Finest Groups within the School Soccer Playoff Period: Creating the Final 12-team CFP

[ad_1] The very best workforce within the School Soccer Playoff period is _______?

With the inaugural 12-team CFP getting underway this week, our workforce at FOX Sports activities got down to discover the reply to that loaded query.

There was the Joe Burrow-led LSU workforce that averaged practically 50 factors per sport on its option to an ideal 15-0 file. There was the 2014 Ohio State workforce, the primary nationwide champions of the CFP period, led by backup quarterback Cardale Jones. And the way concerning the 2023 Michigan Wolverines, a dominant group on either side of the ball and the winner of the ultimate sport of the four-team CFP?

Let's check out the 12 most dominant groups within the CFP period up up to now based mostly on our analysis and what a hypothetical bracket would appear like.

Let the controversy start.

12. 2025 IndianaRecord: 13-0CFP outcomes: N/A

Who would've thought that the Indiana Hoosiers can be a dominant soccer workforce? Not solely did Curt Cignetti take down the reigning champions in Ohio State within the Massive Ten title sport, however the Hoosiers are the clear-cut No. 1 workforce in school soccer this yr. Indiana ranks fifth within the nation in scoring (41.9 factors per sport), second in scoring protection (10.8 factors per sport allowed), second in level differential (+404), tied for fourth in sacks (39), tied for sixth in takeaways (25) and tied for tenth in explosive performs (127). And let's not overlook that the Hoosiers even have this yr's Heisman winner in Fernando Mendoza, the primary participant to win the award in class historical past. They're set to tackle the winner of Oklahoma and Alabama within the Rose Bowl on Jan 1.

Odds to win title: +290

11. 2018 Alabama Crimson TideRecord: 14-1CFP outcomes: Defeated Oklahoma within the Orange Bowl, 45-34; misplaced to Clemson within the nationwide championship sport, 44-16

On paper, this was probably the most spectacular rosters in school soccer historical past. Alabama's offense featured Tua Tagovaiola at quarterback, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Brian Robinson Jr. and Jerome Ford at operating again, and Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith at huge receiver. On the defensive aspect of the ball, the Tide had Dylan Moses, Xavier McKinney, Quinnen Williams, and Patrick Surtain. This workforce coasted by way of the season, outscoring their first 14 opponents by a mean of 32 factors. Nonetheless, the Tide fell brief within the nationwide championship, falling to Clemson, 44-16.

10. 2016 Clemson TigersRecord: 14-1CFP outcome: Defeated Ohio State within the Fiesta Bowl, 31-0; defeated Alabama within the nationwide championship sport, 35-31

Make no mistake about it: Deshaun Watson was close to unstoppable for Dabo Swinney's 2016 Clemson Tigers, throwing for greater than 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns by way of the air whereas including one other 600-plus yards and 9 scores on the bottom. The workforce had Mike Williams and Hunter Renfrow catching passes from Watson on offense, and Christian Wilkins and Ben Boulware clogging up operating lanes on protection. However Clemson did not cruise previous each workforce on its schedule like among the different nationwide champions within the CFP period. The truth is, eight of the Tigers' 15 video games had been determined by seven factors or fewer, together with a mid-November loss to unranked Pitt. The Tigers had been in a position to put that loss behind them and end the common season with a 12-1 mark. They went on to close out a gifted Ohio State workforce within the semifinals earlier than incomes a memorable win over Nick Saban's Alabama workforce within the title sport, giving Clemson its first nationwide championship since 1981.

9. 2015 Alabama Crimson TideRecord: 14-1CFP outcomes: Defeated Michigan State within the Cotton Bowl, 38-0; defeated Clemson within the nationwide championship sport, 45-40

This wasn't Nick Saban's finest Alabama workforce by any means, however this workforce was loaded with NFL expertise. A complete of 44 gamers from the 2015 Alabama roster performed on the subsequent stage, highlighted by the likes of Derrick Henry, Calvin Ridley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey and Daron Payne. This workforce additionally notched eight wins over AP Prime 25 groups, together with a 30-16 victory over No. 2 LSU in early November and a memorable 45-40 win over then No. 1 Clemson within the nationwide championship sport.

8. 2014 Ohio State BuckeyesRecord: 14-1CFP outcomes: Defeated Alabama within the Sugar Bowl, 42-35; defeated Oregon within the nationwide championship sport, 42-20

The Buckeyes had been the primary nationwide champions of the CFP period, and it was a workforce that confronted loads of adversity down the stretch. Regardless of pulling off a memorable 42-28 win over rival Michigan to shut out the common season, the fun of defeating the Wolverines was tempered after standout QB J.T. Barrett went down with a critical damage and was misplaced for the rest of the season. That marked the second QB damage the Buckeyes suffered, as Heisman hopeful Braxton Miller had been misplaced to damage as properly again in August. Backup Cardale Jones stepped in and rose to the event, main OSU to a trio of memorable wins to shut out the season, none greater than the 42-20 conquer the Geese within the nationwide title sport.

