History · The bowls

National champions

Every national champion from 1936 to 2025. Through 2005 the champion is the final AP poll’s (from 1936) and the final Coaches poll’s (from 1950); in the 11 seasons they split, both programs are shown. From 1998 the Coaches poll went to the winner of the BCS title game. From 2006 the champion is the title game’s winner: the BCS title game through 2013, then the College Football Playoff’s.

Most seasons as champion since 1936: Alabama (13), Notre Dame (8), Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC (7 each).

The playoff era2014–2025

  1. 2025
    IndianaCFPBeat Miami 27-21 in the CFP title game.
  2. 2024
    Ohio StateCFPBeat Notre Dame 34-23 in the CFP title game.
  3. 2023
    MichiganCFPBeat Washington 34-13 in the CFP title game.
  4. 2022
    GeorgiaCFPBeat TCU 65-7 in the CFP title game.
  5. 2021
    GeorgiaCFPBeat Alabama 33-18 in the CFP title game.
  6. 2020
    AlabamaCFPBeat Ohio State 52-24 in the CFP title game.
  7. 2019
    LSUCFPBeat Clemson 42-25 in the CFP title game.
  8. 2018
    ClemsonCFPBeat Alabama 44-16 in the CFP title game.
  9. 2017
    AlabamaCFPBeat Georgia 26-23 in the CFP title game.
  10. 2016
    ClemsonCFPBeat Alabama 35-31 in the CFP title game.
  11. 2015
    AlabamaCFPBeat Clemson 45-40 in the CFP title game.
  12. 2014
    Ohio StateCFPBeat Oregon 42-20 in the CFP title game.

The BCS era1998–2013

  1. 2013
    Florida StateBCSBeat Auburn 34-31 in the BCS title game.
  2. 2012
    AlabamaBCSBeat Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS title game.
  3. 2011
    AlabamaBCSBeat LSU 21-0 in the BCS title game.
  4. 2010
    AuburnBCSBeat Oregon 22-19 in the BCS title game.
  5. 2009
    AlabamaBCSBeat Texas 37-21 in the BCS title game.
  6. 2008
    FloridaBCSBeat Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS title game.
  7. 2007
    LSUBCSBeat Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS title game.
  8. 2006
    FloridaBCSBeat Ohio State 41-14 in the BCS title game.
  9. 2005
    TexasAPCoachesBeat USC 41-38 in the Rose Bowl, the BCS title game.
  10. 2004
    USCAPBeat Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl, the BCS title game.

    In 2011 the BCS vacated USC’s 2004 title after NCAA sanctions, and the Coaches’ Trophy lists that season as vacated; the AP title stands.

  11. 2003
    USCAPWon the Rose Bowl, 28-14 over Michigan.
    LSUCoachesBeat Oklahoma 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl, the BCS title game.
  12. 2002
    Ohio StateAPCoachesBeat Miami 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl, the BCS title game.
  13. 2001
    MiamiAPCoachesBeat Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl, the BCS title game.
  14. 2000
    OklahomaAPCoachesBeat Florida State 13-2 in the Orange Bowl, the BCS title game.
  15. 1999
    Florida StateAPCoachesBeat Virginia Tech 46-29 in the Sugar Bowl, the BCS title game.
  16. 1998
    TennesseeAPCoachesBeat Florida State 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl, the BCS title game.

