Editor’s note: This article was previously published in 2023, but has been updated in 2025.
Only 13 different teams have won the collage national football championship title since 2000.
Given how dominant certain teams have been over the years — from Nick Saban’s Alabama to Ohio State’s reign in the mid-2010s — it should come as no surprise that just 13 teams have dominated the landscape. It’s not easy to become a championship contender overnight in college football and it can take years to rise to the pinnacle in a world of heavyweights.
And the latest to etch their name in history is Ohio State, who won its first national championship since 2014 after besting Notre Dame in January 2025.
Here is every college football team that has been crowned national champion since 2000.
2000: Oklahoma
Oct 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners mascot Boomer kicks his feet up on the sidelines against the Texas Longhorns during the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. The Texas Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners 36-20. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-135626 ORIG FILE ID: 20131012_mje_se2_025.jpg
2001: Miami (Fla.)
January 3, 2001 Orange Bowl. Florida State vs. Oklahoma at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida. Oklahoma RB Quentin Griffin makes a TD in the fourth quarter. This made the score 12-0. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)
2002: Ohio State
Arizona Republic photo by Rob Schumacher
2003: LSU, Southern California (split national championship)
Jessica Leigh Shreveport Times Baton Rouge LA
2004: Southern California (Vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions)
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY staff
2005: Texas
Andrew Loehman-US PRESSWIRE
2006: Florida
ATLANTA – DECEMBER 2: Quarterback Chris Leak #12 of the Florida Gators leads his team during the 2006 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome December 2, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
2007: LSU
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
2008: Florida
Jan 8, 2008; Miami, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow (15) celebrates after the 2009 BCS Championship Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Dolphin Stadium. The Gators beat the Sooners 24-14. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-US PRESSWIRE
2009: Alabama
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
2010: Auburn
ORG XMIT: USPW-41210727AL Dec 4, 2010; Atlanta, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Cameron Newton (2) during the first half of the 2010 SEC championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE
2011: Alabama
Nov 12, 2011; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE
2012: Alabama
Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; DUPLICATE***Alabama Crimson Tide player Ranzell Watkins (11) celebrates with defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (52) after winning the 2012 SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 32-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
2013: Florida State
Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE
2014: Ohio State
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
2015: Alabama
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
2016: Clemson
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
2017: Alabama
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
2018: Clemson
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
2019: LSU
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2020: Alabama
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2021: Georgia
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
2022: Georgia
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Mykel Williams #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. Georgia defeated TCU 65-7. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
2023: Michigan
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh holds the National Championship Trophy as he celebrates after winning 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
2024: Ohio State
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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