National College Football Champions

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Prior to 1998, the National Collegiate Athletic Association recognized as unofficial champion the team selected each year by press association polls of writers and coaches. After 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was implemented to determine the NCAA champs, using polls, computer rankings, schedule, record, and quality win factors. Changes made in the 2004 season narrowed down the process, with the system employing the AP media poll, the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, and a computer average.

For the 2006 BCS season, the format was tweaked again. This time the four BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, and Orange) were held Jan. 1–3 and the championship game took place in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8, 2007. The 2014 season saw another change when the College Football playoff format began. The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl served as semi-final games. A committee selected the four participating teams with the winners playing in the national championship.