The poll era1936–1997

  1. 1997
    MichiganAPWon the Rose Bowl, 21-16 over Washington State.
    NebraskaCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 42-17 over Tennessee.
  2. 1996
    FloridaAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 52-20 over Florida State.
  3. 1995
    NebraskaAPCoachesWon the Fiesta Bowl, 62-24 over Florida.
  4. 1994
    NebraskaAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 24-17 over Miami.
  5. 1993
    Florida StateAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 18-16 over Nebraska.
  6. 1992
    AlabamaAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 34-13 over Miami.
  7. 1991
    MiamiAPWon the Orange Bowl, 22-0 over Nebraska.
    WashingtonCoachesWon the Rose Bowl, 34-14 over Michigan.
  8. 1990
    ColoradoAPWon the Orange Bowl, 10-9 over Notre Dame.
    Georgia TechCoachesWon the Florida Citrus Bowl, 45-21 over Nebraska.
  9. 1989
    MiamiAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 33-25 over Alabama.
  10. 1988
    Notre DameAPCoachesWon the Fiesta Bowl, 34-21 over West Virginia.
  11. 1987
    MiamiAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 20-14 over Oklahoma.
  12. 1986
    Penn StateAPCoachesWon the Fiesta Bowl, 14-10 over Miami.
  13. 1985
    OklahomaAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 25-10 over Penn State.
  14. 1984
    BYUAPCoachesWon the Holiday Bowl, 24-17 over Michigan.
  15. 1983
    MiamiAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 31-30 over Nebraska.
  16. 1982
    Penn StateAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 27-23 over Georgia.
  17. 1981
    ClemsonAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 22-15 over Nebraska.
  18. 1980
    GeorgiaAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 17-10 over Notre Dame.
  19. 1979
    AlabamaAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 24-9 over Arkansas.
  20. 1978
    AlabamaAPWon the Sugar Bowl, 14-7 over Penn State.
    USCCoachesWon the Rose Bowl, 17-10 over Michigan.
  21. 1977
    Notre DameAPCoachesWon the Cotton Bowl Classic, 38-10 over Texas.
  22. 1976
    PittsburghAPCoachesWon the Sugar Bowl, 27-3 over Georgia.
  23. 1975
    OklahomaAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 14-6 over Michigan.
  24. 1974
    OklahomaAP
    USCCoachesWon the Rose Bowl, 18-17 over Ohio State.
  25. 1973
    Notre DameAPWon the Sugar Bowl, 24-23 over Alabama.
    AlabamaCoachesLost the Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame, 24-23.
  26. 1972
    USCAPCoachesWon the Rose Bowl, 42-17 over Ohio State.
  27. 1971
    NebraskaAPCoachesWon the Orange Bowl, 38-6 over Alabama.
  28. 1970
    NebraskaAPWon the Orange Bowl, 17-12 over LSU.
    TexasCoachesLost the Cotton Bowl Classic to Notre Dame, 24-11.
  29. 1969
    TexasAPCoaches
  30. 1968
    Ohio StateAPCoaches
  31. 1967
    USCAPCoaches
  32. 1966
    Notre DameAPCoaches
  33. 1965
    AlabamaAP
    Michigan StateCoaches
  34. 1964
    AlabamaAPCoaches
  35. 1963
    TexasAPCoaches
  36. 1962
    USCAPCoaches
  37. 1961
    AlabamaAPCoaches
  38. 1960
    MinnesotaAPCoaches
  39. 1959
    SyracuseAPCoaches
  40. 1958
    LSUAPCoaches
  41. 1957
    AuburnAP
    Ohio StateCoaches
  42. 1956
    OklahomaAPCoaches
  43. 1955
    OklahomaAPCoaches
  44. 1954
    Ohio StateAP
    UCLACoaches
  45. 1953
    MarylandAPCoaches
  46. 1952
    Michigan StateAPCoaches
  47. 1951
    TennesseeAPCoaches
  48. 1950
    OklahomaAPCoaches
  49. 1949
    Notre DameAP
  50. 1948
    MichiganAP
  51. 1947
    Notre DameAP
  52. 1946
    Notre DameAP
  53. 1945
    ArmyAP
  54. 1944
    ArmyAP
  55. 1943
    Notre DameAP
  56. 1942
    Ohio StateAP
  57. 1941
    MinnesotaAP
  58. 1940
    MinnesotaAP
  59. 1939
    Texas A&MAP
  60. 1938
    TCUAP
  61. 1937
    PittsburghAP
  62. 1936
    MinnesotaAP

Each champion is shown with the logo it used that season, or its letters when no logo from that season is on file, and with the mark of the game it played that postseason. A season counts once for each program named champion, so a split season counts for both. The Coaches’ Trophy for 2004 is vacated. Bowl names are on file from the 1970 season.