CFP Ranking

This past Monday the last 4 team College Football Playoff was won by the University of Michigan, much to my delight. As a lifelong Michigan fan suffering through eighteen years of mediocrity and banter from Ohio State fans, it is the end of an era, they have reached the mountaintop of college football. Not only that it is the end of the 4 team College Football Playoff. Although I believe that the Playoff should be expanded it has clearly been the best iteration of any sort of National Championship decider. Today on Cooper’s Corner we will be ranking the 10 iterations of the 4 team playoff. 

10. 2018 Season   1)Alabama vs 4)Oklahoma & 2)Clemson vs 3)Notre Dame

• Orange Bowl(45-34 Alabama): Alabama took a commanding 28 point lead and Oklahoma tried to come back but it was too little too late and it never ended up close. Game Score:7/10 
• Cotton Bowl(30-3 Clemson):There is not a lot to talk about, Notre Dame had little to no offensive movement. Clemson won easily. Game Score:3/10
• National Championship(44-16 Clemson): Clemson put up plenty on Alabama. Game Score:4/10
• Average game score 4.6/10 an all around stinker of a Playoff. Not much to discuss.

9. 2020 Season 1)Alabama vs 4)Notre Dame & 2)Clemson vs 3)Ohio State

• Rose Bowl (31-14 Alabama): The Covid year, a Rose Bowl in Texas, Terrible offense from Notre Dame. Alabama controlled the game. Game Score: 4/10
• Sugar Bowl (49-28 Ohio State): Ohio State pulled away after a quarter. Clemson tried to make it interesting but it could not. Game Score: 5/10
• National Championship (52-24 Alabama): Alabama took momentum to close out the first half a stacked Alabama turned on cruise control and were able to get the win. Game Score: 5/10
• Average Game Score 4.6, Fairly mundane Playoff nothing of real interest, Covid Year was weird, College football’s return to normal would bring much improvement. 

8. 2015 Season 1)Clemson vs 4)Oklahoma & 2)Alabama vs 3)Michigan State 

• Orange Bowl (37-17 Clemson): The game, a battle of future Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield vs Deshaun Watson. Unlike most games featuring Oklahoma it was a fairly defensive struggle and Clemson pulled away at the end. Game Score:5/10
• Cotton Bowl (38-0 Alabama): An atrocious offensive display from Michigan State, Alabama dominated in a fairly boring game. Game Score:2/10
• National Championship (45-40 Alabama); It was a fairly even first half and still tied in the 4th quarter. Alabama took a lead before a Clemson field goal. There was an Alabama kick return for a touchdown that gave them the lead and they answered any Clemson attempt to come back. Clemson lost on an onside kick. Game Score: 8/10
• Average Game Score: 5 A Great National Championship game but several lackluster semi-finals. 

7. 2021 Season 1)Alabama vs 4)Cincinnati & 2)Michigan vs 3)Georgia 

• Cotton Bowl (27-6 Alabama): Cincinnati, the only non-power 5 team to make the playoff, was a compelling underdog, but their bowl performance was subpar at best. They could not get any offense started, however their defense played very well against a very good Alabama team. Their effort should be commended. They clearly were a great team but the lack of offense was startling. It was an uninteresting defensive battle where Alabama remained dominant.  Game Score:4/10
• Orange Bowl (34-11 Georgia): The only interesting part of the game was a Brock Bowers masterclass. The stifling Georgia defense provided a fairly boring game. Game Score: 3/10
• National Championship (33-18 Georgia): A close low scoring first half was followed up by an offensive explosion. The score remained close, but Alabama gave away their chance at a comeback on a late pick 6. Game Score 8/10
• A compelling National Championship, but the semifinals were less than stellar. Average Game Score:5

6.   2016 Season 1)Alabama vs 4)Washington & 2)Clemson vs 3)Ohio State

• Peach Bowl (24-7 Alabama):Washington scored early and then the ever dominant Alabama defense took over. Alabama took control. Game Score:4/10
• Fiesta Bowl (31-0 Clemson): Clemson played a simply dominant all around game. Game Score:2/10
• National Championship (35-31 Clemson): Alabama tok an early lead, but Clemon tried to make it close. Alabama went into the 4th quarter up 10 for the 98th time with Saban as head coach, he was 97-0 prior. Clemson came back on a wild late game comeback. Game Score: 10/10
• A National Championship for the Ages but 2 lackluster semis will not be remembered. Average Game Score: 5/10

5. 2014 Season 1)Alabama vs 4)Ohio State & 2)Oregon vs 3)Florida State

• Sugar Bowl (42-35 Ohio State): Alabama took an early lead, but Ohio State came back by the 3rd Quarter. Ohio State took a commanding lead and Alabama tried to mount a comeback, however it was a close hail mary short of its result. Game Score 8/10
• Rose Bowl (59-20 Oregon): Oregon took the lead over Florida State, which it maintained throughout the game. Florida State kept trying to come back but turnovers made it get out of hand. Game Score 4/10 
• National Championship (42-20 Ohio State): Oregon got out to an early lead, and I think with his less than consistent professional career, people forget that Marcus Mariota was a baller. He made plenty of impressive plays throughout the game, however Cardale Jones started throwing lasers around the yard. Oregon got it close to end the third quarter, but Ohio State took over in the 4th providing such a lopsided final score. Game Score 7/10
• For the first ever College Football Playoff, at the time it did not disappoint, it was a much better system then the BCS. The average game score was a 6/10, quite a solid trial run for a new system.

