Every college football national champ this season has one thing in common

The southern part of the United States has dominated major college football for nearly two decades, with almost every national champion hailing from that region.

Ohio State and Indiana-based Notre Dame meet in the championship game of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoffs, making it consecutive seasons the south was shut out of the title game. Michigan defeated Washington last season.

“Everything has flipped,” Yahoo! college football expert Dan Wetzel said on a recent podcast. “We’ve discussed the many reasons why this is: Transfer portal, NIL, maybe even this expanded playoff that gave Ohio State and Notre Dame a second chance.”

Who takes home the natty?Our College Football Playoff bracket predictions

No matter who wins the CFP on Jan. 20, a team from Ohio or Indiana will continue one commonality across all levels of college football in 2024 — Midwest football is having one heck of a season.

Seven of the major college football champions this season hail from the midwestern part of the United States, with champs from the states of Illinois, North Dakota, Michigan, Iowa and Kansas.

Anton Graham, football coach at Racine Case High School in Wisconsin, posted about the trend this week with a post on social media. “Talk about all the speed you want in the south/west coast,” Case wrote, “We play football in the midwest!!!!”

Rico Ragsdale, coach at Milwaukee Academy of Science, added a pair of junior college champions to the list and wrote “all the champions reside in the Midwest.”

The midwestern run also coincides with the resurgence of Illinois Fighting Illini football, which won 10 games for the first time since 2001, capped by a victory in the Citrus Bowl. Among the national champs this season are two Illinois schools: North Central in Naperville and College of DuPage from Glen Ellyn.

Illinois football 2024:Every story from Illini run to Citrus Bowl title

NCAA to NJCAA: 2024 college football national champions

Here is a look at college football national champs across seven divisions:

College Football Playoffs:Former Illinois high school players in the semifinals

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