2020 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
January 13, 2020 — #1 LSU Tigers vs. #3 Clemson Tigers — Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La. — 7:15 p.m. CST — ESPN
No. 1 Louisiana State Tigers (14-0) vs. No. 3 Clemson Tigers (14-0)
Quick College Football Playoff National Championship Game “Fun Facts”
Louisiana State comes in ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Standings as well as in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls; Clemson was No. 3 in all three (LSU received 47 of 62 first place votes in the AP ballot and 46 of the 65 in the coaches’ tab; Clemson received three and five, respectively; No. 2 Ohio State had the others) This is the fifth year of the CFP, and the No. 1 seed has yet to be crowned the champion; in fact, the lower seed in all five games has emerged with the trophy (No. 4 Ohio State in 2014, No. 2 Alabama in 2015, No. 2 Clemson in 2016 and 2018 and No. 4 Alabama in 2017); note the No. 3 seed has yet to win, either (the higher seed is 8-4 in the semifinal game) This is the fourth of the six CFP title games that will be played indoors (2017 in Tampa and 2019 in Santa Clara were outdoors); thus no weather issues.
Tonight’s winner will be just the second team to go 15-0 since Division I was split in 1978 (Clemson did it last year and became the fourth to do so); no team classified in the top division of college football has ever won 15 games in back-to-back seasons. Yale, Penn and Chicago each have two 15- plus win seasons, but never consecutively. In the FCS (formerly I-AA), North Dakota State was 16-0 this season and 15-0 in 2013 and 2018, Marshall was 15-0 in 1996 and Georgia Southern 15-0 in 1989 (details on page 2) This is just the fourth meeting between the two schools (LSU leads, 2-1; series notes on page 3) The teams have gone a combined 1,161 days since their last losses (Clemson 741, LSU 420) Both teams are 7-0 away from home this year (road/neutral sites); Clemson has outscored its opponents in those games by 202 points (28.9 per), LSU has by 146 (20.9 per) LSU is 27-23-1 all-time in bowl/postseason games, while Clemson is 25-20 LSU’s opponents this year have won 114 games (including Clemson); in FBS history, the only teams that had their opponent win more games was Clemson last year (120); Alabama’s also won 114 in 2015 and 2018 This year, the two CFP finalists (LSU, Clemson) are a combined 600 miles from the game site (New Orleans) “as the crow flies” – or a straight line; last year, Alabama and Clemson were a combined 4,140 miles away If LSU scores 16 points, it would become the second team to score 700-plus points in a season (most: 723, Florida State, 2013) LSU is looking to become the 14th school with multiple Heisman trophies AND national championships; they would join Alabama, Army, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami-Fla., Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and USC.
This is the 28th meeting between the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 teams (as ranked by the AP), with the No. 1’s owning a 15-11-1 edge (complete list on page 6) Clemson has won at least 10 games for nine straight seasons (117-22 in the 2010s, third-best nationally); LSU has won at least 10 games in six seasons this decade (and at least eight in all), and owns the nation’s sixth best record at 102-28.
The SEC went 7-2 in bowl games this year, while ACC schools went 4-6; the SEC, win or lose, has clinched the best record in the bowls for 2019 (see list on page 11) In the 20 BCS Championship (16) CFP title (5) games, the winning team has led at halftime 16 times, trailed three times (2014, 2016 and 2019 ) with two games tied; the team that scored first is only 10-11 Clemson has outscored its opponents by 473 points (best in the nation); LSU is third, doing so by 381 (Ohio State is second at plus-464, with only Alabama also over 300 (+372) Not including the playoff semifinals, LSU faced nine bowl teams during 2019 season (they posted a 5-4 record), while Clemson faced eight (3-5) The five CFP championship games have averaged 3:45 in length, the longest at 4 hours, 8 minutes in 2017 President Donald Trump will attend his second CFP game (he was in Atlanta in 2018).
Internet Information
Internet Connection: Wireless internet connectivity is provided for all working areas for the media (you are required to have the latest anti-virus, anti-malware and security software installed on your laptop): Wireless Network: CFPMEDIA Password: 2020nola (for wifi or Ethernet line) · The transmission of video or audio files from the press box during the game is prohibited.
Live Stats: http://cfpstats.com (no password required)
Media Site: www.collegepressbox.com/playoff
Digital Media Hub: www.collegefootballplayoff.com/media (logos, daily pool photos, broadcast quality audio and video)
Hospitality
Pregame, halftime and postgame meals will be provided in all working media areas at Levi’s Stadium. Snacks and beverages will be provided starting at 10 a.m. through the conclusion of the game. The media hospitality room at the Sheraton Hotel will also re-open at 10 p.m. for those members of the media returning to the headquarters hotel (open until 3 a.m.).
Postgame
Field Access. All credentialed media will be allowed field access with five (5) minutes remaining on the game clock in the fourth quarter.
Awards Ceremony. At the conclusion of the game, the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy (presented by Dr Pepper) along with the offensive and defensive player of the game trophies will be awarded in the south end zone. Two stages will be set up behind the ESPN camera platforms for photographers; positions at these stages will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Postgame News Conference. At the postgame news conference (northeast corner of the field level), the head coach/players will be positioned at the main table from the runner-up team after a 10-minute cooling off period, which begins when the head coach enters the locker room. The period for the winning team is 20 minutes, which begins at the conclusion of the trophy presentation. The conferences will also be available on the televisions in the press box and in the media work rooms to assist those with tight deadlines. Per CFP policy, the locker rooms for both teams will be open to the media for a minimum of 20 minutes at the conclusion of the cooling off periods.
Quotes/Notes. ASAP will provide complete transcripts of the postgame conferences; halftime/postgame notes provided by CFP game staff. GAMEDAY NOTES (2)
Transportation
For media requiring transportation back to the Sheraton Hotel, the first shuttle bus will depart the stadium 30 minutes following the conclusion of the game; return busses and shuttles will be provided until approximately four hours after the conclusion of the game. The pickup point will be the same as the drop off area, at the main entrance (Gate A) of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Tuesday Follow-Up
The Champions News Conference on Tuesday, January 14 will feature the winning head coach, as well as the offensive and defensive players of the game from the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. The conference will be held in the Grand Ballroom on the fifth floor of the Sheraton Hotel. A news conference with the host committee will follow at 10 a.m. to officially pass the torch to the 2021 Miami host committee.
Game Officials Pac-12 Conference Officiating Crew
Referee Chris Coyte Side Judge Clay Reynard Replay Official Gary McNanna Umpire Villar Francisco Field Judge Kevin Kieser Replay Official Terry Leyden Head Linesman Darryl Johnson Back Judge Joe Johnston Alternate Official Steven Strimling Line Judge Dale Keller Center Judge Jim Wharrie
Captains & Honorary Captains
LSU (announced last night at the team dinner): #7 Grant Delpit, S; #9 Joe Burrow, QB; #17 Racey McMath, WR; #79 Lloyd Cushenberry, C; #90 Rashard Lawrence, DL Honorary: Anthony “Booger” McFarland (’98; a first-team All-American as a senior and a two-time all-SEC performer, Tampa Bay selected him in the first round (15th pick overall) in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played for the Buccaneers for seven seasons (1999-2005) and wrapped his pro career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006-07. He is currently the analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Clemson: #11 Isaiah Simmons, LB; #12 K’von Wallace, S; #14 Diondre Overton, WR; #19 Tanner Muse, S; #59 Gage Cervenka, OL; #73 Tremayne Anchrum, OT; #74 John Simpson, OL Honorary: Grady Jarrett (’14; an all-ACC performer at defensive tackle as a senior, he was a fifth round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft (137th pick overall). He has played all five pro seasons with the Falcons (who put their franchise tag on his ahead of the 2019 season). He has started 61 of 76 games, making 248 tackles with 20½ quarterback sacks.
Pool Reporter
If required that the referee needs to be questioned after the game on a rules interpretation, George Schroeder from SiriusXM Radio (and formerly the longtime sports editor at USA Today) has been designated as tonight’s official pool reporter.
Pregame Patriotic Recognition
The nation’s colors will be presented by the NAS JRB Joint Color Guard Team New Orleans, including members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard; continuing a CFP tradition, drummers from the participating team bands will play side-by-side as the color guard is introduced. Lafayette, La., native and contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter artist Lauren Daigle will perform The Star Spangled Banner; during the anthem performance, there will once again be a live feed from the Special Operations Command located at Camp Humphries, South Korea. Located within the seaport city of Pyeongtaek, along the western coast, it is 40 miles south of Seoul, and is home to the Army's most active airfield in the Pacific.
The 14 and 15 (and 16) Clubs One team is guaranteed to join the exclusive 15-win club this year, done seven times previously but just once over the last 120 seasons – by Clemson last year (thus the only team in the modern era). The number of games played was reined in around the turn of the century (1800s to 1900s), reducing the opportunity to even play that many games. The Fab 15-plus:
School Season Record School SeasonRecord School Season Record Yale 1889 16-1-0 Chicago 1896 15-2-1 Clemson 2018 15-0 Penn 1892 15-1-0 Penn 1897 15-0-0 Clemson or LSU 2019 15-0 Yale 1894 16-0-0 Chicago 1899 16-0-2
LSU and Clemson joined a very exclusive group by winning 14 games in the FBS/Division I-A in what the NCAA considers the modern era, 1937-present. It has happened on 15 occasions, by eight different schools, and 11 times this decade. Alabama and Clemson have each achieved it four times, with Ohio State the only other accomplish it more than once (twice). The 14ers (*—denotes national champion):
2018 *Clemson 15-0 2009 Boise State 14-0 2015 *Alabama 14-1 2018 Alabama 14-1 1996 Brigham Young 14-1 2010 *Auburn 14-0 2015 Clemson 14-1 2019 Clemson 14-0 2002 *Ohio State 14-0 2013 *Florida State 14-0 2016 Alabama 14-1 2019 LSU 14-0 2009 *Alabama 14-0 2014 *Ohio State 14-1 2016 *Clemson 14-1
Who did Chicago defeat for those 16 wins? Four high schools (common for the day: Englewood twice, Hyde Park, West Division), Knox, Physicians & Surgeons, Notre Dame, Dixon, Cornell, Oberlin, Purdue, Northwestern, Beloit, Minnesota, Brown and Wisconsin; the ties came against Iowa and Penn. And in 1899? William McKinley was president … the telephone, radio and cars were very primitive to say the least … no television … no NFL, NHL or NBA … and to this day, it was the last time a giant stone toppled over at Stonehenge.
The last team to go 15-0 before Clemson last year was Penn in 1897, and they ran roughshod over Bucknell (twice), Franklin & Marshall, Washington & Jefferson, Gettysburg, Lehigh, Virginia, Dartmouth, Penn State, Lafayette, Brown, Carlisle, Wesleyan, Harvard and Cornell. The Quakers played those 15 games over the course of 65 days. And while we’re at it, LSU and Clemson will become the 12th and 13th teams to play 15 games in a season in modern times, joining ’96 BYU (14-1), ’03 Kansas State (11-4), ‘14 Ohio State (14-1), ’14 Oregon (13-2), the ’15 and ’16 Alabama and Clemson teams (all four going 14-1), ‘17 Georgia (13-2), ’18 Clemson (15-0) and ’18 Alabama (14-1).
FAB FOUR. Only four schools dating to 2013 have not lost a game to a team that finished under .500: Alabama, Florida, LSU and Michigan. GAMEDAY NOTES (3)
LSU-Clemson Series & Notes
Though the two schools who share the nickname Tigers are only 566 miles apart (“as the crow flies”), they have met on just three occasions previous to this game, and all in the postseason. LSU holds a 2-1 advantage, which includes a 7-0 win in New Orleans in the 1959 Sugar Bowl (when it was also ranked No. 1); the other two games were in Atlanta. This is the third time both are ranked, the first both in the top five. Here’s the series game-by-game:
Jan. 1, 1959 #1 LSU 7, #12 Clemson 0 (Sugar Bowl; New Orleans) Dec. 28, 1996 #17 LSU 10, Clemson 7 (Peach Bowl Atlanta) Dec. 31, 2012 #14 Clemson 25, #9 LSU 24 (Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta)
LSU-Clemson Series Point Differential (3 games) Margin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total LSU 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 2 Clemson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1
LSU is 37-27 versus current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (124 games), with most of the games against Georgia Tech (7-12) and Miami- Fla. (10-3). It has also played eight other ACC schools: Wake Forest (3-0), Boston College (2-0), North Carolina (6-1), Syracuse (3-1), Clemson (2-1), Duke (1-1), Virginia Tech (1-1) and Florida State (2-7). The Tigers have not played Louisville, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh or Virginia.
Clemson is 132-172-14 against current members of the Southeastern Conference (318 total games), with most of the games against South Carolina (71-42-2), Georgia (18-42-4) and Auburn (15-34-2; the Tigers have played all but one member of the SEC (Arkansas) with the following records against the other 10: Missouri (3-1), Mississippi State (1-1-1), Kentucky (5-8), Tennessee (6-11-2), Texas A&M (3-3), LSU (1-2), Alabama (5-14), Vanderbilt (1-3), Florida (3-9-1), Mississippi (0-2).
