2025-26 CFP Brings New Teams to the Field, Highlights Record Appearances and Championships

The 2025‑26 College Football Playoff will see five programs play their first‑ever playoff games: No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels, No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies, No. 10 Miami Hurricanes, No. 11 Tulane Green Wave and No. 12 James Madison Dukes. In addition, the quarterfinals will introduce the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders, marking the first time the program has reached the postseason.

The CFP’s Early Years

The College Football Playoff began as a four‑team event in the 2014‑15 season. The first ten editions maintained that four‑team format. The 2025‑26 playoff is the twelfth overall and the second to feature a 12‑team field.

Who Won the Inaugural Playoff?

The first playoff featured No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Florida State and No. 4 Ohio State. The Buckeyes, led by players such as Joey Bosa, Michael Thomas and Ezekiel Elliott, captured the title after defeating the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl semifinal and then overpowering the Marcus Mariota‑led Ducks in the championship game.

Most Appearances in the CFP Era

Alabama holds the record for most appearances with nine of the twelve playoffs. Ohio State and Clemson are tied for second place, each with seven appearances. Georgia and Oklahoma follow with five each, while Michigan, Notre Dame and Oregon have three appearances apiece. Indiana, Texas and Washington are the only other programs that have appeared more than once, each making two playoff appearances.

Most National Championships in the CFP Era

Alabama leads with three national titles, earned in the 2015‑16, 2017‑18 and 2020‑21 seasons. The Crimson Tide also recorded three runner‑up finishes, meaning they reached six of the eleven championship games. Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State each have two CFP‑era national titles. The Bulldogs are the only team to win back‑to‑back championships, while the Buckeyes captured the first CFP title and the last season’s inaugural 12‑team championship. Michigan and the LSU Tigers each finished as the last team standing once.

College Football Playoff National Champions by Year

• 2024‑25: No. 8 Ohio State over No. 7 Notre Dame
• 2023‑24: No. 1 Michigan over No. 2 Washington
• 2022‑23: No. 1 Georgia over No. 3 TCU
• 2021‑22: No. 3 Georgia over No. 1 Alabama
• 2020‑21: No. 1 Alabama over No. 3 Ohio State
• 2019‑20: No. 1 LSU over No. 3 Clemson
• 2018‑19: No. 2 Clemson over No. 1 Alabama
• 2017‑18: No. 4 Alabama over No. 3 Georgia
• 2016‑17: No. 2 Clemson over No. 1 Alabama
• 2015‑16: No. 2 Alabama over No. 1 Clemson
• 2014‑15: No. 4 Ohio State over No. 2 Oregon

The Ohio State Buckeyes claimed their first CFP national championship since 2014, defeating the Notre Dame Irish 34‑23.

Key Takeaways

• Five programs will make their first playoff appearance in 2025‑26, including Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Miami, Tulane and James Madison.
• Texas Tech will join the quarterfinals as the first Red Raiders to reach the postseason.
• Alabama has the most appearances (nine) and the most championships (three) in the CFP era.

The 2025‑26 College Football Playoff promises to add fresh faces to the national spotlight while reaffirming the dominance of established powerhouses. With a growing field and an expanding history, the tournament continues to shape the narrative of college football’s elite competition.