Since 1936
The belt vs. the polls
The AP poll started in 1936; the belt was already 67 years old. Every poll week since, this is how the belt holder looked to the voters — and how often the two ways of naming a champion agreed.
84%of poll weeks the belt holder was ranked
18%of poll weeks the holder was No. 1
57Title changes by an unranked team over a ranked holder
21 of 89Seasons the holder finished No. 1 in the final poll
Upsets by rank
Unranked, and took it anyway
1972 · UCLA 20–17 Nebraskaunranked over No. 11981 · Wisconsin 21–14 Michiganunranked over No. 12007 · Arkansas 50–48 LSUunranked over No. 12021 · Texas A&M 41–38 Alabamaunranked over No. 11950 · Navy 14–2 Armyunranked over No. 21966 · LSU 14–7 Arkansasunranked over No. 21974 · Purdue 31–20 Notre Dameunranked over No. 22012 · Baylor 52–24 Kansas Stateunranked over No. 22017 · Syracuse 27–24 Clemsonunranked over No. 22017 · Pittsburgh 24–14 Miamiunranked over No. 22018 · Purdue 49–20 Ohio Stateunranked over No. 22025 · Louisville 24–21 Miamiunranked over No. 2
Biggest gaps
Ranked, but well below the holder
2014 · TCU 37–33 OklahomaNo. 25 over No. 42003 · Wisconsin 17–10 Ohio StateNo. 23 over No. 32010 · South Carolina 35–21 AlabamaNo. 19 over No. 12022 · Washington 37–34 OregonNo. 24 over No. 61994 · Colorado State 21–16 ArizonaNo. 23 over No. 61942 · Alabama 29–21 Texas A&MNo. 18 over No. 22011 · Clemson 38–10 Virginia TechNo. 21 over No. 52008 · Oklahoma State 28–23 MissouriNo. 17 over No. 32024 · Ole Miss 28–10 GeorgiaNo. 16 over No. 21957 · Baylor 13–7 TennesseeNo. 15 over No. 2
Held off
The best-ranked challengers turned away
1936 · Northwestern 6–0 MinnesotaNo. 1 turned away1973 · Notre Dame 24–23 AlabamaNo. 1 turned away1980 · USC 17–16 Ohio StateNo. 1 turned away1987 · Penn State 14–10 MiamiNo. 1 turned away1944 · Georgia Tech 17–15 NavyNo. 2 turned away1946 · Army 0–0 Notre DameNo. 2 turned away (tie)1969 · Ohio State 27–16 USCNo. 2 turned away1977 · USC 14–6 MichiganNo. 2 turned away2000 · Florida State 46–29 Virginia TechNo. 2 turned away2000 · Miami 41–21 Virginia TechNo. 2 turned away
Agreement
Longest runs at No. 1 with the belt
USC · 2004 wk 1–2005 wk 1428 weeks at No. 1
Miami · 2001 wk 10–2002 wk 1118 weeks at No. 1
Ohio State · 1968 wk 12–1969 wk 1012 weeks at No. 1
Florida State · 1999 wk 5–1612 weeks at No. 1
Ohio State · 2006 wk 3–1412 weeks at No. 1
LSU · 1958 wk 9–1959 wk 811 weeks at No. 1
Ohio State · 1975 wk 6–149 weeks at No. 1
Alabama · 2020 wk 14–2021 wk 69 weeks at No. 1
Army · 1946 wk 2–87 weeks at No. 1
Florida · 2009 wk 1–77 weeks at No. 1
By decade
How often the voters and the belt agreed
| Decade | Poll weeks | Holder ranked | Holder No. 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 27 | 74% | 26% |
| 1940s | 70 | 67% | 10% |
| 1950s | 106 | 71% | 14% |
| 1960s | 116 | 90% | 18% |
| 1970s | 138 | 89% | 18% |
| 1980s | 151 | 86% | 5% |
| 1990s | 159 | 70% | 12% |
| 2000s | 146 | 99% | 57% |
| 2010s | 153 | 90% | 9% |
| 2020s | 98 | 91% | 13% |
Every reign since 1936
Rank when it won, best rank while holding
| # | Program | Reign | AP rank when it took the belt | Best while holding | Weeks at No. 1 | Final poll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | Notre Dame | November 21, 1936 – October 16, 1937 | No. 9 (beat No. 7) | No. 12 | 0 | No. 8 |
| 79 | Carnegie Mellon | October 16, 1937 – October 23, 1937 | unranked (beat No. 12) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 80 | Temple | October 23, 1937 – November 6, 1937 | unranked | — | — | — |
| 81 | Michigan State | November 6, 1937 – January 1, 1938 | unranked | — | — | — |
| 82 | Auburn | January 1, 1938 – October 8, 1938 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 83 | Tennessee | October 8, 1938 – January 1, 1940 | No. 4 | No. 1 | 4 | No. 2 |
| 84 | USC | January 1, 1940 – October 26, 1940 | No. 3 (beat No. 2) | No. 17 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 85 | Stanford | October 26, 1940 – October 11, 1941 | No. 3 | No. 9 | 0 | No. 2 |