Last Losses. Clemson’s last loss came on Jan. 1, 2018 in the Sugar Bowl/CFP Semifinal, losing to Alabama 24-6. LSU’s last setback was on Nov. 24, 2018 at Texas A&M, that 7-overtime affair that saw A&M win, 74-72, in the highest scoring game in NCAA/FBS history.
89. That’s the combined number of players on National Football League rosters as of January 5 (LSU 48, Clemson 41). That would equate to just under 5 percent of the total players, active/injured/inactive on the 32 NFL rosters.
First Down Differential. Only three teams in the FBS ranks earned 100 or more first downs than their opponent, and two are in this game. Clemson by far and away is the national leader at +181 (370 earned, 189 allowed), while LSU is third at +129 (389, 260). In second is Ohio State, right behind CU at +180 (397, 217).
Famous Non-Sports Alumni. Each school has some notable alumni outside of the sports world: CLEMSON: Nikki Haley (former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations); Fiona Hutchinson (actress, One Life to Live), Lee Brice (country music singer), Nancy O’Dell (host of Entertainment Tonight); Mark Tremonti (league guitarist for Creed). LSU: Hubert Humphrey (U.S. vice president and ’68 presidential candidate), Joanne Woodward (actress), James Carville (noted political commentator), Bill Conti (music composer and conductor; think Rocky movies). And we’ll throw in Shaquille O’Neal, who might appear in more commercials than any other person out there.
Out of the Gate: Clemson has outscored its opponents 170-27 in the first quarter (and 381-65 in the first half); in its 29-game winning run, it owns a 277-65 first quarter edge (and 699-141 in the first half). LSU has outscored the foe 159-47 in the first period (and 387-128 in the first half this year).
LSU (684 points) and Clemson (634) are 1-4 in the nation in points scored; the NCAA record for 14 games is 723 by Florida State in 2013; the record for a 15-game season is 681 by Oregon in 2014. FSU’s 723 points is the only instance of a team 700-plus.
LSU (684 points) needs to score at least 25 points to claim the FBS scoring title (to average 47.26 or more); if not, Alabama will lay claim to it at 47.23; either way, one or the other will become the first SEC team to lead the nation in scoring since Florida in 1996 (46.6) and for just the third time ever (George led in 1946 with 37.2 per outing).
If Clemson allows 27 points or less tonight, it will be the nation’s scoring defense leader for the second straight season; that has been done just six times previous: Tennessee (1939-40), Georgia Tech (1955-56), Michigan (1971-72), Oklahoma (1986-87) and Alabama (2011-12 and 2016-17).
Nationally, Clemson is the top 10 in 21 major team statistical categories (and in the top 20 in 32); LSU is in the top 10 in 18 and in the top 20 in 22 (see Tale of the Tape on page 5). Clemson leads the ACC in 26 of those categories; LSU leads the SEC in 14 of them.
Tonight’s Punches vs. Counter Punches (or strengths vs. strengths)
LSU is first in the nation in scoring offense (48.9 points per game); Clemson is first in scoring defense (11.5 points per game). Clemson is first in pass efficiency defense (96.3 rating); LSU is second in the nation in passing efficiency (199.4).
Keeping The Opponent At A Distance
Clemson has outscored its opponents by 940 points in its 29-game winning streak (or by 32.4 points); LSU, in its 15-game run, has outscored its foes by 389 points (or 25.9 per). In their respective streaks, Clemson and LSU are both 4-0 in one-score games (8 points or less).
Starting Quarterback “Tale of the Tape”
PASSING -avg. per- RUSHING CAREER RECORD Player, School Att-Com-Int Pct. Yards Att. Com. TD Sacked Rating Att Yards Avg TD Long Overall vs. Ranked Joe Burrow, LSU 478-371-6 .776 5,208 10.9 14.0 55 30/195 204.6 101 311 3.1 4 22 27-3 11-3 Trevor Lawrence, Clemson 370-250-8 .676 3,431 9.3 13.7 36 15/120 173.2 93 514 5.5 8 67t 25-0 7-0
ACC vs. SEC No. 1 vs. No.3 Games There have been four head-to-head games among teams ranked Nos. 1 and 3 in the Associated Press poll between members of the Atlantic Coast and SEC (not including the 1952 Sugar Bow between Maryland and Tennessee, when Maryland was a member of the Southern Conference, the precursor to the ACC). Tonight will be the “rubber’ game, as each conference has two wins, one each by the No. 1 team (full list of Nos. 1 vs. 3 later in these notes):
Jan. 2, 1997 Sugar Bowl #3 Florida 52, #1 Florida State 20 Jan. 9, 2017 CFP Champ #3 Clemson 35, #1 Alabama 31 Nov. 20, 1999 #1 Florida State 30, #3 Florida 23 Sept. 2, 2017 #1 Alabama 27, #3 Florida State 7 GAMEDAY NOTES (4)
Swinney Looking To Join Exclusive Group
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney would make history if the Tigers win tonight: he would become the fourth head coach since the inception of the Associated Press poll in 1936 to win three national championships in a four-year span. Previously it has been done by Nick Saban (Alabama, 2009-11- 12), Tom Osborne (Nebraska 1994-95-97) and Frank Leahy (Army 1946-47-49).
LSU Can Too …
Louisiana State could join just two other current FBS programs in history to end a team’s 25-plus game winning streak – at least twice. In last year’s Fiesta Bowl, the Tigers defeated UCF, 40-32, ending the Knight’s 25-game winning streak. Notre Dame has done it three times, most notably ending Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak in 1957 (also stopping 30 wins in a row by Texas in 1970 and 25 by Army in 1946). Oregon State has done it twice, ending a 40-game streak by Washington in 1914 and USC in 1933 (however, they ended both with ties). Clemson has won 29 straight, and it, of course, ended a 26-game winning run by Alabama in the 2017 CFP championship game.
2019-20 Associated Press All-Bowl Team
Offense Defense Special Teams Joe Burrow, QB, LSU A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa Riley Patterson, K, Memphis Xazavian Valladay, RB, Wyoming Malcolm Koonce, DL, Buffalo Michael Turk, P, Arizona State Journey Brown, RB, Penn State Jesse Lemonier, DL, Liberty Ihmir Smith-Marsette, RS, Iowa Lamical Perine, RB, Florida Kenny Willekes, DL, Michigan State Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU Joseph Ossai, LB, Texas Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson Rashad Smith, LB, Florida Atlantic Jackson Carman, OL, Clemson Khoury Bethley, DB, Hawai’i Samuel Cosmi, OL, Texas Brady Breeze, DB, Oregon Charlie Heck, OL, North Carolina Antwan Collier, DB, UCF Ford Higgins, OL, Navy Richie Grant, DB, UCF James Hudson, OL, Cincinnati Richard LeCounte, DB, Georgia Lynn Bowden Jr., All-Purpose, Kentucky Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
ESPN Top 150 Selections
All-Time Players Clemson (1): 101. Deshaun Watson, QB (2014-16)
All-Time Coaches Clemson (4): 39. John Heisman (19-3-2, 1900-03); 31. Dabo Swinney (130-30, 2008-19); 73. Danny Ford (96-29-4, 1978-89); 124. Frank Howard (165-118-12, 1940-69). LSU (5): 2. Nick Saban (48-16, 2000-04); 96. Charlie McClendon (137-59-7, 1962-79); 104. Dana Bible (1-0-2, 1916); 134. Mike Donahue (29-13-3, 1923-27); 140. Les Miles (114-34, 2005-16).
FBA All-Time Top 150 Bowl Players c
LSU (4): CB/RB Tommy Casanova (’71), OG Alan Faneca (’97), RB Leonard Fournette (’2018), HB Steve Van Buren (’43)
Postseason Awards / Trophies c
LSU (15): Ed Orgeron (Four national coach of the year awards: AP, Home Depot, Eddie Robinson, Walter Camp), SEC Coach of the Year, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year; Joe Brady (Broyles Award/top assistant coach); QB Joe Burrow (Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, AP Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Award); WR Ja’Marr Chase (Biletnikoff Award); S Grant Delpit (Jim Thorpe Award).
FWAA Freshman All-America Team The FWAA Freshman All-America Team was released this morning; honored was LSU’s CB Derek Stingley Jr. (6-1, 195, Baton Rouge, La.). A consensus All-American as a true freshman, he has started all 14 games with 36 tackles (30 solo), 21 PBU’’s and 4 INTs. Also one of three finalists for FWAA’s 2019 FWAA Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award (with North Carolina QB Sam Howell and Memphis RB Kenneth Gainwell)
Shooting For The Title … With The Same Nickname
This is the first national championship match-up in the postseason in football (since 1968 when the AP started conducting post-bowl polls) where both teams competing for the title share the same nickname (in this case, Tigers). It has happened three times in the NCAA basketball tournament: Dartmouth- Stanford in 1942 (both then known as the Indians; Stanford defeated Colorado in one semifinal, the “classic Indians killing a buffalo”); Kansas State- Kentucky in 1951 (Wildcats) and Arizona-Kentucky in 1997 (again, Wildcats). In 2008, Fresno State defeated Georgia for the College World Series crown (both Bulldogs). It has not occurred in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.
UNIQUE STAT OF THE 2019-20 BOWL SEASON Iowa junior Imhir Smith-Marsette scored three touchdowns in the Hawkeyes’ 49-24 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl: a 6-yard run, a 12-yard reception and a 98-yard kickoff return (and all in the second quarter at that). The last player to score three TDs in that fashion in a bowl game was Mississippi’s Deuce McAllister in the 1998 Independence Bowl (he had 32-yard reception, a 4-yard run and a 43-yard kickoff return for scores in a 35-18 win over Texas Tech). Honorable Mention: Memphis’ Riley Patterson converted a bowl record 6-of-6 field goal attempts – all between 37 and 51 yards (263 total) – or an average of 43.8 yards per; seven players shared the previous record of five. His 21 points scored is also a bowl record for points scored by kicking.
