There’s nothing quite as controversial in American sports as college football’s national championship, making it common fodder for talk around the water cooler as well as loftier debates among professional journalists in the sports pages. Walsh takes a comprehensive view of over a century of controversy, breaking teams down into one of three categories: perennial powers, contenders, and former greats. He then reviews the ten most controversial championships, suggests candidates for the best overall football program, and concludes with some thoughts on the future of the BCS. A comprehensive appendix lists national champions since 1869; AP and USA Today/UPI final polls; final BCS standings; first-team All-Americans; and College Football Hall of Fame inductees.