College Football Playoff National Championship

Last updated

College Football Playoff National Championship
College Football National Championship logo.svg
StadiumVarious
Operated 2014–present
Preceded by
2023 season matchup
Michigan vs. Washington (Michigan 34–13)
2024 season matchup
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (Ohio State 34–23)

The College Football Playoff National Championship is a post-season college football bowl game, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which began play in the 2014 college football season. [1] Since 2025, the game is held on the third Monday of January and serves as the final game of the College Football Playoff (CFP), a bracket tournament between the top five ranked conference champions, and the top 7 ranked at-large teams in the country that are selected by a playoff committee, which was established as a successor to the Bowl Championship Series and then its similar BCS National Championship Game.

Contents

The participating teams in the College Football Playoff National Championship are determined by two semifinal games, hosted by an annual rotation of bowls commonly known as the New Year's Six. Thus, the teams to compete in the final are not directly selected by a selection committee, as had been the format used for the BCS National Championship Game.

The game is played at a neutral site, determined through bids by prospective host cities (similar to the NCAA Final Four). When announcing it was soliciting bids for the 2016 and 2017 title games, playoff organizers noted that the bids must propose host stadiums with a capacity of at least 65,000 spectators, [2] and cities cannot host both a semi-final game and the title game in the same year. [3]

The winner of the game is awarded the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy, which is sponsored by Dr Pepper. [4] It was created as a new championship trophy, rather than the "crystal football" that has been given by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) since 1986, as officials wanted a new trophy that was unconnected with the previous BCS championship system. [5]

The inaugural game was held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 12, 2015, and was won by Ohio State. [6] A top-ranked team did not win the College Football Playoff National Championship until LSU won the sixth edition of the game, in January 2020. Alabama has the most appearances in a College Football Playoff National Championship, with six, and also the most wins, with three.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is not awarded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The highest level of college football that the NCAA awards a championship in is the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Venues

AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, hosted the first College Football Playoff National Championship game, in January 2015. Cowboysstadium js crop.jpg
AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, hosted the first College Football Playoff National Championship game, in January 2015.

Cities across the United States can bid on the National Championship Game each year. The number of cities capable of bidding for the event is restricted by a requirement to have a stadium with at least 65,000 seats. The stadium restriction would limit the bidding to most cities with a National Football League franchise, since all but four of the stadiums in the league meet the capacity requirements, and in practice all National Championship venues chosen for up to and including the 2026 game are also home to at least one NFL franchise. Unlike the Super Bowl, there is no de jure restriction on climate. [2] [3] A venue can not host a semi-final game and the National Championship Game in the same season.

Host cities/regions

Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Miami Metro Area
Red pog.svg
New Orleans
Red pog.svg
L.A. Metro Area
Red pog.svg
Tampa
Red pog.svg
Houston
Green pog.svg
Las Vegas Metro Area
Red pog.svg
Atlanta
Red pog.svg
Phoenix Metro Area
Red pog.svg
S.F. Bay Area
Red pog.svg
Dallas‑Fort Worth
Red pog.svg
Indianapolis
National Championship Game host cities/regions

The first 10 championship games were each held in a different venue. The 2025 game was the first to be contested in a venue that had previously hosted a CFP title game.

LocationStadiumGamesYears hosted
Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2 2018, 2025
Miami metro area Hard Rock Stadium 1 2021, 2026 , 2030
New Orleans Caesars Superdome 1 2020, 2028
Tampa Raymond James Stadium 1 2017, 2029
Houston NRG Stadium 1 2024
Greater Los Angeles SoFi Stadium 1 2023
Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium 1 2022
San Francisco Bay Area Levi's Stadium 1 2019
Phoenix metropolitan area State Farm Stadium 1 2016
Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex AT&T Stadium 1 2015
Las Vegas metropolitan area Allegiant Stadium 02027

Scheduled for the year(s) noted in italics

Note: Years listed are the calendar year in which the game was played (or will be played) rather than NCAA season.

Game results

Rankings are from the CFP Poll released prior to matchup.

