Sports 3

College Football’s National Championship game was held last night with the Buckeyes of Ohio State emerging as the champions. I will keep an updated list of champions here going back to about 40 years - or when I first learned about this incredible sport.

2024-2025 CFB Playoff final rankings

1 Oregon (lost in quarterfinals to 8 Ohio State)

2 Georgia (lost in quarterfinals to 7 Notre Dame)

3 Boise State (lost in quarterfinals 6 Penn State)

4 Arizona State (lost in quarterfinals 5 Texas)

All the top ranked teams (Conference Champions) are out.

7 Notre Dame defeated 6 Penn State 27-24 while 8 Ohio State defeated 5 Texas 28-14.

8 Ohio State bested 7 Notre Dame 34-23 in the national championship game.

This was pretty straight forward. The top 12 teams (not completely true since the conference champions will get an automatic ticket into the playoffs regardless of their final rankings) face off each other in a tournament style way until only 1 team is left as the overall victor.

2023-2024 CFB Playoff final rankings (last year of the top 4 teams making the playoffs - starting next year it will include 12 teams)

1 Michigan (13-0)

2 Washington (13-0)

3 Texas (12-1)

4 Alabama (12-1)

5 Florida State (13-0. This was the first time that an undefeated Power Five conference champion was left out of the semifinals causing much controversy.)

In the semifinals, Michigan defeated Alabama 27-20 while Washington bested Texas 37-31. Then Michigan smashed Washington with a resounding victory 34-13.

2022-2023 CFB Playoff final rankings

1 Georgia (13-0)

2 Michigan (13-0)

3 TCU (12-1)

4 Ohio State (11-1)

In the semifinals, Georgia squeaked past Ohio State 42-41 while TCU beat Michigan 51-45. Then Georgia completely obliterated TCU 65-7!

2021-2022 CFB Playoff final rankings

1 Alabama (12-1)

2 Michigan (12-1)

3 Georgia (12-1)

4 Cincinnati (13-0)

In the semifinals, Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 and Georgia handled Michigan 34-11. Then Georgia commandingly defeated Alabama 33-18.

2020-2021 CFB Playoff final rankings

1 Alabama (11-0)

2 Clemson (10-1)

3 Ohio State (6-0)

4 Notre Dame (10-1)

In the semifinals, Alabama defeated Notre Dame 31-14 and Ohio State destroyed Clemson 49- 28. Then Alabama stomped all over Ohio State 52-24.

2019-2020 CFB Playoff final rankings

1 LSU (13-0)

2 Ohio State (13-0)

3 Clemson (13-0)

4 Oklahoma (12-1)

In the semifinals, LSU completely dominated Oklahoma 63-28 and Clemson defeated Ohio State

29-23. Then LSU had a commanding win over Clemson 42-25.