| 86 | Oregon State | October 11, 1941 – October 25, 1941 | unranked (beat No. 9) | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 87 | Washington State | October 25, 1941 – December 6, 1941 | unranked (beat No. 16) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 88 | Texas A&M | December 6, 1941 – January 1, 1942 | No. 2 | — | — | — |
| 89 | Alabama | January 1, 1942 – October 31, 1942 | No. 18 (beat No. 2) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 20 |
| 90 | Georgia | October 31, 1942 – November 21, 1942 | No. 5 (beat No. 7) | — | — | — |
| 91 | Auburn | November 21, 1942 – October 14, 1944 | No. 16 (beat No. 5) | unranked | 0 | No. 16 |
| 92 | Georgia Tech | October 14, 1944 – November 4, 1944 | unranked | — | — | — |
| 93 | Duke | November 4, 1944 – October 6, 1945 | No. 11 | No. 13 | 0 | No. 11 |
| 94 | Navy | October 6, 1945 – December 1, 1945 | No. 4 (beat No. 16) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 95 | Army | December 1, 1945 – October 25, 1947 | No. 1 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 7 | No. 2 |
| 96 | Columbia | October 25, 1947 – October 2, 1948 | No. 19 (beat No. 11) | No. 16 | 0 | No. 20 |
| 97 | Harvard | October 2, 1948 – October 9, 1948 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 98 | Cornell | October 9, 1948 – October 23, 1948 | unranked | No. 19 | 0 | unranked |
| 99 | Army | October 23, 1948 – December 2, 1950 | No. 3 (beat No. 19) | No. 1 | 3 | No. 4 |
| 100 | Navy | December 2, 1950 – October 6, 1951 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 101 | Princeton | October 6, 1951 – October 11, 1952 | No. 9 | No. 4 | 0 | No. 6 |
| 102 | Pennsylvania | October 11, 1952 – November 1, 1952 | No. 11 | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 103 | Penn State | November 1, 1952 – November 8, 1952 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 104 | Syracuse | November 8, 1952 – January 1, 1953 | No. 15 | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 105 | Alabama | January 1, 1953 – September 18, 1953 | No. 8 (beat No. 16) | No. 5 | 0 | No. 9 |
| 106 | Southern Miss | September 18, 1953 – October 31, 1953 | unranked (beat No. 5) | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 107 | Memphis | October 31, 1953 – November 7, 1953 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 108 | Arkansas State | November 7, 1953 – October 2, 1954 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 109 | Mississippi State | October 2, 1954 – October 15, 1954 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 110 | Miami | October 15, 1954 – November 6, 1954 | unranked | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 111 | Auburn | November 6, 1954 – October 29, 1955 | unranked (beat No. 6) | No. 8 | 0 | No. 13 |
| 112 | Tulane | October 29, 1955 – November 12, 1955 | unranked (beat No. 8) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 113 | Vanderbilt | November 12, 1955 – November 26, 1955 | unranked | No. 19 | 0 | unranked |
| 114 | Tennessee | November 26, 1955 – January 1, 1957 | unranked (beat No. 19) | No. 1 | 1 | unranked |
| 115 | Baylor | January 1, 1957 – October 5, 1957 | No. 15 (beat No. 2) | No. 7 | 0 | No. 11 |
| 116 | Miami | October 5, 1957 – October 11, 1957 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 117 | North Carolina | October 11, 1957 – October 19, 1957 | No. 14 | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 118 | Maryland | October 19, 1957 – October 26, 1957 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 119 | Tennessee | October 26, 1957 – November 16, 1957 | No. 17 | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 120 | Ole Miss | November 16, 1957 – November 1, 1958 | No. 5 (beat No. 12) | No. 6 | 0 | No. 7 |
| 121 | LSU | November 1, 1958 – November 7, 1959 | No. 1 (beat No. 9) | No. 1 | 11 | No. 1 |
| 122 | Tennessee | November 7, 1959 – November 14, 1959 | No. 9 (beat No. 3) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 123 | Ole Miss | November 14, 1959 – November 4, 1961 | No. 2 (beat No. 20) | No. 1 | 4 | No. 2 |
