{"id":18423,"date":"2025-05-02T17:15:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T17:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/18423\/"},"modified":"2025-05-02T17:15:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T17:15:25","slug":"college-football-rankings-every-poll-explained-and-how-they-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/18423\/","title":{"rendered":"College football rankings: Every poll explained and how they work"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many polls to keep track of during the college football season, from the AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings in the\u00a0FBS to the FCS and Division II polls. Here’s what you need to know about the major polls \u2014 and how college football rankings work.<\/p>\n

Some of these polls go back decades. Others, like the College Football Playoff rankings, are much newer.<\/p>\n

College football rankings: Every poll\u00a0explained and how they work<\/p>\n

Guide to the College Football Playoff rankings<\/a> system<\/p>\n

Unlike other polls, the College Football Playoff rankings come out only until well into the season. And unlike other polls, it’s the only one that really matters, as it’s for the 12-team playoff. For a decade, the CFP was only a four-team playoff. Starting with the 2024 season, it moved up to 12 teams. The CFP Selection Committee ranks its own top 25, using factors like strength of schedule, results, championships won, common opponents and more.<\/p>\n

The 12-team playoff field will be made up of the five conference champions ranked highest by the committee, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champs receive a first-round bye and are seeded one through four. The fifth conference champion ranked the highest will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it landed outside the top 12 of the rankings. Any non-conference champion team will be seeded starting at No. 5. Teams seeded 5-12 will play in the first round on campus sites (No. 5 vs. No. 12, No. 6 vs. No. 11, No. 7 vs. No. 10 and No. 8 vs. No. 9). Winners of these games will then play the top four seeds \u2014 No. 1 vs. No. 8\/9, No. 2 vs. No. 7\/10, No. 3 vs. No. 6\/11, No. 4 vs. No. 5\/12. There will be no re-seeding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CFP, which started with the 2014 season, has its committee members meet in person to rank teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There is no new CFP rankings after the bowl games or the championship game.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of the first No. 1 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, the final CFP No. 1 team\u00a0and the eventual national champion for each season of the College Football Playoff rankings:<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tFirst CFP No. 1
\n\t\t\tFinal CFP No. 1
\n\t\t\tNational Champion<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tMississippi State
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tOhio State<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tAlabama<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tClemson<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tAlabama<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tClemson<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tOhio State
\n\t\t\tLSU
\n\t\t\tLSU<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAlabama<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tGeorgia<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tTennessee
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tGeorgia<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tOhio State
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tMichigan<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tOregon
\n\t\t\tOregon
\n\t\t\tOhio State<\/p>\n

Here are the College Football Playoff Selection Committee members:<\/p>\n

\tChris Ault\u00a0(former head coach and athletics director\u00a0at\u00a0Nevada)
\n\tChet Gladchuk\u00a0(athletics director, U.S. Naval Academy)
\n\tJim Grobe\u00a0(former head coach, Ohio University, Wake Forest and Baylor)
\n\tWarde Manuel\u00a0(chair) (athletics director for\u00a0Michigan)
\n\tRandall McDaniel\u00a0(College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former All-American offensive lineman with Arizona State University)
\n\tGary Pinkel\u00a0(former head coach,\u00a0Toledo and\u00a0Missouri)
\n\tMack Rhoades\u00a0(athletics director for\u00a0Baylor)
\n\tMike Riley\u00a0(former college head coach, Oregon State and Nebraska, as well as head coach in the NFL, CFL, WLAF, AAF and USFL)
\n\tDavid Sayler\u00a0(athletics director, Miami\u00a0(Ohio)
\n\tWill Shields\u00a0(College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former All-American offensive lineman with\u00a0Nebraska)
\n\tKelly Whiteside\u00a0(professor in Sports Media and Journalism, Montclair State; longtime sportswriter, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Newsday)
\n\tCarla Williams\u00a0(athletics director for Virginia)
\n\tHunter Yurachek\u00a0(Arkansas athletics director)<\/p>\n

