College Football Rankings 2014-15: B/R's Final Official Top 25
College football has its first playoff-crowned national champion, after Ohio State muscled its way to a 42-20 win over Oregon on Monday night in the title game in Arlington, Texas. The Buckeyes won their first national title since 2002-03 and earned the fancy trophy that comes with this new playoff system.
Though we know where OSU ends up in the final rankings, we still need to list out everyone else. It's the only proper way to wrap up this great 2014-15 season.
The Bleacher Report Top 25 is voted on by 20 members of our college football team: writers Keith Arnold, Ben Axelrod, Phil Callihan, Michael Felder, Andrew Hall, Kyle Kensing, David Kenyon, Ben Kercheval, Adam Kramer, Brian Leigh, Brian Pedersen, Barrett Sallee, Brad Shepard, Erin Sorensen, Marc Torrence and Greg Wallace, as well as editors Eric Bowman, Hunter Mandel, Max Rausch and Eric Yates.
Each voter submits their ballots based on observations made during the just-completed week's games. Teams receive 25 points for a first-place vote, all the way down to one point for ranking 25th, and then the Top 25 vote-getters are ranked in order of their point totals.
Check out the final 2014-15 season Top 25, and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Honorable Mention
1 of 26
Though its final record didn't garner it worthy of finishing in the Top 25, it's hard to argue that Arkansas was playing some of the best football in the country when the season ended. Just ask Texas, which was crushed by the Razorbacks 31-7 in the Texas Bowl.
Arkansas went 7-6, winning three of its last four that included back-to-back shutout victories over ranked opponents Ole Miss and LSU. Coach Bret Bielema has quickly turned around this down program, and the Hogs figure to be a team to watch in 2015.
Here are the rest of the teams that were worthy of votes in our final poll but didn't get enough to finish ranked:
- Minnesota (21)
- Oklahoma (18)
- Nebraska (13)
- Arkansas (12)
- Notre Dame (8)
- Air Force (7)
- Colorado State (7)
- LSU (7)
- Stanford (4)
- North Carolina State (3)
- Georgia Southern (1)
- North Dakota State (1)
- Rutgers (1)
25. Memphis Tigers
2 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Won, 55-48 (in 2 OT), vs. BYU in Miami Beach Bowl
Poll points: 31
Final regular-season ranking: Not ranked
Memphis put together one of the biggest one-year turnarounds in FBS history, going from 3-9 in its first season in the American Athletic Conference in 2013 to winning a share of the AAC crown in 2014. The capper was a thrilling double-overtime victory over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl, though a postgame brawl sullied the accomplishment a bit.
The Tigers won their first conference title since the early 1970s and reached 10 wins for the first time since 1938. Coach Justin Fuente became a hot commodity on the coaching market, but the school gave him a five-year extension and a huge raise to $1.4 million in an effort to keep him around.
"Keeping Fuente won’t be easy, but that's better than the alternative," wrote Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman. "Not since 1974, when Fred Pancoast left for Vanderbilt, has Memphis lost a football coach because another school wanted him. That's not the case anymore."
24. Marshall Thundering Herd
3 of 26
Final record: 13-1
Bowl result: Won, 52-23, vs. Northern Illinois in Boca Raton Bowl
Poll points: 34
Final regular-season ranking: Not ranked
Marshall came within a two-point conversion in overtime of its first perfect regular season since 1999, but that loss to Western Kentucky in its regular-season finale didn't take away from a stellar year.
The Thundering Herd finished second in the nation in total offense, at 559.2 yards per game, while averaging 45.6 points. Four-year starting quarterback Rakeem Cato paced that attack, throwing for 3,903 yards and 40 touchdowns and finishing with an FBS-record 46 straight games with a TD pass.
Cato will be a big weapon to replace, but Marshall does bring back junior Devon Johnson, who ran for 1,767 yards and 17 TDs.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
23. Louisville Cardinals
4 of 26
Final record: 9-4
Bowl result: Lost, 37-14, vs. Georgia in Belk Bowl
Poll points: 45
Final regular-season ranking: 20th
Louisville's first season in the ACC (and first back under the guidance of coach Bobby Petrino) went well, but not in the way that was expected. Stymied by injuries, the Cardinals struggled on offense, while they were among the best defensive teams in the country.
