College football national championship droughts that could end soon

Winning national championships is the lifeblood of college football programs. And while the number of schools in the running has always been small, that number seems to be getting smaller all the time.

Going a long time without winning it all is bad news for elite programs. It signals to the sport and to recruits that you may not be what you used to be and that your brand may be diminishing.

Georgia got over that hump in 2021, winning its first national championship since 1980. That got ESPN football analyst Paul Finebaum to thinking about which major college football program could be next ending its national title drought.

Let's take a look at the schools that haven't won it in a long time that could be on the cusp of going all the way in 2022.

College football national championship droughts

USC — 2004

Pete Carroll built the first college football dynasty of the 21st century while at USC. Troy went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in America in '04, going 13-0 and trouncing Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl for the BCS national championship.

Even if the NCAA did take away those wins after an investigation, it still counts on the field.

Now, coming into 2022, the Trojans are once again a program to watch. Lincoln Riley made the move of the offseason by bolting Oklahoma for L.A.

And while he's made big waves in the transfer portal — including signing QB Caleb Williams — USC has a ways to go in patching up this defense before it can get anywhere.

Miami — 2001

There was perhaps no single assemblage of talent greater than what the '01 Canes put on the field every Saturday. Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Wilma, Andre Johnson, Clinton Portis, and many others starred on this team. In all, Miami produced 17 first-round NFL Draft picks that year after beating Nebraska in the BCS national championship.

But it's been a while since The U has put anybody on notice. Mario Cristobal hopes he can change that. A Miami native and former Canes player, Cristobal built a solid recruiting pipeline and won two Pac-12 titles at Oregon.

Can he do the same for his alma mater? Analysts are high on the support staff he's built, and he's already making headway on the trail in south Florida. And he's coming into what looks like a more winnable ACC this fall.

Tennessee — 1998

With the likes of Peyton Manning off campus, the Vols turned some heads by going all the way and winning the first-ever BCS national championship.

Starting at No. 10 in the AP poll, Tennessee ran the table in '98, beating five ranked teams in the regular season, and a sixth in winning the SEC title before beating No. 2 Florida State for the crown.

Going 7-6 isn't much for Vols fans to write home about, but Josh Heupel did exceed expectations in Year 1. Don't expect to see UT making a run for the College Football Playoff this fall, but it can give Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky something to worry about if all goes according to plan.

Notre Dame — 1988

Lou Holtz took the Irish all the way in his third season, beating No. 9 Michigan, No. 1 Miami (ending The U's 36-game win streak), and No. 2 USC. That set up a win in the Fiesta Bowl against third-ranked West Virginia.

But that's the last time the Golden Domers have been the kings of college football. One of the sport's foundational dynasties, Notre Dame has yet to climb the mountain since '88, despite securing two playoff berths in recent years.

Marcus Freeman steps in as head coach in his first season with a talented roster and experience on his coaching staff. And he inherits a team that lost just one game a year ago and rose as high as No. 5 in the polls. ND has played for a title as recently as 2012, but in an ugly loss to Alabama.

Penn State — 1986

Penn State didn't make the top two of the AP poll until November, but the Nittany Lions secured wins over Pitt, Notre Dame, and No. 2 Alabama.

That set up a Fiesta Bowl bid against the team of the 80s: Miami. Joe Paterno's team edged the Canes in a 14-10 victory and finished up 12-0 on the year.

James Franklin appears to have this program back on the verge of making the College Football Playoff. PSU started 5-0 a year ago before a nasty three-game losing skid and a 7-6 record.

Playing in the Big Ten East is never easy, not with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State on the yearly schedule. Franklin, who just signed a landmark $75 million contract, needs to show he can get over those humps.

Michigan — 1948

Finebaum listed the Wolverines as last winning the natty back in the 40s, but Michigan fans would likely take issue with that. UM has a stake in the 1997 national championship, too, but it's been a while any way you look at it.

Jim Harbaugh led Michigan back to the promised land in 2021, beating Ohio State, winning the Big Ten, and making the College Football Playoff.

Eventual national champion Georgia routed the Wolverines in the semifinal, but this team should be back in the national race this fall.

Texas A&M — 1939

Finebaum didn't include the Aggies in his list, but this proud program hasn't won the national championship since the days leading up to World War II.

A&M ran the table in '39, outscoring opponents, 212 to 31, and capping it off with a win over No. 5 Tulane in the Sugar Bowl.

Here in the 21st century, Jimbo Fisher has steadily been building the Ags back into a national fixture. A&M upset No. 1 Alabama at home last season, and just signed what 247Sports called the best class in college football recruiting history.

It's always tough to get through the SEC West schedule, but A&M is in a better place to do just that than it's been in a while.

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