View source for BCS National Championship Game

{{short description|American football game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox college football bowl game
| name               = BCS National Championship Game
| full_name          =
| nickname           =
| defunct            =
| logo               =
| image size         = 200
| caption            = [[AFCA National Championship Trophy]], awarded to the BCS National Champion.
| stadium            = Four-year rotation between:<br>[[State Farm Stadium]]<br>[[Caesars Superdome]]<br>[[Hard Rock Stadium]]<br>[[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]
| previous_stadiums  = [[Sun Devil Stadium]] (1999, 2003)
| location           = Four-year rotation between:<br>[[Glendale, Arizona]]<br>[[New Orleans, Louisiana]]<br>[[Miami Gardens, Florida]]<br>[[Pasadena, California]]
| previous_locations = [[Tempe, Arizona]] (1999, 2003)
| years              = 1999–2014
| preceded_by        = [[Bowl Alliance]] ([[1995 NCAA Division I-A football season|1995]]–[[1997 NCAA Division I-A football season|97]])<br>[[Bowl Coalition]] ([[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]–[[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|94]])
| succeeded_by       = [[College Football Playoff National Championship]] (2015)
| previous_tie-ins   =
| conference_tie-ins =
| payout             = 23,900,000 <small>(2014 game<ref>[http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl_games_bowl_schedule.html College Football Bowl Schedule]. Collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.</ref>)</small>
| sponsors           = [[Tostitos]] (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011), [[Nokia]] (2000, 2004), [[FedEx]] (2001, 2005, 2009), [[AT&T]] (2002), [[Allstate]] (2008, 2012), [[Citigroup|Citi]] (2006, 2010), [[Discover Financial|Discover]] (2013), [[Vizio]] (2014)
| former_names       =
}}
[[File:2010 BCS Champ.jpg|thumb|250px|The view from the 50-yard line for the [[2010 BCS National Championship Game|2010 BCS National Championship]] at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] in [[Pasadena, California]] ([[2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] vs. [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]])]]
The '''BCS National Championship Game''', or '''BCS National Championship''', was a postseason [[college football]] [[bowl game]], used to determine a [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national champion]] of the [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS), first played in the [[1998 NCAA Division I-A football season|1998 college football season]] as one of four designated bowl games, and beginning in the [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006 season]] as a standalone event rotated among the host sites of the aforementioned bowls.
The game was organized by a group known as the [[Bowl Championship Series]], consisting of the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]], [[Sugar Bowl]], [[Fiesta Bowl]], and [[Orange Bowl]], which sought to match the two highest-ranked teams in a championship game to determine the best team in the country at the end of the season. The participating teams were determined by averaging the results of the final weekly [[Coaches' Poll]], the [[Harris Interactive Poll|Harris Poll]] of media, former players and coaches, and the average of six [[Sports rating system|computer rankings]]. The Coaches' Poll was contractually required to name the winner of the game as its No. 1 team on the final postseason ranking; hence, the [[AFCA National Championship Trophy]] was presented to the winning team during a post-game ceremony.
The methodologies of the BCS system and its selections proved to be controversial. Although in most years the winner of the BCS National Championship would also be designated as the national champion by other organizations and polls (such as the [[AP Poll#College football|Associated Press poll]]), the [[2003 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2003 season]] was a major exception, as the BCS rankings chose the AP's No. 3-ranked team, the [[2003 Oklahoma Sooners football team|University of Oklahoma]], over the No. 1-ranked team in that poll, the [[2003 USC Trojans football team|University of Southern California]], to participate in the national title game (the [[2004 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]) despite Oklahoma's loss to [[2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team|Kansas State University]] in the [[2003 Big 12 Championship Game]]. That was the only season during the BCS era when the national championship was split, with [[2003 LSU Tigers football team|Louisiana State University]] winning the BCS national championship and the University of Southern California winning the [[AP National Championship Trophy|AP national championship]], plus the [[Grantland Rice Award|football writers' national championship]].
The BCS National Championship Game was played for the final time in 2013 after the same organizing group established a new system, the [[College Football Playoff]], a four-team single elimination tournament, as the successor to the BCS.
==History==
{{expand section|date=November 2010}}
The first BCS Championship was played at the conclusion of the [[1998 NCAA Division I-A football season|1998 college football season]] in accordance with an agreement by the [[Big Ten Conference]], the  [[Pac-12|Pac-10 Conference]], and the [[Rose Bowl Game]] to join the  "[[Bowl Alliance]]" system.  The expanded format was called the [[Bowl Championship Series]].
The Bowl Alliance and its predecessor, the [[Bowl Coalition]], featured championship games in the 1992–1997 seasons. However, these could not always ensure a matchup between the top two ranked teams because of the lack of participation by the Big Ten and Pac-10.
