2015 College Football Playoff National Championship

The 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship was a bowl game that determined a national champion of NCAA Division I FBS college football for the 2014 season, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 12, 2015. It was the culminating game of the 2014–15 bowl season as the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship, replacing the BCS National Championship Game. The national title was contested through a four-team bracket system, the College Football Playoff, which replaced the previous Bowl Championship Series.[6]

2015 College Football Playoff National Championship
Inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship
1234 Total
Ohio State 147714 42
Oregon 73100 20
DateJanuary 12, 2015
Season2014
StadiumAT&T Stadium
LocationArlington, Texas
MVPOffensive: #15 RB Ezekiel Elliott, So. Ohio State
Defensive: #23 S Tyvis Powell, So. Ohio State
FavoriteOregon by 7[1][2]
National anthemLady Antebellum[3]
RefereeGreg Burks (Big XII)
Attendance85,788
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN[4][5]
AnnouncersChris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi (ESPN)
Eduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega (ESPN Deportes)
Mike Tirico, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe and Joe Schad (ESPN Radio)
Nielsen ratings18.9 (33.4 million viewers)

The game was played between the winners of two designated semi-final bowl games played on January 1, 2015: the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes, who upset No. 1 Alabama 42–35 in the 2015 Sugar Bowl, and the No. 2 Oregon Ducks, who defeated previously unbeaten No. 3 Florida State 59–20 in the 2015 Rose Bowl. This was the first championship game since 2006 that did not feature at least one SEC team, and the teams' first meeting since the 2010 Rose Bowl, which the Buckeyes won 26–17.

The Ohio State Buckeyes won the game, 42–20, marking the first national championship awarded under the CFP system. Following the game, the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll also named Ohio State as their top team of the season, marking Ohio State's first national championship since 2002 and their 8th overall.[7][8]

Background

AT&T Stadium (capacity 80,000) was announced as the host site in April 2013.[9] Arlington and Tampa (Raymond James Stadium) were the only cities to submit hosting bids for the inaugural title game.[10]

Each team received 20,000 tickets. Premium seat packages for the event cost $1,899 to $3,899 apiece. The packages can include hotel accommodations, game tickets, parking access, pregame hospitality, and an on-field postgame experience.[11][12]

College Football Playoff announced that 1,000 tickets will be made available for purchase to fans who have signed up for a random drawing by May 1, 2014.[13] On March 25, 2014, Dr Pepper was announced as the official championship partner and presenting sponsor of the new College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy.[14]

The cost of a thirty-second commercial during the game broadcast reached upwards of $1 million.[15]

Pregame Show

Before the game, students dressed in all black from the Episcopal School of Dallas and Saint Philip's School held 15 ft. tall banners of every collegiate football team and marched to Fall Out Boy's "Legends." The students then held out a large American Flag while country music band Lady Antebellum performed the "Star Spangled Banner." The students ran off the field carrying the flag. One student tripped while running off and was dragged hanging onto the flag by the rest, then helped him up off field.

2015 College Football Playoff

Semifinals 2015 Championship Game
January 1 – Sugar Bowl
  1   Alabama 35  
  4   Ohio State 42   January 12 – National Championship
 
      4   Ohio State 42
January 1 – Rose Bowl     2   Oregon 20
 
  2   Oregon 59
  3   Florida State 20  

Teams

The teams playing for the national championship were the winners of semifinal bowl games held on January 1, 2015. The semifinal games were the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The semifinal participants were chosen and ranked 1–4 by the 13-member playoff selection committee, with 1 playing 4 and 2 playing 3.[16][17]

Ohio State

Ohio State was 20–24 all-time in bowl games. The Buckeyes made their fifth visit to the state of Texas, having won 4 previous games and outscoring four different schools 120–33. Ohio State, all-time, came into the game with an 80 record against Oregon.

Oregon

Oregon is 13–15 all-time in bowl games. The Ducks are 6–4 in Texas having won three straight games and played their third game in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (Dallas, Fort Worth and now Arlington).

