The International National Champions

In the weird and unique history of college football, sometimes we decide to export our insanity to other countries. This goes back as far as early games between American and Canadian colleges in the late 1800s when rules were sort of… made up as they went along. More recently, we decided that Popeyes had sovereignty over parts of the Bahamas for a few years. 

We know right now the National Champions are the Georgia Bulldogs. (Every Georgia Bulldog fan likely just smiled and said Go Dawgs and likely just barked at whatever screen they were reading this on.)

But what about the other national champions? What college football teams can claim national championships in other countries? We’re going to declare these teams the Sickos Committee National Champions. The rules are simple - if you were the last team to win a game in another country, congratulations! You’re now the national champion of that country! 

Here is the list of all the National Champions below and some fancy maps:

The National Champions in Asia

The National Champion of China is Penn. 

• The Quakers defeated the Chinese All Stars 85-0 to earn this title in 2019. 

The National Champion of Australia is Stanford.

• The Cardinal took the trip down under and defeated the Rice Owls 62-7 in 2016.

The National Champion of Japan is Princeton.

• The Tigers defeated Kwansei Gakuin University 36-7 in 2015. 

The National Champions in Europe

The National Champion of Ireland is Georgia Tech.

• The Yellow Jackets defeated Boston College 17-14 in 2016* (A new Irish national champion was crowned on August 27th, 2022 when Northwestern beat Nebraska.)

The National Champion of Italy is Villanova.

• The Wildcats defeated Rhode Island in the Milano Kickoff Classic 28-25 in 1989.

The National Champion of the United Kingdom is Richmond.

• The Spiders defeated Boston University 20-17 in 1988.

The National Champion of France, Germany and Austria is Texas A&M - Kingsville (then Texas A&I University).

• The Javelinas went 5-0 against Henderson State defeating them in three different countries in the process in 1976.

The National Champion in Africa

The National Champion of Tanzania is Drake.

• The Bulldogs defeated the Mexican National Student Organization of American Football All Stars 17-7 in 2011. (You read that right, a college from the US played a college from Mexico in Africa)

The National Champions in the Caribbean

The National Champion of Cuba is Southern Miss.

• The Golden Eagles defeated Havana 55-0 in the Bacardi Bowl in 1946.

The National Champion of the Bahamas is Middle Tennessee. 

• The Blue Raiders earned this crown by defeating Toledo in the Bahamas Bowl 31-24. 

The National Champions in North America

The National Champion of Canada is South Florida.

• The Bulls won the last International Bowl defeating Northern Illinois 27-3 in 2010.

The National Champion of Bermuda is Fordham.

• The Rams defeated Holy Cross 17-10 in 1995.

The National Champion of Mexico is the University of Tampa.

• The Spartans defeated the Águilas Blancas of the National Polytechnic Institute 31-26 in 1954. 

Previously mentioned, the National Champion of the United States is Georgia.

• The Bulldogs defeated Alabama 33-18 in the National Title game in 2022.

Thanks for reading this silly little blog,

Chairman Escalante