BR | |
| 8–0 | Glenn Warner Glenn Scobey Warner Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach... |
PD | ||
| 1916 | 9–0 | Charles Daly Charles Dudley Daly Charles Dudley "Charlie" Daly was an American football player and coach, an author, and served in the United States Army during World War I... |
PD | |
| 8–0 | Glenn Warner Glenn Scobey Warner Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 1917 | 9–0 | John Heisman John Heisman John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the... |
BR, HAF, HS, NCF | |
| 1918 | Michigan 1918 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1918 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1918 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost in his 18th season with the program. The 1918 team played in a season shortened by World War I travel restrictions and the 1918... |
5–0 | Fielding H. Yost | BR, NCF |
| 4–1 | Glenn Warner Glenn Scobey Warner Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach... |
HAF, HS, NCF | ||
| 1919 | Centre 1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team The 1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team represented Centre College in the 1919 college football season. The Praying Colonels scored 485 points while allowing 23 points and finished their season with a perfect record of 9-0-0 and as national champions according to some contemporary and later... |
9–0 | Charley Moran Charley Moran Charles Barthell Moran , nicknamed "Uncle Charley," was an American sportsman who gained renown as both a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as a collegiate and professional football coach.-Early life:... |
SR |
| 9–0–1 | Bob Fisher | CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| 6–1 | Robert Zuppke Robert Zuppke Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his... |
BS, CFRA, PD, SR | ||
| Notre Dame | 9–0 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
NCF, PD | |
| Texas A&M | 10–0 | Dana Bible Dana X. Bible Dana Xenophon Bible was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi College , Louisiana State University , Texas A&M University , the University of Nebraska , and the University of Texas... |
BR, NCF | |
| 1920 | 9–0 | Andy Smith Andy Smith (coach) Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13... |
CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, SR | |
| 8–0–1 | Bob Fisher | BS | ||
| Notre Dame | 9–0 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
BR, PD | |
| 6–0–1 | William Roper William Roper (football) William Winston "Bill" Roper was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute , Princeton University , the University of Missouri , and Swarthmore College ,... |
BS, PD | ||
| 1921 | California 1921 California Golden Bears football team The 1921 California Golden Bears represented the University of California, Berkeley. The Golden Bears offense scored 312 points while the defense allowed 14 points. Led by head coach Andy Smith, the Golden Bears finished the regular season with a record of 9 wins and no losses... |
9–0–1 | Andy Smith Andy Smith (coach) Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13... |
BR, BS, CFRA, SR |
| 8–0 | Gil Dobie Gil Dobie Gilmour "Gloomy Gil" Dobie was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now North Dakota State University , the University of Washington , the United States Naval Academy , Cornell University , and... |
HAF, HS, NCF, PD | ||
| Iowa 1921 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 1921 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the college football season of 1921. The team was coached by Howard Jones.-Preseason:... |
7–0 | Howard Jones | PD | |
| 9–0 | Jock Sutherland Jock Sutherland Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers... |
BS, PD | ||
| 10–0–1 | Greasy Neale | BS | ||
| 1922 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
9–0 | Andy Smith Andy Smith (coach) Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13... |
BR, HS, NCF, SR |
| 8–0 | Gil Dobie Gil Dobie Gilmour "Gloomy Gil" Dobie was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now North Dakota State University , the University of Washington , the United States Naval Academy , Cornell University , and... |
HAF, PD | ||
| 8–0 | William Roper William Roper (football) William Winston "Bill" Roper was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute , Princeton University , the University of Missouri , and Swarthmore College ,... |
BS, CFRA, NCF, PD, SR | ||
| 1923 | 9–0–1 | Andy Smith Andy Smith (coach) Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13... |
HS | |
| 8–0 | Gil Dobie Gil Dobie Gilmour "Gloomy Gil" Dobie was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now North Dakota State University , the University of Washington , the United States Naval Academy , Cornell University , and... |
SR | ||
| 8–0 | Robert Zuppke Robert Zuppke Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his... |
BS, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PD, SR | ||
| Michigan 1923 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1923 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1923 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The Wolverines played their home games at Ferry Field.-Schedule:... |
8–0 | Fielding H. Yost | BR, NCF | |
| 1924 | Notre Dame 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1924 college football season. Coached by Knute Rockne and featuring the "Four Horsemen" backfield of Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden, Notre Dame completed an undefeated,... |
10–0 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR |
| 9–1–1 | Louis Young | PD | ||
| 1925 | Alabama | 10–0 | Wallace Wade Wallace William Wade William Wallace Wade was an American football player and coach of football, basketball and baseball in the United States. He served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 1923 to 1930 and at Duke University from 1931 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1950, compiling a career... |
BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR |
| 8–0 | Jesse Hawley Jesse Hawley (football) Jesse Barnum Hawley was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Iowa from 1910 to 1915 and at Dartmouth College from 1923 to 1928, compiling a career college football record of 63–28–1... |
DiS, PD | ||
| Michigan 1925 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1925 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the college football season of 1925. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The 1925 team compiled a record of 7–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 227 to 3... |
7–1 | Fielding H. Yost | SR | |
| 1926 | Alabama | 9–0–1 | Wallace Wade Wallace William Wade William Wallace Wade was an American football player and coach of football, basketball and baseball in the United States. He served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 1923 to 1930 and at Duke University from 1931 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1950, compiling a career... |
BR, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PS |
| 9–0 | Herb McCracken Herb McCracken G. Herbert McCracken was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Allegheny College from 1921 to 1923 and at Lafayette College from 1924 to 1935, compiling a career college football record of 75–48–7. His 1926 Lafayette Leopards team was recognized as a... |
PD | ||
| Michigan 1926 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1926 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the college football season of 1926. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost in his last season as head coach after 26 years at the institution... |
7–1 | Fielding H. Yost | SR | |
| Navy 1926 Navy Midshipmen football team The 1926 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 1926 college football season.-Schedule:-Final Dickinson rankings:... |
9–0–1 | Bill Ingram Bill Ingram William A. "Bill" Ingram was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary , Indiana University , the United States Naval Academy , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career record of 75–42–9... |
BS, HS | |
| Stanford | 10–0–1 | Glenn Warner Glenn Scobey Warner Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach... |
DiS, HAF, NCF, SR | |
| 1927 | Georgia | 9–1 | George Cecil Woodruff George Cecil Woodruff -Sources: * *-External links:... |
BS, PS |
| 7–0–1 | Robert Zuppke Robert Zuppke Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his... |
BR, DiS, HAF, NCF, PD | ||
| 7–1–1 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
HS | ||
| Texas A&M | 8–0–1 | Dana Bible Dana X. Bible Dana Xenophon Bible was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi College , Louisiana State University , Texas A&M University , the University of Nebraska , and the University of Texas... |
SR | |
| 7–1 | Thomas Jones T. A. Dwight Jones -External links:... |
CFRA | ||
| 1928 | 9–0 | Gus Dorais Gus Dorais Charles Emile "Gus" Dorais was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Notre Dame, where he was an All-American in 1913, and then professionally with the Fort Wayne Friars and Massillon Tigers... |
PD | |
| 10–0 | William Alexander | BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR | ||
| USC 1928 USC Trojans football team The 1928 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1928 college football season. The Trojans went undefeated and won the Pacific Coast Conference championship, but declined to participate in the 1929 Rose Bowl, which attended in their place... |
9–0–1 | Howard Jones | DiS, SR | |
| 1929 | Notre Dame | 9–0 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, NCF, PS, SR |
| 9–1 | Jock Sutherland Jock Sutherland Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers... |
PD | ||
| USC | 10–2 | Howard Jones | HS, SR | |
| 1930 | Alabama | 10–0 | Wallace Wade Wallace William Wade William Wallace Wade was an American football player and coach of football, basketball and baseball in the United States. He served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 1923 to 1930 and at Duke University from 1931 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1950, compiling a career... |
CFRA, PD, SR |
| Notre Dame | 10–0 | Knute Rockne Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history... |
BR, BS, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS | |
| 1931 | 8–1 | Jock Sutherland Jock Sutherland Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers... |
PD | |
| 9–1 | Noble Kizer Noble Kizer -External links:*... |
PD | ||
| USC 1931 USC Trojans football team The 1931 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1931 college football season. After a season opening loss to St. Mary's, it beat the in the 1932 Rose Bowl and won the national championship after shutting out 6 of its opponents.-Schedule:-References:*... |
10–1 | Howard Jones | BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, WS | |
| 1932 | Colgate 1932 Colgate Red Raiders football team The 1932 Colgate Red Raiders football team represented Colgate University in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition... |
9–0 | Andrew Kerr | PD |
| Michigan 1932 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1932 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1932 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke... |
8–0 | Harry Kipke Harry G. Kipke Harry George Kipke was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was the head football coach at Michigan State College in 1928 and at the University of Michigan from 1929–1937, compiling a career record of 49–30–5... |
DiS, PD, SR | |
| USC 1932 USC Trojans football team The 1932 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1932 college football season. It shut out the in the 1933 Rose Bowl, to remain undefeated and win the national championship. The Trojans shut out their opponents eight times and allowed only 13 points the... |
10–0 | Howard Jones | BR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, WS | |
| 1933 | Michigan 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke... |
7–0–1 | Harry Kipke Harry G. Kipke Harry George Kipke was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was the head football coach at Michigan State College in 1928 and at the University of Michigan from 1929–1937, compiling a career record of 49–30–5... |
BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR |
| Ohio State 1933 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1933 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1933-1934. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–1, the one loss to Michigan. Ohio State outscored their opponents 161-26 in Sam Willaman's last year as head coach... |
7–1 | Sam Willaman Sam Willaman Samuel Stienneck Willaman was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Iowa State University , Ohio State University , and Western Reserve University , compliling a career college football record of 47–26–9... |
DuS | |
| 9–0 | Fritz Crisler Fritz Crisler Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of... |
PD | ||
| USC | 10–1–1 | Howard Jones | WS | |
| 1934 | Alabama | 10–0 | Frank Thomas | DuS, HS, PS, WS |
| Minnesota | 8–0 | Bernie Bierman Bernie Bierman Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces... |
BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, L, NCF, SR | |
| 1935 | 9–2 | Bernie Moore Bernie Moore -External links:... |
WS | |
| Minnesota | 8–0 | Bernie Bierman Bernie Bierman Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces... |
BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, L, NCF, PS | |
| 9–0 | Fritz Crisler Fritz Crisler Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of... |
DuS | ||
| 12–1 | Matty Bell Matty Bell Madison A. "Matty" Bell was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator in the United States... |
