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 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.
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.
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.
^ a b c dTeam names are highlighted in each team's traditional colors.
^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.
^"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
References
^Wolken, Dan (April 25, 2013). "Questions and answers for the College Football Playoff". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
^ a bJerry Hinnen (August 7, 2013). "CFB playoff opens bidding for 2016, '17 championship games". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
^ a bBrett McMurphy (July 26, 2013). "More bids on future title game sites". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
^Anthony Crupi (March 25, 2014). "ESPN Inks Dr Pepper as First Mega-Sponsor of the College Football Playoff Series". Adweek. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
^Dennis Dodd (July 23, 2013). "New College Football Playoff will reportedly feature a new trophy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
^"Arlington to host title game". ESPN. January 7, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
^"College Football Playoff National Championship" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 17. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via NCAA.org.
^"College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^Bottero, Gino (January 13, 2015). "Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott, Tyvis Powell named title game MVPs". theScore.com.
^"Alabama's O.J. Howard, Eddie Jackson crowned MVPs of CFP title game". www.sportingnews.com. October 29, 2021.
^Conway, Tyler. "Deshaun Watson, Ben Boulware Win College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report.
^Rapp, Timothy. "Tua Tagovailoa, Da'Ron Payne Win 2018 College Football National Championship MVP". Bleacher Report.
^"Trevor Lawrence, Trayvon Mullen earn MVP honors as Clemson blows out Alabama". thestate. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
^Chippin, Alex (January 14, 2020). "Burrow, Queen named offensive, defensive MVPs of national title game". theScore.com. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
^Zucker, Joseph (January 11, 2021). "DeVonta Smith, Christian Barmore Win College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^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.
^Sam, Doric (January 9, 2023). "Stetson Bennett, Javon Bullard Win 2023 College Football National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
^Peters, Andrew (January 8, 2024). "Michigan's Blake Corum, Will Johnson Named 2024 CFB National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
^"College Football Playoff Record Book: Team". SideArm Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^"College Football Playoff Record Book: Player". SideArm Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^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.
^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.