College Football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS - wikipedia College Football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS National championships in NCAA Division I FBS National championship trophies AP ( since 1936 ) Grantland Rice ( 1954 -- 2013 ) MacArthur ( since 1959 ) AFCA ( since 1986 ) College Football Playoff ( since 2014 ) Longest continuous selector Associated Press ( 1936 -- present ) First season awarded 1869 Last completed season 2017 A national championship in the highest level of college football in the United States, currently the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ), is a designation awarded annually by various organizations to their selection of the best college football team. Division I FBS football is the only National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) sport for which the NCAA does not sanction a yearly championship event. As such, it is sometimes unofficially referred to as a `` mythical national championship ''. Due to the lack of an official NCAA title, determining the nation 's top college football team has often engendered controversy. A championship team is independently declared by multiple individuals and organizations, often referred to as `` selectors ''. These choices are not always unanimous. In 1969, even the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, declared a national champion, by announcing, ahead of the season - ending game between # 1 Texas and # 2 Arkansas, that the winner of that game would receive a plaque, from the President himself, commemorating that team as the year 's national champion. Texas went on to win that game, 15 -- 14. While the NCAA has never officially endorsed a championship team, it has documented the choices of some selectors in its official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records publication. In addition, various analysts have independently published their own choices for each season. These opinions can often diverge with others as well as individual schools ' claims to national titles, which may or may not correlate to the selections published elsewhere. Currently, two of the most widely recognized national champion selectors are the Associated Press, which conducts a poll of sportswriters, and the Coaches ' Poll, a survey of active members of the American Football Coaches Association. Since 1992, various consortia of major bowl games have aimed to invite the top two teams at the end of the regular season ( as determined by internal rankings, or aggregates of the major polls and other statistics ) to compete in what is intended to be the de facto national championship game. The current iteration of this practice, the College Football Playoff, selects four teams to participate in national semi-finals hosted by two of six partner bowl games, with their winners advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Contents 1 History 2 National championships in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision records 2.1 Major selectors 2.1. 1 Math 2.1. 2 Poll 2.1. 3 Research 2.1. 4 Hybrid 2.1. 5 Playoff 2.2 Yearly national championship selections from major selectors 2.3 Total championship selections from major selectors by school 3 National championship claims by school 4 College Football Data Warehouse recognized national champions 5 Poll era ( 1936 -- present ) 5.1 AP Poll 5.2 Coaches ' Poll 5.3 Poll era national championships by school ( 1936 -- present ) 6 BCS championships 6.1 BCS National Championships by school ( 1998 -- 2013 ) 7 College Football Playoff championships 7.1 CFP National Championships by school ( 2014 -- present ) 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References History The Sun was among the first to publish a year - end college football ranking, in 1901. The concept of a national championship in college football dates to the early years of the sport in the late 19th century, and the earliest contemporaneous polls can be traced to Caspar Whitney, 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 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. A curious Knute Rockne, then coach of Notre Dame, had Dickinson backdate two seasons, which produced Notre Dame as the 1924 national champion and Dartmouth 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 began polling sportswriters in 1936 to obtain rankings. Alan J. Gould, the creator of the AP Poll, named Minnesota, Princeton, and SMU co-champions in 1935, and polled writers the following year, which resulted in a national championship for Minnesota. The AP 's main competition, United Press, 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 and the coaches chose UCLA. The two polls also disagreed in 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1997, and 2003. The Coaches ' Poll would stay with United Press ( UP ) when they merged with International News Service ( INS ) to form United Press International ( UPI ) but was acquired by USA Today and CNN in 1991. The poll was in the hands of USA Today and ESPN from 1997 to 2005 before moving to sole ownership by USA Today. Beginning in 2014, Amway became a joint sponsor with USA Today. Though some of the math systems selected champions after the bowl games, 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 ). After 1965, the AP again voted before the bowls for two years, before permanently returning to a post-bowl vote in 1968. The coaches did not conduct a 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, in the Sugar Bowl. The AP and Coaches ' polls remain the major rankings to this day. The Bowl Championship Series, famous for its use of math, was the successor of the Bowl Alliance ( 1995 -- 1997 ), which was itself the successor of the Bowl Coalition ( 1992 -- 1994 ). Besides the many adjustments it underwent during its tenure, including a large overhaul following the 2004 season that included the replacement of the AP Poll with the Harris poll, the BCS remained a mixture of math and human 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, Fiesta, Rose, and Orange Bowls from 1998 to 2005, and later a standalone game titled the BCS National Championship Game ( 2006 to 2013 ). The winner of the BCS Championship Game was awarded the national championship of the Coaches ' Poll thus winning the AFCA National Championship Trophy. The BCS winner also received the MacArthur Bowl from the National Football Foundation. Neither the AP Poll, nor other current selectors, had contractual obligations to select the BCS champion as their national champion. The BCS resulted in a number of controversies, most notably after the 2003 season, when the BCS championship game did not include eventual AP champion USC, the only time the two championships have diverged since the advent of the BCS. After many seasons of controversy, the BCS was replaced with the College Football Playoff, a Plus - One system aimed at reducing the controversy involved in which teams get to play in a championship game through use of a tournament. 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 four categories : those determined by mathematical formula, human polls, historical research, and recently, playoffs. 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 that were 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 system, or during the dawn of the computer 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 ) 1920 -- 1989, 1990 -- 2011 BR Billingsley Report 1869 -- 1870, 1872 -- 1969, 1970 -- present BS Boand System 1919 -- 1929, 1930 -- 1960 CCR Congrove Computer Rankings 1993 -- present CM Colley Matrix 2001 -- present CW Caspar Whitney 1905 -- 1907 DeS DeVold System 1939 -- 1944, 1945 -- 2006 DiS Dickinson System 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 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 1924 -- 1934, 1935 -- 1955, 1957 -- 1984 R ( FACT ) Rothman ( FACT ) 1968 -- 2006 SR Sagarin Ratings 1919 -- 1977, 1978 -- present Wolfe 2001 -- present WS Williamson System 1931, 1932 -- 1963 The Billingsley Report also provides an alternate selection that uses margin - of - victory in its calculation. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book notes both selections in years where they disagree. Poll The poll has been the dominant national champion selector since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. It is notable that the NFF merged its poll with UPI from 1991 to 1992, with USA Today from 1993 to 1996, and with the FWAA from 2014 forward. 