DiS, HS, SR | ||
| 12–1 | Dutch Meyer Dutch Meyer Leo R. "Dutch" Meyer was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Texas Christian University from 1934 to 1952, compiling a record of 109–79–13. His TCU Horned Frogs football teams of 1935 and 1938 have been recognized... |
WS | ||
| 1936 | 9–1–1 | Bernie Moore Bernie Moore -External links:... |
SR, WS | |
| Minnesota | 7–1 | Bernie Bierman Bernie Bierman Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces... |
AP, BR, DiS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS | |
| Pittsburgh 1936 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 1936 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1936 college football season. The Panthers won the Rose Bowl and received a share of the National Championship... |
8–1–1 | Jock Sutherland Jock Sutherland Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers... |
BS, CFRA, HS | |
| 1937 | California 1937 California Golden Bears football team The 1937 California Golden Bears football team, nicknamed the "Thunder Team", represented the University of California, Berkeley in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition. They were led by third-year head coach Leonard "Stub" Allison. The Bears compiled a 10–0–1... |
10–0–1 | Leonard Allison Leonard Allison Leonard B. "Stub" Allison was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Washington , the University of South Dakota , at the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 80–66–5... |
DuS, HAF |
| Pittsburgh 1937 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 1937 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1937 college football season. The Panthers were crowned National Champions. Pitt was also awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the champion of the East... |
9–0–1 | Jock Sutherland Jock Sutherland Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers... |
AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS | |
| 1938 | 8–1 | Elmer Layden Elmer Layden Elmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield... |
DiS | |
| TCU 1938 TCU Horned Frogs football team The 1938 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 1938 college football season. The team was coached by Dutch Meyer and finished with an undefeated season. At season's end, Davey O'Brien won the Heisman Trophy and the Horned Frogs were crowned as national... |
11–0 | Dutch Meyer Dutch Meyer Leo R. "Dutch" Meyer was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Texas Christian University from 1934 to 1952, compiling a record of 109–79–13. His TCU Horned Frogs football teams of 1935 and 1938 have been recognized... |
AP, HAF, NCF, WS | |
| Tennessee 1938 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1938 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1938 college football season. Head coach Robert Neyland fielded his third team at Tennessee after returning from active duty in the United States Army... |
11–0 | Robert Neyland Robert Neyland Robert Reese Neyland, MBE was an American football player and coach and and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He served three stints as the head football coach as the University of Tennessee... |
BR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HS, L, PS, SR | |
| 1939 | 8–0 | Carl Snavely Carl Snavely Carl "The Grey Fox" Snavely was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Bucknell University , the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Cornell University , and Washington University in St... |
L, SR | |
| Texas A&M | 11–0 | Homer Norton Homer H. Norton Homer Hill Norton was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Centenary College of Louisiana from 1919 to 1921 and 1926 to 1933 and at Texas A&M University from 1934 to 1947, compiling a career college football record of... |
AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, WS | |
| USC 1939 USC Trojans football team The 1939 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1939 college football season. It defeated the Tennessee Volunteers in the 1940 Rose Bowl, scoring the only points achieved on the Volunteers all season, ending their 23-game win streak, and winning the... |
8–0–2 | Howard Jones | DiS | |
| 1940 | Minnesota | 8–0 | Bernie Bierman Bernie Bierman Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces... |
AP, B(QPRS), BS, CFRA, DeS, DiS, HS, L, NCF, SR |
| Stanford 1940 Stanford Indians football team The 1940 Stanford Indians football team, nicknamed the "Wow Boys", represented Stanford University in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition during the 1940 season. First-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy inherited a team that finished with a 1–7–1 record the previous... |
10–0 | Clark Shaughnessy Clark Shaughnessy Clark Daniel Shaughnessy was an American football coach and innovator. He is sometimes called the "father of the T formation", although that system had previously been used as early as the 1880s. Shaughnessy did, however, modernize the obsolescent T formation to make it once again relevant in the... |
BR, HAF, PS | |
| Tennessee 1940 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1940 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1940 college football season. Head coach Robert Neyland led his team to a 10-1 record including eight shut-outs and out-scored his opponents 332-45. The 1940 Tennessee Volunteers won the school's second... |
10–1 | Robert Neyland Robert Neyland Robert Reese Neyland, MBE was an American football player and coach and and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He served three stints as the head football coach as the University of Tennessee... |
DuS, WS | |
| 1941 | Alabama | 9–2 | Frank Thomas | HS |
| Minnesota | 8–0 | Bernie Bierman Bernie Bierman Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces... |
AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR | |
| Texas | 8–1–1 | Dana Bible Dana X. Bible Dana Xenophon Bible was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi College , Louisiana State University , Texas A&M University , the University of Nebraska , and the University of Texas... |
B(QPRS), WS | |
| 1942 | Georgia | 11–1 | Wally Butts Wally Butts James Wallace "Wally" Butts, Jr. was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1960, compiling a record of 140–86–9... |
B(QPRS), BR, DeS, HS, L, PS, SR, WS |
| Ohio State 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by WB Les Horvath and QB/Captain George Lynn. they were the first national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown. Because the Big Ten Conference did not let its teams participate in any game... |
9–1 | Paul Brown Paul Brown Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League... |
AP, BS, DuS, CFRA, NCF | |
| Wisconsin 1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team The 1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1942 college football season.-Schedule:... |
8–1–1 | Harry Stuhldreher Harry Stuhldreher Harry Augustus Stuhldreher was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played quarterback at University of Notre Dame from 1922 to 1924, where he was a three-time All-American and member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield... |
HAF | |
| 1943 | Notre Dame 1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1943 college football season. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy, ended the season with 9 wins and 1 loss, winning the national championship. The 1943 team became the fourth Irish team to win the... |
9–1 | Frank Leahy Frank Leahy Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| 1944 | Army | 9–0 | Earl Blaik Earl Blaik Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| Ohio State 1944 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1944 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1944-1945. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–0 record and Widdoes being 1-0 against Michigan... |
9–0 | Carroll Widdoes Carroll Widdoes Carroll C. Widdoes was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Ohio State University and Ohio University , compiling a career record of 58–38–5... |
NCF, SR | |
| 1945 | Alabama | 10–0 | Frank Thomas | NCF |
| Army | 9–0 | Earl Blaik Earl Blaik Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS | |
| 1946 | Army | 9–0–1 | Earl Blaik Earl Blaik Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college... |
BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, PS |
| Georgia | 11–0 | Wally Butts Wally Butts James Wallace "Wally" Butts, Jr. was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1960, compiling a record of 140–86–9... |
WS | |
| Notre Dame 1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1946 college football season. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy, ended the season with 8 wins and 1 tie, winning the national championship. The 1946 team became the fifth Irish team to win the... |
8–0–1 | Frank Leahy Frank Leahy Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive... |
AP, B(QPRS), BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR | |
| 1947 | Michigan 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team, nicknamed the "Mad Magicians", represented the University of Michigan in the 1947 college football season. Coached by Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines finished undefeated and untied with a 10–0 record... |
10–0 | Fritz Crisler Fritz Crisler Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of... |
B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR |
| Notre Dame 1947 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1947 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1947 college football season. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy, ended the season with 9 wins and no losses, winning the national championship. The 1947 team became the sixth Irish team to win the... |
9–0 | Frank Leahy Frank Leahy Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive... |
AP, HAF, WS | |
| 1948 | Michigan 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan during the 1948 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.-Schedule:... |
9–0 | Bennie Oosterbaan Bennie Oosterbaan Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| 1949 | Notre Dame 1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1949 college football season. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy, ended the season with 10 wins and no losses, winning the national championship. The 1949 team became the seventh Irish team to win... |
10–0 | Frank Leahy Frank Leahy Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| Oklahoma | 11–0 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
CFRA | |
| 1950 | Kentucky 1950 Kentucky Wildcats football team The 1950 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1950 college football season. The offense scored 393 points while the defense allowed 69 points... |
11–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
SR |
| Oklahoma 1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1950-1951.-Schedule:... |
10–1 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
AP, B(QPRS), HAF, L, UPI, WS | |
| Princeton 1950 Princeton Tigers football team The 1950 Princeton Tigers football team represented Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition during the 1950 season. The Tigers were led by sixth-year head coach Charlie Caldwell, a future College Football Hall of Fame inductee, who utilized an... |
9–0 | Charley Caldwell | BS, PS | |
| Tennessee 1950 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1950 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1950 college football season. Led by head coach Robert Neyland, the Volunteers lost only one game, a 7–0 upset at Mississippi State in the second game of the season... |
11–1 | Robert Neyland Robert Neyland Robert Reese Neyland, MBE was an American football player and coach and and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He served three stints as the head football coach as the University of Tennessee... |
BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, NCF, SR | |
| 1951 | 11–0–1 | Bobby Dodd Bobby Dodd Robert Lee Dodd was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, something that only three people have accomplished.... |
B(QPRS), BS | |
| 9–0–1 | Ray Eliot Ray Eliot Raymond Eliot Nusspickel was an American football and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach Illinois College from 1933 to 1936 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1942 to 1959, compiling a career college football... |
BS | ||
| Maryland 1951 Maryland Terrapins football team The 1951 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association college football in its 31st season as a member of the Southern Conference. Maryland outscored its opponents, 381–74, and finished the season with a 10–0 record, including... |
10–0 | Jim Tatum Jim Tatum James M. "Big Jim" Tatum was an American football and baseball player and coach. Tatum served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the University of Oklahoma , and the University of Maryland, College Park , compiling a career college football record of... |
CFRA, DeS, DuS, NCF, SR | |
| Michigan State 1951 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1951 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1951 college football season.The Spartans played their home games at Macklin Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan... |
9–0 | Biggie Munn Biggie Munn Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship... |
BR, HAF, PS | |
| Tennessee 1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1951 college football season. In his next to last season as head coach, Robert Neyland led Tennessee to their second consecutive national title and the fourth during his tenure. 1951 was also Neyland's ninth... |
