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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with the trophy after defeating Louisiana State University Tigers in the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 9, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was created in 1998 to determine which schools will play in the top five bowl games each year. Based on this system, the top two teams compete in the final bowl game of the season for the national championship. The following is a list of each BCS champion:

2011: No. 2 Alabama defeats No. 1 LSU, 21-0
Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
MVPs: AJ McCarron (offense) and Courtney Upshaw (defense)

2010: No. 1 Auburn defeats No. 2 Oregon, 22-19
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
MVPs: Michael Dyer (offense) and Nick Fairley (defense)

2009: No. 1 Alabama defeats No. 2 Texas, 37-21
Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
MVPs: Mark Ingram (offense) and Marcell Careus (defense)

2008: No. 2 Florida defeats No. 1 Oklahoma, 24-14
Location: Dolphin Stadium in Miami
MVPs: Tim Tebow (offense) and Carlos Dunlap (defense)

2007: No. 2 LSU defeats No. 1 Ohio State, 38-24
Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
MVPs: Matt Flynn (offense) and Ricky Jean-Francois (defense)

2006: No. 2 Florida defeats No. 1 Ohio State, 41-14
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
MVPs: Chris Leak (offense) and Derrick Harvey (defense)

2005: No. 2 Texas defeats No. 1 USC, 41-38
Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
MVPs: Vince Young (offense) and Michael Huff (defense)

2004: No. 1 USC defeats No. 2 Oklahoma, 55-19
Location: Pro Player Stadium in Miami
MVP: Matt Leinart

2003: No. 2 LSU defeats No. 1 Oklahoma, 21-14
Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
MVP: Justin Vincent

2002: No. 2 Ohio State defeats No. 1 Miami, 31-24
Location: Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
MVPs: Craig Krenzel and Mike Doss

2001: No. 1 Miami defeats No. 2 Nebraska, 37-14
Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
MVPs: Ken Dorsey and Andre Johnson

2000: No. 1 Oklahoma defeats No. 2 Florida State, 13-2
Location: Pro Player Stadium in Miami
MVP: Torrance Marshall

1999: No. 1 Florida State defeats No. 2 Virginia Tech, 46-29
Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
MVP: Peter Warrick

1998: No. 1 Tennessee defeats No. 2 Florida State, 23-16
Location: Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
MVPs: Peerless Price and Dwayne Goodrich

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