December 21, 2023 8: 00 am ET
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
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
9. Oklahoma Sooners: 7
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000
T-8. Ohio State Buckeyes: 8
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Years won: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014
T-8. Harvard Crimson: 8
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Years won: 1875, 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919
T-6. USC Trojans: 9
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1931, 1932, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004
T-6. Michigan Wolverines: 9
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1933, 1948, 1997
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 13
Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Years won: 1919, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988
3. Princeton Tigers: 15
Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1885, 1889, 1893, 1896, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1922
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: 16
Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports
Years won: 1925, 1926, 1930, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020
1. Yale Bulldogs: 18
AP Photo/Bob Child
Years won: 1874, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1900, 1907, 1909, 1927