10–1 | Robert Neyland Robert Neyland Robert Reese Neyland, MBE was an American football player and coach and and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He served three stints as the head football coach as the University of Tennessee... |
AP, L, UPI, WS | |
| 1952 | 12–0 | Bobby Dodd Bobby Dodd Robert Lee Dodd was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, something that only three people have accomplished.... |
B(QPRS), BR, INS, PS, SR | |
| Michigan State 1952 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1952 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1952 college football season. The Spartans had an undefeated season and won the National Championship.-Schedule:-Rivalries:... |
9–0 | Biggie Munn Biggie Munn Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship... |
AP, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, SR, UPI, WS | |
| 1953 | Maryland 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team The 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association college football in its first season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference . Maryland outscored its opponents 298–38 and recorded six defensive shutouts. Jim Tatum... |
10–1 | Jim Tatum Jim Tatum James M. "Big Jim" Tatum was an American football and baseball player and coach. Tatum served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the University of Oklahoma , and the University of Maryland, College Park , compiling a career college football record of... |
AP, INS, UPI |
| Notre Dame | 9–0–1 | Frank Leahy Frank Leahy Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive... |
BR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS | |
| 9–1–1 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
B(QPRS), CFRA | ||
| 1954 | Ohio State 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by QB Dave Leggett and captains John Borton and Dick Brubaker. They were the second national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes... |
10–0 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, HAF, INS, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| 9–0 | Henry Sanders Henry Russell Sanders Henry Russell "Red" Sanders was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Vanderbilt University and the University of California at Los Angeles , compiling a career college football record of 102–41–3... |
CFRA, DuS, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, UPI | ||
| 1955 | 9–1 | Duffy Daugherty Duffy Daugherty Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships... |
BS | |
| Oklahoma 1955 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1955 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1955-1956. It was the 61st season of play for the Sooners. The team was led by Hall of Fame head coach Bud Wilkinson... |
11–0 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, INS, L, NCF, PS, SR, UPI, WS | |
| 1956 | 10–1 | Bobby Dodd Bobby Dodd Robert Lee Dodd was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, something that only three people have accomplished.... |
B(QPRS), SR | |
| Iowa 1956 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 1956 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1956 college football season. The Hawkeyes were champions of the Big Ten Conference and beat the Oregon State Beavers in the Rose Bowl, a rematch of a regular season game.... |
9–1 | Forest Evashevski Forest Evashevski Forest "Evy" Evashevski was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1940 and with the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks in 1942... |
CFRA | |
| Oklahoma 1956 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1956 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1956-1957. It was the 62nd season of play for the Sooners. The team was led by Hall of Fame head coach Bud Wilkinson... |
10–0 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
AP, BR, BS, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, INS, L, NCF, SR, UPI, WS | |
| Tennessee 1956 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1956 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1956 college football season. The Volunteers offense scored 275 points while the defense allowed 88 points. Bowden Wyatt was the team's head coach and led the club to an appearance in the Sugar... |
10–1 | Bowden Wyatt Bowden Wyatt -External links:... |
SR | |
| 1957 | Auburn 1957 Auburn Tigers football team The 1957 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1957 college football season. Coached by Ralph "Shug" Jordan, Auburn went 10–0 and was awarded national title AP Poll, even though they were on probation and did not participate in a bowl game. Ohio State was named the... |
10–0 | Ralph Jordan Ralph Jordan James Ralph "Shug" Jordan was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Auburn from 1951 to 1975, where he compiled a record of 176–83–6. He is the winningest coach in Auburn Tigers football... |
AP, BR, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PS, SR, WS |
| 8–1 | Duffy Daugherty Duffy Daugherty Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships... |
DuS | ||
| Ohio State 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by captains Galen Cisco and Leo Brown. They were the third national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes... |
9–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
BS, DeS, FWAA, INS, L, UPI | |
| 10–1 | Bud Wilkinson Bud Wilkinson Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14... |
B(QPRS) | ||
| 1958 | Iowa 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1958 college football season. The team was coached by Forest Evashevski and captained by fullback John Nocera... |
8–1–1 | Forest Evashevski Forest Evashevski Forest "Evy" Evashevski was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1940 and with the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks in 1942... |
FWAA |
| LSU 1958 LSU Tigers football team The 1958 LSU Tigers segregated football team represented Louisiana State University during the 1958 college football season. Under head coach Paul Dietzel, the Tigers cruised to an undefeated season capped by a win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl... |
11–0 | Paul Dietzel Paul Dietzel Paul Dietzel is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Louisiana State University , the United States Military Academy , and the University of South Carolina , compiling a career record of 109–95–5... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR, UPI, WS | |
| 1959 | Ole Miss | 10–1 | Johnny Vaught Johnny Vaught John Howard Vaught was an American college football coach at the University of Mississippi from 1947 to 1970 and again in 1973.... |
B(QPRS), DuS, SR |
| 11–0 | Ben Schwartzwalder Ben Schwartzwalder Floyd B. "Ben" Schwartzwalder was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis.Schwartzwalder played center at West Virginia University,... |
AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS | ||
| 1960 | Iowa 1960 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 1960 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1960 college football season. The Hawkeyes were co-Big Ten champions along with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Golden Gophers were selected to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.-Schedule:-Team... |
8–1 | Forest Evashevski Forest Evashevski Forest "Evy" Evashevski was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1940 and with the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks in 1942... |
B(QPRS), BS, L, SR |
| Minnesota | 8–2 | Murray Warmath Murray Warmath Murray Warmath was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi State University from 1952 to 1953 and at the University of Minnesota from 1954 to 1971, compiling a career college football record of 97–84–10... |
AP, FN, NFF, UPI | |
| Ole Miss 1960 Ole Miss Rebels football team The 1960 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1960 college football season. The Rebels were named national champions by the Football Writers Association of America.-Season:... |
10–0–1 | Johnny Vaught Johnny Vaught John Howard Vaught was an American college football coach at the University of Mississippi from 1947 to 1970 and again in 1973.... |
BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, NCF, WS | |
| Missouri 1960 Missouri Tigers football team The 1960 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 1960 college football season and were the 1960 Orange Bowl Champions. This season included one of the most famous Missouri Kansas matchups in history.-Schedule:... |
11–0* | Dan Devine Dan Devine Daniel John Devine was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach football coach at Arizona State University from 1955 to 1957, the University of Missouri from 1958 to 1970, and the University of Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980, compiling a career college football mark of... |
PS | |
| Washington | 10–1 | Jim Owens Jim Owens -External links:... |
HAF | |
| 1961 | Alabama | 11–0 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI, WS |
| Ohio State 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1961-1962. The Buckeyes compiled a 8–0–1 record.-Schedule:-1962 Pro draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*... |
8–0–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
FWAA, PS | |
| 1962 | 9–1–1 | Charles McClendon Charles McClendon Charles Youmans McClendon , also known as Charlie or "Cholly Mac," was an American football player and coach. He served at the head coach at Louisiana State University from 1962 to 1979. McClendon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.-Early years:McClendon was born on... |
B(QPRS) | |
| 10–0 | Johnny Vaught Johnny Vaught John Howard Vaught was an American college football coach at the University of Mississippi from 1947 to 1970 and again in 1973.... |
BR, L, SR | ||
| USC | 11–0 | John McKay | AP, B(QPRS), CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, UPI, WS | |
| 1963 | Texas 1963 Texas Longhorns football team The 1963 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1963 college football season. The Longhorns won their first national championship... |
11–0 | Darrell Royal Darrell Royal Darrell K Royal is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Mississippi State University , the University of Washington , and the University of Texas at Austin , compiling a career college football record of 184–60–5... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS |
| 1964 | Alabama | 10–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
AP, B(QPRS), L, UPI |
| Arkansas | 11–0 | Frank Broyles Frank Broyles John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976... |
BR, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, PS, SR | |
| Michigan 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bump Elliott, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a final record of 9–1 after defeating Oregon State in the Rose Bowl, 34–7. The team had two first-team All-Americans in quarterback Bob Timberlake and defensive tackle Bill... |
9–1 | Bump Elliott Bump Elliott Chalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan... |
DuS | |
| Notre Dame | 9–1 | Ara Parseghian Ara Parseghian Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6... |
DeS, FN, NFF | |
| 1965 | Alabama | 9–1–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
AP, CFRA, FWAA, NCF |
| Michigan State 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team represented the Michigan State University in the 1965 college football season. The Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and competed in the 1966 Rose Bowl... |
10–1 | Duffy Daugherty Duffy Daugherty Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships... |
B(QPRS), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NFF, PS, SR, UPI | |
| 1966 | Alabama | 11–0 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
B(QPRS), SR |
| Michigan State 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1966 college football season.-Regular season:The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football vs. Notre Dame football game remains one of the greatest, and most controversial, games in college football history... |
9–0–1 | Duffy Daugherty Duffy Daugherty Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships... |
CFRA, HAF, NFF, PS | |
| Notre Dame 1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1966 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 9 wins and one tie, winning the national championship... |
9–0–1 | Ara Parseghian Ara Parseghian Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6... |
AP, BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI | |
| 1967 | Notre Dame | 8–2 | Ara Parseghian Ara Parseghian Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6... |
DuS |
| 10–1 | Chuck Fairbanks Chuck Fairbanks Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL.... |
PS | ||
| USC | 10–1 | John McKay | AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI | |
| Tennessee 1967 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1967 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1967 college football season. The Volunteers offense scored 283 points while the defense allowed 141 points. Led by head coach Doug Dickey, the Volunteers won the Southeastern Conference and competed in the... |
9–2 | Doug Dickey Doug Dickey Douglas Adair "Doug" Dickey is a former American college football player and coach and college athletics administrator. Dickey is a South Dakota native who was raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida, where he played college football... |
L | |
| 1968 | Georgia | 8–1–2 | Vince Dooley Vince Dooley Vincent Joseph Dooley was the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his 25 year coaching career at UGA, Dooley compiled a 201–77–10 record. His teams won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1980 national championship... |