The BCS National Championship Game was initially rotated among the four participating bowl games: the [[Fiesta Bowl]], [[Sugar Bowl]], [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]], and [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]].  However, beginning with the [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006 season]], the BCS National Championship Game was added as a separate contest, played after New Year's Day.  The game rotated its location among the Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, and Rose venues.
==Game results==
*''For Bowl Coalition championship game results from 1992–1994, see: [[Bowl Coalition#Bowl Coalition championship game results|Bowl Coalition]]''
*''For Bowl Alliance championship game results from 1995–1997, see: [[Bowl Alliance#Bowl Alliance Championship Game Results|Bowl Alliance]]''
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; text-align:center;"
|-
!Season
!Date
! Winning Team
! Score
! Losing Team
! Bowl Game
!Site
!Attendance<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2015/bowls.pdf|website=fs.ncaa.org|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref>
|-
|[[1998 NCAA Division I-A football season|1998]]
|January 4, 1999
|'''<small>1</small> [[1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|23–16
|<small>2</small> [[1998 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]]<br><small>ACC Co-Champions</small>
|[[1999 Fiesta Bowl]]
|[[Sun Devil Stadium]]<br>[[Tempe, Arizona]]
|80,470
|-
|[[1999 NCAA Division I-A football season|1999]]
|January 4, 2000
|'''<small>1</small> [[1999 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]]'''<br><small>ACC Champions</small>
|46–29
|<small>2</small> [[1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Virginia Tech]]<br><small>Big East Champions</small>
|[[2000 Sugar Bowl]]
|[[Louisiana Superdome]]<br>[[New Orleans]]
|79,280
|-
|[[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]]
|January 3, 2001
|'''<small>1</small> [[2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]'''<br><small>Big 12 Champions</small>
|13–2
|<small>2</small> [[2000 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]]<br><small>ACC Champions</small>
|[[2001 Orange Bowl]]
|[[Pro Player Stadium]]<br>[[Miami]]
|76,835
|-
|[[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
|January 3, 2002
|<small>'''1'''</small> '''[[2001 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami (FL)]]'''<br><small>Big East Champions</small>
|37–14
|<small>2</small> [[2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]<br><small>At-large</small>
|[[2002 Rose Bowl]]
|[[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]<br>[[Pasadena, California]]
|93,781
|-
|[[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
|January 3, 2003
|<small>'''2'''</small> '''[[2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]'''<br><small>Big Ten Co-Champions</small>
|31–24<br><small>(2OT)</small>
|<small>1</small> [[2002 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami (FL)]]<br><small>Big East Champions</small>
|[[2003 Fiesta Bowl]]
|Sun Devil Stadium<br>Tempe, Arizona
|77,502
|-
|[[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
|January 4, 2004
|'''<small>2</small> [[2003 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|21–14
|<small>1</small> [[2003 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]<br><small>At-large</small>
|[[2004 Sugar Bowl]]
|Louisiana Superdome<br>New Orleans
|79,342
|-
|[[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
| January 4, 2005
|'''<small>1</small> [[2004 USC Trojans football team|USC]]'''<br><small>Pac-10 Champions</small>*
|55–19
|<small>2</small> [[2004 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]<br><small>Big 12 Champions</small>
|[[2005 Orange Bowl]]
|Pro Player Stadium<br>Miami Gardens, Florida
|77,912
|-
|[[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
| January 4, 2006
|'''<small>2</small> [[2005 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]'''<br><small>Big 12 Champions</small>
|41–38
|<small>1</small> [[2005 USC Trojans football team|USC]]<br><small>Pac-10 Champions</small>
|[[2006 Rose Bowl]]
|Rose Bowl Stadium<br>Pasadena, California
|93,986
|-
|[[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
|January 8, 2007
|'''<small>2</small> [[2006 Florida Gators football team|Florida]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|41–14
|<small>1</small> [[2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]<br><small>Big Ten Champions</small>
|[[2007 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[University of Phoenix Stadium]]<br>[[Glendale, Arizona]]
|74,628
|-
|[[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
|January 7, 2008
|'''<small>2</small> [[2007 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|38–24
|<small>1</small> [[2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]<br><small>Big Ten Champions</small>
|[[2008 BCS National Championship Game]]
|Louisiana Superdome<br>New Orleans
|79,651
|-
|[[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
|January 8, 2009
|'''<small>2</small> [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|24–14
|<small>1</small> [[2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]<br><small>Big 12 Champions</small>
|[[2009 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Dolphin Stadium]]<br>[[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
|78,468
|-
|[[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
|January 7, 2010
|'''<small>1</small> [[2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|37–21
|<small>2</small> [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]<br><small>Big 12 Champions</small>
|[[2010 BCS National Championship Game]]
|Rose Bowl<br>Pasadena, California
|94,906
|-
|[[2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2010]]
|January 10, 2011
|'''<small>1</small> [[2010 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|22–19
|<small>2</small> [[2010 Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon]]<br><small>Pac-10 Champions</small>
|[[2011 BCS National Championship Game]]
|University of Phoenix Stadium<br>Glendale, Arizona
|78,603
|-
|[[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2011]]
|January 9, 2012
|'''<small>2</small> [[2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]'''<br><small>At-large</small>
|21–0
|<small>1</small> [[2011 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|[[2012 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Mercedes-Benz Superdome]]<br>New Orleans, Louisiana
|78,237
|-
|[[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012]]
|January 7, 2013
|'''<small>2</small> [[2012 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]'''<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|42–14
|<small>1</small> [[2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]]^<br><small>Independent</small>
|[[2013 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Sun Life Stadium]]<br>Miami Gardens, Florida
|80,120
|-
|[[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013]]
|January 6, 2014
|'''<small>1</small> [[2013 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]]'''<br><small>ACC Champions</small>
|34–31
|<small>2</small> [[2013 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]<br><small>SEC Champions</small>
|[[2014 BCS National Championship Game]]
|Rose Bowl<br>Pasadena, California
|94,208
|}
*USC's victory in the 2004 BCS national title game was later vacated due to NCAA violations
^Notre Dame's loss in the 2012 BCS national title game was later vacated due to the use of Ineligible players
.