| 124 | LSU | November 4, 1961 – November 3, 1962 | No. 4 (beat No. 7) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 4 |
| 125 | Ole Miss | November 3, 1962 – January 1, 1964 | No. 4 (beat No. 9) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 126 | Alabama | January 1, 1964 – January 1, 1965 | No. 9 (beat No. 7) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 8 |
| 127 | Texas | January 1, 1965 – October 16, 1965 | No. 5 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 3 | No. 5 |
| 128 | Arkansas | October 16, 1965 – January 1, 1966 | No. 1 (beat No. 5) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 129 | LSU | January 1, 1966 – September 24, 1966 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | No. 8 |
| 130 | Rice | September 24, 1966 – October 1, 1966 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 131 | Tennessee | October 1, 1966 – October 8, 1966 | No. 8 | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 132 | Georgia Tech | October 8, 1966 – November 26, 1966 | No. 7 | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 133 | Georgia | November 26, 1966 – October 14, 1967 | No. 4 (beat No. 8) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 4 |
| 134 | Ole Miss | October 14, 1967 – November 18, 1967 | unranked (beat No. 8) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 135 | Tennessee | November 18, 1967 – January 1, 1968 | No. 2 | — | — | — |
| 136 | Oklahoma | January 1, 1968 – September 21, 1968 | No. 5 (beat No. 2) | No. 4 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 137 | Notre Dame | September 21, 1968 – September 28, 1968 | No. 3 (beat No. 5) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 138 | Purdue | September 28, 1968 – October 12, 1968 | No. 1 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 2 | unranked |
| 139 | Ohio State | October 12, 1968 – November 22, 1969 | No. 4 (beat No. 1) | No. 1 | 12 | No. 1 |
| 140 | Michigan | November 22, 1969 – January 1, 1970 | No. 7 (beat No. 4) | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 141 | USC | January 1, 1970 – October 10, 1970 | No. 5 (beat No. 7) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 142 | Stanford | October 10, 1970 – November 14, 1970 | No. 8 (beat No. 10) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 143 | Air Force | November 14, 1970 – November 21, 1970 | No. 12 (beat No. 13) | No. 11 | 0 | unranked |
| 144 | Colorado | November 21, 1970 – December 12, 1970 | unranked (beat No. 11) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 145 | Tulane | December 12, 1970 – September 18, 1971 | unranked | unranked | 0 | No. 17 |
| 146 | Georgia | September 18, 1971 – November 13, 1971 | No. 11 | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 147 | Auburn | November 13, 1971 – November 27, 1971 | No. 6 (beat No. 7) | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 148 | Alabama | November 27, 1971 – January 1, 1972 | No. 3 (beat No. 5) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 149 | Nebraska | January 1, 1972 – September 9, 1972 | No. 1 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 1 | No. 1 |
| 150 | UCLA | September 9, 1972 – September 23, 1972 | unranked (beat No. 1) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 151 | Michigan | September 23, 1972 – November 25, 1972 | No. 12 (beat No. 6) | No. 3 | 0 | unranked |
| 152 | Ohio State | November 25, 1972 – January 1, 1973 | No. 9 (beat No. 3) | No. 3 | 0 | unranked |
| 153 | USC | January 1, 1973 – October 27, 1973 | No. 1 (beat No. 3) | No. 1 | 4 | No. 1 |
| 154 | Notre Dame | October 27, 1973 – September 28, 1974 | No. 5 (beat No. 9) | No. 1 | 1 | No. 1 |
| 155 | Purdue | September 28, 1974 – October 5, 1974 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 156 | Duke | October 5, 1974 – October 19, 1974 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 157 | Clemson | October 19, 1974 – October 26, 1974 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 158 | Tennessee | October 26, 1974 – September 20, 1975 | unranked | No. 10 | 0 | No. 20 |
