- Alabama has been selected for nine of the 12 College Football Playoffs.
- Clemson has been to seven College Football Playoffs (and is 2-2 against Alabama).
- Ohio State had won only one CFP game from 2015-23 before winning the title in 2024.
The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams in 2024, blowing up a decade of history associated with the four-team model that reigned from 2014-23.Â
As a meticulous aggregator of this college football history, few have been impacted more than me.Â
But save your tears, loyal readers. I have embarked on a new historiographical project in an effort to preserve the new history of the CFP.Â
If you’re looking for data on which programs have thrived the most in the playoff era, I’ve got everything you need below. Read on.
College Football Playoff History
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Semifinalists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024 | No. 8 Ohio State | No. 7 Notre Dame | No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State |
| 2023 | No. 1 Michigan | No. 2 Washington | No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Alabama |
| 2022 | No. 1 Georgia | No. 3 TCU | No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Ohio State |
| 2021 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 Alabama | No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Cincinnati |
| 2020 | No. 1 Alabama | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Notre Dame |
| 2019 | No. 1 LSU | No. 3 Clemson | No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Oklahoma |
| 2018 | No. 2 Clemson | No. 1 Alabama | No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Oklahoma |
| 2017 | No. 4 Alabama | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Oklahoma |
| 2016 | No. 2 Clemson | No. 1 Alabama | No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Washington |
| 2015 | No. 2 Alabama | No. 1 Clemson | No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Oklahoma |
| 2014 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 2 Oregon | No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Florida State |
Who Has Made the Most College Football Playoffs?
Unsurprisingly, Alabama has been selected for the FBS College Football Playoff more than any other team since its implementation in 2014. That’s largely thanks to the incredible staying power achieved by former head coach Nick Saban.
Alabama Playoff Appearances
Alabama has been in the College Football Playoff for nine of the 12 years since it replaced the old BCS title game system.
Alabama vs. Clemson Playoff History
The story of college football in the late 2010s boils down to a slugfest between Alabama and Clemson. It’s not too much to say that the story of the early era of the College Football Playoff revolved around the Tigers vs. the Tide.Â
Ultimately, both programs walked away with national championships. Today, neither is quite what it was at its peak.
Alabama beat Clemson in the 2015 championship game on Jan. 11, 2016. It also beat Clemson in a 2017 CFP semifinal game, which was played as the 2018 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.Â
Clemson scored revenge CFP wins in each of the following seasons.Â
Ohio State Playoff Appearances
Ohio State has been selected for the College Football Playoff seven times.Â
The Buckeyes won the inaugural four-team bracket in 2014. They subsequently went 1-4 in their four remaining appearances in the four-team playoff.
In 2024, the playoff expanded again to 12 teams, and Ohio State again won the championship in the first year of the new playoff system.
Georgia Playoff Appearances
Georgia has been selected for the College Football Playoff five times. That includes back-to-back championships in 2021-22.
Oklahoma Playoff Appearances
Oklahoma has been selected for the College Football Playoff five times, including the 2025 season. The Sooners have yet to win a playoff game.
Most College Football Playoff Appearances
| School | Total Appearances | Most Recent Appearance | Playoff Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9 | 2025 | 9-5 |
| Ohio State | 7 | 2025 | 6-4 |
| Clemson | 7 | 2024 | 6-5 |
| Georgia | 5 | 2025 | 5-2 |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 2025 | 0-4 |
| Oregon | 3 | 2025 | 1-2 |
| Notre Dame | 3 | 2024 | 3-3 |
| Michigan | 3 | 2023 | 2-2 |
| Indiana | 2 | 2025 | 0-1 |
| Texas | 2 | 2024 | 2-2 |
| Washington | 2 | 2023 | 1-2 |
| Texas Tech | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| Ole Miss | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| Texas A&M | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| Miami (FL) | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| Tulane | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| James Madison | 1 | 2025 | 0-0 |
| Penn State | 1 | 2024 | 2-1 |
| Arizona State | 1 | 2024 | 0-1 |
| Boise State | 1 | 2024 | 0-1 |
| SMU | 1 | 2024 | 0-1 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2024 | 0-1 |
| TCU | 1 | 2022 | 1-1 |
| Cincinnati | 1 | 2021 | 0-1 |
| LSU | 1 | 2019 | 2-0 |
| Michigan State | 1 | 2015 | 0-1 |
| Florida State | 1 | 2014 | 0-1 |
Betting the College Football Playoff
BetMGM has loads of options for college football betting, including the extremely fun college football national championship odds market. Go pick yourself a winner.
That said, I personally prefer the College Football Playoff odds market. That’s because only one team can cash a ticket in the national championship market, but 12 whole teams will be winners in the playoff odds table.
As a bettor, you sacrifice some return for having 12 times the number of teams that can win! It’s a lower level of risk for a more reasonable rate of return, which is what I often prefer in my futures strategy.Â
NCAAF Odds at BetMGM
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