Since 2014, the College Football Playoff National Championship has been used to determine the National Champion for Division-1 college football. It is a bracket style tournament consisting of the top four teams in the country. The playoff format formally replaced the Bowl Championship Series and its BCS National Championship Game.
The participating teams in the College Football Playoff National Championship are determined by two semifinal games that are hosted by an annual series of bowl games, commonly known as the "New Year's Six" . The bowl games that determine the semifinalists are on a rotating schedule. This year, the semifinalists will be the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl The winner of the game is presented the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy. The previous award, a crystal football, got a redesign when the new playoff format was instituted.
The first ever CFP National Championship was won by Ohio State and played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX The Alabama Crimson Tide have the record for the most appearances with six, and also the most wins, with three.
This year's championship features an unfamiliar face, the TCU Horned Frogs, who recently took down the heavily-favored Michigan Wolverines in the Fiesta Bowl to advance. TCU will do battle with one of the defending champions, the Georgia Bulldogs whose defense will have its hands full against TCU's up-tempo offense.
Here's a breakdown of the teams that have made it to the CFP National Championship:
Alabama Crimson Tide - The Crimson Tide have established themselves as one of college football's elite and favorites to play in the big game. The Crimson Tide have appeared in a total of six games, and winning 3 of them in 2015, 2017, and 2020.
Clemson Tigers - Clemson has been to the National Championship four times and has won it twice, in 2016, and 2018.
Ohio State Buckeyes - The Buckeyes won the first ever CFP Playoff National Championship. Their only other trip they came up short losing to Alabama
Georgia Bulldogs - The Bulldogs have been to the National Championship twice, each time playing Alabama. They won the title most recently in 2021.
LSU Tigers - The Tigers have only been to the championship once in 2019 and won it.
Oregon Ducks - The Oregon Ducks have only been to the CFP National Championship once, losing to Ohio State.