| 159 | UCLA | September 20, 1975 – October 4, 1975 | No. 12 (beat No. 10) | No. 10 | 0 | unranked |
| 160 | Ohio State | October 4, 1975 – January 1, 1976 | No. 2 (beat No. 13) | No. 1 | 9 | unranked |
| 161 | UCLA | January 1, 1976 – November 20, 1976 | No. 11 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 5 |
| 162 | USC | November 20, 1976 – October 8, 1977 | No. 3 (beat No. 6) | No. 1 | 1 | No. 2 |
| 163 | Alabama | October 8, 1977 – September 23, 1978 | No. 4 (beat No. 6) | No. 1 | 3 | No. 2 |
| 164 | USC | September 23, 1978 – October 14, 1978 | No. 3 (beat No. 7) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 165 | Arizona State | October 14, 1978 – October 28, 1978 | No. 14 (beat No. 7) | No. 12 | 0 | unranked |
| 166 | Washington | October 28, 1978 – November 11, 1978 | No. 20 | No. 19 | 0 | unranked |
| 167 | USC | November 11, 1978 – November 15, 1980 | No. 5 | No. 1 | 6 | No. 2 |
| 168 | Washington | November 15, 1980 – January 1, 1981 | No. 16 (beat No. 12) | No. 15 | 0 | unranked |
| 169 | Michigan | January 1, 1981 – September 12, 1981 | No. 5 (beat No. 16) | No. 1 | 2 | No. 4 |
| 170 | Wisconsin | September 12, 1981 – September 19, 1981 | unranked (beat No. 1) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 171 | UCLA | September 19, 1981 – September 26, 1981 | No. 9 (beat No. 20) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 172 | Iowa | September 26, 1981 – October 24, 1981 | unranked (beat No. 6) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 173 | Minnesota | October 24, 1981 – October 31, 1981 | unranked (beat No. 6) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 174 | Michigan | October 31, 1981 – November 21, 1981 | No. 15 | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 175 | Ohio State | November 21, 1981 – September 25, 1982 | unranked (beat No. 7) | No. 12 | 0 | No. 15 |
| 176 | Stanford | September 25, 1982 – October 9, 1982 | unranked (beat No. 13) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 177 | Arizona State | October 9, 1982 – November 13, 1982 | No. 11 | No. 3 | 0 | unranked |
| 178 | Washington | November 13, 1982 – November 20, 1982 | No. 7 (beat No. 3) | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 179 | Washington State | November 20, 1982 – September 10, 1983 | unranked (beat No. 5) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 180 | Michigan | September 10, 1983 – September 17, 1983 | No. 8 | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 181 | Washington | September 17, 1983 – September 24, 1983 | No. 9 (beat No. 17) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 182 | LSU | September 24, 1983 – October 1, 1983 | No. 16 (beat No. 18) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 183 | Florida | October 1, 1983 – October 29, 1983 | No. 9 | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 184 | Auburn | October 29, 1983 – August 27, 1984 | No. 3 (beat No. 9) | No. 1 | 1 | No. 3 |
| 185 | Miami | August 27, 1984 – September 8, 1984 | No. 10 (beat No. 1) | No. 1 | 1 | unranked |
| 186 | Michigan | September 8, 1984 – September 15, 1984 | No. 3 (beat No. 5) | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 187 | Washington | September 15, 1984 – November 10, 1984 | No. 9 (beat No. 16) | No. 1 | 4 | unranked |
| 188 | USC | November 10, 1984 – November 17, 1984 | No. 7 (beat No. 8) | No. 14 | 0 | unranked |
| 189 | UCLA | November 17, 1984 – September 28, 1985 | No. 19 (beat No. 14) | No. 10 | 0 | No. 9 |
| 190 | Washington | September 28, 1985 – October 19, 1985 | unranked (beat No. 13) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 191 | Oregon State | October 19, 1985 – November 2, 1985 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 192 | Arizona | November 2, 1985 – November 9, 1985 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 193 | UCLA | November 9, 1985 – November 23, 1985 | No. 14 | No. 8 | 0 | unranked |
