List of National Champions in Football 1950 - 2023
Associated Press Final Ranking

The following charts show the National Champion and where it was picked in the Preseason Poll. Six times since 1950 the National Champion was not ranked in the Preseason (in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1981, 1983, and 1984)!

The charts are divided according to the number of teams picked in the Preseason Poll.
Year         National Champion             Preseason Rank    
(Out of 20)
1950 Oklahoma 6
1951 Tennessee 1
1952 Michigan State 1
1953 Maryland 9
1954 Ohio State 20
1955 Oklahoma 2
1956 Oklahoma 1
1957 Auburn 15
1958 LSU NR
1959 Syracuse 20
1960 Minnesota NR



Year         National Champion             Preseason Rank    
(Out of 10)
1961 Alabama 3
1962 USC NR
1963 Texas 5
1964 Alabama 6
1965 Alabama 5
1966 Notre Dame 6
1967 USC 7



Year         National Champion             Preseason Rank    
(Out of 20)
1968 Ohio State 11
1969 Texas 4
1970 Nebraska 9
1971 Nebraska 2
1972 USC 8
1973 Notre Dame 8
1974 Oklahoma 1
1975 Oklahoma 1
1976 Pittsburgh 9
1977 Notre Dame 3
1978 Alabama 1
1979 Alabama 2
1980 Georgia 16
1981 Clemson NR
1982 Penn State 8
1983 Miami NR
1984 BYU NR
1985 Oklahoma 1
1986 Penn State 6
1987 Miami 10
1988 Notre Dame 13



Year         National Champion             Preseason Rank    
(Out of 25)
1989 Miami 4
1990 Colorado 5
1991 Miami 3
1992 Alabama 9
1993 Florida State 1
1994 Nebraska 4
1995 Nebraska 2
1996 Florida 4
1997 Michigan 14
1998 Tennessee 10
1999 Florida State 1
2000 Oklahoma 19
2001 Miami 2
2002 Ohio State 13
2003 USC 8
2004 USC 1
2005 Texas 2
2006 Florida 7
2007 LSU 2
2008 Florida 5
2009 Alabama 5
2010 Auburn 22
2011 Alabama 2
2012 Alabama 2
2013 Florida State 10
2014 Ohio State 5
2015 Alabama 3
2016 Clemson 2
2017 Alabama 1
2018 Clemson 2
2019 LSU 6
2020 Alabama 3
2021 Georgia 4
2022 Georgia 3
2023 Michigan 2