The first 12-team College Football Playoff has come and gone.
Just like it did the last time a new playoff format was introduced, Ohio State captured the national championship, this time going on a four-game run that was unprecedented in the sport.
But now that we’ve had a few weeks to let it all digest, take a 30,000-foot view and realize we’re in the midst of the offseason, why not reflect and rank all 11 postseason games from this past season in order from least fun to most fun? Now, the overall quality of the tournament probably would have been better if the format and seeding had been different, but that’s beating a dead horse at this point and should the subject matter for a different column. But what we had to watch this season wasn’t half bad either all things considered.
Of course, what constitutes as “fun” is certainly subjective when watching a football game. Some fans think watching your team blow a team to smithereens is relaxing and carefree, while others may wish the entertainment value stretched for longer. Others love the thrill of a back-and-forth game, while it stresses others out. Some love shootouts, some love rock fights. You get the point.
For these rankings, I’m not using any specific formula or criteria, outside of how much fun I had either watching or covering a specific game. But I am an offensive guy at heart, so tie goes to those.
It goes without saying, we’re grading slightly on a curve here since this is an Ohio State-centered website, after all. If you were basing these games strictly on entertainment value alone from, say, a Minnesota fan’s perspective, they might shape out a little differently.
No. 11: Penn State 38, SMU 10
Breakdown: This bracket had its fair share of blowouts, but I don’t think any game got to the point of “Oh yeah this puppy’s over” earlier than this one. SMU was clearly rattled by Beaver Stadium, with quarterback Kevin Jennings throwing for three interceptions, two of them returned for pick-sixes. Penn State had a 28-0 lead at halftime, and if you changed the channel, you didn’t miss much.
No. 10: Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17
Breakdown: Ah yes, the game that got the SEC talking points fired up until they had to quiet down one day later. This game was much uglier than its final score indicated, with Notre Dame racing out to a 27-3 lead and then essentially coasting as Indiana scored two touchdowns late. In hindsight, it’s still interesting to try and comprehend where Indiana truly measured up against the rest of the playoff competitors considering the two teams it lost to all season played for a national title.
No. 9: Penn State 31, Boise State 14
Breakdown: This one was at least interesting for a little bit. Boise State kept it within 10 at halftime and the Broncos made it a three-point game early in the third quarter. Yet, Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty was kept in check for the majority of the game, and even though the contest remained close until midway through the third quarter, it never really felt like a game the Nittany Lions had a legit shot of losing.
No. 8: Texas 38, Clemson 24
Breakdown: By the time you finish reading this recap, Texas will have broken off another big run against Clemson. The Longhorns absolutely gashed the Tigers on the ground, totaling 292 rushing yards on the day. Yet, this game was a one-score game at one point in the fourth quarter due to the brilliance of quarterback Cade Klubnik. Considering how awesome that Texas secondary was, it may be the most underrated performance of the whole postseason. Klubnik finished 26 of 43 passing for 336 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Still, Clemson’s defense couldn’t make any stops when it mattered, so that prevents this from going higher on our list.
No. 7: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10
Breakdown: The circumstances that forced this game to be played a day later than intended were, of course, tragic and horrible. The game itself turned out to be a defensive lover’s paradise. Georgia’s offense looked like it had lost its starting quarterback, especially in the closing moments of the first half when Gunner Stockton was strip-sacked, setting up a Notre Dame touchdown. A 98-yard kickoff return by Notre Dame to start the second half made things very dire for Georgia after it trailed by 17, and it was over from there.
No. 6: Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17
Breakdown: If we were looking at this objectively, it probably would make sense to rank this game lower than what we currently have it. And if it was just a standard game, we probably would have ranked it lower. But we all know it wasn’t. Ryan Day was feeling all kinds of heat from every direction following his fourth straight loss to Michigan, and anything less than a fast start would have turned hostile very quickly in Ohio Stadium, or “Neyland North” as some overzealous Tennessee fans liked to call it. What transpired was a straight-up ass-kicking that set the tone for the Buckeyes’ championship run.