GAMEDAY NOTES (5)
Tale of the Tape Here’s a comparative look at LSU and Clemson in several statistical categories through games of January 6 (NCAA/national rankings, if applicable, are in parenthesis and are thus current through all postseason games; *—miles traveled to and from road/neutral games in 2019 regular and postseasons, calculated “as the crow flies” with mileage to New Orleans in parenthesis (that number not included in total); ^—does not include head-to-head result:
Category LSU Clemson Overall Record, 2019 ...... 14-0 14-0 Versus AP Ranked Teams (at time of game) ...... 6-0 3-0 Road/Neutral Record ...... 7-0 7-0 Consecutive Wins ...... 15 29 *Miles Traveled Away To & From Campus (to Santa Clara) ...... 5,176 (76) 6,736 (524) ^FBS Opponents Combined Record (SOS: Sagarin) ...... 100-54 ( 7) 88-65 (56) Alumni On NFL Rosters (as of January 6) ...... 48 41 All-Time Record (per NCAA) ...... 811-415-47 (12) 758-459-45 (14) In CFP Games ...... 0-0 6-2 Bowl Record ...... 27-23-1 25-20 All-Time Weeks Ranked (Associated Press poll) ...... 633 (10) 451 (20) Consecutive Weeks Ranked (active) ...... 37 ( 8) 84 ( 3) All-Time Appearances In Top 10 ...... 319 (13) 178 (21) Total Points In All 1,167 AP Polls ...... 434,047 (14) 301,022 (17) First Downs / First Downs Allowed ...... 389 / 260 ( 2 / 58) 370 / 189 ( 3 / 1) Rushing Offense ...... 167.0 (60) 246.1 (11) Average Per Rush ...... 4.86 (53) 6.41 ( 1) Passing Offense ...... 397.2 ( 2) 292.2 (19) Completion Percentage ...... 76.3 ( 1) 65.3 (17) Average Per Attempt ...... 10.74 ( 3) 8.67 ( 8) Average Per Completion ...... 14.1 ( 8) 13.3 (15) Passing Efficiency ...... 199.4 ( 2) 161.8 (11) Total Offense ...... 564.2 ( 1) 538.4 ( 3) Average Per Play ...... 7.91 ( 2) 7.46 ( 4) Plays of 10-yards or longer ...... 280 ( 1) 267 ( 4) Plays of 20-yards or longer ...... 102 ( 2) 94 ( 7) Scoring Offense ...... 48.9 ( 1) 45.3 ( 4) Touchdowns (Total/Non-Offensive) ...... 89 (2) ( 1) 85 (1) ( 3) Rushing Defense ...... 118.0 (20) 112.6 (15) Average Per Rush ...... 3.60 (28) 3.13 ( 9) Passing Defense ...... 221.9 (56) 151.5 ( 1) Completion Percentage ...... 50.8 ( 2) 52.1 ( 8) Average Per Attempt ...... 6.42 (20) 5.52 ( 1) Pass Efficiency Defense ...... 111.4 ( 7) 96.3 ( 1) Total Defense ...... 339.9 (29) 264.1 ( 2) Average Per Play ...... 5.05 (27) 4.16 ( 2) Scoring Defense ...... 21.6 (29) 11.5 ( 1) Third Down Conversion Offense ...... 51.5 ( 4) 46.5 (17) Third Down Conversion Defense ...... 30.7 ( 9) 31.0 (11) Fourth Down Conversion Offense ...... 5-8/62.5 (23) 6-12/50.0 (77) Fourth Down Conversion Defense ...... 15-31/48.4 (53) 9-22/40.9 (23) Quarterback Sacks By ...... 35 (40) 41 (15) Quarterback Sacks Allowed ...... 30 (71) 16 ( 8) Net Punting...... 38.1 (73) 40.3 (29) Punt Returns ...... 12.3 (20) 6.0 (90) Punt Return Yardage Defense ...... 16.7 (129) 7.3 (64) Kickoff Returns ...... 20.8 (63) 22.0 (40) Kickoff Return Yardage Defense ...... 21.9 (91) 17.6 (13) Turnovers ...... 21 (33) 30 ( 2) Turnovers Forced ...... 12 ( 8) 14 (20) Turnover Margin ...... +0.64 (16) +1.14 ( 5) Red Zone Scoring Percentage (Offense) ...... 97.1 ( 1) 87.7 (45) Red Zone Scoring Percentage (Defense) ...... 76.3 (21) 75.0 (16) Time of Possession ...... 30:04 (64) 30:36 (47)
HOW THE NCAA STATISTICS SERVICE TREATS THIS GAME: All stats and records from the CFP Championship are counted as if it were any other bowl game (as was the BCS Championship game after it broke away from also being the Fiesta, Orange, Rose or Sugar bowls). The NCAA has records for all bowl games, and has also created a section for CFP games as it did just for BCS games. GAMEDAY NOTES (6)
Playing For No. 1 / National Championship In Home State The first post-bowl was by the Associated Press in 1968, thus teams could be crowned as the national champion following the bowl season. A look at those teams that played for the title in a bowl game in their home state as LSU will do for the fourth time this year; “home state” teams are 9-5 in such games (Associated Press rankings in parenthesis through 2011; CFP rankings afterward):
Season Site (Bowl) Team (Rk) Opponent (Rk) Result National Champion 1968 Pasadena (Rose) Southern California (#2) Ohio State (#1) L 16-27 Ohio State 1972 Pasadena (Rose) Southern California (#1) Ohio State (#3) W 42-17 Southern California 1987 Miami (Orange) Miami-Fla. (#2) Oklahoma (#1) W 20-14 Miami, Fla. 1991 Miami (Orange) Miami-Fla. (#1) Nebraska (#11) W 22- 0 *Miami, Fla. (AP) 1993 Miami (Orange) Florida State (#1) Nebraska (#2) W 18-16 Florida State 2000 Miami (Orange) Florida State (#2) Oklahoma (#1) L 2-13 Oklahoma 2003 New Orleans (Sugar) LSU (#2) Oklahoma (#1) W 21-14 LSU (BCS) 2005 Pasadena (Rose) Southern California (#1) Texas (#2) L 38-41 Texas 2007 New Orleans (Sugar) LSU (#2) Ohio State (#1) W 38-24 LSU 2008 Miami (Orange) Florida (#1) Oklahoma (#2) W 24-14 Florida 2011 New Orleans (Sugar) LSU (#1) Alabama (#2) L 0-21 Alabama 2017 Atlanta (CFP Championship) Georgia (#3) Alabama (#4) L 23-26 (OT) Alabama 2019 New Orleans (CFP Championship) LSU (#1) Clemson (#3) ? ? *—UPI/Coaches crowned Washington as the national champion.
For the 1978 season, Alabama and USC were split national champions; USC rose to the top spot with a win in the Rose Bowl:
Season Site (Bowl) Team (Rk) Opponent (Rk) Result 1978 Pasadena (Rose) Southern California (#3) Michigan (#5) W 17-10
In 2003, USC was ranked No. 1 in the final regular season polls (AP & Coaches), but the BCS computers selected LSU-Oklahoma for the title game. USC remained No. 1 in the final AP poll; LSU was No. 1 in the coaches poll, but had to be voted there due to contractual obligations with the BCS (though three coaches still voted for USC):
Season Site (Bowl) Team (Rk) Opponent (Rk) Result 2003 Pasadena (Rose) Southern California (#1) Michigan (#4) W 28-14
Numbers 1 vs. 3 All-Time There have been 27 meetings (16 regular season, 11 postseason) of the Associated Press No. 1 and No. 3 ranked teams in college football history (No. 1 teams own a 15-11-1 edge). KEY: *—denotes AP Nos. 1 vs. 3; BCS—Bowl Championship Series; CFP—College Football Playoff championship:
Oct. 31, 1936 * #3 Northwestern 6, #1 Minnesota 0 Oct. 13, 1984 * (tie) #3 Oklahoma 15, #1 Texas 15 Oct. 25, 1941 * #1 Minnesota 7, #3 Michigan 6 Jan. 1, 1986 *Orange Bowl #3 Oklahoma 25, #1 Penn State 10 Oct. 30, 1943 * #1 Notre Dame 35, #3 Navy 6 Jan. 2, 1989 *Fiesta Bowl #1 Notre Dame 34, #3 West Virginia 216 Nov. 6, 1943 * #1 Notre Dame 26, #3 Army 0 Sept. 28, 1991 * #1 Florida State 51, #3 Michigan 31 Dec. 6, 1947 * #1 Notre Dame 38, #3 Southern California 7 Oct. 9, 1993 * #1 Florida State 28, #3 Miami-Fla. 10 Jan. 1, 1952 *Sugar Bowl #3 Maryland 28, #1 Tennessee 13 Jan. 2, 1995 *Orange Bowl #1 Nebraska 24, #3 Miami-Fla. 17 Jan. 2, 1956 *Orange Bowl #1 Oklahoma 20, #3 Maryland 6 Jan. 2, 1997 *Sugar Bowl #3 Florida 52, #1 Florida State 20 Oct. 31, 1959 * #1 LSU 7, #3 Mississippi 0 Nov. 20, 1999 * #1 Florida State 30, #3 Florida 23 Nov. 5, 1960 * #3 Minnesota 27, #1 Iowa 10 Oct. 28, 2000 * #3 Oklahoma 31, #1 Nebraska 14 Sept. 28, 1963 * #3 Oklahoma 17, #1 Southern California 12 Jan. 3, 2001 *BCS Champ #1 Oklahoma 13, #3 Florida State 2 Oct. 16, 1965 * #3 Arkansas 27, #1 Texas 24 Nov. 25, 2011 * #1 LSU 41, #3 Arkansas 17 Jan. 1, 1973 *Rose Bowl #1 Southern California 42, #3 Ohio State 17 Jan. 9, 2017 *CFP Champ #3 Clemson 35, #1 Alabama 31 Dec. 31, 1973 *Sugar Bowl #3 Notre Dame 24, #1 Alabama 23 Sept. 2, 2017 * #1 Alabama 27, #3 Florida State 7 Jan. 1, 1980 *Rose Bowl #3 Southern California 17, #1 Ohio State 16 Jan. 13, 2020 *CFP Champ #1 LSU vs. #3 Clemson
Trends/Championship Games Some records for the team holding the advantage in some select statistical categories in 30 games historically deemed for the national championship (full list on page 10; numbers in parenthesis are times team had exact same number):
First Downs (4) ...... 15-11 Total Offense ...... 18-12 Least Penalized (3) ...... 14-13 Rushing Yards ...... 19-11 Quarterback Sacks (3) ...... 15-6 Leading After One Quarter (8) .... 14-8 Passing Yards ...... 14-16 Fewest Turnovers (3) ...... 23-4 Leading At Halftime (5) ...... 21-4 Total Plays ...... 14-16 Third Down Efficiency (1) ...... 16-7 Leading After Three Quarters (1) 22-7
Players of the Game The annual list of champions and players of the game:
Season Champion Site Offensive Player of the Game Stats Defensive Player of the Game Stats 2014 Ohio State Arlington RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State 36-246, 6.8 avg., 4 TD S Tyvis Powell, Ohio State 5,4—9 TT, 1 PBU, 2 3DS 2015 Alabama Glendale TE O.J. Howard, Alabama 5-208, 41.6, 2 TD DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama 3,2—5 TT, INT 2016 Clemson Tampa QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson 56-36-0, 420, 3 TD (463, 4 TD TO) LB Ben Boulware, Clemson4,2—6 TT; 2-9 TFL, 1 PBU 2017 Alabama Atlanta QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama 24-14-1, 166, 3 TD (193 TO) NG Da’Ron Paye, Alabama 3,3—6 TT; 1 3DS 2018 Clemson Santa Clara QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson 32-20-0, 347, 3 TD (374 TO) CB Trayvon Mullen, Clemson 6,0—6 TT; 1 QBS, INT
GAMEDAY NOTES (7)
College Football Playoff Comebacks In 16 CFP games to date (semifinals and title game), the winning team in those games rallied from deficits on 11 occasions (7 points or more on eight occasions). The eventual champion has trailed at one point in all five title games:
Pts Game Season School (Opponent) Trailed By Final Score 17 Semifinal 2017 Georgia vs. Oklahoma 14-31 ( 0:06, 2Q) W 54-48 (2 OT) 16 Semifinal 2019 Clemson vs. Ohio State 0-16 ( 7:20, 2Q) W 29-23 (OT) 15 Semifinal 2014 Ohio State vs. Alabama 6-21 ( 8:07, 2Q) W 42-35 14 Championship 2016 Clemson vs. Alabama 0-14 (10:42, 2Q) W 35-31 13 Championship 2017 Alabama vs. Georgia 7-20 ( 6:52, 3Q) W 26-23 (OT) 7 Championship 2014 Ohio State vs. Oregon 0- 7 (12:21, 1Q) W 42-20 7 Semifinal 2015 Clemson vs. Oklahoma 0- 7 (11:16, 1Q) W 37-17 7 Championship 2015 Alabama vs. Clemson 7-14 ( 0:00, 1Q) W 45-40 7 Semifinal 2016 Alabama vs. Washington 0- 7 ( 8:01, 1Q) W 24- 7 3 Semifinal 2014 Oregon vs. Florida State 0- 3 ( 9:06, 1Q) W 59-20 2 Championship 2018 Clemson vs. Alabama 14-16 (14:18, 2Q) W 44-16
Largest comeback at any point in the second half (14): Georgia vs. Oklahoma (2017 semifinal), as the Bulldogs trailed 31-17 at halftime. Largest comeback at any point in the fourth quarter (10): Clemson vs. Alabama (2016 title), as the Tigers trailed 24-14 at the start.
