Upsets are common in college football. Upsets in the College Football Playoff? That's a far less likely sight.
Biggest College Football Playoff upsets ever: Where Miami-Ohio State ranks on list originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Upsets are common in college football but upsets in the College Football Playoff have been far less likely.
And yet, this season's College Football Playoff has seen few surprising results, some of which have come in the tournament's quarterfinals and semifinals, others that came to pass during the championship game.
So, just what are the biggest upsets in CFP history? Here's what you need to know.
Biggest upsets in College Football Playoff history
(All lines provided by Oddsharks.)
| Year | Result | Line |
| 2025 | Miami 24, Ohio State 14 | Ohio State -9.5 |
| 2022 | TCU 51, Michigan 45 | Michigan -8 |
| 2015 | Oregon 59, Florida State 20 | Florida State -8 |
| 2015 | Ohio State 42, Alabama 35 | Alabama -7.5 |
| 2021 | Ohio State 49, Clemson 28 | Clemson -7 |
| 2017 | Clemson 35, Alabama 31 | Alabama -6.5 |
2025: Miami 24, Ohio State 14
Miami was something of a surprise contestant in the 2025 College Football Playoff, having only climbed into the rankings for good when the CFP bracket was finally revealed. The Hurricanes had something special within their defensive ranks — Rueben Bain Jr. and Keionte Scott spearheaded a daunting unit that turned attackers to ashes in open fields.
Ohio State got a first-hand look at Miami's skillset. Bain and Scott starred on the defensive end, while Mark Fletcher Jr., Carson Beck and Malachi Toney's timely interventions delivered a stunning win against the then-defending champions. With the Buckeyes favored to win by 9.5 points, the Hurricanes' conquest represents the greatest upset in College Football Playoff history.
MORE: Updated College Football Playoff bracket
2022: TCU 51, Michigan 45
TCU enjoyed a splendid first season under Sonny Dykes in 2022, nearly running the table to set up its first berth in the College Football Playoff. Still, the Horned Frogs weren't given much of a chance against No. 2-ranked Michigan, which posted a faultless 13-0 record in the regular season.
The Horned Frogs opened up the match with aplomb, recording a pick-six on the Wolverines' opening drive. It set the stage for a memorable day in Glendale for TCU, who posted a 50-spot to vanquish its heavily-favored adversary.
2015: Oregon 59, Florida State 20
Contrary to popular belief, there was once a time when Florida State was considered the cream of the crop in college football. The Seminoles entered their Rose Bowl bout with Oregon having claimed 13 straight wins. The Jameis Winston-led side hoisted the national one year earlier. Nevertheless, Jimbo Fisher's bunch had little in its arsenal to contain the Ducks, who were anchored by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
Mariota recorded nearly 400 yards of total offense and three total scores to power Oregon's explosive attack to the win in Pasadena. It's unclear whether Florida State has truly recovered from the result.
2015: Ohio State 42, Alabama 35
The Buckeyes were seen as unlikely victors when they took on top-ranked Alabama during the 2015 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State enjoyed a wondrous regular season, downing 12 of 13 foes en route to securing the final seed in the College Football Playoff field.
And yet, Urban Meyer's side was bandaged and bruised by the time it took on the Crimson Tide. Starting QB Braxton Miller and impressive backup J.T. Barrett suffered season-ending injuries, thrusting third-stringer Cardale Jones under center.
The understudy flashed his considerable gifts in a 59-0 rout over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Still, Alabama was the favorite, with its attack proving one of the nation's most haunting and its defense feature a treasure trove of future NFL talent.
Ezekiel Elliott tore that vaunted defense apart, tallying 230 yards to push the Buckeyes to the victory. They'd cap off their miracle run one game later, besting Oregon to take home an unlikely national title.
2021: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
The Buckeyes were one of the nation's strongest sides when they traipsed onto the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf on New Year's Day, 2021. They weren't Clemson, though. The Tigers were widely considered the nation's most harrowing prospect, led by future NFL standout Trevor Lawrence and an impressive collection of supporting pieces.
Ohio State was plenty talented in its own right, with Justin Fields, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams all earning rave reviews. Still, there was reason to believe Dabo Swinney's side would cruise.
That didn't come to fruition, in the end. Field and Tuf Borland anchored a dominant OSU display that saw the Bucks cruised to a three-touchdown victory.
2017: Clemson 35, Alabama 31
The Crimson Tide were a machine in the late 2010s, routinely finding themselves in the business end of the College Football Playoff. Clemson was similarly dominant, although the Tigers didn't quite carry the same punch — at least not yet.
When the two Southern schools clashed underneath the glistening Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 9, 2017, Alabama had all the pedigree, having picked up four national crowns since the 2009 season. Clemson, meanwhile, had only scaled the college football mountaintop once, in 1981.
Predictably, it was the Tigers who found the most success during the joust, Deshaun Watson anchored a memorable Clemson display that saw Swinney and Co. finally lift the famous heirloom after decades of waiting.
Category: General Sports