L |
| Ohio State 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team is considered one of the strongest in OSU history, fielding 11 All-Americans and six first-round NFL draft picks... |
10–0 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI | |
| 9–1–1 | Darrell Royal Darrell Royal Darrell K Royal is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Mississippi State University , the University of Washington , and the University of Texas at Austin , compiling a career college football record of 184–60–5... |
DeS, MGR, SR | ||
| 1969 | Ohio State 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1969-1970. The Buckeyes compiled a 8–1 record.-Schedule:-1970 NFL draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*... |
8–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
MGR |
| Penn State | 11–0 | Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with... |
R(FACT), SR | |
| Texas 1969 Texas Longhorns football team The 1969 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1969 college football season. The Longhorns won all of their games to finish 11-0 and win their second consensus National Championship in school history... |
11–0 | Darrell Royal Darrell Royal Darrell K Royal is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Mississippi State University , the University of Washington , and the University of Texas at Austin , compiling a career college football record of 184–60–5... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI | |
| 1970 | Arizona State 1970 Arizona State Sun Devils football team The 1970 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 1970 college football season. The offense scored 405 points while the defense allowed 148 points. Led by head coach Frank Kush, the Sun Devils won the Peach Bowl.... |
11–0 | Frank Kush Frank Kush Frank Joseph Kush is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1... |
PS |
| Nebraska 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1970 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln... |
11–0–1 | Bob Devaney Bob Devaney Robert S. "Bob" Devaney was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 136–30–7... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, R(FACT), SR | |
| 10–1 | Ara Parseghian Ara Parseghian Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6... |
MGR, R(FACT), SR | ||
| Ohio State 1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1970 college football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–0 regular season record to attain a #2 ranking... |
9–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
NFF | |
| Texas 1970 Texas Longhorns football team The 1970 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1970 college football season. The Longhorns shared the National Championship with Nebraska... |
10–1 | Darrell Royal Darrell Royal Darrell K Royal is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Mississippi State University , the University of Washington , and the University of Texas at Austin , compiling a career college football record of 184–60–5... |
B(QPRS), L, NFF, R(FACT), UPI | |
| 1971 | Nebraska 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1971 college football season. Nebraska was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln... |
13–0 | Bob Devaney Bob Devaney Robert S. "Bob" Devaney was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 136–30–7... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI |
| 1972 | USC | 12–0 | John McKay | AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SR, UPI |
| 1973 | Alabama | 11–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
B(QPRS), UPI |
| Michigan 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler... |
10–0–1 | Bo Schembechler Bo Schembechler Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8... |
NCF, PS | |
| Notre Dame 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1973 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 11 wins and no losses, winning the national championship... |
11–0 | Ara Parseghian Ara Parseghian Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6... |
AP, BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF | |
| Ohio State 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1973-1974. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–0–1 record, including the 1974 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they won 42–21 against the USC Trojans.-Schedule:-1974... |
10–0–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
NCF, PS, R(FACT), SR | |
| Oklahoma 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1973 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where... |
10–0–1 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
CFRA, DeS, DuS, SR | |
| 1974 | Ohio State 1974 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1974 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1974-1975. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–2 record, including the 1975 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost 18–17 to the Southern California... |
10–2 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
MGR |
| Oklahoma 1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1974-1975. This was the first of three national championship squads for head coach Barry Switzer. Only one opponent played the Sooners within 14 points and four failed to score a... |
11–0 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, PS, R(FACT), SR | |
| USC | 10–1–1 | John McKay | FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, UPI | |
| 1975 | Alabama | 11–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
MGR |
| Arizona State 1975 Arizona State Sun Devils football team The 1975 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 1975 college football season. The offense scored 347 points while the defense allowed 127 points... |
12–0 | Frank Kush Frank Kush Frank Joseph Kush is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1... |
NCF, SN | |
| Ohio State 1975 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 1975 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1975-1976. The Buckeyes compiled a 11–1 record, including the 1976 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost 23–10 to the UCLA Bruins.In 1975, Archie Griffin would... |
11–1 | Woody Hayes Woody Hayes Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio... |
B(QPRS), HAF, MGR, PS, R(FACT) | |
| Oklahoma 1975 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1975 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1975-1976. The team was helmed by Barry Switzer in his third season as head coach. After sailing through their first eight games, Oklahoma suffered a surprising home loss to Kansas,... |
11–1 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SR, UPI | |
| 1976 | Pittsburgh 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1976 college football season and is recognized as that season's consensus National Champions... |
12–0 | Johnny Majors Johnny Majors Johnny Majors is a former American football player and coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player award, in 1955 and 1956. He finished second to Paul Hornung in voting for... |
AP, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI |
| USC | 11–1 | John Robinson | B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, MGR | |
| 1977 | Alabama | 11–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
CFRA |
| Arkansas | 11–1 | Lou Holtz Lou Holtz Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States... |
R(FACT) | |
| Notre Dame 1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1977 college football season. The Irish, coached by Dan Devine, ended the season with 11 wins and one loss, winning the national championship... |
11–1 | Dan Devine Dan Devine Daniel John Devine was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach football coach at Arizona State University from 1955 to 1957, the University of Missouri from 1958 to 1970, and the University of Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980, compiling a career college football mark of... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI | |
| Texas 1977 Texas Longhorns football team The 1977 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1977 college football season.-Regular season:The Longhorns finished the regular season with a 11-0-0 record. As a collegiate football player at the University of Texas at Austin, Earl Campbell won the... |
11–1 | Fred Akers Fred Akers -External links:*... |
B(QPRS), R(FACT), SR | |
| 1978 | Alabama | 11–1 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
AP, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R(FACT) |
| Oklahoma 1978 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1978 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1978 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where... |
11–1 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
DeS, DuS, HAF, L, MGR, PS, R(FACT), SR | |
| USC 1978 USC Trojans football team The 1978 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following the season, the Trojans were crowned national champions according to the Coaches Poll... |
12–1 | John Robinson | B(QPRS), BR, FN, HAF, NCF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI | |
| 1979 | Alabama 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team In 1979 the Alabama Crimson Tide capped off a decade of remarkable success with the seventh perfect season in program history, after 1925, 1930, 1934, 1945, 1961, and 1966 . The Tide defense recorded five shutouts and allowed only two teams to score in double digits... |
12–0 | Bear Bryant Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI |
| USC | 11–0–1 | John Robinson | CFRA | |
| 1980 | 10–2 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
R(FACT) | |
| Georgia | 12–0 | Vince Dooley Vince Dooley Vincent Joseph Dooley was the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his 25 year coaching career at UGA, Dooley compiled a 201–77–10 record. His teams won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1980 national championship... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI | |
| Nebraska 1980 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1980 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
10–2 | Tom Osborne | R(FACT) | |
| Oklahoma 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1980 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where... |
10–2 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
DuS, MGR | |
| Pittsburgh 1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1980 college football season. Despite losing one game, the Panthers were named National Champions by several selectors of national championships including the College Football Researchers Association, the New... |
11–1 | Jackie Sherrill Jackie Sherrill Jackie Sherrill is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Washington State University , the University of Pittsburgh , Texas A&M University , and Mississippi State University , compiling a career college football record of 180–120–4... |
CFRA, DeS, NYT, R(FACT), SR | |
| 1981 | Clemson 1981 Clemson Tigers football team The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium... |
12–0 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI |
| Nebraska 1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
9–3 | Tom Osborne | NCF | |
| Penn State | 10–2 | Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with... |
DuS | |
| Pittsburgh 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1981 college football season. Despite having one loss, the Panthers were selected as National Champions by the National Championship Foundation and Montgomery Full Season Championship, although a national... |
11–1 | Jackie Sherrill Jackie Sherrill Jackie Sherrill is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Washington State University , the University of Pittsburgh , Texas A&M University , and Mississippi State University , compiling a career college football record of 180–120–4... |
NCF | |
| SMU 1981 SMU Mustangs football team The 1981 Southern Methodist University Mustangs football team represented the Southern Methodist University in the 1981 college football season. The Mustangs offense scored 365 points while the defense allowed 137 points. At season’s end, the Mustangs were ranked fifth in the nation. This was the... |
10–1 | Ron Meyer Ron Meyer -References:... |
NCF | |
| 10–1–1 | Fred Akers Fred Akers -External links:*... |
NCF | ||
| 1982 | Nebraska 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
12–1 | Tom Osborne | B(QPRS) |
| Penn State | 11–1 | Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| SMU 1982 SMU Mustangs football team The 1982 SMU Mustangs football team represented the Southern Methodist University in the 1982 college football season. The club was victorious in the 1983 Cotton Bowl Classic.-Regular season:... |
11–0–1 | Bobby Collins Bobby Collins (American football) -References:... |
HAF | |
| 1983 | Auburn 1983 Auburn Tigers football team The 1983 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Coached by Pat Dye, the team finished the season with a 11–1 record and won their first SEC title since 1957.... |
11–1 | Pat Dye Pat Dye Patrick Fain Dye is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at East Carolina University , the University of Wyoming , and Auburn University compiling a career college football record of 153–62–5... |
BR, CFRA, NYT, R(FACT), SR |
| Miami 1983 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1983 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the first of five won by the University of Miami.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Coaching staff:-Schedule:... |
