2015–16 College Football Playoff

Postseason college football tournament November 2024 2015–16 2015 December 31, 2015 – January 11, 2016 Clemson Alabama Michigan State Oklahoma AT&T Stadium Sun Life Stadium University of Phoenix Stadium Alabama 1st 16th 2014–15 2016–17 thumb|University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship. The 2015–16 College Football Playoff was a single-elimination postseason tournament that determined the national champion of the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the second edition of the College Football Playoff (CFP) and involved the top four teams in the country as ranked by the College Football Playoff poll playing in two semifinals, with the winners of each advancing to the national championship game. Each participating team was the champion of its respective conference: No. 1 Clemson from the Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 2 Alabama from the Southeastern Conference, No. 3 Michigan State from the Big Ten Conference, and No. 4 Oklahoma from the Big 12 Conference. The playoff bracket's semifinal games were held at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year's Eve, part of the season's slate of bowl games. In the Orange Bowl semifinal, Clemson defeated Oklahoma by twenty points. The second semifinal, at the Cotton Bowl, saw Alabama shutout Michigan State, 38–0. As a result of their victories, Clemson and Alabama faced each other in the national championship game, held on January 11 in Glendale, Arizona. In that game, Alabama won by five points, giving them their first CFP national championship and their sixteenth claimed national championship in school history. The playoff set streaming viewership records for the CFP, with both semifinals besting those of the previous year and the championship doing the same. Despite an overall viewership drop of 23 percent from the 2015 championship, this year's championship set a record for unique viewers for an ESPN college football broadcast and ranked third among broadcasts of all sports in that category. The championship game received a Nielsen rating of 15.8. Bracket Selection and teams The 2015–16 CFP selection committee was chaired by Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long. Its other members were Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former United States Air Force Academy superintendent Michael C. Gould, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, former head coach Bobby Johnson, former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former United States secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Conference commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college head coach Tyrone Willingham.Year-by-year CFP selection committee membership https://collegefootballplayoff.com/sports/2021/9/7/yearly-selection-committees College Football Playoff July 21, 2024 The season's first College Football Playoff rankings were released on November 3, 2015. Clemson, from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), was ranked No. 1. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) was represented by No. 2 LSU and No. 4 Alabama, while No. 3 Ohio State represented the Big Ten Conference. Notre Dame, an FBS independent, and Baylor, from the Big 12 Conference, rounded out the top six.The first College Football Playoff rankings are out, and Clemson is No. 1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/11/03/the-first-college-football-playoff-rankings-are-out-and-clemson-is-no-1/ The Washington Post November 3, 2024 November 3, 2015 November 16, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151116031230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/11/03/the-first-college-football-playoff-rankings-are-out-and-clemson-is-no-1/ live Alabama rose to No. 2 the following week as a result of their win against LSU,Guilbeau Glenn Tide stuffs Fournette early https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/158384655/ November 3, 2024 The News-Star November 8, 2015 Monroe, Louisiana C4 Newspapers.com who dropped to No. 9.Lesmerises Doug College Football Playoff rankings: Alabama jumps Ohio State, Buckeyes remain No. 3 https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2015/11/college_football_playoff_ranki_1.html The Plain Dealer November 3, 2024 November 10, 2015 The November 10 rankings also saw Notre Dame jump to No. 4 after beating PittsburghKizer throws for 5 TDs, No. 5 Notre Dame tops Pitt https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400756978 ESPN November 3, 2024 November 7, 2015 September 1, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230901092550/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400756978 live and Iowa rose to No. 6 following an eight-point win at Indiana.No. 9 Iowa gets past Hoosiers 35–27 to stay perfect https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400763557 ESPN November 3, 2024 November 8, 2015 The top five teams kept their rankings through to week 11, though a loss by No. 6 Baylor to No. 12 Oklahoma saw them replaced in the top six by Oklahoma State.College Football Playoff committee keeps top teams in place https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-playoff-rankings.html The New York Times November 3, 2024 November 17, 2015Orts Jason Home win streak stops at 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald/158385218/ November 3, 2024 Waco Tribune-Herald November 15, 2015 Waco, Texas 28 Newspapers.com Several upsets shook up the following week's rankings: No. 9 Michigan State defeated No. 3 Ohio State and No. 10 Baylor defeated No. 6 Oklahoma State.Wenzel Matt Remembering Michigan State's 2015 upset win at Ohio State: 'Nobody believed it but