As one of the most prominent football conferences in the country, the depth and quality of the programs in the Pac-12 allow league teams to compete for national titles on a yearly basis. In its history, Pac-12 teams have been recognized as consensus National Champions 10 different times, most recently with USC earning the distinction in back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004. The Conference is also home to 11 Heisman Trophy winners, over 200 consensus All-Americans and over 125 College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches. Below are Pac-12 members recognized as national champions by various "major selectors" listed in the official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records.
| Year | Champ | Record | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Utah | 13-0 | Kyle Whittingham |
| 2007 | USC | 11-2 | Pete Carroll |
| 2004 | USC*^ | 11-0 | Pete Carroll |
| 2003 | USC* | 12-1 | Pete Carroll |
| 2002 | USC | 11-2 | Pete Carroll |
| 1991 | Washington* | 12-0 | Don James |
| 1990 | Washington | 10-2 | Don James |
| 1990 | Colorado* | 11-1-1 | Bill McCartney |
| 1984 | Washington | 11-1 | Don James |
| 1979 | USC | 10-0-1 | John Robinson |
| 1978 | USC* | 12-1 | John Robinson |
| 1976 | USC | 11-1 | John Robinson |
| 1975 | Arizona State | 12-0 | Frank Kush |
| 1974 | USC* | 10-1-1 | John McKay |
| 1972 | USC* | 12-0 | John McKay |
| 1970 | Arizona State | 11-0 | Frank Kush |
| 1967 | USC* | 10-1 | John McKay |
| 1962 | USC* | 11-0 | John McKay |
| 1960 | Washington | 10-1 | Jim Owens |
| 1954 | UCLA* | 9-0 | Henry Sanders |
| 1940 | Stanford | 10-0 | Clark Shaughnessy |
| 1939 | USC | 8-0-2 | Howard Jones |
| 1937 | California | 10-0-1 | Stub Allison |
| 1933 | USC | 10-1-1 | Howard Jones |
| 1932 | USC | 10-0 | Howard Jones |
| 1931 | USC | 10-1 | Howard Jones |
| 1929 | USC | 10-2 | Howard Jones |
| 1928 | USC | 9-0-1 | Howard Jones |
| 1926 | Stanford | 10-0-1 | Glenn Warner |
| 1923 | California | 9-0-1 | Andy Smith |
| 1922 | California | 9-0 | Andy Smith |
| 1921 | California | 9-0-1 | Andy Smith |
| 1920 | California | 9-0 | Andy Smith |
From 1998-2013, the BCS was used to determine national champions in FBS. All “major selectors” not otherwise listed also selected the BCS champion as its higest ranked team in those seasons. In years where a “major selector” had a team other than the BCS champion as highest ranked team in its final poll that team is listed below the BCS Champion.
* - Consensus National Champions
^ - Later vacated due to NCAA penalty
Beginning in 2014, the College Football Playoff was used to determine national champions in FBS. All “major selectors” not otherwise listed also selected the CFP champion as its higest ranked team in those seasons. In years where a “major selector” had a team other than the CFP champion as highest ranked team in its final poll that team is listed below the CFP Champion.