Heisman Winners On National Champion Teams
LSU QB Joe Burrow is bidding to become the 16th player in history to win the Heisman Trophy while playing on a national championship team—and just the 10th in the post-bowl polling era (1968 on). The list:
Year Player Pos. School Year Player Pos. School 1938 Davey O’Brien QB TCU 1996 Danny Wuerffel QB Florida 1941 Bruce Smith HB Minnesota 1997 Charles Woodson DB Michigan 1943 Angelo Bertelli QB Notre Dame 2004 Matt Leinhart QB Southern California 1945 Doc Blanchard FB Army 2009 Mark Ingram RB Alabama 1947 Johnny Lujack QB Notre Dame 2010 Cam Newton QB Auburn 1949 Leon Hart E Notre Dame 2013 Jameis Winston QB Florida State 1976 Tony Dorsett RB Pittsburgh 2015 Derrick Henry RB Alabama 1993 Charlie Ward QB Florida State
Heisman Trophy Winners In National Championship Games Player, School Heisman Season Game Result / Stats Player, School Heisman Season Game Result / Stats O.J. Simpson, USC 1968 L 28-171, 1 TD rush; 8-85 receiving *Reggie Bush, USC (vacated) 2005 L 13-82, 1 TD rush; 6-95, 0 TD rec Herschel Walker, Georgia 1982 L 28-103, 1 TD rush *Troy Smith, Ohio State 2006 L 14-4-1, 35, 0 TD; 10-(-29) rush Vinnie Testeverde, Miami 1986 L 50-26-5, 285, 0 TD; 9-(10) rush *Sam Bradford, Oklahoma 2008 L 41-26-2, 256, 2 TD; 2-(-18) rush Gino Torretta, Miami 1992 L 56-24-3, 278, 0 TD; 5-1 rush *Mark Ingram, Alabama 2009 W 22-116, 2 TD Charlie Ward, Florida State 1993 W 43-24-0, 286, 0 TD; 8-(-3) rush *Cam Newton, Auburn 2010 W 34-20-1, 265, 2 TD; 22-64 rush *Chris Weinke, Florida State 2000 L 51-25-2, 274, 0 TD; 4-7 rush *Jameis Winston, Florida State 2013 W 35-20-0, 237, 2 TD; 11-26 rush *Eric Crouch, Nebraska 2001 L 15-5-1, 62, 0 TD; 22-114 rush #Marcus Mariota, Oregon 2014 L 37-24-1, 333, 2 TD; 10-39 rush *Jason White, Oklahoma 2003 L 37-13-2, 102, 0 TD; 7-(-46) rush #Derrick Henry, Alabama 2015 W 36-158, 3 TD rush *Matt Leinhart, USC 2004 W 35-18-0, 332, 5 TD; 2-(-11) rush (*—BCS Championship games; #—CFP Championship game)
ACC vs. SEC National Championship Games Since 1968, when the AP started crowning its champion after the bowls, members from the ACC and SEC have met five times in a game to decide the title (all previous No. 1 vs 2 match-ups): in the first and last BCS Championship games: in 1998 (in Tempe; Tennessee 23, Florida State 16) and in 2014 (in the Rose Bowl; Florida State 34, Auburn 31). The other three have been the Alabama-Clemson CFP affairs in 2015, 2016 and 2018 that Clemson has won twice. Thus, the ACC leads, 3-1. ACC vs. SEC No. 1 vs. No. 3 Games: There have been four head-to-head games among teams ranked Nos. 1 and 3 in the Associated Press poll between members of the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences (not including the 1952 Sugar Bow between Maryland and Tennessee, when Maryland was a member of the Southern Conference, the precursor to the ACC). Tonight will be the “rubber’ game, as each conference has two wins, one each by the No. 1 team (full list of Nos. 1 vs. 3 on page 5):
Jan. 2, 1997 Sugar Bowl #3 Florida 52, #1 Florida State 20 Jan. 9, 2017 CFP Champ #3 Clemson 35, #1 Alabama 31 Nov. 20, 1999 #1 Florida State 30, #3 Florida 23 Sept. 2, 2017 #1 Alabama 27, #3 Florida State 7
Best Records This Decade
Clemson and LSU have the third- and sixth-best records, respectively, this decade (the 2010s). A look at the top 24 through bowl games of January 6 (*—Ohio State was forced to vacate 12 victories due to NCAA violations):
School (2019) W L Pct. School (2019) W L Pct. School (2019) W L Pct. Alabama (11-2) ...... 124 15 .892 Stanford (4-8) ...... 98 35 .737 San Diego State (10-3)...... 90 42 .682 *Ohio State (13-1) ...... 105 18 .854 Georgia (12-2) ...... 100 36 .735 UCF (10-3) ...... 88 42 .677 Clemson (14-0) ...... 117 22 .842 Appalachian State (13-1) ...... 65 25 .722 Penn State (11-2) ...... 87 42 .674 Oklahoma (12-2) ...... 109 25 .813 Florida State (6-7) ...... 96 37 .722 Toledo (6-6) ...... 86 42 .672 Boise State (12-2) ...... 107 26 .805 Oklahoma State (8-5) ...... 93 37 .715 Auburn (9-4) ...... 87 45 .659 LSU (14-0) ...... 102 28 .785 Michigan State (7-6) ...... 92 40 .697 Michigan (9-4) ...... 85 44 .659 Oregon (12-2) ...... 101 32 .759 TCU (5-7) ...... 87 42 .674 Southern California (8-5) ...... 86 45 .656 Wisconsin (10-4) ...... 102 34 .750 Northern Illinois (5-7) ...... 91 44 .674 Washington (8-5) ...... 85 48 .639
GAMEDAY NOTES (8)
2019-20 Bowl Season One-Liners There have been just 10 scoreless quarters in 39 bowl games (156 total quarters), which have yielded 2,146 total points to date: four first quarters, no second, one third and five fourth. There has not been a scoreless half: the Independence Bowl (Louisiana Tech 14, Miami-Fla. 0) is the only game to date with two scoreless quarters (first and third). In the 156 quarters, both teams have scored 84 times (and twice each on 19 occasion … nine more than last bowl season); the highest scoring quarters saw 39 points scored: in the third quarter of the Gasparilla Bowl, UCF outscored Marshall, 21-18. Each team scored in every quarter in four bowls: Belk, Cotton, Peach and Rose. Just six schools were scoreless at halftime (six different games): Baylor, Boise State, Boston College, Charlotte, Florida State and Miami-Fla. There has been just the one shutout (in the aforementioned Independence Bowl); there have now been seven shutout games this decade, including two CFP semifinals: Clemson over Ohio State, 31-0, in 2016 and Alabama over Michigan State, 38-0, in 2015) and one in a BCS title game (Alabama over LSU, 21-0, in the 2011 season-ender). The last one-score bowl game took place in 2008: Oregon State’s 3-0 Sun Bowl win over Pittsburgh. Thirty-four of the 39 games have seen each team score at least 10 points; exceptions: Las Vegas, Bahamas, Camping World, Independence and Birmingham. The losing teams in those five games combined for 31 points; the average score by the other 73 teams to date has been 29.0. Comebacks. Clemson has recorded the largest comeback this bowl season, rallying from 16 points down (16-0 with 7:20 left in the second quarter) to defeat Ohio State, 29-23, in the Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal. The Tigers took a 21-16 lead with 7:54 left in the third quarter, but the Buckeyes rallied to go up, 23-21 with 11:46 left. Clemson was still down by that count with 3:07 left, but marched 94 yards in four plays for the winning score. —Three teams came back from 14-point deficits: Texas A&M (14-0 to Oklahoma State with 8:03 left in the second to win 24-21 in the Texas Bowl; Louisville (14-0 to Mississippi State late in the first quarter to win 38-28 in the Music City Bowl); and Appalachian State (also down 14-0 early in the first to defeat UAB, 31-17, in the New Orleans). —Tennessee rallied from 13 down to Indiana in the Armed Forces Bowl; the Volunteers trailed 22-9 with 7:06 remaining in the game to post the largest second half/fourth quarter comeback this bowl season. At The Wire. Only one game ended on the final play: Western Kentucky beat Western Michigan 23-20 in the First Responder Bowl (on a 52-yard field goal). The next closest came with :02 on the clock, a 23-yard field goal propelled Navy to a 20-17 win over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. Three were decided in the final two minutes: Pitt defeated Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl, 34-30 (TD with 0:47 remaining); Hawai’i over BYU, 38-34 in the Hawai’i Bowl (TD with 1:17 left); and Clemson over Ohio State in the Fiesta/CFP semifinal, 29-23 (TD with 1:49 to go). Holding On. Michigan State went the longest holding on to a one-score lead in defeating Wake Forest, 27-21, in the Pinstripe Bowl (the last 25:11 was scoreless). Minnesota held Auburn at bay for the final 10:26 in winning the Outback Bowl, 31-24; and Oregon held Wisconsin down the stretch for the final 7:41 after taking a 28-27 lead that held up for the final score in the Rose Bowl. To date, 16 of the 39 bowl games have been decided by one score (8 points or less), with five of those games decided by three points or fewer (including two 1-point affairs). There has not been an overtime game this postseason. Attendance. Overall attendance for the 39 games to date is 1,555,980, or 39,897 per game; the average last year for all 39 games (reminder the First Responder Bowl was cancelled) was 41,093; this year’s average will be a few hundred below. Twenty bowls saw increases, 19 decreases.
Top 30 LSU (12th) and Clemson (14th) are among the winningest programs all-time in college football (FBS). LSU joined the 800-win club this season, while both are among the 16 that have won over 60 percent of their games (minimum 1,000 played). The all-time top 30 through games of January 6:
Team Years Games Won Lost Tied Pct. Team Years Games Won Lost Tied Pct. Team Years Games Won Lost Tied Pct. 1 Michigan 141 1,344 962 346 36 .729 11 Georgia 128 1,310 831 425 54 .655 21 Pittsburgh 130 1,312 733 538 42 .575 2 Ohio State 130 1,303 924 326 53 .729 12 LSU 127 1,273 811 415 47 .656 22 Syracuse 131 1,320 726 545 49 .569 3 Alabama 128 1,290 916 331 43 .727 13 Auburn 128 1,268 776 445 47 .631 23 Navy 141 1,349 722 570 57 .556 3 Texas 127 1,324 916 375 33 .704 14 Clemson 124 1,262 758 459 45 .618 24 Arkansas 126 1,271 717 514 40 .580 5 Notre Dame 133 1,275 908 326 42 .728 15 West Virginia 129 1,304 755 504 45 .596 25 Wisconsin 131 1,267 715 499 53 .585 5 Oklahoma 125 1,288 908 327 53 .726 16 Virginia Tech 128 1,275 751 478 46 .607 26 Colorado 130 1,261 710 515 36 .577 7 Nebraska 130 1,337 902 395 40 .690 17 Texas A&M 126 1,283 749 486 48 .602 27 Michigan State 124 1,217 708 465 44 .600 8 Penn State 133 1,332 898 393 41 .690 18 Washington 131 1,247 743 454 50 .616 27 Minnesota 136 1,274 706 524 44 .571 9 USC 132 1,252 847 351 54 .698 19 Georgia Tech 128 1,292 738 511 43 .588 29 North Carolina 132 1,301 700 547 54 .559 10 Tennessee 129 1,294 846 395 53 .674 20 Florida 114 1,195 735 420 40 .632 30 Army 130 1,274 697 526 51 .567
Consecutive Weeks In The Rankings Currently, there are 15 schools that have been in the Associated Press rankings dating back to at least the first poll this season. Leading the way is Alabama, which has been ranked in 195 consecutive polls (2008-present, the fourth longest streak of all-time), followed by Ohio State (130, 2012- present, tied for the 10th longest all-time), Clemson 84 (2014-present; tied for the 36th longest all-time), Oklahoma 59, Penn State 56, Georgia 48, Notre Dame 44, LSU 37, Michigan 32, Florida 27, Iowa 17, Auburn 16, Oregon 16, Utah 16, Wisconsin 16. Clemson and LSU are second and fourth, respectively, for being ranked (active) in the final AP poll; Clemson for eight straight years and LSU for four, not including 2019; both will extend their streaks (Alabama leads with 11, Ohio State in third with seven). LSU has been ranked at least one week for 20 straight seasons, Clemson for nine in a row.
One-Score Games in 2019
Fifteen schools had over half their games this season decided by one score (8 point) or less; the list for 2019 (LSU and Clemson can’t join the list):
1-Score 3-Point 1-Score 3-Point School Overall Games Record Games Record OT’s Record School Overall Games Record Games Record OT’s Record North Carolina 7-6 9 3-6 5 2-3 2 0-2 Coastal Carolina 5-7 7 3-4 4 2-2 1 1-0 Pittsburgh 8-5 9 6-3 3 3-0 1 1-0 Georgia Southern 7-6 7 4-3 4 3-1 2 2-0 Arizona State 8-5 8 5-3 4 2-2 0 0-0 Iowa 10-3 7 4-3 3 2-1 0 0-0 Eastern Michigan 6-7 8 4-4 2 1-1 1 0-1 Kansas State 8-5 7 4-3 3 1-2 0 0-0 Miami, Fla. 6-7 8 3-5 1 0-1 1 0-1 Kent State 7-6 7 4-3 4 3-1 0 0-0 Arkansas State 8-5 7 5-2 1 1-0 0 0-0 SMU 10-3 7 5-2 2 2-0 1 1-0 Brigham Young 7-6 7 4-3 3 3-0 2 2-0 TCU 5-7 7 1-6 3 1-2 1 0-1 Colorado 5-7 7 4-3 3 3-0 2 1-1 GAMEDAY NOTES (9)
CFP Selection Committee Standings
1 LSU W 14-0 The College Football Playoff Selection Committee (13 members), met throughout the season and issued 2 Ohio State L 13-1 its first weekly Top 25 Standings on November 5. The committee issued six standings in all, the last 3 Clemson W 14-0 on Sunday, December 8. A quick look at the top four of the rankings each week, and where all four 4 Oklahoma L 12-2 who advanced into the CFP placed weekly; full final standings to the left (which includes bowl result 5 Georgia W 11-2 and updated records):
6 Oregon W 11-2 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Nov. 26 Dec. 3 Dec. 8 7 Baylor L 11-2 Ohio State LSU LSU Ohio State Ohio State LSU 8 Wisconsin L 10-3 LSU Ohio State Ohio State LSU LSU Ohio State 9 Florida W 10-2 Alabama Clemson Clemson Clemson Clemson Clemson 10 Penn State W 10-2 Penn State Georgia Georgia Georgia Georgia Oklahoma 11 Utah L 11-2 ------12 Auburn L 9-3 5. Clemson 10. Oklahoma 9. Oklahoma 7. Oklahoma 6. Oklahoma 13 Alabama W 10-2 9. Oklahoma 14 Michigan L 9-3 15 Notre Dame W 10-2 16 Iowa W 9-3 17 Memphis L 12-1 18 Minnesota W 10-2 19 Boise State L 12-4 20 Appalachian State W 12-1 21 Cincinnati W 10-3 22 Southern California L 8-4 23 Navy W 10-2 24 Virginia L 9-4
25 Oklahoma State L 8-5
2014-15 2016-17 2018-19 Semifinals: Semifinals: Semifinals: #2 Oregon 59, #3 Florida State 20 (Rose) #1 Alabama 24, #4 Washington 7 (Peach) #1 Alabama 45, #4 Oklahoma 34 (Orange) #4 Ohio State 42, #1 Alabama 35 (Sugar) #2 Clemson 31, #3 Ohio State 0 (Fiesta) #2 Clemson 30, #3 Notre Dame 3 (Cotton) Championship (attendance 85,689): Championship (attendance 74,512): Championship (attendance 74,814): #4 Ohio State 42, #2 Oregon 20 (Arlington, Texas) #2 Clemson 35, #1 Alabama 31 (Tampa, Fla.) #2 Clemson 44, #1 Alabama 16 (Santa Clara, Calif.)