SeasonPlayoffDateWinning team [a] ScoreLosing team [a] VenueCityAttendanceNotes
2014 2014–15 January 12, 2015 No. 4 Ohio State
42–20
No. 2 Oregon AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas 85,788 Notes
2015 2015–16 January 11, 2016 No. 2 Alabama
45–40
No. 1 Clemson University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona 75,765 Notes
2016 2016–17 January 9, 2017 No. 2 Clemson
35–31
No. 1 Alabama Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida 74,512 Notes
2017 2017–18 January 8, 2018 No. 4 Alabama
26–23 (OT)
No. 3 Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia 77,430 Notes
2018 2018–19 January 7, 2019 No. 2 Clemson
44–16
No. 1 Alabama Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, California 74,814 Notes
2019 2019–20 January 13, 2020 No. 1 LSU
42–25
No. 3 Clemson Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana 76,885 Notes
2020 2020–21 January 11, 2021 No. 1 Alabama
52–24
No. 3 Ohio State Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida 14,926 Notes
2021 2021–22 January 10, 2022 No. 3 Georgia
33–18
No. 1 Alabama Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana 68,311 Notes
2022 2022–23 January 9, 2023 No. 1 Georgia
65–7
No. 3 TCU SoFi Stadium Inglewood, California 72,628 Notes
2023 2023–24 January 8, 2024 No. 1 Michigan
34–13
No. 2 Washington NRG Stadium Houston, Texas 72,808 Notes
2024 2024–25 January 20, 2025 No. 8 Ohio State
34–23
No. 7 Notre Dame Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia 77,660 Notes
Future dates
2025 2025–26 January 19, 2026 Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida
2026 2026–27 January 25, 2027 Allegiant Stadium Paradise, Nevada
2027 2027–28 January 24, 2028 Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
2028 2028–29 January 22, 2029 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida
2029 2029–30 January 21, 2030 Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida

Attendance at the January 2021 game was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Source: [7] [8] [9]

Appearances by team

LSU's post-victory press conference 2020-0113-OrgeronBurrowQueen.PNG
LSU's post-victory press conference

Updated through the January 2025 edition (11 games, 22 total appearances).

Title game
appearances
Team [a] WinsLossesWin%Season(s) wonSeason(s) lost
6Alabama33.5002015, 2017, 20202016, 2018, 2021
4Clemson22.5002016, 20182015, 2019
3Georgia21.6672021, 20222017
3Ohio State21.6672014, 20242020
1LSU101.0002019 
1Michigan101.0002023 
1Notre Dame01.000 2024
1Oregon01.000 2014
1TCU01.000 2022
1Washington01.000 2023

Appearances by conference

Updated through the January 2025 edition (11 games, 22 total appearances).

ConferenceAppearancesWinsLossesWin Pct# TeamsTeam(s)Title seasons
SEC 1064.600 [b] 3
2015, 2017, 2019,
2020, 2021, 2022
Big Ten 431.7502
2014, 2023, 2024
ACC 422.5001 Clemson (2–2)2016, 2018
Pac-12 202.0002
 
Big 12 101.0001 TCU (0–1) 
Independent 101.0001 Notre Dame (0–1) 

Coaches

The following coaches led their teams to the National Championship final. Nick Saban has reached the final the most times, six, with a 3–3 record.

Nick Saban Nick Saban, who is the Alabama team coach, gives interviews and watches all the plays during this important spring scrimmage at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama LCCN2010638313 (cropped).jpg
Nick Saban
SeasonGame dateWinning coachLosing coach
CoachTeamCoachTeam
2014 January 12, 2015 Urban Meyer Ohio State Mark Helfrich Oregon
2015 January 11, 2016 Nick Saban Alabama Dabo Swinney Clemson
2016 January 9, 2017 Dabo Swinney Clemson Nick Saban Alabama
2017 January 8, 2018 Nick Saban Alabama Kirby Smart Georgia
2018 January 7, 2019 Dabo Swinney Clemson Nick Saban Alabama
2019 January 13, 2020 Ed Orgeron LSU Dabo Swinney Clemson
2020 January 11, 2021 Nick Saban Alabama Ryan Day Ohio State
2021 January 10, 2022 Kirby Smart Georgia Nick Saban Alabama
2022 January 9, 2023 Kirby Smart Georgia Sonny Dykes TCU
2023 January 8, 2024 Jim Harbaugh Michigan Kalen DeBoer Washington
2024 January 20, 2025 Ryan Day Ohio State Marcus Freeman Notre Dame

Appearances by coach

Kirby Smart Kirby Smart Jan 2018.jpg
Kirby Smart
CoachTeamGamesWL
Nick Saban Alabama 633
Dabo Swinney Clemson 422
Kirby Smart Georgia 321
Ryan Day Ohio State 211
Ed Orgeron LSU 110
Jim Harbaugh Michigan 110
Urban Meyer Ohio State 110
Marcus Freeman Notre Dame 101
Mark Helfrich Oregon 101
Sonny Dykes TCU 101
Kalen DeBoer Washington 101

MVPs

Deshaun Watson was offensive MVP of the January 2017 game. Deshaun Watson 2018.jpg
Deshaun Watson was offensive MVP of the January 2017 game.