11–1 | Howard Schnellenberger Howard Schnellenberger Howard Schnellenberger is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. He is currently in his final season as head coach of Florida Atlantic University, having announced his retirement on August 11, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011 season... |
AP, DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| Nebraska 1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team The 1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln] in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska... |
12–1 | Tom Osborne | B(QPRS), DeS, L, MGR, PS, R(FACT), SR | |
| 1984 | BYU 1984 BYU Cougars football team The 1984 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 1984 college football season. The Cougars went undefeated en route to winning the 1984 Holiday Bowl against Michigan and being named national champions by the AP and Coaches Poll... |
13–0 | LaVell Edwards LaVell Edwards R. LaVell Edwards is a former American football coach of Brigham Young University . With 257 career victories, he ranks as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time... |
AP, BR, CFRA, FWAA, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN |
| Florida | 9–1–1 | Galen Hall Galen Hall Galen Samuel Hall is an American college and professional football coach and former player. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and an alumnus of Penn State University, where he played college football... |
DeS, DuS, MGR, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR | |
| Nebraska 1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1984Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
10–2 | Tom Osborne | L | |
| Washington | 11–1 | Don James | B(QPRS), FN, NCF | |
| 1985 | Florida | 9–1–1 | Galen Hall Galen Hall Galen Samuel Hall is an American college and professional football coach and former player. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and an alumnus of Penn State University, where he played college football... |
SR |
| Michigan 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1985 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler... |
10–1–1 | Bo Schembechler Bo Schembechler Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8... |
MGR | |
| Oklahoma 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 1985-1986. This year was Barry Switzer's 13th season as head coach. The Sooners ended this season with 11 wins and a sole loss coming to the Miami Hurricanes in Norman, in a game in... |
11–1 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| 1986 | Miami | 11–1 | Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Johnson (American football coach) James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a... |
R(FACT) |
| Oklahoma 1986 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1986 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:-Team players in the NFL:... |
11–1 | Barry Switzer Barry Switzer Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a... |
B(QPRS), CFRA, DeS, DuS, NYT, SR | |
| Penn State | 12–0 | Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with... |
AP, BR, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| 1987 | 11–1 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
B(QPRS) | |
| Miami 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1987 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the second of five won by the University of Miami in football.-Pre-Season:... |
12–0 | Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Johnson (American football coach) James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| 1988 | Miami 1988 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1988 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1988 NCAA College Football season. It would be Jimmy Johnson’s final season as the Hurricanes head coach.-Schedule & Results:-Team Players drafted into in the NFL:-External links:*... |
11–1 | Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Johnson (American football coach) James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a... |
B(QPRS) |
| Notre Dame 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1988 college football season. The Irish, coached by Lou Holtz, ended the season with 12 wins and no losses, winning the national championship... |
12–0 | Lou Holtz Lou Holtz Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN | |
| 1989 | Miami 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1989 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the third won by the University of Miami in football.-Offense:-Defense:-Special Teams:-Schedule:... |
11–1 | Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona... |
AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, UPI, USAT/CNN |
| Notre Dame | 12–1 | Lou Holtz Lou Holtz Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States... |
B(QPRS), ERS, R(FACT), SR | |
| 1990 | Colorado 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team The 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 338 points while the defense allowed 160 points. Led by head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado competed against Notre Dame in the... |
11–1–1 | Bill McCartney Bill McCartney William Paul McCartney is a former American football player and coach and the founder of the Promise Keepers men's ministry. He was the head coach at the University of Colorado from 1982 to 1994, where he compiled a record of 93–55–5 and won three consecutive Big Eight Conference... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, USAT/CNN |
| Georgia Tech 1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team The 1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Yellow Jackets offense scored 379 points while the defense allowed 186 points. Led by head coach Bobby Ross, the Yellow Jackets participated in the... |
11–0–1 | Bobby Ross Bobby Ross Robert Joseph Ross is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at The Citadel , the University of Maryland, College Park , the Georgia Institute of Technology , and the United States Military Academy , compiling a career college football record of 103–101–2... |
DuS, NCF, R(FACT), SR, UPI | |
| Miami 1990 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1990 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1990 NCAA College Football season.-Schedule & Results:-Awards and honors:*Craig Erickson, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award*Russell Maryland, Outland Trophy... |
10–2 | Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona... |
ERS, NYT, R(FACT), SR | |
| Washington 1990 Washington Huskies football team The 1990 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1990 college football season. Led by head coach Don James, his top assistants were coordinators Gary Pinkel and Jim Lambright... |
10–2 | Don James | R(FACT) | |
| 1991 | Miami 1991 Miami Hurricanes football team The 1991 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season, as determined by the AP Poll. 1991 was a split championship year, though, as the Washington Huskies finished #1 in the Coaches' Poll... |
12–0 | Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona... |
AP, BR, CFRA, ERS, NCF, NYT, SN, SR |
| Washington 1991 Washington Huskies football team The 1991 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1991 college football season. Head coach Don James was assisted by coordinators Keith Gilbertson and Jim Lambright , both head coaches themselves within two years.The 1991 team was arguably the finest team in... |
12–0 | Don James | B(QPRS), DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, R(FACT), SR, UPI/NFF, USAT/CNN | |
| 1992 | Alabama 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1992 college football season. This was the team's third season under head coach Gene Stallings. They played their home games at both Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Legion Field in Birmingham,... |
13–0 | Gene Stallings Gene Stallings Eugene Clifton Stallings, Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University , where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI/NFF, USAT/CNN |
| Florida State 1992 Florida State Seminoles football team The 1992 Florida State Seminoles football team finished #2 in the AP and Coaches poll with an 11-1 record. The Seminoles offense scored 446 points while the defense allowed 186 points. Led by head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles competed in the Orange Bowl.... |
11–1 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
SR | |
| 1993 | Auburn 1993 Auburn Tigers football team The 1993 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. Under first-year head coach Terry Bowden, the team went undefeated with a record of 11–0 and finished #4 in the AP Poll. Due to NCAA probation, Auburn was banned from TV and post-season... |
11–0 | Terry Bowden Terry Bowden Terry Bowden is an American football coach at the University of North Alabama. Bowden was previously the head coach at Salem University , Samford University , and Auburn University . Bowden is the son of former Florida State University head football coach Bobby Bowden... |
NCF |
| Florida State 1993 Florida State Seminoles football team The 1993 Florida State Seminoles football team was the national champion of the 1993 college football season. The team finished with a 12-1 record.-Regular season:... |
12–1 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN, USAT/NFF | |
| Nebraska 1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
11–1 | Tom Osborne | NCF | |
| Notre Dame | 11–1 | Lou Holtz Lou Holtz Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States... |
MGR, NCF | |
| 1994 | 10–1–1 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
DuS | |
| Nebraska 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska... |
13–0 | Tom Osborne | AP, AS, B(QPRS), BR, FN, FWAA, NCF, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN, USAT/NFF | |
| Penn State | 12–0 | Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with... |
CCR, DeS, ERS, MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SR | |
| 1995 | Nebraska 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska... |
12–0 | Tom Osborne | AP, AS, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI, USAT/CNN |
| 1996 | Florida 1996 Florida Gators football team The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier... |
12–1 | Steve Spurrier Steve Spurrier Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach... |
AP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/CNN |
| 11–1 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
AS | ||
| 1997 | Michigan 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its third year under head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, defeated Washington State in the 1998... |
12–0 | Lloyd Carr Lloyd Carr Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles... |
AP, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN |
| Nebraska 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:... |
13–0 | Tom Osborne | A&H, AS, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, MGR, NCF, NYT, R(FACT), SR, USAT/ESPN | |
| 1998 | Tennessee 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team The 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tennessee entered the 1998 season coming off an 11–2 record in 1997... |
13–0 | Phillip Fulmer Phillip Fulmer Phillip Fulmer is a TV college football analyst and the former head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who compiled a 152–52 record from 1992–2008 as head coach, but was fired during a 5–7 season in 2008... |
A&H, AP, AS, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, USAT/ESPN |
| 1999 | Florida State 1999 Florida State Seminoles football team The 1999 Florida State Seminoles football team was the national champion of the 1999 college football season. The team finished with a perfect 12-0 record, and was the first in NCAA history to go "wire-to-wire," being ranked continuously as the nation's #1 team from the preseason through the bowl... |
12–0 | Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN |
| 2000 | 11–1 | Butch Davis Butch Davis Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early... |
NYT | |
| Oklahoma 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2000-2001. This season was Bob Stoops's second as head coach. The Sooners finished with a 13-0 record winning the Big 12 Conference and the national championship, the seventh national... |
13–0 | Bob Stoops Bob Stoops Robert Anthony "Bob" Stoops is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. During the 2000 season, Stoops led the Sooners to an Orange Bowl victory and a national championship.... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NCF, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN | |
| 2001 | Miami 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team was the national champion of the 2001 college football season and is considered by many to be the greatest team in college football history.-Pre-season motivation:... |
12–0 | Larry Coker Larry Coker Larry Edward Coker is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio, whose Roadrunners football team begins play in 2011. From 2001 to 2006, Coker served as the head coach at the University of Miami... |
A&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 | Ohio State 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was the national champion of the 2002 college football season. The team was the first in Division I-A history to finish its season at 14–0, and the second to win 14 games, following BYU's 14–1 season in 1996... |
14–0 | Jim Tressel Jim Tressel James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN, W |
| USC 2002 USC Trojans football team The 2002 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2002-2003 NCAA Division I-A college football season.... |
11–2 | Pete Carroll Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High... |
DuS, MGR, SR | |