Even after giving up 505 yards to Georgia in its bowl game, Louisville ended the year ranked sixth in yards allowed at 309.5 yards per game. The Cardinals intercepted 26 passes, with safety Gerod Holliman tying an FBS record with 14 picks before declaring for the NFL draft as a redshirt sophomore.
Louisville figures to be far more of an offensive power in 2015, as Petrino decides between sophomore Will Gardner and freshmen Kyle Bolin and Reggie Bonnafon (who combined for 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season) at quarterback.
22. Auburn Tigers
5 of 26
Final record: 8-5
Bowl result: Lost, 34-31 (in OT), vs. Wisconsin in Outback Bowl
Poll points: 79
Final regular-season ranking: 18th
A year ago, Auburn was the biggest surprise in the country by going from 3-9 to the national title game under first-year coach Gus Malzahn. This season saw the Tigers fall back into the pack with five losses, four of those to ranked teams.
Another strong offense—Auburn ranked 14th in rushing and averaged 35.5 points per game—couldn't overcome a defense that allowed 450-plus yards in six of the last eight games. Malzahn quickly addressed that issue after losing to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, hiring outgoing Florida coach Will Muschamp as his defensive coordinator.
The Tigers lose 10 starters, including quarterback Nick Marshall and leading rusher Cameron Artis-Payne, but most of their top juniors chose to return to school.
21. Utah Utes
6 of 26
Final record: 9-4
Bowl result: Won, 45-10, vs. Colorado State in Las Vegas Bowl
Poll points: 94
Final regular-season ranking: 24th (tied)
Utah had a breakout year in 2014, riding a dependable running back and a swarming defense to its best record since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.
The Utes led the nation in sacks, with 55, with Nate Orchard recording 18.5 of those. Orchard is graduating, though returning is sophomore Hunter Dimick and seven other starters on defense.
Running back Devontae Booker (1,512 rushing yards) and quarterback Travis Wilson return, but Utah does have several coaches to replace.
20. USC Trojans
7 of 26
Final record: 9-4
Bowl result: Won, 45-42, vs. Nebraska in Holiday Bowl
Poll points: 118
Final regular-season ranking: 22nd
An up-and-down season with some surprising losses and big wins figures to serve as the foundation for what could be a big 2015 for USC, though the departure of several junior stars needs to be addressed to insure that success.
The Trojans bring back quarterback Cody Kessler, but running back Javorius Allen and receiver Nelson Agholor, as well as defensive lineman Leonard Williams, all turned pro after the exciting Holiday Bowl win. Thankfully, USC played plenty of freshmen in 2014, with future superstars like Adoree' Jackson, JuJu Smith and several offensive linemen on pace for big careers.
Kessler has thrown for 6,793 yards and 59 touchdowns the past two seasons, including 3,826 yards with 39 TDs and only five interceptions in 2014.
19. Ole Miss Rebels
8 of 26
Final record: 9-4
Bowl result: Lost, 42-3, vs. TCU in Peach Bowl
Poll points: 176
Final regular-season ranking: 11th
The 2014 season was among the most notable in recent memory for Ole Miss, with a 7-0 start that included a landmark win over Alabama that lifted the Rebels to third in the country. The second half of the year didn't go as well, as Ole Miss' strong defense began to wear down and an efficient offense stopped clicking.
The loss of star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to leg and ankle injuries late in a loss to Auburn—the week after losing for the first time at LSU—served as a major turning point downward. After that, the Rebels had to become even more reliant on their "Landsharks" defense, which finished No. 1 in the nation in scoring at 16 points per game.
That average would have been far lower if not for the bowl result, where Ole Miss couldn't stop TCU's attack and also couldn't overcome four turnovers.
Treadwell figures to be back in time for the 2015 season, but Ole Miss has to replace a key offensive piece in quarterback Bo Wallace, as well as several members of a defense that recorded 22 interceptions.
18. Boise State Broncos
9 of 26
Final record: 12-2
Bowl result: Won, 38-30, vs. Arizona in Fiesta Bowl
Poll points: 195
Final regular-season ranking: 21st
Almost forgotten about after opening the season with a loss to Ole Miss (along with the change in coaching leadership), Boise State ended 2014 as the best non-power-conference team in the country after winning its third Fiesta Bowl since 2007.
First-year coach Bryan Harsin stepped right in and picked up what Chris Petersen had established without much of a hiccup. The victory over Arizona on Dec. 31 marked the program's 13th season of 10 or more wins in the past 16.
