When in 2015 the NCAA decided to change the format and play the College Football Playoffs to define the national college football champion, at the same time it was decided to award the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award to one offensive and one defensive player.
Since the then-called BCS National Championship, the NCAA recognizes players who excel in the championship game, who are announced once the last game of the season is over.
Related:
- CFP National Championship 2025: Date, start time, location and everything you need to know
- CFP National Championship Halftime Show 2025: Who is performing this year and all the details
- College Football Playoff winners list: check out every National Championship winner updated until today
- CFP National Championship Prize Money: How much money does the college football winner get?
- CFP National Championship Gatorade shower 2025: Color, how did the tradition start and more
It is no surprise to say that quarterbacks are the dominant position in these awards, something similar to the Super Bowls in the NFL.
However, unlike the NFL, the NCAA awards two MVPs at the end of the game with nominations for offense and defense.
After 10 MVPs have been won year after year, only one player has repeated in consecutive years, Ohio State quarterback Stetson Bennett in 2022 and 2023, who is now a backup passer for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
Ezekiel Elliott, the first to win MVP
The first winner of this offensive award was former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, when he also played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2015.
That same year, the defensive MVP was safety Tyvis Powell, who was later selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Throughout these awards, some well-known NFL players have won the award, such as Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Jacksonville Jaguars passer Trevor Lawrence, or Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen.
Who have been the MVP winners in the CFP National Championship?
This is the list of MVP winners in the NCAAF national championship game:
- 2015: Ezekiel Elliott RB; Tyvis Powell S Ohio State
- 2016: O. J. Howard TE; Eddie Jackson S Alabama
- 2017: Deshaun Watson QB; Ben Boulware LB Clemson
- 2018: Tua Tagovailoa QB; Daron Payne DT Alabama
- 2019: Trevor Lawrence QB; Trayvon Mullen CB Clemson
- 2020: Joe Burrow QB; Patrick Queen LB LSU
- 2021: DeVonta Smith WR; Christian Barmore DT Alabama
- 2022: Stetson Bennett QB; Lewis Cine DB Georgia
- 2023: Stetson Bennett QB; Javon Bullard DB Georgia
- 2024: Blake Corum RB; Will Johnson CB Michigan
- 2025: Will Howard QB; Cody Simon LB Ohio State