| Year | ESPN/USA Today (Coaches) | AP (Media) |
| 1998 | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| 1997 | Nebraska | Michigan |
| 1996 | Florida | Florida |
| 1995 | Nebraska | Nebraska |
| 1994 | Nebraska | Nebraska |
| 1993 | Florida State | Florida State |
| 1993 | Florida State | Florida State |
| 1992 | Alabama | Alabama |
| 1991 | Washington | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1990 | Georgia Tech | Colorado |
| 1989 | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1988 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1987 | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1986 | Penn State | Penn State |
| 1985 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 1984 | Brigham Young | Brigham Young |
| 1983 | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1982 | Penn State | Penn State |
| 1981 | Clemson | Clemson |
| 1980 | Georgia | Georgia |
| 1979 | Alabama | Alabama |
| 1978 | Southern California | Alabama |
| 1977 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1976 | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| 1975 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 1974 | Southern California | Oklahoma |
| 1973 | Alabama | Notre Dame |
| 1972 | Southern California | Southern California |
| 1971 | Nebraska | Nebraska |
| 1970 | Texas | Nebraska |
| 1969 | Texas | Texas |
| 1968 | Ohio State | Ohio State |
| 1967 | Southern California | Southern California |
| 1966 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1965 | Michigan State | Alabama |
| 1964 | Alabama | Alabama |
| 1963 | Texas | Texas |
| 1962 | Southern California | Southern California |
| 1961 | Alabama | Alabama |
| 1960 | Minnesota | Minnesota |
| 1959 | Syracuse | Syracuse |
| 1958 | Louisiana State | Louisiana State |
| 1957 | Ohio State | Auburn |
| 1956 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 1955 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 1954 | UCLA | Ohio State |
| 1953 | Maryland | Maryland |
| 1952 | Michigan State | Michigan State |
| 1951 | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| 1950 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 1949 | Notre Dame | |
| 1948 | Michigan | |
| 1947 | Notre Dame | |
| 1946 | Notre Dame | |
| 1945 | Army | |
| 1944 | Army | |
| 1943 | Notre Dame | |
| 1942 | Ohio State | |
| 1941 | Minnesota | |
| 1940 | Minnesota | |
| 1939 | Texas A&M | |
| 1938 | Texas Christian | |
| 1937 | Pittsburgh | |
| 1936 | Minnesota |
