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College Football Playoff

COMEBACKS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

In 30 College Football Playoff games to date (including both the Playoff Semifinals and national championship games), the winning team has rallied from deficits on 16 total occasions, including 13 comebacks of seven points or more. The eventual national champion has trailed at one point in seven of the last 10 national championship games.
 

COMEBACKS IN THE PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS

PTS DATE GAME TEAM OPPONENT TRAILED BY RESULT
17 January 1, 2018 Rose Bowl Game Georgia vs. Oklahoma 14-31 (0:06, 2Q) W 54-48 (2OT)
16 December 28, 2019 Fiesta Bowl Clemson vs. Ohio State 0-16 (7:20, 2Q) W 29-23
15 January 1, 2015 Sugar Bowl Ohio State vs. Alabama 6-21 (8:07, 2Q) W 42-35
14 December 31, 2022 Peach Bowl Georgia vs. Ohio State 24-38 (0:31, 3Q)
7-21 (10:56, 2Q)
W 42-41
7 January 1, 2024 Rose Bowl Game Michigan vs. Alabama 13-20 (4:41, 4Q) W 27-20 (OT)
7 January 1, 2021 Sugar Bowl Ohio State vs. Clemson 7-14 (5:01, 2Q) W 49-28
7 December 31, 2016 Peach Bowl Alabama vs. Washington 0-7 (8:01, 1Q) W 24-7
7 December 31, 2015 Orange Bowl Clemson vs. Oklahoma 0-7 (11:16, 1Q) W 37-17
3 January 1, 2015 Rose Bowl Game Oregon vs. Florida State 0- 3 (9:06, 1Q) W 59-20



COMEBACKS IN THE CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

PTS DATE GAME TEAM OPPONENT TRAILED BY RESULT
14 January 9, 2017 Tampa Clemson vs. Alabama 0-14 (10:42, 2Q) W 35-31
13 January 8, 2018 Atlanta Alabama vs. Georgia 7-20 (6:52, 3Q) W 26-23 (OT)
10 January 13, 2020 New Orleans LSU vs. Clemson 7-17 (10:38, 2Q) W 42-25
7 January 11, 2016 Arizona Alabama vs. Clemson 7-14 (0:00, 1Q) W 45-40
7 January 12, 2015 North Texas Ohio State vs. Oregon 0-7 (12:21, 1Q) W 42-20
6 January 10, 2022 Indianapolis Georgia vs. Alabama 3-9 (7:07, 2Q) W 33-18
2 January 7, 2019 Bay Area Clemson vs. Alabama 14-16 (14:18, 2Q) W 44-16


LARGEST COMEBACK AT ANY POINT IN THE SECOND HALF (14):

  • Georgia vs. Oklahoma (2018 Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game), as the Bulldogs trailed 31-17 at halftime.

  • Georgia vs. Ohio State (2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl), as the Buckeyes made a field goal with 0:31 left in the third quarter to extend its lead over the Bulldogs to 38-24.

LARGEST COMEBACK AT ANY POINT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER (10):

  • Clemson vs. Alabama (2017 CFP National Championship in Tampa), as the Tigers trailed 24-14 at the start.

  • Georgia vs. Ohio State (2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl), as the Buckeyes made a field goal with 0:31 left in the third quarter to extend its lead over the Bulldogs to 38-24. UGA narrowed the gap by three points with a fourth quarter field goal (10:14).