==Records by team==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Appearances
!School
!Wins
!Losses
!Win Pct
!Title Season(s)
|-
| 4
| style={{NCAA color cell|Florida State Seminoles}}|[[Florida State Seminoles football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Florida State]]}}
| 2
| 2
| {{winpct|2|2}}
| 1999, 2013
|-
| 4
| style={{NCAA color cell|Oklahoma Sooners}}|[[Oklahoma Sooners football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Oklahoma]]}}
| 1
| 3
| {{winpct|1|3}}
| 2000
|-
| 3
| style={{NCAA color cell|Alabama Crimson Tide}}|[[Alabama Crimson Tide football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Alabama]]}}
| 3
| 0
| {{winpct|3|0}}
| 2009, 2011, 2012
|-
| 3
| style={{NCAA color cell|LSU Tigers}}|[[LSU Tigers football|{{color|#FFFFFF|LSU]]}}
| 2
| 1
| {{winpct|2|1}}
| 2003, 2007
|-
| 3
| style={{NCAA color cell|Ohio State Buckeyes}}|[[Ohio State Buckeyes football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Ohio State]]}}
| 1
| 2
| {{winpct|1|2}}
| 2002
|-
| 2
| style={{NCAA color cell|Florida Gators}}|[[Florida Gators football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Florida]]}}
| 2
| 0
| {{winpct|2|0}}
| 2006, 2008
|-
| 2
| style={{NCAA secondary color cell|Auburn Tigers}}|[[Auburn Tigers football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Auburn]]}}
| 1
| 1
| {{winpct|1|1}}
| 2010
|-
| 2
| style={{NCAA color cell|Miami Hurricanes}}|[[Miami Hurricanes football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Miami]]}}
| 1
| 1
| {{winpct|1|1}}
| 2001
|-
| 2
| style={{NCAA color cell|Texas Longhorns}}|[[Texas Longhorns football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Texas]]}}
| 1
| 1
| {{winpct|1|1}}
| 2005
|-
| 2
| style={{NCAA color cell|USC Trojans}}|[[USC Trojans football|{{color|#FFFFFF|USC]]}}
| 1
| 1
|{{winpct|1|1}}
| 2004
|-
|1
| style={{NCAA color cell|Tennessee Volunteers}}|[[Tennessee Volunteers football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Tennessee]]}}
| 1
| 0
| {{winpct|1|0}}
| 1998
|-0
| 1
| style={{NCAA color cell|Nebraska Cornhuskers}}|[[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Nebraska]]}}
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| -
|-
| 1
| style={{NCAA secondary color cell|Notre Dame Fighting Irish}}|[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Notre Dame]]}}
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| -
|-
| 1
| style={{NCAA color cell|Oregon Ducks}}|[[Oregon Ducks football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Oregon]]}}
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| -
|-
| 1
| style={{NCAA color cell|Virginia Tech Hokies}}|[[Virginia Tech Hokies football|{{color|#FFFFFF|Virginia Tech]]}}
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| -
|}
==Records by conference==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Conference
! Appearances
! Wins
! Losses
! Win Pct
! # of Schools
! School(s)
|-
| [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]]
| 11
| 9**
| 2**
| {{winpct|9|2}}
| 5
|[[University of Alabama|Alabama]] (3-0) <br/>[[Louisiana State University|LSU]] (2-1)<br/>[[University of Florida|Florida]] (2-0)<br/>[[Auburn University|Auburn]] (1-1)<br>[[University of Tennessee|Tennessee]] (1-0)
|-
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
| 7
| 2
| 5
| {{winpct|2|5}}
| 3
| [[University of Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] (1-3)<br/>[[University of Texas at Austin|Texas]] (1-1)<br/>[[University of Nebraska|Nebraska]] (0-1)
|-
| [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]
| 4
| 2
| 2
| {{winpct|2|2}}
| 1
| [[Florida State University|Florida State]] (2-2)
|-
| [[American Athletic Conference|Big East]]*
| 3
| 1
| 2
| {{winpct|1|2}}
| 2
| [[University of Miami|Miami (FL)]] (1-1)<br/>[[Virginia Tech]] (0-1)
|-
| [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]
| 3
| 1
| 2
| {{winpct|1|2}}
| 1
| [[Ohio State University|Ohio State]]<!--Wikipedians do not use "The" as part of Ohio State's name; it is considered a marketing gimmick, and routinely deleted.--> (1-2)
|-
|[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]
| 3
| 1
| 2
| {{winpct|1|2}}
| 2
| [[University of Southern California|USC]] (1-1)<br/>[[University of Oregon|Oregon]] (0-1)
|-
| Independent
| 1
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| 1
| [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]] (0-1)
|}