Starting lineups

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer
Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich
Ohio StatePositionOregon
Offense
Devin Smith 2WRByron Marshall
Michael Thomas 2WRKeanon Lowe
Taylor Decker 1LTJake Fisher 2
Billy Price 1LGHamani Stevens
Jacoby BorenCHroniss Grasu 3
Pat Elflein 3RGCameron Hunt
Darryl BaldwinRTTyrell Crosby 5
Jeff Heuerman 3TEEvan Baylis
Evan Spencer 6WRDwayne Stanford
Cardale Jones 4QBMarcus Mariota 1
Ezekiel Elliott 1RBThomas Tyner
Defense
Joey Bosa 1DEArik Armstead 1
Michael Bennett 6DTNGAlex Balducci
Adolphus Washington 3DTDEDeForest Buckner 1
Steve MillerDEOLBTony Washington
Darron Lee 1SLBILBRodney Hardrick
Curtis GrantMLBILBDerrick Malone
Joshua Perry 4WLBOLBTyson Coleman
Doran Grant 4CBChris Seisay
Eli Apple 1CBTroy Hill
Vonn Bell 2SDBErick Dargan
Tyvis PowellSReggie Daniels
† = 2014 All-American
Selected in an NFL Draft
(number corresponds to draft round)

Source:[18]

Game summary

[19]

Oregon received the opening kickoff and drove down the field for a touchdown, earning an early 7–0 lead on a 7-yard TD pass from Marcus Mariota to Keanon Lowe. After an exchange of punts, Ohio State started their second possession at their own 5 yard line. On 3rd and 8, Cardale Jones completed a 26-yard pass to wideout Corey Smith for a 1st down. Ohio State then converted a 4th and 3 from the Oregon 38 yard line to keep the drive alive. On the very next play, Ezekiel Elliott broke several tackles for a 33-yard TD scamper, tying the game at 7. A dropped pass on the Ducks next drive led to a punt, which Ohio State returned to the Oregon 46 yard line. A critical pass interference call set Ohio State up near the goal line, and the Buckeyes capitalized with a 1-yard TD pass from Jones to tight end Nick Vanett. The first quarter ended with Ohio State leading Oregon 14–7.

After another Oregon punt, the Buckeyes had a chance to stretch their lead, but a mishandled exchange between Jones and Elliott gave Oregon the ball back. The Ducks marched to the goal line, but failed on 4th and Goal from the 3 yard line. Ohio State escaped the shadow of the goal line, and drove 90 yards, but WR Corey Smith fumbled at the Oregon 11-yard line. Despite the reprieve, the Ducks once again had to punt, and this time, Ohio State made them pay. A Cardale Jones QB sneak from a yard out gave Ohio State a 21–7 lead. Oregon closed out the first half scoring with a field goal, leaving the Buckeyes ahead 21–10 at the break.

Ohio State got the ball to begin the second half and drove into Oregon territory. However, Jones threw an interception at the Oregon 30 yard line. The Ducks capitalized on this turnover immediately, with Marcus Mariota finding wide receiver Byron Marshall for a 70-yard touchdown on the first play after the turnover, bringing the Ducks within 21–17. On the next Ohio State drive, Tyson Coleman sacked Jones, and recovered the resulting fumble, setting up an Oregon field goal. The 1 point deficit at the 6:39 mark of the 3rd quarter was as close as Oregon would come. Ohio State closed out the quarter with a 75-yard drive, culminating in a 9-yard Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run. The 4th quarter began with an Oregon punt, and Ohio State went 76 yards for another touchdown, with Elliott finding paydirt from 2 yards out for a 35-20 Ohio State lead. A desperate Oregon went for it on 4th and 11 at their own 14 with under 3 minutes to play, but failed. The Buckeyes iced the game on Elliott's 4th touchdown run of the game, providing the final 42-20 margin.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP ORE OSU
1 12:21 11 75 2:39 ORE Keanon Lowe 7-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Mariota, Aidan Schneider kick good 7 0
1 4:36 10 97 3:16 OSU Ezekiel Elliott 33-yard touchdown run, Sean Nuernberger kick good 7 7
1 1:08 4 46 1:27 OSU Nick Vannett 1-yard touchdown reception from Cardale Jones, Sean Nuernberger kick good 7 14
2 4:49 6 49 2:16 OSU Cardale Jones 1-yard touchdown run, Sean Nuernberger kick good 7 21
2 0:48 12 66 4:01 ORE 26-yard field goal by Aidan Schneider 10 21
3 11:23 1 70 0:10 ORE Byron Marshall 70-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Mariota, Aidan Schneider kick good 17 21
3 6:39 6 17 1:42 ORE 23-yard field goal by Aidan Schneider 20 21
3 0:00 12 75 6:39 OSU Ezekiel Elliott 9-yard touchdown run, Sean Nuernberger kick good 20 28
4 9:44 9 76 4:13 OSU Ezekiel Elliott 2-yard touchdown run, Sean Nuernberger kick good 20 35
4 0:28 5 14 2:17 OSU Ezekiel Elliott 1-yard touchdown run, Sean Nuernberger kick good 20 42
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 20 42

