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College Football Playoff: Ranking every team in playoff history

By Andrew Miller

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)
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)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The last time that a Big Ten Champion made it to the Playoff was in 2015. Michigan State took down the Iowa Hawkeyes in what turned out to be an interesting 2015 conference run in the Big 10. That season, it was not Michigan State as the heavy preseason conference favorite.

After the National Championship run in 2014, the Ohio State Buckeyes were the overwhelming favorite to win the Big Ten, and preseason No. 1 team in the AP Poll. Yet, Michigan State was able to defeat the Buckeyes during the regular season and put themselves in position to make a Playoff run.

Star quarterback Connor Cook and then freshman running back L.J. Scott led this offense, that was uncharacteristically powerful for head coach Mark Dantonio. Generally, Michigan State is a defensive first team under Dantonio.

However, this Michigan State squad was not ready for head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in the Semifinals. Sparty was taken down by more than a 30-point margin, as Alabama would win its first College Football Playoff National Championship in the following week.

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