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College Football Playoff Winners
By Chris Wright
Last Updated:
Ohio State beat Notre Dame to win the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024-25.
It was the Buckeyes’ second national championship in the Playoff era, which began in 2014. It was Ohio State’s ninth claimed national championship overall.
This page lists the winners of every national champion in the CFP era (2014-present), BCS era (1998-2013) and Associated Press voting era (1936-1997).
College Football Playoff Champions
Here is the updated list of CFP champions, entering the 2025 season.
| Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Ohio State | Notre Dame |
| 2023-24 | Michigan | Washington |
| 2022-23 | Georgia | TCU |
| 2021-22 | Georgia | Alabama |
| 2020-21 | Alabama | Ohio State |
| 2019-20 | LSU | Clemson |
| 2018-19 | Clemson | Alabama |
| 2017-18 | Alabama | Georgia |
| 2016-17 | Clemson | Alabama |
| 2015-16 | Alabama | Clemson |
| 2014-15 | Ohio State | Oregon |
BCS Champions
The BCS Championship pitted the No. 1 ranked team vs. the No. 2 ranked team, based on computer rankings. The BCS era began in 1998 and ended after the 2013 season.
| Season | BCS Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | Florida State | Auburn |
| 2012-13 | Alabama | Notre Dame |
| 2011-12 | Alabama | LSU |
| 2010-11 | Auburn | Oregon |
| 2009-10 | Alabama | Texas |
| 2008-09 | Florida | Oklahoma |
| 2007-08 | LSU | Ohio State |
| 2006-07 | Florida | Ohio State |
| 2005-06 | Texas | Southern Cal |
| 2004-05 | Southern Cal | Oklahoma |
| 2003-04 | LSU | Oklahoma |
| 2002-03 | Ohio State | Miami |
| 2001-02 | Miami | Nebraska |
| 2000-01 | Oklahoma | Florida State |
| 1999-2000 | Florida State | Virginia Tech |
| 1998-99 | Tennessee | Florida State |
AP National Champions
Before the BCS or College Football Playoff, teams were voted national champions. Several media outlets voted on national champions, but the Associated Press is widely recognized as the official voter of national champions. An AP national champion was crowned every year from 1936-1997.
- 1997: Michigan
- 1996: Florida
- 1995: Nebraska
- 1994: Nebraska
- 1993: Florida State
- 1992: Alabama
- 1991: Washington
- 1990: Colorado
- 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: Southern Cal
- 1973: Notre Dame
- 1972: Southern Cal
- 1971: Nebraska
- 1970: Nebraska
- 1969: Texas
- 1968: Ohio State
- 1967: Southern Cal
- 1966: Notre Dame
- 1965: Michigan State
- 1964: Alabama
- 1963: Texas
- 1962: Southern Cal
- 1961: Alabama
- 1960: Minnesota
- 1959: Syracuse
- 1958: LSU
- 1957: Ohio State
- 1956: Oklahoma
- 1955: Oklahoma
- 1954: UCLA
- 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: Texas Christian
- 1937: Pittsburgh
- 1936: Minnesota
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
