College Football Playoff: Ranking every team in playoff history

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after scoring a 33 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The most impressive run through a conference championship game and the Playoff to this day is still Ohio State in 2014. Ohio State was on the ropes, entering a Big 10 Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers with a new starting quarterback.

The Buckeyes held star Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon in check on the way to a huge 59-0 victory. That was enough to get the Buckeyes in the Playoff field, with the No. 4 seed, over Big 1 Co-Champions TCU and Baylor Bears.

Ohio State did not disappoint with a route of the ducks in the National Championship, after taking down the heavy favorite Crimson Tide in the Semifinal. Cardale Jones took over for Barrett with a few clutch performances. But, the bulk of the praise should fall on All-American running back and current Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott.

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The 42-20 route of the Ducks in the National Championship solidifies Ohio State’s spot at the top of this list. Meyer showed why he is one of the top coaches in the nation, and Ohio State locked up a preseason No. 1 ranking the following year (although to no avail).

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