Guide to the AP Poll Top 25<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting with the preseason poll, the Associated Press\u00a0Poll will rank the top 25 teams each week during the season and after the bowl games and the College Football Playoff.<\/p>\n

The sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout the country vote individually. Teams are given points on\u00a0a scale: No. 1 gets you 25, No. 2 gets you 24, etc. These ballots, which are made public each week, are then combined for one AP Top 25 poll.<\/p>\n

Once the season starts, the poll is released each\u00a0Sunday afternoon (except for after Week 1 due to games throughout Labor Day weekend).<\/p>\n

The AP Poll voters are not obligated to rank the CFP winner No. 1. In the 2017 season, undefeated UCF, which beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl, received four No. 1 votes. The last time the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll had different No. 1 teams at the end of the season was in 2003, during the BCS era. That year, LSU beat Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl to win the BCS National Championship and thus the ESPN\/Coaches Poll No. 1 ranking. The AP, however, ranked Southern California No. 1 after the Trojans defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n

Alabama has the most season-ending No. 1 rankings in AP Poll history with 12. The Crimson Tide finished No. 1 in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020. Notre Dame is second with eight, winning most recently in 1988.<\/p>\n

Minnesota won the first AP title, ranking No. 1 in 1936. The final AP Poll finally\u00a0came out after the bowl games for good starting with the 1968 season.<\/p>\n

Final AP No. 1 teams since the 2000 season:<\/p>\n

\t2000: Oklahoma
\n\t2001: Miami (FL)
\n\t2002: Ohio State
\n\t2003: Southern California
\n\t2004: Southern California
\n\t2005: Texas
\n\t2006: Florida
\n\t2007: LSU
\n\t2008: Florida
\n\t2009: Alabama
\n\t2010: Auburn
\n\t2011: Alabama
\n\t2012: Alabama
\n\t2013: Florida State
\n\t2014: Ohio State
\n\t2015: Alabama
\n\t2016: Clemson
\n\t2017: Alabama
\n\t2018: Clemson
\n\t2019: LSU
\n\t2020: Alabama
\n\t2021: Georgia
\n\t2022: Georgia
\n\t2023: Michigan
\n\t2024: Ohio State<\/p>\n

All FBS teams can earn rankings in the poll, as can FCS programs. In 2007, Appalachian State upset then-No. 5 Michigan, 34-32, prompting the AP Poll to allow voters to rank FCS teams (“Appalachian State Rule)”.\u00a0In 2016, North Dakota State upset then-No. 11 Iowa<\/a> and received 74 votes in the AP Poll.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guide to the college football Coaches Poll<\/a><\/p>\n

Like the AP Poll, the Coaches Poll starts with a preseason top 25 and continues weekly on Sundays during the season and after the bowl games. The poll gives teams points on a scale from 1 to 25 (25 for ranking a team No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.).<\/p>\n

Like the AP Poll, the Coaches Poll isn’t obligated to vote the College Football Playoff winner as the national champion, though it’s been awarded to the same team each year.<\/p>\n

The Coaches’ Trophy is awarded to the national champion. Before the CFP, this went to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) winner. The College Football Playoff\u00a0has its own trophy.<\/p>\n

Through the 1973 season, the final Coaches Poll came out at the end of the regular season but before the bowl games.<\/p>\n

College Football: Split national titles<\/p>\n

Though the College Football Playoff has eliminated (almost) all worries about avoiding a split national champion, there are instances where there are multiple national champions in a single season. Some of that had to do with different national champions for the AP and Coaches Poll.<\/p>\n

Here are the years with split national champions, per this list of champions on NCAA.com<\/a>, since 1970.<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tSchools (Polls)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tLSU (Coaches), Southern California (AP)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1997
\n\t\t\tMichigan (AP), Nebraska (Coaches)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1991
\n\t\t\tMiami (FL) (AP), Washington (Coaches)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1990
\n\t\t\tColorado (AP), Georgia Tech (Coaches)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1978
\n\t\t\tAlabama (AP), Southern California (Coaches)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1974
\n\t\t\tOklahoma (AP), Southern California (Coaches)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1973
\n\t\t\tAlabama (Coaches), Notre Dame (AP)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1970
\n\t\t\tNebraska (AP, FWAA), Texas (Coaches, NFF), Ohio State (NFF)<\/p>\n

