Coach Paul Bryant won six national championships, surpassing every coach in major college football history. Bryant’s Alabama teams won national championships in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978 and 1979.
Coach Bernie Bierman won five national championships at Minnesota in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940 and 1941.
Nick Saban is the only other major college football coach whose teams have won five national championships. Saban’s first was at LSU in 2003. Saban’s Alabama run of national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015 leaves him one shy of Bryant.
National Championships Define Dynasties
College football dynasty talk can lead to contentious debate.