| 194 | USC | November 23, 1985 – December 28, 1985 | unranked (beat No. 8) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 195 | Alabama | December 28, 1985 – October 25, 1986 | No. 15 | No. 2 | 0 | No. 13 |
| 196 | Penn State | October 25, 1986 – September 12, 1987 | No. 2 (beat No. 8) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 197 | Alabama | September 12, 1987 – September 19, 1987 | No. 11 (beat No. 20) | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 198 | Florida | September 19, 1987 – October 3, 1987 | unranked (beat No. 17) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 199 | LSU | October 3, 1987 – November 7, 1987 | No. 7 (beat No. 18) | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 200 | Alabama | November 7, 1987 – November 14, 1987 | No. 11 (beat No. 10) | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 201 | Notre Dame | November 14, 1987 – November 21, 1987 | No. 7 (beat No. 17) | No. 10 | 0 | unranked |
| 202 | Penn State | November 21, 1987 – January 1, 1988 | unranked (beat No. 10) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 203 | Clemson | January 1, 1988 – September 17, 1988 | No. 14 (beat No. 20) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 12 |
| 204 | Florida State | September 17, 1988 – September 2, 1989 | No. 10 (beat No. 3) | No. 4 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 205 | Southern Miss | September 2, 1989 – September 9, 1989 | unranked (beat No. 6) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 206 | Mississippi State | September 9, 1989 – September 23, 1989 | unranked (beat No. 18) | No. 25 | 0 | unranked |
| 207 | Georgia | September 23, 1989 – September 30, 1989 | unranked | No. 23 | 0 | unranked |
| 208 | South Carolina | September 30, 1989 – October 28, 1989 | unranked (beat No. 23) | No. 24 | 0 | unranked |
| 209 | NC State | October 28, 1989 – November 4, 1989 | No. 20 (beat No. 25) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 210 | Virginia | November 4, 1989 – January 1, 1990 | No. 24 (beat No. 18) | No. 15 | 0 | unranked |
| 211 | Illinois | January 1, 1990 – September 8, 1990 | No. 11 (beat No. 15) | No. 11 | 0 | No. 10 |
| 212 | Arizona | September 8, 1990 – September 29, 1990 | No. 20 (beat No. 21) | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 213 | California | September 29, 1990 – October 27, 1990 | unranked (beat No. 25) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 214 | Washington | October 27, 1990 – November 10, 1990 | No. 7 | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 215 | UCLA | November 10, 1990 – November 17, 1990 | unranked (beat No. 10) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 216 | USC | November 17, 1990 – November 24, 1990 | No. 18 | No. 21 | 0 | unranked |
| 217 | Notre Dame | November 24, 1990 – January 1, 1991 | No. 7 (beat No. 21) | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 218 | Colorado | January 1, 1991 – September 14, 1991 | No. 1 (beat No. 5) | No. 12 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 219 | Baylor | September 14, 1991 – October 12, 1991 | No. 23 (beat No. 12) | No. 8 | 0 | unranked |
| 220 | Rice | October 12, 1991 – October 19, 1991 | unranked (beat No. 8) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 221 | TCU | October 19, 1991 – October 26, 1991 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 222 | Baylor | October 26, 1991 – November 16, 1991 | No. 22 | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 223 | Texas Tech | November 16, 1991 – September 3, 1992 | unranked (beat No. 20) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 224 | Oklahoma | September 3, 1992 – September 19, 1992 | No. 15 | No. 13 | 0 | unranked |
| 225 | USC | September 19, 1992 – October 3, 1992 | unranked (beat No. 13) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 226 | Washington | October 3, 1992 – November 7, 1992 | No. 1 (beat No. 20) | No. 1 | 4 | unranked |