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. During the BCS era, the winner of the BCS Championship Game was automatically awarded the national championship of the Coaches ' Poll and the National Football Foundation. Selector Name Seasons AP Associated Press 1936 -- present Coaches ' BRC UP UPI USAT / CNN USAT / ESPN USAT USAT / AMWAY American Football Coaches Association AFCA Blue Ribbon Commission United Press United Press International USA Today / CNN USA Today / ESPN USA Today USA Today / Amway 1922 -- present 1922 -- 1949 1950 -- 1957 1958 -- 1990 1991 -- 1996 1997 -- 2004 2005 -- 2013 2014 -- 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 1954 -- 2013 FWAA / NFF FWAA - NFF Grantland Rice Super 16 2014 -- present HAF Helms Athletic Foundation 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, 1997 -- 2013 SN Sporting News 1975 -- 2006 UPI United Press International 1993 -- 1995 UPI / NFF United Press International / National Football Foundation 1991 -- 1992 USAT USA Today 1982 USAT / CNN USA Today / CNN 1983 -- 1990 USAT / NFF USA Today / National Football Foundation 1993 -- 1996 At the request of several schools, the AFCA established a `` Blue Ribbon Commission '' in 2016 to begin retroactively selecting Coaches ' Trophy winners from 1922 through 1949. Served as the Coaches ' Poll during the designated years, but also conducted their own poll at different times. The Football Writers Association of America merged its poll with that of the National Football Foundation members beginning in 2014 ; as a result, the Grantland Trophy was retired and the FWAA / NFF national champion now receives the MacArthur Bowl. USA Today took over, from the UPI, the poll of the National Football Foundation 's members in 1993, and its winner was designated by the NFF as its national champion and received the MacArthur Bowl. 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 USAT / NFF poll in 1995 and 1996. Not to be confused with the USA Today / CNN Coaches ' Poll, which USA Today conducted separately. UPI conducted the Coaches ' Poll through the 1990 season, which was subsequently taken over by CNN / USA Today. UPI then conducted a poll of National Football Foundation members in 1991 and 1992, the winner of which was designated by the NFF as its national champion and received the MacArthur Bowl. UPI conducted its own poll from 1993 to 1995, after the National Football Foundation Poll was taken over by USA Today. USA Today conducted its own poll of college football sportswriters in 1982, then joined with CNN to do their own joint poll until they took over the Coaches ' Poll starting with the 1991 season. Research College football historian Parke H. Davis is the only selector considered by the NCAA 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 while naming Michigan and Princeton ( his alma mater ) 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 Hybrid Main article : Bowl Championship Series The Bowl Championship Series used a mathematical system that combined polls ( Coaches ' and AP / Harris ) and multiple computer rankings ( including some individual selectors listed above ) to determine a season ending matchup between its top two ranked teams in the BCS Championship Game. The champion of that game was contractually awarded the Coaches ' Poll and National Football Foundation championships. Selector Name Seasons BCS Bowl Championship Series 1998 -- 2013 Playoff Main article : College Football Playoff Unlike all selectors prior to 2014, the College Football Playoff does not use math, polls or research to select the participants. Rather, a 13 - member committee selects and seeds the teams. The playoff system marked the first time any championship selector arranged a bracket competition to determine whom it would declare to be its champion. Selector Name Seasons CFP College Football Playoff 2014 -- present Yearly national championship selections from major selectors Below is a list of the national champions of college football from 1869 to 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 in 1901. The last retroactive selection was made by Clyde Berryman in 1989 ( Notre Dame ). The tie was removed from college football in 1995 and the last consensus champion with a tie in its record was Georgia Tech in 1990. The 1947 Michigan Wolverines are often credited with a national championship on the basis of a `` free poll '' conducted by an AP sportswriter after the 1948 Rose Bowl, 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 -- 2013 ) was 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. As designated by the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, the table below shows : Teams listed in italics indicate retroactively - applied championships. Teams listed in bold reflect the NCAA 's designation as `` Consensus National Champions '' by virtue of their selection from 1950 onward by one or more selectors from Associated Press, United Press / UPI, Football Writers Association of America, NFF / College Football Hall of Fame, and USA Today. A letter next to any season, team, record, coach or selector indicates a footnote that appears at the bottom of the table. Season Champion ( s ) Record Coach Selector ( s ) Source 1869 Princeton 1 -- 1 BR, NCF, PD Rutgers 1 -- 1 PD 1870 Princeton 1 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD 1871 None No games played 1872 Princeton 1 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD Yale 1 -- 0 PD 1873 Princeton 2 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD 1874 Harvard 1 -- 1 PD Princeton 2 -- 0 BR, PD Yale 3 -- 0 NCF, PD 1875 Columbia 3 -- 1 -- 1 PD Harvard 4 -- 0 NCF, PD Princeton 2 -- 0 BR, PD 1876 Yale 3 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD 1877 Princeton 2 -- 0 -- 1 BR, PD Yale 3 -- 0 -- 1 NCF, PD 1878 Princeton 6 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD 1879 Princeton 4 -- 0 -- 1 BR, NCF, PD Yale 3 -- 0 -- 2 PD 1880 Princeton 4 -- 0 -- 1 NCF, PD Yale 4 -- 0 -- 1 BR, NCF, PD 1881 Princeton 7 -- 0 -- 2 BR, PD Yale 5 -- 0 -- 1 NCF, PD 1882 Yale 8 -- 0 BR, NCF, PD 1883 Yale 9 -- 0 BR, HAF, NCF, PD 1884 Princeton 9 -- 0 -- 1 BR, PD Yale 8 -- 0 -- 1 HAF, NCF, PD 1885 Princeton 9 -- 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1886 Princeton 7 -- 0 -- 1 BR, PD Yale 9 -- 0 -- 1 HAF, NCF, PD 1887 Yale 9 -- 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1888 Yale 13 -- 0 Walter Camp BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1889 Princeton 10 -- 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1890 Harvard 11 -- 0 George C. Adams, George A. Stewart BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1891 Yale 13 -- 0 Walter Camp BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1892 Yale 13 -- 0 Walter Camp BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1893 Princeton 11 -- 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF Yale 10 -- 1 William Rhodes PD 1894 Penn 12 -- 0 George Washington Woodruff PD Princeton 8 -- 2 HS Yale 16 -- 0 William Rhodes BR, HAF, NCF, PD 1895 Penn 14 -- 0 George Washington Woodruff BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD Yale 13 -- 0 -- 2 John A. Hartwell PD 1896 Lafayette 11 -- 0 -- 1 Parke H. Davis NCF, PD Princeton 10 -- 0 -- 1 Franklin Morse BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1897 Penn 15 -- 0 George Washington Woodruff BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD Yale 9 -- 0 -- 2 Frank Butterworth PD 1898 Harvard 11 -- 0 William Forbes BR, HAF, HS, NCF Princeton 11 -- 0 -- 1 PD 1899 Harvard 10 -- 0 -- 1 Benjamin Dibblee HAF, HS, NCF Princeton 12 -- 1 BR, PD 1900 Yale 12 -- 0 Malcolm McBride BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1901 Harvard 12 -- 0 Bill Reid BR Michigan 11 -- 0 Fielding H. Yost HAF, HS, NCF Yale 11 -- 1 -- 1 George S. Stillman PD 1902 Michigan 11 -- 0 Fielding H. Yost BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD Yale 11 -- 0 -- 1 Joseph R. Swan PD 1903 Michigan 11 -- 0 -- 1 Fielding H. Yost NCF Princeton 11 -- 0 Art Hillebrand BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1904 Michigan 10 -- 0 Fielding H. Yost NCF Minnesota 13 -- 0 Henry Williams BR Penn 12 -- 0 Carl S. Williams HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1905 Chicago 10 -- 0 Amos Alonzo Stagg BR, HAF, HS, NCF Yale 10 -- 0 Jack Owsley CW, PD 1906 Princeton 9 -- 0 -- 1 William Roper HAF, NCF Yale 9 -- 0 -- 1 Foster Rockwell BR, CW, PD 1907 Yale 9 -- 0 -- 1 William F. Knox BR, CW, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1908 Harvard 9 -- 0 -- 1 Percy Haughton BR LSU 10 -- 0 Edgar Wingard NCF Penn 11 -- 0 -- 1 Sol Metzger HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1909 Yale 10 -- 0 Howard Jones BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1910 Harvard 8 -- 0 -- 1 Percy Haughton BR, HAF, HS, NCF Pittsburgh 9 -- 0 Joseph Thompson NCF 1911 Minnesota 6 -- 0 -- 1 Henry L. Williams BR Penn State 8 -- 0 -- 1 Bill Hollenback NCF Princeton 8 -- 0 -- 2 William Roper BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1912 Harvard 9 -- 0 Percy Haughton BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD Penn State 8 -- 0 Bill Hollenback NCF 1913 Auburn 8 -- 0 Mike Donahue BR Chicago 7 -- 0 Amos Alonzo Stagg BR, PD Harvard 9 -- 0 Percy Haughton HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1914 Army 9 -- 0 Charles Daly HAF, HS, NCF, PD Illinois 7 -- 0 Robert Zuppke BR, PD Texas 8 -- 0 Dave Allerdice BR 1915 Cornell 9 -- 0 Albert Sharpe HAF, HS, NCF, PD Minnesota 6 -- 0 -- 1 Henry L. Williams BR Oklahoma 10 -- 0 Bennie Owen BR Pittsburgh 8 -- 0 Glenn `` Pop '' Warner PD 1916 Army 9 -- 0 Charles Daly PD Georgia Tech 8 -- 0 - 1 John Heisman BR Pittsburgh 8 -- 0 Glenn `` Pop '' Warner BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD 1917 Georgia Tech 9 -- 0 John Heisman BR, HAF, HS, NCF 1918 Michigan 5 -- 0 Fielding H. Yost BR, NCF Pittsburgh 4 -- 1 Glenn `` Pop '' Warner HAF, HS, NCF 1919 Centre 9 -- 0 Charley Moran SR Harvard 9 -- 0 -- 1 Bob Fisher CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PD Illinois 6 -- 1 Robert Zuppke BR, BS, CFRA, PD, SR Notre Dame 9 -- 0 Knute Rockne NCF, PD Texas A&M 10 -- 0 Dana X. Bible BR, NCF 1920 California 9 -- 0 Andy Smith CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, SR Georgia 8 -- 0 -- 1 Herman Stegeman B ( QPRS ) Harvard 8 -- 0 -- 1 Bob Fisher BS Notre Dame 9 -- 0 Knute Rockne BR, PD Princeton 6 -- 0 -- 1 William Roper BS, PD 1921 California 9 -- 0 -- 1 Andy Smith BR, BS, CFRA, SR Cornell 8 -- 0 Gil Dobie HAF, HS, NCF, PD Iowa 7 -- 0 Howard Jones BR, PD Lafayette 9 -- 0 Jock Sutherland BS, PD Vanderbilt 7 -- 0 -- 1 Dan McGugin B ( QPRS ) Washington & Jefferson 10 -- 0 -- 1 Greasy Neale BS 1922 California 9 -- 0 Andy Smith BR, HS, NCF, SR Cornell 8 -- 0 Gil Dobie HAF, PD Iowa 7 -- 0 Howard Jones BR Princeton 8 -- 0 William Roper BS, CFRA, NCF, PD, SR Vanderbilt 8 -- 0 -- 1 Dan McGugin B ( QPRS ) 1923 California 9 -- 0 -- 1 Andy Smith HS Cornell 8 -- 0 Gil Dobie SR Illinois 8 -- 0 Robert Zuppke BS, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PD, SR, B ( QPRS ) Michigan 8 -- 0 Fielding H. Yost BR, NCF Yale 8 -- 0 Tad Jones B ( QPRS ) 1924 Notre Dame 10 -- 0 Knute Rockne BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, B ( QPRS ) Penn 9 -- 1 -- 1 Lou Young PD 1925 Alabama 10 -- 0 Wallace Wade BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, B ( QPRS ) Dartmouth 8 -- 0 Jesse Hawley DiS, PD Michigan 7 -- 1 Fielding H. Yost SR 1926 Alabama 9 -- 0 -- 1 Wallace Wade BR, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PS, B ( QPRS ) Lafayette 9 -- 0 Herb McCracken PD Michigan 7 -- 1 Fielding H. Yost SR Navy 9 -- 0 -- 1 Bill Ingram BS, HS Stanford 10 -- 0 -- 1 Glenn `` Pop '' Warner DiS, HAF, NCF, SR 1927 Georgia 9 -- 1 George Cecil Woodruff BS, PS, B ( QPRS ) Illinois 7 -- 0 -- 1 Robert Zuppke BR, DiS, HAF, NCF, PD Notre Dame 7 -- 1 -- 1 Knute Rockne HS Texas A&M 8 -- 0 -- 1 Dana X. Bible SR Yale 7 -- 1 Thomas Jones CFRA 1928 Detroit 9 -- 0 Gus Dorais PD Georgia Tech 10 -- 0 William Alexander BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, B ( QPRS ) USC 9 -- 0 -- 1 Howard Jones DiS, SR 1929 Notre Dame 9 -- 0 Knute Rockne BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, NCF, PS, SR Pittsburgh 9 -- 1 Jock Sutherland PD USC 10 -- 2 Howard Jones HS, SR, B ( QPRS ) 1930 Alabama 10 -- 0 Wallace Wade CFRA, PD, SR, B ( QPRS ) Notre Dame 10 -- 0 Knute Rockne BR, BS, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS 1931 Pittsburgh 8 -- 1 Jock Sutherland PD Purdue 9 -- 1 Noble Kizer PD USC 10 -- 1 Howard Jones BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, WS, B ( QPRS ) 1932 Colgate 9 -- 0 Andrew Kerr PD Michigan 8 -- 0 Harry Kipke DiS, PD, SR USC 10 -- 0 Howard Jones BR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, WS, B ( QPRS ) 1933 Michigan 7 -- 0 -- 1 Harry Kipke BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, HS, NCF, PD, PS, SR, B ( QPRS ) Ohio State 7 -- 1 Sam Willaman DuS Princeton 9 -- 0 Fritz Crisler PD USC 10 -- 1 -- 1 Howard Jones WS 1934 Alabama 10 -- 0 Frank Thomas DuS, HS, PS, WS, B ( QPRS ) Minnesota 8 -- 0 Bernie Bierman BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HAF, L, NCF, SR 1935 LSU 9 -- 2 Bernie Moore WS Minnesota 8 -- 0 Bernie Bierman BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, L, NCF, PS Princeton 9 -- 0 Fritz Crisler DuS SMU 12 -- 1 Matty Bell DiS, HS, SR, B ( QPRS ) TCU 12 -- 1 Dutch Meyer WS 1936 Duke 9 -- 1 Wallace Wade B ( QPRS ) LSU 9 -- 1 -- 1 Bernie Moore SR, WS Minnesota 7 -- 1 Bernie Bierman AP, BR, DiS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS Pittsburgh 8 -- 1 -- 1 Jock Sutherland BS, CFRA, HS 1937 California 10 -- 0 -- 1 Stub Allison DuS, HAF Pittsburgh 9 -- 0 -- 1 Jock Sutherland AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS, B ( QPRS ) 1938 Notre Dame 8 -- 1 Elmer Layden DiS TCU 11 -- 0 Dutch Meyer AP, HAF, NCF, WS Tennessee 11 -- 0 Robert Neyland BR, BS, CFRA, DuS, HS, L, PS, SR, B ( QPRS ) 1939 Cornell 8 -- 0 Carl Snavely L, SR Texas A&M 11 -- 0 Homer Norton AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, NCF, PS, SR, WS, B ( QPRS ) USC 8 -- 0 -- 2 Howard Jones DiS 1940 Minnesota 8 -- 0 Bernie Bierman AP, B ( QPRS ), BS, CFRA, DeS, DiS, HS, L, NCF, SR Stanford 10 -- 0 Clark Shaughnessy BR, HAF, PS Tennessee 10 -- 1 Robert Neyland DuS, WS 1941 Alabama 9 -- 2 Frank Thomas HS Minnesota 8 -- 0 Bernie Bierman AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR Texas 8 -- 1 -- 1 Dana X. Bible B ( QPRS ), WS 1942 Georgia 11 -- 1 Wally Butts B ( QPRS ), BR, DeS, HS, L, PS, SR, WS Ohio State 9 -- 1 Paul Brown AP, BS, DuS, CFRA, NCF Wisconsin 8 -- 1 -- 1 Harry Stuhldreher HAF 1943 Notre Dame 9 -- 1 Frank Leahy AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS 1944 Army 9 -- 0 Earl Blaik AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS Ohio State 9 -- 0 Carroll Widdoes NCF, SR 1945 Alabama 10 -- 0 Frank Thomas NCF Army 9 -- 0 Earl Blaik AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS Oklahoma A&M 9 -- 0 Jim Lookabaugh BRC 1946 Army 9 -- 0 -- 1 Earl Blaik BR, BS, CFRA, HAF, HS, PS Georgia 11 -- 0 Wally Butts WS Notre Dame 8 -- 0 -- 1 Frank Leahy AP, B ( QPRS ), BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR 1947 Michigan 10 -- 0 Fritz Crisler B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR Notre Dame 9 -- 0 Frank Leahy AP, HAF, WS 1948 Michigan 9 -- 0 Bennie Oosterbaan AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS 1949 Notre Dame 10 -- 0 Frank Leahy AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS Oklahoma 11 -- 0 Bud Wilkinson CFRA 1950 Kentucky 11 -- 1 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant SR Oklahoma 10 -- 1 Bud Wilkinson AP, B ( QPRS ), HAF, L, UP, WS Princeton 9 -- 0 Charley Caldwell BS, PS Tennessee 11 -- 1 Robert Neyland BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, NCF, SR 1951 Georgia Tech 11 -- 0 -- 1 Bobby Dodd B ( QPRS ), BS Illinois 9 -- 0 -- 1 Ray Eliot BS Maryland 10 -- 0 Jim Tatum CFRA, DeS, DuS, NCF, SR Michigan State 9 -- 0 Biggie Munn BR, HAF, PS Tennessee 10 -- 1 Robert Neyland AP, L, UP, WS 1952 Georgia Tech 12 -- 0 Bobby Dodd B ( QPRS ), BR, INS, PS, SR Michigan State 9 -- 0 Biggie Munn AP, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, SR, UP, WS 1953 Maryland 10 -- 1 Jim Tatum AP, INS, UP Notre Dame 9 -- 0 -- 1 Frank Leahy BR, BS, DeS, DuS, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS Oklahoma 9 -- 1 -- 1 Bud Wilkinson B ( QPRS ), CFRA 1954 Ohio State 10 -- 0 Woody Hayes AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, HAF, INS, NCF, PS, SR, WS UCLA 9 -- 0 Henry Sanders CFRA, DuS, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, UP 1955 Michigan State 9 -- 1 Duffy Daugherty BS Oklahoma 11 -- 0 Bud Wilkinson AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, INS, L, NCF, PS, SR, UP, WS 1956 Georgia Tech 10 -- 1 Bobby Dodd B ( QPRS ), SR Iowa 9 -- 1 Forest Evashevski CFRA Oklahoma 10 -- 0 Bud Wilkinson AP, BR, BS, DeS, DuS, FWAA, HAF, INS, L, NCF, SR, UP, WS Tennessee 10 -- 1 Bowden Wyatt SR 1957 Auburn 10 -- 0 Ralph Jordan AP, BR, CFRA, HAF, NCF, PS, SR, WS Michigan State 8 -- 1 Duffy Daugherty DuS Ohio State 