Champions
The belt vs. the national champion
The poll crowns a champion; the belt goes to whoever beat the last holder. Here is how often the two agree, every season since the AP poll began.
21 of 89Seasons the AP champion finished with the belt
25Seasons the champion held it at some point
28Seasons the champion played a belt game
61Seasons the champion never played for it
Every season
The champion and the belt, since the AP poll began
| Season | AP national champion | Belt at season’s end | The champion and the belt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Indiana | Notre Dame | Never played for it |
| 2024 | Ohio State | Florida | Never played for it |
| 2023 | Michigan | Michigan | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2022 | Georgia | Washington | Never played for it |
| 2021 | Georgia | Baylor | Never played for it |
| 2020 | Alabama | Alabama | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2019 | LSU | LSU | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2018 | Clemson | Ohio State | Never played for it |
| 2017 | Alabama | Pittsburgh | Never played for it |
| 2016 | Clemson | Clemson | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2015 | Alabama | TCU | Never played for it |
| 2014 | Ohio State | TCU | Never played for it |
| 2013 | Florida State | Oklahoma | Never played for it |
| 2012 | Alabama | Baylor | Never played for it |
| 2011 | Alabama | West Virginia | Never played for it |
| 2010 | Auburn | Auburn | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2009 | Alabama | Alabama | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2008 | Florida | Florida | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2007 | LSU | Missouri | Held it, then lost it |
| 2006 | Florida | Florida | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2005 | Texas | Texas | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2004 | USC | USC | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2003 | USC | USC | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2002 | Miami | Ohio State | Held it, then lost it |
| 2001 | Miami | Miami | Finished the season with the belt |
| 2000 | Oklahoma | Miami | Never played for it |
| 1999 | Florida State | Florida State | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1998 | Tennessee | Texas | Never played for it |
| 1997 | Michigan | Nebraska | Never played for it |
| 1996 | Florida | BYU | Never played for it |
| 1995 | Nebraska | Arizona | Never played for it |
| 1994 | Nebraska | Wyoming | Never played for it |
| 1993 | Florida State | Arizona | Never played for it |
| 1992 | Alabama | UCLA | Never played for it |
| 1991 | Miami | Texas Tech | Never played for it |
| 1990 | Colorado | Colorado | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1989 | Miami | Illinois | Never played for it |
| 1988 | Notre Dame | Florida State | Never played for it |
| 1987 | Miami | Clemson | Never played for it |
| 1986 | Penn State | Penn State | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1985 | Oklahoma | Alabama | Never played for it |
| 1984 | BYU | UCLA | Never played for it |
| 1983 | Miami | Auburn | Never played for it |
| 1982 | Penn State | Washington State | Never played for it |
| 1981 | Clemson | Ohio State | Never played for it |
| 1980 | Georgia | Michigan | Never played for it |
| 1979 | Alabama | USC | Never played for it |
| 1978 | Alabama | USC | Held it, then lost it |
| 1977 | Notre Dame | Alabama | Never played for it |
| 1976 | Pittsburgh | USC | Never played for it |
| 1975 | Oklahoma | UCLA | Never played for it |
| 1974 | Oklahoma | Tennessee | Never played for it |
| 1973 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1972 | USC | USC | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1971 | Nebraska | Nebraska | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1970 | Nebraska | Tulane | Played for it, never held it |
| 1969 | Texas | USC | Never played for it |
| 1968 | Ohio State | Ohio State | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1967 | USC | Oklahoma | Never played for it |
| 1966 | Notre Dame | Georgia | Never played for it |
| 1965 | Alabama | LSU | Never played for it |
| 1964 | Alabama | Texas | Held it, then lost it |
| 1963 | Texas | Alabama | Never played for it |
| 1962 | USC | Ole Miss | Never played for it |
| 1961 | Alabama | LSU | Never played for it |
| 1960 | Minnesota | Ole Miss | Never played for it |
| 1959 | Syracuse | Ole Miss | Never played for it |
| 1958 | LSU | LSU | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1957 | Auburn | Ole Miss | Never played for it |
| 1956 | Oklahoma | Baylor | Never played for it |
| 1955 | Oklahoma | Tennessee | Never played for it |
| 1954 | Ohio State | Auburn | Never played for it |
| 1953 | Maryland | Arkansas State | Never played for it |
| 1952 | Michigan State | Alabama | Never played for it |
| 1951 | Tennessee | Princeton | Never played for it |
| 1950 | Oklahoma | Navy | Never played for it |
| 1949 | Notre Dame | Army | Never played for it |
| 1948 | Michigan | Army | Never played for it |
| 1947 | Notre Dame | Columbia | Never played for it |
| 1946 | Notre Dame | Army | Played for it, never held it |
| 1945 | Army | Army | Finished the season with the belt |
| 1944 | Army | Duke | Never played for it |
| 1942 | Ohio State | Auburn | Never played for it |
| 1941 | Minnesota | Alabama | Never played for it |
| 1940 | Minnesota | Stanford | Never played for it |
| 1939 | Texas A&M | USC | Never played for it |
| 1938 | TCU | Tennessee | Never played for it |
| 1937 | Pittsburgh | Auburn | Never played for it |
| 1936 | Minnesota | Notre Dame | Played for it, never held it |
The national champion here is the No. 1 team in the final AP poll, the one continuous poll back to 1936 (before 1968 it was taken before the bowls). “Belt at season’s end” is whoever held it after the season’s last belt game. See also the belt vs. the polls, week by week.