| 2003 | LSU 2003 LSU Tigers football team The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2003–2004. Coached by Nick Saban, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a bit of controversy, LSU won the BCS National Championship, the first... |
13–1 | Nick Saban Nick Saban Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo... |
A&H, BCS, BR, CM, DeS, DuS, MCFR, NFF, R(FACT), SR, USAT/ESPN, W |
| Oklahoma | 12–2 | Bob Stoops Bob Stoops Robert Anthony "Bob" Stoops is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. During the 2000 season, Stoops led the Sooners to an Orange Bowl victory and a national championship.... |
B(QPRS) | |
| USC 2003 USC Trojans football team The 2003 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2003-2004 NCAA Division I-A college football season... |
12–1 | Pete Carroll Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High... |
AP, CCR, ERS, FWAA, MGR, NYT, SN | |
| 2004 | USC 2004 USC Trojans football team The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004-2005 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Although now vacated for breaking NCAA rules, the team won the 2004 BCS National Championship by winning the 2005 Orange Bowl, that year's BCS National... |
11–0 | Pete Carroll Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, MCFR, MGR, NFF, NYT, R(FACT), SN, SR, W |
| 2005 | Texas 2005 Texas Longhorn football team The 2005 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, winning the Big 12 Conference championship and the national championship. The team was coached by Mack Brown, led on offense by quarterback Vince Young, and played... |
13–0 | Mack Brown Mack Brown William Mack Brown is head coach of The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn football team.Prior to his head coach position at Texas, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. Brown is credited with revitalizing the Texas and North Carolina football programs... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT/ESPN, W |
| 2006 | Florida 2006 Florida Gators football team The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season... |
13–1 | Urban Meyer Urban Meyer Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011... |
AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R(FACT), SN, SR, USAT, W |
| Boise State 2006 Boise State Broncos football team The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 college football season. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference championship with an undefeated 12–0 regular-season record , their second unbeaten regular season in the past three years... |
13–0 | Chris Peterson | A&H | |
| 2007 | LSU 2007 LSU Tigers football team The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football... |
12–2 | Les Miles Les Miles Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State... |
AP, BCS, CCR, FWAA, NFF, SR, USAT |
| Missouri 2007 Missouri Tigers football team The 2007 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in college football's 2007 season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.... |
12–2 | Gary Pinkel Gary Pinkel Gary Robin Pinkel is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a position he has held since the 2001 season. From 1991 to 2000, Pinkel coached at the University of Toledo, where his team won a Mid-American Conference... |
A&H | |
| USC 2007 USC Trojans football team The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl... |
11–2 | Pete Carroll Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High... |
DuS | |
| 2008 | Florida 2008 Florida Gators football team The 2008 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2008 college football season... |
13–1 | Urban Meyer Urban Meyer Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011... |
AP, BCS, BR, CCR, CM, R(FACT), FWAA, NFF, SR, USAT |
| Utah 2008 Utah Utes football team The 2008 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team, coached by 4th year head football coach Kyle Whittingham, plays its home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium... |
13–0 | Kyle Whittingham Kyle Whittingham Kyle Whittingham is the head football coach of the University of Utah Utes. Prior to becoming the head coach at Utah, Whittingham served as Utah's defensive coordinator for ten seasons. He was named head coach of Utah after Urban Meyer left for the Florida Gators in 2004... |
A&H, MCFR, W | |
| 2009 | Alabama 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 18th within the SEC Western Division... |
14–0 | Nick Saban Nick Saban Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, R(FACT), SR, USAT, W |
| 2010 | Auburn 2010 Auburn Tigers football team The 2010 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2010–2011 college football season. The Tigers, led by second year head coach Gene Chizik were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference and played their home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium... |
14–0 | Gene Chizik Gene Chizik Eugene "Gene" Chizik is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Auburn University football team, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Chizik's 2010 Auburn Tigers football team completed a 14–0 season with a victory over Oregon in the BCS... |
A&H, AP, B(QPRS), BCS, BR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, R(FACT) [co-champion], SR, USAT, W |
| Oregon 2010 Oregon Ducks football team The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year.... |
12–1 | Chip Kelly Chip Kelly Charles "Chip" Kelly is the head football coach at the University of Oregon. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football today, the 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2010 Sporting... |
R(FACT) [co-champion] | |
| TCU 2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team The 2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by tenth year head coach Gary Patterson and played its home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas... |
13–0 | Gary Patterson Gary Patterson Gary Patterson is the head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs college football team. He grew up in Rozel, Kansas and played football at Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University. Patterson is married to Kelsey Patterson . He has three sons: Josh, Cade and Blake... |
CCR | |
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 or non-consensus status, as listed in the table above according to the selectors deemed to be major as listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (minus the Harris Interactive poll, 2005–present, that is listed but does not conduct a final poll or award a championship).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). For an alternative independent view of national championship totals for each team, please see the College Football Data Warehouse recognized national champions or Poll era (1936-present) selections in the tables below.
| School | Championships |
|---|---|
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
28 |
| Yale Yale Bulldogs football The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872... |
27 |
| Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
22 |
| Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
21 |
| Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... |
17 |
| Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
17 |
| USC | 17 |
| Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
13 |
| Harvard Harvard Crimson football The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873... |
12 |
| Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
11 |
| Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
11 |
| Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
9 |
| Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
9 |
| Florida State Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
7 |
| LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
7 |
| Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
7 |
| Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
7 |
| Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
7 |
| Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
6 |
| Michigan State Michigan State Spartans football The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level... |
6 |
| Penn Penn Quakers football The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National... |
6 |
| Army Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.... |
5 |
| Auburn Auburn Tigers football Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the... |
5 |
| Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |
5 |
| Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
5 |
| California California Golden Bears football The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to... |
5 |
| Cornell Cornell Big Red football The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation... |
5 |
| Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini football The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51... |
5 |
| Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes football The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
4 |
| Washington Washington Huskies football College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by... |
4 |
| Lafayette Lafayette Leopards The Lafayette Leopards represent the 23 Division I varsity athletic teams of Lafayette College and compete in the Patriot League. There are 11 men's teams, 11 women's teams, and one co-ed team. The club teams also compete as the Leopards... |
3 |
| Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels football The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs... |
3 |
| SMU SMU Mustangs football The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA... |
3 |
| TCU TCU Horned Frogs football The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football... |
3 |
| Texas A&M Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
3 |
| Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
2 |
| Arizona State Arizona State Sun Devils football The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference.... |
2 |
| Chicago Chicago Maroons football The Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power... |
2 |
| Maryland Maryland Terrapins football The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
2 |
| Missouri Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996... |
2 |
| Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
2 |
| BYU Brigham Young University Cougars football The Brigham Young Cougars football team is a college football program representing Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The Cougars won the national championship in 1984 and have a Heisman Trophy winner in Ty Detmer. Since 1965, BYU has claimed 23 conference championships and played in 29 bowl... |
1 |
| Centre Centre Praying Colonels football The Centre Praying Colonels football team represents Centre College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III competition as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference . Despite the school's small size , the football team has historically had success and possesses a... |
1 |
| Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 |
| Colgate Colgate Raiders football The Colgate Raiders football team represents Colgate University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Patriot League.-History:... |
1 |
| Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
1 |
| Columbia | 1 |
| Dartmouth Dartmouth Big Green football The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League... |
1 |
| Detroit Detroit Titans The Detroit Titans are the NCAA Division I team of the University of Detroit Mercy . The school competes in the Horizon League.-Basketball :On April 12, 2008, UDM announced the hiring of Ray McCallum as Men's Basketball Coach... |
1 |
| Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats football The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era... |
1 |
| Navy Navy Midshipmen football The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007... |
1 |
| Oregon Oregon Ducks football The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the... |
1 |
| Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
1 |
| Rutgers Rutgers Scarlet Knights football The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play... |
1 |
| Syracuse Syracuse Orange football The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision... |
1 |
| UCLA UCLA Bruins Football The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll... |
1 |
| Utah Utah Utes football The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles... |
1 |
| Wisconsin Wisconsin Badgers football The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football... |
1 |
| Washington & Jefferson Washington & Jefferson Presidents football The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference... |
1 |
National championship claims by school
The following is a table of known schools' claims on national championships at the highest level of play in college football. Several 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. In addition, because there is no one body overseeing national championships, no standardized requirements exist in order for a school to make a claim on a national championship, as any particular institution is free to make any declaration it deems to be fit. However, all known national championship claims are for seasons in which a National Championship, or share of a championship, was believed to be awarded to that particular school by at least one independent third-party selector. 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. Not all championships awarded by third party selectors, nor those listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, are necessarily claimed by each school. Therefore, these claims represent how each individual school sees their own history on the subject of national championships.