2015-16 2017-18 2019-20 Semifinals: Semifinals: Semifinals: #1 Clemson 37, #4 Oklahoma 17 (Orange) #3 Georgia 54, #2 Oklahoma 48 (2 OT, Rose) #1 LSU 63, #4 Oklahoma 28 (Peach) #2 Alabama 38, #3 Michigan State 0 (Cotton) #4 Alabama 24, #1 Clemson 6 (Sugar) #2 Clemson 29, #3 Ohio State 23 (OT; Fiesta) Championship (attendance 75,765): Championship (attendance 77,430): #2 Alabama 45, #1 Clemson 40 (Glendale, Ariz.) #4 Alabama 26, #3 Georgia 23 (OT; Atlanta, Ga.)
ALL-TIME RECORDS: Clemson 6-2, Alabama 6-3, Ohio State 2-2, LSU 1-0, Georgia 1-1, Oregon 1-1, Florida State 0-1, Michigan State 0-1, Notre Dame 0-1, Washington 0-1, Oklahoma 0-4.
Final Poll Notes / Conferences At The Top Top 2 Schools From Same Conference (5 times)—2017 SEC (AP/Coaches: 1. Alabama; 2. Georgia); 2011 SEC (AP/Coaches: 1. Alabama; 2. LSU), 2007 SEC (AP: 1. LSU; 2. Georgia), 1971 Big Eight (AP: 1. Nebraska; 2. Oklahoma), 1960 Big Ten (UPI: 1. Minnesota; 2. Iowa) Top 3 Schools From Same Conference (1 time)— 1971 Big Eight (AP: 1. Nebraska; 2. Oklahoma; 3. Colorado) Notes: Schools must have been members of the same conference at the time, subsequent moves (e.g., Colorado, Nebraska, Texas to Big 12; Arkansas to SEC, Penn State to Big Ten, Florida State/Virginia Tech to ACC do not count years after the fact); the AP’s first post-bowl poll was in 1968, while UPI/Coaches followed in 1974.
Since The Top 20 Became The Top 25 LSU and Clemson well represented among the nation’s best since the Associated Press started ranking the Top 25 beginning in 1989 (after a Top 20 previously). Some numbers over these 30 seasons:
Most Wins Over Ranked Teams (1989-2019) Alabama 97, Ohio State 94, Florida St. 83, LSU 82, Florida 80, Oklahoma 74, Michigan 73, Southern Cal 70, Georgia 64, Miami, Fla. 62, Auburn 61, Clemson 61, Tennessee 60, Texas 60, Notre Dame 59, Oregon 57, Penn St. 55, Washington 54, UCLA 53, Colorado 47, Michigan St. 47 Nebraska 47.
Most Games Versus Ranked Teams (1989-2019) LSU (157; 82-75), Alabama 157 (97-59-1), Florida 156 (81-74-1), Ohio State 148 (94-51-3), Michigan 147 (73-72-2), Colorado 139 (47-90-2), Florida State 139 (83-56). Clemson has played 119 (61-58).
GAMEDAY NOTES (10)
AT-A-GLANCE POSTSEASON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SUMMARIES
Beginning in 1968, the Associated Press began conducting its final poll after the bowl games (the UPI/Coaches poll soon followed); prior, the No. 1 team was crowned following the regular season. Listed below are all previous 30 games that matched the No. 1 and 2 teams in the postseason (when the team that won the bowl game produced the national champion), and CFP games since regardless of ranking. KEY: *—Indicates season of competition; all games listed played in January of next calendar year (e.g., 1972 Orange Bowl crowned 1971 champion); 1992-94 operated under the Bowl Coalition; 1995-97 under the Bowl Alliance; 1998-2013 under Bowl Championship Series; 2014-present under the College Football Playoff (four teams):
First Downs Rushing Passing Total Offense Return Punting Fumbles Penalties Third QB Final Game Score 1 2 3 4 OT Tot Ru Pa Pn Att Yards TD Att-Com-Int Yards TD Att Yards Yards No-Avg. No-Lost No/Yds Downs Sacks Record Season* #2 USC ...... 16 0 10 0 6 19 - - - 42 177 1 32-19-2 189 1 74 366 119 6-36.8 3-3 3/51 … … 10-0 1968 #1 Ohio State ...... 27 0 10 3 14 21 - - - 67 260 1 15- 9-0 101 2 82 361 65 7-45.6 1-0 6/53 … … 9-1-1 Rose #2 Alabama ...... 6 0 0 6 0 16 13 3 0 58 241 1 13- 3-2 47 0 71 288 - 7-43.3 5-2 4/58 … … 11-1 1971 #1 Nebraska ...... 38 14 14 3 7 15 9 5 1 47 183 4 20-11-0 159 0 67 342 - 5-42.2 3-2 4/50 … … 13-0 Orange #2 Alabama ...... 14 0 7 7 0 12 8 3 1 60 208 1 15- 8-2 91 1 75 299 - 10-38.8 2-1 11/75 … … 11-1 1978 #1 Penn State ...... 7 0 0 7 0 12 3 9 0 38 19 0 30-15-4 163 1 68 182 - 10-38.7 2-0 8/51 … … 11-1 Sugar #2 Penn State ...... 27 7 13 0 7 19 - - - 44 139 2 23-13-0 228 1 67 367 124 7-42.5 2-1 7/39 … 1-11 11-1 1982 #1 Georgia ...... 23 3 7 7 6 19 - - - 46 160 1 28-12-2 166 2 74 326 12 8-41.7 3-0 7/42 … 5-47 11-1 Sugar #2 Penn State ...... 14 0 7 0 7 8 - - - 43 109 2 16- 5-1 53 0 59 162 50 9-43.4 5-2 4/39 … 5-NA 12-0 1986 #1 Miami-Fla...... 10 0 7 0 3 22 - - - 43 160 1 50-26-5 285 0 93 445 106 4-46.0 4-2 9/62 … … 11-1 Fiesta #2 Miami-Fla...... 20 7 0 10 3 15 - - - 38 72 0 30-18-1 209 2 68 281 - 6-44.7 0-0 8/85 9-18 1- 5 12-0 1987 #1 Oklahoma ...... 14 0 7 0 7 13 - - - 53 179 2 13- 5-3 76 0 66 255 - 8-39.0 4-2 5/39 6-18 1- 5 11-1 Orange #2 Alabama ...... 34 3 10 14 7 15 13 1 1 60 267 3 13- 4-2 18 0 73 285 139 6-44.5 0-0 7/46 … … 13-0 1992 #1 Miami-Fla...... 13 3 3 0 7 16 5 10 1 18 48 0 56-25-3 278 0 74 326 121 5-41.6 4-1 6/37 … … 11-1 Sugar #2 Nebraska ...... 16 0 7 0 9 20 8 11 1 44 183 1 25-13-2 206 1 69 389 18 7-38.4 2-0 11/115 7-16 5-39 11-1 1993 #1 Florida State ..... 18 3 0 3 12 22 4 12 6 24 47 1 43-24-0 286 0 67 333 21 6-45.2 0-0 10/69 1-12 1- 4 12-1 Orange #2 Florida ...... 24 10 0 8 6 15 2 12 1 21 -28 1 38-20-3 297 1 59 269 - 3 4-41.3 1-1 9/78 4-12 0- 0 12-1 1995 #1 Nebraska ...... 62 6 29 14 13 27 21 4 2 68 524 6 15- 6-2 105 1 83 629 64 1-36.0 1-0 4/30 8-17 7-40 12-0 Fiesta #2 Florida State ..... 16 0 9 0 7 13 9 4 0 41 108 2 22- 9-2 145 0 63 253 120 9-39.8 4-1 12/110 4-15 1- 3 11-1 1998 #1 Tennessee ...... 23 0 14 0 9 16 4 8 4 45 114 0 19-11-2 278 2 64 392 88 5-38.0 3-2 9/55 1-12 4-31 13-0 BCS #2 Virginia Tech .... 29 7 7 15 0 24 11 10 3 52 278 3 29-15-0 225 1 81 503 88 6-29.3 3-3 6/65 3-14 4-31 11-1 1999 #1 Florida State ..... 46 14 14 0 18 15 4 10 1 23 30 0 34-20-1 329 4 57 359 80 7-44.3 2-0 7/59 5-14 7-37 12-0 BCS #2 Florida State ..... 2 0 0 0 2 14 1 12 1 17 27 0 52-25-2 274 0 69 301 21 10-44.7 3-2 6/38 1-15 2-13 11-2 2000 #1 Oklahoma ...... 13 3 0 3 7 12 2 10 0 36 56 1 39-25-1 214 0 75 270 48 8-41.1 2-1 7/45 7-19 1- 2 13-0 BCS #2 Nebraska ...... 14 0 0 7 7 16 14 2 0 49 197 1 15- 5-1 62 0 64 259 85 5-40.6 4-2 4/26 5-15 0- 0 11-2 2001 #1 Miami-Fla...... 37 7 27 0 3 18 6 12 0 26 110 1 35-22-1 362 3 61 472 84 4-38.5 2-0 12/85 6-13 3-26 12-0 BCS #2 Ohio State ...... 31 0 14 3 0 14 14 7 6 1 52 145 4 21- 7-2 122 0 73 267 48 6-47.7 0-0 9/49 6-18 4-18 14-0 2002 #1 Miami-Fla...... 24 7 0 7 3 7 19 3 14 2 33 65 1 44-29-2 304 2 77 369 84 4-43.3 3-3 6/30 6-18 1- 4 12-1 BCS# #2 LSU ...... 21 7 7 7 0 13 6 6 1 40 159 2 24-14-2 153 0 64 312 64 8-34.0 1-1 8/65 6-17 5-46 13-1 2003 #1 Oklahoma ...... 14 0 7 0 7 12 5 5 2 33 52 2 37-13-2 102 0 70 154 98 8-45.9 2-0 11/70 4-15 5-12 12-2 BCS #2 Oklahoma ...... 19 7 3 0 9 19 9 9 1 40 128 0 36-24-3 244 2 76 372 3 4-44.5 3-2 3/30 8-17 1- 9 12-1 2004 #1 USC ...... 55 14 24 10 7 19 8 11 0 28 193 2 35-18-0 332 5 63 525 38 4-43.5 1-0 9/75 6-14 2-20 13-0 BCS #2 Texas ...... 41 0 16 7 18 30 15 14 1 36 289 5 40-30-0 267 0 76 556 19 2-34.0 4-1 4/34 3-11 3-15 13-0 2005 #1 USC ...... 38 7 3 14 14 30 12 15 3 41 209 4 41-29-1 365 1 82 574 0 2-41.5 1-1 5/30 8-14 0- 0 12-1 BCS #2 Florida ...... 41 14 20 0 7 21 6 14 1 43 156 3 37-26-0 214 2 80 370 28 4-44.3 0-0 6/50 10-19 5-51 13-1 2006 #1 Ohio State ...... 14 7 7 0 0 8 5 1 2 23 47 1 14- 4-1 35 0 37 82 13 6-37.8 1-1 5/50 1- 9 1- 7 12-1 BCS #2 LSU ...... 38 3 21 7 7 25 12 9 4 49 152 1 27-19-1 174 4 76 326 48 3-56.7 2-0 4/36 11-18 5-36 12-2 2007 #1 Ohio State ...... 24 10 0 7 7 17 6 10 1 30 145 1 26-15-2 208 2 56 353 32 3-50.0 3-1 7/83 3-13 1-13 11-2 BCS #2 Florida ...... 24 0 7 7 10 24 11 12 1 44 249 1 30-18-2 231 2 74 480 1 3-51.7 0-0 8/81 12-17 2-18 13-1 2008 #1 Oklahoma ...... 14 0 7 0 7 25 8 15 2 29 107 0 41-26-2 256 2 70 363 35 3-38.7 0-0 4/31 6-13 0- 0 12-2 BCS #2 Texas ...... 21 6 0 7 8 15 4 9 2 28 81 0 42-17-4 195 2 70 276 0 8-42.9 1-1 8/77 6-17 5-33 13-1 2009 #1 Alabama ...... 37 0 24 0 13 16 10 3 3 51 205 4 12- 6-1 58 0 63 263 50 7-37.3 1-1 5/38 2-12 1-14 14-0 BCS #2 Oregon ...... 19 0 11 0 8 23 5 16 2 32 75 0 41-28-2 374 2 73 449 23 5-36.8 1-0 6/37 5-15 2-13 12-1 2010 #1 Auburn ...... 22 0 16 3 3 28 14 13 1 50 254 0 35-20-1 265 2 85 519 1 5-40.4 2-1 5/47 9-17 2- 9 14-0 BCS #2 Alabama ...... 21 3 6 6 6 21 9 12 1 35 150 1 34-23-0 234 0 69 384 68 3-44.3 0-0 1/ 5 3-14 4-26 12-1 2011 #1 LSU ...... 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 1 0 27 39 0 17-11-1 53 0 44 92 1 9-45.7 3-1 5/35 2-12 2- 9 13-1 BCS #2 Alabama ...... 42 14 14 7 7 28 13 14 1 45 265 2 28-20-0 264 4 73 529 1 4-49.3 0-0 4/40 8-13 2-16 13-1 2012 #1 Notre Dame ...... 14 0 0 7 7 16 3 12 1 19 32 0 36-21-1 270 2 55 302 2 5-42.8 1-0 3/35 2- 8 0- 0 12-1 BCS #2 Auburn ...... 31 7 14 0 10 25 14 10 1 53 232 2 27-14-1 217 2 80 449 36 6-43.2 2-0 5/38 10-18 4-22 12-2 2013 #1 Florida State ..... 34 3 7 3 21 19 7 10 2 31 148 1 35-20-0 237 2 66 385 4 6-42.8 2-1 8/60 2-12 2-15 14-0 BCS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ERA (number listed is seed): First Downs Rushing Passing Total Offense Return Punting Fumbles Penalties Third QB Final Game Score 1 2 3 4 OT Tot Ru Pa Pn Att Yards TD Att-Com-Int Yards TD Att Yards Yards No-Avg. No-Lost No/Yds Downs Sacks Record Season* #4 Ohio State ...... 42 14 7 7 14 28 18 8 2 61 296 5 23-16-1 242 1 84 538 40 3-42.0 3-3 5/30 8-15 2- 6 14-1 2014 #2 Oregon ...... 20 7 3 10 0 20 7 13 0 33 132 0 38-24-1 333 2 71 465 0 6-40.0 1-0 10/76 2-12 1-17 13-2 CFP #2 Alabama ...... 45 7 7 7 24 18 6 11 1 46 138 3 25-16-0 335 2 71 473 12 7-42.4 0-0 2/21 9-18 2-14 14-1 2015 #1 Clemson ...... 40 14 0 10 16 31 9 20 2 38 145 1 47-30-1 405 4 85 550 22 6-44.2 2-0 4/27 6-14 5-31 14-1 CFP #2 Clemson ...... 35 0 7 7 21 31 8 19 4 42 91 2 57-36-0 420 3 99 511 3 9-38.3 2-2 3/35 7-18 0- 0 14-1 2016 #1 Alabama ...... 31 7 7 10 7 16 10 5 1 34 221 3 32-14-0 155 1 66 376 23 11-43.9 1-0 9/82 2-15 4-25 14-1 CFP #4 Alabama ...... 26 0 0 10 10 6 20 10 8 2 39 184 0 32-17-1 187 3 71 371 57 6-47.5 0-0 6/41 3-14 4-33 13-1 2017 #3 Georgia ...... 23 0 13 7 0 3 22 8 11 3 45 133 1 32-16-2 232 1 77 365 34 7-42.1 0-0 6/65 8-19 3-26 13-2 CFP^ #2 Clemson ...... 44 14 17 13 0 21 7 12 2 31 135 2 32-20-0 347 3 63 482 90 3-44.3 0-0 1/12 10-15 2-15 15-0 2018 #1 Alabama ...... 16 13 3 0 0 23 12 11 0 37 148 0 36-22-2 295 2 73 443 7 2-50.0 2-0 6/60 4-13 0- 0 14-1 CFP^ ^—overtime; #—two overtimes.
