The best College Football National Championship performances

In one of the biggest upsets in college football history came Penn State topped a favored (and quite cocky) Miami, Fla. squad. In the end, it was the Nittany Lions defense that was the story. Penn State was outgained 445-166 in total yards but picked off Vinny Testaverde five times, two of those by star linebacker Conlan. The second of which was taken back 38 yards to Miami’s 5-yard line in the fourth quarter. It set up D.J. Dozier’s go-ahead 6-yard touchdown run. Conlan also recorded eight tackles to help Penn State pull off the 14-10 win to claim its most recent national championship.

Leinart capped his Heisman Trophy-winning season by leading the Trojans to their most recent national championship, though this 55-19 blowout victory over previously undefeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl was vacated in terms of the BCS. Still, Leinart’s performance is still talked about. He went 18-of-35 for 332 yards and five passing touchdowns without an interception. Three of those touchdown passes went for 33 yards or more. And, Leinart tossed three to Steve Smith, who caught seven passes for 113 yards. 

Young showed why he’s considered one of the college game’s all-time best in what’s been considered the greatest bowl game of all time. USC led 38-26 with 6:42 left in regulation when Young took over. He scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with 4:03 to play, then scampered into the end zone from 8 yards out on fourth-and-5 with 19 ticks on the clock. The Longhorns held on and won 41-38 for the national title and solidified legendary status for Young, who rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries while going 30-of-40 for 267 through the air.

Ohio State was undefeated and No. 1 in the nation, but that didn’t bother the second-ranked Gators, who rolled to a 41-14 victory for the program’s second national title. Harvey, the under-the-radar but menacing defensive end, was a big reason for Florida’s dominance that night in the Arizona desert. He recorded three sacks, and four tackles and recovered a fumble to earn the game’s defensive MVP honor.

Alabama had little trouble dispatching of Notre Dame, amid the Irish’s resurgence on the national football scene, during a 42-14 rout to end the 2012 season. Lacy and backfield buddy Yeldon for a big reason for the Crimson Tide’s offensive dominance during the contest. Lacy ran for 140 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. He also posted a receiving touchdown. Meanwhile, Yeldon carried the ball 21 times and totaled 108 yards with a rushing score. 

The first of two dominant offensive performances by members of the Crimson Tide en route to their 45-40 victory over Clemson to conclude the 2015 season. First, Henry, fresh off winning the Heisman Trophy, opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Henry wasn’t finished, though, and he capped Alabama’s scoring with a 1-yard score late in the fourth to give his team a 12-point lead. On the night, Henry rushed for 158 yards — second-most in title-game history — on 36 carries and three touchdowns.

For as good as Derrick Henry was against the Tigers in the 2015-16 championship game, teammate Howard was even better. It’s often tough for tight ends to steal the show in a game of this magnitude. Still, Howard was simply stellar, totaling five receptions for 208 yards — third-most receiving yards in a title game — and touchdown catches of 53 and 51 yards from forgotten Tide quarterback Jake Coker. Howard’s performance earned him the game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.

In a losing effort, the Tigers’ Kevin Dodd, in his first season as a starter, put together one of the best individual defensive performances in the history of postseason college football. Though Jake Coker and the Crimson Tide got the last laugh in this contest, Dodd did all he could to help the Tigers and totaled a CFP national championship-game record three sacks. If that weren’t impressive enough, Dodd recorded seven tackles, including five for loss. 

As we’ll see, Watson was worthy of highlighting in back-to-back national title games. In this losing effort versus Alabama, Watson delivered a record-setting performance at the time. Watson totaled 478 yards — 73 rushing, 405 passing — and threw four touchdowns. It was a game for the ages for any quarterback, and one that is still remembered despite Watson playing for the team that lost. Watson, though, would be his revenge on the Crimson Tide.

In the rematch of that 2016 title game won by Alabama, Clemson got its revenge with a 35-31 victory over the favored Crimson Tide. Watson led the way with a truly memorable performance . He was 36-of-56 for 420 passing yards and rushed for a first-half touchdown. Watson threw all three of his touchdowns in the second half. Two of them went to Hunter Renfrow (10 receptions, 92 yards), including the go-ahead score from 2 yards out with 1 second remaining in regulation.

This was Tagovailoa’s coming-out party. The Crimson Tide trailed 13-0 to Georgia at halftime and lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to injury. No problem. Tagovailoa came off the bench to throw two touchdowns in the second half to force overtime before throwing the most significant pass of his career at the time. Tagovailoa (14-of-24,166 yards in the game) connected with an in-stride DeVonta Smith on a 41-yard touchdown pass in the extra session to cement the Crimson Tide as national champions of the 2017 season, and opening the door for his own individual collegiate greatness. 

While leading Clemson to a 44-16 national title game rout of Alabama, Lawrence became just the second true freshman to quarterback a championship squad. During this decisive victory over the No. 1 Crimson Tide, Lawrence was brilliantly efficient, going 20-of-32 for 347 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The poise and confidence that Lawrence displayed in a game of this magnitude was perhaps more impressive than his national championship stat line. 

Burrow was simply outstanding during the College Football Playoff of the 2019 season. In LSU’s 63-28 rout of Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal, Burrow went 29-of-39 for 493 yards with seven touchdowns — all in the first half to tie the NCAA records for TD passes in a half and a bowl game — and no interceptions. Then in the Tigers’ 42-25 victory over Clemson for the national title, Burrow was nearly as good, completing 31 of 49 passes for five touchdowns and 463 yards without an interception and rushing for a score.

Speaking of LSU’s championship victory over Clemson. Joe Burrow wasn’t the only Tiger to deliver a dominant performance. Chase was a regular recipient of Burrow’s brilliant passing effort. The Tigers’ star receiver caught nine passes for a College Football Playoff-record 221 yards and two touchdowns. Entering the 2024 College Football Playoff, Chase’s reception total in that contest is tied for third-most in the history of the tournament. 

There are dominant individual national championship game performances. Then there’s the effort Jones put forth during the Crimson Tide’s 52-24 rout of Ohio State to cap that strange 2020 season. Jones set national championship game records for passing yards in a half (336), overall passing yards (464), overall completions (36), most consecutive completions (12) and overall passing touchdowns (five). Jones’ collegiate success didn’t translate to the NFL, but he’ll always be remembered for this sensational performance.

Three of those touchdown passes Mac Jones threw against Ohio State in the aforementioned championship game went to Smith, who won the 2020 Heisman Trophy (the first receiver since Desmond Howard in 1991 to claim the prize) and ranks among the best big-game players in college football history. That remains a national title game record. Meanwhile, Smith’s 12 receptions in that contest are also a record, while his 215 receiving yards rank second all-time.

Here’s another running back duo that helped lead its team to a national title. Michigan ran for 303 yards during its 34-13 victory over Washington in the national title contest for the 2023 season. Corum, among the best in the game in 2023, ran 21 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, big-play teammate Edwards rushed for 104, with scores of 41 and 46 yards in the first quarter, and did so on just six carries. Talk about getting the job done.