College football is the one of the most celebrated sports in the USA and is the second tier after high school before professional football. Surprisingly, college football surpasses the professional version popularity-wise in some states of the country. Many student-athletes pursue the sport professionally and the National Football League is the platform where they showcase their talents. The NFL Draft annually selects 224 players mostly from the NCAA.
As of the 2024 season, there are 10 conferences and 133 schools participating in the competition. Top teams draw tens of thousands of fans to games and has fifteen largest American stadiums in terms of capacity.
Most #1 ranked college football teams
In college football, teams are ranked on the basis of their performance in various polls, reflecting the reviews of media members, coaches, and committees. The primary polls are the Associated Press (AP), the College Football Playoff ( CFP), and the Coaches Poll (CP) rankings.
The AP poll is associated with the sportswriters and broadcasters who release weekly rankings, like wins, losses, and overall strength. The CP poll involves 62 coaches who rank the top 25 teams weekly, reflecting the public perception of the strength of the team.
The third is the CFP ranking poll, in which experts assess teams based on criteria such as results, strength, and the number of championships won. The top four teams qualify for the College Football Playoffs to win the national championship.
Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide are ranked as one of the top programs in college football, claiming the No. 1 place a remarkable 24 times. They have won the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship thrice and appeared in 54 playoffs in the CFP ranking. Notably in 2022, they did not make it to the top four for the playoffs.
Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs football team has ranked No. 1 fifteen times, as of January 2025. The Bulldogs have been selected as the national champions eight times, and claimed four of them (1942, 1980, 2021, and in 2022).
Clemson
The Clemson Tigers have been ranked no. 1 eight times, as of January 2025. In 2015, they lost to Alabama in the national championship game with a score of 45-40 which stopped them with 6 trips to the top spot that year. They became #1 two more times in 2017. Notably, they claimed the championship in 2016 and 2018, they became the winners without being the top-ranked team during those regular seasons.
Oregon
The Oregon Ducks were ranked No.1 for the first time in 2024 and kept the top spot in all six polls of the season. However, they have attained the #1 six times in their football program's history, as of January 2025.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes’ have been ranked No. 1 five times, as of January 2025. They started their journey in 2014, winning the first CFP title game from the 16th rank. In 2019, they made it to the top spot beating No. 8 Penn State. However, they later dropped to No. 2 after LSU. In 2023, they initially ranked at the top but fell after two weeks.
Louisiana State
In 2019, LSU Tigers made it to No. 1 rankings under the leadership of Joe Burrow. They defeated many strong teams in the SEC to win the national championship. However, the Tigers have attained the #1 ranking thrice in their football program's history, as of January 2025.
Mississippi State
The Mississippi State Bullodgs were ranked #1 in 2014, making history by starting 9-0. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Alabama and Ole Miss, bringing a halt to their season and eventually dropping to seventh place. However, they have been ranked #1 thrice in their football history, as of January 2025.
Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines football team was ranked on top in the 2023 final, making it the only time they ranked in the top spot. They secured their position as the No. 1 in the CFP.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Volunteers football team performed well in 2022, becoming No. 1 in the CFP rankings. They started on an impressive note by beating Alabama, who were at No. 3. However, they lost to Georgia and dropped their No. 1 ranking just after a week.
FAQs on College Football
A. Crimson Tide ranks as a strong leader in college football, claiming the No. 1 place for a remarkable 24 times.
A. The Georgia Bulldogs football team have been ranked #1 fifteen times, which puts them second on the list, as of January 2025.
A. In college football, teams are ranked on the basis of their performance in various polls, reflecting the reviews of media members, coaches, and committees. The primary polls are the Associated Press (AP), the College Football Playoff ( CFP), and the Coaches Poll (CP) rankings.
A. Alabama won the BCS National Championships in the 2011 and 2012 seasons under coach Nick Saban.
A. Michigan has been been ranked #1 only once, as of January 2025.