| 227 | Arizona | November 7, 1992 – November 14, 1992 | No. 12 (beat No. 1) | No. 9 | 0 | unranked |
| 228 | USC | November 14, 1992 – November 21, 1992 | No. 18 (beat No. 9) | No. 15 | 0 | unranked |
| 229 | UCLA | November 21, 1992 – September 4, 1993 | unranked (beat No. 15) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 230 | California | September 4, 1993 – October 9, 1993 | unranked | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 231 | Washington | October 9, 1993 – October 16, 1993 | No. 13 (beat No. 16) | No. 12 | 0 | unranked |
| 232 | UCLA | October 16, 1993 – November 13, 1993 | No. 22 (beat No. 12) | No. 10 | 0 | unranked |
| 233 | Arizona State | November 13, 1993 – November 26, 1993 | unranked (beat No. 10) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 234 | Arizona | November 26, 1993 – October 8, 1994 | No. 19 | No. 6 | 0 | No. 10 |
| 235 | Colorado State | October 8, 1994 – October 22, 1994 | No. 23 (beat No. 6) | No. 12 | 0 | unranked |
| 236 | Utah | October 22, 1994 – November 5, 1994 | No. 18 (beat No. 12) | No. 9 | 0 | unranked |
| 237 | New Mexico | November 5, 1994 – November 12, 1994 | unranked (beat No. 9) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 238 | Wyoming | November 12, 1994 – September 9, 1995 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 239 | Air Force | September 9, 1995 – September 16, 1995 | unranked | No. 21 | 0 | unranked |
| 240 | Colorado State | September 16, 1995 – September 30, 1995 | unranked (beat No. 21) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 241 | BYU | September 30, 1995 – October 14, 1995 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 242 | Arizona State | October 14, 1995 – November 24, 1995 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 243 | Arizona | November 24, 1995 – September 7, 1996 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 244 | Iowa | September 7, 1996 – September 21, 1996 | No. 22 | No. 19 | 0 | unranked |
| 245 | Tulsa | September 21, 1996 – October 19, 1996 | unranked (beat No. 19) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 246 | BYU | October 19, 1996 – September 6, 1997 | No. 18 | No. 5 | 0 | No. 5 |
| 247 | Washington | September 6, 1997 – September 20, 1997 | No. 4 (beat No. 19) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 248 | Nebraska | September 20, 1997 – October 10, 1998 | No. 7 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 3 | No. 2 |
| 249 | Texas A&M | October 10, 1998 – November 27, 1998 | No. 10 (beat No. 8) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 250 | Texas | November 27, 1998 – August 28, 1999 | No. 20 (beat No. 10) | No. 17 | 0 | No. 15 |
| 251 | NC State | August 28, 1999 – September 18, 1999 | unranked (beat No. 17) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 252 | Florida State | September 18, 1999 – October 7, 2000 | No. 1 (beat No. 20) | No. 1 | 13 | No. 1 |
| 253 | Miami | October 7, 2000 – January 3, 2003 | No. 7 (beat No. 1) | No. 1 | 25 | No. 1 |
| 254 | Ohio State | January 3, 2003 – October 11, 2003 | No. 2 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 2 |
| 255 | Wisconsin | October 11, 2003 – October 18, 2003 | No. 23 (beat No. 3) | No. 14 | 0 | unranked |
| 256 | Purdue | October 18, 2003 – October 25, 2003 | No. 13 (beat No. 14) | No. 10 | 0 | unranked |
| 257 | Michigan | October 25, 2003 – January 1, 2004 | No. 13 (beat No. 10) | No. 4 | 0 | unranked |
| 258 | USC | January 1, 2004 – January 4, 2006 | No. 2 (beat No. 4) | No. 1 | 28 | No. 1 |
| 259 | Texas | January 4, 2006 – September 9, 2006 | No. 2 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 260 | Ohio State | September 9, 2006 – January 9, 2007 | No. 1 (beat No. 2) | No. 1 | 12 | unranked |
| 261 | Florida | January 9, 2007 – September 29, 2007 | No. 4 (beat No. 1) | No. 3 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 262 | Auburn | September 29, 2007 – October 20, 2007 | unranked (beat No. 4) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 263 | LSU | October 20, 2007 – November 23, 2007 | No. 5 (beat No. 18) | No. 1 | 2 | unranked |
