Who won the 2019 College Football National Championship?

The College Football Playoff National Championship, introduced in 2014, replaced the Bowl Championship Series and its BCS National Championship Game. The new structure works as a bracket tournament, with the best four college football teams chosen by a selection committee competing for the coveted national championship title.

The winner of this championship match receives the Dr. Pepper-sponsored College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. This trophy deviates from the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) long-standing "crystal football" tradition, which has been awarded since 1986. The design change was deliberate in order to distance itself from the former BCS championship system.

It is critical to note that the College Football Playoff National Championship is conferred by the College Football Playoff (CFP) organization, not the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The College Football Playoff uses a different selection method than the BCS model. Two semifinal games, known as the "Plus-One system," are played as part of the New Year's Six bowl game cycle.

The selection of the game's neutral location is similar to that of major events such as the NCAA Final Four and Super Bowl. Cities interested in hosting submit applications, emphasizing the significance of establishing a neutral venue for the championship match.

2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Winner

The 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship was won by the Clemson Tigers (CU).

In the 2019 College Football National Championship, Clemson emerged victorious, defeating the Crimson Tide 44–16 in the championship game, led by true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The San Francisco 49ers' home field, Levi's Stadium, saw 74,814 spectators witness Lawrence and the Tigers' offense mercilessly dismantle Alabama.

The outcome was the biggest defeat Alabama has suffered under head coach Nick Saban. Lawrence, meanwhile, became the first true freshman to lead a team to a championship since 1985 and was named the game's offensive MVP. Lawrence finished the regular season undefeated.

The 2018 Clemson football team was well-known for two things: their defense, led by the "Power Rangers," Austin Bryant, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell, and Christian Wilkins, allowed only 13.1 points per game to win the 2019 College Football National Championship; and their scoring offense, spearheaded by Trevor Lawrence, finished fourth in the country with an average of 44.3 points per game. The passing weapons on the team, such as Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Amari Rodgers, were also commended.

College Football Playoff Format

Since its establishment in 2014, the College Football Playoff has consistently determined the national champion through a four-team knockout bracket, maintaining this format until the conclusion of the 2023 season.

The semifinals, integral to the playoff structure, are hosted by six prominent bowl games—the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl. These bowls rotate hosting duties in a three-year cycle, featuring combinations such as Fiesta/Peach, Orange/Cotton, and Rose/Sugar.

Together, the two semifinal bowls and the four elite bowls collectively form the New Year's Six. Per the agreement, the Rose and Sugar Bowls consistently take place on New Year's Day annually.

Initially, three games were scheduled for New Year's Eve and three for New Year's Day, totaling six games. However, due to lower TV ratings in the initial rotation, some games initially slated for New Year's Eve were rescheduled to as early as December 27 in certain years.

To maintain fairness, the selection committee not only seeds the top four teams but also allocates teams to the at-large bowls—Cotton, Fiesta, and Peach—during years when these bowls do not host the semifinals.

In the four-team format, the top-ranked team faces the bottom-ranked club, and vice versa. The No. 1 seed holds the privilege of choosing its bowl game, consequently determining the semifinal bowl game assigned to each opponent, thereby avoiding a "road" situation. Notably, there is no upper limit on the number of teams from each conference that can participate in the playoff.

2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Venue

The 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship was held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The stadium is situated 64 kilometers, or about 40 miles, south of San Francisco. Levi Strauss & Co., which acquired the naming rights in 2013, bears that name.

On November 4, 2015, it was announced that the fifth College Football Playoff National Championship would take place at Santa Clara, California's Levi's Stadium. Since 2014, it has been the home field for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL).

Voters in Santa Clara approved a resolution in June 2010 allowing the city to lease land to the tax-exempt Santa Clara Stadium Authority, which would be responsible for constructing and owning the new football stadium.

The Pac-12 Football Championship Game was held at Levi's Stadium from 2014 until 2019; thereafter, it was held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In the past, the division champion with the better record hosted the game on their home field.

Super Bowl 50 took place at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016, and Super Bowl LX will take place there in 2026. The 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship was also held at Levi's Stadium. Numerous FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will take place at Levi's Stadium.

2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Stats

Both Teams Statistical Comparison