Note: Conference affiliations are contemporaneous with the game, which may differ from the current alignment.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> The American Athletic Conference was known as the Big East during the 1991–2012 seasons. Because of a split between the non-FBS schools and FBS schools, the conference adopted its present name for the 2013 season. All sports of the Big East conference were now under the right of the AAC. But with this new agreement the Big East basketball conference can still remain a conference after the collapse of the Big East football conference, and all other Big East sport conference affiliations.
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Alabama defeated fellow SEC member LSU in the 2012 BCS Championship Game, resulting in both a win and loss for the conference.
==Game records==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Team
! Performance vs. Opponent
! Year
|-
|Most Points
|55, USC vs. Oklahoma
|2005
|-
|Most Points Combined
|79, Texas vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Fewest Points Allowed
|0, Alabama vs. LSU
|2012
|-
|Fewest Points Combined
|15, Oklahoma vs. Florida State
|2001
|-
|First downs
|30, Texas  vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Rushing yards
|289, Texas (36 att.) vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Passing yards
|374, Oregon vs. Auburn
|2011
|-
|Total yards
|556, Texas (289 rush, 267 pass) vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Total plays
| 85, Auburn vs. Oregon
|2011
|-
|Largest comeback
| 18, Florida State vs. Auburn
|2014
|-
!Individual
!Performance, Team vs. Opponent
!Year
|-
|Total offense
|467, [[Vince Young]], Texas (267 pass, 200 rush) vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Rushing yards
|200, Vince Young (QB), Texas (19 att.) vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Rushing TDs
|3, Vince Young (QB), Texas  vs. USC
|2006
|-
|Passing yards
|363, [[Darron Thomas]], Oregon vs. Auburn (28-41-2, 2 TD)
|2011
|-
|Passing TDs
|5, [[Matt Leinart]], USC vs. Oklahoma
|2005
|-
|Receptions
|11, [[Kellen Winslow Jr]]., Miami vs. Ohio State (122 yards, 1 TD)
|2003
|-
|Receiving yards (tie)
|199, [[Peerless Price]], Tennessee vs. Florida State (4 rec., 1 TD)
|1999
|-
|Receiving yards (tie)
|199, [[Andre Johnson]], Miami vs. Nebraska (7 rec., 2 TD)
|2002
|-
|Receiving TDs
|3, [[Steve Smith (wide receiver, born 1985)|Steve Smith]], USC vs. Oklahoma
|2005
|-
|Field goals
|5, [[Jeremy Shelley]], Alabama vs. LSU
|2012
|-
|Tackles
|18, [[James Laurinaitis]], Ohio State vs. LSU
|2008
|-
|Sacks
|3, [[Derrick Harvey]], Florida vs. Ohio State
|2007
|-
|Interceptions
|2, [[Sean Taylor]], Miami vs. Ohio State
|2003
|-
!Long Plays
!Performance, Team vs. Opponent
!Year
|-
|Touchdown rush
|65, [[Beanie Wells|Chris "Beanie" Wells]], Ohio State vs. LSU
|2008
|-
|Touchdown pass
|79, [[Tee Martin]] to Peerless Price, Tennessee vs. Florida State
|1999
|-
|Pass
|81, [[Darron Thomas]] to [[Jeff Maehl]], Oregon vs. Auburn
|2011
|-
|Kickoff return
|100, Levante Whitfield, Florida State vs. Auburn (TD)
|2014
|-
|Punt return
|71, [[DeJuan Groce]], Nebraska vs. Miami (TD)
|2002
|-
|Interception return
|54, [[Dwayne Goodrich]], Tennessee vs. Florida State (TD)
|1999
|-
|Punt
|63, [[A.J. Trapasso]], Ohio State vs. LSU
|2008
|-
|Field goal
|46, David Pino, Texas vs. USC
|2006
|}
== MVPs ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Season
!Bowl
!MVP(s)
!Team
!Position
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| rowspan="2" |[[1999 Fiesta Bowl]]
|[[Peerless Price]]
|Tennessee
|WR
|-
|[[Dwayne Goodrich]]
|Tennessee
|CB
|-
|1999
|[[2000 Sugar Bowl]]
|[[Peter Warrick]]
|Florida State
|WR
|-
|2000
|[[2001 Orange Bowl]]
|[[Torrance Marshall]]
|Oklahoma
|LB
|-
| rowspan="2" |2001
| rowspan="2" |[[2002 Rose Bowl]]
|[[Ken Dorsey]]
|Miami (FL)
|QB
|-
|[[Andre Johnson]]
|Miami (FL)
|WR
|-
| rowspan="2" |2002
| rowspan="2" |[[2003 Fiesta Bowl]]
|[[Craig Krenzel]]
|Ohio State
|QB
|-
|[[Mike Doss]]
|Ohio State
|S
|-
| 2003
|[[2004 Sugar Bowl]]
|[[Justin Vincent]]
|LSU
|RB
|-
|2004
|[[2005 Orange Bowl]]
|[[Matt Leinart]]
|USC
|QB
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
| rowspan="2" |[[2006 Rose Bowl]]
|[[Vince Young]]
|Texas
|QB
|-
|[[Michael Huff]]
|Texas
|S
|-
| rowspan="2" |2006
| rowspan="2" |[[2007 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Chris Leak]]
|Florida
|QB
|-
|[[Derrick Harvey]]
|Florida
|DE
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
| rowspan="2" |[[2008 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Matt Flynn (American football)|Matt Flynn]]
|LSU
|QB
|-
|[[Ricky Jean-Francois]]
|LSU
|DT
|-
| rowspan="2" |2008
| rowspan="2" |[[2009 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Tim Tebow]]
|Florida
|QB
|-