How the FCS rankings<\/a> work<\/p>\n

Like in FBS, there is more than one poll for the Football Championship Subdivision. The weekly STATS poll is voted on by the media, while the Coaches\u00a0Poll is voted on by FCS coaches. Both of these polls release a preseason top 25 and continue to vote weekly through the end of the regular season and again after the conclusion of the 24-team playoff.<\/p>\n

How the DII football rankings<\/a> work<\/p>\n

Before 1973, champions for the then “NCAA College Division” were decided by polls at the end of the regular season. Starting with 1973, there has been the DII Football Championship.<\/p>\n

There are also regional rankings<\/a>, which play a major role in deciding the playoff participants. The 28-team playoff is made up of seven teams from each of these four regions. Participants in each region are determined by regional rankings. A conference’s highest-ranked team qualifies\u00a0automatically if it ranks\u00a0in the top nine. Other participants are determined by the region rankings.<\/p>\n

FBS: Championship History<\/p>\n

National Champions<\/p>\n

\t\t\tSEASON
\n\t\t\tCHAMPION
\n\t\t\tSELECTING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tOhio State
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tLSU
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tOhio State
\n\t\t\tCFP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2013
\n\t\t\tFlorida State
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2012
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2010
\n\t\t\tAuburn
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2009
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2008
\n\t\t\tFlorida
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2007
\n\t\t\tLouisiana State
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tFlorida
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2005
\n\t\t\tTexas
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2004
\n\t\t\tSouthern California*
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tLouisiana State, Southern California
\n\t\t\tBCS, AP, FWAA<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2002
\n\t\t\tOhio State
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2001
\n\t\t\tMiami (Fla.)
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2000
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1999
\n\t\t\tFlorida State
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1998
\n\t\t\tTennessee
\n\t\t\tBCS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1997
\n\t\t\tMichigan, Nebraska
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/ESPN<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1996
\n\t\t\tFlorida
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF,USA\/CNN<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1995
\n\t\t\tNebraska
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tNebraska
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1993
\n\t\t\tFlorida St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA,NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1992
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1991
\n\t\t\tWashington, Miami (Fla.)
\n\t\t\tFWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI,AP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1990
\n\t\t\tColorado, Georgia Tech
\n\t\t\tFWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, AP, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1989
\n\t\t\tMiami (Fla.)
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1988
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1987
\n\t\t\tMiami (Fla.)
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1986
\n\t\t\tPenn St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1985
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1984
\n\t\t\tBrigham Young
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1983
\n\t\t\tMiami (Fla.)
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1982
\n\t\t\tPenn St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, USA\/CNN, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1981
\n\t\t\tClemson
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1980
\n\t\t\tGeorgia
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1979
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1978
\n\t\t\tAlabama, Southern California
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1977
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1976
\n\t\t\tPittsburgh
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1975
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1974
\n\t\t\tSouthern California, Oklahoma
\n\t\t\tFWAA, NFF, UPI, AP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1973
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame, Alabama
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1972
\n\t\t\tSouthern California
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1971
\n\t\t\tNebraska
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1970
\n\t\t\tNebraska, Texas, Ohio St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, NFF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1969
\n\t\t\tTexas
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1968
\n\t\t\tOhio St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1967
\n\t\t\tSouthern California
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1966
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame, Michigan St.
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, NFF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1965
\n\t\t\tMichigan St., Alabama
\n\t\t\tFWAA, NFF, UPI, AP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1964
\n\t\t\tAlabama, Arkansas, Notre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI, FWAA, NFF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1963
\n\t\t\tTexas
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1962
\n\t\t\tSouthern California
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1961
\n\t\t\tAlabama, Ohio St.
\n\t\t\tAP, NFF, UPI, FWAA<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1960
\n\t\t\tMinnesota, Mississippi
\n\t\t\tAP, NFF, UPI, FWAA<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1959
\n\t\t\tSyracuse
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, NFF, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1958
\n\t\t\tLSU, Iowa
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI, FWAA<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1957
\n\t\t\tOhio St., Auburn
\n\t\t\tFWAA, UPI, AP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1956
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1955
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tAP, FWAA, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1954
