The Last 10 Winners of the NCAA Football National Championship

When it comes to college football, only one matchup is bigger than the other bowl games: the College Football Playoff National Championship. Marking the end of each season, the national title game pits the final two teams to overcome the preceding playoff rounds in a face-off for the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. Despite the ever-changing bowl game expansions and conference realignments, the winners of the College Football Playoff National Championship earn their place in gridiron greatness forever. Check out the last 10 winners of the CFP Championship game below.

2024 Champion: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

The NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship for the 2024 season was determined on January 20, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. For the first postseason in the new 12-team format, the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the slightly favored No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State won, 34-23, to capture their first national championship in a decade. and ninth in program history. Notre Dame put up a fight, though, as the game was 31-7 Ohio State in the third quarter before the Irish started coming back and put the pressure on in the fourth. In the final frame, Buckeyes QB Will Howard, who was named offensive MVP of the game, stepped up to seal the win on a 56-yard pass to WR Jeremiah Smith. At that point, Notre Dame was only down by eight points, but that gain led to a field goal that secured the victory. Howard went 17 of 21 for 231 yards and completed the first 13 passes he threw, which is the new record for consecutive completions in a National Championship Game.

2023 Champion: Michigan Wolverines

On January 8, 2024, college football’s first Big Ten and Pac-12 championship matchup in the CFP era took place between the No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines and the No. 2 Washington Huskies. Held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, the 2023 NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship concluded with a 34-13 Michigan victory behind Offensive M.V.P. running back Blake Corum’s 134 rushing yards and two late-game touchdowns – as well as Defensive M.V.P. Will Johnson’s third-quarter interception. The win marked Michigan’s first national title since 1997, the school’s 12th championship overall and secured the Wolverines’ perfect 15-0 season, the fourth team to do so in the CFP era.

2022 Champion: Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs became the first repeat champions of the College Football Playoff era with their victory in the 2022 NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship. Facing the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs, the top-ranked Bulldogs delivered a resounding 65-7 final score, set a new record for total points in a CFP Championship game and a then-record for largest win margin in an FBS bowl game. The final took place on January 9, 2023 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. After the game, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and safety Javon Bullard were given the Offensive and Defensive M.V.P. awards, respectively. Additionally, the win cemented Georgia as the third team to complete a perfect 15-0 season in the CFP era.

2021 Champion: Georgia Bulldogs

In an SEC rivalry match for the ages, the No. 1-ranked, defending champions Alabama Crimson Tide faced off against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, looking to snap a 41-year championship drought. Held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 10, 2022, the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game marked a multi-layered rematch, with the two teams meeting in the title game for the first time since the 2017 season, as well as in the SEC Championship game only a month prior – both won by Alabama. Overall, the Crimson Tide had won the last seven consecutive matchups against the Bulldogs, with the latter’s most recent victory dating back to 2007. However, Georgia overcame the odds and secured their first national title since 1980, beating Alabama, 33-18.

2020 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide

A crowning achievement for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship pushed the school’s football program into a league of its own. Played to a limited live audience due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 season’s title game was held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. For the game, the No. 1-ranked Alabama secured their perfect 13-0 perfect season (shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic) with a win over the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, 52-24. Alabama became the first team to win three finals in the CFP era and secured its 18th national title overall. Additionally, it was head coach Nick Saban’s seventh career championship, surpassing legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s six to become college football’s most winningest championship coach. Meanwhile, Heisman Trophy winner and the game’s Offensive M.V.P. DeVonta Smith set several CFP game records, including most receiving touchdowns with three, most receptions with 12 and most receiving yards in one half with 215.

2019 Champion: LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers secured their fourth national title and first in the CFP era after defeating the reigning champions Clemson Tigers, 42-25, in the 2019 NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship. Held on January 13, 2020 at the now-Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the title match became a tale of two Tigers as the No. 1-ranked LSU squad outlasted No. 3 Clemson’s early 17-7 lead with a record-breaking effort by Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow. Along with helping secure the second 15-0 season ever in the CFP era, Burrow set CFP Championship Game records for most passing yards with 493, most total yards with 521 and most passing touchdowns at five. Notably, the 2019 championship game also served as a home state victory for LSU and marked the first-time a top-ranked school won the CFP, while also snapping Clemson’s 29-game winning streak.

2018 Champion: Clemson Tigers

Meeting for the third time in four seasons, the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 2 Clemson Tigers raised the stakes for the 2018 NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship: both teams entered the game undefeated at 14-0. Taking place on January 7, 2019, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the 2018 CFP title game poised the Tigers as underdogs against the reigning champion Crimson Tide. However, Clemson completed the upset in dominant fashion, defeating Alabama 44-16 behind freshman quarterback and Offensive M.V.P. Trevor Lawrence’s 347-yard, three-touchdown performance and a strong defense led by veteran cornerback and Defensive M.V.P. Trayvon Mullen. With their perfect 15-0 season secured along with their second CFP title in three seasons, Clemson established themselves, once again, as a formidable force in college football.

2017 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide

Marking Alabama’s third consecutive appearance in the national championship game during the CFP era, the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship game pitted the No. 4 Crimson Tide against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs. Hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 8, 2018, the 2017 season-capper stands as the second-highest attended championship game in the CFP format with 77,430 fans. Although Georgia held a 13-0 advantage after the first half, Alabama rebounded in the second after freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa replaced starter Jalen Hurts and threw three touchdowns in a wild comeback overtime victory, 26-23. The game is historic not only for being the first overtime win in the CFP championship game, but it also was Alabama’s fifth national title in nine years and tied Alabama coach Nick Saban with Crimson Tide legend Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most national championships at six.

2016 Champion: Clemson Tigers

In college football’s first championship rematch between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams (although the rankings were swapped from the previous season) the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide took on the No. 2 Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game. Held on January 9, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the SEC rivalry matchup delivered on its promise, with the Tigers’ refusing to bend to the Tide’s active 26-game winning streak. After rallying from an initial 14-0 deficit, Clemson secured their first national championship since 1981 with a last-second touchdown from the two-yard line, winning 35-31.

2015 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide

In the second championship matchup of the College Football Playoff era, the No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 1 Clemson Tigers faced off in a closely-contested battle at the now-State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kicking off on January 11, 2016, the two top-ranked teams went into halftime tied 14-14, and remained deadlocked into the fourth quarter, 24-24. However, Alabama emerged victorious, 45-40, behind Alabama’s offensive M.V.P. O.J. Howard’s two touchdowns, an onside kick reception by freshman Marlon Humphrey and a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by running back Kenyan Drake. The win marked Alabama’s 16th national title, fourth in seven seasons and first in the CFP format.