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The College Football Playoff has been used since the 2014 season to determine the sport’s national champion. Prior, there was the BCS, which was preceded by AP Poll and/or Coaches’ Poll votes.
In just over a decade, we’ve seen incredible evolution in the tournament’s format. It started with four teams, meaning at least one Power 5 champion was guaranteed to be left out.
To be more inclusive, the field was expanded to 12 teams in 2024. Now, we see a mix of automatic qualifiers (conference champions) alongside at-large bids.
That expansion has brought about more games. It provides more opportunities to witness on-field greatness.
10 Best College Football Playoff Performances
Across the last 11 years, viewers have been able to watch incredible passing performances, jaw-dropping rushing attacks, and eye-popping receiving efforts from individual stars. Then, there are the players that do a little bit of everything.
Here, we’ll do our best to identify ten of the best College Football Playoff showings on record. Let’s start with one of the most impressive passing outings in postseason history.
Joe Burrow, 2019 Peach Bowl
Burrow could not be stopped in a Peach Bowl matchup vs. Oklahoma in 2019. The LSU passer threw for a CFP-record 493 yards while accounting for a bowl game best eight touchdowns (7 passing, 1 rushing).
Making the feat more impressive, he was on the sidelines for the majority of the fourth quarter. The Tigers cruised to a 63-28 win.
He’d follow it up with a 463-yard passing effort in the national title game against Clemson, a total that ranks as the third highest on record in the CFP.
Mac Jones, 2021 National Championship
Jones is the man that prevents Burrow from owning the two most dominant passing performances in College Football Playoff history. His 464-yard outing against Ohio State in 2021 helped Alabama claim a championship.
The Crimson Tide signal caller completed 80% of his attempts while tying a personal best with five touchdown passes.
The title win was Jones’ last game as a college player. He’d buoy that on-field success into a first-round NFL Draft grade.
Ezekiel Elliott, 2015 National Championship
Elliott was a one-man wrecking crew during a national championship matchup between Ohio State and Oregon to end the 2014-15 season. He set a record in the very first College Football Playoff that still stands today.
The tailback rushed for 246 yards on the day, finding the endzone four times. That performance helped the Buckeyes secure a title with a 42-20 victory.
Elliott scored the team’s final three touchdowns to turn a one-point game into a 22-point result. He accounted for more than 45% of Ohio State’s offensive production.
Cam Skattebo, 2024 Peach Bowl
Skattebo was a big play machine during a Peach Bowl contest against Texas in 2024. The Arizona State running back made an impact as a runner, receiver, and passer.
Skattebo led the team in both rushing and receiving to total 242 combined yards and a pair of touchdowns. He completed his only pass of the day, which went for a 42-yard score.
No player has made a larger combined contribution in all three areas in a College Football Playoff game. His effort helped his team close a late gap, though Arizona State would lose in double overtime.
Justin Jefferson, 2019 Peach Bowl
LSU quarterback, Joe Burrow, has already been recognized for his performance in the 2019 Peach Bowl against Oklahoma. Justin Jefferson was his top target in the passing game.
The All-American racked up four touchdown receptions to set a College Football Playoff record. Each came across the first 30 minutes as he was not needed much after the halftime break.
His 227 yards through the air is also a CFP top mark, though it was nearly broken just a week later.
Ja’Marr Chase, 2020 National Championship
After LSU’s rout of Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl, the Tigers faced Clemson in the national title game. They emerged with a 42-25 victory thanks in large part to Chase.
Burrow connected with his wideout nine times. Chase averaged just under 25 yards per catch to total 221 yards on the evening.
That mark set a national championship record that remains to this day.
Sony Michel, 2018 Rose Bowl
Michel booked Georgia’s ticket to the national championship game in 2018 with a game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs took down Oklahoma in double overtime. Their star running back played a major role.
Michel led the offense with 181 rushing yards, scoring on touchdown scampers of 75, 38, and 27 yards. He added another six points as a receiver in the first quarter of action.
The tailback finished the game with 222 yards from scrimmage and four scores. He accounted for more than 40% of the Bulldogs’ offensive production in the 54-48 win.
DeVonta Smith, 2021 National Championship
The Heisman trophy winner was the beneficiary of Mac Jones’ career night in the 2021 national championship. His quarterback has already been mentioned on this list for his success. Smith deserves a nod, too.
The receiver racked up 215 yards and three touchdowns, all of which came in the first 30 minutes of play to set a CFP first half record. He also had a 19-yard punt return to set up an Alabama touchdown.
Trey Sermon, 2021 Sugar Bowl
Sermon did it all in Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl win over the Clemson Tigers in 2021. His 254 total yards set a College Football Playoff record, just besting previously mentioned Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott.
The running back rushed for a game-high 193 yards. He also caught four passes for 61 yards.
Though he only found the endzone once, his impact was felt. It helped Ohio State book a ticket to the national championship.
Kenyan Drake, 2016 National Championship Game
Drake is on this list for his special teams effort in a 2016 national championship win over the Clemson Tigers. The kickoff return man set a College Football Playoff record with 196 yards.
One of his five returns went 95 yards for a crucial fourth quarter touchdown that put Alabama up by two scores. In all, he averaged 39.2 yards per special teams touch, which is also tops in a CFP contest.
Drake also hauled in two passes for 21 yards to push his game total to more than 210 all-purpose yards.
Honorable mentions:
OJ Howard, 2016 National Championship – 5 catches, 208 yards, 2 TDs (CFP record 41.6 ypc)
Justin Fields, 2021 Sugar Bowl – 385 passing yards, 6 TDs
Deshaun Watson, 2017 National Championship – 420 passing yards, 43 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Michael Penix, 2024 Sugar Bowl – 430 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Stetson Bennett, 2023 National Championship – 304 passing yards, 39 rushing yards, 6 TDs