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The 6 AP Preseason No. 1 Programs That Won College Football's National Championship

By Parker White

College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T - Alabama v Clemson
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T - Alabama v Clemson / Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The start of the college football season is right around the corner and the Associated Press recently came out with their preseason Top 25 poll. In an unsurprising release, the defending national champion Clemson Tigers are at the top spot.

This is the first time in school history that Clemson is ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll, so it's an exciting accomplishment for their program. However, just because you are in the top spot now, it doesn't mean you'll be there at the end of the season or holding the championship trophy.

Alabama was the last team to begin and finish the season No. 1 back in 2017, and just the 11th preseason No. 1 ranked squad to win the title.

Of those 11 teams, only six programs have ever began and ended the year in the top spot, with Oklahoma doing it four times (1956, 1974, 1975, and 1985), and Alabama (1978, 2017) and Florida State (1993, 1999) doing so twice.

Tennessee (1951), Michigan State (1952) and USC (2004) are the only other teams to rank No. 1 at the start and end of the season.

History is stacked against these Clemson Tigers, but with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, it wouldn't be a shock if they run the table and win back-to-back titles.