| Past National Champions |
|---|
| Year |
Team |
| 2000 |
Oklahoma |
| 1999 |
Florida State |
| 1998 |
Tennessee |
| 1997 |
Michigan (AP), Nebraska (Coaches) |
| 1996 |
Florida |
| 1995 |
Nebraska |
| 1994 |
Nebraska |
| 1993 |
Florida State |
| 1992 |
Alabama |
| 1991 |
Miami (AP), Washington (Coaches) |
| 1990 |
Colorado (AP), Georgia Tech (Coaches) |
| 1989 |
Miami |
| 1988 |
Notre Dame |
| 1987 |
Miami |
| 1986 |
Penn State |
| 1985 |
Oklahoma |
| 1984 |
BYU |
| 1983 |
Miami |
| 1982 |
Penn State |
| 1981 |
Clemson |
| 1980 |
Georgia |
| 1979 |
Alabama |
| 1978 |
Alabama |
| 1977 |
Notre Dame |
| 1976 |
Pittsburgh |
| 1975 |
Oklahoma |
| 1974 |
Oklahoma (AP), USC (Coaches) |
| 1973 |
Notre Dame (AP), Alabama (Coaches) |
| 1972 |
USC |
| 1971 |
Nebraska |
| 1970 |
Nebraska (AP), Texas (Coaches) |
| 1969 |
Texas |
| 1968 |
Ohio State |
| 1967 |
USC |
| 1966 |
Notre Dame |
| 1965 |
Alabama (AP), Michigan State (Coaches) |
| 1964 |
Alabama |
| 1963 |
Texas |
| 1962 |
USC |
| 1961 |
Alabama |
| 1960 |
Minnesota |
| 1959 |
Syracuse |
| 1958 |
LSU |
| 1957 |
Auburn (AP), Ohio State (Coaches) |
| 1956 |
Oklahoma |
| 1955 |
Oklahoma |
| 1954 |
Ohio State (AP), UCLA (Coaches) |
| 1953 |
Maryland |
| 1952 |
Michigan State |
| 1951 |
Tennessee |
| 1950 |
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 |
TCU |
| 1937 |
Pittsburgh |
| 1936 |
Minnesota |
| |