Statistics

StatisticsOregonOhio State
First downs2028
Plays–yards71–46584–538
Rushes–yards33–13261–296
Passing yards333242
Passing: Comp–Att–Int24–38–116–23–1
Time of possession22:3137:29

Individual statistics

Oregon passing
C/ATT1 Yds TD INT
Marcus Mariota24/3733321
Oregon rushing
Car2 Yds TD LG3
Thomas Tyner1262012
Marcus Mariota103908
Royce Freeman102208
Byron Marshall1909
Oregon receiving
Rec4 Yds TD LG3
Byron Marshall8169170
Dwayne Stanford461028
Keanon Lowe355128
Evan Baylis52509
Charles Nelson221014
Thomas Tyner2203
Ohio State passing
C/ATT1 Yds TD INT
Cardale Jones16/2324211
Ohio State rushing
Car2 Yds TD LG3
Ezekiel Elliott36246433
Cardale Jones2138117
Curtis Samuel1606
Corey Smith1303
Jalin Marshall2305
Ohio State receiving
Rec4 Yds TD LG3
Corey Smith276050
Michael Thomas453023
Jalin Marshall552026
Devin Smith145045
Nick Vannett2918
Curtis Samuel1808
Ezekiel Elliott1-10-1

1Completions/attempts
2Carries
3Long gain
4Receptions

Broadcasting

The game was televised by ESPN with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit as English commentators, and Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi as English sideline reporters and on ESPN Deportes with Eduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega as Spanish commentators. ESPN revived the Megacast coverage it had employed during the 2014 BCS National Championship Game: other ESPN networks (including ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, and ESPN3) supplemented coverage with analysis and additional perspectives of the game.[20]

Approximately 33.4 million watched the game.[21] The game set a cable television record for ratings, receiving an 18.5 Nielsen rating.[22]

The game was broadcast on nationwide radio by ESPN Radio with Mike Tirico and Todd Blackledge on the call, with Holly Rowe and Joe Schad on the sidelines. Locally, the game was broadcast on radio by the Oregon IMG Sports Network flagshiped by KUGN (NewsTalk 590) in Eugene, Oregon with Jerry Allen (play-by-play) and Mike Jorgensen (color commentator), and by the Ohio State IMG Sports Network flagshiped by WBNS-AM (1460 ESPN Columbus) and WBNS-FM (97.1 The Fan) in Columbus, Ohio with Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (color commentator) and Marty Bannister on the sidelines.

Aftermath

Following the game, fans took to the streets of Columbus, Ohio, to celebrate. Fans tore down a temporary goalpost at Ohio Stadium.[23] 89 fires were reported, and members of the Columbus Police Department used tear gas to disperse crowds.[23][24] Just over a year later, Elliott, who had entered the draft early following his junior season, was brought back to AT&T Stadium when the Dallas Cowboys selected him with the 4th overall pick.

This was the Buckeyes first national championship since 2002 and their 8th in school history. Ohio State lost the turnover battle in this game 4–1, the 4 turnovers being the most ever by a winning team in national championship history, but outgained Oregon in total yards 538–465. The Buckeyes entered 2015 looking to repeat as national champions with the return of Cardale Jones and several other players. However, Jones struggled mightily and was eventually benched for backup JT Barrett. The Buckeyes lost at home to Michigan State in week 13 17–14, ending their chance at another national championship. They were invited to the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, which they won 44–28. The Buckeyes then returned to the playoff in 2016, despite not winning their conference, but lost in the Fiesta Bowl to eventual national champion Clemson 31–0. Head coach Urban Meyer completed two more successful seasons as the head of the Buckeye program, winning the Big Ten conference title in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes would defeat the Pac-12 champion — the USC Trojans and Washington Huskies, respectively — following each season. Meyer retired following the 2018 season and was replaced by offensive coordinator Ryan Day. Coach Day would lead the Buckeyes back to the playoff in 2019, losing in the semifinal to Clemson, and in 2020, where they will play Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Ducks fell to 0–2 in national championship games, with their other loss to Auburn in 2010. They also fell to 0-9 all time against Ohio State. Marcus Mariota, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2014, declared for the NFL draft after the season. In 2015, without Mariota, the Ducks offense was depleted, as the team lost momentum going forward. The next season, the Ducks finished 9–4, which included a close loss to Michigan State in East Lansing (31-28). However, a home blowout loss to Utah (62-20) and a double overtime loss at home to Washington State (45-38) cost the Ducks a chance at going back to the national championship. They ended the 2015 season with a triple overtime loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl 47-41 despite having a 31–0 lead at one point. The 31-point blown lead remains the largest blown lead in school history. In 2016, Oregon regressed even further, finishing 4-8 and failing to reach a bowl for the first time since 2004, and Helfrich was fired. In 2017, under new coach Willie Taggart, the Ducks improved and qualified for the bowl season with a 7–5 record. Taggart leveraged the modest but short-lived rebuild into the head coaching position at Florida State University and left the Ducks before their bowl game, becoming the shortest-tenured Ducks coach since the 1940s. The school then promoted offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal to head coach prior to the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl, which the Ducks lost to Boise State 38–28. Cristobal continued to rebuild the Ducks program, culminating in a conference championship and Rose Bowl victory after the 2019 season. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Ducks repeated as conference champions, despite a runner up finish their division, and qualified for the 2021 Fiesta Bowl.

