Friday, December 3Past national champs
| Year |
ESPN/USA Today (Coaches) |
AP (Media) |
| 1998 |
Tennessee |
Tennessee |
| 1997 |
Nebraska |
Michigan |
| 1996 |
Florida |
Florida |
| 1995 |
Nebraska |
Nebraska |
| 1994 |
Nebraska |
Nebraska |
| 1993 |
Florida State |
Florida State |
| 1993 |
Florida State |
Florida State |
| 1992 |
Alabama |
Alabama |
| 1991 |
Washington |
Miami (Fla.) |
| 1990 |
Georgia Tech |
Colorado |
| 1989 |
Miami (Fla.) |
Miami (Fla.) |
| 1988 |
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame |
| 1987 |
Miami (Fla.) |
Miami (Fla.) |
| 1986 |
Penn State |
Penn State |
| 1985 |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| 1984 |
Brigham Young |
Brigham Young |
| 1983 |
Miami (Fla.) |
Miami (Fla.) |
| 1982 |
Penn State |
Penn State |
| 1981 |
Clemson |
Clemson |
| 1980 |
Georgia |
Georgia |
| 1979 |
Alabama |
Alabama |
| 1978 |
Southern California |
Alabama |
| 1977 |
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame |
| 1976 |
Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh |
| 1975 |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| 1974 |
Southern California |
Oklahoma |
| 1973 |
Alabama |
Notre Dame |
| 1972 |
Southern California |
Southern California |
| 1971 |
Nebraska |
Nebraska |
| 1970 |
Texas |
Nebraska |
| 1969 |
Texas |
Texas |
| 1968 |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
| 1967 |
Southern California |
Southern California |
| 1966 |
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame |
| 1965 |
Michigan State |
Alabama |
| 1964 |
Alabama |
Alabama |
| 1963 |
Texas |
Texas |
| 1962 |
Southern California |
Southern California |
| 1961 |
Alabama |
Alabama |
| 1960 |
Minnesota |
Minnesota |
| 1959 |
Syracuse |
Syracuse |
| 1958 |
Louisiana State |
Louisiana State |
| 1957 |
Ohio State |
Auburn |
| 1956 |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| 1955 |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| 1954 |
UCLA |
Ohio State |
| 1953 |
Maryland |
Maryland |
| 1952 |
Michigan State |
Michigan State |
| 1951 |
Tennessee |
Tennessee |
| 1950 |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| 1949 |
|
Notre Dame |
| 1948 |
|
Michigan |
| 1947 |
|
Notre Dame |
| 1946 |
|
Notre Dame |
| 1945 |
|
Army |
| 1944 |
|
Army |
| 1943 |
|
Notre Dame |
| 1942 |
|
Ohio State |
| 1941 |
|
Minnesota |
| 1940 |
|
Minnesota |
| 1939 |
|
Texas A&M |
| 1938 |
|
Texas Christian |
| 1937 |
|
Pittsburgh |
| 1936 |
|
Minnesota |
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