7. 2017 Alabama Crimson TideRecord: 13-1CFP outcomes: Defeated Clemson within the Sugar Bowl, 24-6; defeated Georgia within the nationwide championship sport, 26-23

Many school soccer followers will affiliate this workforce with what occurred within the nationwide championship sport — Tua Tagovailoa changed Jalen Hurts at halftime and led the Crimson Tide to a come-from-behind victory over SEC foe Georgia. And whereas that was undoubtedly a defining second in Alabama soccer historical past, it should not be the one factor individuals keep in mind about this group. Nick Saban's 2017 Alabama workforce started the season on an absolute terror, which included a season-opening 24-7 win over then-No. 3 Florida State. The Crimson Tide fell to Auburn within the Iron Bowl however rebounded with wins over Clemson within the Sugar Bowl and Georgia within the title sport. This workforce had a jaw-dropping 44 gamers go on to play within the NFL.

6. 2023 Michigan WolverinesRecord: 15-0CFP outcomes: Defeated Alabama within the Rose Bowl, 27-20; defeated Washington within the nationwide championship sport, 34-13

The 2023 Michigan Wolverines put collectively a memorable season, capped off by a powerful 34-13 win over Washington within the ultimate sport of the four-team CFP period. This was probably the most full groups of the CFP period, because the Wolverines excelled on either side of the ball. Senior operating again Blake Corum led a dominant speeding assault, whereas Will Johnson, Mike Sainristil and Kris Jenkins helped information a protection that solely allowed 9.5 factors per sport, which ranked first amongst all FBS groups. The 2023 Wolverines held each opponent they performed to beneath 25 factors en path to successful this system's first nationwide championship since 1997.

5. 2021 Georgia BulldogsRecord: 14-1CFP outcomes: Defeated Michigan within the Orange Bowl, 34-11; defeated Alabama within the nationwide championship sport, 33-18

The 2021 Georgia Bulldogs didn't go undefeated just like the 2022 workforce, however this workforce had extra ranked wins than the 2022 squad (six), and a giant cause for this group's success was probably the most dominant defenses school soccer has ever seen. The Bulldogs held their opponents to only 10.2 factors per sport in 2021. After falling to Alabama within the SEC Championship, Georgia cruised previous Michigan within the CFP semifinals, after which bought revenge in opposition to the Crimson Tide within the title sport, 33-18, to win this system's first nationwide championship since 1980.

4. 2022 Georgia BulldogsRecord: 15-0CFP outcomes: Defeated Ohio State within the Peach Bowl, 42-41; defeated TCU within the nationwide championship sport, 65-7

Kirby Good's 2022 Georgia workforce was distinctive on either side of the ball, placing up over 41 factors per contest on offense whereas holding opponents to lower than 15 factors per sport. The Bulldogs notched 5 ranked wins, however solely two of them got here in opposition to SEC competitors (LSU, Tennessee). Stetson Bennett capped off his unimaginable collegiate profession with a slender 42-41 win over Ohio State within the semifinal sport, adopted by a dominant 65-7 blowout victory over TCU within the title sport, giving Georgia its second straight nationwide title.

3. 2018 Clemson TigersRecord: 15-0CFP outcomes: Defeated Notre Dame within the Cotton Bowl, 30-3; defeated Alabama within the nationwide championship sport, 44-16

Dabo Swinney has had some gifted groups throughout his time at Clemson, however this was the very best of the bunch. Simply how dominant had been the 2018 Tigers? They completed the season 15-0 whereas outscoring their opponents by a mean margin of 31.1 factors per sport. They performed 4 ranked groups all year long, together with Notre Dame and Alabama within the CFP, and outscored these 4 groups by a mixed whole of 142-33. If that wasn't sufficient, a complete of 24 gamers from this 2018 workforce went on to play within the NFL.

2. 2020 Alabama Crimson TideRecord: 13-0CFP outcomes: Defeated Notre Dame within the Rose Bowl, 31-14; defeated Ohio State within the nationwide championship sport, 52-24

Think about being an opposing protection and attempting to cowl each DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. That was what life was like going up in opposition to this 2020 Alabama workforce. The Crimson Tide offense, which additionally featured Mac Jones at quarterback, Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. at operating again, and John Metchie III at huge receiver, averaged practically 50 factors per sport and performed only one sport determined by fewer than 14 factors. Nick Saban's workforce completed undefeated on its option to successful a nationwide title amid a worldwide pandemic that impacted each sport performed. Smith went on to grow to be the primary huge receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991, beating out his personal teammate, Jones.

1. 2019 LSU TigersRecord: 15-0CFP outcomes: Defeated Oklahoma within the Peach Bowl, 63-28; defeated Clemson within the nationwide championship sport, 42-25

The 2019 LSU Tigers featured probably the most dominant offensive assaults in school soccer historical past. Led by Joe Burrow at QB, Clyde Edwards-Helaire at RB, and Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at WR, this offense put up 48.4 factors per sport and outscored their opponents by a mean of 26.5 factors per contest. The Tigers cruised to an ideal 13-0 file within the regular-season, which included 5 wins over top-10 groups. They rolled previous Oklahoma within the Peach Bowl, 63-28, after which cruised to a victory over Trevor Lawrence and No. 3-ranked Clemson within the nationwide championship sport, 42-25. A complete of 30 gamers on this roster went on to play within the NFL, 5 of whom had been first-round draft picks in 2020.

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