An offensive MVP and defensive MVP are named for each final.

GameDateOffensive MVPDefensive MVPRef.
PlayerTeamPosPlayerTeamPos
2015 January 12, 2015 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State RB Tyvis Powell Ohio State S [10]
2016 January 11, 2016 O. J. Howard Alabama TE Eddie Jackson Alabama S [11]
2017 January 9, 2017 Deshaun Watson Clemson QB Ben Boulware Clemson LB [12]
2018 January 8, 2018 Tua Tagovailoa Alabama QB Daron Payne Alabama DT [13]
2019 January 7, 2019 Trevor Lawrence Clemson QB Trayvon Mullen Clemson CB [14]
2020 January 13, 2020 Joe Burrow LSU QB Patrick Queen LSU LB [15]
2021 January 11, 2021 DeVonta Smith Alabama WR Christian Barmore Alabama DT [16]
2022 January 10, 2022 Stetson Bennett Georgia QB Lewis Cine Georgia DB [17]
2023 January 9, 2023 Stetson Bennett Georgia QB Javon Bullard Georgia DB [18]
2024 January 8, 2024 Blake Corum Michigan RB Will Johnson Michigan CB [19]
2025 January 20, 2025 Will Howard Ohio State QB Cody Simon Ohio State LB [20]

Game records

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 246 yards in the 2015 game. Ezekiel Elliott interview picture.jpg
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 246 yards in the 2015 game.
Derrick Henry had a 50-yard touchdown rush in the 2016 game Derrick Henry 2019 12-08.jpg
Derrick Henry had a 50-yard touchdown rush in the 2016 game
Jake Fromm threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in the 2018 game. GA VS LSU E101318 73.jpg
Jake Fromm threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in the 2018 game.
DeVonta Smith had three touchdown receptions in the 2021 game. DeVonta Smith.jpg
DeVonta Smith had three touchdown receptions in the 2021 game.
Team recordsRecordHead coachTeamOpponentGame
Most points (winning team)65 Kirby Smart Georgia TCU 2023
Most points (losing team)40 Dabo Swinney Clemson Alabama 2016
Most points (both teams)85 Nick Saban Alabama 45
Dabo Swinney Clemson 40
Fewest points (both teams)47 Jim Harbaugh Michigan 34 2024
Kalen DeBoer Washington 13
Fewest points allowed7 Kirby Smart Georgia TCU 2023
Largest margin of victory58 Kirby Smart Georgia TCU 2023
Smallest margin of victory3 Nick Saban Alabama Georgia 2018
Largest comeback14 Dabo Swinney Clemson Alabama 2017
Rushing yards303 Jim Harbaugh Michigan Washington 2024
Passing yards464 Nick Saban Alabama Ohio State 2021
Total yards628 Ed Orgeron LSU Clemson 2020
First downs33 Nick Saban Alabama Ohio State 2021
Fewest rushing yards allowed30 Kirby Smart Georgia Alabama 2022
Fewest passing yards allowed152 Kirby Smart Georgia TCU 2023
Fewest total yards allowed188 Kirby Smart Georgia TCU 2023
Total plays99 Dabo Swinney Clemson Alabama 2017
Individual recordsRecordPlayerTeamOpponentGame
Total offense521 Joe Burrow LSU Clemson 2020
Rushing yards246 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Oregon 2015
Rushing TDs4
Passing yards464 Mac Jones Alabama Ohio State 2021
Passing TDs5 Joe Burrow LSU Clemson 2020
Mac Jones Alabama Ohio State 2021
Receptions12 DeVonta Smith
Receiving yards221 Ja'Marr Chase LSU Clemson 2020
Receiving TDs3 DeVonta Smith Alabama Ohio State 2021
TDs responsible for [c] 6 Joe Burrow LSU Clemson 2020
Stetson Bennett Georgia TCU 2023
Field goals4 Will Reichard Alabama Georgia 2022
Tackles (total)14 Tuf Borland Ohio State Alabama 2021
Sacks3.0 Kevin Dodd Clemson Alabama 2016
Interceptions2 Javon Bullard Georgia TCU 2023
Punts10 J. K. Scott Alabama Clemson 2017
Long playsRecordPlayerTeamOpponentGame
Touchdown rush50 Derrick Henry Alabama Clemson 2016
Rush70 Quinshon Judkins Ohio State Notre Dame 2025
Touchdown pass80 Jake Fromm Georgia Alabama 2018
Pass
Touchdown reception Mecole Hardman
Reception
Kickoff return95 Kenyan Drake Alabama Clemson 2016
Punt return19 Mecole Hardman Georgia Alabama 2018
DeVonta Smith Alabama Ohio State 2021
Interception return81 Mike Sainristil Michigan Washington 2024
Punt58Will Spiers Clemson LSU 2020
Field goal52 B.T. Potter