|[[Carlos Dunlap]]
|Florida
|DE
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
| rowspan="2" |[[2010 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Mark Ingram II]]
|Alabama
|RB
|-
|[[Marcell Dareus]]
|Alabama
|DT
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
| rowspan="2" |[[2011 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Michael Dyer]]
|Auburn
|RB
|-
|[[Nick Fairley]]
|Auburn
|DT
|-
| rowspan="2" |2011
| rowspan="2" |[[2012 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[A. J. McCarron]]
|Alabama
|QB
|-
|[[Courtney Upshaw]]
|Alabama
|DE
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
| rowspan="2" |[[2013 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Eddie Lacy]]
|Alabama
|RB
|-
|[[C. J. Mosley (linebacker)|C.J. Mosley]]
|Alabama
|LB
|-
| rowspan="2" |2013
| rowspan="2" |[[2014 BCS National Championship Game]]
|[[Jameis Winston]]
|Florida State
|QB
|-
|[[P. J. Williams|P.J. Williams]]
|Florida State
|DB
|}
==Heisman Trophy winners in BCS title games==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Season
!Player
!School
!Result
!Stats
!Notes
|-
|2000 || [[Chris Weinke]] || Florida State || [[2001 Orange Bowl|L]] ||25-52-2 274, 0 TD; 4-7 rush ||
|-
|2001 || [[Eric Crouch]] || Nebraska  || [[2002 Rose Bowl|L]]  || 15-5-1 62, 0 TD; 22-114 rush ||
|-
|2003 || [[Jason White (American football)|Jason White]] || Oklahoma || [[2004 Sugar Bowl|L]] || 37-13-2, 102, 0 TD; 7-(-46) rush ||
|-
|2004 || [[Matt Leinart]] || USC || [[2005 Orange Bowl|W]] || 35-18-0 332, 5 TD; 2-(-11) rush ||
|-
|2005 || [[Reggie Bush]] || USC || [[2006 Rose Bowl|L]] || 13-82 1 TD; 6-95, 0 TD rec ||
|-
|2006 || [[Troy Smith]] || Ohio State || [[2007 BCS National Championship Game|L]] || 14-4-1, 35, 0 TD; 10-(-29) rush ||
|-
|2008 || [[Sam Bradford]] || Oklahoma || [[2009 BCS National Championship Game|L]] || 41-26-2, 256, 2 TD; 2-(-18) rush ||
|-
|2009 || [[Mark Ingram II]] || Alabama || [[2010 BCS National Championship Game|W]] || 22-116, 2 TD ||
|-
|2010 || [[Cam Newton]] || Auburn || [[2011 BCS National Championship Game|W]] || 34-20-1, 265, 2 TD; 22-64 rush ||
|-
|2013 || [[Jameis Winston]] || Florida State || [[2014 BCS National Championship Game|W]] || 35-20-0, 237, 2 TD; 11-26 rush ||
|}
==Criticisms and controversy==
{{Main|College football playoff debate|BCS controversies}}
Critics of the BCS National Championship argued against the [[internal validity]] of a so-called ''national championship'' being awarded to the winner of a single postseason game. Critics lamented that the participants were selected based upon polls, computer rankings, popularity and human biases, and not by on-field competition, as in other major sports and all other levels of college football, which employed tournament-format championships. Often, the BCS system led to controversies in which multiple teams finished the season with identical records, and voters distinguished the worthiness of their participation in the BCS National Championship with no set of formal criteria or standards. The end of the [[2010 NCAA Division I-A football season|2010 season]] was one of the best examples of this. Without any objective criteria for evaluation of the teams, the BCS forced voters to impose their own standards and tiebreakers. Critics noted that the system inherently fostered [[selection bias]], and therefore lacked both [[internal validity]] and [[external validity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3403542&sportCat=ncf|title=Eight-team playoff would be ideal for college football|author=Pat Forde|publisher=ESPN|date=May 20, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref>
Controversies surrounding teams' inclusion in the BCS National Championship Game were numerous. In [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]], [[2001 Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon]], ranked second in the [[AP poll]], was bypassed in favor of [[2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] despite Nebraska's 62-36 blowout to Colorado in its final regular season game. In 2003, USC was not included in the [[2004 Sugar Bowl|championship game]], but beat Michigan in the [[2004 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] and ended up No. 1 in the final AP poll. The [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|following season]], undefeated [[2004 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]], [[2004 Boise State Broncos football team|Boise State]], and [[2004 Utah Utes football team|Utah]] teams were left out of the national title game (the [[2005 