9 -- 1 Woody Hayes BS, DeS, FWAA, INS, L, UP Oklahoma 10 -- 1 Bud Wilkinson B ( QPRS ) 1958 Iowa 8 -- 1 -- 1 Forest Evashevski FWAA LSU 11 -- 0 Paul Dietzel AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, PS, SR, UPI, WS 1959 Ole Miss 10 -- 1 Johnny Vaught B ( QPRS ), DuS, SR Syracuse 11 -- 0 Ben Schwartzwalder AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS 1960 Iowa 8 -- 1 Forest Evashevski B ( QPRS ), BS, L, SR Minnesota 8 -- 2 Murray Warmath AP, FN, NFF, UPI Ole Miss 10 -- 0 -- 1 Johnny Vaught BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FWAA, NCF, WS Missouri 11 -- 0 * Dan Devine PS Washington 10 -- 1 Jim Owens HAF 1961 Alabama 11 -- 0 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI, WS Ohio State 8 -- 0 -- 1 Woody Hayes FWAA, PS 1962 LSU 9 -- 1 -- 1 Charles McClendon B ( QPRS ) Ole Miss 10 -- 0 Johnny Vaught BR, L, SR USC 11 -- 0 John McKay AP, B ( QPRS ), CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, UPI, WS 1963 Texas 11 -- 0 Darrell Royal AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, WS 1964 Alabama 10 -- 1 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant AP, B ( QPRS ), L, UPI Arkansas 11 -- 0 Frank Broyles BR, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, PS, SR Michigan 9 -- 1 Bump Elliott DuS Notre Dame 9 -- 1 Ara Parseghian DeS, FN, NFF 1965 Alabama 9 -- 1 -- 1 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant AP, CFRA, FWAA, NCF Michigan State 10 -- 1 Duffy Daugherty B ( QPRS ), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NFF, PS, SR, UPI 1966 Alabama 11 -- 0 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant B ( QPRS ), SR Michigan State 9 -- 0 -- 1 Duffy Daugherty CFRA, HAF, NFF, PS Notre Dame 9 -- 0 -- 1 Ara Parseghian AP, BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI 1967 Notre Dame 8 -- 2 Ara Parseghian DuS Oklahoma 10 -- 1 Chuck Fairbanks PS USC 10 -- 1 John McKay AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, SR, UPI Tennessee 9 -- 2 Doug Dickey 1968 Georgia 8 -- 1 -- 2 Vince Dooley Ohio State 10 -- 0 Woody Hayes AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R ( FACT ), SR, UPI Texas 9 -- 1 -- 1 Darrell Royal DeS, MGR, SR 1969 Ohio State 8 -- 1 Woody Hayes MGR Penn State 11 -- 0 Joe Paterno R ( FACT ), SR Texas 11 -- 0 Darrell Royal AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, NCF, NFF, PS, R ( FACT ), SR, UPI 1970 Arizona State 11 -- 0 Frank Kush PS Nebraska 11 -- 0 -- 1 Bob Devaney AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, R ( FACT ), SR Notre Dame 10 -- 1 Ara Parseghian MGR, R ( FACT ), SR Ohio State 9 -- 1 Woody Hayes NFF Texas 10 -- 1 Darrell Royal B ( QPRS ), L, NFF, R ( FACT ), UPI 1971 Nebraska 13 -- 0 Bob Devaney 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 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant B ( QPRS ), UPI Michigan 10 -- 0 -- 1 Bo Schembechler NCF, PS Notre Dame 11 -- 0 Ara Parseghian AP, BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF Ohio State 10 -- 0 -- 1 Woody Hayes NCF, PS, R ( FACT ), SR Oklahoma 10 -- 0 -- 1 Barry Switzer CFRA, DeS, DuS, SR Ohio State 10 -- 2 Woody Hayes MGR Oklahoma 11 -- 0 Barry Switzer 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 Alabama 11 -- 1 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant MGR Arizona State 12 -- 0 Frank Kush NCF, SN Ohio State 11 -- 1 Woody Hayes B ( QPRS ), HAF, MGR, PS, R ( FACT ) Oklahoma 11 -- 1 Barry Switzer AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R ( FACT ), SR, UPI 1976 Pittsburgh 12 -- 0 Johnny Majors AP, BR, 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 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant CFRA Arkansas 11 -- 1 Lou Holtz R ( FACT ) Notre Dame 11 -- 1 Dan Devine AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, MGR, NCF, NFF, PS, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI Texas 11 -- 1 Fred Akers B ( QPRS ), R ( FACT ), SR 1978 Alabama 11 -- 1 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant AP, CFRA, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, R ( FACT ) Oklahoma 11 -- 1 Barry Switzer DeS, DuS, HAF, L, MGR, PS, R ( FACT ), SR USC 12 -- 1 John Robinson B ( QPRS ), BR, FN, HAF, NCF, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI 1979 Alabama 12 -- 0 Paul `` Bear '' Bryant 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 Florida State 10 -- 2 Bobby Bowden R ( FACT ) Georgia 12 -- 0 Vince Dooley AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI Nebraska 10 -- 2 Tom Osborne R ( FACT ) Oklahoma 10 -- 2 Barry Switzer DuS, MGR Pittsburgh 11 -- 1 Jackie Sherrill CFRA, DeS, NYT, R ( FACT ), SR 1981 Clemson 12 -- 0 Danny Ford AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI Nebraska 9 -- 3 Tom Osborne NCF Penn State 10 -- 2 Joe Paterno DuS Pittsburgh 11 -- 1 Jackie Sherrill NCF SMU 10 -- 1 Ron Meyer NCF Texas 10 -- 1 -- 1 Fred Akers NCF 1982 Nebraska 12 -- 1 Tom Osborne B ( QPRS ) Penn State 11 -- 1 Joe Paterno AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, HAF, L, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, PS, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI, USAT SMU 11 -- 0 -- 1 Bobby Collins HAF Auburn 11 -- 1 Pat Dye BR, CFRA, NYT, R ( FACT ), SR Miami ( FL ) 11 -- 1 Howard Schnellenberger AP, DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN, UPI, USAT / CNN Nebraska 12 -- 1 Tom Osborne B ( QPRS ), DeS, L, MGR, PS, R ( FACT ), SR 1984 BYU 13 -- 0 LaVell Edwards AP, BR, CFRA, FWAA, NCF, NFF, PS, SR, UPI, USAT / CNN Florida 9 -- 1 -- 1 Galen Hall DeS, DuS, MGR, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR Nebraska 10 -- 2 Tom Osborne Washington 11 -- 1 Don James B ( QPRS ), FN, NCF 1985 Florida 9 -- 1 -- 1 Galen Hall SR Michigan 10 -- 1 -- 1 Bo Schembechler MGR Oklahoma 11 -- 1 Barry Switzer AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, UPI, USAT / CNN 1986 Miami ( FL ) 11 -- 1 Jimmy Johnson R ( FACT ) Oklahoma 11 -- 1 Barry Switzer B ( QPRS ), CFRA, DeS, DuS, NYT, SR Penn State 12 -- 0 Joe Paterno AP, BR, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI, USAT / CNN Florida State 11 -- 1 Bobby Bowden B ( QPRS ) Miami ( FL ) 12 -- 0 Jimmy Johnson AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI, USAT / CNN 1988 Miami ( FL ) 11 -- 1 Jimmy Johnson B ( QPRS ) Notre Dame 12 -- 0 Lou Holtz AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI, USAT / CNN 1989 Miami ( FL ) 11 -- 1 Dennis Erickson AP, BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, UPI, USAT / CNN Notre Dame 12 -- 1 Lou Holtz B ( QPRS ), ERS, R ( FACT ), SR 1990 Colorado 11 -- 1 -- 1 Bill McCartney AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, R ( FACT ), SN, USAT / CNN Georgia Tech 11 -- 0 -- 1 Bobby Ross DuS, NCF, R ( FACT ), SR, UPI Miami ( FL ) 10 -- 2 Dennis Erickson ERS, NYT, R ( FACT ), SR Washington 10 -- 2 Don James R ( FACT ) 1991 Miami ( FL ) 12 -- 0 Dennis Erickson AP, BR, CFRA, ERS, NCF, NYT, SN, SR Washington 12 -- 0 Don James B ( QPRS ), DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, R ( FACT ), SR, UPI / NFF, USAT / CNN 1992 Alabama 13 -- 0 Gene Stallings AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CFRA, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI / NFF, USAT / CNN Florida State 11 -- 1 Bobby Bowden SR 1993 Auburn 11 -- 0 Terry Bowden NCF Florida State 12 -- 1 Bobby Bowden AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, NCF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, UPI, USAT / CNN, USAT / NFF Nebraska 11 -- 1 Tom Osborne NCF Notre Dame 11 -- 1 Lou Holtz MGR, NCF 1994 Florida State 10 -- 1 -- 1 Bobby Bowden DuS 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 CCR, DeS, ERS, MGR, NCF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SR 1995 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 Florida 12 -- 1 Steve Spurrier AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, USAT / CNN Florida State 11 -- 1 Bobby Bowden AS 1997 Michigan 12 -- 0 Lloyd Carr AP, BR, FN, FWAA, NCF, NFF, SN Nebraska 13 -- 0 Tom Osborne A&H, AS, B ( QPRS ), BR, CCR, DeS, DuS, ERS, MGR, NCF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SR, USAT / ESPN 1998 Ohio State 11 -- 1 John Cooper SR Tennessee 13 -- 0 Phillip Fulmer 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 12 -- 0 Bobby Bowden 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 Miami ( FL ) 11 -- 1 Butch Davis NYT Oklahoma 13 -- 0 Bob Stoops 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 ( FL ) 12 -- 0 Larry Coker 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 14 -- 0 Jim Tressel