Successful Non-Conference Championship Squads Securing National Titles in the CFP and BCS Periods
Successful Non-Conference Championship Squads Securing National Titles in the CFP and BCS Periods
The introduction of a 12-team playoff system ensures that multiple non-conference champions or teams not participating in championship games can contend for the national title. This phenomenon is indeed evident in the inaugural season of the expanded playoff. In fact, it's conceivable that neither team competing in the title game participated in a conference championship match beforehand.
In the previous season, Texas succumbed to Georgia in the SEC championship, while Penn State fell short against Oregon in the Big Ten championship. Ohio State and Notre Dame, seemingly left out, eagerly awaited their first-round playoff opponents. Ohio State's loss to Michigan in their final regular-season game hindered a potential rematch with Oregon, as the Buckeyes had previously been defeated in Eugene in October. Notre Dame, being an independent team, also missed out on this opportunity.
Historically, there have been instances where teams did not clinch their conference titles or even make an attempt to do so, yet managed to advance to the national championship game. This was especially apparent during the 2001 season, which was marred by confusion and chaos resulting from computer rankings.
College Football Playoff Era
2022 TCU Horned Frogs | Coach: Sonny Dykes
A team that maintained an unbeaten run in the regular season stumbled in the Big 12 championship game against Kansas State, losing in overtime, 31-28. Despite their setback, the Horned Frogs managed to secure their spot in the playoffs. Sonny Dykes, their head coach, argued that his team shouldn't be penalized for participating in a conference championship game.
TCU outperformed Michigan in the semifinals, 51-45. However, the Horned Frogs faced a harsh reality in the championship game against Georgia, where they were outplayed, 65-7. Stetson Bennett of Georgia was responsible for scoring six total touchdowns, outgaining TCU 589-188, and forcing three turnovers.
2021 Georgia Bulldogs | Coach: Kirby Smart
Georgia faced off against Alabama twice within five weeks, first in the SEC championship game. Alabama scored 24 points in the second quarter, ultimately securing a 41-24 victory.
In the national championship game, Stetson Bennett connected with Adonai Mitchell for a 40-yard touchdown, giving Georgia a 19-18 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Bennett then teamed up with Brock Bowers for a 15-yard touchdown with 3:33 remaining, providing Kirby Smart's team with some comfort at 26-18. Alabama subsequently drove to the Georgia 44-yard line, but their progress was halted by a crucial interception by Kelee Ringo. Ringo returned the pick 79 yards for a touchdown, securing Smart's first victory against former coach Nick Saban in five attempts.
2017 Alabama Crimson Tide | Coach: Nick Saban
In an Iron Bowl matchup with SEC West supremacy at stake, Alabama faced a tough 26-14 defeat from Auburn at Jordan-Hare. Despite the setback, the Tide was granted entry into the CFP. In the semifinals, Alabama held top-ranked Clemson to a mere 188 yards, clinching a 24-6 victory. Alabama then triumphed over Georgia in overtime, 26-23, resulting in Nick Saban's fifth national title in Tuscaloosa.
The championship game was marked by an entrance of Tua Tagovailoa, who replaced Jalen Hurts in the first half. Tagovailoa spearheaded a fourth-quarter comeback, forcing overtime and subsequently converting a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith after taking a costly 16-yard sack on first down.
Bowl Championship Series Era
2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Coach: Brian Kelly
Independent champions, the Fighting Irish maintained an impressive 12-0 record in the regular season, allowing a maximum of 20 points in just one outing. They entered the BCS championship game with an impressive defensive record, yielding an average of 10.3 points per game – the best in the nation. However, the Crimson Tide, led by A.J. McCarron with four touchdown passes, completely overshadowed Notre Dame in a 42-14 victory. McCarron also passed for 264 yards, while the Tide amassed 265 rushing yards. Notre Dame struggled to gain any ground, managing only 32 yards on the ground.
2011 Alabama Crimson Tide | Coach: Nick Saban
Alabama suffered a 9-6 OT loss to LSU on their first visit in November, which indirectly paved the way for LSU to secure the SEC West title and challenge Georgia for the conference championship – a 42-10 victory for Les Miles' team. LSU's nine points surpassed Alabama's final average of 8.2 points allowed per game, making LSU the second-best defensively.
The teams reconvened in New Orleans for the national championship game, where Alabama prevailed 21-0 in a dominating display. The Tide maintained three shutouts throughout the season, holding LSU to 92 yards and only five first downs. Jeremy Shelley had a productive evening, making five out of seven field goal attempts, while Trent Richardson scored a 34-yard touchdown to seal the deal.
Before the 2006/2007 season, the Big 12 Conference (BCS) did not have a set championship game. Instead, computer rankings determined who would face off in the top two spots, rotating between the Rose, Orange, Sugar, and Fiesta bowls.
2003 Oklahoma Sooners, Coach: Bob Stoops
Jason White, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, led an offensive unit that scored over 50 points in seven regular season games. The Sooners seemed unstoppable, racking up a 42-7 lead against Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. However, the Wildcats stormed back, scoring 35 unanswered points to snatch a 35-7 victory.
Despite the setback, Oklahoma still had a chance to claim the national title in the Sugar Bowl against LSU. But fate had other plans. Marcus Spears intercepted a White pass and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown, giving LSU a 21-7 lead in the third quarter, ultimately leading to a 21-14 defeat.
2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers, Coach: Frank Solich
The Cornhuskers had a perfect 11-0 record, securing the second spot in the rankings, but lost their final regular season game to Colorado, who finished with two losses. Nebraska turned over the ball four times, and Chris Brown from Colorado ran for 198 yards and six touchdowns in a 62-36 rout. Both teams ended conference play at 7-1, with Colorado advancing to the Big 12 championship game due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Despite losing their spot in the conference championship, the BCS computer rankings refused to budge, keeping Nebraska at No. 2. This meant a Rose Bowl showdown with No. 1 Miami for the national title. Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers, they turned the ball over three times and trailed 34-0 at half, eventually losing 37-14.
In the 2024 college football season, the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes could potentially face off in the CFP semifinal, with Penn State and Notre Dame playing each other in another semifinal matchup. If both Texas and Ohio State manage to advance, the 2025 CFP national championship game might feature these two historic rivals.
During the 2024 season, Texas initially lost to Georgia in the SEC championship, while Penn State fell short against Oregon in the Big Ten championship. Ohio State and Notre Dame, with their potential first-round playoff opponents out of reach, will be eager to make a mark in the expanded 12-team playoff system.
In a potential 2024 Texas Ohio State semifinal, both teams would want to prove their worth and secure a spot in the national championship game. Meanwhile, Penn State and Notre Dame would be determined to showcase their strength in the other semifinal, with the hopes of winning the championship for their respective schools.