us' https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/11/remembering-michigan-states-2015-upset-win-at-ohio-state-nobody-believed-it-but-us.html MLive Media Group November 3, 2024 November 19, 2021 January 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220128082536/https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/11/remembering-michigan-states-2015-upset-win-at-ohio-state-nobody-believed-it-but-us.html live Baylor hands Oklahoma State its first loss https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-scores-results.html The New York Times November 3, 2024 November 21, 2015 As a result, Michigan State jumped to No. 5 and Baylor rose to No. 7.Baumgaertner Gabriel Instant Analysis: Iowa cracks CFP top four, but will need Big Ten title to stay https://www.si.com/college/2015/11/25/playoff-rankings-oklahoma-big-12-iowa-alabama-sec Sports Illustrated November 3, 2024 November 24, 2015 Further, Oklahoma leapfrogged to No. 3 following a win over No. 18 TCU and Iowa rose one spot to No. 4 after a win against Purdue that saw the Hawkeyes clinch the Big Ten West Division.Iowa tops Purdue, clinches Big Ten West https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400763570 ESPN November 3, 2024 November 21, 2015 The final week of the regular season saw only one change made to the top six, as No. 9 Stanford's win over No. 6 Notre DameStanford rallies to knock Notre Dame from playoff picture https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400757090 ESPN November 3, 2024 November 29, 2015 and No. 8 Ohio State's win over No. 10 MichiganBilling Greg Big-House party: Buckeyes roll into Michigan Stadium, dominate Wolverines https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/158386459/ November 3, 2024 Dayton Daily News November 29, 2015 Dayton, Ohio 34 Newspapers.com were sufficient for the Buckeyes to replace the Fighting Irish in the No. 6 spot in the December 1 rankings.Dufresne Chris Final regular-season ranking sets table for College Football Playoff https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-college-football-playoff-20151202-column.html Los Angeles Times November 3, 2024 December 1, 2015 October 2, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161002191322/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-college-football-playoff-20151202-column.html live The following weekend saw many conferences play their championship games. No. 1 Clemson won the ACC Championship over No. 10 North Carolina to remain undefeated,Ellis Zac Clemson enters playoff as clear No. 1 with convincing ACC title game victory https://www.si.com/college/2015/12/06/clemson-tigers-acc-championship-playoff-deshaun-watson Sports Illustrated November 3, 2024 December 6, 2015 leading Sports Illustrated to declare them the "clear No. 1" entering the CFP. In Atlanta, No. 2 Alabama defeated No. 18 Florida for the SEC Championship, putting them at 12–1 and likely contenders for the playoff as well.Smits Garry Derrick Henry, Alabama pound Florida to win SEC Championship https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/college/uf-gators/2015/12/05/alabama-pounds-florida-win-sec-championship/15691303007/ The Florida Times-Union November 3, 2024 December 5, 2015 The Big Ten Championship saw No. 5 Michigan State defeat No. 4 Iowa on a touchdown with 27 seconds remaining.Hamilton Brian Michigan State philosophy culminates in epic game-winning drive over Iowa https://www.si.com/college/2015/12/06/michigan-state-beats-iowa-big-ten-championship Sports Illustrated November 3, 2024 December 6, 2015 In the Pac-12 Championship, No. 7 Stanford defeated No. 20 USC.Schnell Lindsay Instant analysis: Stanford, Christian McCaffrey win Pac-12 title over USC https://www.si.com/college/2015/12/06/stanford-cardinal-beat-usc-trojans-christian-mccaffrey Sports Illustrated November 4, 2024 December 5, 2015 August 15, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200815091834/https://www.si.com/college/2015/12/06/stanford-cardinal-beat-usc-trojans-christian-mccaffrey live Ultimately, Clemson and Alabama were selected in the top two spots, while Michigan State rose to No. 3 and Big 12 champion Oklahoma was ranked No. 4 in the final CFP rankings.Wolken Dan Playoff-ready Oklahoma rapidly transformed from fading to thriving https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2015/11/29/oklahoma-sooners-big-12-champions-college-football-playoff/76523218/ USA Today November 4, 2024 November 29, 2015 Clemson and Oklahoma were assigned to the Orange Bowl, while Alabama and Michigan State were scheduled to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic.Russo Ralph D. Turning points define playoff teams https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post/158387408/ November 3, 2024 Courier-Post December 7, 2024 Camden, New Jersey C2 Newspapers.com Iowa and Stanford, ranked No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, were slated to face each other in the Rose Bowl.Dochterman Scott Pac-12 champs feel left out https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/158394001/ November 4, 2024 The Gazette December 7, 2015 Cedar Rapids, Iowa M4 Newspapers.com +2015 College Football Playoff rankings top six progressionNo. NumberWeek 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13Final1Clemson (8–0)Clemson (9–0)Clemson (10–0)Clemson (11–0)Clemson (12–0)Clemson (13–0)2LSU (7–0)Alabama (8–1)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (10–1)Alabama (11–1)Alabama (12–1)3Ohio State (8–0)Ohio State (9–0)Ohio State (10–0)Oklahoma (10–1)Oklahoma (11–1)Michigan State (12–1)4Alabama (7–1)Notre Dame (8–1)Notre Dame (9–1)Iowa (11–0)Iowa (12–0)Oklahoma (11–1)5Notre Dame (7–1)Iowa (9–0)Iowa (10–0)Michigan State (10–1)Michigan State (11–1)Iowa (12–1)6Baylor (7–0)Baylor (8–0)Oklahoma State (10–0)Notre Dame (10–1)Ohio State (11–1)Stanford (11–2) Key: #d8ffeb Team increased ranking from previous week #ffe6e6 Team decreased ranking from previous week #College Football Playoff Team selected to College Football Playoff #000000 Playoff games Semifinals Orange Bowl 2015 Orange Bowl Orange Bowl white; text-align:center y 2015 Orange Bowl December 31, 2015 4:00 p.m. EST No. 4 Oklahoma 7 10 0 0 No. 1 Clemson 3 13 14 7 Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida A rematch of the Russell Athletic Bowl from the year before, the Orange Bowl semifinal was a matchup between No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Oklahoma.Pantorno Joe Orange Bowl 2015: updated odds and preview for Clemson vs. Oklahoma https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2596316-orange-bowl-2015-updated-odds-and-preview-for-clemson-vs-oklahoma Bleacher Report November 4, 2024 December 7, 2015 November 8, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201108164130/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2596316-orange-bowl-2015-updated-odds-and-preview-for-clemson-vs-oklahoma live It was their fifth all-time meeting.Lassan Steven Orange Bowl preview and prediction: Clemson vs. Oklahoma https://athlonsports.com/college-football/orange-bowl-preview-and-prediction-clemson-vs-oklahoma-2015 Athlon Sports November 4, 2024 December 30, 2015 November 26, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221126100908/https://athlonsports.com/college-football/orange-bowl-preview-and-prediction-clemson-vs-oklahoma-2015 live Each team scored once in the first quarter: Oklahoma capped their opening drive with a Samaje Perine touchdown rush, while Clemson's Greg Huegel kicked a field goal on the Tigers' second possession. Clemson took the lead with ten points from its next two possessions but a touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Mark Andrews late in the second quarter gave the Sooners a one-point halftime lead. In the second half, Oklahoma, who lost both Perine and Joe Mixon to injury, failed to score, and the Tigers added touchdowns by Wayne Gallman and Hunter Renfrow to recapture and keep the lead. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, was named MVP alongside linebacker Ben Boulware as the Tigers won by twenty to advance to the National Championship.Deshaun Watson, Tigers' D shine as Clemson reaches CFP title game https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400852733 ESPN November 4, 2024 January 1, 2016 Cotton Bowl Classic 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic (December) Cotton Bowl Classic white; text-align:center y 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic December 31, 2015 7:20 p.m. CST No. 3 Michigan State 0 0 0 0 No. 2 Alabama 0 10 21 7 AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas The Cotton Bowl Classic semifinal matchup paired No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Michigan State in their first meeting since a Crimson Tide victory in the 2011 Capital One Bowl.Rexrode Joe MSU vs. Alabama: scouting report, prediction https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2015/12/30/michigan-state-alabama-scouting-report/78090162/ Detroit Free Press November 4, 2024 December 30, 2015 December 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221205080206/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2015/12/30/michigan-state-alabama-scouting-report/78090162/ live The game started scoreless through the first quarter, and Alabama struck first with a touchdown by running back Derrick Henry near the midpoint of the second quarter.Burnett Marq Big-play Bama: Tide parties hearty at Sparty's expense https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser/158447177/ November 4, 2024 The Montgomery Advertiser January 1, 2016 Montgomery, Alabama C1 Newspapers.com A field goal made the score 10–0 at halftime, but touchdowns from Calvin Ridley, Cyrus Jones, and Henry in the second half cemented a "blowout" win for the Crimson Tide, according to The Dothan Eagle.Rogers Ken Title-bound Tide: Bama's offense, defense sizzle in blowout of Michigan State https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle/158447358/ November 4, 2024 The Dothan Eagle January 1, 2016 Dothan, Alabama 17 Newspapers.com Alabama blanks Michigan State to reach CFP title game https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400852732 ESPN November 4, 2024 January 1, 2016 May 16, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230516080710/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400852732 live The win was the ninth in nine attempts for Alabama head coach Nick Saban against his former assistants and saw Derrick Henry, the Heisman Trophy winner, break the SEC single-season rushing touchdowns record of twenty-three early in the game.Scarborough Alex Derrick Henry sets SEC mark for single-season rushing TDs https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14477584/derrick-henry-alabama-crimson-tide-sets-sec-rushing-td-record ESPN November 4, 2024 December 31, 2015 February 21, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180221044515/http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14477584/derrick-henry-alabama-crimson-tide-sets-sec-rushing-td-record live Alabama's 38–0 win was the first shutout in any Cotton Bowl Classic game since 1963. Championship game 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship College Football Playoff white; text-align:center y 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship January 11, 2016 6:30 p.m. MST No. 2 Alabama 7 7 7 24 No. 1 Clemson 14 0 10 16 University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, Arizona