The Dawning of a New Era For the CFP
Since kicking off the College Football Playoff format in 2014, the national championship history has been dominated by teams such as Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia that have monopolized the four available bids each season. With the dawning of a new national championship system in 2024, the expanded field of 12 teams will increase opportunities for many more teams to compete for a CFP championship.
This new format guarantees bids for the top five conference champions in the CFP rankings, provided that these conferences have a minimum of eight members. In addition to these guaranteed bids, seven at-large bids will be awarded to the highest-ranked remaining teams, which may include additional conference champions. Notably, the four highest-ranked conference champions will benefit from first-round byes, giving them a strategic advantage as they advance to the later stages of the playoffs.
This new era of determining a national champion began in 2014 as a replacement for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) that crowned a national champ from 1998 through 2013. The transition to the current format marked the first time that big time NCAA football had been determined by a bracket competition. The traditional four team playoff format culminating with a national championship game has been significant, with the 2023-24 season being the last year for this format.
Last Year in Review: 2024 CFP Results
Ohio State wins 2024 National Championship
The Buckeyes entered the 2024 CFP as the tournament’s No. 8 seed. On their way to the national title, OSU defeated Tennessee, Oregon and Texas before pairing up against No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the national title game. The Buckeyes outlasted the Fighting Irish with a 34-23 victory.
Top 4 2024 CFP Seeds
| #1 Oregon 13-0 | #2 Georgia 11-2 | #3 Boise St. 12-1 | #4 Arizona St. 11-2 |
Top Teams in the College Football Playoff Era
Discover the teams that have won the most national championships and the teams that have made the most appearances in this new playoff system. The postseason field has been primarily comprised by major conference teams, although Cincinnati made the field of four as a member of the American Conference in 2021.
| Team | CFP Championships | CFP Appearances | Last CFP Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | (3) – 2015, 2017, 2020 | (8) 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023 | 2023 |
| Clemson | (2) – 2016, 2018 | (7) 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 | 2024 |
| Georgia | (2) – 2021, 2022 | (3) 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024 | 2024 |
| LSU | (1) – 2019 | (1) 2019 | 2019 |
| Ohio State | (2) – 2014, 2024 | (6) 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022 | 2024 |
| Michigan | (1) – 2023 | (3) 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2023 |
| Team | CFP Championships | CFP Appearances | Last CFP Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | None | (4) 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 | 2019 |
| Notre Dame | None | (3) 2018, 2020, 2024 | 2024 |
| Washington | None | (2) 2016, 2023 | 2023 |
| Arizona St. | None | (1) 2024 | 2024 |
| Boise St. | None | (1) 2024 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati | None | (1) 2021 | 2021 |
| Florida State | None | (1) 2014 | 2014 |
| Oregon | None | (2) 2014, 2024 | 2024 |
| Penn State | None | (1) 2024 | 2024 |
| Texas | None | (2) 2023, 2024 | 2024 |
| Tennessee | None | (1) 2024 | 2024 |
| TCU | None | (1) 2022 | 2022 |
| Michigan St. | None | (1) 2015 | 2015 |
College Football Playoff Trivia and Facts
Q. Which team won the inaugural CFP following the 2014 Season? Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20 in the championship game.
Q. What was the most points scored by a team in a CFP Game? Georgia defeated TCU by a 65-7 margin in the 2023 CFP championship game.
Q. What was the first CFP game to go into overtime? Following the 2017 season, Georgia defeated Oklahoma 54-48 in double-overtime.
Q. Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner to play in a CFP game? 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota played for the Oregon Ducks in the 2014 playoffs.
Q. What two teams have faced each other three times in the CFP championship game? Alabama and Clemson have faced each other three times following the 2015, 2016 and 2018 seasons. Clemson won two of the three contests and captured the 2016 and 2018 national championships.
Q. What was the first team to shutout an opponent in a CFP game? Alabama shutout Michigan State 38-0 in a 2015 CFP semifinal game.
Q. What role do bowl games play in the national championship postseason format, and what is their historical significance? Bowl games are integral to the CFP format, hosting semifinal matches and determining playoff participants. Historically, they have been a cornerstone of college football, often surrounded by controversies regarding their integration into the CFP system.