Running back Jay Ajayi ran for 1,823 yards and 28 touchdowns before turning pro, while quarterback Grant Hedrick led the nation in passing accuracy at 70.8 percent.
17. Kansas State Wildcats
10 of 26
Final record: 9-4
Bowl result: Lost, 40-35, vs. UCLA in Alamo Bowl
Poll points: 198
Final regular-season ranking: 9th
Kansas State lost to three teams that were ranked sixth or better at the time of the game during the regular season, then couldn't put together a late comeback in the Alamo Bowl against UCLA. In between, the Wildcats got to nine wins for the third time in the past four years under the tutelage of longtime coach Bill Snyder, who last week was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
But now comes the real test: replacing 11 starters that include a gutty quarterback in Jake Waters, the school's most prolific wide receiver ever in Tyler Lockett and a fierce pass-rusher in defensive end Ryan Mueller. Snyder has been through this before, though, so expect him to have a plan.
16. Clemson Tigers
11 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Won, 40-6, vs. Oklahoma in Russell Athletic Bowl
Poll points: 199
Final regular-season ranking: 19th
An offense ravaged by injuries and attrition kept Clemson from being able to contend for a major bowl bid, but one of the best defenses in the nation did its part to contribute to the Tigers' fourth straight 10-win season.
Clemson was tops in the country in total defense, allowing only 260.8 yards per game, and third in scoring at 16.7 per contest.
The Tigers struggled most of the year on offense, except when freshman Deshaun Watson was able to stay on the field. The dual-threat quarterback was electric, but a hand injury and then a torn knee ligament limited his contributions.
15. Missouri Tigers
12 of 26
Final record: 11-3
Bowl result: Won, 33-17, vs. Minnesota in Citrus Bowl
Poll points: 205
Final regular-season ranking: 15th
Missouri wasn't anywhere near the explosive offensive team it was a year ago, but behind another great defensive line, the Tigers were able to come out on top in the SEC East for the second consecutive season.
Defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray combined for 23 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss, but Golden is graduating and Ray has turned pro early. The Tigers also lost their well-regarded defensive coordinator, Dave Steckel, who left to take over the FCS Missouri State program.
Missouri only averaged 367 yards per game, worst among teams with 10 or more wins, but it will return quarterback Maty Mauk for a second full season as the starter along with 1,000-yard rusher Russell Hansbrough.
14. Arizona Wildcats
13 of 26
Final record: 10-4
Bowl result: Lost, 38-30, vs. Boise State in Fiesta Bowl
Poll points: 218
Final regular-season ranking: 12th
One of the biggest surprises among the power conferences, Arizona emerged from the loaded Pac-12 South Division to win its first title and get into a major bowl game for the first time in 20 years. But the Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State, combined with a major drubbing at the hands of Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, sent the Wildcats into the offseason on a two-game skid.
It was a youth-laden offense that paced Arizona in 2014, with freshmen (redshirt or true) accounting for nearly 5,500 yards of total offense. Quarterback Anu Solomon threw for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns, while Nick Wilson ran for 1,375 yards and 16 scores.
Beyond those stars, Arizona also returns the top overall defensive player in the country. Scooby Wright led the nation with 29 tackles for loss, earning three major awards (Bednarik, Nagurski, Lombardi) in the process.
13. Wisconsin Badgers
14 of 26
Final record: 11-3
Bowl result: Won, 34-31 (in OT), vs. Auburn in Outback Bowl
Poll points: 244
Final regular-season ranking: 17th
Wisconsin had a front-row seat to the second-best season by a running back in FBS history, but the lack of a balanced offense ended up holding the Badgers back in the long run. They were able to finish strong with an overtime bowl win against Auburn and now head into the offseason with a new head coach for the second time in three years.
Gary Andersen's surprise resignation (to take the Oregon State job) opened the door for former quarterback and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst to come from Pittsburgh. He'll be working with a lineup that has a lot of holes to fill, none bigger than record-breaking running back Melvin Gordon.
Gordon, who briefly set the FBS single-game rushing mark with 408 yards in a November win over Nebraska, finished with 2,587 yards—second most in FBS history—and 29 touchdowns. Gordon declared for the NFL draft, leaving sophomore Corey Clement (949 yards, nine TD) next up to carry the ball.
