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Conference media days are in the rearview mirror as we get set for the 2024-25 college football season, which will debut the expanding 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP). Along with new teams in new conferences, we look set for another incredible season that will ultimately culminate with the first champion in the expanded CFP. With a new format upon us, it’s an appropriate time to look through history and check out the shortest NCAAF Championships ever.
Before the beginning of the CFP in 2014, documentation of game length in terms of time elapsed was not recorded, which means that each National Championship Game that did not require overtime could be considered the same length.
Therefore, we’re going to focus on the more recent CFP era for the shortest NCAAF Championships. With that in mind, the fastest NCAAF Championship of all time took place on January 9, 2023, between the Georgia Bulldogs and TCU Horned Frogs. For perspective, we also have information regarding the length of CFP semifinal games, and this title matchup was faster than those.
Given the result, it likely comes as no surprise. The Bulldogs were officially in the midst of their recent dominant run, crushing the Horned Frogs in 65-7 fashion. They were heavy favorites heading into the matchup, but such a discrepancy shocked many fans. TCU had been underdogs to even make the top four teams that made up the CFP, but there was hope following a 51-45 upset over the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinal.
However, the magic of TCU QB Max Duggan was short-lived against the Bulldogs elite defense. The game seemed competitive during the first quarter, but when Georgia took a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter, they never looked back.
While the shortest NCAAF Championship ever was just two seasons ago, the most recent title game was nearly just as quick. It was just 13 minutes longer, but it was a far more competitive game. The Washington Huskies were doubted like the Horned Frogs the year prior, but they put up a fight against the Michigan Wolverines.
Despite their efforts, head coach Jim Harbaugh led his guys to a 34-13 victory, and it came after a season full of headlines. Between Harbaugh himself getting suspended, key injuries and more, cards were beginning to stack up against Michigan. However, they battled through and completed their 14-0 perfect season.
As many projected, it felt like a “mission completed” scenario for Harbaugh, as he would sign as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers shortly after bringing the title to Ann Arbor. Similarly, following Nick Saban’s retirement, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer has since taken over as the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
A few years before the CFP Championship Games above was what began as the classic matchup of the NCAAF postseason. This quick matchup follows the trend that you’d expect to see with blowouts, as the Clemson Tigers routed ‘Bama 44-16 in one of the shortest NCAAF Championships.
It seemed to end the dynasty of the Tigers, given their struggles to make it into the CFP the past couple of seasons, but this Dabo Swinney team was dominant. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they were led by QB Trevor Lawrence, who was drafted #1 overall in the following NFL Draft as one of the most highly-rated prospects in league history.
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently provided a yearly salary of $55 million, tying him for the highest-paid player in the NFL. Lawrence was able to lead Clemson through the Crimson Tide with RB Travis Etienne – also a future NFL player – by his side. The victory was also even more impressive given that Alabama had just won the National Championship Game the year prior.
Clemson even surrendered the lead at the start of the second quarter, but after an Etienne touchdown shortly thereafter, they scored 30 unanswered points. Along with explosive plays like a 74-yard touchdown pass by Lawrence, they ran out the clock the entire fourth quarter, leading to a quick CFP Championship Game.
Mark has been a lifelong fan of all sports, and five years ago turned it into a profession, specializing in the NFL, NHL and MLB. He is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan and has had his work published in sites such as Sports Illustrated, Pickswise and other top outlets.