A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, ERS, FN, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, USAT / ESPN, W USC 11 -- 2 Pete Carroll DuS, MGR, SR 2003 LSU 13 -- 1 Nick Saban A&H, BCS, BR, CM, DeS, DuS, MCFR, NFF, R ( FACT ), SR, USAT / ESPN, W Oklahoma 12 -- 2 Bob Stoops B ( QPRS ) USC 12 -- 1 Pete Carroll AP, CCR, ERS, FWAA, MGR, NYT, SN USC 11 -- 0 Pete Carroll A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, MCFR, MGR, NFF, NYT, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, W Vacated : BCS, FWAA, USAT / ESPN 2005 Texas 13 -- 0 Mack Brown A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DeS, DuS, ERS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, USAT, W 2006 Florida 13 -- 1 Urban Meyer A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, MGR, NFF, R ( FACT ), SN, SR, USAT, W Ohio State 12 -- 1 Jim Tressel DeS, R ( FACT ) 2007 LSU 12 -- 2 Les Miles AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W Missouri 12 -- 2 Gary Pinkel A&H USC 11 -- 2 Pete Carroll DuS 2008 Florida 13 -- 1 Urban Meyer AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CM, DuS, FWAA, NFF, SR, USAT Utah 13 -- 0 Kyle Whittingham A&H, MCFR, W 2009 Alabama 14 -- 0 Nick Saban A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W Auburn 14 -- 0 Gene Chizik A&H, AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W TCU 13 -- 0 Gary Patterson CCR 2011 Alabama 12 -- 1 Nick Saban AP, B ( QPRS ), BCS, BR, CFRA, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W LSU 13 -- 1 Les Miles A&H, CCR Oklahoma State 12 -- 1 Mike Gundy CM 2012 Alabama 13 -- 1 Nick Saban A&H, AP, BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W Notre Dame 12 -- 1 Brian Kelly CM 2013 Florida State 14 -- 0 Jimbo Fisher A&H, AP, BCS, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA, MCFR, NFF, SR, USAT, W 2014 Ohio State 14 -- 1 Urban Meyer A&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA / NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT / AMWAY, W 2015 Alabama 14 -- 1 Nick Saban A&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, CM, DuS, FWAA / NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT / AMWAY, W 2016 Alabama 14 -- 1 Nick Saban CCR, CM, DuS Clemson 14 -- 1 Dabo Swinney A&H, AP, BR, CFP, CFRA, FWAA / NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT / AMWAY, W 2017 Alabama 13 -- 1 Nick Saban A&H, AP, BR, CCR, CFP, CFRA, DuS, FWAA / NFF, MCFR, SR, USAT / AMWAY, W UCF 13 -- 0 Scott Frost CM Parke Davis ' selection for 1901, as published in the 1935 Spalding 's Foot Ball Guide ( which he himself edited until his death ), was Harvard. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Sagarin as having selected Tennessee, while Sagarin 's official website gives Ohio State as its 1998 selection. The FWAA stripped USC of its 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy and vacated the selection of its national champion for 2004. The BCS also vacated USC 's participation in the 2005 Orange Bowl and USC 's 2004 BCS National Championship, and the AFCA Coaches ' Poll Trophy was returned. Record does not count wins against UCLA, or against Oklahoma in the BCS Championship game on January 4, 2005, as they were vacated by the NCAA. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Dunkel as having selected LSU, while Dunkel 's official website gives USC as its 2007 selection. 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 -- 2013, 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 28 Yale 27 Alabama 22 Notre Dame 22 Oklahoma 17 USC 17 Michigan 16 Ohio State 16 Harvard 12 Nebraska 11 Pittsburgh 11 Miami ( FL ) 9 Minnesota 9 Texas 9 Florida State 8 LSU 8 Georgia Tech 7 Penn State 7 Tennessee 7 Georgia 6 Michigan State 6 Penn 6 Iowa 5 Army 5 Auburn 5 California 5 Cornell 5 Florida 5 Illinois 5 Washington Lafayette Ole Miss SMU TCU Texas A&M Arizona State Arkansas Chicago Clemson Maryland Missouri Oklahoma State Stanford BYU Centre Colgate Colorado Columbia Dartmouth Detroit Kentucky Navy Purdue Rutgers Syracuse UCF UCLA Utah Washington & Jefferson Wisconsin National championship claims by school Tennessee 's national championship claims, as posted in their Neyland Stadium 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 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 27 1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1927 Alabama 17 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 Michigan 11 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997 Notre Dame 11 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 USC 11 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004 Pittsburgh 9 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976 Ohio State 8 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 Harvard 7 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919 Minnesota 7 1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 Oklahoma 7 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000 Penn 7 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1924 Michigan State 6 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966 Tennessee 6 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998 California 5 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1937 Cornell 5 1915, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1939 Illinois 5 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951 Miami ( FL ) 5 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001 Nebraska 5 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 Georgia Tech 1917, 1928, 1952, 1990 Iowa 1921, 1956, 1958, 1960 Texas 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 Washington 1960, 1984, 1990, 1991 Army 1944, 1945, 1946 Florida 1996, 2006, 2008 Florida State 1993, 1999, 2013 Lafayette 1896, 1921, 1926 LSU 1958, 2003, 2007 Ole Miss 1959, 1960, 1962 SMU 1935, 1981, 1982 Texas A&M 1919, 1927, 1939 Auburn 1957, 2010 Chicago 1905, 1913 Clemson 1981, 2016 Georgia 1942, 1980 Penn State 1982, 1986 TCU 1935, 1938 Stanford 1926, 1940 Arkansas 1964 Boston College 1940 BYU 1984 Centre 1921 Colorado 1990 Dartmouth 1925 Kentucky 1950 Maryland 1953 Navy 1926 Oklahoma State 1945 Rutgers 1869 Syracuse 1959 UCF 2017 UCLA 1954 USC 's January 4, 2005 win over Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game was vacated as mandated by the NCAA, its 2004 BCS National Championship vacated by the BCS, and its AFCA Coaches ' Trophy returned. NCAA sanctions mandate that `` any reference to the vacated results, including championships, shall be removed. '' USC still retains the 2004 Associated Press National Championship and has not abandoned its claim to a 2004 national championship. Iowa lists the awarding of the 1958 Grantland Rice National Championship in various publications, but describes championship selections from 3 other years as well in its annual media guide. Auburn 's 1913, 1983, and 1993 ( Auburn was disqualified from post-season play in 1993 and did not play in a bowl game ) championships are not recognized by the school. Georgia 's website has multiple pages which list national championships by sport and only callout two seasons for football ( 1942 and 1980 ). The Georgia football media guide contains a year - by - year results section in which five seasons ( 1927, 1942, 1946, 1968, 1980 ) have `` National Champions # '' headers paired with selector callouts,, but also a `` Championship History '' page which pairs 1942 and 1980 into a `` The Consensus National Champions '' section and groups 1927, 1946, and 1968 together without description as national champions beyond identification of those specific selectors. College Football Data Warehouse recognized national champions College Football Data Warehouse ( 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 ( 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 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 18 1874, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1900, 1907, 1909, 1927 Alabama 15 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 Notre Dame 13 1919, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 Michigan 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 9 1910, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1936, 1937, 1976 Harvard 8 1875, 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919 Ohio State 8 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 Oklahoma 7 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000 Minnesota 6 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 Penn 6 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907, 1908 Army 5 1914, 