There are hundreds of teams across the college football world, which makes it difficult to rise to the top unless you’re the best of the best.
Not only that, the way national championships have been awarded have changed over the years. And in 2024, the College Football Playoff will expand to a 12-team format, paving the way for more chaos and more chances for upsets along the way to crowning a college football king.
MORE: Every college football national champion since 2000.
Given the vast swaths of talent in the college football world, it’s no wonder winning a national championship is so hard. To celebrate another successful college football season, let’s take a look at the top teams who have amassed the most trophies in program history.
Here are the top-10 college football programs that have the most national championships!
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 6
Years won: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
9. Oklahoma Sooners: 7
Years won: 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000
T-8. Ohio State Buckeyes: 8
Years won: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014
T-8. Harvard Crimson: 8
Years won: 1875, 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919
T-6. USC Trojans: 9
Years won: 1931, 1932, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004
T-6. Michigan Wolverines: 9
Years won: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1933, 1948, 1997
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 13
Years won: 1919, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988
3. Princeton Tigers: 15
Years won: 1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1885, 1889, 1893, 1896, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1922
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: 16
Years won: 1925, 1926, 1930, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020
1. Yale Bulldogs: 18
Years won: 1874, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1900, 1907, 1909, 1927
