The college football national championship is one of the most hotly debated topics each and every year. Over the years, there have been dozens of methods attempted to determine a true college football champion, but every one of them has had glaring weaknesses that called the whole process into question.
In its current state, the college football national championship is awarded via the College Football Playoff, a four-team playoff system that aims to name an undisputed champion (although the teams selected for the playoff are still based off of a combination of mathematics and polls). For the purposes of this list, we will use the Associated Press (AP) selection of the CFB national champ, since its inception in 1936.
List of AP College Football National Championships
The 2015 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 14–1
The 2014 College Football National Championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes with a record of 14–1
The 2013 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida State Seminoles with a record of 14–0
The 2012 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 13–1
The 2011 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 12–1
The 2010 College Football National Championship was won by the Auburn Tigers with a record of 14–0
The 2009 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 14–0
The 2008 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida Gators with a record of 13–1
The 2007 College Football National Championship was won by the LSU Tigers with a record of 12–2
The 2006 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida Gators with a record of 13–1
The 2005 College Football National Championship was won by the Texas Longhorns with a record of 13–0
The 2004 College Football National Championship was won by the USC Trojans with a record of 11–0
The 2003 College Football National Championship was won by the USC Trojans with a record of 12–1
The 2002 College Football National Championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes with a record of 14–0
The 2001 College Football National Championship was won by the Miami (FL) Hurricanes with a record of 12–0
The 2000 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 13–0
The 1999 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida State Seminoles with a record of 12–0
The 1998 College Football National Championship was won by the Tennessee Volunteers with a record of 13–0
The 1997 College Football National Championship was won by the Michigan Wolverines with a record of 12–0
The 1996 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida Gators with a record of 12–1
The 1995 College Football National Championship was won by the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a record of 12–0
The 1994 College Football National Championship was won by the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a record of 13–0
The 1993 College Football National Championship was won by the Florida State Seminoles with a record of 12–1
The 1992 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 13–0
The 1991 College Football National Championship was won by the Miami (FL) Hurricanes with a record of 12–0
The 1990 College Football National Championship was won by the Colorado Buffaloes with a record of 11–1–1
The 1989 College Football National Championship was won by the Miami (FL) Hurricanes with a record of 11–1
The 1988 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 12–0
The 1987 College Football National Championship was won by the Miami (FL) Hurricanes with a record of 12–0
The 1986 College Football National Championship was won by the Penn State Nittany Lions with a record of 12–0
The 1985 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 11–1
The 1984 College Football National Championship was won by the BYU Cougars with a record of 13–0
The 1983 College Football National Championship was won by the Miami (FL) Hurricanes with a record of 11–1
The 1982 College Football National Championship was won by the Penn State Nittany Lions with a record of 11–1
The 1981 College Football National Championship was won by the Clemson Tigers with a record of 12–0
The 1980 College Football National Championship was won by the Georgia Bulldogs with a record of 12–0
The 1979 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 12–0
The 1978 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 11–1
The 1977 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 11–1
The 1976 College Football National Championship was won by the Pittsburgh Panthers with a record of 12–0
The 1975 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 11–1
The 1974 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 11–0
The 1973 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 11–0
The 1972 College Football National Championship was won by the USC Trojans with a record of 12–0
The 1971 College Football National Championship was won by the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a record of 13–0
The 1970 College Football National Championship was won by the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a record of 11–0–1
The 1969 College Football National Championship was won by the Texas Longhorns with a record of 11–0
The 1968 College Football National Championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes with a record of 10–0
The 1967 College Football National Championship was won by the USC Trojans with a record of 10–1
The 1966 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 9–0–1
The 1965 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 9–1–1
The 1964 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 10–1
The 1963 College Football National Championship was won by the Texas Longhorns with a record of 11–0
The 1962 College Football National Championship was won by the USC Trojans with a record of 11–0
The 1961 College Football National Championship was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide with a record of 11–0
The 1960 College Football National Championship was won by the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a record of 8–2
The 1959 College Football National Championship was won by the Syracuse Orangemen with a record of 11–0
The 1958 College Football National Championship was won by the LSU Tigers with a record of 11–0
The 1957 College Football National Championship was won by the Auburn Tigers with a record of 10–0
The 1956 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 10–0
The 1955 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 11–0
The 1954 College Football National Championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes with a record of 10–0
The 1953 College Football National Championship was won by the Maryland Terrapins with a record of 10–1
The 1952 College Football National Championship was won by the Michigan State Spartans with a record of 9–0
The 1951 College Football National Championship was won by the Tennessee Volunteers with a record of 10–1
The 1950 College Football National Championship was won by the Oklahoma Sooners with a record of 10–1
The 1949 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 10–0
The 1948 College Football National Championship was won by the Michigan Wolverines with a record of 9–0
The 1947 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 9–0
The 1946 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 8–0–1
The 1945 College Football National Championship was won by the Army Cadets with a record of 9–0
The 1944 College Football National Championship was won by the Army Cadets with a record of 9–0
The 1943 College Football National Championship was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a record of 9–1
The 1942 College Football National Championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes with a record of 9–1
The 1941 College Football National Championship was won by the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a record of 8–0
The 1940 College Football National Championship was won by the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a record of 8–0
The 1939 College Football National Championship was won by the Texas A&M Aggies with a record of 11–0
The 1938 College Football National Championship was won by the TCU Horned Frogs with a record of 11–0
The 1937 College Football National Championship was won by the Pittsburgh Panthers with a record of 9–0–1
The 1936 College Football National Championship was won by the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a record of 7–1