GAMEDAY NOTES (11)
2019-20 BOWL GAMES Associated Press Top 25 —arrows indicate attendance change from 2018-19 bowl season. Final regular season poll (Dec. 8) Rk Team (1st) Bowl Result W-L Pts Fri., Dec. 20 Bahamas Buffalo (8-5) 31, Charlotte (7-6) 9 13,547 1 LSU (47) W, - 13-0 1,535 Fri., Dec. 20 Frisco Kent State (7-6) 51, Utah State (7-6) 41 12,120 2 Ohio State (12) L 13-0 1,488 Sat., Dec. 21 New Mexico San Diego State (10-3) 48, Central Michigan (8-6) 11 18,823 3 Clemson (3) W, - 13-0 1,441 Sat., Dec. 21 AutoNation Cure Liberty (8-5) 23, Georgia Southern (7-6) 16 18,1584 Oklahoma L 12-1 1,364 Sat., Dec. 21 Boca Raton Florida Atlantic (11-3) 52, SMU (10-4) 28 23,187 5 Georgia W 11-2 1,241 Sat., Dec. 21 Camellia Arkansas State (8-5) 34, Florida International (6-7) 26 16,209 6 Florida W 10-2 1,167 Sat., Dec. 21 Las Vegas Washington (8-5) 38, Boise State (12-2) 7 34,197 7 Oregon W 11-2 1,141 Sat., Dec. 21 New Orleans Appalachian State (13-1) 31, UAB (9-4) 17 21,202 8 Baylor L 11-2 1,039 Mon., Dec. 23 Gasparilla UCF (10-3) 48, Marshall (8-5) 25 28,987 9 Auburn L 9-3 1,011 Tues., Dec. 24 Hawai’i Hawai’i (10-5) 38, BYU (7-6) 34 21,582 9 Alabama W 10-2 1,011 Thurs., Dec. 26 Independence Louisiana Tech (10-3) 14, Miami‐Fla. (6-7) 0 33,129 11 Wisconsin L 10-3 944 Thurs., Dec. 26 Quick Lane Pittsburgh (8-5) 34, Eastern Michigan (6-7) 30 34,765 12 Utah L 11-2 909 Fri., Dec. 27 Military North Carolina (7-6) 55, Temple (8-5) 13 24,242 13 Penn State W 10-2 888 Fri., Dec. 27 Pinstripe Michigan State (7-6) 27, Wake Forest (8-5) 21 36,895 14 Notre Dame W 10-2 709 Fri., Dec. 27 Texas Texas A&M (8-5) 24, Oklahoma State (8-5) 21 68,415 15 Memphis L 12-1 675 Fri., Dec. 27 Holiday Iowa (10-3) 49, Southern California (8-5) 24 50,123 16 Minnesota W 10-2 645 Fri., Dec. 27 Cheez‐It Air Force (11-2) 31, Washington State (6-7) 21 34,105 17 Michigan L 9-3 597 Sat., Dec. 28 Camping World Notre Dame (11-2) 33, Iowa State (7-6) 9 46,948 18 Boise State L 12-1 500 Sat., Dec. 28 Cotton Penn State (11-2) 53, Memphis (12-2) 39 54,828 19 Iowa W 9-3 494 Sat., Dec. 28 Peach (NAT’L SEMIFINAL) LSU (14-0) 63, Oklahoma (12-2) 28 78,34720 Appalachian State W 12-1 355 Sat., Dec. 28 Fiesta (NAT’L SEMIFINAL) Clemson (14-0) 29, Ohio State (13-1) 23 71,330 21 Navy W 10-2 246 Mon., Dec. 30 First Responder Western Kentucky (9-4) 23, Western Michigan (7-6) 20 13,164 22 Southern California L 8-4 195 Mon., Dec. 30 Music City Louisville (8-5) 38, Mississippi State (6-7) 28 46,850 23 Cincinnati W 10-3 183 Mon., Dec. 30 Redbox California (8-5) 35, Illinois (6-7) 20 34,177 24 Air Force W 10-2 97 Mon., Dec. 30 Orange Florida (11-2) 36, Virginia (9-5) 28 65,157 25 Oklahoma State L 8-4 70 Tues., Dec. 31 Belk Kentucky (8-5) 37, Virginia Tech (8-5) 30 44,138 Outside Last Top 25 Tues., Dec. 31 Sun Arizona State (8-5) 20, Florida State (6-7) 14 42,412 26 SMU L 10-3 63 Tues., Dec. 31 Liberty Navy (11-2) 20, Kansas State (8-5) 17 50,515 27 Virginia L 9-4 55 Tues., Dec. 31 Arizona Wyoming (8-5) 38, Georgia State (7-6) 17 36,892 28 Kansas State L 8-4 50 Tues., Dec. 31 Valero Alamo Texas (8-5) 38, Utah (11-3) 10 60,147 29 Florida Atlantic W 10-3 7 Wed., Jan. 1 Citrus Alabama (11-2) 35, Michigan (9-4) 16 59,746 30 Texas A&M W 7-5 7 Wed., Jan. 1 Outback Minnesota (11-2) 31, Auburn (9-4) 24 45,652 31 Arizona State W 7-5 5 Wed., Jan. 1 Rose Oregon (12-2) 28, Wisconsin (10-4) 27 90,462 31 Iowa State L 7-5 5 Wed., Jan. 1 Sugar Georgia (12-2) 26, Baylor (11-3) 14 55,211 31 UCF W 9-3 5 Thurs., Jan. 2 Birmingham Cincinnati (11-3) 38, Boston College (6-7) 6 27,193 34 California W 7-5 4 Thurs., Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Gator Tennessee (8-5) 23, Indiana (8-5) 22 61,789 35 Washington W 7-5 3 Fri., Jan. 3 Idaho Potato Ohio (7-6) 30, Nevada (7-6) 21 13,611 36 North Dakota State W, W 14-0 1 Sat., Jan. 4 Armed Forces Tulane (7-6) 30, Southern Miss (7-6) 13 38,513 --- *Indiana L 8-4 -- Mon., Jan. 6 *LendingTree Louisiana (11-3) 27, Miami‐Ohio (8-6) 17 29,212 --- *San Diego State W 9-3 -- Sat., Jan. 11 FCS Championship North Dakota State (16-0) 28, James Madison (14-2) 20 17,866 --- *Louisiana W 10-3 -- Mon., Jan. 13 CFP Championship LSU (14-0) vs. Clemson (14-0) [74,814] --- *Hawai’i W 9-5 -- *—formerly known as the Dollar General Bowl. [2019-20 FBS Total (39 games)—1,555,980 / 39,897] *—votes in USAT coaches poll but not in AP Reminder: ’18 First Responder Bowl cancelled (lightning) [2018-19 FBS Total (39 games)—1,602,618 / 41,093] (records are not updated with bowl result)
2019-20 CONFERENCE BOWL RECORDS League (bowl teams) W L Pct. Pts Opp vs. P5 Schools (winners in bold & black, losers in red) 2018-19 Record SEC (9) 7 2 .778 296 228 7-2 Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M 6-6 Independents (3) 2 1 .667 90 63 1-0 BYU, Liberty, Notre Dame 2-1 Sun Belt (5) 3 2 .600 125 121 0-0 Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana 3-2 American Athletic (7) 4 3 .571 216 221 2-2 Cincinnati, Memphis, Navy, SMU, Temple, Tulane, UCF 2-5 Mountain West (7) 4 3 .571 224 202 1-1 Air Force, Boise State, Hawai’i, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Wyoming 3-2 Pac-12 (7) 4 3 .571 176 186 3-2 Arizona State, California, Oregon, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State 3-4 Big Ten (9) 4 5 .444 268 258 3-5 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin 5-4 Mid-American (7) 3 4 .429 190 203 0-1 Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami-Ohio, Ohio, Western Michigan 1-5 Atlantic Coast (10) 4 6 .400 255 266 2-4 Boston College, Clemson, Florida St., Louisville, Miami, N. Carolina, Pitt, Virginia, Va. Tech, Wake Forest 6-5 Conference USA (8) 3 5 .375 179 222 1-0 Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Florida Int’l, La. Tech, Marshall, Southern Miss, UAB, Western Kentucky 4-2 Big 12 (6) 1 5 .167 127 176 1-4 Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas 4-3 Totals (78) 39 39 .500 2146 2146 …..
