College Football: No. 1 vs. No. 2
Since the AP poll started in 1936, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams have met 48 times. Since the first matchup in 1943, the No. 1 team has beat the No. 2 team 27 times, lost 19 and tied twice.
| No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the AP Poll | |||
| Date | Matchup | Result | Bowl |
| Jan. 7, 2013 | No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Notre Dame | 42-14 | BCS Title |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 LSU | 21-0 | BCS Title |
| Nov. 5, 2011 | No. 1 LSU def. No. 2 Alabama | 9-6 (OT) | |
| Jan. 10, 2011 | No. 1 Auburn def. No. 2 Oregon | 22-19 | BCS Title |
| Jan. 7, 2010 | No. 1 Alabama def. No. 2 Texas | 37-21 | BCS Title |
| Dec. 5, 2009 | SEC Championship: No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Florida | 32-13 | |
| Jan. 8, 2009 | No. 1 Florida def. No. 2 Oklahoma | 24-14 | BCS Title |
| Dec. 6, 2008 | SEC Championship: No. 2 Florida def. No. 1 Alabama | 31-20 | |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | No. 2 LSU def. No. 1 Ohio State | 38-24 | BCS Title |
| Jan. 8, 2007 | No. 2 Florida def. No. 1 Ohio State | 41-14 | BCS Title |
| Nov. 18, 2006 | No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 Michigan | 42-39 | |
| Sept. 9, 2006 | No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 Texas | 24-7 | |
| Jan. 4, 2006 | No. 2 Texas def. No. 1 Southern Cal | 41-38 | Rose |
| Jan. 4, 2005 | No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Oklahoma | 55-19 | Orange |
| Jan. 3, 2003 | No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.) | 31-24 (2OT) | Fiesta |
| Jan. 4, 2000 | No. 1 Florida State def. No. 2 Virginia Tech | 46-29 | Sugar |
| Jan. 4, 1999 | No. 1 Tennessee def. No. 2 Florida State | 23-16 | Fiesta |
| Nov. 30, 1996 | No. 2 Florida State def. No. 1 Florida | 24-21 | |
| Jan. 2, 1996 | No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Florida | 62-24 | Fiesta |
| Jan. 1, 1994 | No. 1 Florida State def. No. 2 Nebraska | 18-16 | Orange |
| Nov. 13, 1993 | No. 2 Notre Dame def. No. 1 Florida State | 31-24 | |
| Jan. 1, 1993 | No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.) | 34-13 | Sugar |
| Nov. 16, 1991 | No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Florida State | 17-16 | |
| Sept. 16, 1989 | No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Michigan | 24-19 | |
| Nov. 26, 1988 | No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 USC | 27-10 | |
| Jan. 1, 1988 | No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Oklahoma | 20-16 | Orange |
| Nov. 21, 1987 | No. 2 Oklahoma def. No. 1 Nebraska | 17-7 | |
| Jan. 2, 1987 | No. 2 Penn State def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.) | 14-10 | Fiesta |
| Sept. 27, 1986 | No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Oklahoma | 28-16 | |
| Oct. 19, 1985 | No. 1 Iowa def. No. 2 Michigan | 12-10 | |
| Jan. 1, 1983 | No. 2 Penn State def. No. 1 Georgia | 27-23 | Sugar |
| Sept. 26, 1981 | No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Oklahoma | 38-24 | |
| Jan. 1, 1979 | No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Penn State | 14-7 | Sugar |
| Jan. 1, 1972 | No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Alabama | 37-6 | Orange |
| Nov. 25, 1971 | No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Oklahoma | 35-31 | |
| Dec. 6, 1969 | No. 1 Texas def. No. 2 Arkansas | 15-14 | |
| Jan. 1, 1969 | No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 USC | 27-16 | Rose |
| Sept. 28, 1968 | No. 1 Purdue def. No. 2 Notre Dame | 37-22 | |
| Nov. 19, 1966 | No. 1 Notre Dame tied No. 2 Michigan State | 0-0 | |
| Jan. 1, 1964 | No. 1 Texas def. No. 2 Navy | 28-6 | Cotton |
| Oct. 12, 1963 | No. 2 Texas def. No. 1 Oklahoma | 28-7 | |
| Jan. 1, 1963 | No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Wisconsin | 42-37 | Rose |
| Nov. 9, 1946 | No. 1 Army tied No. 2 Notre Dame | 0-0 | |
| Dec. 1, 1945 | No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Navy | 32-13 | |
| Nov. 10, 1945 | No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Notre Dame | 48-0 | |
| Dec. 2, 1944 | No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Navy | 23-7 | |
| Nov. 20, 1943 | No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Iowa Pre-Flight | 14-13 | |
| Oct. 9, 1943 | No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Michigan | 35-12 | |