Oregon's appearance as the Pac-12 representative in the 2014 playoff was followed by the Washington Huskies in 2016. Washington lost in the Peach Bowl to Alabama 24-7, and the Pac-12 hasn't returned to the playoffs since. Through the 2020 season, the Pac-12's two playoff appearances are the fewest out of all the power 5 conferences.

Ohio State and Oregon have not met since this game. They were scheduled to meet in a home and home series in 2020 and 2021, with the 2020 game occurring in Oregon's Autzen Stadium and the 2021 game occurring in Ohio State's Ohio Stadium. However, the first game was canceled on July 9, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25] As of this writing (December 2020) the 2021 match-up has not been canceled or postponed. Should the 2021 game take place, head coaches Ryan Day and Mario Cristobal will be sixth different pair of coaches to meet in the Buckeyes/Ducks series.[26]

See also

References

  1. "SportsCenter on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  2. "College Football Las Vegas Sportsbook Odds, NCAA Football Sports Betting Lines and Point Spreads at VegasInsider.com". VegasInsider.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  3. Smith, Troy L. (January 12, 2015). "Lady Antebellum to sing national anthem at tonight's college football championship game". cleveland.com. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  4. Keri Potts (December 29, 2014). "New Year's Six Bowls and College Football Playoff on ESPN Networks: A Recap". ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  5. Gabriela Nunez (December 22, 2014). "ESPN Deportes Airs Inaugural College Football Playoff Semifinals and National Championship". ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  6. McMurphy, Brett (October 4, 2013). "Arlington to host title game". ESPN. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  7. "Final 2014 Associated Press poll has Alabama in top five as Ohio State claims title". AL.com. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  8. "Final 2014 football coaches poll includes another top-5 finish for Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. "Cowboys Stadium site of 2015 national championship game". April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  10. "Arlington to host title game". ESPN. January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  11. College Football Playoff unveils Playoff Premium packages Archived February 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, College Football Playoff, January 29, 2014
  12. Rovell, Darren (January 20, 2014). "Premium seats to come at a price". ESPN. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  13. College Football Playoff Announces Random Ticket Drawing for 2015 National Championship Game Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, College Football Playoff, January 13, 2014
  14. Ana Livia Coelho, ESPN Announces Dr Pepper as the First-Ever Presenting Sponsor of the New College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy, ESPN MediaZone, March 25, 2014
  15. Frank Pallotta (January 12, 2015). "ESPN's $7.3 billion bet on college football playoff pays off". CNNMoney. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  16. College Playoff Factsheet, College Football Playoff, January 2014
  17. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About the College Football Playoff Selection Committee Archived January 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, College Football Playoff, January 21, 2014
  18. "CFP National Championship Game Book" (PDF). January 12, 2015. p. 7. Retrieved January 20, 2019 via rgoducks.com.
  19. "Oregon vs. Ohio State - Play-By-Play - January 12, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  20. Everything you need to know about ESPN’s CFP Megacast - Awful Announcing, Matt Yoder, January 9, 2015
  21. Chicago Tribune (January 13, 2015). "New college football playoff draws larger TV audience for title game". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  22. "College Football Playoff championship between Ohio State and Oregon delivers highest-ever cable TV rating - Columbus - Columbus Business First". Columbus Business First. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  23. "Ohio State Football Revelers Set Fires, Tear Down Goal Post « CBS Detroit". Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  24. Josh Jarman. "Tear gas disperses revelers around campus after Ohio State win". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  25. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/Article/Oregon-football-ohio-state-148989765/#:~:text=Perhaps%20the%20best%20non%2Dconference,played%20during%20the%202020%20season.
  26. "Winsipedia". Winsipedia. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
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