What Is 2015 CFP National Championship Game

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2015 CFP National Championship Game was played on January 12, 2015, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State defeated Oregon 42–20, winning its first national title since 2002.

Key Facts

Game date: January 12, 2015
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Final score: Ohio State 42, Oregon 20
Ohio State won its 8th national championship
Oregon entered the game ranked No. 2 in the CFP rankings

Overview

The 2015 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game marked the culmination of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff system. It featured the No. 4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes defeating the No. 2 Oregon Ducks 42–20, claiming Ohio State’s first national title in over a decade.

Played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the game drew a crowd of 82,247 and was televised nationally by ESPN. Ohio State’s victory was fueled by a balanced offensive attack and key defensive stops, completing a dramatic underdog run through the playoff.

January 12, 2015: The game was held on this date, marking the first CFP National Championship under the new playoff format replacing the BCS system.
AT&T Stadium: Located in Arlington, Texas, this 80,000-seat venue hosted the championship and also served as the site for the 2011 Super Bowl.
Ohio State 42–20: The final score reflected a dominant second-half performance by the Buckeyes, who outscored Oregon 28–6 after halftime.
Cardale Jones: Ohio State’s quarterback started his third consecutive game and became the first freshman to win a national title game at QB since 2007.
14-point underdogs: Ohio State entered the game as a significant underdog, making their victory one of the most surprising in modern college football history.

How It Works

The College Football Playoff system selects teams based on a committee ranking, with semifinals and a national final rotating among major bowl sites. The 2015 championship was the first to use this format, replacing the controversial Bowl Championship Series.

CFP Selection Committee: A 13-member panel evaluates teams weekly and selects the top four for the playoff, based on strength of schedule, wins, and performance.
Quarterfinals & Semifinals: The 2014 semifinals were the Sugar Bowl (Ohio State vs. Alabama) and Rose Bowl (Oregon vs. Florida State), both played on January 1, 2015.
Rankings Released: The final CFP rankings of 2014 were announced December 7, placing Oregon at No. 2 and Ohio State at No. 4.
Game Format: The championship uses a single national title game hosted at neutral sites, unlike the BCS which rotated sites without a fixed bracket.
Contracted Bowls: The Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, and Peach Bowls rotate as CFP semifinal hosts every three years.
Eligibility: Only FBS teams are eligible, and conference champions receive priority consideration, though not automatic bids.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2015 CFP National Championship with previous BCS title games:

Feature	2015 CFP Championship	2013 BCS Championship
Format	4-team playoff	2-team BCS matchup
Teams	Ohio State vs. Oregon	Florida State vs. Auburn
Score	42–20	34–31
Date	January 12, 2015	January 6, 2014
Location	AT&T Stadium, Texas	Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Louisiana

The shift from the BCS to the CFP introduced a more inclusive playoff system, allowing teams like Ohio State—left out of the BCS despite strong finishes—to compete for titles. The 2015 game set a precedent for future championships by emphasizing semifinal matchups and national rotation of sites.

Why It Matters

The 2015 CFP National Championship was a landmark moment in college football history, signaling a new era of expanded access and competitive balance in determining a national champion.

First CFP champion: Ohio State became the inaugural winner of the College Football Playoff, cementing the new system’s legitimacy.
Underdog story: Ohio State entered the playoff unranked in October and won three straight elimination games, a rare feat in modern college football.
Quarterback legacy: Cardale Jones started all three playoff games, becoming a symbol of Ohio State’s depth and adaptability.
End of BCS era: The game officially marked the end of the BCS, criticized for excluding teams like 2004 Auburn and 2011 Oklahoma State.
Increased viewership: The game drew 33.4 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched college football games in history.
Future implications: The success of the 2015 game led to discussions about expanding the playoff to 12 teams by 2026.

The 2015 CFP National Championship not only crowned a champion but also validated a new era in college football, balancing tradition with competitive fairness and national engagement.