College Football Playoff History: Alabama, Clemson Lead the Way

min read
Nick Saban and Alabama are a mainstay in the College Football Playoff history.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Aug 29, 2023, 7:12 PM
  • Alabama has been selected for seven of the eight College Football Playoffs.
  • Clemson has been to six College Football Playoffs (and is 2-2 against Alabama).
  • Ohio State has played in five College Football Playoffs.
  • Ohio State has only won one CFP game in the last eight seasons.

With the 2023 college football season kicking off, let’s update our nine-year historical record for the College Football Playoff.      

Before you consider the college football betting odds for this year’s postseason, here are some notes to keep in mind.     

Who Has Made the Most College Football Playoffs?

Unsurprisingly, Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty has been selected for the FBS College Football Playoff more than any other team since its implementation in 2014.

How Many Times Has Alabama Made the College Football Playoff?

Alabama has been in the College Football Playoff for seven of the nine years since it replaced the old BCS title game system.

Has Alabama Missed a Playoff?

Yes, but only twice. Under Nick Sabana, Alabama has been the most consistent fixture of the College Football Playoff.

Which Years Did Alabama Miss the Playoff?

Alabama had great NCAAF odds in 2019, but nothing got in the way of Joe Burrow and LSU’s undefeated run to the national championship. Then, last season, Alabama lost conference games to both Tennessee and LSU, dropping the Tide out of the playoff picture. 

Has a Two-Loss Team Made the CFP?

No, the College Football Playoff has not yet selected a team with two losses from the regular season – though it has selected several one-loss teams and even teams that failed to win their division.

How Many Times Has Alabama Beaten Clemson?

Alabama has won 14 of its 19 all-time games against Clemson, but only four of those games (and two of the wins) came during the College Football Playoff era. 

Alabama beat Clemson in the 2015 championship game on January 11, 2016. It also beat Clemson in a 2017 CFP semifinal game, which was played as the 2018 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. 

Clemson scored revenge CFP wins in each of the following seasons. 

How Many Times Has Clemson Made the College Football Playoff?

Clemson has been selected as a College Football Playoff team six times – more than any other team not named Alabama.

How Many Times Has Ohio State Made the College Football Playoff?

Ohio State has been selected for the College Football Playoff five times. 

The Buckeyes won the inaugural four-team bracket in 2014 but are 1-4 in their four appearances since then.

How Many Teams Have Ever Made the College Football Playoff?

Through eight years of the College Football Playoff, 14 programs have been selected for inclusion at least once: Alabama (7), Clemson (6), Ohio State (5), Oklahoma (4), Georgia (3), Notre Dame (2), Michigan (2), LSU (1), Oregon (1), Florida State (1), Michigan State (1), Washington (1), Cincinnati (1) and TCU (1).

College Football Playoff Bracket 2022

The 2022 College Football Playoff is mainly remembered for its shocking blowout at the end.

TCU affirmed that the Big 12 is quietly one of the best top-to-bottom conference in college football. The Horned Frogs upset No. 2 Michigan in the semifinal, but No. 1 Georgia proved too much in the championship game.

The Bulldogs seized an eye-popping 65-7 victory over TCU, easily marking it as one of the biggest blowouts in College Football Playoff history.

College Football Podcast

For more on the 2023 College Football Playoff and general college football odds and betting strategies, make sure you check out my podcast for BetMGM, The Lion’s Edge.

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The Lion’s Edge is available on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

You can also listen to it in the web player below.

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With hundreds of games and thousands of odds combinations each year, you can build a parlay with heavy moneyline favorites, short underdogs, or prop bets. It’s a thrilling way to get closer to the action and make every play count.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.