Complete List Of College Football National Championship Teams

There are many polls and organizations that select college football’s national championship team each year. Due to differing opinions, the final NCAA champion is sometimes not unanimously agreed upon. In 1981, with the most ever, six different teams claimed a national title.

Historical Dilemma

In the very first season of college football’s existence, in 1869, pollsters split the national title between Rutgers and Princeton, even though Rutgers beat Princeton earlier that year. Controversies about the college football national championship have lingered ever since.

Comprehensive List of National Championship Teams

What follows is a comprehensive list of all the national championship teams, according to the NCAA. Listed alongside the champions are the polls or nominating bodies that awarded the title. Not all national championships are created equal. For instance, the Associated Press nominating body carries more weight than the New York Times nominating body, which was a selector from 1979 to 2004. The AP began its selection of national champions in 1936.

An *asterisk denotes the consensus national champion, that is, fans would most recognize that team as the national title holder. Even the consensus title is somewhat confusing, as some seasons ended with multiple consensus national champions.

2010s

Year College Nominating Body

2016 *ClemsonAlabama AP, FW, NFF, USA/AmwayCCR, CM

2015 Alabama AP, FW, NFF, USA/Amway

2014 Ohio State College Football Playoff

2013 Florida State BCS

2012 Alabama BCS

2011 Alabama BCS

2010 Auburn BCS

2000s

Year College Nominating Body

2009 Alabama BCS

2008 Florida BCS

2007 LSU BCS

2006 Florida BCS

2005 Texas BCS

2004 USC/Vacated AP, FW (USC was later stripped of title due to player controversy)

2003 LSUUSCOklahoma BCS, FACT, NFF, Seattle Times, USA/ESPNAP, NYTBerryman

2002 *Ohio StateUSC AP, BCS, FACT, FW, NFF, NYT, USA/ESPNDunkel, Matthews, Sagarin

2001 Miami (Fla.) BCS

2000 Oklahoma BCS

1990s

Year College Nominating Body

1999 Florida State BCS

1998 *TennesseeOhio State SagarinBCS, AP, NYT, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, USA/ESPN

1997 MichiganNebraska AP, FW, NCF, NFFFACT, NCF, NYT, USA/ESPN

1996 *FloridaFlorida State AP, FACT, FW, NFF, USA/CNNAlderson

1995 Nebraska NCF

1994 *NebraskaFlorida StatePenn State AP, FACT, FW, NCF, UPI, USA/CNN, USA/NFFDunkelFACT< NCF, NYT

1993 *Florida StateAuburnNebraskaNotre Dame AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNN, USA/CNNNCFNCFNCF

1992 *AlabamaFlorida State AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NYT, UPI/NFF, USA/CNNSagarin

1991 *Miami (Fla.)*Washington AP, NCF, NYT,FACT, FW, NCF, UPI/NFF, USA/CNN

1990 ColoradoGeorgia TechMiami (Fla.)Washington AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, USA/CNNFACT, NCF, UPIFACT, NYTFACT

1980s

Year College Nominating Body

1989 *Miami (Fla.)Notre Dame AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNNFACT

1988 *Notre DameMiami (Fla.) AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNNBerryman

1987 *Miami (Fla.)Florida State AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNNBerryman, Sagarin

1986 *Penn StateMiami (Fla.)Oklahoma AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI, USA/CNNFACTBerryman, NYT, Sagarin

1985 *OklahomaMichigan AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNNMatthews, Sagarin

1984 *Brigham YoungFloridaNebraskaWashington AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI, USA/CNNFACT, NYT, SagarinLitkenhousNCF

1983 *Miami (Fla.)AuburnNebraska AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI, USA/CNNFACT, NYTBerryman, FACT, Sagarin

1982 *Penn StateNebraskaSouthern Methodist AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPI, USA/CNNBerrymanHelms

1981 *ClemsonNebraskaPenn StatePittsburghTexasSouthern Methodist AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPINCFDunkelNCFNCFNCF

1980 *GeorgiaFlorida StateNebraskaOklahomaPittsburgh AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIFACTFACT, SagarinBillingsley, Dunkel, MatthewsFACT, NYT

1970s

Year College Nominating Body

1979 *AlabamaUSC AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, NYT, UPIFootball Research

1978 AlabamaUSCOklahoma AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFFFACT, NCF, UPIFACT, Sagarin

1977 *Notre DameAlabamaArkansasTexas AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIFootball ResearchFACTBerryman, FACT

1976 *PittsburghUSC AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIBerryman, Billingsley, Devold, Dunkel, Matthews

1975 *OklahomaAlabamaArizona StateOhio State AP, FACT, NCF, NFF, UPIMatthewsNCFFACT

