Who Won the 2021 College Football National Championship?

Last Modified Dec 4, 2023 08:00 GMT
2021 College Football National Championship
2021 College Football National Championship

The College Football Playoff National Championship (CFPNC) is a post-season bowl game that has been staged since the Bowl Championship Series and BCS National Championship Game were eliminated in 2014.

The 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship took place at Miami Gardens, Florida's Hard Rock Stadium, on January 11, 2021. The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) seventh College Football Playoff National Championship game decided a national champion for the 2020 season.

ESPN aired the game, which got underway at 8:15 p.m. EST. It was the final game of the 2020–21 bowl season, aside from the all-star games that were slated to happen later. The game was formally named the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, presented by AT&T, as it was sponsored by the telecommunications firm.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is a bracket event that serves as the playoff final between the top four teams in the United States, as decided by a selection committee.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is given out by the College Football Playoff (CFP) organization, not the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The highest tier of collegiate football in which the NCAA bestows championships is called the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Winner

The Alabama Crimson Tide made a stunning comeback by winning the 2021 College Football National Championship after losing in the semifinals the prior season. Before Nick Saban's team destroyed the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24 in the championship game in front of a pandemic-limited 14,926 people inside Hard Rock Stadium, they crushed the SEC and took the Irish by storm in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama became just the second team in the four-team playoff era to win a national championship while ranking first after LSU's victory in 2020. The Crimson Tide won their 18th national championship, their third in the CFP era, and their unbeaten season was their 25th flawless season in program history.

Alabama has become a household name in college football under Coach Saban. For the Tuscaloosa team, anything less than a national championship is considered catastrophic. Maybe it was the conditions around the CFB season in 2020.

There is a counterargument that the challenges the Alabama team faced in winning their 18th national championship were unlike any other team in the history of the sport. Some will always argue that the 2021 College Football National Championship is tainted by the extenuating circumstances of a global pandemic, eliminating any remote chance of a level playing field.

College Football Playoff Format

The College Football Playoff (CFP) uses a calculated rotation of six notable bowl games, including the Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, which are organized in three-year cycles with combinations such as fiesta/peach, orange/cotton, and rose/sugar. The playoff consists of a four-team knockout bracket, with this structure remaining in place until the end of the 2023 season.

The semifinal bowls and four more bowls are included in the New Year's Six, which is customarily held on New Year's Day. Some games originally scheduled for New Year's Eve were rescheduled for December in order to maximize viewership.

The selection committee not only assigns teams to at-large bowls but also seeds the top four teams. The autonomy of the No. 1 seed in selecting its bowl game is intended to prevent a disadvantageous "road" matchup, with no set cap on teams per conference.

2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Venue

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, was revealed as the seventh College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship's host venue in August 2018. The semifinals were set for January 1, 2021, with the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl serving as the host teams.

The CFP announced on August 5, 2020, that in order to accommodate conferences that had postponed their championship games until mid-December, they would shift the announcement of the final rankings and semifinal pairings from December 6 to December 20. The semifinal matchups were revealed on December 20. In the Rose Bowl, No. 1 Alabama faced No. 4 Notre Dame, while in the Sugar Bowl, No. 2 Clemson faced No. 3 Ohio State.

Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak in California, the Rose Bowl game, which was originally scheduled to take place in Pasadena, California, was shifted to Arlington, Texas. The COVID-19 pandemic in the US had an impact on the 2020 FBS season; therefore, CFP officials had set aside January 18 as a backup date for the championship game. Hard Rock Stadium could only hold 23% of its regular capacity of 14,926 people.

2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Stats

Both Teams Statistical Comparison

StatisticsOhio StateAlabama
First downs1933
Plays–yards62–34183–621
Rushes–yards29–14738–157
Passing yards194464
Passing: comp–att–int17–33–036–45–0
Time of possession22:3437:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ohio StatePassingJustin Fields17/33, 194 yards, 1 TD
RushingJustin Fields6 carries, 67 yards
ReceivingChris Olave8 receptions, 69 yards
AlabamaPassingMac Jones36/45, 464 yards, 5 TD
RushingNajee Harris22 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDeVonta Smith12 receptions, 215 yards, 3 TD

FAQs

A. The Alabama Crimson Tide won the 2021 College Football National Championship.

A. The championship took place on January 11, 2021, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

A. The College Football Playoff (CFP) organization awards the College Football Playoff National Championship.

A. Alabama won its 18th national championship, securing its third in the CFP era with the 2021 victory.

A. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, served as the venue for the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Related Stories

Pics: Buffs drop warm Deion Sanders pics after massive $54 million contract extension Pics: Buffs drop warm Deion Sanders pics after massive $54 million contract extension
Pics: Buffs drop warm Deion Sanders pics after massive $54 million contract extension
1d
"Motivating through love": When Ryan Day revealed his stamp on Ohio State after Urban Meyer's exit "Motivating through love": When Ryan Day revealed his stamp on Ohio State after Urban Meyer's exit
"Motivating through love": When Ryan Day revealed his stamp on Ohio State after Urban Meyer's exit
Former NFL safety Mike Mayock takes Georgia LB over Abdul Carter Former NFL safety Mike Mayock takes Georgia LB over Abdul Carter
Former NFL safety Mike Mayock takes Georgia LB over Abdul Carter
Jordan Seaton has 1 clear question for the recruits after Coach Prime’s mega $54,000,000 contract extension Jordan Seaton has 1 clear question for the recruits after Coach Prime’s mega $54,000,000 contract extension
Jordan Seaton has 1 clear question for the recruits after Coach Prime’s mega $54,000,000 contract extension
Rayshaun Benny reveals how Michigan players treat Bryce Underwood at practice Rayshaun Benny reveals how Michigan players treat Bryce Underwood at practice
Rayshaun Benny reveals how Michigan players treat Bryce Underwood at practice
“You don't pay someone $10m to sit on the bench”: CFB fans react as Bryce Underwood emerges as the favorite to start for Michigan “You don't pay someone $10m to sit on the bench”: CFB fans react as Bryce Underwood emerges as the favorite to start for Michigan
“You don't pay someone $10m to sit on the bench”: CFB fans react as Bryce Underwood emerges as the favorite to start for Michigan
1d
"Bro was declaring for the other draft": Fans in splits over Dillon Gabriel's viral hoops video amid NFL Draft rumors "Bro was declaring for the other draft": Fans in splits over Dillon Gabriel's viral hoops video amid NFL Draft rumors
"Bro was declaring for the other draft": Fans in splits over Dillon Gabriel's viral hoops video amid NFL Draft rumors
1d
“He's going to fumble”: Former Texas QB offers bold prediction for Arch Manning amid massive hype in 2025 “He's going to fumble”: Former Texas QB offers bold prediction for Arch Manning amid massive hype in 2025
“He's going to fumble”: Former Texas QB offers bold prediction for Arch Manning amid massive hype in 2025
1d
Kenny Dillingham believes making spring practices public can "motivate" ASU players Kenny Dillingham believes making spring practices public can "motivate" ASU players
Kenny Dillingham believes making spring practices public can "motivate" ASU players
“Arch [Manning] ain’t coming next year”: CFB insider’s blunt reality check to Giants & Co. as he drops massive prediction “Arch [Manning] ain’t coming next year”: CFB insider’s blunt reality check to Giants & Co. as he drops massive prediction
“Arch [Manning] ain’t coming next year”: CFB insider’s blunt reality check to Giants & Co. as he drops massive prediction
1d
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications