<Tr> <Td> Totals </Td> <Td> 176 </Td> <Td> 404 </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td>. 310 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Prior to the advent of the BCS in 1998, national champions were primarily chosen by a combination of national ranking systems and nation media poll rankings . During the last 142 years, there have been more than 30 selectors of national champions using polls, historical research and mathematical rating systems . Beginning in 1936, The Associated Press began the best - known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters . Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls . It is important to remember that from 1936 to 1964, the Associated Press chose a "national champion" prior to bowl games . </P> <P> The NCAA has never officially recognized a national champion from among the bowl coalition institutions, but in 2004 the NCAA commissioned Jeff Sagarin to use his computer model to retroactively determine the highest ranked teams for the years prior to the BCS . His champion for the 1950 season is Kentucky . The polls for the 1950 national champion, taken before the bowl games were played, list either Oklahoma (AP, Berryman, Helms, Litkenhous, UPI, Williamson), Princeton (Boand, Poling), or Tennessee (Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Missouri, Don Faurot Football Research, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin (ELO - Chess)). Tennessee was the winner of the Cotton Bowl and the only team to beat Kentucky during the 1950 season . Oklahoma was named National Champion by AP and UPI Coaches' Poll, both which awarded their titles before the bowl games . Kentucky would go on to beat Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl . However, they are still not recognized as national champions for that year . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th> Conference </Th> <Th> Coach </Th> <Th> Overall Record </Th> <Th> Conference Record </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> SEC </Td> <Td> Paul "Bear" Bryant </Td> <Td> 11--1 </Td> <Td> 5--1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1976 </Td> <Td> SEC </Td> <Td> Fran Curci </Td> <Td> 9--3 </Td> <Td> 5--1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3"> Conference Titles: </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="5"> Denotes co-champions </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When was the last time kentucky won a national championship in football