| 264 | Arkansas | November 23, 2007 – January 1, 2008 | unranked (beat No. 1) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 265 | Missouri | January 1, 2008 – October 11, 2008 | No. 1 | No. 3 | 0 | No. 4 |
| 266 | Oklahoma State | October 11, 2008 – October 25, 2008 | No. 17 (beat No. 3) | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 267 | Texas | October 25, 2008 – November 1, 2008 | No. 1 (beat No. 7) | No. 1 | 1 | unranked |
| 268 | Texas Tech | November 1, 2008 – November 22, 2008 | No. 6 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 269 | Oklahoma | November 22, 2008 – January 8, 2009 | No. 5 (beat No. 2) | No. 3 | 0 | unranked |
| 270 | Florida | January 8, 2009 – December 5, 2009 | No. 2 (beat No. 4) | No. 1 | 13 | No. 1 |
| 271 | Alabama | December 5, 2009 – October 9, 2010 | No. 2 (beat No. 1) | No. 1 | 7 | No. 1 |
| 272 | South Carolina | October 9, 2010 – October 16, 2010 | No. 19 (beat No. 1) | No. 10 | 0 | unranked |
| 273 | Kentucky | October 16, 2010 – October 23, 2010 | unranked (beat No. 10) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 274 | Georgia | October 23, 2010 – October 30, 2010 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 275 | Florida | October 30, 2010 – November 13, 2010 | unranked | No. 24 | 0 | unranked |
| 276 | South Carolina | November 13, 2010 – December 4, 2010 | No. 22 (beat No. 24) | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 277 | Auburn | December 4, 2010 – September 17, 2011 | No. 2 (beat No. 18) | No. 1 | 1 | No. 1 |
| 278 | Clemson | September 17, 2011 – October 29, 2011 | unranked (beat No. 21) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 279 | Georgia Tech | October 29, 2011 – November 10, 2011 | unranked (beat No. 6) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 280 | Virginia Tech | November 10, 2011 – December 4, 2011 | No. 10 (beat No. 20) | No. 5 | 0 | unranked |
| 281 | Clemson | December 4, 2011 – January 4, 2012 | No. 21 (beat No. 5) | No. 14 | 0 | unranked |
| 282 | West Virginia | January 4, 2012 – October 13, 2012 | No. 23 (beat No. 14) | No. 5 | 0 | No. 17 |
| 283 | Texas Tech | October 13, 2012 – October 27, 2012 | unranked (beat No. 5) | No. 15 | 0 | unranked |
| 284 | Kansas State | October 27, 2012 – November 17, 2012 | No. 4 (beat No. 15) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 285 | Baylor | November 17, 2012 – November 23, 2013 | unranked (beat No. 2) | No. 3 | 0 | unranked |
| 286 | Oklahoma State | November 23, 2013 – December 7, 2013 | No. 11 (beat No. 3) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 287 | Oklahoma | December 7, 2013 – October 4, 2014 | No. 18 (beat No. 6) | No. 4 | 0 | No. 6 |
| 288 | TCU | October 4, 2014 – October 11, 2014 | No. 25 (beat No. 4) | No. 9 | 0 | unranked |
| 289 | Baylor | October 11, 2014 – October 18, 2014 | No. 5 (beat No. 9) | No. 4 | 0 | unranked |
| 290 | West Virginia | October 18, 2014 – November 1, 2014 | unranked (beat No. 4) | No. 20 | 0 | unranked |
| 291 | TCU | November 1, 2014 – November 7, 2015 | No. 10 (beat No. 20) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 292 | Oklahoma State | November 7, 2015 – November 21, 2015 | No. 12 (beat No. 5) | No. 4 | 0 | unranked |
| 293 | Baylor | November 21, 2015 – November 27, 2015 | No. 10 (beat No. 4) | No. 7 | 0 | unranked |
| 294 | TCU | November 27, 2015 – September 10, 2016 | No. 15 (beat No. 7) | No. 11 | 0 | No. 7 |
| 295 | Arkansas | September 10, 2016 – September 24, 2016 | unranked (beat No. 15) | No. 17 | 0 | unranked |
| 296 | Texas A&M | September 24, 2016 – October 22, 2016 | No. 10 (beat No. 17) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 297 | Alabama | October 22, 2016 – January 9, 2017 | No. 1 (beat No. 6) | No. 1 | 7 | unranked |
