When did the AP begin choosing the national champion for college football?

And how was the national champion picked before that?|||1936.





Before that, there was no NC selection. Any titles before 1936 are retroactively awarded.|||G'day Jon,





Thank you for your question.





In 1936. It is the longest standing poll. Minnesota was the first national champion.





College football has always had problems picking a national champion. Indeed, there are a plethora of so-called national champions with the AP regarded as amongst the most authoritative.





I have attached a list of national champions growing back to 1869. Indeed, even then pollsters split the national title between Rutgers and Princeton. Perhaps they should have a similar tournament to March madness to sort it out but the Bowls would probably be opposed.





I have attached sources for your reference.





Regards|||Bam's right about the first AP poll. Here's the history prior to that.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Divisi鈥?/a>|||Well the other guys already answered it but ill go ahead and repeat them, 1936.