1916, 1944, 1945, 1946 Miami ( FL ) 5 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001 Nebraska 5 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 California 1920, 1921, 1922, 1937 Georgia Tech 1917, 1928, 1952, 1990 Illinois 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927 LSU 1908, 1958, 2003, 2007 Michigan State 1951, 1952, 1965, 1966 Penn State 1911, 1912, 1982, 1986 Tennessee 1938, 1950, 1951, 1998 Texas 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 Auburn 1913, 1957, 2010 Cornell 1915, 1921, 1922 Florida 1996, 2006, 2008 Florida State 1993, 1999, 2013 Lafayette 1896, 1921, 1926 Georgia 1942, 1980 Ole Miss 1960, 1962 Texas A&M 1919, 1939 TCU 1935, 1938 Arkansas 1964 Boston College 1940 BYU 1984 Chicago 1905 Clemson 1981 Colorado 1990 Dartmouth 1925 Iowa 1958 Maryland 1953 SMU 1935 Stanford 1926 Syracuse 1959 UCLA 1954 Washington 1991 Poll era ( 1936 -- present ) The polling system first gained widespread consistency with the introduction of the AP 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 ( BCS ), was 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 was contractually obligated to name the BCS champion as its national champion. AP poll Main article : AP Poll The AP college football poll has a long history. The news media began running their own polls of sports writers to determine who was, by popular opinion, the best football team in the country at the end of the season. One of the earliest such polls was the AP College Football Poll, first run in 1934 ( compiled and organized by Charles Woodroof, former SEC Assistant Director of Media Relations, but not recognized in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records ) and then continuously from 1936. Due to the long - standing historical ties between individual college football conferences and high - paying bowl games like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl, the NCAA has never held a tournament or championship game to determine the champion of what is now the highest division, NCAA Division I, Football Bowl Subdivision ( the Division I, Football Championship Subdivision and lower divisions do hold championship tournaments ). As a result, the public and the media began to take the leading vote - getter in the final AP Poll as the national champion for that season. 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, the final AP Poll of the season was released following the end of the regular season, with the exception of the 1965 season. 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 to Texas, leaving Arkansas as the only undefeated, untied team after the Razorbacks defeated Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl Classic. In 1965, the AP 's decision to wait to crown its champion paid off, as top - ranked Michigan State lost to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, number two Arkansas lost to LSU in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and fourth - ranked Alabama defeated third - ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, 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 poll of coaches, which did not conduct a post-bowl poll. At the end of the 1947 season, 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, 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. Coaches ' poll Main article : Coaches ' Poll The AFCA National Championship Trophy The Coaches ' poll began selecting the top 20 teams on a weekly basis during the 1950 -- 1951 college football season. It is conducted among selected members of the American Football Coaches Association. In 1990 the poll expanded to a top 25, and it has retained this format since. 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 ( UPI ) from 1958 thru 1990, USA Today / CNN from 1991 thru 1996, USA Today / ESPN from 1997 to 2004, and USA Today from 2005 to present. During the era of the BCS, the Coaches ' Poll was under contractual obligation to award its national championship selection to the winner of the BCS Championship Game or its predecessors -- who was presented with the AFCA National Championship Trophy during a post-game presentation. The College Football Playoff is not tied to the Coaches ' Poll in this manner. Poll era national championships by school ( 1936 -- present ) The following table contains the national championships that have been recognized by the final AP or Coaches ' Poll. Originally both the AP and Coaches ' poll champions were crowned after the regular season, but since 1968 and 1974, respectively, both polls crown their champions after the bowl games are completed. The BCS champion was automatically awarded the Coaches ' Poll championship. Of the current 120 + Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS, formerly Division I-A ) schools, only 30 have won at least a share of a national title by the AP or Coaches ' poll. Of these 30 teams, only 19 teams have won multiple titles. Of the 19 teams, only 7 have won five or more national titles : Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, Miami ( FL ), Nebraska, and Ohio State. The years listed in the table below indicate a national championship selection by the AP or Coaches ' Poll. The selections are noted with ( AP ) or ( Coaches ) when a national champion selection differed between the two polls for that particular season, which has occurred in twelve different seasons ( including 2004, for which the coaches selection was rescinded ) since the polls first came to coexist in 1950. School Championships Seasons Alabama 12 1961, 1964, 1965 ( AP ), 1973 ( Coaches ), 1978 ( AP ), 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 Notre Dame 8 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973 ( AP ), 1977, 1988 Oklahoma 7 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974 ( AP ), 1975, 1985, 2000 USC 7 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974 ( Coaches ), 1978 ( Coaches ), 2003 ( AP ), 2004 ( AP ) † Ohio State 6 1942, 1954 ( AP ), 1957 ( Coaches ), 1968, 2002, 2014 Miami ( FL ) 5 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 ( AP ), 2001 Nebraska 5 1970 ( AP ), 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997 ( Coaches ) Minnesota 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 Texas 1963, 1969, 1970 ( Coaches ), 2005 Florida 1996, 2006, 2008 Florida State 1993, 1999, 2013 LSU 1958, 2003 ( Coaches ), 2007 Army 1944, 1945 ( AP ) Auburn 1957 ( AP ), 2010 Clemson 1981, 2016 Michigan 1948, 1997 ( AP ) Michigan State 1952, 1965 ( Coaches ) Penn State 1982, 1986 Pittsburgh 1937, 1976 Tennessee 1951, 1998 BYU 1984 Colorado 1990 ( AP ) Georgia 1980 Georgia Tech 1990 ( Coaches ) Maryland 1953 Oklahoma State 1945 ( Coaches ) ‡ Syracuse 1959 TCU 1938 Texas A&M 1939 UCLA 1954 ( Coaches ) Washington 1991 ( Coaches ) † USC 's 2004 -- 2005 BCS National Championship was vacated by the BCS and the AFCA Coaches ' Trophy returned. ‡ Retroactively awarded in 2016 by AFCA Blue Ribbon Panel BCS championships The Bowl Championship Series ( BCS ) was a selection system designed to give the top two teams in NCAA Division I-A ( now known as the FBS ) an opportunity to compete in a `` national championship game ''. This championship was intended as a surrogate for a playoff system since the NCAA does not formally determine a champion in this category. It began during the 1998 season, but a number of controversial selections spurred changes to the format over the years. Prior to the 2006 season, eight teams competed in four BCS Bowls ( the Orange, Sugar, Rose, and Fiesta ). The BCS replaced the Bowl Alliance ( in place from 1995 -- 1997 ), which itself followed the Bowl Coalition ( in place from 1992 -- 1994 ). One of the main differences was that the Rose Bowl participated in the BCS ; previously, the Big Ten and Pac - 12 champions automatically played in the Rose Bowl regardless of their poll rankings. However, after the change, those teams played in the BCS National Championship Game if they finished # 1 or # 2 in the BCS standings. The BCS formula varied over the years, with the final version relying 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 games. The winner of this game was crowned Coaches ' Poll national champion winning the AFCA National Championship Trophy and was also awarded the MacArthur Bowl by the National Football Foundation. BCS national championships by school ( 1998 -- 2013 ) School Championships Seasons Alabama 2009, 2011, 2012 Florida 2006, 2008 Florida State 1999, 2013 LSU 2003, 2007 Auburn Miami ( FL ) 2001 Ohio State 2002 Oklahoma 2000 Tennessee 1998 Texas 