GAMEDAY NOTES (12)
2019-20 BOWL SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING LEADERS (all 100-yard games; 27) PASSING LEADERS (all 300-yard games; 18) Player, School Att Yards Avg. TD Long Player, School Att-Com-Int Yards Pct. Avg. TD Rating Lynn Bowden, Kentucky (QB) 34 233 6.9 2 61t Joe Burrow, LSU 39-29-0 493 74.4 12.6 7 239.8 Malcolm Perry, Navy (QB) 28 213 7.6 0 59 Cole McDonald, Hawaii 46-28-0 493 60.9 10.7 4 179.6 Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming 26 204 7.8 1 62 Brady White, Memphis 51-32-2 454 62.7 8.9 0 129.7 Journey Brown, Penn State 16 202 12.6 2 56t Carson Strong, Nevada 49-31-0 402 63.3 8.2 1 138.9 Kadin Remsberg, Air Force 26 178 6.8 1 22 Lane Hatcher, Arkansas State 51-27-1 393 52.9 7.7 4 139.6 J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State 18 174 9.7 1 68t Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh 39-27-0 361 69.2 9.3 3 172.4 Jaret Patterson, Buffalo 32 173 5.4 2 21 Ty Storey, Western Kentucky 51-35-2 358 68.6 7.0 2 132.7 Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State 19 158 8.3 0 42 Anthony Gordon, Washington State 42-28-0 351 66.7 8.4 3 160.4 Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State 19 157 8.3 1 57 Mac Jones, Alabama 25-16-0 327 64.0 13.1 3 213.5 Dustin Crum, Kent State 23 147 6.4 1 30 Bryce Perkins, Virginia 40-28-1 323 70.0 8.1 4 165.8 Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota 20 140 7.0 1 20 Brian Lewerke, Michigan State 37-26-1 320 70.3 8.6 1 146.4 Jordan Byrd, San Diego State 17 139 8.2 1 56 Justin Fields, Ohio State 46-30-2 320 65.2 7.0 1 122.1 Lamical Perine, Florida 13 138 10.6 2 61t Jordan Love, Utah State 39-30-1 317 76.9 8.1 3 165.5 Najee Harris, Alabama 24 136 5.7 2 25 James Morgan, Florida International 38-22-0 312 57.9 8.2 1 125.0 Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame 11 135 12.3 1 84t Mike Glass, Eastern Michigan 50-28-1 311 56.0 6.2 2 117.4 Deshawn McClease, Virginia Tech 11 126 11.5 1 43t Chris Robinson, Florida Atlantic 37-27-0 305 73.0 8.2 2 160.1 Christopher Brown Jr., California 20 120 6.0 0 54 Kyle Trask, Florida 39-24-1 305 61.5 7.8 1 130.6 Frankie Hickson, Liberty 22 120 5.5 0 35 Shane Buechele, SMU 47-27-1 303 57.4 6.4 1 114.4 Kellen Mond, Texas A&M 12 117 9.8 1 67t Tyler Johnston III, UAB 34-22-1 298 64.7 8.8 2 151.9 Keaontay Ingram, Texas 13 108 8.3 1 49t Bowl Record: Ty Detmer, BYU (1989 Holiday vs. Penn State: 59-42-2, 576 2 TD), and Taven Birdow, Air Force 20 108 5.4 1 13 Byron Leftwich, Marshall (2001 GMAC vs. East Carolina, 2OT: 70-41-2, 576, 4 TD) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (QB) 16 107 6.7 1 67t
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (QB) 21 105 5.0 3 22 Michael Warren, Cincinnati 21 105 5.0 0 14 TEAM STATISTICAL BESTS/HIGHS Javian Hawkins, Louisville 23 105 4.6 1 24 Largest Margin of Victory—42, North Carolina def. Temple, 55-13 (Military) Smallest Margin of Victory—1, on two occasions (Oregon, Tennessee) Wesley Kennedy, Georgia Southern 9 104 11.6 1 40 Points—63, LSU vs. Oklahoma (Peach) Brenden Knox. Marshall 26 103 4.0 0 22 Points, Quarter—28, Penn State vs. Memphis (2nd; Cotton) Bowl Record: P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech (2004 Humanitarian vs. Tulsa: 31-307, 4 TD) 28, LSU vs. Oklahoma (1st; Peach) Points, Half— 49, LSU vs. Oklahoma (1st; Peach) RECEIVING LEADERS (all 100-yard games; 31) First Downs—33, N. Carolina vs. Temple (Military); Cincinnati vs. BC (Birmingham) Player, School No. Yards Avg. TD Long Total Plays—91, Cincinnati vs. Boston College (Birmingham) Justin Jefferson, LSU 14 227 16.2 4 42t Total Yards— 692, LSU vs. Oklahoma (Peach) Jerry Jeudy, Alabama 6 204 34.0 1 85t Fewest Yards Allowed—164, Cincinnati vs. Boston College (77 rush, 87 pass; Birmingham) Tyler Johnson, Minnesota 12 204 17.0 2 73t Rushing Attempts—69, Air Force vs. New Mexico (371 yards; Cheez‐It) Rushing Yards— 396, Penn State vs. Memphis (53 attempts; Cotton) Elijah Cooks, Nevada 14 197 14.1 1 42 Passes Attempted—53, Memphis vs. Penn State (33 completions; Cotton) Omar Bayless, Arkansas State 9 180 20.0 2 52 Passes Completed—35, W. Kentucky vs. W, Michigan (52 attempts; First Responder) Austin Maloney, Florida International 10 178 17.8 1 48 Passing Yards—532, LSU vs. Oklahoma (Peach) George Pickens, Georgia 12 175 14.6 1 46 Fumbles—4, on three occasions (Florida State, Kansas State, Utah State) Brandon Arconado, Washington State 11 167 15.2 1 30 Fumbles Lost—3, Marshall vs. UCF (Gasparilla Bowl) Interceptions By—4, Arizona State vs. Florida State (Sun) Tamorrion Terry, Florida State 9 165 18.3 1 91t Penalties—11, Appalachian State vs. UAB (New Orleans) Maurice Ffrench, Pittsburgh 12 165 13.8 1 96t Penalty Yards—142, Arkansas State vs. Florida Int’l (10 penalties; Camellia) Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC 9 163 18.1 0 55 Possession Time—43:24, Air Force vs. New Mexico (Cheez‐It) JoJo Ward, Hawai’i 7 159 22.7 0 47 Best Third Down Efficiency—78.6 (11 of 14), North Carolina vs. Temple (Military) Austin Watkins, UAB 10 159 15.9 1 41 Turnovers—6, Florida State vs. Arizona State (4 INT, 2 FUM; Sun) Lucky Jackson, Western Kentucky 17 148 8.7 1 20 Tackles For Loss—13, Texas vs. Utah (Alamo) Quarterback Sacks—6, on two occasions (Appalachian State, Penn State) Tutu Atwell, Louisville 9 147 16.3 0 25 Shortest Drive, Plays—1, on 15 occasions Chase Claypool, Notre Dame 7 146 20.9 1 43 Shortest Drive, Yards (TD)— 6, BYU vs. Hawai’i (Hawai’i; 2‐6, 0:39) Jared Smart, Hawai’i 7 142 20.3 2 58 Shortest Drive, Yards (FG)— (-9), Arizona State vs. Florida State (4‐(‐9), 2:00; Sun) Marlon Williams, UCF 7 132 18.9 1 75t Shortest Drive, Time—0:07, Virginia vs. Florida (Orange; 1‐34, TD) Damonte Coxie, Memphis 8 132 16.5 0 41 Longest Drive, Plays—20, Air Force vs. Washington State (Cheez‐It: 20‐98, 12:23; TD) Van Jefferson, Florida 6 129 21.5 0 53 Longest Drive, Yards—99, Clemson vs. Ohio State (Fiesta: 7‐99, 2:45; TD) 99, Mississippi State vs. Louisville (Music City: 8‐99, 4:10; TD) Terrell Jana, Virginia 7 126 18.0 1 47 Longest Drive, Time—12:23, Air Force vs. Washington State (Cheez‐It: 20‐98, 12:23; TD) Braydon Johnson, Oklahoma State 5 124 24.8 2 57 Shortest Game—3:02, Liberty Bowl (Navy 20, Kansas State 17) Quez Watkins, Southern Miss 8 121 15.1 1 44t Longest Game—3:58, Camellia Bowl (Arkansas State 34, Florida International 26) Ceedee Lamb, Oklahoma 4 119 29.8 0 51 Siaosi Mariner, Utah State 7 113 16.1 2 25t Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan 9 113 12.6 0 35 SCRABBLE NAME OF THE BOWL SEASON. Wyoming’s Xazavian Valladay Jesse Matthews, San Diego State 3 111 37.0 2 74t ran for 204 yards in the Arizona Bowl against Georgia State … almost Jack Sorensen, Miami-Ohio 10 107 10.7 0 18 the value of his first name in Scrabble. Okay, maybe not, but his Makai Polk, California 5 105 21.0 0 38 unique first name, if allowed in the game, would be worth 27 points Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky 6 105 17.5 0 30 (thanks to 10 points for the Z and 8 for the X). Isaiah McKoy, Kent State 6 103 17.2 1 78t RUNNER-UP: Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus (25 points). Bowl Record: Jason Rivers, Hawai’i (2006 Hawai’i vs. Arizona State: 14-308, 2 TD) (Most single-game receptions: bowl record is 20 on two occasions)
GAMEDAY NOTES (13)
TWO-TEAM HIGHS LONG PLAYS (all-time bowl record in parenthesis) Points, Half—63, LSU (49) vs. Oklahoma (14) Peach (1st) Rush (99)—84, Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame vs. Iowa State (TD; Camping World)
Points, Game—92, Kent State (51) vs. Utah State (41) Frisco Pass (99)—96, Kenny Pickett to Maurice Ffrench, Pitt vs. Eastern Michigan (TD; Quick Lane) 92, Penn State (53) vs. Memphis (39) Cotton Punt (84)— 70, Nash Griffin, Virginia vs. Florida (Orange) First Downs—55, Kent State (26) vs. Utah State (29) Camellia Field Goal (62)—57, Quinn Nordin, Michigan vs, Alabama (Citrus) Total Plays—162, Kent State (83) vs. Utah State (79) Camellia Punt Return (92)—71, D’Shawn Jamison, Texas vs. Utah (Alamo) Total Yards— 1,071, Memphis (542) vs. Penn State (529) Cotton Kickoff Return (100)—98, Imhir Smith-Marsette, Iowa vs. USC (TD; Holiday) Rushing Yards—550, Kentucky (331) vs. Virginia Tech (219) Belk Interception Return (100)—88, Kareem Ali, W. Michigan vs. WKU (TD; First Responder) Rushing Attempts—96, Kent State (56) vs. Utah State (40) Camellia Fumble Return (99)—55, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, UCF vs. Marshall (TD; Gasparilla) Passing Yards—767, Hawai’i (493) vs. BYU (274) Hawai’i Passes Attempted—90, Eastern Michigan (51) vs. Pittsburgh (39) Quick Lane OTHER Passes Completed—55, Eastern Michigan (28) vs. Pittsburgh (27) Quick Lane Field Goals Made—6 (of 6), Riley Patterson, Memphis vs. Penn State (Cotton) Passes Had Intercepted—4, on two occasions Liberty, New Mexico Most Tackles— 20, Jahad Woods, Washington State vs. Air Force (Cheez‐It) Turnovers (Fewest)—1, five times Alamo, Lending Tree, Liberty, Peach, Redbox Most Unassisted Tackles— 11, Damar Hamlin, Pitt vs. Eastern Michigan (Quick Lane) Turnovers (Most)—6, on two occasions Gasparilla, New Mexico 11, Willie Gay, Mississippi State vs. Louisville (Music City) Penalties—19, Appalachian State (11) vs. UAB (8) New Orleans Penalty Yards—206, Appalachian State (130) vs. UAB (76) New Orleans Statistics compiled and furnished along with notes compiled by University of Colorado sports information.