Wisconsin also has to find some replacements for a defense that finished fourth nationally in yards allowed.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils
15 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Won, 36-31, vs. Duke in Sun Bowl
Poll points: 257
Final regular-season ranking: 16th
Arizona State wasn't able to repeat as Pac-12 South champions, but after holding off Duke in the Sun Bowl, the Sun Devils did get to 10 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in more than 40 years.
A midseason injury to standout quarterback Taylor Kelly didn't slow down ASU, as its offense remained effective and efficient as it utilized some of the best pass-catching running backs in the country. The best of that lot, D.J. Foster, ran for 1,081 yards and had 688 yards receiving.
This past season, ASU was one of the younger teams in the country, particularly on defense. In 2015, it will return nine defensive starters from a unit that was one of the most blitz-happy in FBS.
11. UCLA Bruins
16 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Won, 40-35, vs. Kansas State in Alamo Bowl
Poll points: 280
Final regular-season ranking: 14th
Billed by some as a national title contender before the season, UCLA instead finished in a three-way tie for second in the tough Pac-12 South Division after losing three times at home. That included falling to Stanford in its regular-season finale, allowing Arizona to claim the division title despite a head-to-head victory.
The disappointments seemed to outweigh the achievements for the Bruins in 2014, but they ended on a high note in early 2015 by sending quarterback Brett Hundley and others out with a solid win over a good Kansas State team in the Alamo Bowl. Hundley finished with 3,799 yards of total offense and was responsible for 32 touchdowns with only five interceptions thrown, but getting sacked 38 times stifled his production.
With Hundley gone, UCLA will have to decide between a crop of relatively inexperienced passers in choosing its next quarterback. Jerry Neuheisel starred in relief in a win over Texas when Hundley got hurt, but the Bruins bring in the top-rated pro-style passer from the 2015 class in Josh Rosen. He's already enrolled and figures to get a shot at the job.
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
17 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Lost, 49-34, vs. Georgia Tech in Orange Bowl
Poll points: 282
Final regular-season ranking: 8th
Arguably the best season in Mississippi State history didn't end as well as it started, as the Bulldogs started 9-0 and rose to No. 1 in the country for the first time before dropping three of four down the stretch. But one of the biggest pieces of that breakout year, quarterback Dak Prescott, will be back in 2015 to attempt to replicate this season's success.
Prescott spent much of this year as a Heisman contender because of his dual-threat abilities, which led him to 4,435 yards of total offense and 42 combined touchdowns, including one receiving. He'll be the most experienced quarterback in the SEC in 2015, though he won't have the complement of 1,200-yard rusher Josh Robinson after the junior decided to turn pro following the Orange Bowl.
MSU's defense struggled as the season wound down, giving up 500-plus yards in each of the last two games. Six seniors and junior linebacker Benardrick McKinney aren't returning, but coach Dan Mullen is bringing in well-regarded coordinator Manny Diaz to help right the ship.
9. Georgia Bulldogs
18 of 26
Final record: 10-3
Bowl result: Won, 37-14, vs. Louisville in Belk Bowl
Poll points: 303
Final regular-season ranking: 13th
Georgia shut out defending SEC East champion Missouri, dominated 10-win Clemson and romped Louisville in its bowl game. But overall, the 2014 season was one that didn't live up to its potential due to some tough losses on both the scoreboard and to the roster.
The Bulldogs were never able to maintain any momentum from their big wins, losing at South Carolina right after the Clemson victory and getting blown out by Florida shortly after crushing Missouri and Arkansas on the road. Along the way, they had to deal with the loss of running back Todd Gurley first to an NCAA suspension (related to accepting compensation for autographs) and then to a season-ending knee injury.
Thankfully, Georgia began the year with an overabundance of ball-carriers, and Gurley's absence allowed freshman Nick Chubb to emerge as the school's next superstar rusher. Though he hardly played in the first month-plus of 2014, Chubb finished the season with 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns, including eight straight 100-yard games and a 266-yard effort against Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Chubb figures to be the focal point of the 2015 offense, which will be run by new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after Mike Bobo left to take the Colorado State job.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
19 of 26
Final record: 11-3
Bowl result: Won, 49-34, vs. Mississippi State in Orange Bowl
Poll points: 364
Final regular-season ranking: 10th
After four relatively lean years in Atlanta, Georgia Tech bounced back in a big way in 2014 with a renewed dedication to its signature triple-option offense. It enabled the Yellow Jackets to reach the ACC title game for the third time, and it also helped them roll past Mississippi State for their first Orange Bowl victory since 1952.