Source: [21] [22]

National anthem performers

The national anthem usually begins with a drumroll by two drummers, with one member representing each team.[ citation needed ]

The national anthem for the 2021 game was pre-recorded due to COVID concerns. [23]

Broadcasters

Television

Chris Fowler has called every National Championship final. Chris Fowler (cropped).jpg
Chris Fowler has called every National Championship final.
DateNetworkPlay-by-play Color commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)
January 12, 2015 ESPN Chris Fowler Kirk Herbstreit Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi
January 11, 2016
January 9, 2017 Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi
January 8, 2018 Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi
January 7, 2019
January 13, 2020
January 11, 2021 Maria Taylor and Allison Williams
January 10, 2022 Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath
January 9, 2023
January 8, 2024
January 20, 2025

Beginning with the 2027 championship, ABC will simulcast the national championship with ESPN. [24]

Radio

Mike Tirico called the first two National Championship finals before moving to NBC after the 2016 game. Mike Tirico 2017.JPG
Mike Tirico called the first two National Championship finals before moving to NBC after the 2016 game.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)
January 12, 2015 ESPN Radio Mike Tirico Todd Blackledge Holly Rowe and Joe Schad
January 11, 2016
January 9, 2017 Sean McDonough Holly Rowe and Ian Fitzsimmons
January 8, 2018
January 7, 2019
January 13, 2020
January 11, 2021 Greg McElroy
January 10, 2022 Todd Blackledge Ian Fitzsimmons and Kris Budden
January 9, 2023
January 8, 2024 Greg McElroy
January 20, 2025Ian Fitzsimmons and Katie George

Local radio

Eli Gold has called every National Championship final Alabama has been in. Eli Gold.jpg
Eli Gold has called every National Championship final Alabama has been in.
DateFlagship stationPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)
January 12, 2015 KUGN (Oregon)
WBNS-AM/FM (Ohio State)
Jerry Allen
Paul Keels
Mike Jorgensen
Jim Lachey

Marty Bannister
January 11, 2016 WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
WCCP-FM (Clemson)
Eli Gold
Don Munson
Phil Savage
Rodney Williams
Chris Stewart
Michael Palmer
January 9, 2017WCCP-FM (Clemson)
WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
Don Munson
Eli Gold
Rodney Williams
Phil Savage
Michael Palmer
Chris Stewart
January 8, 2018WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
WSB (Georgia)
Eli Gold
Scott Howard
Phil Savage
Eric Zeier
Chris Stewart
Chuck Dowdle
January 7, 2019WCCP-FM (Clemson)
WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
Don Munson
Eli Gold
Rodney Williams
John Parker Wilson
Reggie Merriweather
Rashad Johnson
January 13, 2020WCCP-FM (Clemson)
WDGL (LSU)
Don Munson
Chris Blair
Tim Bourret and Brad Scott
Doug Moreau
Reggie Merriweather
Gordy Rush
January 11, 2021WBNS-AM/FM (Ohio State)
WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
Paul Keels
Eli Gold
Jim Lachey
John Parker Wilson
Matt Andrews
Rashad Johnson
January 10, 2022WSB (Georgia)
WFFN/WTSK (Alabama)
Scott Howard
Eli Gold
Eric Zeier
John Parker Wilson
D. J. Shockley
Rashad Johnson
January 9, 2023 WBAP (TCU)
WSB (Georgia)
Brian Estridge
Scott Howard
John Denton
Eric Zeier
Landry Burdine
D. J. Shockley
January 8, 2024 KJR (Washington)
WWJ (Michigan)
Tony Castricone
Doug Karsch
Cameron Cleeland
Jon Jansen
Elise Woodward
Jason Avant
January 20, 2025WBNS-AM/FM (Ohio State)
WSBT (Notre Dame)
Paul Keels
Tony Simeone
Jim Lachey
Ryan Harris
Matt Andrews and Skip Mosic

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Team names are highlighted in each team's traditional colors.
  2. The 2017 and 2021 championship games featured SEC teams Alabama and Georgia. The SEC has a record of 4–2 (.667) in championship games against other conferences.
  3. "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.

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