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]). In 2008, [[2008 Utah Utes football team|Utah]] was excluded from the BCS championship for a second time despite being the only undefeated FBS team and finished second in the final AP poll behind [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida]]. In 2009, five schools finished the regular season undefeated: [[2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]], [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]], [[2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team|Cincinnati]], [[2009 TCU Horned Frogs football team|TCU]], and [[2009 Boise State Broncos football team|Boise State]]; however, the BCS formula selected traditional powers [[2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] and [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] to participate in the BCS National Championship Game.
In 2010, three teams, Oregon, Auburn, and TCU, all finished the year with undefeated records. While TCU statistically led the other two teams in all three major phases of the game<ref>[http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/feist2010 Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2010 FEI RATINGS, SPECIAL TEAMS]. Football Outsiders. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.</ref> (1st in defense, 14th in offense <ref>FEI Offensive Rankings By Team, FBS, 2010 http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/feist2010</ref> and 13th in special teams <ref>FEI Special Teams Rankings By Team, FBS, 2010 http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/feist2010</ref>) the teams from the two [[Automatic Qualifying conference|automatic qualifying conference]]s, Oregon (Pac-12) and Auburn (SEC), were selected over the Horned Frogs for the 2011 national title game. Many voters cited TCU's membership in the non-automatic qualifying [[Mountain West Conference]], perceived as having weaker teams, as one significant reason for their exclusion, despite TCU's undefeated regular-season records in both 2010 and the previous year.<ref>TCU lost the highly controversial 2010 Fiesta Bowl to Boise State, in which two non-AQ teams were paired against each other to avoid the possibility of two AQ teams losing to "BCS Busters"{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}</ref> Adding to the controversy were comments made by the president of [[Ohio State University]], [[Gordon Gee]], who said that teams which played "the little sisters of the poor" instead of the "murderer's row" of teams in the automatic qualifier conferences did not deserve any national title game consideration. Gee retracted his statement and apologized after TCU defeated Wisconsin in the [[2011 Rose Bowl]] (the Badgers had convincingly defeated Ohio State during the regular season).
Many critics of the Bowl Championship Series favored a tournament with eight to sixteen teams, similar to those administered by the NCAA for its [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)]], [[NCAA Division II Football Championship|Division II]], and [[NCAA Division III Football Championship|Division III]] football championships. Others favored adopting the incremental step of adding a single post-bowl championship game between the winners of two BCS games among the top four ranked teams in the BCS standings, a so-called "[[Plus-One system|plus-one]]" option. On June 24, 2009, the BCS presidential oversight committee rejected the Mountain West Conference's proposed eight-team playoff plan.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-newswire25-2009jun25,0,6369590.story College football: BCS presidents reject playoff plan], ''Los Angeles Times'', June 25, 2009</ref>
==Future==
During 2012, the BCS actively considered changes to the format for the 2014 football season, to either to extend the season by one game by establishing a four-school semifinal round or by selecting the participants in the national championship game after the season's bowl games were completed.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2012/05/29/bcs-playoff-tv-deal-worth-at-least-3-billion/ BCS Playoff TV Deal Worth At Least $3 Billion]. Forbes (2012-05-29). Retrieved on 2014-05-24.</ref>  On June 26, 2012, the BCS presidential oversight committee approved a four-school playoff format, in which the participants are determined by a selection committee.  The semifinals are played as existing bowl games on or around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The championship game is played approximately a week later at a neutral site selected through a competitive bidding process.
