Ohio State made history on January 20th as it romped to the College Football Playoff National Championship for the first time in a decade. The Buckeyes were an eight-point favorite for their clash with the defensively sound Notre Dame. But while both teams had solid defenses, the eventual winners had the more explosive offense, which was the key factor in their securing a deserved 34-23 victory and the title.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard did his utmost to keep his side in the contest, amassing 255 yards and two touchdowns in the air. But it was the Buckeyes' two-pronged assault both on the ground and in the air that was too much for the opposition to handle. QB Will Howard went 17 for 21, throwing for 231 yards and touchdowns, while running back Quinshon Judkins amassed a century of rushing yards and two touchdowns of his own.
Now, the college football world turns its eyes toward the upcoming draft, and online sports betting sites are already pricing in who they think will be the number one overall pick. The latest odds from Bovada's online sports betting site currently make Miami Hurricanes star Cameron Ward and Colorado Buffaloes sensation Shedeur Sanders the two front runners, with the former priced at -160 and the latter at +140.
While those two wait and see whether the Tennessee Titans take either of them first overall, the Buckeyes will still be celebrating their championship. But where do they stack up against the greatest national champions ever? Let's find out.
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers delivered one of college football's most dominant seasons back in 2019. With Ed Orgeron as head coach and the unstoppable Joe Burrow under center, Louisiana State went 15-0 throughout the regular season, outscoring their opponents by an average of 27 points per game. Burrow's precision passing and poise in the pocket led his side to marquee wins over Alabama and Oklahoma, as well as securing the Heisman trophy for himself and the number one overall pick in that year's draft.
Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are perhaps the greatest receiving corps the college game has ever seen. Both have gone on to NFL superstardom in the years since their triumph, both contributing to their quarterback setting an NCAA record 60 touchdowns.
In the national championship game, LSU flexed its muscles as the dominant force in the country, emerging with a mighty 42-25 victory. Burrow threw for a whopping 463 yards and five touchdowns, with primary target Chase picking up 221 receiving yards and two TDs of his own. Now, both players are reunited with the Cincinnati Bengals, leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years back in 2022.
Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers captured the nation’s attention in 2010, led by their electrifying quarterback Cam Newton. They finished the season undefeated at 14-0, with Super Cam delivering one of the most dominant campaigns in college football history in his junior year. He picked up over 2,800 yards in the air, as well as a further 1,374 on the ground, plus 50 combined touchdowns. That helped his side to the BCS National Championship game, eventually winning a thriller against Oregon thanks to Wes Byrum's walk-off 19-yard field goal.
Newton’s performance earned him the Heisman Trophy and catapulted him to the NFL as the No. 1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. He went on to earn NFL MVP honors in 2015 and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance, where his side ultimately came up short against Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos.
Alabama Crimson Tide
It’s impossible to talk about dominance in college football without mentioning Alabama. Under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide became a bonafide powerhouse, claiming six national championships.
The 2012 and 2013 teams were spearheaded by playmakers like AJ McCarron, Amari Cooper, and C.J. Mosley. Two years later came the emergence of Derrick Henry, who powered the Tide with 2,219 rushing yards en route to winning the Heisman. His bruising running style was in full flow in the Baltimore Ravens’ 2024 NFL campaign, with the powerhouse running back’s second 2,000-yard season making his team one of the most bet on teams in the country, week-in week-out.
Bama’s 2017 squad delivered one of the most iconic moments in national championship history when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered the game in the second half as a substitute for Jalen Hurts and threw a walk-off touchdown in overtime to defeat Georgia. Tagovailoa and receiver Jerry Jeudy became NFL standouts, with Tagovailoa leading the Miami Dolphins’ resurgence and Jeudy making plays for the Denver Broncos.
But it was the 2020 Alabama team that was arguably Saban’s finest. They went undefeated (13-0) during the campaign that had to be shortened due to global events, dominantly winning the title. They handed a 52-24 beating on Ohio State in the final, with the Buckeyes having to wait five long years for their eventual redemption. That squad was also packed with talent, including Heisman-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris.
