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PrivacyNCAA FBS National Champions
....computers, polls, confusion
Is there anything more confusing than the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Previously Division I) ranking systems? Since the NCAA does not declare a football champion in this division, everyone else has devised a system to rank the teams. Although the situation has improved in the past few years with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) confusion can still reign.
During the past years, there have been any number of selectors of national champions using polls, historical research and mathematical rating systems.
Beginning in 1936, the Associated Press began the best-known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters. Before 1936, national champions have been determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls.
Because there are any number of rating systems applied, it is not unusual to see more than one National Champion declared by different rating systems in any one year.
As a result of this, unless the recognized polls or rating systems agreed on one team being declared the National Champion in any particular year, multiple champions would be listed. The National Championship debate becames a matter of which poll or rating system was followed,. Here is a list of some of the major selection groups::
AP - Associated Press
UPI - Uniyed Press International
NCF - National Championship Foundation
FWAA - Football Writers Association of America
BCS - Bowl Championship Series
CFP - College Football Playoff
NFF - National Football Foundation
USA/CNN - USA Today/CNN
CFRA - College Football Researchers Association
HAF - Helms Athletic Foundation
From 1998 through 2013 seasons, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conducted a bowl contest between it's two top-ranked teams to determine a national champion. A number of polling organizations also provide a final ranking of Division I-A football teams at the end of each season. In 2014 this format was replaced by the College Football Playoff. The top four (4) ranked teams match up in a single game elimination format to determine the National Champion..
Following is the list of FBS football champions since 1869 according to sources recognized by the NCAA.
NCAA FBS National Champions
NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision National Champions
| Year | School | Season | Coach | Selection |
| 2025 | Indiana (1) | 16-0-0 | Curt Cignetti | CFP |
| 2024 | Ohio State (6) | 14-2-0 | Ryan Day | CFP |
| 2023 | Michigan (1) | 12-0-0 | Jim Harbaugh | CFP |
| 2022 | Georgia (1) | 15-0-0 | Kirby Smart | CFP |
| 2021 | Georgia (3) | 14-1-0 | Kirby Smart | CFP |
| 2020 | Alabama (1) | 13-0-0 | Nick Saban | CFP |
| 2019 | Louisiana State (1) | 15-0-0 | Ed Orgeron | CFP |
| 2018 | Clemson (2) | 15-0-0 | Dabo Swinney | CFP |
| 2017 | Alabama (4) | 13-1-0 | Nick Saban | CFP |
| 2016 | Clemson (3) | 14-1-0 | Dabo Swinney | CFP |
| 2015 | Alabama (2) | 14-1-0 | Nick Saban | CFP |
| 2014 | Ohio State (5) | 14-1-0 | Urban Meyer | CFP |
| 2013 | Florida State | 14-0-0 | Jimbo Fisher | BCS |
| 2012 | Alabama | 13-1-0 | Nick Saban | BCS |
| 2011 | Alabama | 12-1-0 | Nick Saban | BCS |
| 2010 | Auburn | 14-0-0 | Gene Chizik | BCS |
| 2009 | Alabama | 14-0-0 | Nick Saban | BCS |
| 2008 | Florida | 13-1-0 | Urban Meyer | BCS |
| 2007 | Louisiana State | 12-2-0 | Les Miles | BCS |
| 2006 | Florida | 13-1-0 | Urban Meyer | BCS |
| 2005 | Texas | 13-0-0 | Mack Brown | BCS |
| 2004 | Southern California | 13-0-0 | Pete Carroll | BCS |
| 2003 | Louisiana State | 13-1-0 | Nick Saban | BCS |
| 2003 | Southern California | 12-1-0 | Pete Carroll | AP, FWAA |