In their first meeting since the beginning of the 2008 season, No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama met in the National Championship game to conclude the 2015 season.2008 changed everything: Tide routed Tigers, but both programs won https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/jan/08/2008-changed-everything-20160108/ Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Associated Press November 4, 2024 January 8, 2016 July 15, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180715044006/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/jan/08/2008-changed-everything-20160108/ live The Crimson Tide entered the contest as favorites by a seven-point margin.Alabama vs. Clemson odds, 2016 College Football Playoff title game: Tide TD favorite https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/1/8/10730456/clemson-alabama-odds-2016-college-football-playoff-title-game-betting-lines SB Nation November 4, 2024 January 8, 2016 November 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221102023441/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/1/8/10730456/clemson-alabama-odds-2016-college-football-playoff-title-game-betting-lines live Alabama scored first on a 50-yard touchdown rush by Derrick Henry, and Clemson responded on their next drive with a pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow to tie the game. Clemson scored another touchdown before the end of the first quarter to lead 14–7 but another Henry score tied the game at 14 points apiece going into halftime. A field goal and a touchdown apiece to begin the second half made the score 24–24 early in the fourth quarter. Following the Adam Griffith field goal that tied the game, Alabama attempted and recovered an onside kick, allowing them to retain possession of the ball. The Associated Press called it "perhaps the boldest call of [Nick] Saban's career" and The Anniston Star said that "the call was gutsy" and "the execution was flawless".Burnett Marq Onside kick leads Alabama to national title win over Clemson https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star/158456878/ November 4, 2024 The Anniston Star January 12, 2016 Anniston, Alabama B01 Newspapers.com Alabama scored a touchdown two plays later on a pass to O. J. Howard and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game, despite a national championship-record 40 combined points in the fourth quarter. Aftermath Alabama's win gave them their fourth national championship in the previous seven seasons, the second team in history to do so after Notre Dame from 1943 to 1949. The championship was the fifth for head coach Nick Saban and the sixteenth all-time for the Crimson Tide.No. 2 Alabama holds off No. 1 Clemson for Nick Saban's 5th national title https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/400852743 ESPN Associated Press November 4, 2024 January 12, 2016 Clemson's loss in the national championship broke their 17-game winning streak, the second-longest in ACC history, and an even longer streak of 51 wins when leading at the end of the third quarter.Dynasty at desert: another Crimson crown added to Tide's crowded mantel https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser/37043566/ November 4, 2024 The Montgomery Advertiser January 12, 2016 Montgomery, Alabama C1–C2Khan Jr. Sam Alabama returns to top of college football with 45–40 win over Clemson https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/124505/alabama-returns-to-top-of-college-football-world-with-45-40-national-championship-win-over-clemson ESPN November 4, 2024 January 12, 2016 February 17, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170217082810/http://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/124505/alabama-returns-to-top-of-college-football-world-with-45-40-national-championship-win-over-clemson live The national championship game drew a viewership average of 25.7 million, a drop of 23 percent,Sandomir Richard College football championship game TV viewership drops 23 percent https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-championship-game-tv-ratings-drop-23-percent.html The New York Times November 4, 2024 January 12, 2016 May 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230514040039/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-championship-game-tv-ratings-drop-23-percent.html live with a Nielsen rating of 15.8.Daniels Tim Ratings for 2016 college football championship revealed https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2607144-alabama-vs-clemson-ratings-for-2016-college-football-championship-revealed Bleacher Report November 4, 2024 January 12, 2016 Still, the championship game set an ESPN college football record for unique viewers at over 2.4 million, and ranked third among all ESPN broadcasts behind two FIFA World Cup games.2016 Report: Passion for college football remains strong with impressive ratings and audience https://footballfoundation.org/news/2017/4/19/_55850.aspx National Football Foundation November 4, 2024 April 19, 2017 The Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl ranked first and second among CFP semifinal streaming viewership, besting both of the previous year's semifinals, and the championship game topped that of 2015 in the same category.Volner Derek College Football Playoff National Championship: ESPN's third highest overnight ever across all sports; WatchESPN sets new records https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2016/01/college-football-playoff-national-championship-espns-third-highest-overnight-ever-across-all-sports-watchespn-sets-new-records/ ESPN Press Room ESPN November 4, 2024 January 12, 2016 References College Football Playoff College Football Playoff