The NCAA did, however, recognize a national champion based upon the final results of major "wire-service" (AP and Coaches') polls.

The extent of that recognition came in the form of acknowledgment in the annual NCAA Football Guide of the "unofficial" national champions.

As a result, the public and the media began to acknowledge the leading vote-getter in the final AP Poll as the national champion for that season.

[9] Following the retirement of Frank G. Dickinson and his rating system in 1940, Minnesota tasked the AP Poll with awarding the new trophy it put into play.

J. Hugh O'Donnell Memorial Trophy to be presented to the 1948 national champion as determined by the Associated Press poll.

[10] Like the previous college football national championship trophies, it was to be permanently retired by the first team to win it three times.

[16] This AP trophy is still held by Alabama and is on display at the Paul W. Bryant Museum on the university campus in Tuscaloosa.

1 in the final AP Poll (signifying that team as the national champion in Division I-A / FBS).