This table below includes only national championship claims originating from each particular school and therefore represents 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, 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.
| School | Claimed National Championships | Seasons | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
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 | |
| Yale Yale Bulldogs football The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872... |
26a | 1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1926 | |
| Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... |
13 | 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009 | |
| Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
11 | 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997 | |
| Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
11 | 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 | |
| USC | 11b | 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004b | |
| Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
9 | 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976 | |
| Harvard Harvard Crimson football The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873... |
7 | 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919 | |
| Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
7 | 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002 | |
| Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
7 | 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000 | |
| Penn Penn Quakers football The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National... |
7 | 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1924 | |
| Michigan St Michigan State Spartans football The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level... |
6 | 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966 | |
| Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
6 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 | |
| Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
6 | 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998 | |
| California California Golden Bears football The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to... |
5 | 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1937 | |
| Cornell Cornell Big Red football The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation... |
5 | 1915, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1939 | |
| Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
5c | 1927, 1942, 1946, 1968, 1980 | |
| Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini football The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51... |
5 | 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951 | |
| Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
5 | 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001 | |
| Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
5 | 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 | |
| Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
4 | 1917, 1928, 1952, 1990 | |
| Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
4 | 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 | |
| Army Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.... |
3 | 1944, 1945, 1946 | |
| Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |
3 | 1996, 2006, 2008 | |
| Lafayette Lafayette Leopards football The Lafayette Leopards football program represents Lafayette College in college football. One of the oldest college football programs in the United States, Lafayette currently plays in the Patriot League at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level... |
3 | 1896, 1921, 1926 | |
| LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
3 | 1958, 2003, 2007 | |
| Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels football The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs... |
3 | 1959, 1960, 1962 | |
| SMU SMU Mustangs football The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA... |
3 | 1935, 1981, 1982 | |
| Auburn Auburn Tigers football Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the... |
2 | 1957, 2010 | |
| Chicago Chicago Maroons football The Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power... |
2 | 1905, 1913 | |
| Florida State Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
2 | 1993, 1999 | |
| Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
2 | 1982, 1986 | |
| TCU TCU Horned Frogs football The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football... |
2 | 1935, 1938 | |
| Washington Washington Huskies football College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by... |
2d | 1960, 1991 | |
| Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
1 | 1964 | |
| Boston College Boston College Eagles football The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division... |
1 | 1940 | |
| BYU | 1 | 1984 | |
| Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1981 | |
| Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
1 | 1990 | |
| Dartmouth Dartmouth Big Green football The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League... |
1 | 1925 | |
| Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes football The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
1e | 1958 | |
| Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats football The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era... |
1 | 1950 | |
| Maryland Maryland Terrapins football The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1953 | |
| Navy Navy Midshipmen football The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007... |
1 | 1926 | |
| Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
1 | 1926 | |
| Syracuse Syracuse Orange football The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision... |
1 | 1959 | |
| Texas A&M Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
1 | 1939 | |
| UCLA UCLA Bruins Football The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll... |
1 | 1954 |
a In Yale's Media Guide Year-By-Year Results section, the 1887 is listed as National Champs, however this title is not referred to elsewhere and is not included in the list of 26 National Championships that are claimed in the media guide or on Yale's athletic website.
bUSC'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." It is unclear whether these sanctions are able to be enforced for a non-NCAA championship claim, or whether it only refers to NCAA Championship events in basketball and tennis. Despite this, USC still retains the 2004 Associated Press National Championship and has not abandoned its claim to a 2004 National Championship.
c In an on-line list of the university's national championships, Georgia lists only two for football (1942 and 1980). However, in Georgia's football media guide, although those years are highlighted as consensus championships, each of the five championships are described separately and those seasons are highlighted as national championships in the year-by-year results.
d Washington's media guide specifically highlights only National Championships in 1960 and 1991, and these are the only years that are depicted as National Championship seasons on signage displayed in Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home of the Washington Huskies...
, although additional championship selections in 1984 and 1990 are also listed in record book section of the media guide.
e Iowa lists the awarding of the 1958 Grantland Rice National Championship
Grantland Rice Award
The Grantland Rice Trophy is an annual award presented in the United States since 1954 to the college football team adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America to be "national champion". Named for the legendary sportswriter, Grantland Rice, the trophy was the first national...
in various publications, but does not appear to directly comment on a claim.
College Football Data Warehouse recognized national champions
College Football Data WarehouseCollege Football Data Warehouse
College Football Data Warehouse is an American college football statistics website. The site has compiled the yearly team records, game-by-game results, championships, and statistics of college football teams, conferences, and head coaches at the NCAA Division I FBS and Division I FCS levels, as...
(CFBDW) is an online resource and database that has collected and researched information on college football and national championship selections. It provides a comprehensive list of national championship selectors and has itself recognized selectors that it has deemed to be the most acceptable throughout history. These include the National Championship Foundation (1869–1882), the Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
(1883–1935), the College Football Researchers Association (1919–1935), the Associated Press Poll (1936–present), and the Coaches Poll (1950–present). From its research, it has compiled a list of Recognized National Championships for each season. Some years include recognition of multiple teams for a particular season. Please note that the CFBDW list of Recognized Champions does not confer any additional legitimacy to the titles. In this regard, some universities claim championships not recognized by CFBDW or do not claim championships that are recognized by CFBDW. Please consult the above table of National championship claims by school or individual team articles and websites for possible additional or alternative national championship claims.
Below is a list of all of the CFBDW recognized national championships from 1869 to present.
| School | Championships | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton Princeton Tigers football The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
26 | 1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1893, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1920, 1922, 1933, 1935 |
| Yale Yale Bulldogs football The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872... |
18 | 1874, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1900, 1907, 1909, 1927 |
| Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
13 | 1919, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 |
| Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... |
12 | 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009 |
| Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
11 | 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997 |
| USC | 10 | 1928, 1931, 1932, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004 |
| Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
9 | 1910, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1936, 1937, 1976 |
| Harvard Harvard Crimson football The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873... |
8 | 1875, 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919 |
| Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
7 | 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002 |
| Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
7 | 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000 |
| Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
6 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 |
| Penn Penn Quakers football The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National... |
6 | 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907, 1908 |
| Army Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.... |
5 | 1914, 1916, 1944, 1945, 1946 |
| Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
5 | 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001 |
| Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
5 | 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 |
| California California Golden Bears football The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to... |
4 | 1920, 1921, 1922, 1937 |
| Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
4 | 1917, 1928, 1952, 1990 |
| Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini football The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51... |
4 | 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927 |
| LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
4 | 1908, 1958, 2003, 2007 |
| Michigan St Michigan State Spartans football The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level... |
4 | 1951, 1952, 1965, 1966 |
| Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
4 | 1911, 1912, 1982, 1986 |
| Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
4 | 1938, 1950, 1951, 1998 |
| Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
4 | 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 |
| Auburn Auburn Tigers football Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the... |
3 | 1913, 1957, 2010 |
| Cornell Cornell Big Red football The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation... |
3 | 1915, 1921, 1922 |
| Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |
3 | 1996, 2006, 2008 |
| Lafayette | 3 | 1896, 1921, 1926 |
| FSU Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
2 | 1993, 1999 |
| Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
2 | 1942, 1980 |
| Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels football The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs... |
2 | 1960, 1962 |
| Texas A&M Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
2 | 1919, 1939 |
| Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
1 | 1964 |
| Boston College Boston College Eagles football The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division... |
1 | 1940 |
| BYU | 1 | 1984 |
| Chicago | 1 | 1905 |
| Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1981 |
| Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
1 | 1990 |
| Dartmouth | 1 | 1925 |
| Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes football The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
1 | 1958 |
| Maryland Maryland Terrapins football The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1953 |
| SMU SMU Mustangs football The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA... |
1 | 1935 |
| Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
1 | 1926 |
| Syracuse Syracuse Orange football The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision... |
1 | 1959 |
| TCU TCU Horned Frogs football The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football... |
1 | 1938 |
| UCLA UCLA Bruins Football The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll... |
1 | 1954 |
| Washington Washington Huskies football College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by... |
1 | 1991 |
Poll era (1936–present)
The polling system first gained widespread consistency with the introduction of the APAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
poll in 1936, followed by the Coaches' Poll in 1950. National championships are often popularly considered to be "consensus" when both of these polls are in agreement with their national championship selections, although other selectors exist and do make alternative selections. A more modern incarnation, the Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
(BCS), is a consortium of college football conferences that uses a combination of various computer rankings and human polls to mathematically determine a post-season matchup between the two top teams as determined by its formula. The USA Today Coaches' Poll is contractually obligated to name the BCS champion as its national champion.