<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2012-06-26/bcs-major-college-football-playoff-approved/55845112/1 BCS presidents approve four-team major college playoff –]. Usatoday.com (2012-06-27). Retrieved on 2014-05-24.</ref>  The new format, known as the [[College Football Playoff]] began with 2014 college football season and is scheduled through the 2025 season.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
==Media coverage==
===Television===
From 1999 through 2005, [[College Football on ABC|ABC]] broadcast eight BCS National Championship Games pursuant to broadcasting rights negotiated with the BCS and the Rose Bowl, whose rights were offered separately. Beginning with the 2006 season, [[Fox Sports (USA)|FOX]] obtained the BCS package, consisting of the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the BCS National Championship Games hosted by these bowls, with ABC retaining the rights to the Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship Games hosted by the Rose Bowl.
On November 18, 2008, the BCS announced that [[College Football on ESPN|ESPN]] had won the television rights to the BCS National Championship Game, as well as the other four BCS bowls, for 2011–2014.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3710477 ESPN, BCS agree to four-year deal for television, radio, digital rights]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Year
!Network(s)
!Bowl
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline reporter(s)
!Studio host(s)
!Studio analyst(s)
!TV Rating<ref>[http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings bcsfootball.org – TV Ratings] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030023621/http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings |date=October 30, 2008 }}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1999
| [[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC]]
| [[1999 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]]
| [[Keith Jackson]]
| [[Bob Griese]]
| [[Lynn Swann]]
| [[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]]
| [[Todd Blackledge]]
| 17.2
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2000
| ABC
| [[2000 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]
| [[Brent Musburger]]
| [[Gary Danielson]]
| Lynn Swann and [[Jack Arute]]
| John Saunders
| [[Terry Bowden]]
| 17.5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2001
| ABC
| [[2001 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]
| [[Brad Nessler]]
| Bob Griese
| Lynn Swann and Jack Arute
| John Saunders
| Terry Bowden
| 17.8
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2002
| ABC
| [[2002 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]]
| Keith Jackson
| [[Tim Brant]]
| Lynn Swann and [[Todd Harris]]
| John Saunders
| Terry Bowden
| 13.9
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2003
| ABC
| [[2003 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]]
| Keith Jackson
| [[Dan Fouts]]
| Lynn Swann and Todd Harris
| John Saunders
| Terry Bowden
| 17.2
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2004
| ABC
| [[2004 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]
| Brent Musburger
| Gary Danielson
| Lynn Swann and Jack Arute
| John Saunders
| Terry Bowden and [[Craig James (running back)|Craig James]]
| 14.5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2005
| ABC
| [[2005 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]
| Brad Nessler
| Bob Griese
| Lynn Swann and Todd Harris
| John Saunders
| Craig James and [[Aaron Taylor (born 1972)|Aaron Taylor]]
| 13.7
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2006
| ABC
| [[2006 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]]
| Keith Jackson
| Dan Fouts
| Todd Harris and [[Holly Rowe]]
| John Saunders
| Craig James and Aaron Taylor
| 21.7
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2007
| [[Fox College Football|Fox]]
| [[2007 BCS National Championship Game]]
| [[Thom Brennaman]]
| [[Barry Alvarez]] and [[Charles Davis (defensive back)|Charles Davis]]
| [[Chris Myers]]
| [[Chris Rose]]
| [[Emmitt Smith]], [[Eddie George]] and [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]]
| 17.4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2008
| Fox
| [[2008 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Thom Brennaman
| Charles Davis
| Chris Myers
| Chris Rose
| Eddie George, [[Urban Meyer]] and Jimmy Johnson
| 17.4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2009
| Fox
| [[2009 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Thom Brennaman
| Charles Davis
| Chris Myers
| Chris Rose
| Eddie George, [[Barry Switzer]] and Jimmy Johnson
| 15.8
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2010
| ABC
| [[2010 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Brent Musburger
| [[Kirk Herbstreit]]
| [[Lisa Salters]] and [[Tom Rinaldi]]
| [[Chris Fowler]] and [[Rece Davis]]
| [[Lee Corso]], [[Desmond Howard]], [[Pete Carroll]], [[Lou Holtz]] and [[Mark May]]
| 17.2
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2011
| [[ESPN College Football|ESPN]]
| [[2011 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Brent Musburger
| Kirk Herbstreit
| [[Erin Andrews]] and Tom Rinaldi
| Chris Fowler
| Desmond Howard, Urban Meyer and [[Nick Saban]]
| 16.1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2012
| ESPN
| [[2012 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Brent Musburger
| Kirk Herbstreit
| Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
| Chris Fowler
| Lee Corso, [[Gene Chizik]] and [[Chip Kelly]]
| 14.0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2013
| ESPN
| [[2013 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Brent Musburger
| Kirk Herbstreit
| [[Heather Cox]] and Tom Rinaldi
| Chris Fowler
| Urban Meyer and Desmond Howard
| 17.5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2014
| ESPN
| [[2014 BCS National Championship Game]]
| Brent Musburger
| Kirk Herbstreit
| Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi
| Chris Fowler
| Lee Corso, Nick Saban and Desmond Howard
| 25.57 million [https://web.archive.org/web/20140116153533/http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/nielsens-top-programs-for-jan-6-12/2014/01/14/00e28d1c-7d5c-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html] [https://web.archive.org/web/20140107235325/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/07/monday-cable-ratings-bcs-championship-dominates-night-love-hip-hop-wwe-raw-teen-wolf-single-ladies-more/227246/]| 15.7 [https://web.archive.org/web/20140107201945/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/07/2014-bcs-national-championship-averages-15-7-overnight-household-rating/227312/]
|}
====Spanish====
As part of ESPN's contract with the BCS, [[ESPN Deportes]] provided the first Spanish-language U.S. telecast of the BCS National Championship Game in 2012.