\n\t\t\tUCLA, Ohio St.
\n\t\t\tFWAA, UPI, AP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1953
\n\t\t\tMaryland
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1952
\n\t\t\tMichigan St.
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1951
\n\t\t\tTennessee
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1950
\n\t\t\tOklahoma
\n\t\t\tAP, UPI<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1949
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1948
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1947
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1946
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1945
\n\t\t\tArmy
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1944
\n\t\t\tArmy
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1943
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1942
\n\t\t\tOhio St.
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1941
\n\t\t\tMinnesota
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1940
\n\t\t\tMinnesota
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1939
\n\t\t\tTexas A&M
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1938
\n\t\t\tTexas Christian
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1937
\n\t\t\tPittsburgh
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1936
\n\t\t\tMinnesota
\n\t\t\tAP<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1935
\n\t\t\tMinnesota
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1934
\n\t\t\tMinnesota
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1933
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1932
\n\t\t\tSouthern California
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1931
\n\t\t\tSouthern California
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1930
\n\t\t\tAlabama, Notre Dame
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1929
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1928
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Tech.
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1927
\n\t\t\tIllinois, Yale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF, CFRA<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1926
\n\t\t\tAlabama, Stanford
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF, HAF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1925
\n\t\t\tAlabama
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1924
\n\t\t\tNotre Dame
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1923
\n\t\t\tIllinois, Michigan
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1922
\n\t\t\tCalifornia, Cornell, Princeton
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, CFRA, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1921
\n\t\t\tCalifornia, Cornell
\n\t\t\tCFRA, NCF, HAF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1920
\n\t\t\tCalifornia
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1919
\n\t\t\tHarvard, Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas A&M
\n\t\t\tCFRA, HAF, NCF, CFRA, NCF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1918
\n\t\t\tMichigan, Pittsburgh
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1917
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Tech.
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1916
\n\t\t\tPittsburgh
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1915
\n\t\t\tCornell
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1914
\n\t\t\tArmy
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1913
\n\t\t\tHarvard
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1912
\n\t\t\tHarvard, Penn St.
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1911
\n\t\t\tPenn St., Princeton
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1910
\n\t\t\tHarvard, Pittsburgh
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1909
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1908
\n\t\t\tLSU, Pennsylvania
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1907
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1906
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1905
\n\t\t\tChicago
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1904
\n\t\t\tMichigan, Pennsylvania
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1903
\n\t\t\tMichigan, Princeton
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1902
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1901
\n\t\t\tMichigan
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1900
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1899
\n\t\t\tHarvard
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1898
\n\t\t\tHarvard
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1897
\n\t\t\tPennsylvania
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1896
\n\t\t\tLafayette, Princeton
\n\t\t\tNCF, HAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1895
\n\t\t\tPennsylvania
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1894
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1893
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1892
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1891
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1890
\n\t\t\tHarvard
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1889
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1888
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1887
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1886
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1885
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1884
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1883
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tHAF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1882
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1881
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1880
\n\t\t\tPrinceton, Yale
\n\t\t\tNCF, NCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1879
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1878
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1877
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1876
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1875
\n\t\t\tHarvard
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1874
\n\t\t\tYale
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1873
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1872
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1871
\n\t\t\tNone selected
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1870
\n\t\t\tPrinceton
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1869
\n\t\t\tPrinceton, Rutgers
\n\t\t\tNCF<\/p>\n

* Southern California\u2019s participation in the 2004 championship was vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.<\/p>\n

