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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/DataDrivenPirate on 2024-04-03 17:20:49.
“De facto title game” was thrown around in the pre-playoff era a bit because the loser of a game before bowl season very likely would not make the BCS title game. I personally remember quite a bit of chatter about Ohio State vs Michigan in 2006 being the ‘de facto championship game’ which, in hindsight, lol. Alabama vs Florida in 2009 is an example that aged a bit better, with both teams winning their bowl game decisively.
In the playoff era and even more so in an expanded playoff, there’s a higher likelihood of such games. One approach to compile contenders for this are semi-final games where the eventual national champion won by less than they do in the national championship game:
- 2014: Ohio State beats Alabama by 7 in the semi, beats Oregon by 22 in the championship
- 2018: Clemson beats Notre Dame by 27 in the semi, beats Alabama by 28 in the championship
- 2020: Alabama beats Notre Dame by 17 in the semi, beats Ohio State by 28 in the championship
- 2022: Georgia beats Ohio State by 1 in the semi, beats TCU by 58 in the championship
- 2023: Michigan is tied with Alabama at the end of regulation in the semi, beats Washington by 21 in the championship
I’m sure there’s more from CCG or regular season I am missing too, and I’m actually less interested in crowning a single game and more interested in compiling candidates. I’m interested how it will stack up in the expanded playoff era.