2005 USC 0 * 2004 * * USC 's victory in the 2005 Orange Bowl and subsequent 2004 -- 05 BCS National Championship was vacated by the BCS. College Football Playoff championships The College Football Playoff ( CFP ) was designed as a replacement for the BCS. While the NCAA still does not officially sanction the event, organizers sought to bring a playoff system similar to all other levels of NCAA football to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The College Football Playoff relies on a 13 - member selection committee to choose the top four teams to play in a two - round single - elimination playoff bracket. The winner of the final game is awarded the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. CFP National Championships by school ( 2014 -- present ) School Championships Seasons Alabama 2015, 2017 Clemson 2016 Ohio State 2014 See also College football portal Coaches Poll List of NCAA college football rankings List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs Notes Jump up ^ The following schools either make no apparent statement or claim regarding national championships, or clearly state no claims on a national championship, despite the listing of a national championship for that school in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records : Arizona State, Colgate, Columbia, Detroit, Missouri, Purdue, Rutgers, Washington & Jefferson, and Wisconsin. Jump up ^ All National Championships listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records, as well as all additional selections compiled at College Football Data Warehouse, were checked for claims by the applicable schools. Although every care was taken to be thorough and accurate, it can not be assumed that there are no missing or misrepresented claims due to potential limitations of the available source material for any one institution. References Jump up ^ `` Syracuse and Cornell Still Top Gridders ''. The Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. November 12, 1923. p. 12. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Viehman, Harold H., ed. ( 1939 ). The 1939 Owl. Pittsburgh : University of Pittsburgh. p. 276. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Dodd, Dennis ( December 22, 2004 ). `` Subtracting AP poll leaves BCS again scrambling for legitimacy ''. CBSsports.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Peterson, Bill ( November 5, 2008 ). `` UC Football in the Hunt for a Big East Crown and BCS Bid ''. Citybeat.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Hooper, Matt ( October 10, 2009 ). Noel, Tex, ed. `` How many national titles can Alabama really lay claim to ? 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( 2014 ). 2014 University of Michigan Football Media Guide ( PDF ). University of Michigan. pp. 2,183. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Bertsch, Michael ; Masters, Chris ; Torbin, Leigh ( 2014 ). Notre Dame Football 2014 Media Guide. University of Notre Dame. pp. 2,157. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ USC Sports Information Office ( 2014 ). 2014 USC Football Media Guide ( PDF ). University of Southern California. p. 114. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Borghetti, E.J. ; Feeley, Ted ; Welsh, Celeste ; et al., eds. ( 2014 ). 2014 Pitt Football Media Guide ( PDF ). Pittsburgh : University of Pittsburgh. p. 130. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ 2014 Ohio State Football Media Guide ( PDF ). The Ohio State University Department of Athletics. 2014. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Ohio State Buckeyes - 2014 NCAA Football Champions ''. Ohio State Buckeyes. CBSi Advanced Media. Retrieved May 5, 2015. 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University of Tennessee Department of Athletics. pp. 1, 160 -- 174. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tennessee Official Athletic Site -- Football : National Champions ''. University of Tennessee Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Benenson, Herb, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 California Golden Bears Football Information Guide ( PDF ). Cal Media Relations Office. p. 146. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Over a Century of Tradition ( PDF ). Cornell Athletics Communications Office. 2015. p. 3. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Brown, Kent, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Illinois Football Record Book ( PDF ). University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. p. 114. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Hurricanes Football History & Records ''. University of Miami Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Huskers. com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site : Nebraska 's Five National Titles ''. University of Nebraska Athletic Department. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site -- Football : Titles Won ''. Georgia Tech Athletic Department. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Roe, Steve ; Wagner, Traci ; Walenta, Theresa, eds. ( 2014 ). 2014 Iowa Football Media Guide ( PDF ). University of Iowa Athletic Department. p. 104. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Bianco, John ( 2014 ). 2014 Texas Football AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl Guide ( PDF ). University of Texas at Austin. p. 120. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ 2017 Husky Football Guide ( PDF ). University of Washington Athletic Communications Office. 2017. p. 86. Retrieved November 13, 2017. Jump up ^ Faulkner, Matt, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Army Football Media Guide. U.S. Military Academy Office of Athletic Communications. p. 126. Retrieved May 5, 2015. 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Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Cannon, Alan, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Texas A&M Football Media Guide ( PDF ). Texas A&M Athletic Media Relations Office. p. 150. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Championships ''. Auburn Tigers : The Official Website of Auburn Athletics. 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Feature Story : Chicago Football Eras ''. University of Chicago Campus and Student Life. October 8, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ 25th Anniversary of the 1981 National Championship Team ( PDF ). Clemson University. 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Champions ! ''. ClemsonTigers.com. Clemson University. Retrieved January 10, 2017. ^ Jump up to : http://georgiadogs.com/sports/2017/6/16/championships.aspx ^ Jump up to : 2017 Georgia Football Media Guide. University of Georgia Athletics Department. 2017. pp. 161 -- 163, 192. Retrieved December 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Penn State official Athletic Site -- Traditions : National Champions ''. Pennsylvania State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Cohen, Mark ( 2014 ). 2014 TCU Football Fact Book. TCU Athletics Media Relations Office. pp. 2, 129. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Stanford Football History ''. Stanford University Department of Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Young, Jim, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Stanford Football Media Guide ( PDF ). Stanford University Athletic Communications and Media Relations Department. pp. 172, 180. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on April 11, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Higbee, Zack ; Satterfield, Derek, eds. ( 2014 ). University of Arkansas Razorbacks 2014 Football Media Guide. UA Media Relations Department. pp. 18, 140. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Boston College Official Athletic Site : 1940 Football ' Team of Destiny ' -- National Champions ''. Boston College Athletics Department. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 1984 National Championship ''. BYUCougars.com : The Official Site of Brigham Young Athletics. 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ ( ? url = http://centrecolonels.com/sports/fball/index `` Centre Colonels '' ) Check archiveurl = value ( help ). Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) ( Archived by WebCite ® at ) Jump up ^ `` Colorado Football 1990 National Champions ''. CUBuffs.com -- Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` A Championship Tradition ''. DartmouthSports.com -- Official Web Site of Dartmouth Varsity Athletics. August 30, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2015 Football Media Guide ''. University of Kentucky Athletics. p. 100. Retrieved August 14, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Terrapin Team Titles : University of Maryland National Championships ''. Maryland Athletics, University of Maryland. 