Georgia Tech finished the year second in the country in rushing, at 342.1 yards per game, which included 452 yards and six touchdowns against Mississippi State. Quarterback Justin Thomas was the catalyst of this attack, running for 1,086 yards and eight touchdowns, but he was one of three players with at least 800 rushing yards and eight scores.
The option system will get tested in 2015, though, as Thomas is the only one returning who finished with more than 300 yards on the ground. Most of the offensive line returns, as do seven defensive starters.
7. Baylor Bears
20 of 26
Final record: 11-2
Bowl result: Lost, 42-41, vs. Michigan State in Cotton Bowl
Poll points: 372
Final regular-season ranking: 6th
One of two teams from the Big 12 (along with TCU, whom it beat head-to-head) that were considered worthy of being in the four-team playoff, Baylor instead had to settle for a piece of a second straight conference title and a major bowl appearance. Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to finish on a high note, losing in dramatic fashion very similar to their most signature victory of 2014.
By blowing a 20-point fourth-quarter lead over Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, Baylor essentially flipped the script on its own 21-point rally to beat TCU at home in October. The circumstances of that game—along with Baylor's weak non-league schedule—contributed to its failure to gain acceptance to the first-ever playoff system. But the Bears still put together a second straight 11-win season and third year of 10 or more victories in the past four.
Baylor had reached 10 wins only once before in program history.
The Bears lose quarterback Bryce Petty to graduation, while offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery is now running the show at Tulsa. But a young corps of skill-position players and a defense led by 6'9" defensive end Shawn Oakman shouldn't make for too much of a backslide next fall.
6. Michigan State Spartans
21 of 26
Final record: 11-2
Bowl result: Won, 42-41, vs. Baylor in Cotton Bowl
Poll points: 405
Final regular-season ranking: 7th
Michigan State not only pulled off one of the biggest comebacks of the bowl season in the fourth quarter to beat Baylor, but it also scored a few huge victories in the personnel department by learning some key stars would come back in 2015 for their senior years.
Quarterback Connor Cook and defensive end Shilique Calhoun are both returning, which should ensure the Spartans remain no worse than the second-best team in the Big Ten. They get a chance to seek revenge at home against Oregon in the fall, while they'll have to go to Ohio State to avenge that home defeat.
MSU has won at least 11 games in four of the past five seasons, getting to that mark this year thanks to three touchdowns in the final 12 minutes of the Cotton Bowl. That comeback was part of a landmark day for the Big Ten, combined with wins by Ohio State and Wisconsin, and sets the Spartans up well for another likely 11-win season in 2015.
5. Florida State Seminoles
22 of 26
Final record: 13-1
Bowl result: Lost, 59-20, vs. Oregon in Rose Bowl (national semifinal)
Poll points: 415
Final regular-season ranking: 3rd
The defending national champions somehow managed to survive a regular season full of potential pitfalls, bringing a 29-game win streak into the playoffs. But that's when the Seminoles' run came to an end, in blowout fashion, as second-half mistakes snowballed and led to Florida State losing by more points than in its previous six defeats stretching back to 2011.
Now comes the aftermath of FSU's two-year run, which includes another round of players departing early for the NFL draft. Four juniors and redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston have gone pro, while nine other starters graduate, leaving the Seminoles with very few contributors returning from the 2013 national title team.
It figures to be a youth movement in 2015, led by a number of underclassmen who were huge this past season. That includes running back Dalvin Cook, who ran for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as receivers Ermon Lane and Travis Rudolph, all freshmen in 2014.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
23 of 26
Final record: 12-2
Bowl result: Lost, 42-35, vs. Ohio State in Sugar Bowl (national semifinal)
Poll points: 444
Final regular-season ranking: 1st
It's another Top Four finish for Alabama, but not being part of the national championship game essentially puts the 2014 season into the "disappointment" category for a program that has won three titles since 2009.
The Crimson Tide were able to navigate the gauntlet of the SEC West to win that division, then the conference, with only a last-minute loss at Ole Miss preventing regular-season perfection. A revamped offense under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin made for exciting plays all season long, yet in the playoffs, that attack wasn't potent enough to get past Ohio State.
And that offense will be going through another overhaul in 2015, as quarterback Blake Sims graduates while running back T.J. Yeldon and record-breaking receiver Amari Cooper have both declared for the NFL draft.