No. 5: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21
Breakdown: I think the most notable thing about this game for me is how shocking it was. Following the Tennessee win, I reversed course on my prediction and picked Ohio State to narrowly beat Oregon. Not even the most diehard scarlet and gray faithful saw the Buckeyes jumping out to a 34-0 lead before the first half was over. Jeremiah Smith was unstoppable, Chip Kelly called the best game of his one-year tenure as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and the defense was night-and-day different from the first time around in Eugene in run defense and pressuring Dillon Gabriel. Ohio State operated at a full-operational death star for nearly 60 minutes, and while that was incredible to witness, the only reason it’s not higher is because the Cotton Bowl started approving Ohio State media members’ credential applications following halftime, which tells you how much of a bloodbath it was.
No. 4: Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24
Breakdown: I appreciated the narratives behind this one coming into it. Big Game James vs. a program that had traditionally folded on a big stage in recent memory. Something’s gotta give. And for the most part, it was a pretty enjoyable game all throughout for four quarters. In a twist of fate, Penn State lost, yet I can’t really remember anything that made me cry out OH MY GOD BIG GAME JAMES DID IT AGAIN like previous monumental contests have. The Nittany Lions did not complete a single pass to a wide receiver this game, and while they’re getting plenty of preseason hype for the 2025 season already, they still need significant upgrades there last I checked. Ultimately, a bad Drew Allar turnover late sealed Penn State’s fate, though wide receiver woes aside, 2025 could be one of James Franklin’s best teams in Happy Valley.
No. 3: Texas 39, Arizona State 31 (2OT)
Breakdown: Hand up, I completely underestimated the Big 12 all season. I dismissed the league as a fun bunch of misfits who would be humbled if it faced an elite opponent on a big stage. Then running back Cam Skattebo had the half of his life in the second half, and Texas’ kicker had a game from hell. Arizona State almost made the 14-point miracle comeback complete in the first overtime, but then the Sun Devils forgot that it’s usually a good idea to cover a player in the end zone on 4th-and-13. Either way, it was a hell of a statement from Kenny Dillingham in a season where Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12.
No. 2: Ohio State 28, Texas 14
Breakdown: At this point, it’s only a matter of preference as to whether you preferred 3rd-and-Jeremiah or the Jack Sawyer Scoop-and-Sawyer as your moment of the season, but the latter cemented himself as an Ohio State legend in this game.
Ohio State’s defense brought it again per usual and TreVeyon Henderson took a simple screen pass to the house to negate Texas' momentum late in the first half, but I couldn’t help but be impressed by the Longhorns’ defensive gameplan against Ohio State, especially holding Jeremiah Smith to only one catch the entire game.
Yet, Will Howard and OSU engineered a successful go-ahead drive late in the game, which set the stage for Sawyer’s heroics against his former roommate and former OSU quarterback Quinn Ewers. Beating Texas in Dallas made it a little sweeter as well.
No. 1: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
Breakdown: Tough choice between this and the Cotton Bowl for the No. 1 spot considering a decade from now, we’re probably all going to be reminiscing about either Sawyer or Smith’s heroics. But the tie goes to the wide receiver considering the key moment of the season came in the national title game.
With the exception of a long touchdown drive allowed defensively on Notre Dame’s opening series, the Buckeyes looked like a juggernaut in the first half on both sides of the ball, then continued its hot start into the third quarter. Credit to Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish mounted a furious comeback that got a little too close for comfort.
But then Notre Dame decided to go cover zero and leave Smith one-on-one with Christian Gray with the game on the line, and we all know how that went.
This game had a bit of everything for Ohio State fans. It had a period where the Buckeyes looked unbeatable, had a stretch where fans were biting their nails in anticipation, and had a monumental moment that defines remembering those big wins.
