"as the NCAA does not officially pick a football National Champion in any season.<SUP id=cite_ref-70 class=reference>
[71]</SUP> However, the University of Alabama claims 12 national titles<SUP id=cite_ref-Bama-12NCs_1-6 class=reference>
[2]</SUP> of the 17 referenced by the NCAA.<SUP id=cite_ref-Past-champs_4-1 class=reference>
[5]</SUP><SUP id=cite_ref-NCAA-history_71-0 class=reference>
[72]</SUP> National championships prior to 1936 were determined by several committees and organizations, some retroactively.<SUP id=cite_ref-72 class=reference>
[73]</SUP> Several of these organizations included the
Helms Athletic Foundation, Dunkel Index, Houlgate, Litkenhaus, and the College Football Research Association.<SUP id=cite_ref-NCAA-history_71-1 class=reference>
[72]</SUP> However, beginning in
1936 the
AP Poll became the most widely circulated and accepted national championship selector. It was joined in
1950 by the
Coaches' Poll."