FCS: Championship history<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYEAR
\n\t\t\tCHAMPION
\n\t\t\tCOACH
\n\t\t\tSCORE
\n\t\t\tRUNNER-UP
\n\t\t\tSITE<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tTim Polasek
\n\t\t\t35-32
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tJimmy Rogers
\n\t\t\t23-3
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tJohn Stiegelmeier
\n\t\t\t45-21
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMatt Entz
\n\t\t\t38-10
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tSam Houston<\/a>
\n\t\t\tK.C. Keeler
\n\t\t\t23-21
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMatt Entz
\n\t\t\t28-20
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t38-24
\n\t\t\tEastern Washington
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t17-13
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tJames Madison<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMike Houston
\n\t\t\t28-14
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t37-10
\n\t\t\tJacksonville State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t29-27
\n\t\t\tIllinois State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2013
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t35-7
\n\t\t\tTowson
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2012
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t39-13
\n\t\t\tSam Houston State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t17-6
\n\t\t\tSam Houston State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2010
\n\t\t\tEastern Washington
\n\t\t\tBeau Baldwin
\n\t\t\t20-19
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2009
\n\t\t\tVillanova
\n\t\t\tAndy Talley
\n\t\t\t23-21
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2008
\n\t\t\tRichmond
\n\t\t\tMike London
\n\t\t\t24-7
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2007
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t49-21
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t28-17
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2005
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t21-16
\n\t\t\tUNI
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2004
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tMickey Matthews
\n\t\t\t31-21
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tK.C. Keeler
\n\t\t\t40-0
\n\t\t\tColgate
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2002
\n\t\t\tWestern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tJack Harbaugh
\n\t\t\t34-14
\n\t\t\tMcNeese State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2001
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tJoe Glenn
\n\t\t\t13-6
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2000
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPaul Johnson
\n\t\t\t27-25
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1999
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPaul Johnson
\n\t\t\t59-24
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1998
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tMark Whipple
\n\t\t\t55-43
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1997
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t10-9
\n\t\t\tMcNeese State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1996
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tBob Pruett
\n\t\t\t49-29
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1995
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tDon Read
\n\t\t\t22-20
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t28-14
\n\t\t\tBoise State
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1993
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t17-5
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1992
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tJim Donnan
\n\t\t\t31-28
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1991
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t25-17
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1990
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tTim Stowers
\n\t\t\t36-13
\n\t\t\tNevada
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1989
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t37-34
\n\t\t\tStephen F. Austin *
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1988
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tJimmy Satterfield
\n\t\t\t17-12
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPocatello, Idaho<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1987
\n\t\t\tLouisiana-Monroe
\n\t\t\tPat Collins
\n\t\t\t43-42
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tPocatello, Idaho<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1986
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t48-21
\n\t\t\tArkansas State
\n\t\t\tTacoma, Wash.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1985
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t44-42
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tTacoma, Wash.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1984
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tDave Arnold
\n\t\t\t19-6
\n\t\t\tLouisiana Tech
\n\t\t\tCharleston, S.C.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1983
\n\t\t\tSouthern Illinois
\n\t\t\tRey Dempsey
\n\t\t\t43-7
\n\t\t\tWestern Carolina
\n\t\t\tCharleston, S.C.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1982
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tRoy Kidd
\n\t\t\t17-14
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1981
\n\t\t\tIdaho State
\n\t\t\tDave Kragthorpe
\n\t\t\t34-23
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1980
\n\t\t\tBoise State
\n\t\t\tJim Criner
\n\t\t\t31-29
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tSacramento, Calif.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1979
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tRoy Kidd
\n\t\t\t30-7
\n\t\t\tLehigh
\n\t\t\tOrlando, Fla.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1978
\n\t\t\tFlorida A&M
\n\t\t\tRuby Hubbard
\n\t\t\t35-28
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

* — Stephen F. Austin’s participation in 1989 championship was vacated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are many polls to keep track of during the college football season, from the AP Poll and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18424,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[331,9264,9263,7,49,48],"class_list":{"0":"post-18423","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-college-football","9":"tag-college-football-poll","10":"tag-college-football-rankings","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-ncaa","13":"tag-ncaa-football"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114439371250267439","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18423"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18423\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}