Ohio State’s 34-23 win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game will earn the Buckeyes a spot in history as the first champion in the 12-team playoff format. Ohio State was also the first winner of the four-team playoff tournament, so this is becoming a bit of a trend.
But where do the Buckeyes rank among the national champions of the playoff era?
Regular-season losses to Oregon and rival Michigan dent theirds case for coming in atop the list of 11 teams, though the Buckeyes did achieve something no one in Bowl Subdivision history had never done: win four postseason games. That gives them a unique argument for being compared to the best of the best since the playoff debuted in 2014.
The résumé still doesn’t stack up with teams such as 2020 Alabama and 2019 LSU, which lead the way in our rankings of playoff champs:
1. 2020 Alabama (13-0)
Led by an unstoppable offense starring Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, the 2020 Crimson Tide have an argument for being counted among the top teams in modern FBS history. Against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, Alabama went unbeaten in games against 11 SEC teams, Notre Dame and Ohio State, scoring at least 31 points in every game, at least 41 points in every game but two and winning every game by at least 15 points. This was a dominant group and the most impressive team of the Nick Saban era.
Alabama coach Nick Saban and offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) celebrates with the College Football Playoff championship trophy after beating Ohio State to win the 2020 national title.
2. 2019 LSU (15-0)
This offense will live in FBS history. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and others formed one of the most intimidating and explosive groups to ever grace the Power Four. Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns and won the Heisman. LSU beat…
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