The 2024 faculty soccer season was a record-breaking one, being the primary marketing campaign to function the expanded 12-team playoff format.
Ohio State took residence the title, beating Notre Dame 34–23 within the championship recreation. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith was instrumental all through the Buckeyes’ run, making game-changing performs and getting on the sector after they wanted him most.
But he wasn’t the one star to make a reputation for himself on this yr’s CFP.
Arizona State operating again Tax Chamber Cam helped the Sun Devils come near one of many greatest upsets in 11 years of CFP play, main Texas to double time beyond regulation in a 39-31 shootout. This received us considering: what place do these particular person performances have within the historical past of CFP? FOX Sports Research has analyzed the highest 10, analyzing all of the unimaginable performances from a number of gamers because the event’s first version within the 2014 season.
Let’s have a look:
Statistics: 30 carries, 143 yards, two dashing touchdowns; eight receptions, 99 yards; 42-yard passing landing
Skattebo needed to be the superhero of Arizona State’s offense for it to have an opportunity towards Texas. He did somewhat little bit of every little thing within the course of.
With ASU trailing 24-8 within the fourth quarter and going through a fourth-and-2 scenario, Skattebo took a throw and ran the ball downfield. Malik McClain for a 42-yard landing. That kicked off the Sun Devils’ comeback try, which included a Skattebo dashing landing in regulation and one other in time beyond regulation.
Statistics: 7 receptions, 187 yards, two touchdowns
One yr into his faculty profession, and Jeremiah Smith already appears to be like to be a receiver for the ages. He set Big Ten data for receiving yards (1,315) and landing receptions (15) en path to serving to the Buckeyes win the nationwide championship. While his lengthy reception late within the fourth quarter towards Notre Dame sealed the title, Smith’s most memorable efficiency of the postseason got here within the Rose Bowl.
He torched the top-seeded Ducks for 187 receiving yards with two scores as Ohio State received in model, 41-21. It’s no marvel many have mentioned the Buckeyes freshman could possibly be the No. 1 decide within the 2025 draft if eligible. Luckily for Ohio State, Smith will stay in Columbus for a minimum of two extra seasons.
Statistics: 12 receptions, 215 yards, three touchdowns
The Heisman winner set title recreation data for receptions (12) and receiving touchdowns (three) — and did it multi functional half. His last catch got here within the second quarter, but it surely was enormous. Smith outpaced an Ohio State defender whereas hauling in a 42-yard strike MacJones to offer Alabama a 35-17 lead going into halftime.
The star suffered a finger harm early within the second half which pressured him to make an early exit. But the harm was already performed, as he put up probably the greatest huge receiver seasons in faculty soccer historical past.
Statistics: 22 of 28, 385 yards, six touchdowns, one interception; 42 yards dashing
Fields was briefly knocked out of this recreation after taking a tough hit from Clemson linebacker James Skalski, who was ejected for focusing on. (The Ohio State QB later mentioned he injured his ribs throughout the recreation and felt ache everywhere in the proper aspect of his physique consequently.) Two performs later, Fields threw a landing move for Chris Olave.
However, it wasn’t Fields’ most memorable second. That could be when he linked with Olave in excellent stride for a 56-yard strike within the third quarter to offer the Buckeyes a commanding lead. Ohio State received 49–28 to advance to the nationwide title recreation.
6. Joe Burrow vs. Clemson (2020 National Championship Game)
Statistics: 31 of 49, 463 yards, 5 touchdowns; 58 dashing yards, one dashing landing
An eight-touchdown efficiency in a semifinal win is tough to high, however Burrow almost matched that efficiency on this nationwide championship recreation.
Burrow really had to assist LSU come again from an early 10-point deficit towards the defending nationwide champions by driving three consecutive landing drives within the second quarter. His 29-yard run earlier than halftime highlighted a 95-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 28-17 lead.
Burrow then sealed the victory with a pair of landing passes within the second half, capping the very best passing season in faculty soccer historical past.