AP Poll
The APAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
college football poll has a long history. The news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
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
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Assistant Director of Media Relations, but not recognized in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records) and then continuously from 1936. Due to the long-standing historical ties between individual college football conferences and high-paying bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
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.
While the AP Poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1961 the wire service only ranked 20 teams. And from 1962 to 1967 only 10 teams were recognized. From 1968 to 1988, the AP again resumed its Top 20 before expanding to 25 teams in 1989.
Until the 1968 college football season
1968 college football season
In the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
, the final AP Poll of the season was released following the end of the regular season, with the exception of the 1965 season
1965 college football season
During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press was the most popular,...
. In 1964, Alabama was named the national champion in the final AP Poll following the completion of the regular season, but lost in the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
to Texas, leaving Arkansas as the only undefeated, untied team after the Razorbacks defeated Nebraska
1964 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1964 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska and member of the Big Eight Conference in the 1964 college football season...
in the Cotton Bowl Classic. In 1965, the AP's decision to wait to crown its champion paid off, as top-ranked Michigan State
1965 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team represented the Michigan State University in the 1965 college football season. The Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and competed in the 1966 Rose Bowl...
lost to in the Rose Bowl
1966 Rose Bowl
The 1966 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1966 was the 52nd Rose Bowl Game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the #1 ranked Michigan State Spartans by a score of 14–12. UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.-Teams:...
, number two Arkansas lost to in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and fourth-ranked Alabama defeated third-ranked Nebraska
1965 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1965 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska and member of the Big Eight Conference in the 1965 college football season...
in the Orange Bowl
1966 Orange Bowl
The 1966 Orange Bowl of the Orange Bowl featured the third ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers and the fourth ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.Alabama scored first on a 32 yard touchdown pass from Steve Sloan to Ray Perkins as Alabama took a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, Nebraska's Bob Churchich threw a 33...
, vaulting the Crimson Tide to the top of the AP's final poll. Michigan State was named national champion in the final United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
poll of coaches, which did not conduct a post-bowl poll. At the end of the 1947 season
1947 college football season
The 1947 college football season finished with Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State all unbeaten and untied, but the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were the first place choice for 107 of the 142 voters in the AP writers poll, and repeated as national champions...
, the AP released an unofficial post-bowl poll which differed from the regular season final poll. The AP national championship had been awarded before bowl games were played.
Beginning in the 1968 season
1968 college football season
In the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
, a post bowl game poll was released and the AP championship reflected the bowl game results. The UPI did not follow suit with the coaches' poll until the 1974 season
1974 college football season
The 1974 college football season finished with two national champions. The Associated Press writers' poll ranked the University of Oklahoma, which was on probation and barred by the NCAA from postseason play, #1 at season's end...
.
Coaches' Poll
The Coaches' poll began selecting the top 20 teams on a weekly basis during the 1950-1951 college football and is conducted among selected members of the American Football Coaches AssociationAmerican Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
. The Coaches' Poll took their final poll prior to the bowl games from 1950–1973, and since 1974, has taken their final poll after bowl games. The Coaches' Poll does not include teams on either NCAA or conference-sanction probation, which also differentiates it from the AP poll. The poll has been released through various media outlets and with differing sponsors over its history, and thus has taken a succession of different names, including United Press (UP) from 1950 thru 1957, the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
(UPI) from 1958 thru 1990, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
/CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
from 1991 thru 1996, and USA Today/ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
from 1997 to present. The National Champion from this poll has frequently been the same champion from the AP Poll, although it has disagreed with the AP eleven times over its history. The Coaches' Poll is now under contractual obligation to award its national championship selection to the winner of the BCS Championship game. During the BCS era, this selection has varied once, in 2003, from the AP Poll.
National poll championships (1936–present)
The following table contains the National Championships that have been recognized by the AP or Coaches' Poll. The BCS champion is automatically awarded the Coaches' Poll championship. Of the current 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly I-A Division) schools, only 30 have won at least a share of a national title. Of these 30 teams, only 18 teams have won multiple titles. Of the 18 teams, only seven have won five or more national titles: AlabamaAlabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, USC, Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, and Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the 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 eleven different seasons since the polls first came to coexist in 1950.
| School | Championships | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... |
8 | 1961, 1964, 1965 (AP), 1973 (Coaches), 1978 (AP), 1979, 1992, 2009 |
| Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
8 | 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973 (AP), 1977, 1988 |
| Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
7 | 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974 (AP), 1975, 1985, 2000 |
| USC | 7 | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974 (Coaches), 1978 (Coaches), 2003 (AP), 2004 (AP)* |
| Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
5 | 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 (AP), 2001 |
| Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
5 | 1970 (AP), 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Coaches) |
| Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
5 | 1942, 1954 (AP), 1957 (Coaches), 1968, 2002 |
| Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
4 | 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 |
| Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
4 | 1963, 1969, 1970 (Coaches), 2005 |
| Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |
3 | 1996, 2006, 2008 |
| LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
3 | 1958, 2003 (Coaches), 2007 |
| Army Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.... |
2 | 1944, 1945 |
| Auburn Auburn Tigers football Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the... |
2 | 1957 (AP), 2010 |
| Florida State Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
2 | 1993, 1999 |
| Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
2 | 1948, 1997 (AP) |
| Michigan State Michigan State Spartans football The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level... |
2 | 1952, 1965 (Coaches) |
| Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
2 | 1982, 1986 |
| Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
2 | 1937, 1976 |
| Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
2 | 1951, 1998 |
| Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
1 | 1990 (AP) |
| Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1990 (Coaches) |
| BYU Brigham Young University Cougars football The Brigham Young Cougars football team is a college football program representing Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The Cougars won the national championship in 1984 and have a Heisman Trophy winner in Ty Detmer. Since 1965, BYU has claimed 23 conference championships and played in 29 bowl... |
1 | 1984 |
| Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1981 |
| Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
1 | 1980 |
| UCLA UCLA Bruins Football The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll... |
1 | 1954 (Coaches) |
| Maryland Maryland Terrapins football The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
1 | 1953 |
| Syracuse Syracuse Orange football The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision... |
1 | 1959 |
| Texas A&M Texas A&M Aggies football The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... |
1 | 1939 |
| TCU TCU Horned Frogs football The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football... |
1 | 1938 |
| Washington University of Washington University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University... |
1 | 1991 (Coaches) |
* USC's 2004-2005 BCS National Championship was vacated by the BCS and the AFCA Coaches' Trophy returned.
BCS standings
The Bowl Championship SeriesBowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
(BCS) is a selection system designed to give the top two teams in the NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision System (formerly Division I-A) an opportunity to compete in a "national championship game". This championship is intended as a surrogate for a playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
system since the NCAA does not formally determine a champion in this category. It has been in place since the 1998 season
1998 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first of the Bowl Championship Series, which saw Tennessee win the national championship, one year after star quarterback Peyton Manning left for the NFL...
, but a number of controversial selections have spurred changes in the system that continue into the present. Prior to the 2006 season, eight teams competed in four BCS Bowls (the Orange
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, Sugar
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, Rose
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, and Fiesta
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
). The BCS replaced the Bowl Alliance
Bowl Alliance
The Bowl Alliance was an agreement among college football bowl games for the purpose of trying to match the top two teams in a national championship bowl game and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions of its member conferences...
(in place from 1995–1997), which itself followed the Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
(in place from 1992–1994). One of the main differences is that the Rose Bowl participates in the BCS; previously, the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions automatically played in the Rose Bowl regardless of their poll rankings. Now, those teams play in the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
if they finish #1 or #2 in the BCS rankings.
The BCS currently relies on a combination of the Coaches' and Harris polls and an average of various computer rankings to determine relative team rankings, and to narrow the field to two teams to play in the BCS National Championship Game held after the other college bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s. The winner of this game is crowned Coaches' Poll national champion winning the AFCA National Championship Trophy and is also awarded the MacArthur Trophy
MacArthur Trophy
The MacArthur Trophy is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the NCAA Division I-FBS college football team or teams determined to be the national champion. There is only one trophy itself, much like the Stanley Cup, and it is kept by the winning institution for one year...
by the National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
.
BCS National Champions by conference (1998–present)
| Conference | Championships | Schools | BCS Championship Game Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEC Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama... |
7 | Tennessee (1998), LSU (2003, 2007), Florida (2006, 2008), Alabama (2009), Auburn (2010) | 7–0 (1.000) |
| Big 12 Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving... |
2 | Oklahoma (2000), Texas (2005) | 2–5 (0.286) |
| ACC Atlantic Coast Conference The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities... |
1 | Florida State (1999) | 1–2 (0.333) (2–4 current alignment) |
| Big Ten Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east... |
1 | Ohio State (2002) | 1–2 (0.333) |
| Big East Big East Conference The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports... |
1 | Miami (2001) | 1–2 (0.333) (0–0 current alignment) |
| Pac-12 | 0* | None* | 0–1 (0.000)* |
* USC's participation in the 2005 Orange Bowl, subsequent 2004-2005 BCS National Championship, and participation in the 2006 Rose Bowl were vacated by the BCS.
See also
- NCAA Division I Football Championship
- NCAA Division II National Football ChampionshipNCAA Division II national football championshipThe NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
- NCAA Division III National Football ChampionshipNCAA Division III national football championshipThe NCAA Division III National Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the NCAA's former "College Division"....