Division I-A football is the only NCAA-sponsored sport without an organized tournament to determine its champion. It is also, ironically, the most popular NCAA sport and the one in which public interest in the "championship" is highest.

Over the years various polls and formulas have been used to determine a "mythical champion". For champions prior to 1936, retro polls and research were used to determine the champion of major college football. The method has evolved over the years, as have the polls being used.

The tradition, and the controversy, is carried on today with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), created for the 1998 season. The AP and coaches' polls, computer rankings, strength of schedule and performance against other top teams were combined into a formula, and the top two teams played in a championship game.

In 2003, LSU won the BCS title game, giving them the BCS title and #1 in the coaches poll, while the sportswriters voted USC #1 in their AP poll. Consequently, for the 2004 season, the BCS formula was once again tweaked. For more detail, see the Bowl Championship Series article.

The term Division I-A was not used until 1978, and before that the term 'major college champion' was often used. Below are some of the selectors:

• National Championship Foundation (NCF) (1869-1935)
• College Football Researchers Association (CRFA) (1869-1935)
• Helms Athletic Foundation (H) 1883–1935
• The Dickinson System (D) 1924–40
• The Associated Press (AP) 1936–present,
• Coaches' polls, as published by:
  • United Press International (UPI) 1958–90,
  • USA Today/CNN (CNN) 1991–96,
  • USA Today/ESPN (ESPN) 1997–present (has recognized BCS winner since 1998)

See also

• NCAA Division I-AA national football championship
• NCAA Division II national football championship
• NCAA Division III national football championship

External link

• NCAA football page