Ranking the Best CFP National Championship Games in History

The Most Important College Football Game of the Year Always Delivers, but These Games Take the Crown

Iconic Performances on the Biggest Stage

There aren’t many settings that can make the pageantry of college football across America.  Whether it’s football factories with stadium seating in excess of 100,000 or small schools playing in a much more intimate setting, fall wouldn’t fall without the sights and sounds of the game. 

Suggesting that college football isn’t just pep rallies and stealing the other team’s mascot anymore is not news. It’s a billion-dollar business, complete with conference raiding, NIL endorsements and transfer portals, among other phrases that were unthinkable in the seasons prior to this (January 2025) writing.   

Then, there’s the College Football Playoff (CFP National Championship), determining the best team in the country. Begun in 2015 (Ohio St. trouncing Oregon in Arlington, Texas), it was preceded by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), Bowl Alliance, Bowl Coalition, and good old national polls.

This past (2024) season saw the CFP expand to a dozen teams who competed in the playoff games today, with the top four in the rankings getting byes to the second round. The eight remaining teams competed in the opening round, with the higher-seeded team playing at home. 

The two subsequent rounds were played as traditional bowl games, with the survivors advancing to the mid-January title game at a predetermined neutral site.  

There were some wild games over the first decade of CFP, including Alabama’s 26-23 overtime win over Georgia (after the 2017 season) and the Tide’s 45-40 victory over Clemson (2015). Those were sandwiching the Clemson Tigers’ 35-31 win over ‘Bama (2016 season).

Georgia’s thrashing (65-7) of Texas Christian to end the 2022 season is by far the biggest rout in the history of the game.

Here’s some more about the CFP…   

When and Where Is the CFP Championship?

Atlanta is the site of the CFP Championship in 2025, with the Ohio St Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish meeting inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday evening, Jan, 20th (the next two venues are Miami and Las Vegas, respectively, according to college football news).

If you’re into history, Ohio. St. is leading the all-time series, 6-2 (winning last six).

Who Is Favored to Win the College Football National Championship?

According to college football picks and predictions, the Ohio St Buckeyes are favored. 

OSU is a nine-point favorite over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2025’s national championship game. Entering the bowls, Notre Dame and Ohio St. were ranked at five and six, respectively.   

Who Will Play in the College Football National Championship in 2025? 

There’s no need to sift through college football rumors. As was mentioned, Ohio St, and Notre Dame battle inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to see who’s the nation’s best in the CFP title game of 2025.

It was the Buckeyes beating Tennessee (42-17), previously unbeaten Oregon (41-21) and Texas (28-14) to advance. The Irish defeated Indiana (27-17), Georgia (23-10) and Penn St. (27-24) to qualify.  

Who Won the CFP Championship in 2024?

Returning to the CFP National Championship of 2024, it was the Wolverines of Michigan overwhelming the Washington Huskies, 34-13, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Michigan ended a 15-0 season as Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards each had two touchdowns.

Any Final Thoughts?

When it comes to college football playoff rankings, the only one that matters is the one after the CFP, the end of a long season of blood, sweat, tears, and cash expended trying to prevail.