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ 2014 Navy Football Media Guide ( PDF ). Naval Academy Athletic Association. 2014. pp. 8 -- 9. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Brunt, Cliff ( October 13, 2016 ). `` AFCA picks Oklahoma St as 1945 coaches ' national champion ''. USA Today. AP. Retrieved January 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` AFCA Recognizes Oklahoma State as 1945 National Champion ''. Retrieved November 15, 2016. Jump up ^ Baum, Jason, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Rutgers Football Factbook. Rutgers University Office of Athletic Communications. p. 2. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Edson, Sue Cornelius, ed. ( 2014 ). 2014 Syracuse University Football Media Guide ( PDF ). Syracuse University Athletic Communications Department. pp. 6, 107. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ UCF declares itself national champions, and is doing everything real champions do after winning. SBNation. 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018. Jump up ^ 2014 UCLA Football Media Guide ( PDF ). UCLA Sports Information Office. 2014. pp. 90, 108. 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Links to related articles NCAA Football Championship Games Division I FBS 2007 * 2008 * 2009 * 2010 * 2011 * 2012 * 2013 * 2014 * 2015 * 2016 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * I-A 1993 * 1994 * 1995 * 1996 * 1997 * 1998 * 1999 * 2000 * 2001 * 2002 * 2003 * 2004 * 2005 * 2006 * FCS 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 * 2012 * 2013 * 2014 * 2015 * 2016 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * I - AA 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 Division II 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Division III 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Games played in January are denoted by an asterisk College football national champions ( poll era ) 1936 -- 1949 1936 : Minnesota ( AP, DS ) / Pittsburgh ( BS, HS ) 1937 : Pittsburgh ( AP, BS, DS, HS ) / California 1938 : TCU ( AP ) / Tennessee ( BS, HS ) / Notre Dame ( DS ) 1939 : Texas A&M ( AP, BS, HS ) / USC ( DS ) 1940 : Minnesota ( AP, BS, DS, HS ) / Stanford 1941 : Minnesota ( AP, BS ) / Alabama ( HS ) 1942 : Ohio State ( AP, BS ) / Georgia ( HS ) 1943 : Notre Dame 1944 : Army ( AP, BS, HS ) / Ohio State 1945 : Army ( AP, BS, HS ) / Oklahoma A&M ( AFCA ) 1946 : Notre Dame ( AP ) / Army ( BS, HS ) 1947 : Notre Dame ( AP ) / Michigan ( AP ( post-bowl ), BS, HS ) 1948 : Michigan 1949 : Notre Dame 1950s 1950 : Oklahoma 1951 : Tennessee ( AP, Coaches ) / Michigan State / Maryland / Georgia Tech ( BS ) / Illinois ( BS ) 1952 : Michigan State ( AP, Coaches, BS ) / Georgia Tech ( INS ) 1953 : Maryland ( AP, Coaches, INS ) / Notre Dame ( BS ) 1954 : Ohio State ( AP, BS, INS ) / UCLA ( FWAA, Coaches ) 1955 : Oklahoma 1956 : Oklahoma 1957 : Auburn ( AP ) / Ohio State ( Coaches, BS, FWAA, INS ) 1958 : LSU ( AP, Coaches, BS, FN ) / Iowa ( FWAA ) 1959 : Syracuse 1960s 1960 : Minnesota ( AP, Coaches, FN, NFF ) / Ole Miss ( FWAA ) / Iowa BS ) 1961 : Alabama ( AP, Coaches, FN, NFF ) / Ohio State ( FWAA ) 1962 : USC 1963 : Texas 1964 : Alabama ( AP, Coaches ) / Arkansas ( FWAA ) / Notre Dame ( FN, NFF ) 1965 : Alabama ( AP, FWAA ) / Michigan State ( Coaches, FN, FWAA, NFF ) 1966 : Notre Dame ( AP, Coaches, FN, FWAA, NFF ) / Michigan State ( NFF ) 1967 : USC 1968 : Ohio State 1969 : Texas 1970s 1970 : Nebraska ( AP, FN, FWAA ) / Texas ( NFF, Coaches ) / Ohio State ( NFF ) 1971 : Nebraska 1972 : USC 1973 : Notre Dame ( AP, FN, FWAA, NFF ) / Alabama ( Coaches ) 1974 : Oklahoma ( AP, FN ) / USC ( FWAA, NFF, Coaches ) 1975 : Oklahoma 1976 : Pittsburgh 1977 : Notre Dame 1978 : Alabama ( AP, FWAA, NFF ) / USC ( Coaches, FN ) 1979 : Alabama 1980 -- 1991 1980 : Georgia 1981 : Clemson 1982 : Penn State 1983 : Miami ( FL ) 1984 : BYU 1985 : Oklahoma 1986 : Penn State 1987 : Miami ( FL ) 1988 : Notre Dame 1989 : Miami ( FL ) 1990 : Colorado ( AP, FN, FWAA, NFF, USAT / CNN ) / Georgia Tech ( Coaches ) 1991 : Miami ( FL ) ( AP ) / Washington ( Coaches, FN, FWAA, UPI / NFF ) College football national champions ( pre-AP Poll ) 1869 -- 1879 1869 : Princeton / Rutgers 1870 : Princeton 1872 : Princeton / Yale 1873 : Princeton 1874 : Harvard / Princeton / Yale 1875 : Columbia / Harvard / Princeton 1876 : Yale 1877 : Princeton / Yale 1878 : Princeton 1879 : Princeton 1880s 1880 : Princeton / Yale 1881 : Princeton / Yale 1882 : Yale 1883 : Yale 1884 : Princeton / Yale 1885 : Princeton 1886 : Princeton / Yale 1887 : Yale 1888 : Yale 1889 : Princeton 1890s 1890 : Harvard 1891 : Yale 1892 : Yale 1893 : Princeton / Yale 1894 : Penn / Princeton / Yale 1895 : Penn / Yale 1896 : Lafayette / Princeton 1897 : Penn / Yale 1898 : Harvard / Princeton 1899 : Harvard / Princeton 1900s 1900 : Yale 1901 : Harvard / Michigan / Yale 1902 : Michigan / Yale 1903 : Michigan / Princeton 1904 : Michigan / Minnesota / Penn 1905 : Chicago / Yale 1906 : Princeton / Yale 1907 : Yale 1908 : Harvard / LSU / Penn 1909 : Yale 1910s 1910 : Harvard / Pittsburgh 1911 : Penn State / Princeton 1912 : Harvard / Penn State 1913 : Auburn / Chicago / Harvard 1914 : Army / Illinois / Texas 1915 : Cornell / Minnesota / Oklahoma / Pittsburgh 1916 : Army / Georgia Tech / Pittsburgh 1917 : Georgia Tech 1918 : Michigan / Pittsburgh 1919 : Centre / Harvard / Illinois / Notre Dame / Texas A&M 1920s 1920 : California / Georgia / Harvard / Notre Dame / Princeton 1921 : California / Cornell / Iowa / Lafayette / Washington & Jefferson / Vanderbilt 1922 : California / Cornell / Princeton / Vanderbilt 1923 : Cal / Cornell / Illinois / Michigan / Yale 1924 : Notre Dame / Penn 1925 : Alabama / Dartmouth / Michigan 1926 : Alabama / Lafayette / Michigan / Navy / Stanford 1927 : Georgia / Illinois / Notre Dame / Texas A&M / Yale 1928 : Detroit / Georgia Tech / USC 1929 : Notre Dame / Pittsburgh / USC 1930s 1930 : Alabama / Notre Dame 1931 : Pittsburgh / Purdue / USC 1932 : Colgate / Michigan / USC 1933 : Michigan / Ohio State / Princeton / USC 1934 : Alabama / Minnesota 1935 : LSU / Minnesota / Princeton / SMU / TCU Systems used to determine college football national championships NCAA Division I-A / FBS Various polling systems ( 1869 -- present ) Bowl Coalition ( 1992 -- 1994 ) Bowl Alliance ( 1995 -- 1997 ) Bowl Championship Series ( 1998 -- 2013 ) College Football Playoff ( 2014 -- present ) NCAA Division I - AA / FCS NCAA Division I Football Championship ( 1978 -- present ) NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Championship ( 1973 -- present ) NCAA Division III NCAA Division III Football Championship ( 1973 -- present ) NAIA Divisions NAIA Football National Championship ( 1956 -- present ) NAIA Division II Football National Championship ( 1970 -- 1996 ) Additional systems Black college football national championship NCCAA Victory Bowl ( 1997 -- present ) National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Awards Hall of Champions Conferences Division I Institutions Athletic directors Baseball Championship CWS Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football FBS FCS Golf Men Women Ice hockey Men Women Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Men Women Wrestling Championship Division II Institutions Baseball Championship Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football Championship Golf Men Women Gymnastics Men Women Ice hockey Men Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship / WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Women Wrestling Championship Division III Institutions Baseball Championship Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football Championship Golf Men Women Ice hockey Men Women Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship / WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Men Women Wrestling Championship Single - division sports and championships Beach volleyball Women Bowling Women Boxing Championship Fencing Championships Gymnastics Men Women Rifle Championship Skiing Championships Trampoline Championship Water polo Men Women Events listed in italics have been discontinued. 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Question: who has won the most college football championships
Answer: Princeton