| 2002 | Ohio State | 14-0-0 | Jim Tressel | BCS |
| 2001 | Miami (Fla.) | 12-1-0 | Larry Coker | BCS |
| 2000 | Oklahoma | 13-0-0 | Bob Stoops | BCS |
| 1999 | Florida State | 12-1-0 | Bobby Bowden | BCS |
| 1998 | Tennessee | 13-0-0 | Phillip Fulmer | BCS |
| 1997 | Michigan | 12-1-0 | Lloyd Carr | AP, FWAA, NFF |
| 1997 | Nebraska | 13-0-0 | Tom Osborne | USA/ESPN |
| 1996 | Florida | 12-1-0 | Steve Spurrier | AP, FWAA, NFF,USA/CNN |
| 1995 | Nebraska | 12-0-0 | Tom Osborne | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1994 | Nebraska | 13-0-0 | Tom Osborne | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1993 | Florida St. | 12-1-0 | Bobby Bowden | AP, FWAA,NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1992 | Alabama | 13-0-0 | Gene Stallings | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1991 | Miami (Fla.) | 12-0-0 | Dennis Erickson | AP |
| 1991 | Washington | 12-0-0 | Don James | FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1990 | Colorado | 11-1-0 | Bill McCartney | FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, AP |
| 1990 | Georgia Tech | 11-0-0 | Bobby Ross | UPI |
| 1989 | Miami (Fla.) | 11-1-0 | Dennis Erickson | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1988 | Notre Dame | 12-0-0 | Lou Holtz | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1987 | Miami (Fla.) | 12-0-0 | Jimmy Johnson | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1986 | Penn St. | 12-0-0 | Joe Paterno | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1985 | Oklahoma | 11-1-0 | Barry Switzer | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1984 | Brigham Young | 13-0-0 | LaVell Edwards | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1983 | Miami (Fla.) | 11-1-0 | Howard Schnellenberger | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1982 | Penn St. | 11-1-0 | Joe Paterno | AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI |
| 1981 | Clemson | 12-0-0 | Danny Ford | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1980 | Georgia | 12-0-0 | Vince Dooley | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1979 | Alabama | 12-0-0 | Bear Bryant | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1978 | Alabama | 11-1-0 | Bear Bryant | AP, FWAA, NFF |
| 1978 | Southern California | 12-1-0 | John Robinson | UPI |
| 1977 | Notre Dame | 11-1-0 | Dan Devine | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1976 | Pittsburgh | 12-0-0 | Johnny Majors | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1975 | Oklahoma | 11-1-0 | Barry Switzer | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1974 | Oklahoma | 11-0-0 | Barry Switzer | FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1974 | Southern California | 10-1-0 | John McKay | AP |
| 1973 | Notre Dame | 11-0-0 | Ara Parseghian | AP, FWAA, NFF |
| 1973 | Alabama | 11-1-0 | Bear Bryant | UPI |
| 1972 | Southern California | 12-0-0 | John McKay | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1971 | Nebraska | 13-0-0 | Bob Devaney | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1970 | Nebraska | 11-0-0 | Bob Devaney | AP, FWAA |
| 1970 | Texas | 10-1-0 | Darrell Royal | UPI, NFF |
| 1970 | Ohio St | 9-1-0 | Woody Hayes | NFF |
| 1969 | Texas | 11-0-0 | Darrell Royal | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1968 | Ohio St. | 10-0-0 | Woody Hayes | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1967 | Southern California | 10-1-0 | John McKay | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1966 | Michigan St. | 9-0-1 | Duffy Daugherty | NFF |
| 1966 | Notre Dame | 9-0-0 | Ara Parseghian | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1965 | Alabama | 9-1-0 | Bear Bryant | FWAA, AP |