1974 OklahomaUSCOhio State AP, FACT, NCFFW, NCF, NFF, UPIMatthews

1973 AlabamaNotre DameMichiganOhio StateOklahoma Berryman, UPIAP, FW, NCF, NFFNCFFACT, NCFBillingsley, Sagarin

1972 USC AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI

1971 Nebraska AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI

1970 NebraskaTexasArizona StateNotre DameOhio State AP, FACT, FW, NCFFACT, NFF, UPIPolingFACT, MatthewsNFF

1960s

Year College Nominating Body

1969 *TexasOhio StatePenn State AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIMatthewsFACT

1968 *Ohio StateGeorgiaTexas AP, FACT, FW, NCF, NFF, UPILitkenhousDeVold, Matthews, Sagarin

1967 *USCNotre DameOklahomaTennessee AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIDunkelPolingLitkenhous

1966 Michigan StateNotre DameAlabama Football Research, Helms, NFF, PolingAP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIBerryman

1965 AlabamaMichigan State AP, FW, NCFFW, NFF, UPI

1964 AlabamaArkansasMichiganNotre Dame AP, UPIFW, NCFDunkelNFF

1963 Texas AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPI

1962 *USCAlabamaLSUMississippi AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIBillingsleyBerrymanLitkenhous

1961 AlabamaOhio State AP, NCF, NFF, UPIFW, Poling

1960 MinnesotaMississippiIowaMissouriWashington AP, NFF, UPIFW, NCFBerryman, Boand, Litkenhous, SagarinPolingHelms

1950s

Year College Nominating Body

1959 *SyracuseMississippi AP, FW, NCF, NFF, UPIBerryman, Billingsley, Dunkel, Sagarin

1958 LSUIowa AP, NCF, UPIFW

1957 AuburnOhio StateMichigan StateOklahoma AP, NCFFW, UPIBillingsley, Dunkel, SagarinBerryman

1956 *OklahomaGeorgia TechIowaTennessee AP, FW, NCF, UPIBerrymanFootball ResearchSagarin

1955 *OklahomaMichigan State AP, BFW, NFC, UPIBoand

1954 Ohio StateUCLA AP, NCFFW, NCF, UPI

1953 *MarylandNotre DameOklahoma AP, UPINCFBerryman, Football Research

1952 *Michigan StateGeorgia Tech AP, NCF, UPIBerryman, INS, Poling

1951 *TennesseeGeorgia TechIllinoisMarylandMichigan State AP, UPIBerryman, BoandBoandDeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, NCF, SagarinBillingsley, Helms, Poling

1950 *OklahomaKentuckyPrincetonTennessee AP, UPISagarinBoand, PolingBillingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, NCF

1940s

Year College Nominating Body

1949 *Notre DameOklahoma AP, NCFFootball Research

1948 Michigan AP, NCF

1947 *Notre DameMichigan APFootball Research

1946 *Notre DameArmyGeorgia AP, NCFFootball ResearchWilliamson

1945 *ArmyAlabama AP, Football Research, NCFNCF

1944 *ArmyOhio State AP, NCFNCF

1943 Notre Dame AP, NCF

1942 *Ohio StateGeorgiaWisconsin AP, Football Research, NCFBerryman, DeVold, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Poling, WilliamsonHelms

1941 *MinnesotaAlabamaTexas AP, NCFHoulgateBerryman, Williamson

1940 *MinnesotaStanfordTennessee AP, NCFHelms, PolingDunkel, Williamson

1930s

Year College Nominating Body

1939 *Texas A&MCornellUSC AP, NCFBillingsley, LitkenhousDickinson

1938 *TCUNotre DameTennessee AP, NCFDickinsonFootball Research

1937 *PittsburghCalifornia AP, Football Research, NCFDunkel, Helms

1936 *MinnesotaLSUPittsburgh AP, NCFWilliamsonBoand, Football Research, Houlgate

1935 *MinnesotaLSUPrincetonSouthern MethodistTCU Football Research, NCFWilliamsonDunkelDickinson, HoulgateWilliamson

1934 *MinnesotaAlabama Football Research, NCFDunkel, Houlgate, Poling, Williamson

1933 *MichiganOhio StatePrincetonUSC Football Research, NCFDunkelParke DavisWilliamson

