It’s been six years since college football’s last true No. 1 vs. No. 2 game.
In 2019, Joe Burrow’s LSU team was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. The Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama, ranked No. 2 in the AP poll.
LSU led 33-13 at halftime and eventually won 46-41 after a big Alabama comeback fell short. Burrow and the Tigers seized control of the SEC and eventually completed their undefeated season with a national championship.
The 2019 game was a rematch of the 2011 “Game of the Century” – another No. 1 vs. No. 2 game between Alabama and LSU. LSU infamously won that one, in overtime, by a score of 9-6.
Below is the history of No. 1 vs. No. 2 games in the regular season since 1970. This excludes bowl games, BCS championship games, and playoff games, but it does include conference championship games.
No. 1 vs. No. 2 Games in College Football
| Date | No. 1 Team | No. 2 Team | Game Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 6, 2025 | Ohio State | Indiana | |
| Nov. 9, 2019 | LSU | Alabama | LSU wins, 46-41 |
| Nov. 5, 2011 | LSU | Alabama | LSU wins, 9-6 (OT) |
| Dec. 5, 2009 | Florida | Alabama | Alabama wins, 32-13 |
| Dec. 6, 2008 | Alabama | Florida | Florida wins, 31-20 |
| Nov. 18, 2006 | Ohio State | Michigan | Ohio State wins, 42-39 |
| Sept. 9, 2006 | Ohio State | Texas | Ohio State wins, 24-7 |
| Nov. 30, 1996 | Florida | Florida State | Florida State wins, 24-21 |
| Nov. 13, 1993 | Florida State | Notre Dame | Notre Dame wins, 31-24 |
| Nov. 16, 1991 | Florida State | Miami (FL) | Miami wins, 17-16 |
| Sept. 16, 1989 | Notre Dame | Michigan | Notre Dame wins, 24-19 |
| Nov. 26, 1988 | Notre Dame | USC | Notre Dame wins, 27-10 |
| Nov. 21, 1987 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | Oklahoma wins, 17-7 |
| Sept. 27, 1986 | Oklahoma | Miami (FL) | Miami wins, 28-16 |
| Oct. 19, 1985 | Iowa | Michigan | Iowa wins, 12-10 |
| Sept. 26, 1981 | USC | Oklahoma | USC wins, 28-24 |
| Nov. 25, 1971 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | Nebraska wins, 35-31 |
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