Notes: Final rankings after bowl games began in 1968. Top 25 from 1989-present, Top 20 from 1936-60 and 1968-1988, and Top 10 1961-67. AP National Champions in bold. TEAM link will go to that team's weekly rankings for that season.
By Ranking*
| Season | Player | Position | Class | Team | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jayden Daniels | QB | SR | LSU | 12 |
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | QB | SO | USC | 12 |
| 2021 | Bryce Young | QB | SO | Alabama | 2 |
| 2020 | DeVonta Smith | WR | SR | Alabama | 1 |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | QB | SR | LSU | 1 |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray | QB | JR | Oklahoma | 4 |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | QB | SR | Oklahoma | 3 |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson | QB | SO | Louisville | 21 |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | RB | JR | Alabama | 1 |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | QB | JR | Oregon | 2 |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | QB | FR | Florida State | 1 |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | QB | FR | Texas A&M | 5 |
| 2011 | Robert Griffin III | QB | JR | Baylor | 13 |
| 2010 | Cam Newton | QB | JR | Auburn | 1 |
| 2009 | Mark Ingram | RB | SO | Alabama | 1 |
| 2008 | Sam Bradford | QB | SO | Oklahoma | 5 |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow | QB | SO | Florida | 13 |
| 2006 | Troy Smith | QB | SR | Ohio State | 2 |
| 2005 | Reggie Bush | RB | SR | USC | 2 |
| 2004 | Matt Leinart | QB | JR | USC | 1 |
| 2003 | Jason White | QB | SR | Oklahoma | 3 |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | QB | SR | USC | 4 |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | QB | SR | Nebraska | 8 |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | QB | SR | Florida State | 5 |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne | RB | SR | Wisconsin | 4 |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams | RB | SR | Texas | 15 |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | CB | JR | Michigan | 1 |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | QB | SR | Florida | 1 |
| 1995 | Eddie George | RB | SR | Ohio State | 6 |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam | RB | JR | Colorado | 3 |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | QB | SR | Florida State | 1 |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | QB | SR | Miami (FL) | 3 |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | WR | JR | Michigan | 6 |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | QB | JR | BYU | 22 |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | QB | JR | Houston | 14 |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | RB | JR | Oklahoma State | 11 |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | WR | SR | Notre Dame | 17 |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | QB | SR | Miami (FL) | 2 |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | RB | SR | Auburn | NR |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | QB | SR | Boston College | 5 |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | RB | SR | Nebraska | 2 |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | RB | JR | Georgia | 4 |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | RB | SR | USC | 14 |
| 1980 | George Rogers | RB | SR | South Carolina | NR |
| 1979 | Charles White | RB | SR | USC | 2 |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | RB | JR | Oklahoma | 3 |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | RB | SR | Texas | 4 |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | RB | SR | Pittsburgh | 1 |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin | RB | SR | Ohio State | 4 |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | RB | JR | Ohio State | 4 |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | RB | SR | Penn State | 5 |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | WR | SR | Nebraska | 4 |
| 1971 | Pat Sullivan | QB | SR | Auburn | 12 |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | QB | SR | Stanford | 8 |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | RB | SR | Oklahoma | NR |
| 1968 | O.J. Simpson | RB | SR | USC | 4 |
| 1967 | Gary Beban | QB | SR | UCLA | NR |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | QB | SR | Florida | NR |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | RB | SR | USC | 10 |
| 1964 | John Huarte | QB | SR | Notre Dame | 3 |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | QB | JR | Navy | 2 |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | QB | SR | Oregon State | NR |
| 1961 | Ernie Davis | RB | SR | Syracuse | NR |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | RB | SR | Navy | 4 |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon | RB | SR | LSU | 3 |
| 1958 | Pete Dawkins | RB | SR | Army | 3 |
| 1957 | John David Crow | RB | SR | Texas A&M | 9 |
| 1956 | Paul Hornung | QB | SR | Notre Dame | NR |
| 1955 | Howard Cassady | RB | SR | Ohio State | 5 |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | FB | SR | Wisconsin | 9 |
| 1953 | Johnny Lattner | RB | SR | Notre Dame | 2 |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | RB | SR | Oklahoma | 4 |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | RB | SR | Princeton | 6 |
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | RB | JR | Ohio State | 14 |
| 1949 | Leon Hart | TE | SR | Notre Dame | 1 |
| 1948 | Doak Walker | RB | JR | SMU | 10 |
| 1947 | Johnny Lujack | QB | SR | Notre Dame | 1 |
| 1946 | Glenn Davis | RB | SR | Army | 2 |
| 1945 | Doc Blanchard | FB | JR | Army | 1 |
| 1944 | Les Horvath | HB | SR | Ohio State | 2 |
| 1943 | Angelo Bertelli | QB | SR | Notre Dame | 1 |
| 1942 | Frank Sinkwich | RB | SR | Georgia | 2 |
| 1941 | Bruce Smith | RB | SR | Minnesota | 1 |
| 1940 | Tom Harmon | RB | SR | Michigan | 3 |
| 1939 | Nile Kinnick | RB | SR | Iowa | 9 |
| 1938 | Davey O'Brien | QB | SR | TCU | 1 |
| 1937 | Clint Frank | HB | SR | Yale | 12 |
| 1936 | Larry Kelley | TE | SR | Yale | 12 |
| 1935 | Jay Berwanger | RB | SR | Chicago | N/A |