For the first 129 years of college football history, there was no official national championship game. The sport began in 1869, six months after the completion of the International Railroad that connected the country coast to coast. At that time, the United States was still healing from the wounds of the Civil War and national sports were not a big deal.
It wasn’t until the 1920s that the idea of a national football championship started to take shape when a sports editor introduced mathematical rankings. Even in the 1930s, the best teams were determined by region, and the game lacked the widespread appeal it enjoys today. By 1946, the top teams rarely faced off against each other.
It took many years for a proper title to emerge. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) lasted 16 seasons before the College Football Playoff was introduced, featuring a four-team playoff format. Let’s take a look at some of the standout games that have taken place.
In 2006, USC faced off against Texas in an epic showdown where the Trojans secured a remarkable victory. This win marked their 35th consecutive victory, showcasing exceptional athleticism and sportsmanship. Another memorable game was the 2018 College Football Championship in Atlanta where Alabama triumphed over Georgia by a narrow three-point margin, with a final score of 26-23. Then, in 2016, Alabama faced Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Arizona, with Alabama emerging victorious with a score of 45-40.
