In the high-stakes world of college football, legends are forged under the brightest lights. For the past decade, the College Football Playoff has served as the ultimate proving ground, pitting the nation’s elite against each other in a battle for supremacy. Amidst the clash of titans, a select few have risen above the rest, etching their names in the annals of history as the MVPs of the CFP national championship.
The Birth of a New Era
The inception of the College Football Playoff in 2014 marked a seismic shift in the landscape of the sport. No longer would the national champion be determined by polls and computer rankings. Instead, the four most deserving teams would face off in a knockout tournament, with the winners advancing to the title game.
In that inaugural playoff, Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott and Tyvis Powell set the tone for the caliber of performance required to be named MVP. Elliott’s 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns powered the Buckeyes to a resounding 42-20 victory over Oregon, while Powell’s team-high nine tackles anchored a stifling defensive effort.
The Rise of the Dual-Threat Quarterback
As the playoff format took hold, a new breed of quarterback began to dominate the MVP conversation. Dual-threat signal-callers, equally adept at shredding defenses with their arms and legs, became the prototype for championship success.
Deshaun Watson embodied this archetype, leading Clemson to thrilling title game appearances in 2015 and 2016. Though the Tigers fell short against Alabama in their first meeting, Watson’s 405 passing yards and four touchdowns earned him Offensive MVP honors in a losing effort. The following year, he would not be denied, accounting for 463 total yards and four scores as Clemson exacted revenge on the Crimson Tide to claim their first national championship in 35 years.
I think, for me, the one thing that really comes to my mind is how much Deshaun Watson played in big-time, championship-type games.
– Dabo Swinney, Clemson Head Coach
Watson’s successor, Trevor Lawrence, would follow in his footsteps, leading Clemson back to the mountaintop in 2018. The freshman phenom carved up Alabama’s vaunted defense to the tune of 347 passing yards and three touchdowns, cementing his status as a generational talent.
The Resurgence of the Running Back
While quarterbacks have dominated the MVP conversation in recent years, running backs have begun to reassert themselves as game-changers on the biggest stage. In 2023, Michigan’s Blake Corum turned in a virtuoso performance, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wolverines to their first national title in over two decades.
Corum’s efficiency and explosiveness were on full display as he averaged over six yards per carry, consistently gashing a Washington defense that had been among the nation’s best all season. His MVP performance served as a reminder that, even in an increasingly pass-happy sport, a dominant ground game can still be the key to championship glory.
The Unsung Heroes
While offensive stars often garner the lion’s share of attention, defensive playmakers have been equally integral to their teams’ championship runs. From Eddie Jackson’s game-sealing interception for Alabama in 2015 to Lewis Cine’s sideline-to-sideline dominance for Georgia in 2021, defensive MVPs have repeatedly proven that championships are won on both sides of the ball.
Perhaps no defensive performance was more impressive than that of Christian Barmore in Alabama’s 2020 triumph over Ohio State. The sophomore defensive tackle was a one-man wrecking crew, recording five tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack as he consistently disrupted the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense. His relentless pursuit and game-changing plays set the tone for a dominant Crimson Tide victory.
The Future of MVP Performances
As the College Football Playoff enters its second decade, the stage is set for a new generation of stars to leave their mark. With each passing year, the level of talent and competition only seems to rise, promising even more electrifying performances and unforgettable moments.
- Emerging stars like USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Texas running back Bijan Robinson appear poised to take the mantle from their predecessors, while defensive standouts such as Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner and Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo have the potential to redefine excellence on their side of the ball.
Regardless of who ultimately hoists the MVP trophies in the years to come, one thing is certain: their performances will be etched in the annals of college football history, forever remembered as the defining moments of the sport’s grandest stage.
As fans, we can only sit back and marvel at the sheer brilliance on display, secure in the knowledge that we are witnessing greatness in its purest form. These are the legends of the College Football Playoff, the MVPs whose names will echo through the ages as synonymous with championship glory.
