The College Football Playoff has witnessed some legendary performances. Some of the sport’s greatest-ever playmakers have showcased their special abilities in the postseason event, with record-setting performances on display.
Let’s look back at some of the greatest performances in College Football Playoff history.
Who Had the Greatest Performances in College Football Playoff History?
10) Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Putting up one of the most galvanizing individual performances of the playoff era against the Texas Longhorns in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day 2025, Cam Skattebo clawed the Arizona State Sun Devils back into the game when they looked dead and buried in the first quarter.
The Peach Bowl MVP may not have the most overwhelming scoreline on this list – rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns with an additional 99 yards receiving – but he inspired an incredible comeback, motivating the Sun Devils in an overtime loss.
9) Justin Fields, Ohio State
Justin Fields demonstrated that he was one of the top quarterbacks in college football during the 2021 Sugar Bowl semifinal when the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Clemson Tigers 49-28 in a historic game for the college football star.
The explosive playmaker excelled against the Tigers, completing 22 of his 28 passes for 285 yards and six touchdowns despite throwing one interception. Fields also contributed with 42 rushing yards while playing through an injury. He was hit in the ribs due to a targeting call but persevered through the pain to deliver one of the greatest performances in College Football Playoff history.
8) Mac Jones, Alabama
Mac Jones put on a show in Miami as the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Buckeyes 52-24. The Crimson Tide quarterback completed 36 of his 45 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns in a commanding performance. Three of those TDs were to Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith as Alabama ended the 2020 college football season undefeated.
7) Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
College football stardom was created in the 2018 National Championship Game when Nick Saban benched Jalen Hurts and slotted in Tua Tagovailoa for the second half. Trailing 13-0 at the break, the audacious move by the legendary head coach paid off, with the now-Miami Dolphins quarterback leading the Tide to a 26-23 victory in the most unlikely circumstances.
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Tua completed 14 of his 24 pass attempts for 166 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Still, the nature of his introduction and the manner of the victory made the performance worthy of making this list.
6) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
In just his true freshman season, Trevor Lawrence lit up the sporting world with one of the greatest performances in College Football Playoff history. The elite college quarterback carved open Alabama, scoring 31 points in the first half points.
Lawrence went 20 of 32 for 347 passing yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers overwhelmed the Crimson Tide to win the National Championship Game 44-16.
5) Justin Jefferson, LSU
The 2019 LSU Tigers team will go down as one of the best college football teams of all time. While a certain QB is still to come on this list, WR Justin Jefferson had a record-setting night against the Oklahoma Sooners in the CFP semifinal.
The elite wideout went for 227 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 receptions. More impressively, 186 of those yards and all four touchdowns came in the first half, breaking the College Football Playoff record.
4) Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Ezekiel Elliott was unstoppable in the 2015 National Championship Game as the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks 42-20 in an emphatic display.
The legendary Buckeyes’ RB rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries (including 97 yards in the first quarter), leading Ohio State to victory in the inaugural season of the College Football Playoff.
3) Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Deshaun Watson carried Clemson to a 35-31 victory over Alabama in the 2017 National Championship Game, a historic game for the Tigers’ QB. Watson was responsible for 78 of Clemson’s 99 snaps on offense, completing 36 of his 56 passing attempts for 420 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 43 yards and one touchdown on 21 attempts.
It included the game-winning touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow, earning Watson a place on this list of the greatest performances in College Football Playoff history while securing his place as one of the best quarterbacks in program history.
2) Stetson Bennett, Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs’ 65-7 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs was nothing more than a rout. The Dawgs’ QB went 18 of 25 for 304 passing yards and four touchdowns, adding a further 38 yards and two rushing touchdowns to his impressive display.
The sixth-year senior and former walk-on was already a fan favorite. He wrote himself further into the Georgia history books as the Bulldogs became back-to-back national champions.
1) Joe Burrow, LSU
At LSU, Joe Burrow was unstoppable. In the 2019 Peach Bowl, he broke several playoff records. The Tigers’ QB’s eight touchdowns, seven passing touchdowns, 515 total yards, and 493 passing yards were all records as the elite offense manhandled the Oklahoma Sooners 68-28 to make their way to the National Championship Game, which they inevitably also won.
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