Ranking every year of the CFP four-team era

• National Championship: Michigan 34 Washington 13
• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan 27 Alabama 20 OT
• Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington 37 Texas 31

The final four-team CFP started with a fantastic game. Michigan and Alabama, two iconic programs, facing off at the Rose Bowl. To make it even better, the game needed overtime to be decided. Michigan got the ball first and Blake Corum took it for his 25th rushing touchdown of the season. 

Then, Michigan got a stop on fourth down after a bad snap forced Jalen Milroe to tuck the ball and run into a stacked box. 

The nightcap on New Year’s Day didn’t disappoint either. Michael Penix Jr. put on a show, outdueling Quinn Ewers and throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns. However, while running out the clock, Washington running back Dillon Johnson hurt his ankle, to stop the clock and it gave Texas a chance to tie the game on the very last play after Ewers drove the Longhorns deep into Washington territory. 

Both semifinal games came down to the last play, and then the title game wasn’t bad either. 

Michigan dominated the line of scrimmage from the jump and ended with 303 rushing yards to Washington’s 46, with a limited Johnson. Corum and Donovan Edwards each ran for two touchdowns and Michigan pulled away late after forcing Penix into multiple turnovers. 

Compared to the semifinals, it wasn’t nearly as good of a game, but compared to past championship games, it at least wasn’t a blowout like 2023 was.