| 1965 | Michigan St | 10-1-0 | Duffy Daugherty | FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1964 | Alabama | 10-1-0 | Bear Bryant | AP, UPI |
| 1964 | Arkansas | 11-0-0 | Frank Broyles | FWAA |
| 1964 | Notre Dame | 9-1-0 | Ara Parseghian | NFF |
| 1963 | Texas | 11-0-0 | Darrell Royal | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1962 | Southern California | 11-0-0 | John McKay | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1961 | Alabama | 11-0-0 | Bear Bryant | AP, NFF, UPI |
| 1961 | Ohio St | 8-0-1 | Woody Hayes | FWAA |
| 1960 | Minnesota, | 8-2-0 | Murray Warmath | AP, NFF, UPI |
| 1960 | Mississippi | 10-0-1 | Johnny Vaught | FWAA |
| 1959 | Syracuse | 11-0-0 | Ben Schwartzwalder | AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI |
| 1958 | LSU | 11-0-0 | Paul Dietzel | AP, UPI |
| 1958 | Iowa | 8-1-1 | Forest Evashevski | FWAA |
| 1957 | Auburn | 10-0-0 | Shug Jordan | AP |
| 1957 | Ohio St | 10-0-0 | Woody Hayes | FWAA, UPI |
| 1956 | Oklahoma | 10-0-0 | Bud Wilkinson | AP, FWAA, UPI |
| 1955 | Oklahoma | 11-0-0 | Bud Wilkinson | AP, FWAA, UPI |
| 1954 | Ohio St. | 10-0-0 | Woody Hayes | AP |
| 1954 | UCLA | 9-0-0 | Red Sanders | FWAA, UPI |
| 1953 | Maryland | 10-1-0 | Jim Tatum | AP, UPI |
| 1952 | Michigan St. | 9-0-0 | Biggie Munn | AP, UPI |
| 1951 | Tennessee | 10-1-0 | Bob Neyland | AP, UPI |
| 1950 | Oklahoma | 10-1-0 | Bud Wilkinson | AP, UPI |
| 1949 | Notre Dame | 10-0-0 | Frank Leahy | AP |
| 1948 | Michigan | 9-0-0 | Bennie Oosterbaan | AP |
| 1947 | Notre Dame | 9-0-0 | Frank Leahy | AP |
| 1946 | Notre Dame | 8-0-0 | Frank Leahy | AP |
| 1945 | Army | 9-0-0 | Earl Blaik | AP |
| 1944 | Army | 9-0-0 | Earl Blaik | AP |
| 1943 | Notre Dame | 9-1-0 | Frank Leahy | AP |
| 1942 | Ohio St. | 9-1-0 | Paul Brown | AP |
| 1941 | Minnesota | 8-0-0 | Bernie Bierman | AP |
| 1940 | Minnesota | 8-0-0 | Bernie Bierman | AP |
| 1939 | Texas A&M | 11-0-0 | Homer Norton | AP |
| 1938 | Texas Christian | 11-0-0 | Dutch Meyer | AP |
| 1937 | Pittsburgh | 9-0-1 | Jock Sutherland | AP |
| 1936 | Minnesota | 7-1-0 | Bernie Bierman | AP |
| 1935 | Minnesota | 8-0-0 | Bernie Bierman | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1934 | Minnesota | 8-0-0 | Bernie Bierman | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1933 | Michigan | 7-0-1 | Harry Kipke | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1932 | Southern California | 10-0-0 | Howard Jones | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1931 | Southern California | 10-1-0 | Howard Jones | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1930 | Notre Dame | 10-0-0 | Knute Rockne | HAF, NCF |
| 1930 | Alabama | 10-0-0 | Wallace Wade | CFRA |
| 1929 | Notre Dame | 9-0-0 | Howard Jones | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1928 | Georgia Tech. | 10-0-0 | Bill Alexander | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1927 | Illinois | 7-0-1 | Bob Zuppke | HAF, NCF |
| 1927 | Yale | 7-1-0 | Thomas Jones | CFRA |
| 1926 | Alabama | 9-0-0 | Wallace Wade | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1926 | Stanford | 10-0-1 | Glenn "Pop" Warner | HAF |
| 1925 | Alabama | 10-0-0 | Wallace Wade | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1924 | Notre Dame | 10-0-0 | Knute Rockne | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1923 | Illinois, | 8-0-0 | Bob Zuppke | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1923 | Michigan | 8-0-0 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| 1922 | Cornell | 8-0-0 | Gil Dobie | HAF |
| 1922 | Princeton | 8-0-0 | William Roper | CFRA, NCF |
| 1922 | California | 9-0-0 | Andy Smith | NCF |
| 1921 | Cornell | 8-0-0 | Gil Dobie | NCF, HAF |