===Radio===
From 1999 to 2014, the BCS National Championship Game was broadcast on [[ESPN Radio]].
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Year
!Network
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline Reporter
|-
| 1999
| ESPN Radio
| [[Ron Franklin]]
| [[Mike Gottfried]]
| [[Adrian Karsten]]
|-
| 2000
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| Adrian Karsten
|-
| 2001
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| Adrian Karsten
|-
| 2002
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| Adrian Karsten
|-
| 2003
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| Adrian Karsten
|-
| 2004
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| Adrian Karsten
|-
| 2005
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| Mike Gottfried
| [[Erin Andrews]]
|-
| 2006
| ESPN Radio
| Ron Franklin
| [[Bob Davie (American football)|Bob Davie]]
| [[Dave Ryan (sportscaster)|Dave Ryan]]
|-
| 2007
| ESPN Radio
| [[Brent Musburger]]
| Bob Davie and [[Todd Blackledge]]
| [[Lisa Salters]]
|-
| 2008
| ESPN Radio
| Brent Musburger
| [[Kirk Herbstreit]]
| Lisa Salters
|-
| 2009
| ESPN Radio
| Brent Musburger
| Kirk Herbstreit
| Lisa Salters
|-
| 2010
| ESPN Radio
| [[Mike Tirico]]
| [[Jon Gruden]] and Todd Blackledge
| [[Wendi Nix]]
|-
| 2011
| ESPN Radio
| Mike Tirico
| Jon Gruden
| [[Joe Schad]]
|-
| 2012
| ESPN Radio
| Mike Tirico
| Todd Blackledge
| [[Holly Rowe]]
|-
| 2013
| ESPN Radio
| Mike Tirico
| Todd Blackledge
| Holly Rowe and Joe Schad
|-
| 2014
| ESPN Radio
| Mike Tirico
| Todd Blackledge
| Holly Rowe and Joe Schad
|}
==Related national championship selections==
{{see also|College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS}}
During the BCS era, there was no [[College football playoff debate|NCAA Division I FBS playoff]], and the BCS National Championship Game was just one of several national championship selection processes in existence.
The [[American Football Coaches Association]] (AFCA) participated in a weekly [[Coaches' Poll]] published by ''[[USA Today]]''; for its final poll of the season, the AFCA was contractually bound to select the BCS National Champion as its No. 1 team.<ref>O'Toole, Thomas. (January 14, 2009) [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-01-13-bcs-coaches_N.htm Role of coaches' poll in BCS under review]. Usatoday.Com. Retrieved on 2010-11-21.</ref> Thus, the winner of the game was awarded the [[AFCA National Championship Trophy]] in a postgame ceremony.
The BCS National Champion was also automatically awarded the [[National Football Foundation]]'s [[MacArthur Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/sports/2018/7/31/macarthur-bowl.aspx|title=MacArthur Bowl|publisher=[[National Football Foundation]]}}</ref>
The [[Associated Press]] and the [[Football Writers Association of America]] were independent of the BCS system; their national championship trophies could have been awarded to a school other than the BCS National Championship Game winner.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|College football}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150706010936/http://www.bcsfootball.org/ Official websit] (archived)
{{BCS National Championship Game navbox}}
{{NCAA football national championship finals}}
{{Bowl Championship Series navbox}}
{{Bowl game navbox}}
{{College football}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bcs National Championship Game}}
[[Category:BCS National Championship Game| ]]
[[Category:College football championships]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:2014 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1999]]