In college football, the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing and hold the No. 1 position. Some teams have consistently reached the top of the College Football Playoff rankings and stayed there, while others are still striving to reach that peak.
Only eight teams have ever attained the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. Mississippi State made history in 2014 as the first program to achieve this, but Alabama holds the record for the most appearances at No. 1.
Here’s a look at all the teams that have claimed the top spot, plus how many times they’ve been No. 1.
| Team | No. 1 Ranks |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 |
| Georgia | 15 |
| Clemson | 8 |
| Ohio State | 5 |
| LSU | 3 |
| Mississippi State | 3 |
| Michigan | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
Alabama — 24 times
The Crimson Tide lead the pack, boasting the most No. 1 rankings (24), CFP National Championship victories (3), and overall CFP appearances (59). Remarkably, 2022 marked the first time Alabama was absent from the top four in any CFP poll.
Georgia — 15 times
The Bulldogs snagged their first No. 1 ranking in 2017 after starting 9-0. A loss to Auburn dropped them to seventh, but they managed to finish at No. 3. Recently, Georgia has excelled, winning back-to-back national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
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Clemson — 8 times
The Tigers held the No. 1 rank six times in 2015 before losing to Alabama in the national championship game, 45-40. They added two more top rankings in 2017, despite not being No. 1 during their championship years in 2016 and 2018.
Ohio State — 5 times
The Buckeyes’ journey began in 2014 when they won the inaugural College Football Playoff title game against Oregon. Interestingly, they were not ranked No. 1 during their championship run and started at No. 16 in the first poll that year. They achieved their first No. 1 ranking in 2019 but ultimately fell to No. 2 as LSU took the top spot. In 2023, they were ranked No. 1 in the committee’s initial weekly rankings before dropping after two weeks.
LSU — 3 times
The Tigers secured the No. 1 position in the 2019 season, led by Joe Burrow, dominating several top-10 SEC teams on their way to a national title. Despite briefly losing the top spot to Ohio State, LSU consistently proved their dominance on the field.
Mississippi State — 3 times
The Bulldogs made history as the first team to reach No. 1, starting 9-0 in 2014. However, losses to Alabama and Ole Miss ended their reign early, dropping them to seventh.
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Michigan — 1 time
The Wolverines held the No. 1 rank once, doing so in the final 2023 rankings, which positioned them as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. They went on to win the national championship.
Tennessee — 1 time
The Volunteers claimed their only top ranking in the CFP era during the 2022 season, following a series of victories, including a notable win against No. 3 Alabama. Their reign ended with a loss to Georgia after just one week at No. 1.
With the introduction of a newly expanded 12-team playoff for the 2024-25 season, the landscape may change, providing more opportunities for teams to compete for the top spot.
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