You Won’t Believe Which 5 College Football Stars Played for Two Teams in the National Championship!

In a remarkable achievement for college football, Indiana center Pat Coogan is set to play in the national championship game for the 2025-26 season on Monday. This moment is historic: Coogan will be the first known NCAA football player to start in a significant role in consecutive national championship games with different teams.

Last year, Coogan was the starting center for Notre Dame, leading the Irish through an impressive run in the 2024 College Football Playoff, ultimately facing off against Ohio State for the national title. After that season, he made the pivotal decision to transfer to Indiana, where he has continued his journey as the starting center this season.

The significance of Coogan's achievement is underscored by the constrictive rules that have historically governed college athlete transfers. Until recently, athletes often faced the requirement of sitting out a year if they wanted to change schools, which made the prospect of playing for multiple championship teams nearly impossible. The only major exception was for graduate transfers. However, the advent of the transfer portal has dramatically changed this landscape, allowing players like Coogan to make history by competing at the highest level across different programs.

Even when considering players who have made non-consecutive appearances or those who may not have played as pivotal roles in both championship games, the list remains short. The difficulty of navigating two different programs to reach national championship games only amplifies the significance of Coogan’s feat.

Making History: Who Else Has Done It?

Coogan joins a very exclusive group of college football players who have reached the national championship with two different teams. Notable names include:

As Coogan prepares for this significant game, his journey reflects not just personal ambition but a broader shift in college athletics. The transfer portal has empowered players to seek new opportunities, redefine their careers, and create pathways to success that were once unimaginable. College football fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as Coogan aims to add to his legacy in what promises to be an electrifying matchup.

While the stakes are high for Coogan and Indiana, his story also serves as a reminder of the changing landscape in college sports and the increasing influence of player autonomy. As the championship game approaches, this narrative will resonate not only with fans and players but also with anyone invested in the future of college athletics.