The 8 Schools That Were No. 1 in the CFP Rankings

It’s been 10 years since the first College Football Playoff rankings came out in 2014 — with Mississippi State, of all teams, claiming the first top spot. Of course, the Bulldogs had a pretty good quarterback named Dak Prescott at the time. This year, the CFP rankings will be released on November 5 with the final rankings coming out December 8. Just eight teams have been ranked No. 1 in those 10 seasons — and five are from the SEC. Here they are.

Alabama

No surprise the Crimson Tide have the most No. 1 appearances overall with 24. Alabama won national championships in the 2015, 2017 and 2020 seasons and lost in the championship game in 2016, 2018 and 2021. All of that took place under a certain former coach who’s now in the media. How will Kalen DeBoer’s teams fare compared to Nick Saban’s run?

Georgia

Alabama even has a little role in the second team on this list as head coach Kirby Smart arrived at Georgia for the 2016 season after nine years at Alabama, including eight as defensive coordinator. Smart quickly got the Bulldogs in national title contention getting the school’s first No. 1 ranking in 2017. Georgia has been No. 1 15 times and won back-to-back national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Clemson

Another coach with Bama ties, Dabo Swinney has revived the Clemson program since taking over seven games into the 2008 season. The Tigers have been ranked No. 1 eight times — including six times in 2015 before losing the national championship game to Alabama. The Tigers got payback, however, beating the Tide for the national championship after the 2016 and 2018 seasons. Clemson was in the national championship game four times over a five-season span from 2015-2019.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes won the first College Football Playoff championship with a victory over Oregon after the 2014 season — but that was as the No. 4-ranked team. But Ohio State wasn’t No. 1 in the CFP rankings until 2019 and has been No. 1 five times overall, including the first ranking of the 2023 season. The Buckeyes made it back to the national championship game after the 2020 season but lost to Alabama.

LSU

LSU was ranked No. 1 three times during its stunning 2019 season, when the Tigers dominated opponents, going 15-0 and winning their two playoff games by a combined score of 105-53. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, coach Ed Orgeron’s team was loaded with NFL talent, including Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Derek Stingley Jr., and more.

Mississippi State

When the College Football Playoff rankings were initially considered, could anyone have imagined that the first No. 1 team would be Mississippi State? The Bulldogs and Florida State were the only undefeated teams when the first rankings came out and Mississippi State held the top spot for three weeks. That’s until — who else? — Alabama beat the Bulldogs, who fell to No. 4.

Michigan

It may seem hard to believe that Michigan has only been ranked No. 1 once — last season in the final rankings leading into the College Football Playoffs. But then again, the 2023 season’s title game is the only one in which the Wolverines have appeared since the start of the rankings. And their last prior national title was in 1997 when they shared it with Nebraska.

Tennessee

Tennessee was at No. 1 its only time in the first CFP rankings of the 2022 season after an 8-0 start, a victory over Alabama, and a 44-6 rout of Kentucky. No. 3 Georgia changed that quickly, beating the Vols, 27-13. A loss to South Carolina dropped Tennessee to No. 10, but the Vols climbed back up to No. 6 by the final rankings.

Who Could Be Next?

These teams have never been No. 1 in the CFP rankings. Could that change this year? Next year?

Texas: The Longhorns have been ranked No. 1 in the AP poll already this season and have a juggernaut. Could Steve Sarkisian’s team make the leap this year?

Oregon: The Ducks played in the first CFP national championship as a No. 2, losing to Ohio State, but are still looking for their first top billing.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions won two national championships under Joe Paterno — but their last was a long time ago (1986).

Miami: The Hurricanes were the team of the ‘80s with three national championships — and also grabbed a title after the 2001 season.

Notre Dame: The early upset loss this year hurts, but things have a way of changing quickly in college football. Still, it’s surprising the Fighting Irish have never been No. 1.