4. 2019 Season: 1)LSU vs 4)Oklahoma & 2)Ohio State vs 3)Clemson 

• Peach Bowl (63-28 LSU): LSU stayed in control the entire game, yet Oklahoma kept flirting with some offense movement but never got close. There were plenty of points scored in this game however therefore this game will get a higher rating. Game Score 5/10.
• Fiesta Bowl (29-23 Clemson):Ohio State went out to an early lead, but the early lead was snuffed out by a Clemson offense who woke up and scored 21 straight points. In the 4th Ohio State threw a late interception to end their hope of comeback. Game Score: 10/10
• National Championship (42-25 LSU): After a very close first half LSU began to pull away offensively. Joe Burrow proved the doubters wrong winning a National Championship. Game Score 6/10
• The overall playoff was dominated by LSU, that being said the games were decent. The Clemson Ohio State semi final was a classic college football game which is what makes this matchup so good. The Average Score is 7/10

3. 2022 Season 1)Georgia vs 4)Ohio State & 2)Michigan vs 3)TCU

• Peach Bowl (42-41 Georgia): In an all time classic close game, Ohio State took an early lead by 2 touchdowns. Georgia overtook the score. Ohio State stole the lead again, but a late Georgia comeback gave them a one point lead. Ohio State led a late game drive down the field at the cusp of the New Year. With the chance for a game winning field goal, the kicker sent it wide left on the stroke of 2023. Incredible drama, an incredible game. Game Score 10/10.
• Fiesta Bowl (51-45 TCU): TCU had an offensive explosion in the first half. JJ McCarthy flirted with a comeback, the second half was arguably the best half of football he’s played his entire Michigan career. Michigan’s defense could not stop Quinten Johnston adding to plenty of late drama. Without Johnston, there really could have been a comeback. Game Score: 9/10
• National Championship (65-7 Georgia): Until this year, this game was the largest bowl game scoring differential as Georgia dominated to the tune of 58 point win. Game Score: 1/10
• Although the National Championship was a bust, which brought the average score to 6.6/10, the semi finals were good enough to propel this playoff to number 3. Both semi finals have the potential to be classics. 

2. 2017 Season: 1)Clemson vs 4)Alabama & 2)Oklahoma vs 3)Georgia 

• Sugar Bowl (24-6 Alabama): Not much to say, Alabama wins in a defensive battle a fairly lackluster game.Game Score: 5/10
• Rose Bowl (54-48 Georgia): The rare time Georgia is involved in a shootout. The game was played like a good tennis rally, going back and forth. Oklahoma took a late lead before Nick Chubb put the game into overtime. Then in double overtime, Georgia won late. Game Score: 10/10
• National Championship (26-23 Alabama): There is not much that has not been said about this game, it was the iconic Tua game with the brilliant finish in overtime. That Alabama team was loaded with talent. Game Score:10/10
• I believe that this playoff is not properly remembered, it should be an iconic year. With an average game score of 8/10. This was a fantastic playoff and it featured many iconic college and pro players. 

1, 2023 Season 1)Michigan vs 4)Alabama & 2)Washington vs 3)Texas 

• Rose Bowl (27-20 Michigan): After a close first half Alabama took a late lead. JJ McCarthy and the Wolverines execute a nail biting game winning drive. After an exciting double overtime period Michigan emerged victorious. Game Score:10/10
• Sugar Bowl (37-31 Washington): A tremendously close game early before Washington took over. Texas battled back with a last minute drive. A hail mary was just swatted away for the Long Horns which put the Huskies in the Final. Game Score 10/10
• National Championship (34-13 Michigan):After a close first half of football, the game slowed down in the 3rd. That was the most boring part of the game which is what makes it not a 10/10. Michigan took over in the 4th and secured their first national championship this century. Game Score: 8/10
• With an average game score of 9.3/10 this was far and away the best playoff of the 4 team era. I think pretty unbiasedly it was a tremendous collection of games. That being said Michigan played the perfect villain this season and what ultimately happens to the season based on the NCAA’s discretion remains uncertain. That being said, since the cheating allegations came to light, a Michigan who remained under constant surveillance, took on Penn State on the road, Ohio State, Alabama, and Washington without suffering a loss. 

The 4 team playoff format will be missed, it certainly had its flaws, just ask Georgia and Florida State this year. That being said, expect to see a few more stinker games next year with more teams. Monday marked the end of an era, but one thing remains clear, moving to a playoff format was the right decision for the National Championship.