COMEBACKS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
In 41 College Football Playoff games to date, the winning team has rallied from deficits on 24 total occasions, including 18 comebacks of seven points or more. The eventual national champion has trailed at one point in eight of the last 11 national championship games.
COMEBACKS IN THE CFP FIRST ROUND
| PTS |
DATE |
GAME |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
TRAILED BY |
RESULT |
| 7 |
December 21, 2024 |
CFP First Round |
Texas |
vs. Clemson |
7-0 (8:14, 1Q) |
W 38-24 |
COMEBACKS IN THE PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS
| PTS |
DATE |
GAME |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
TRAILED BY |
RESULT |
| 7 |
January 1, 2025 |
Peach Bowl |
Texas |
vs. Arizona State |
24-31 (0:00, OT) |
W 39-31 (2OT) |
| 3 |
January 2, 2025 |
Sugar Bowl |
Notre Dame |
vs. Georgia |
0-3 (12:14, 1Q) |
W 23-10 |
| 3 |
January 1, 2025 |
Peach Bowl |
Texas |
vs. Arizona State |
0-3 (8:59, 1Q) |
W 39-31 (2OT) |
COMEBACKS IN THE PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS
| PTS |
DATE |
GAME |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
TRAILED BY |
RESULT |
| 17 |
January 1, 2018 |
Rose Bowl Game |
Georgia |
vs. Oklahoma |
14-31 (0:06, 2Q) |
W 54-48 (2OT) |
| 16 |
December 28, 2019 |
Fiesta Bowl |
Clemson |
vs. Ohio State |
0-16 (7:20, 2Q) |
W 29-23 |
| 15 |
January 1, 2015 |
Sugar Bowl |
Ohio State |
vs. Alabama |
6-21 (8:07, 2Q) |
W 42-35 |
| 14 |
December 31, 2022 |
Peach Bowl |
Georgia |
vs. Ohio State |
24-38 (0:31, 3Q)
7-21 (10:56, 2Q) |
W 42-41 |
| 10 |
January 9, 2025 |
Orange Bowl |
Notre Dame |
vs. Penn State |
0-10 (2:18, 2Q) |
W 27-24 |
| 7 |
January 9, 2025 |
Orange Bowl |
Notre Dame |
vs. Penn State |
17-24 (7:55, 4Q) |
W 27-24 |
| 7 |
January 1, 2024 |
Rose Bowl Game |
Michigan |
vs. Alabama |
13-20 (4:41, 4Q) |
W 27-20 (OT) |
| 7 |
January 1, 2021 |
Sugar Bowl |
Ohio State |
vs. Clemson |
7-14 (5:01, 2Q) |
W 49-28 |
| 7 |
December 31, 2016 |
Peach Bowl |
Alabama |
vs. Washington |
0-7 (8:01, 1Q) |
W 24-7 |
| 7 |
December 31, 2015 |
Orange Bowl |
Clemson |
vs. Oklahoma |
0-7 (11:16, 1Q) |
W 37-17 |
| 3 |
January 1, 2015 |
Rose Bowl Game |
Oregon |
vs. Florida State |
0- 3 (9:06, 1Q) |
W 59-20 |
COMEBACKS IN THE CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
| PTS |
DATE |
GAME |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
TRAILED BY |
RESULT |
| 14 |
January 9, 2017 |
Tampa |
Clemson |
vs. Alabama |
0-14 (10:42, 2Q) |
W 35-31 |
| 13 |
January 8, 2018 |
Atlanta |
Alabama |
vs. Georgia |
7-20 (6:52, 3Q) |
W 26-23 (OT) |
| 10 |
January 13, 2020 |
New Orleans |
LSU |
vs. Clemson |
7-17 (10:38, 2Q) |
W 42-25 |
| 7 |
January 20, 2025 |
Atlanta |
Ohio State |
vs. Notre Dame |
0-7 (5:15, 1Q) |
W 34-23 |
| 7 |
January 11, 2016 |
Arizona |
Alabama |
vs. Clemson |
7-14 (0:00, 1Q) |
W 45-40 |
| 7 |
January 12, 2015 |
North Texas |
Ohio State |
vs. Oregon |
0-7 (12:21, 1Q) |
W 42-20 |
| 6 |
January 10, 2022 |
Indianapolis |
Georgia |
vs. Alabama |
3-9 (7:07, 2Q) |
W 33-18 |
| 2 |
January 7, 2019 |
Bay Area |
Clemson |
vs. Alabama |
14-16 (14:18, 2Q) |
W 44-16 |
LARGEST COMEBACK AT ANY POINT IN THE SECOND HALF (14):
- Georgia vs. Oklahoma (2018 Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game), as the Bulldogs trailed 31-17 at halftime.
- Georgia vs. Ohio State (2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl), as the Buckeyes made a field goal with 0:31 left in the third quarter to extend its lead over the Bulldogs to 38-24.
LARGEST COMEBACK AT ANY POINT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER (10):
- Clemson vs. Alabama (2017 CFP National Championship in Tampa), as the Tigers trailed 24-14 at the start.
- Georgia vs. Ohio State (2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl), as the Buckeyes made a field goal with 0:31 left in the third quarter to extend its lead over the Bulldogs to 38-24. UGA narrowed the gap by three points with a fourth quarter field goal (10:14).