2020 FBS SEASON OPENERS (Weekends of Aug. 29 & Sept. 3-5) Looking ahead to the 2020 season, listed below are those opening games which have previously been announced by conferences and/or one or both schools (*—conference game; FBS teams in bold; —Power 5 vs. Power 5 match-up; dates/opponents subject to change):
Saturday, August 29 (Week 0) McNeese State at Louisiana California at Nevada-Las Vegas Mercer at Vanderbilt Idaho State at New Mexico Miami-Ohio at Pittsburgh New Mexico State at UCLA Michigan at Washington Notre Dame vs. Navy (at Dublin, Ireland) Middle Tennessee State at Duke Hawai’i at Arizona Missouri State at Oklahoma Monmouth at Rutgers Week One (Sept. 3-5); Date TBA Morgan State at Appalachian State Brigham Young at Utah Murray State at Georgia State North Carolina at UCF Nevada at Arkansas
Thursday, September 3 New Hampshire at Kansas Florida Atlantic at Minnesota New Mexico at Mississippi State (UNM opens August 29) Maine at Ball State North Carolina Central at Ohio Massachusetts at Connecticut North Dakota State at Oregon New Mexico State at Alabama-Birmingham (NMSU opens August 29) Northern Iowa at Iowa Northern Arizona at Arizona State Northwestern at Michigan State Oregon State at Oklahoma State Purdue at Nebraska Southeast Louisiana at Tulane Rhode Island at Northern Illinois Rice at Houston Friday, September 4 Sacramento State at San Diego State Bucknell at Army San Jose State at Central Michigan Colgate at Western Michigan South Alabama at Southern Miss Illinois State at Illinois South Dakota at Iowa State
Saturday, September 5 South Florida at Texas Abilene Christian at Texas A&M Southern Methodist at Texas State Alabama vs. Southern California (at Arlington, Texas) Temple at Miami-Fla. Alcorn State at Auburn TCU at California (Cal opens August 29) Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Troy Texas-San Antonio at LSU Arkansas State at Memphis Texas Tech at Texas-El Paso Austin Peay at Cincinnati Toledo at Tulsa Baylor vs. Mississippi (at Houston, Texas) Towson at Maryland Bowling Green at Ohio State UT-Chattanooga at Western Kentucky Buffalo at Kansas State Wake Forest at Old Dominion Cal Poly at Louisiana-Monroe Washington State at Utah State Central Arkansas at Missouri Weber State at Wyoming Charlotte at Tennessee William & Mary at Stanford Youngstown State at Akron Coastal Carolina at South Carolina
Colorado at Colorado State Monday, September 7 Eastern Michigan Kentucky at Georgia vs. Virginia (at Atlanta, Ga.) Eastern Washington at Florida Florida State vs. West Virginia (at Atlanta, Ga.) Openers TBA Georgia Southern at Boise State Air Force, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Houston Baptist at North Texas Carolina State, Syracuse Idaho State at Fresno State (Note: the ACC announces league game schedule in late Jan./Feb.) Indiana at Wisconsin Jacksonville State at Florida International Kent State at Penn State (46 FBS vs. FBS games / 9 Power-5 vs. Power-5 games) Liberty at Virginia Tech Louisiana Tech at Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV opens August 29) Marshall at East Carolina
GAMEDAY NOTES (14)
INDIVIDUAL
RUSHING HIGHEST PUNTING AVERAGE (minimum 4 punts)—47.5 (6 punts), J.K. Scott, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST ATTEMPTS—36, Derrick Henry, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (158 yards, 3 TD); Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (246 yards, 4 TD) RETURNS MOST YARDS, HALF—148, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (25 attempts, second half) MOST PUNT RETURNS—5 (for 38 yards) Trevon Diggs, Alabama vs. Georgia at Alabama, MOST YARDS, GAME—246, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 1/08/2018 (36 attempts, 4 TD) MOST PUNT RETURN YARDS—38 (5 returns), Trevon Diggs, Alabama vs. Georgia at MOST YARDS BY A QUARTERBACK, GAME—73, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 Glendale, 1/11/2016 (20 attempts) MOST PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWNS—N/A MOST TOUCHDOWNS—4, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015. MOST KICKOFF RETURNS—5 (for 196 yards), Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 PASSING MOST KICKOFF RETURN YARDS—196 (5 returns), Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST ATTEMPTS—56, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 MOST KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWNS—1, Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson at (56-36-0, 3 TD) Glendale, 1/11/2016 (95 yards) MOST COMPLETIONS—36, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (56-36-0, 3 TD) DEFENSIVE MOST CONSECUTIVE COMPLETIONS—7, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017. MOST TACKLES—13, Roquan Smith, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST YARDS, HALF—267, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (9 unassisted); 12, Mack Wilson, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 (56-36-0, 3 TD) (7 unassisted); 12, Reuben Foster, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 MOST YARDS, GAME—420, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (6 unassisted); (56-36-0, 3 TD) MOST UNASSISTED TACKLES—11, Geno Matias-Smith, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, MOST PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED—2, Jake Fromm, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/11/2016 (11 total) 1/08/2018; Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama vs. Clemson at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 MOST ASSISTED TACKLES—6, Reuben Foster, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 MOST TOUCHDOWNS—4, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (12 total) HIGHEST RATING—163.6, Cardale Jones, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST TACKLES FOR LOSS—5 (for 26 yards), Kevin Dodd, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, (23-16-1, 242, 1 TD) 1/11/2016 MOST QUARTERBACK SACKS—3 (for 20 yards), Kevin Dodd, Clemson vs. Alabama at RECEIVING Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST INTERCEPTIONS MADE—1, on nine occasions MOST RECEPTIONS—10, Hunter Renfrow, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 MOST PASS DEFLECTIONS—2, on four occasions (Alabama 3 players, Clemson one) (92 yards, 2 TD) MOST FORCED FUMBLES—1, on seven occasions MOST YARDS, HALF—183, O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST FUMBLE RECOVERIES—2, by Ryan Anderson, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, (4 receptions) 1/09/2017 MOST YARDS, GAME—208, O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST BLOCKED KICKS—1, D.J. Pettway, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (FG); (5 receptions, 2 TD) Mark Fields, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (punt). MOST TOUCHDOWNS—2, on three occasions (O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016; Hunter Renfrow, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016; Hunter LONGEST PLAYS Renfrow, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017) OVERALL (Scrimmage) TOTAL OFFENSE 80, Jake Fromm to Mecole Hardman, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 (pass; TD) 74, Trevor Lawrence to Justyn Ross, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/19 (pass: TD) MOST PLAYS—77, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2016 (21 rushing, 70, Marcus Mariota to Byron Marshall, Oregon vs. Ohio St. at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (pass; TD) 56 passing) 68, Jalen Hurts to O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (pass; TD) MOST SCRIMMAGE PLAYS—37, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 63, Jake Coker to O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (pass) 1/12/2015 (36 rushes, 1 reception) 62, Tua Tagovailoa to Jerry Jeudy, Alabama vs. Clemson at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (pass; TD) MOST YARDS—478, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 62, Trevor Lawrence to Tee Higgins, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/19 (pass) (73 rushing, 405 passing) 53, Jake Coker to O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (pass; TD) MOST YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE—245, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 51, Jake Coker to O.J. Howard, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (pass; TD) 1/12/2015 (246 rush, -1 receiving) 50, Derrick Henry, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (rush) MOST TOUCHDOWNS—4, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 47, Cardale Jones to Corey Smith, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (pass) (4 rushing) 45, Cardale Jones to Devin Smith, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (pass) SCORING Next Longest Rushes: 38, Travis Etienne, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (rush) MOST POINTS—24, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (4 rush TD) 37, Bo Scarbrough, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (rush; TD) MOST POINTS RESPONSIBLE FOR—24, Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 34, Wayne Gallman, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (rush) 1/11/2016 (4 pass TD); Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio St. vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/11/2015 (4 rush TD) 33, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (rush; TD) MOST TOUCHDOWNS RESPONSIBLE FOR—4, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon at 31, Jalen Hurts, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/18 (rush) Arlington, 1/12/2015 (4 rush TD); Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 30, Jalen Hurts, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (rush; TD) 1/11/2016 (4 pass TD); Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (3 pass/1 rush TD). LONGEST RUSH—50, Derrick Henry, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (TD) MOST POINTS BY KICKING—11, Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, LONGEST PASS—80, Jake Fromm to Mecole Hardman, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/18 (2 PAT, 3 FG) 1/08/2018 (pass; TD) MOST FIELD GOALS MADE—3, Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/18 LONGEST FIELD GOAL—51, Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 (41, 27, 51) LONGEST PUNT—57, Andy Teasdall, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016; MOST EXTRA POINTS MADE—6, on two occasions (Adam Griffith, Alabama vs. Clemson at J.K. Scott, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 Glendale, 1/11/2016; Sean Nuernberger, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015) LONGEST PUNT RETURN—19, Mecole Hardman, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST TWO-POINT CONVERSIONS—None LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN—95, Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (TD) PUNTING LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN—46, Trayvon Mullen, Clemson vs, Alabama at Santa Clara,
MOST PUNTS—10, J.K. Scott, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 1/07/2019 LONGEST FUMBLE RETURN—12, Ryan Anderson, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 GAMEDAY NOTES (15)
TEAM
FIRST DOWNS / EFFICIENCY SCORING DRIVES & POSSESSION
MOST FIRST DOWNS—31, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016; Clemson vs. MOST PLAYS (TD DRIVE)—12, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (75 yards); Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (89 yards). MOST FIRST DOWNS, RUSHING—18, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 LONGEST TD DRIVE—97 yards, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (10 plays) MOST FIRST DOWNS PASSING—20, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST TIME CONSUMED (TD DRIVE)—6:39, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST FIRST DOWNS BY PENALTY—4, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (12 plays, 75 yards) BEST THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY—66.7 (10 of 15), Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, MOST PLAYS (FG DRIVE)—14, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 (55 yards) 1/07/2019 LONGEST FG DRIVE—71, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 (8 plays) BEST FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY—100.0 (3 of 3), Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, MOST TIME CONSUMED (FG DRIVE)—7:40, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/18/2018 1/12/2015 (14 plays, 55 yards) MOST TIME OF POSSESSION, QUARTER—13:08, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, RUSHING 1/12/2015 (3rd)
MOST RUSHING ATTEMPTS—61, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (296 yards) MOST TIME OF POSSESSION, HALF—23:01, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST RUSHING YARDS—296, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (61 attempts) (2nd) HIGHEST AVERAGE PER RUSH—6.50, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (34-221) MOST TIME OF POSSESSION, GAME—37:29, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS—5, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 PUNT / PUNT RETURNS
PASSING MOST PUNTS—11, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017
MOST PASS ATTEMPTS—57, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (57-36-0, 420 yards) HIGHEST PUNTING AVERAGE (minimum 4 punts)—47.5 (6 punts), Alabama vs. Georgia at MOST PASS COMPLETIONS—36, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (57-36-0, 420 Atlanta, 1/08/2018 yards) MOST PUNT RETURNS—5 (for 38 yards), Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST PASSING YARDS—420, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (57-36-0) MOST PUNT RETURN YARDS—38 (5 returns), Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE—69.5 (16 of 23), Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, HIGHEST PUNT RETURN AVERAGE (minimum 2 returns)—17.0 (2-34), Georgia vs. Alabama 1/12/2015 at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 HIGHEST AVERAGE PER ATTEMPT—13.4, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (25-16-0, 335 yards) KICKOFF RETURNS MOST INTERCEPTIONS THROWN—2, Georgia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 1/08/2018; Alabama MOST KICKOFF RETURNS—6 (for 130 yards), Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 vs. Clemson at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 MOST KICKOFF RETURN YARDS—196 (5 returns), Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, MOST PASSING TOUCHDOWNS—4, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 1/11/2016
HIGHEST KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE (minimum 2 returns)—39.2 (5-196), Alabama vs. TOTAL OFFENSE Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016
MOST TOTAL PLAYS—99, Clemson vs. Alabama at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (42 rush, 57 pass) MOST TOTAL YARDS—550, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (145 rush, 405 pass) FUMBLES HIGHEST AVERAGE GAIN PER PLAY—7.65, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 MOST FUMBLES—3, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (63-482 yards) MOST FUMBLES LOST—3, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015
SCORING PENALTIES MOST POINTS, FIRST QUARTER—14, on three occasions (Ohio State vs. Oregon, 2015; FEWEST PENALTIES—1, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (1-12 yards) Clemson vs. Alabama, 2016; Clemson vs. Alabama, 2019) MOST PENALTIES—10, Oregon vs. Ohio State at Arlington, 1/12/2015 (10-76 yards) MOST POINTS, SECOND QUARTER—17, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 2019) FEWEST PENALTY YARDS—12, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (1 penalty) MOST POINTS, FIRST HALF—31, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 MOST PENALTY YARDS—82, Alabama vs. Clemson at Tampa, 1/09/2017 (9 penalties) MOST POINTS, THIRD QUARTER—13, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019
MOST POINTS, FOURTH QUARTER—24, Alabama vs. Clemson at Arlington, 1/11/2016 DEFENSIVE MOST POINTS OVERTIME—6, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST POINTS SECOND HALF—31, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST TACKLES FOR LOSS—12 (for 57 yards), Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST POINTS, GAME—45, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST QUARTERBACK SACKS—5 (for 31 yards), Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 MOST TOUCHDOWNS—6, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016 (3 rush-2 pass-1 MOST FUMBLES RECOVERED—3, Oregon vs. Ohio State at Arlington, 1/12/2015 KOR); Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 (2 rush-3 pass-1 IR) MOST FORCED FUMBLES—2, Oregon vs. Ohio State at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING—5, Ohio State vs. Oregon at Arlington, 1/12/2015 MOST INTERCEPTIONS—2, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018; Clemson vs. Alabama MOST TOUCHDOWNS PASSING—4, Clemson vs. Alabama at Glendale, 1/11/2016 at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 LARGEST POINT DIFFERENTIAL—28, Clemson vs. Alabama at Santa Clara, 1/07/2019 MOST INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS—90, Clemson vs. Alabama, 1/07/2019 (2 INT) SMALLEST POINT DIFFERENTIAL—3, Alabama vs. Georgia at Atlanta, 1/08/2018 MOST PASSES BROKEN UP—7, Alabama vs. Clemson at Glendale, 1/11/2016
MISCELLANEOUS
ATTENDANCE—85,869, on Jan. 12, 2015 (Arlington: Ohio State 42, Oregon 20)
GAME TIME (shortest)—3:27 on Jan. 7, 2019 (Santa Clara: Clemson 44, Alabama 16)
GAME TIME (longest)—4:08 on Jan. 9, 2017 (Tampa: Clemson 35, Alabama 31)
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Press Box Level To Playing Field
Exit the press box via the stairs between booths 5 & 6 or 7 & 8 Take the steps down to section 641/642 vomitory from booths 5 & 6, and to the section 638/639 vomitory from booths 7 & 8 Exit the 641/642 vomitory to escalator on left; exit the 638/639 vomitory and turn right – take second escalator Go down two sets of escalators to the 400 Level Walk straight ahead to the ramp toward the EXIT GATE G sign Follow the ramps down the Gate G Exit On the plaza level, turn right and use the next down ramp toward WEST BUNKER CLUB ENTRANCE At the bottom of the ramp, remain in the same direction on the ground level concourse Walk past Elevator 8 and access the playing field on right via the NW Field Tunnel