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College Football Playoff National Championship

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] The game is held on the second Monday of January and serves as the final game of the College Football Playoff, a bracket tournament between the top four teams in the country as determined by a selection committee, which was established as a successor to the Bowl Championship Series and then its similar BCS National Championship Game.

The participating teams in the College Football Playoff National Championship are determined by two semifinal games (sometimes called the "Plus-One system"), 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 Super Bowl and 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 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. 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

College Football Playoff National Championship is located in the United States
Miami Metro Area
Miami Metro Area
New Orleans
New Orleans
L.A. Metro Area
L.A. Metro Area
Tampa
Tampa
Houston
Houston
Atlanta
Atlanta
Phoenix Metro Area
Phoenix Metro Area
S.F. Bay Area
S.F. Bay Area
Dallas‑Fort Worth
Dallas‑Fort Worth
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
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National Championship Game host cities/regions

Ten different regions and ten different stadiums have hosted the National Championship Game.

Note: Years listed are the year the game was actually played (or will be played[ˇ]; future games are denoted through italics) rather than what NCAA season it is considered to have been.

Game results

Rankings are from the CFP Poll released prior to matchup.

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

Appearances by team

LSU's post-victory press conference

Championship games

Updated through the January 2024 edition (10 games, 20 total appearances).

Semifinal games

Updated through the January 2024 edition (20 games, 40 total appearances).

Appearances by conference

Updated through the January 2024 edition (10 games, 20 total appearances).

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

Appearances by coach

Kirby Smart

MVPs

Deshaun Watson was offensive MVP of the January 2017 game.

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

Game records

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 246 yards in the 2015 game.
Derrick Henry had a 50-yard touchdown rush in the 2016 game
Jake Fromm threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in the 2018 game.
DeVonta Smith had three touchdown receptions in the 2021 game.

Source:[19][20]

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.[21]

Broadcasters

Television

Chris Fowler has called every National Championship final.

Beginning with the 2027 championship, ABC will simulcast the national championship with ESPN.[22]

Radio

Mike Tirico called the first two National Championship finals before moving to NBC after the 2016 game.

Local radio

Eli Gold has called every National Championship final Alabama has been in.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d 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.

References

  1. ^ Wolken, Dan (April 25, 2013). "Questions and answers for the College Football Playoff". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Jerry Hinnen (August 7, 2013). "CFB playoff opens bidding for 2016, '17 championship games". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Brett McMurphy (July 26, 2013). "More bids on future title game sites". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  4. ^ Anthony Crupi (March 25, 2014). "ESPN Inks Dr Pepper as First Mega-Sponsor of the College Football Playoff Series". Adweek. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Dennis Dodd (July 23, 2013). "New College Football Playoff will reportedly feature a new trophy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  6. ^ "Arlington to host title game". ESPN. January 7, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "College Football Playoff National Championship" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 17. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via NCAA.org.
  8. ^ "College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Bottero, Gino (January 13, 2015). "Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott, Tyvis Powell named title game MVPs". theScore.com.
  10. ^ "Alabama's O.J. Howard, Eddie Jackson crowned MVPs of CFP title game". www.sportingnews.com. October 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Conway, Tyler. "Deshaun Watson, Ben Boulware Win College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report.
  12. ^ Rapp, Timothy. "Tua Tagovailoa, Da'Ron Payne Win 2018 College Football National Championship MVP". Bleacher Report.
  13. ^ "Trevor Lawrence, Trayvon Mullen earn MVP honors as Clemson blows out Alabama". thestate. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  14. ^ Chippin, Alex (January 14, 2020). "Burrow, Queen named offensive, defensive MVPs of national title game". theScore.com. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  15. ^ Zucker, Joseph (January 11, 2021). "DeVonta Smith, Christian Barmore Win College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Edwards, Mark (January 10, 2022). "National title game, Alabama vs. Georgia: Bulldogs beat Tide 33-18 for first title since 1980". The Anniston Star. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  17. ^ Sam, Doric (January 9, 2023). "Stetson Bennett, Javon Bullard Win 2023 College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  18. ^ Peters, Andrew (January 8, 2024). "Michigan's Blake Corum, Will Johnson Named 2024 CFB National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  19. ^ "College Football Playoff Record Book: Team". SideArm Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "College Football Playoff Record Book: Player". SideArm Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Myerberg, Paul (January 11, 2021). "Surreal scene at Hard Rock Stadium grim reminder of difficult college football season". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Brooks, Amanda (March 19, 2024). "ESPN and the College Football Playoff Extend Exclusive Media Rights Agreement Through 2031-32 Season". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved March 23, 2024.