| 298 | Clemson | January 9, 2017 – October 13, 2017 | No. 3 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 299 | Syracuse | October 13, 2017 – October 21, 2017 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 300 | Miami | October 21, 2017 – November 24, 2017 | No. 8 | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 301 | Pittsburgh | November 24, 2017 – September 8, 2018 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 302 | Penn State | September 8, 2018 – September 29, 2018 | No. 13 | No. 9 | 0 | unranked |
| 303 | Ohio State | September 29, 2018 – October 20, 2018 | No. 4 (beat No. 9) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 304 | Purdue | October 20, 2018 – October 27, 2018 | unranked (beat No. 2) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 305 | Michigan State | October 27, 2018 – November 10, 2018 | unranked | No. 24 | 0 | unranked |
| 306 | Ohio State | November 10, 2018 – December 28, 2019 | No. 8 (beat No. 24) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 3 |
| 307 | Clemson | December 28, 2019 – January 13, 2020 | No. 3 (beat No. 2) | — | — | — |
| 308 | LSU | January 13, 2020 – September 26, 2020 | No. 1 (beat No. 3) | No. 6 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 309 | Mississippi State | September 26, 2020 – October 3, 2020 | unranked (beat No. 6) | No. 16 | 0 | unranked |
| 310 | Arkansas | October 3, 2020 – October 10, 2020 | unranked (beat No. 16) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 311 | Auburn | October 10, 2020 – October 17, 2020 | No. 13 | No. 14 | 0 | unranked |
| 312 | South Carolina | October 17, 2020 – October 24, 2020 | unranked (beat No. 14) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 313 | LSU | October 24, 2020 – October 31, 2020 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 314 | Auburn | October 31, 2020 – November 28, 2020 | unranked | No. 22 | 0 | unranked |
| 315 | Alabama | November 28, 2020 – October 9, 2021 | No. 1 (beat No. 22) | No. 1 | 9 | No. 1 |
| 316 | Texas A&M | October 9, 2021 – November 13, 2021 | unranked (beat No. 1) | No. 11 | 0 | unranked |
| 317 | Ole Miss | November 13, 2021 – January 1, 2022 | No. 12 (beat No. 11) | No. 8 | 0 | unranked |
| 318 | Baylor | January 1, 2022 – September 10, 2022 | No. 6 (beat No. 8) | No. 9 | 0 | No. 5 |
| 319 | BYU | September 10, 2022 – September 17, 2022 | No. 21 (beat No. 9) | No. 12 | 0 | unranked |
| 320 | Oregon | September 17, 2022 – November 12, 2022 | No. 25 (beat No. 12) | No. 6 | 0 | unranked |
| 321 | Washington | November 12, 2022 – January 8, 2024 | No. 24 (beat No. 6) | No. 2 | 0 | No. 8 |
| 322 | Michigan | January 8, 2024 – September 7, 2024 | No. 1 (beat No. 2) | No. 9 | 0 | No. 1 |
| 323 | Texas | September 7, 2024 – October 19, 2024 | No. 3 (beat No. 10) | No. 1 | 4 | unranked |
| 324 | Georgia | October 19, 2024 – November 9, 2024 | No. 5 (beat No. 1) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 325 | Ole Miss | November 9, 2024 – November 23, 2024 | No. 16 (beat No. 2) | No. 9 | 0 | unranked |
| 326 | Florida | November 23, 2024 – September 6, 2025 | unranked (beat No. 9) | No. 13 | 0 | unranked |
| 327 | South Florida | September 6, 2025 – September 13, 2025 | unranked (beat No. 13) | No. 18 | 0 | unranked |
| 328 | Miami | September 13, 2025 – October 17, 2025 | No. 5 (beat No. 18) | No. 2 | 0 | unranked |
| 329 | Louisville | October 17, 2025 – November 8, 2025 | unranked (beat No. 2) | No. 14 | 0 | unranked |
| 330 | California | November 8, 2025 – November 22, 2025 | unranked (beat No. 14) | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 331 | Stanford | November 22, 2025 – November 29, 2025 | unranked | unranked | 0 | unranked |
| 332 | Notre Dame | November 29, 2025 – present | No. 9 | No. 3 | 0 | No. 10 |
“Rank when it took the belt” is the winner’s place in the AP poll released before that game (the AP top 25 — a top 20 or top 10 in some eras); a dash means the season’s first poll hadn’t come out yet. A poll week counts for whoever held the belt when that poll was released. Polls from the College Football Data API.