| 1921 | California | 9-0-1 | Andy Smith | CFRA |
| 1920 | California | 9-0-0 | Andy Smith | CFRA, HAF, NCF |
| 1919 | Harvard | 9-0-1 | Bob Fisher | HAF, NCF, CFRA |
| 1919 | Illinois | 6-1-0 | Robert Zuppke | CFRA |
| 1919 | Notre Dame | 9-0-0 | Knute Rockne | NCF |
| 1919 | Texas A&M | 10-0-0 | Dana X. Bible | NCF |
| 1918 | Pittsburgh | 4-1-0 | Glenn "Pop" Warner | NCF, HAF |
| 1918 | Michigan | 5-0-0 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| 1917 | Georgia Tech. | 9-0-0 | John Heisman | HAF, NCF |
| 1916 | Pittsburgh | 8-0-0 | Glenn "Pop" Warner | HAF, NCF |
| 1915 | Cornell | 9-0-0 | Al Sharpe | HAF, NCF |
| 1914 | Army | 9-0-0 | Charley Daly | HAF, NCF |
| 1913 | Harvard | 9-0-0 | Percy Houghton | HAF, NCF |
| 1912 | Harvard | 9-0-0 | Percy Houghton | HAF, NCF |
| 1912 | Penn St | 8-0-0 | Bill Hollenback | NCF |
| 1911 | Princeton | 8-0-1 | Bill Roper | NCF, HAF |
| 1911 | Penn St | 8-0-2 | Bill Hollenback | NCF |
| 1910 | Harvard | 8-0-1 | Percy Houghton | HAF, NCF |
| 1910 | Pittsburgh | 9-0-0 | Joseph Thompson | NCF |
| 1909 | Pennsylvania | 11-0-1 | Sol Metzger | NCF |
| 1909 | Yale | 10-0-0 | Howard Jones | HAF, NCF |
| 1908 | LSU | 10-0-0 | Edgar Wingard | NCF, HAF |
| 1907 | Yale | 9-0-1 | Bill Knox | HAF, NCF |
| 1906 | Princeton | 9-0-1 | Bill Roper | HAF, NCF |
| 1905 | Chicago | 10-0-0 | Amos Alonzo Stagg | HAF, NCF |
| 1904 | Michigan | 10-0-0 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| 1904 | Pennsylvania | 12-0-0 | Carl Williams | NCF, HAF, NCF |
| 1903 | Princeton | 11-0-0 | Arthur Ralph Hillebrand | HAF, NCF, NCF |
| 1903 | Michigan | 11-0-1 | Fielding H. Yost | NCF |
| 1902 | Michigan | 11-0-0 | Fielding Yost | HAF, NCF |
| 1901 | Michigan | 11-0-0 | Fielding Yost | HAF, NCF |
| 1900 | Yale | 12-0-0 | Malcolm McBride | HAF, NCF |
| 1899 | Harvard | 10-0-1 | Benjamin H. Dibblee | HAF, NCF |
| 1898 | Harvard | 11-0-0 | W. Cameron Forbes | HAF, NCF |
| 1897 | Pennsylvania | 15-0-0 | George Woodruff | HAF, NCF |
| 1896 | Lafayette | 11-0-1 | Parke H. Davis | NCF, HAF, NCF |
| 1896 | Princeton | 10-0-1 | Franklin Morse | NCF, HAF, NCF |
| 1895 | Pennsylvania | 14-0-0 | George Woodruff | HAF, NCF |
| 1894 | Yale | 16-0-0 | William C. Rhodes | HAF, NCF |
| 1893 | Princeton | 11-0-0 | Tom Trenchard (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1892 | Yale | 13-0-0 | Walter Camp | HAF, NCF |
| 1891 | Yale | 13-0-0 | Walter Camp | HAF, NCF |
| 1890 | Harvard | 11-0-0 | George A. Stewart | HAF, NCF |
| 1889 | Princeton | 10-0-0 | Edgar Poe (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1888 | Yale | 13-0-0 | Walter Camp | HAF, NCF |
| 1887 | Yale | 9-0-0 | Harry W. Beecher (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1886 | Yale | 9-0-1 | Robert N. Corwin (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1885 | Princeton | 9-0-0 | Charles DeCamp (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1884 | Yale | 9-0-0 | Eugene L. Richards | HAF, NCF |
| 1883 | Yale | 9-0-0 | Ray Tompkins (Capt.) | HAF, NCF |
| 1882 | Yale | 8-0-0 | NCF | |
| 1881 | Yale | 5-0-1 | NCF | |
| 1880 | Princeton | 4-0-1 | Francis Loney (Capt.) | NCF, NCF |
| 1880 | Yale | 4-0-1 | NCF | |
| 1879 | Princeton | 4-0-0 | Bland Ballard (Capt.) | NCF |
| 1878 | Princeton | 6-0-0 | Bland Ballard (Capt.) | NCF |
| 1877 | Yale | 3-0-0 | NCF | |
| 1876 | Yale | 3-0-0 | NCF | |
| 1875 | Harvard | 4-0-0 | NCF | |
| 1874 | Yale | 3-0-0 | NCF | |
| 1873 | Princeton | 1-0-0 | Cyrus Dershimer | NCF |
| 1872 | Princeton | 1-0-0 | David T. Marvel (Capt.) | NCF |
| 1871 | No Selection | -- | NCF | |
| 1870 | Princeton | 1-0-0 | Alexander Van Rensselaer | NCF |
| 1869 | Princeton | 1-1-0 | William S. Gummere | NCF |