1932 *USCColgateMichigan Football Research, NCFParke DavisDickinson, Parke Davis

1931 *USCPittsburghPurdue Football Research, NCFParke DavisParke Davis

1930 AlabamaNotre Dame Football Research, Parke DavisNCF

1920s

Year College Nominating Body

1929 *Notre DamePittsburghUSC Football Research, NCFParke DavisHoulgate

1928 *Georgia TechDetroitUSC Football Research, NCFParke DavisDickinson

1927 IllinoisYaleGeorgia NCFFootball ResearchBoand, Poling

1926 AlabamaStanfordLafayetteNavy Football Research, NCFNCFParke DavisBoand, Houlgate

1925 *AlabamaDartmouth Football Research, NCFDickinson, Parke Davis

1924 *Notre DamePennsylvania Football Research, NCFParke Davis

1923 *IllinoisCaliforniaMichigan Football Research, NCFHoulgateNCF

1922 CaliforniaCornell*PrincetonIowa NCF, HoulgateHelms, Parke DavisBoand, Football Research, NCF, Parke DavisBillingsley

1921 CaliforniaCornellIowaLafayetteWashington & Jefferson Boand, Football ResearchNCFBillingsley, Parke DavisBoand, Parke DavisBoand

1920 *CaliforniaHarvardNotre DamePrinceton Billingsley, Football Research, NCFBoandParke DavisBoand, Parke Davis

1910s

Year College Nominating Body

1919 HarvardIllinoisNotre DameTexas A&M Football Research, NCFBillingsley, Boand, Football Research, Parke DavisNCF, Parke DavisNCF

1918 MichiganPittsburgh Billingsley, NCFHelms, Houlgate, NCF

1917 Georgia Tech NCF

1916 *PittsburghArmy NCFParke Davis

1915 *CornellNebraskaPittsburgh NCFBillingsleyParke Davis

1914 *ArmyIllinoisTexas NCFParke DavisBillingsley

1913 *HarvardAuburnChicago NCFBillingsleyParke Davis

1912 HarvardPenn State NCFNCF

1911 Penn StatePrincetonVanderbilt NCFNCFBillingsley

1910 HarvardPittsburghMichigan NCFNCFBillingsley

1900s

Year College Nominating Body

1909 Yale NCF

1908 LSUPennsylvania NCFNCF

1907 *YalePennsylvania NCFBillingsley

1906 *PrincetonVanderbiltYale NCFBillingsleyParke Davis

1905 *ChicagoYale NCFParke Davis

1904 MichiganPennsylvania NCFNCF

1903 MichiganPrinceton NCFNCF

1902 *MichiganYale NCFParke Davis

1901 *MichiganHarvardYale NCFBillingsleyParke Davis

1900 Yale NCF

1890s

Year College Nominating Body

1899 *HarvardPrinceton NCFParke Davis

1898 *HarvardPrinceton NCFParke Davis

1897 *PennsylvaniaYale NCFParke Davis

1896 LafayettePrinceton NCFParke Davis

1895 *PennsylvaniaYale NCFParke Davis

1894 *YalePennsylvaniaPrinceton NCFParke DavisHoulgate

1893 *PrincetonYale NCFParke Davis

1892 Yale NCF

1891 Yale NCF

1890 Harvard NCF

1880s

Year College Nominating Body

1889 Princeton NCF

1888 Yale NCF

1887 Yale NCF

1886 *YalePrinceton NCFParke Davis

1885 Princeton NCF

1884 *PrincetonYale Parke DavisNCF

1883 Yale NCF

1882 Yale NCF

1881 *YalePrinceton NCFBillingsley, Parke Davis

1880 PrincetonYale NCFNCF

1870s

Year College Nominating Body

1879 *PrincetonYale NCFParke Davis

1878 Princeton NCF

1877 *YalePrinceton NCFParke Davis

1876 Yale NCF

1875 *HarvardColgatePrinceton NCFParke DavisBillingsley, Parke Davis

1874 *YaleHarvardPrinceton NCFParke DavisBillingsley, Parke Davis

1873 Princeton NFC

1872 Princeton NFC

1871 None

1870 Princeton NFC

1869 *PrincetonRutgers NFCParke Davis

Featured Video

All-Time Associated Press National College Football Champions

NFL Champions (1920–Present)

Most Stanley Cup Wins by Team

A Brief History of Table Tennis (Ping-Pong)

24 Champion Golfers Who Died Tragic, Early Deaths

Stanley Cup Winners: The Complete List

Famous Male Golfers

Hockey History: The Time Line, 1917-1945

Baseball Stars of the 19th Century

Sir Laurence Olivier, English Film and Shakespearean Actor

LPGA Founders: The 13 Women Who Created the LPGA

Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

Biography of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Golf and Athletics Legend

Photos of Famous People in Figure Skating

US Open Golf Courses: All the Places the Tournament Has Been Played

The History of Hip-Hop: 1925 to Now

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies