In the 1980s, CFB was great because almost all of the perennial powers had a real shot at winning the MNC. Here's a list of MNCs from the 1980s:
1989
Miami (Fla.)
AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI
1988
Notre Dame
AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI
1987
Miami (Fla.)
AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI
1986...