Statistics: 29 of 39, 493 yards, seven touchdowns; 21 dashing yards, one dashing landing
Burrow put up an absolute move towards Oklahoma in his first recreation after successful the Heisman. LSU reached the top zone on eight of its first 9 possessions, with Burrow passing for a landing on seven of them and operating for the opposite rating. At halftime, Burrow had seven landing passes and 6 incompletions because the Tigers led 49-14.
He nonetheless holds the CFP data for first-half passing yards (403), landing passes (seven) and touchdowns accountable (eight). Justin Jefferson additionally set new CFP highs with 14 receptions, 227 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns within the 63-28 win.
Statistics: 20 of 32, 347 yards, three touchdowns; 27 yards dashing
The nationwide championship stage definitely wasn’t too massive for this freshman quarterback. Lawrence battled his manner towards an Alabama protection that began eight future NFL Draft picks, main 5 consecutive drives at one level and throwing three touchdowns as Clemson put the sport away within the third quarter. His 74-yard landing move to Justyn Ross it was the second-longest landing move in a CFP recreation.
The Tigers’ 44-16 victory, towards a beforehand undefeated Crimson Tide group no much less, was Nick Saban’s largest margin in a loss throughout his historic tenure at Alabama.
Statistics: 14 of 24, 166 yards, three touchdowns, one interception; 27 yards dashing
When hassle loomed for Alabama within the 2018 title recreation, Nick Saban referred to as in a freshman to avoid wasting the day. The Crimson Tide surprisingly trailed 13-0 at halftime, when Jalen hurts he was benched in favor of Tagovailoa, who had performed sparingly in his first season in Tuscaloosa and was contemplating transferring. He nearly instantly lived as much as his promising billing, main Alabama to a landing on his second drive. Tagovailoa drove in three extra objectives to tie the sport late within the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide had an opportunity to win in regulation however missed a 36-yard subject purpose on the buzzer.
After Georgia kicked a subject purpose to open time beyond regulation, Tagovailoa took a 16-yard sack on the primary play of the following possession. He recovered a couple of seconds later, connecting with DeVonta Smith on a 41-yard landing move to seal the title.
2. Deshaun Watson vs. Alabama (2017 nationwide championship recreation)
Statistics: 36 of 56, 420 yards, three touchdowns; 43 dashing yards, one dashing landing
Watson’s 405-yard efficiency towards Alabama within the title recreation a season earlier wasn’t sufficient for Clemson to earn a win. So, he needed to assert himself to make sure the Tigers received the title when the 2 groups met once more a yr later.
Facing an Alabama protection that featured 10 future NFL gamers, Watson additionally needed to work his magic instantly. Clemson fell right into a 14-0 gap, which in the end led to Watson totaling 77 passing and dashing makes an attempt amongst Clemson’s 99 offensive snaps.
With the Tigers trailing 31-28 within the last minutes, Watson led a drive that can final for the ages. He accomplished six of his seven passes on the 68-yard drive, together with the game-winning rating to Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining.
Statistics: 36 carries, 246 yards, 4 touchdowns
Elliott was dominant in Ohio State’s upset win over Alabama within the 2015 Sugar Bowl, dashing for 230 yards and scoring an 85-yard landing late to punch the Buckeyes a ticket to the nationwide title recreation.
Somehow, Elliott made it by that recreation towards Oregon for the championship. After a powerful first half (98 dashing yards, one dashing landing), Elliott raised the extent of his recreation within the second half. He rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns within the last half-hour of the sport, setting the report for many dashing yards in a half within the four-team CFP period. Those three dashing touchdowns have been the ultimate three scores of the sport, turning Ohio State’s one-point lead late within the third quarter right into a 42-20 lead.
Elliott’s 4 dashing touchdowns are additionally probably the most ever in a CFP nationwide title recreation, solidifying him as probably the greatest operating backs in Ohio State’s storied historical past.
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