The Worst National Championship Games Since 1998

Image: ESPN

By Cody McClure

I believe tonight’s game between Ohio State and Notre Dame has the potential to be one of the worst National Championship games ever.

A: Everyone hates both of the teams.

B: Ohio State is going to win in a blowout.

Combine those two factors alone, and it is likely that everyone (outside the Midwest) will be annoyed and tuned out of this one in the second half.

What are the worst championship games you can remember?

There have been plenty of blowouts over the years. Some teams we all love to hate have won titles. But some of these games are worse than others.

Here’s my list of the worst championship games since 1998 when Tennessee won the first ever BCS National Championship.

5. Alabama def. LSU 21-0 … 2011 season

I mean, what a dud this one ended up being. LSU never crossed the 50-yard line. I remember the 2011 season like it was yesterday. Both teams were absolutely dominant all year.

Everyone knew they were on a collision course to meet in a rematch for the national title after LSU won the regular season “biggest game of all time” 9-6 in Tuscaloosa.

Two great defenses, sure, but this game was offensively boring. The Crimson Tide completely shut LSU down and meanwhile kicked FIVE field goals in the game before finally scoring a touchdown late.

4. Oklahoma def. Florida State 13-2 … 2000 season

Good for Josh Heupel, love our coach, but he was a part of another of the worst championship games ever. The only highlight of this one was Toby Keith’s national anthem.

Florida State was coming off a national title the year before and hoping to hit the ole back-to-back. Unfortunately, they mustered just two points on a safety in the fourth quarter.

The only points scored in the first half came after teams exchanged turnovers on consecutive plays. Then a couple missed field goals. Total shit fest. But again, congrats to Heupel.

3. USC def. Oklahoma 55-19 … 2004 season

Remember the year Auburn got robbed? Back in these days, nobody could really handle USC. But the Tigers would have surely put up a better fight with the three-headed monster of Jason Campbell, Cadillac Williams, and Ronnie Brown in the backfield.

USC pummeled Oklahoma from start to finish. It was 38-10 at the half and didn’t get any better. Interestingly enough, it was the first college game to have two Heisman winners on the same field.

At least there were storylines outside the game. JoJo did the national anthem.

2. Alabama def. Ohio State 52-24 … 2020 season

Does anyone even remember this game? America was on lockdown with all the COVID stuff, and thus, the entire college football season felt like a joke.

The championship game was no different. Two big names, certainly, but a gross game and a gross season altogether. I guess Nick Saban proved he was the best COVID coach. No surprise there.

This one was close in the first quarter but a second quarter explosion by the Tide essentially ended the game by halftime. Even the national anthem was prerecorded due to COVID.

1. Georgia def. TCU 65-7 … 2022 season

By far the worst one ever. A game that was over before it started. One of the nastiest defenses to ever take the field vs. a team that was just happy to be there.

Only 16.6 million viewers tuned in for this horrid affair. As you could imagine, it was by far the most lopsided national championship game ever.

Pentatonix did the national anthem. Checks out.