"I don't really think that we're going to change our philosophy in terms of how we do things," Alabama coach Nick Saban told Mark Edwards of the Montgomery Advertiser. "That philosophy has helped us win a lot of games, and hopefully it will continue to do the same thing in the future."
Led by running back Derrick Henry (990 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and more than half of their starters back on defense, the Tide will still have plenty of talent to work with.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
24 of 26
Final record: 12-1
Bowl result: Won, 42-3, vs. Ole Miss in Peach Bowl
Poll points: 450
Final regular-season ranking: 5th
TCU finishes in the proverbial bridesmaid spot, the team that was shut out of a playoff system that guaranteed itself controversy by having five conferences compete for four spots. Using that snub as motivation, the Horned Frogs demolished Ole Miss in their bowl game and figure to be one of the top playoff contenders in 2015.
With more than half of their starters expected to return—most notably quarterback Trevone Boykin—and the sting of being left out this season as inspiration, expect the Horned Frogs to be a sexy pick to be among the semifinalists next season.
"The hype machine for TCU in 2015 has been warmed up," wrote Bleacher Report's Ben Kercheval. "A sharp pull of the starting lever, a quick whiff of ozone, and it's up and ready to go."
TCU finished third in scoring and fifth in total offense in 2014. The Frogs' only blemish proved to be a big one, though, when they blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead at Baylor. But despite the Big 12 choosing to name TCU co-champion, along with Baylor, after it crushed Ole Miss on New Year's Eve (while Baylor lost its bowl the next day), the Horned Frogs ended up as the best of the conference.
2. Oregon Ducks
25 of 26
Final record: 13-2
Bowl result: Won 59-20 vs. Florida State in Orange Bowl (national semifinal); lost 42-20 vs. Ohio State in national championship
Poll points: 479
Final regular-season ranking: 2nd
Representing the Pac-12 in the national championship for the second time in five years, Oregon again saw its high-octane offense fail to kick into high gear except for on a few occasions. And without the ability to slow down Ohio State's attack, the Ducks came up short once again in their quest for the conference's first title since USC in 2004-05.
Heisman winner Marcus Mariota threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns in what was likely his final college game, but some early key drops by his receivers put Oregon behind the eight-ball. That minimized the Ducks' run game, turning them one-dimensional, and they weren't able to play from behind with a run game that averaged just four yards per carry.
Oregon was kept in the game for three quarters by forcing four Ohio State turnovers, but those only led to 10 points. The last, on a fumble deep in OSU territory, only resulted in a field goal to pull within 21-20, and after that the Ducks couldn't make a stop.
The Ducks allowed 538 yards, including 296 on the ground, and lost their fifth straight game when failing to score 30 points.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
26 of 26
Final record: 14-1
Playoff results: Won 42-35 vs. Alabama in Sugar Bowl (national semifinal); won 42-20 vs. Oregon in national championship
Poll points: 500 (20 first-place votes)
Final regular-season ranking: 4th
After a bad home loss to Virginia Tech in the second week of the 2014 season, Ohio State was basically tossed to the side and given little chance to play for a championship. Four months later, the Buckeyes have finished on top and will be adding an eighth title (and first since 2002-03) to their trophy case.
"This goes down as one of the great stories in college football history," OSU coach Urban Meyer said on the field after the game, per ESPN's SportsCenter Twitter account.
Behind a third-string quarterback making only his third career start—but looking far more experienced than that—and a bruising running back, OSU asserted its will on Oregon's defense and controlled the game after the first eight minutes. Despite turning it over four times, the Buckeyes offense couldn't be slowed down when it held onto the ball, finishing with 538 yards.
Cardale Jones, who hardly saw the field until J.T. Barrett was injured late in the Michigan game, threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing TD. Combined with Ezekiel Elliott, who followed up his 220 yards in the Big Ten title game and 230 against Alabama in the Sugar Bow with a 246-yard, four-TD performance, OSU's offense was unstoppable.
Just as important, though, the Buckeyes defense mostly contained Oregon's uptempo attack. They allowed a quick touchdown on the opening drive, and one quick-strike score early in the third quarter, but also forced six punts and prevented Heisman winner Marcus Mariota from dominating.
But the most impressive thing about Ohio State—and what should scare the rest of college football—is that the vast majority of its key players are underclassmen who are set to return in 2015.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
