There were many changes to the College Football Playoff format this year. The playoffs tripled in size from four teams to 12. Four teams earned first-round byes, four other teams were designated as first-round hosts and the final four teams were just happy to make the Playoff.
Over the course of the next few weeks, a new champion will be crowned.
Twelve teams have the opportunity to compete for the championship. They are listed below in order of seeing:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Boise State
4. Arizona State
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Notre Dame
8. Ohio State
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
11. SMU
12. Clemson
How successful have these 12 teams been in the past and when was the last time they won it all?
Before we take a closer look at the history of each finalist, it’s important to note that national polls determined the champion in each college football season until 1991. Championships won before 1991 were deemed consensus or non-consensus depending on how many polls (AP, Coaches, etc.) voted for a certain team. The Bowl Championship Series was created in 1999 and it consisted of four bowl games: Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Orange. The College Football Playoff did not make its debut until 2014.
Here is the postseason history of all of the CFP finalists.
How many national championships has Oregon won?
Zero. Despite being one of the best teams in college football, Oregon has never won a national championship. The Ducks advanced to the BCS National Championship in 2010, but this is their second-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. They were a part of the inaugural four-team field in 2014 and defeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl to advance to the first-ever CFP National Championship game, where they fell short.
How many national championships has Georgia won?
Four. Georgia won in 1942, 1980, 2021 and 2022. The Bulldogs ended a 41-year title drought in 2021 when they defeated Alabama in the national championship. They went 15-0 to become the only unbeaten team in 2022 and then win the national championship.
How many national championships has Boise State won?
Zero. The Broncos have won at other levels though, winning the NJCAA national title in 1958 and the Division 1-AA national championship in 1980.
No team currently in the Mountain West has won a national championship. Two schools that have played in the conference have been national champions: TCU (1938) and BYU (1984). But neither school is currently in the Mountain West.
How many national championships has Arizona State won?
Zero. Arizona State was undefeated in the 1970 and 1975 seasons and was recognized as the No. 1 team in their polling system but the AP and Coaches polls did not recognize ASU as the national champions in either year.
How many national championships has Texas won?
Four. Texas won the national championship in 1963, 1969, 1970 and 2005. The Longhorns won their first three championship through the national polls. In 2005, Texas topped USC in the Rose Bowl to secure its most recent national title.
The 2024 Sugar Bowl marks Texas’ first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
How many national championships has Penn State won?
Two. Penn State won in 1982 and 1986. Because electors sometimes had a hard time agreeing on a national champion before 1998, several teams were often named co-champions. The Nittany Lions only recognize their 1982 and 1986 titles, which were both unanimous or near-unanimous selections but it could lay claim to as many as seven national titles. This year marks Penn State’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
How many national championships has Notre Dame won?
Eleven. Notre Dame won the national championship in 1919, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1988.
The nine championships in the poll era are the second-most of all teams. The 11 consensus national championships are more than any other school. The university only recognizes AP and Coaches Poll national championships after 1936, which is why it does not officially count the 1938 and 1953 championships.
How many national championships has Ohio State won?
Eight. Ohio State won it all in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002 and 2014. Six of the Buckeyes championships were won during the poll era and the most recent two were won during the CFP era.
How many national championships has Tennessee won?
Six. Tennessee won the championship in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, and 1998. The Volunteers have not won a championship in the BCS or CFP era.
How many national championships has Indiana won?
Zero. Indiana has the most losses of any team in college football history and will make its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff this year.
How many national championships has SMU won?
Three. SMU has won three national titles, which came in 1935, 1981 and 1982. The Mustangs will participate in their first-ever College Football Playoff this year.
How many national championships has Clemson won?
Three. Clemson won the national championship in 1981, 2016 and 2018. The Tigers have appeared in the last six playoffs and won two national championships.
Who won the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship?
Georgia defeated TCU, 65-7, to win last year’s national championship.
Which team has the most college football national championships?
Yale. The Bulldogs won the national championship in 1874, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1900, 1907, 1909 and 1927. Its 18 national championships recognized by the NCAA are the most of any team in the sport.
